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[[Category:Anthologies|*]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1737030942|title=Stuff IBag O've Been ReadingGoodies|author=Nick HornbyJolly Walker Bittick|rating=4|genre= Anthologies|summary=Sometimes, you deserve a treat and mine was Jolly Walker Bittick's ''Bag O'Goodies''. I first encountered his writing about a year ago, when I read his [[Cape Henry House by Jolly Walker Bittick|Cape Henry House]], a rollicking tale of what happens when five young men find a base for their partying. Right now, I didn't want a full-length novel, so I turned to this anthology of verse and short stories. Bittick's writing has matured - and so have his characters. Well... most of them!}}{{Frontpage|isbn=140638853X|title=Somebody Give This Heart a Pen|author=Sophia Thakur|rating=5

|summary=I am lucky enough to be typing this while sitting on the fifth floor of the magnificent new Library of Birmingham. Coming in at Sophia Thakur's debut anthology is a whopping £189 million the burghers collection of the second city certainly haven't skimped poems that are all unique, whether in trying relation to create a 21st century centre of learningtheir style, length or theme. Amongst all the interactive learning zonesThe collection is split into four sections, titled 'grow', 'wait', digital galleries 'break' and coffee shops there are 'grow again', guiding you through a process which is one of course booksthe foundations that the anthology is built on. ManyEach section begins with a foregrounded title page containing various small pieces of writing, many booksranging from a quote by a Nigerian playwright, to African proverbs. Over one million This provides a nice introduction to the section before you are immersed in fact. And this in an era when some critics have said the beautifully written and eloquent poems that the book in its current form is deadThakur has clearly put her heart and soul into.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241003334</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1789016789|title=Beyond Rue MorgueYou're the Froth On My Soy Cappuccino: Further Tales of Edgar Allan Poe's 1st DetectivePoems for the Present|author=Paul Kane and Charles Prepolec (Editors)Don Behrend|rating=3.54

|summary=C. Auguste Dupin is often regarded as the first fictional detective and at the very least Edgar Allan Poe’s character was the blueprint for many sleuths to come, most notably Sherlock Holmes. Dupin is an eccentric genius from Paris whose use of logic and deduction aid the police on their most baffling cases. The characters literary debut was in the short story ''The Murders in You're the Rue MorgueFroth On My Soy Cappuccino'' in 1841 and between 1842 and 1844 Poe wrote two more short stories about Dupin and his exploits. begins with ''Beyond Rue MorgueA Modern Love Story'' contains nine stories (in addition to the original Poe tale) by various authors and gives many different takes on the same character or influenced by him. From samurai assassins and the apocalypse to an agoraphobic distant relative of Dupin attempting to solve a murder without even leaving her home; the different writers all take the intriguing character to places we wouldn’t expect and the creativity of all keeps the character fresh from story to story.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781161755</amazonuk>}}:

