Blog
Bring on the rain, and the stories that go with it…
27 October, 2011
It’s another miserable day: the sky outside is a stubborn steely grey, and rain periodically lashes or drizzles against the A&B office windows. Those of us unlucky enough to have forgotten our umbrellas have reached our desks soggy and displeased, damning our bleak British weather. But perhaps we shouldn’t condemn the precipitation too quickly. Often […]
Wednesday Cover Story: Andrew Davidson’s work
26 October, 2011
The printers have just delivered finished copies of The Mapping of Love and Death (out in November) – the upcoming release in the New York Times bestselling Maisie Dobbs series by the much-acclaimed Jacqueline Winspear. (And we’re looking forward to welcoming the author in the offices next week – she’s visiting the UK all the […]
What do you think of the World Book Night List for 2012?
25 October, 2011
The list of 25 books selected for next year’s World Book Night has now been announced. The public voted for their favourite titles and the final selection was chosen by an editorial committee – mostly booksellers, authors and critics (last year’s committee included Allison & Busby’s co-founder Margaret Busby!). You can see the full 2012 […]
‘It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas…’
24 October, 2011
Here in the UK it seems it’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas. We used to wait till after Halloween, but not anymore. As soon as the last heatwave subsides, we need something festive to look forward to so we can get through the winter months. The lights are up on Oxford Street, […]
Breakfast is Business
21 October, 2011
I have often wondered why people feel the need to broadcast on Twitter or Facebook what they are having for breakfast. Now if it were something special, like they were sitting in Mama’s in San Francisco (my n.1 favourite breakfast place in the world) and waxing lyrical about their Banana Nut French Toast, that’s one […]
My Top 5 American Novels
20 October, 2011
Chiara’s recent trip to the U.S. has inspired me to write this week’s blog on my top American novels. And no, unlike all other ‘Great American Novels’ lists I’ve come across, To Kill a Mockingbird and Huckleberry Finn will not be making an appearance… 1. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck: One of my […]
Wednesday Cover Story: The Canons
19 October, 2011
I have mentioned many times before that I am a sucker for book “sets” – where various titles have been collected and given special cover designs that follow a similar pattern. And hence not only do they usually provide great reading (there’s usually good reason for publishers to bother revamping such books) but they look […]
The taste of a good book…
18 October, 2011
This Saturday I found myself at the Southbank Centre’s Autumn Wine and Cheese Festival. On two levels, booths packed side by side boasted their wines, ales, ciders, cheese, bread and goods for those passing by. Now I don’t know about you, but when I see that many sweet treats tempting me in one place, I […]
The Culture of Words
17 October, 2011
There’s that much used cliché that there are dozens of Icelandic words for the subtleties of snow, and from personal experience I can vouch that there is a similar thing in Ireland with rain. My favourite, and one that I remember my Granddad in particular using, is ‘teaming’. And, after my other half walked home […]
Is this responsible TV viewing?
14 October, 2011
I can often be heard griping about the fact that the hunt for high ratings increasingly sees TV broadcasting companies providing us with entertainment that panders to the basest of our desires – voyeurism, sex and cheap thrills. So today, when I read the news about how ITV is still deciding whether to continue broadcasting […]
Groovy punctuation…
13 October, 2011
The internet has a lot to answer for: identity theft, horror porn, and Rebecca Black, to name just a few examples. However, if there’s one thing it is good for (unless, that is, you are a sadistic online thief with a penchant for woeful bubblegum pop), then that is providing a wealth of semi-useless information […]
Wednesday Cover Story: Monsieur Pamplemousse gets a makeover
12 October, 2011
Michael Bond is adored by millions as the creator of Paddington Bear. I have a particular soft spot for the man as the creator of my favourite childhood guinea pig, Olga da Polga. And he is of course adored by us all at A&B and by his legion of fans for creating the inimitable Monsieur […]
The Power of Making at the V&A
11 October, 2011
Craftsmanship and innovative design can be something we neglect at a time of mass-produced, one-size- fits-all products. So it is especially nice, and occasionally awe-inspiring, when you come across an item that has clearly had lots of time and energy lavished upon it by an individual. Like a life-size crocheted bear, for instance. Said bear […]
Time to indulge in some poetry
10 October, 2011
It’s all about Carol Ann Duffy right now. The release of her newest collection of poetry, The Bees, has been accompanied by a flurry of magazine articles and poetry readings – including one at the Southbank centre which I’m disappointed I couldn’t attend. Having studied her poems at A level, I’m a big Carol Ann […]
A last day in Boston
7 October, 2011
Tomorrow I head back to London, busing it down from Maine to Boston, where I intend to spend a day on memory lane. I spent many long summers in this most European of American cities – interning at a local newspaper on Boston’s chic Newbury Street (spoiled early, it’s no wonder I now love working […]
Let’s hear it for the Bard
6 October, 2011
Check out this scribbled page which has gone viral for a dose of visual and literature juice! Cool and somewhat beautiful, n’est pas? What you’re looking at is a variety of expressions that we owe to Shakespeare. And, as you can tell by the fact that they are jammed cheek by jowl onto one moleskin […]
Wednesday Cover Story: Two Paris Wives…
5 October, 2011
As mentioned in my blog yesterday, one of the books I bought here in Camden, Maine was The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain. Now, I already own a UK copy of the hardback, with its very simple but very striking design (the smooth metallic foil on the silhouette image contrasts nicely with the rough texture […]
Here’s to the Independent Bookshop
4 October, 2011
At a time when we are more used to hearing the depressing news of an independent bookshop closing, it always cheers me up to come across those which continue to thrive. As is the case with Sherman’s Bookstore in Camden, Maine. Obviously in small towns like this one, the competition is less fierce, and in […]
Top 5 Autumn Reads
3 October, 2011
As promised, this week I give you my top autumn reads – books to curl up on the sofa with as the sky darkens and the weather grows ever more gloomy. Just as the ideal summer reads get you in the mood for blue skies and foreign climes, these five mysterious books are sure to […]
What to look forward to this autumn…
30 September, 2011
It’s the end of September, which means one thing – summer is officially drawing to a close. We seem to have hit an incredible heat-wave in London, but inevitably the wind and rain will come. I know a lot of people get very upset as the nights draw in and the sunshine wanes, but in […]
Bring Maine into your kitchen
29 September, 2011
After six days Maine, I have finally enjoyed my first taste of the local Clam Chowder. Together with the local lobster, this is a must-have dish up here. So, in an attempt to have you share in this culinary delight, here’s the traditional New England recipe for it. CLAM CHOWDER RECIPE Ingredients 5 cups bottled/canned […]
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