I saw this book, Art Nouveau, by Norbert Wolf, advertised in The Bookseller and I had to admire the cover. I am a fan of book cover designs that break the mould – not adhering to the usual format where the title, author name and image take up all the available space on the cover, […]
No, this isn’t quite the new craze to replace Owling, but it’s nevertheless catching on… Pose with a parrot for your profile picture on Facebook or Twitter! Why? Because it’s a way to declare your love for Laurie R King’s Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes series and celebrating the upcoming release Pirate King ! Or […]
Soundtracks in ebooks. Yes you heard me right, a soundtrack as you read. You may (rightly) infer from that abrupt tone that I’m not convinced by this new concept that I’ve come across in the past week and I’m a pretty strong advocate of digital editions generally. This ‘immersive’ experience, so the blurb goes, will […]
I’m coming to an end of my latest reads – I was switching between Agatha Christie’s autobiography and slightly weepy chick lit The Knitting Circle, by Ann Hood, an eclectic mix to be sure – and the cupboard is bare of books. Literally, my bedside cupboard, where I store up purchases and library picks, has […]
Earlier today I was compiling a list of my top ten books on the World Book Night website. They are currently in the process of selecting the 25 titles to be given away next year and are asking people to give their suggestions. It seemed simple enough, search for the title, drag and drop the […]
This month Virago has launched a collection of six Modern Classics with gorgeous pattern textile covers by various designers. They reminded me however of something, and then it finally hit – they reminded me of a Persephone book. A Persephone book cover features that same square box including the title and author name, and whilst […]
Reading Teju Cole’s Top 10 novels of solitude in The Guardian last week, I got to thinking that some similar book-related lists might be good for our A&B blog. As I’m enjoying a few days back home in Wales this week I thought I’d make the list a Welsh-themed one. So here are my Top […]
A while ago, my sole knowledge of Norman history centred on The Battle of Hastings – and namely on the simple fact that a) there was a battle, b) it was in Hastings, and c) it was in 1066. That, and a very vivid memory of a primary school project where our class lined the […]
Whilst the Guardian comments that one might be surprised by the huge figures some authors are earning, it is no real surprise that Forbes Magazine has just named James Patterson as the highest paid author amongst them. When I visited the States last year, I could have been excused for thinking Patterson was the only […]
BBC4 is reshowing Francesco da Mosto’s Italy Top to Toe (Tuesdays 8pm). It is a wonderful series and last night saw Francesco in Tuscany, meeting Iris Origo’s daughter Benedetta at the family’s magnificent estate La Foce, immortalised by Iris’s wartime memoir War in Val d’Orcia – a modern classic and one of A&B’s perennial bestsellers. […]
It is a sad fact but these days I don’t seem to read at home at all, commuting has become the only time of the day or week that I really get into any books. The idea of spending a Saturday morning doing nothing but lying on the sofa working my way through a really […]
Wednesday 31st August, 7.00pm WATERSTONE’S, CHIPPENHAM Come and enjoy a glass of wine and a chance to meet saga writer Anna Jacobs who will be giving a talk and signing copies of her books, including Cherry Tree Lane and Elm Tree Road at Waterstone’s, 29 The Borough Parade, Chippenham, SN15 3WL. For more information call […]
Q. Hello! I’m reading your Morganville Vampire Series and I am very impressed at how you come up with such amazing ideas all in one book, and how you have managed to keep me amazed and interested for every book of the series, you make up complete shocks for every book. Anyway, what I am […]
During my short time in London I have now experienced widespread riots and looting, a dog bite, panic at the inability to find anywhere to live, and a gas leak. So that’s civil unrest, animal attack, potential homelessness and chemical poisoning so far. I feel like I only need some sort of plague or natural […]
Check out the July Books of the Month on our homepage – all £2 off. Click on the titles to buy them and enter the promotional code you’ll see featured in each book’s synopsis to get your discount.
This will be my last blog for some time as I’ve officially started my maternity leave! I’ve had 9 months warning that this day would come, but still it’s somehow snuck up on me. I am knowingly informed that henceforth I will become obsessed with the colour and consistency of baby poo and I can […]
Saturday 15th October, 12noon – 2.00pm WATERSTONE’S (ROMAN GATE), EXETER Author Tania Crosse will be signing copies of her books, including her latest paperback Hope at Holly Cottage, at Waterstone’s, 252 High Street, Exeter EX4 3PZ (Roman Gate branch). For more information call the bookshop on 0843 290 8325.
Wednesday 12th October, 2.00pm OKEHAMPTON LIBRARY, DEVON Come and enjoy cream tea as Tania Crosse gives a talk about her books, including her latest paperback Hope at Holly Cottage, at Okehampton Library, 4 North Street, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1AR. Tickets £3, for more information call the library on 01837 52805.
Thursday 22nd September, 6.45pm MORTIMER LIBRARY, READING Author Tania Crosse will be giving a talk about her books, including her latest paperback Hope at Holly Cottage, at Mortimer Library, 27 Victoria Road, Mortimer, Reading, RG7 3SH. For more information call the library on 0118 933 2882.
Saturday 17th September, 5.30pm SALTAIRE BOOKSHOP, SHIPLEY As part of the Saltaire Festival, come and meet author Cassandra Clark who will be celebrating her new paperback release The Law of Angels (the latest in the Yorkshire-set medieval mystery series featuring Abbess Hildegard of Meaux) with a book signing at the Saltaire Bookshop, 1 Myrtle […]
Saturday 17th September, 12.30pm WATERSTONE’S, YORK Come and meet author Cassandra Clark who will be celebrating her new paperback release The Law of Angels (the latest in the Yorkshire-set medieval mystery series featuring Abbess Hildegard of Meaux) with a book signing at Waterstone’s, 28-29 High Ousegate, York YO1 8RX. For more information, call the […]