{{newreview|title=Best British Short Stories 2013|author=Nicholas Royle (editor)|rating=5|genre=Short Stories|summary=Expect to read some quality work in ''Best British Short Stories 2013You’re the froth on my soy cappuccino'', sourced from a number of short story magazines; <br>'Granta', You’re the spread on my paleo toast'Shadows and Tall Trees', <br>'Unthology' and You’re the nose of my GM-free Pinot'The Edinburgh Review' are just some of the publications in which these pieces were to be seen first. If asked to identify a red thread between the components of Nicholas Royle’s anthology<br>''You’re organic, I would say that in each short story, everything is left to simmer under the surfacemy love. There is a frustration brought about by the lack of clarity in every short story, which to me is a reflection of just how unclear You’re the most seismic of situations may be to any individual involved.|amazonuk=!''<amazonukbr>1907773479</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Malcolm Gladwell|title=The Big New Yorker Book of Dogs with Foreword|rating=5|genre=Pets|summary=I think it's fair to say that Ha! How can you're not even going to pick laugh at this book up unless you're a dog lover. If you've always yearned for a cat and shudder at the thought of early morning walks gently mocking take on love in the rain then this is definitely no the book for you. But - if you know, or are known by a dog then it's the equivalent of that massive hamper of chocolate delights to a chocoholic. Only a magazine like the ''New Yorker'' could raid its archives and produce such a massive compendium of humour, illustrations, essays, fiction, poems and cartoons about dogs, or have a cast of writers which could put many a bookshop to shame.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>043402239X</amazonuk>hipster world?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Angela Macmillan PUP_Rising|title=A Little, Aloud for ChildrenRising Stars: New Young Voices in Poetry|author=Pop Up Projects|rating=54|genre=For SharingAnthologies|summary=This very special anthology of story extracts and poems to share aloud is a wonderful idea from The Reader Organisation to encourage reading aloud to children by parentscollection brings together five emerging voices in poetry. And despite what the publisher says, teachers, grandparents, librarians, friends or even other childrenI wouldn't personally impose an age restriction on the writing here. The terrific and very varied selection includes something to Each poet uses words that will appeal to all tastes. It should tempt the reader to seek out the original books from which the extracts are taken and maybe to try children’s fiction that they have not considered before. The book includes classics, tried and tested old favourites and newer titles toomany readers. Dipping into I found this anthology for the first time feels a little like meeting old and maybe long forgotten friends and making new ones along the wayparticularly so with Jay Hulme's poetry.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857560425</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephanie Tillotson and Penny ThomasStevenson_Garden|title=All Shall be WellA Child's Garden of Verses|author=Robert Louis Stevenson|rating=4.52

|summary=Twenty five years - Robert Louis Stevenson was a quarter very versatile writer; he delved deep into the human psyche when he wrote ''The Strange Case of a century - is a long timeDoctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' but he did not restrict himself to representations of the gothic and the persecuted. ItHe also wrote brilliant children's an incredible length of time adventure stories such as an independent publisher, particularly one which specialises in publishing the best in Welsh women's writing, but that's exactly what Honno have achieved. To celebrate the occasion theyTreasure Island''ve published this anthology of twenty five short stories and non-fiction pieces. They've previously been seen in the numerous anthologies published by Honno 'Kidnapped'', but when combined they give an interesting and enlightening insight into the work of these great writers, again, he did not restrict himself to prose writing because here he demonstrates his ability to write poetry.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906784337</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary BeardEsiri Poem|title=All in a Don's A Poem for Every Dayof the Year|author=Allie Esiri

|genre=AutobiographyAnthologies|summary=Mary Beard's latest collectionFor those who do not read much poetry, 'All in a Don's Day', of her assembled blog pieces from 2009 until the end of 2011, covers similar concerns for those who do not know where to her previous selectionstart, [[It's A Don's Life by Mary Beard|It's a Don's Life]]. Professor Beard this is a fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge fun and became Classics Professor at there in 2004easy commitment to take on. She is also an expert in Roman laughterReading a poem a day does not take long, an interest which she fully indulges in the pages of her TLS blog. In her latest collection she bemoans the parlous current state of both Education and the Academymere minutes, and makes witty observations on matters as various as television chefs, what and how with over three-hundred poems in here there's bound to visit in Rome and the art and worth of completing references in an age when only positive things may be said about postgraduate job-seekersa poem that speaks to each reader directly.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846685362</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Herbertson_Wordsworth|title=Adele Geras, Anne Fine, Henrietta Branford, Jacqueline Wilson, Malorie Blackman, Philip Pullman, Tony Mitton, Alan Garner, Berlie Doherty, Gillian Cross, Kit Wright, Michael Morpurgo, Susan Gates William and Linda Newbery Dorothy Wordsworth: A Miscellany|titleauthor=Magic BeansGavin Herbertson|rating=45|genre=For SharingAnthologies|summary=I William Wordsworth was attracted to this book because it features stories from [[:Category:Jacqueline Wilson|Jacqueline Wilson]], [[:Category:Philip Pullman|Philip Pullman]], [[:Category:Michael Morpurgo|Michael Morpurgo]], [[:Category:Alan Garner|Alan Garner]] and many other prominent children's writers. I thought it might make a great Christmas or birthday present (and it would)defining member of the romantic literary era. There's a selection He was part of stories from traditional sources such as Hans Christian Andersenthe first wave, and Aesop, and I imagine that the authors were inveigled into writing for publisher David Fickling with his poetry helped to shape a free choice large part of original storiesit. So donNature was the key: existing in nature, finding one't expect a collection or compendium, but rather an anthology of tales that have entranced s own true nature and inspired these writers becoming natural in their own childhoods – magic beans indeedthe process were the driving forces behind it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857560433</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Christopher Golden (Editor)Mahfouz_Muslim|title=Monster's CornerThe Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write|author=Sabrina Mahfouz|rating=4.5

