Think you know everything about your favorite novels? Think again. Prepare to be surprised, and maybe even a little delighted as I reveal 15 book facts you never knew existed.
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Romance Book Facts
- “Pride and Prejudice” is that its initial title was not the one we know today. When Jane Austen first wrote the novel, she titled it “First Impressions.” It wasn’t until after significant revisions and prior to its publication in 1813 that the title was changed to “Pride and Prejudice.”
- One lesser-known fact about “The Fault in Our Stars” is that John Green, the author, drew inspiration for the character Hazel Grace Lancaster from a real-life girl he met at a book signing event. This girl had thyroid cancer and shared her experiences with Green, including her thoughts on the meaning of life and death.
- An intriguing fact about “The Hating Game” is that author Sally Thorne wrote the novel during her lunch breaks while working in an office job. She completed the first draft in just six weeks.
- Five Feet Apart” was inspired by a real-life couple with cystic fibrosis. Rachael Lippincott, the author, was working as a publisher’s assistant when she came across a news article about a young couple who fell in love while undergoing treatment for cystic fibrosis.
- Before “The Princess Bride” became a beloved classic, William Goldman faced numerous rejections from publishers who didn’t quite understand the book’s genre-defying nature. In fact, Goldman received rejection letters that ranged from confusion about whether it was a children’s book or an adult novel to concerns about its marketability.
Dystopian Book Facts
- Before Suzanne Collins wrote “The Hunger Games,” she was flipping through television channels and found reality TV shows and news coverage side by side. This juxtaposition gave her the idea for the story’s dystopian society, where reality TV and politics merge into a dark spectacle.
- The author of the “Percy Jackson” series, Rick Riordan, originally conceived the idea for the series as bedtime stories for his son, Haley, who had been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. Riordan wanted to create a relatable hero for his son and incorporated elements of Greek mythology, which Haley was studying in school, into the stories.
- The “Percy Jackson” series was initially rejected by multiple publishers before finding a home. Rick Riordan faced numerous rejections from publishers who were skeptical about the marketability of a series based on Greek mythology.
- the author of the “Divergent” series, Veronica Roth, originally intended for the series to be a trilogy but later decided to expand it into a duology. Originally, she had planned for the third book, “Allegiant,” to be split into two parts, much like other popular young adult series at the time. However, as she delved deeper into the story, Roth realized that she could conclude the series effectively in just one more book. This decision led to “Allegiant” being the final installment of the trilogy, wrapping up the story of Tris and Tobias in a single volume.
- One lesser-known fact about “The Maze Runner” series is that James Dashner originally planned for the story to be a standalone novel. However, due to the positive reception and demand from readers, Dashner expanded the story into a trilogy and later added prequel novels and a sequel series.
Fantasy Book Facts
- The character of Samwise Gamgee was inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s own experiences in World War I. Tolkien served as a signals officer in the British Army during the war, and his experiences in the trenches, particularly the camaraderie and loyalty among soldiers, influenced his portrayal of Sam’s unwavering loyalty and steadfastness to Frodo throughout their perilous journey.
- In “The Chronicles of Narnia” C.S. Lewis was initially inspired by ancient mythology, particularly Norse mythology, when he began writing the series. The character of Aslan, the noble lion and central figure in Narnia, draws parallels to the Norse god Odin, who is often depicted as a wise and powerful figure associated with wolves and ravens.
Thriller Book Facts
- Stephen King’s inspiration for “It” partly came from his own fear of clowns.
- “It” is one of Stephen King’s longest novels, coming in at over 1,100 pages in its original publication.
- While the main events of “It” take place in the 1950s and 1980s, King intentionally set the story in the past to explore themes of nostalgia and the passage of time. However, what’s not commonly known is that King initially planned to set the childhood portions of the novel in the 1960s, but he changed it to the 1950s to better capture the era of his own childhood.
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