That, apparently, is how Anthony Burgess said he wanted to be remembered, not as the author of the most memorably violent dystopian novel of the sixties. So it’s fitting that as part of last weekend’s conference to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his most famous publication, a musical version of A Clockwork Orange was performed. […]
Late thirties perhaps? Forty? Surely not mid-forties? In fact, showing a surprising tolerance for martinis, admirable athleticism and an insatiable appetite for beautiful women bearing concealed weapons, the spry spy is now fifty years old – or at least his onscreen presence is. I love a good spy thriller. And although I’ve watched every Bond […]
I think we must have now reached saturation point with the ‘Keep Calm etc etc’ slogan. A card shop around the corner has mugs emblazoned with the message on special offer now, which makes me hopeful at least. If you are feeling in need of a decent motto, keep an eye on the Guardian’s competition […]
As I’m a ’90s kid (I don’t think being born in November 1989 really qualifies me as an ’80s child), I thought I’d focus this week’s blog on children’s literature – it’s what I remember best from the decade. And I may be biased, but I think the 1990s was an exceptionally good time for […]
London transport is cottoning on to the twittersphere it would seem. Bashtagging, where disgruntled customers voice their concerns on Twitter using appropriate (or arguably inappropriate) hashtags, has become the most direct way of complaining – and getting a response. South West trains has embraced this new wave of information sharing and harnessed it in order […]
I’ve been getting prepped for the BBC’s season of Shakespearean history plays which kicks off this Saturday. The Sky+ is set just in case and lord help the other half if he wants to watch something else. There has been a great deal of attention paid to the casting, which reads like a who’s who […]
Wednesday 11th July, 10.30 am. Come along to hear Julia Stoneham speak about dramatising novels for radio and then sign copies of her own three novels Muddy Boots and Silk Stockings, The Girl at the Farmhouse Gate and Alice’s Girls. Tickets priced £6, for full details, visit www.wayswithwords.co.uk
So the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon rages on. For two days running now we’ve had a hot and heavy discussion in the office about people reading it in public. What happens when commuting readers get to a naughty bit? Do their pupils dilate? Do they blush and start squirming in their seats? Have you […]
Saturday 14th July, 10 am – 6 pm, The Cambridge Union Enjoy a day packed with talks and discussions and a chance to meet your favourite crime authors including Adrian Magson, Rebecca Tope, Nicola Upson, Jim Kelly, Catriona McPherson and more. Hosted by Heffers, the event will take place this year at the Cambridge Union, 9a […]
Occasionally we need reminding that we live in a culturally vibrant city. Someone must have shared this idle thought of mine as a new festival day is launching on Saturday 30th June celebrating the area around Charing Cross Road. If you’re not familiar with this part of London, it’s a hive of booksellers of all […]
The 1980s was a time when many of the huge sellers, still immensely popular today, were at their peak – Stephen King, John le Carré, Danielle Steel, Tom Clancy . . . the list goes on. But alongside these conventional American and British authors, there were some (in my opinion) much more interesting and diverse […]
I’ve just finished reading one of my favourite author’s new manuscripts (to see the rest of her oeuvre see here). I loved it – which is not surprising. What is surprising is that there was a surprise ending. Nothing odd there you might say, but usually don’t you have at least an inkling that a […]
A brief summary of my current To Do List looks something like this: Pick up wedding order of service booklet from the printers Buy binoculars Pack far-too-small suitcase for a 3-week holiday Get married in Umbria (near my 104-year-old gran who always deserves a mention) Head off to African for honeymoon Avoid looking at bank […]
“Roll up, roll up! Come, take a seat, turn the page and discover what astounding stories await you behind these two covers…” My last two reads were The Somnambulist by Essie Fox and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. One is tied to the Victorian Music Halls of East London, the other to a mysterious […]
Author and activist Rosa Guy has died. Her acclaimed debut novel Bird at My Window was published by Margaret Busby at A&B in 1985 and her obituary recently appeared in The Guardian.
If it was possible to pity a decade, I would feel sorry for the 1970s. It doesn’t come across as very glamorous – all the brown-and-cream kitchenware and oddly coloured jumpers didn’t help, I suppose – and it never really gets a look in when compared to the ‘wild’ 60s. The same goes for the […]
Many of you reading this blog will have studied The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald at school or read the book for pleasure and indeed may even have read it several times as one tends to do with classic books – rediscover them later in life to read them with a different perspective. You […]
CHANGE OF DATE: Wednesday 26 September, 6.30pm GOLDSBORO BOOKS, LONDON Come and celebrate with D E Meredith as she launches her debut Devoured, the first book in the exciting new Hatton & Roumande Victorian mystery series, at Goldsboro Books, 23 – 25 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. For more information call the bookshop on 020 […]
Monday 16th July 2.30pm – 3.30pm Another chance to hear acclaimed author of historical sagas, Mary Nichols, who will be talking about her work and her latest book, The Girl on the Beach, set in the wake of World War II, at an afternoon tea event at Pontesbury Library, Bogey Lane, Pontesbury, Shrewsbury SY5 0TD. […]
This week, I’m taking a look at literature in the 1960s – that most rebellious of decades which makes me think of Mad Men-esque outfits, revolution and being all at one with nature. (For some reason when I imagine the 60s, even in Britain, it’s always sunny – very unrealistic.) It was arguably a decade […]
Come and meet husband-and-wife crime duo Edward Marston and Judith Cutler who will be comparing writing historical and modern crime fiction in their highly entertaining talk Murder Ancient and Modern.