|summary=''The Monster's Corner'' What does it mean to be British and Muslim? This is a collection question these writers tackle with stunning clarity. Modern-day British society has a varied sense of tales cultural heritage; it is a society that are told from the monster's perspective. It takes the idea that we are all the heroes of our own story is changing and has a gloriously good time with moving forward as it. Ranging from the thought-provoking adds more and more voices to the strangepopulation, to the shocking but it is also one that has an undercurrent of anxiety and gory – they're a great selection of stories from fear towards those who are minorities. So this collection displays how all that fear is received; it comes in the likes form of [[:Category:Kelley Armstrong|Kelley Armstrong]]stereotypical labels and racial prejudice, [[:Category:Kevin J Anderson|Kevin J. Anderson]], Sarah Pinborough and many otherswhich are themes eloquently reproduced here.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749957859</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Michael PalinHolland Cheap|title=Ox TravelsView from the Cheap Seats|author=Barry Holland

|genre=TravelAnthologies|summary=Ox Travels A little bit about Barry Holland: he was born in Newport, South Wales, to working-class parents. He loves rugby and his son - his son is an anthology of travel writing compiled to raise funds for Oxfamhis favourite rugby player, which is just as it should be. He is a qualified engineer but it is well worth buying and reading in its own rightunable to work because of mental ill-health. Its generous 432 pages offer All of these things feed into ''View from the chance to meet 36 writersCheap Seats'', including travel writers, journalists which is a collection of poems and imaginings as vivid and immediate and novelists, with an introduction by Michael Palin striking as you could hope for. Barry sounds like a thoroughly nice bloke and an afterword by Barbara Stocking, Oxfam's Chief Executivehis book was a pleasure to read.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668496X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David LodgeMarshall EFT|title=The Art Book of FictionEnglish Folk Tales|author=Sybil Marshall and John Lawrence

|summary=Some academics produce streams From ghosts to witches, to giants and fairies, ''The Book of fantastic concepts and ideas but their attempts at articulating them to English Folk Tales'' is a wider reading public stumble into jargon fascinating collection of stories retold by social historian and complexityfolklorist Sybil Marshall. Thankfully David Lodge has no such troubles. As a mighty fine novelist ([[Nice Work by David Lodge|Nice Work]]Out of print for over three decades, [[Thinks... this beautiful new clothbound edition is complete with wood-engraved illustrations by David Lodge|Thinks...]], Deaf Sentence John Lawrence and many more) who also has a day job as a professor of English, Lodge is perfectly qualified sure to deliver capture the attention of a book on the craft new generation of writing an in The Art lovers of Fiction he has delivered one that is informative and enlightening as well as highly entertainingfolklore.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099554240</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Martin Waddell and Emma Chichester ClarkTrotman_Winter|title=The Orchard Winter: A Book Of Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Talesfor the Season|author=Felicity Trotman (editor)|rating=54

|summary=With ''The Princess This seasonal anthology contains a nice mixture of poetry, nature and travel pieces, and excerpts from longer works of fiction. Felicity Trotman, a freelance editor and member of the Pea''English Civil War Society, 'has arranged the material into three sections: 'The Ugly Duckling'Old Year', ''The Tinderbox''Christmas, ''The Little Match Girl'Sacred and Secular', 'and 'The Emperor's New Clothes'', ''The Tin Soldier'', ''The Swineherd'', ''The Nightingale'Year' . This creates an appropriate sense of chronological progression and ''The Little Mermaid'', this is a must-have compendium also serves to make Christmas the heart of classic fairy talesthe book. You can't really go wrong with Hans Christian Andersen's bestBlack-and-white illustrations – maps, can you? Martin Waddell photographs and Emma Chichester Clark have not just churned out the old classicsengravings – are interspersed throughout, but they've given them an amazing freshness and vibrancyeach author gets a short paragraph of biography and background.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846169380</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Penny DannElphinstone_Winter|title=The Orchard Book Of Nursery Rhymes For Your BabyWinter Magic|author=Abi Elphinstone (Editor)|rating=43.5|genre=Children's Rhymes and VerseAnthologies|summary=All your favourite nursery rhymes are hereWith everything from dragons to mysterious crimes, from Hickory Dickory Dockvoice-stealing witches to time travel, through Little Bo Peep and Three Blind Micemagical worlds to first performances of world-famous ballets, this is a collection of short stories that delights from start to Sing A Song Of Sixpencefinish. With over sixty nursery rhymes to choose fromAnthologies of short stories can sometimes fall flat, with one or two good ones and then a bunch of mediocre fillers, but this collection has no weak links...all the big names stories are presented good, and most of them are brilliant. I felt entirely caught up in a beautiful compendium that you'll treasure for yearseach individual world as I read, loving the varied and extremely likeable heroines throughout.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408304589</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Aesop, Fiona Waters and Fulvio TestaPhinn_Virgin|title=AesopThe Virgin Mary's FablesGot Nits|author=Gervase Phinn

|genre=Confident ReadersAnthologies|summary=Everyone knows and loves ''Aesop's Fables''. They're part of Christmas in our literary tapestry and our everyday lives. We know sour grapes, house is the time we know [[Tortoise vs. Hare - The Rematch! by Preston Rutt tend to get on a plane and Ben Redlich|the tortoise and the hare]]head to either sun or snow, the boy who cried wolf and so many more. Fiona Waters has retold 60 of the most famous fables in this delightful anthology.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849390495</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Tony Ross|title=My Favourite Fairy Tales|rating=3.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Tony Ross has pickedanywhere that is far, retold and illustrated his favourite fairy tales, taking in such classics as ''Rumpelstiltskin'' and ''Beauty and far away from the Beast''madness at home, whilst also offering up slightly lesserlast-known ones like ''The Hedley Kow''minute dashes to the shops on Christmas Eve and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, ''The Musicians of Bremen'', ''Sweet Porridge'', ''Prince Hyacinth'' and ''Fairy Gifts''nor a mere 36 hours.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842709801</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Tony Bradman and Tony Ross|title=The Orchard Book of Swords, Sorcerers and Superheroes|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Jason and But I do remember the Argonauts, King Arthur, Aladdin, William Tell, Hercules, Sinbad, St George, Ali Baba, Theseus and Robin Hood. If you love myths and legends as much as [[Top Ten Retellings feeling of MythsChristmas when I was younger, Legends and Fairy Tales|we do]] then those ten heroes will have got your juices flowingback when it was magical, and back when you'll be desperate to dive in to this collection of adventures. It's fantastic. You'll love it!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408309211</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Children's Trust|title=The Walrus and knew exactly what the Carpenter season would bring with carol concerts and Other Favourite Poems|rating=3.5|genre=Children's Rhymes school nativities and Verse|summary=Celebrities, including [[:Category:Richard Hammond|Richard Hammond]], Paul O'Grady, Sienna Miller, McFly and Lorraine Kelly, have chosen their favourite poems for this anthologyChristmas parties. All proceeds from the This book go to [http://www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/ The Children's Trust]. It's a fantastic charity, who help disabled childrenis an anthology of those moments, and I urge you all it took me right back to buy the wonder of Christmas as a copy of ''The Walrus and the Carpenter'' to support themchild.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140632650X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Michael RosenAyrton_Pasaran|title=A To Z - The Best Children's Poetry From Agard To Zephaniah|rating=5|genre=Children's Rhymes and Verse|summary=Michael Rosen has picked the best modern children's poetry, from John Agard through to Benjamin Zephaniah. It stemmed No Pasaran: Writings from Rosen performing in schools and libraries with many of the poets, and as children's poetry anthologies go, it's amongst the very best.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141324503</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewSpanish Civil War|author=Zadie Smith|title=Changing My Mind: Occasional EssaysPete Ayrton (editor)

|summary=Zadie Smith is best known as In ''¡No Pasarán!: Writings from the author of three novels: White TeethSpanish Civil War'', The Autograph Man and On Beauty. She now teaches Creative Writing at Columbia University in New York. This collection is Pete Ayrton has chosen a mixture majority of literary criticism and journalismtexts by Spanish writers, including travel writing, reviews and other writing on film and several pieces arguing that the conflict has long been written about Zadie Smith's family, and especially her father. It is divided into five sections under from the point of view of the headings Reading, Being, Seeing, Feeling and Rememberinginternational brigades.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241142954</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Spike MilliganEdwards_Manor|title=The Magical World of MilliganMurder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries (British Library Crime Classics)|author=Martin Edwards (editor)

|genre=Confident ReadersAnthologies|summary=Some people you just have to loveI'm not big on short stories, but two factors nudged me towards this book. It Firstly, it's broadly golden age crime, one of my weaknesses and secondly, the law. Spike Milligan was always fantasticeditor is [[:Category:Martin Edwards|Martin Edwards]], a man whose knowledge of golden age crime is probably unsurpassed and he's much misseddone us proud, not only with his selection but with the half-page biographies of the writers, which precede each story. He There's got just enough there to allow you to place the perfect mix of nonsenseauthor and to direct you to other works if you're tempted. It's an elegant selection, heartfrom the well known and the less well known, and surreal humour. He speaks to people of all ages, set in and he's just plain lovelyaround the country house. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905264844</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Carol Ann DuffyColfer_Place|title=New and Collected Poems for ChildrenOnce Upon a Place|author=Eoin Colfer (editor)|rating=3.5

|summary=Sometimes You know the title is all bit of the introduction blurb on every ''Artemis Fowl'' book, where Eoin Colfer had it said about how you need: Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffypronounce his name? That wasn's 'New t the intention of an up-and-coming author to be recognisable; rather, it was pride. Pride in the difference of it, of the Irishness of it. Ireland, it seems to me, is more full than usual of people, things and ideas, and places that are different by dint of their singular nationality – and so many deserve to have pride attached to them. The places might not be the famous ones, but they can be the source of pride, and Collected Poems of stories, which is where this compilation of short works for Children'the young comes in, with the authors invited to select their chosen place and write about it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571219683</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Harry HorseCleeves_Murder|title=Higglety Pigglety Pop! And The Starlings and Other First PoemsStories|author=Ann Cleeves (editor)

|genre=For SharingAnthologies|summary=A poetry anthology that includes Edward LearSix authors, Spike Milliganknown collectively as 'Murder Squad', AA Milneand their six accomplices were each given photographs of the remote landscape of Pembrokeshire by acclaimed photographer David Wilson and asked to come up with a short story inspired by what they saw. Some of the stories will be more to your taste than others, Lewis Carroll and Michael Rosen as is immediately worth only to be expected in such a look. They're timeless classics that everyone has read varied anthology, but none are weak and has had read to themif you enjoy crime short stories then this book could be a real treat.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406323144</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Debi GlioriMilne_Love|title=Noisy PoemsLove From Pooh (Winnie the Pooh)|author=A A Milne

|genre=For SharingAnthologies|summary=Any For a small book, a small review – this is a quite delightful little thing, about which not a lot can be said. It is a gift book of poetry pure and simple, much in the way that Pooh Bear was a little simple at times (''Pooh… thought how wonderful it would be to have a Real Brain which could tell you things''). With it comes a simple blurb, and almost instructions that starts with Spike Milligan it is for giving, and ends with Roger McGough will get there is a space for a loving dedication at the thumbs up from mebeginning, which is again only apt, as it is all about love. Noisy Poems is full Love of just that: poems about soundshoney, with trucks honkinglove in friendship, ducks quackinglove of all various kinds, trains clickety-clacking and shoes squeakingbut just love. Itcan's awash with alliteration and rhythmt help but make you most warm-hearted. It's crying out to be read aloud and joined in with.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406323195</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John FosterWalton_Scifi|title=Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Bar|rating=4.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=I was recently subjected to a good 20 minutes of the rude version of Happy Birthday in Catalan, even though it was neither my birthday nor am I Catalan. I responded with the ol' squashed tomatoes and stew version that we all know and love, for a very restrained 15 minutes. Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Bar is packed full of such things. Kids love those sort of rhymes, and childish adults love 'em too. Whilst Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Bar isn't exactly rude, it does have a cheeky glint in its eye, a muddy splash on its new shoes, and gleeful laughter throughout.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192755811</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewWhat Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And Fantasy|author=Paul B Janeczko and Chris Raschka|title=A Kick In The Head: An Everyday Guide To Poetic FormsJo Walton

|genre=Confident ReadersAnthologies|summary=As the subtitle saysJo Walton has published over ten books, A Kick In The Head is an everyday guide to poetic formsseveral of which have been award-winning. It's a perfect primer to couplets, limericks, acrostics, sonnetsOn top of that, haiku and many more. Each form she has a brief explanationvoracious appetite for books - both as a well-respected writer of original fiction, an example, and then but as a more detailed explanation at the backwell-respected reviewer too. It's Not only does she have time to do all that, but she also writes a wonderful educational book regular column for any child (or for any adult who wants to brush up Tor.com, on their basic understanding Science Fiction and Fantasy books, and it is these columns that a selection of poetry)which are collected here.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0763641324</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Brian MacArthurTennant_Grub|title=For King Did We Meet on Grub Street?|author=Emma Tennant, Hilary Bailey and Country: Voices from the First World War David Elliott|rating=3.5|genre=HistoryAnthologies|summary=''For King Essentially, the three authors (all of whom have long careers in the book industry) revel in the idea of being whining old curmudgeons who miss the good old days of publishing. This unashamed nostalgia provides the focus of the book and Country – Voices allows the writers to recount numerous anecdotes from their days in the First World War'' publishing business. Whilst the primary audience for this book may well be students of creative writing and media studies, it also serves as an interesting exploration of an aspect of modern history: how a once-burgeoning industry is an anthology now a shell of its former self, much like a lot of writings edited by Brian MacArthurmanufacturing. It features around 450 pages Because of journalsthis, poems, articles I was disappointed that no space was given to a consideration of how the rise of the e-book and memories Kindle has directly damaged both the sale of those involved in WWIbooks and the potential for new books to be written (fewer real books sold = fewer financial advances paid to writers = fewer books written). These factual accounts cover all kinds Also, given the clear love of stylesbooks as treasured artefacts, lengths and subject matterthe dismissal of the Harry Potter phenomenon seems truculent, but each one is hopefully able given the impetus the series gave to give reading amongst both the reader a real taste of a time most of us are too young to remember first-handand adults.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0349120293</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tom Hodgkinson Penzler_Big|title=The Big Book of Idle Pleasures|rating=4.5|genre=Trivia|summary=We've all heard the clichés about modern life. You know – technology was meant to free us from drudgery. Instead we've become its slaves and work longer hours than ever. We're overloaded with means of communication but few of us know our neighbours, etc, etc. On hearing these, most of us shrug and carry on with our busy, busy lives. But now and then, something reminds us of who and what we are. This delightful, unassuming book is one of those things.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091923328</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewChristmas Mysteries|author=Richard Dawkins |title=The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing Otto Penzler (editor)

|genre=Popular ScienceAnthologies|summary=Popular science Nostalgia is a huge field nowadaysbig part of the Christmas experience, populated and that's provided in sack-loads by both this hefty tome of short stories. Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Brother Cadfael jostle Morse, Rumpole and Vic Warshawski for space on these tightly packed pages, while lesser-known and long since forgotten writers who turn to science furnish new and scientists who took to writing. The collection I have unexpected pleasures for even the pleasure of reviewing contains samples of writing by scientists, most well-read of it at least illuminating, some truly excellentbook worms.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0199216800</amazonuk>