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[[Category:New Reviews|Anthologies]]
[[Category:Anthologies|*]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Pete Ayrton (editor) 1737030942|title= No Pasaran: Writings from the Spanish Civil WarBag O'Goodies|author=Jolly Walker Bittick|rating= 4
|genre= Anthologies
|summary= In Sometimes, you deserve a treat and mine was Jolly Walker Bittick's ''Bag O'¡No Pasarán!: Writings from the Spanish Civil WarGoodies''. I first encountered his writing about a year ago, when I read his [[Cape Henry House by Jolly Walker Bittick|Cape Henry House]], Pete Ayrton has chosen a majority rollicking tale of texts by Spanish writerswhat happens when five young men find a base for their partying. Right now, I didn't want a full-length novel, arguing that the conflict so I turned to this anthology of verse and short stories. Bittick's writing has long been written about from the point matured - and so have his characters. Well... most of view of the international brigades.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668997X</amazonuk>them!
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Martin Edwards (editor)140638853X|title=Murder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries (British Library Crime Classics)Somebody Give This Heart a Pen|author=Sophia Thakur|rating=4.5|genre=Crime (Historical)Anthologies|summary=ISophia Thakur'm not big on short storiess debut anthology is a collection of poems that are all unique, whether in relation to their style, but two factors nudged me towards this booklength or theme. FirstlyThe collection is split into four sections, ittitled 'grow', 'wait's broadly golden age crime, one of my weaknesses 'break' and secondly'grow again', the editor guiding you through a process which is [[:Category:Martin Edwards|Martin Edwards]], a man whose knowledge one of golden age crime the foundations that the anthology is probably unsurpassed and he's done us proud, not only built on. Each section begins with his selection, but with the half-a foregrounded title page biographies containing various small pieces of the writerswriting, ranging from a quote by a Nigerian playwright, which precede each storyto African proverbs. There's just enough there This provides a nice introduction to allow you to place the author and to direct section before you to other works if you're tempted. It's an elegant selection, from are immersed in the well known beautifully written and the less well known, all set in eloquent poems that Thakur has clearly put her heart and around the country housesoul into.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0712309934</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Eoin Colfer (editor)1789016789|title=Once Upon a PlaceYou're the Froth On My Soy Cappuccino: Poems for the Present|author=Don Behrend|rating=3.54|genre=Confident Readers Anthologies|summary=''You know 're the bit of Froth On My Soy Cappuccino'' begins with ''A Modern Love Story'': ''You’re the blurb froth on every my soy cappuccino''<br>''Artemis FowlYou’re the spread on my paleo toast'' book, where Eoin Colfer had it said about how you pronounce his name? That wasn<br>''t You’re the intention nose of an upmy GM-and-coming author to be recognisable; ratherfree Pinot''<br>''You’re organic, it was pridemy love. Pride in You’re 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 most!''<br> Ha! How can you not be the famous ones, but they can be the source of pride, and of stories, which is where laugh at this compilation of short works for the young comes gently mocking take on love in, with the authors invited to select their chosen place and write about it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>191041137X</amazonuk>hipster world?
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ann Cleeves (editor)PUP_Rising|title=The Starlings and Other StoriesRising Stars: New Young Voices in Poetry|author=Pop Up Projects
|rating=4
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=For a small book, a small review – this is a quite delightful little thing, about which not a lot can be saidThis collection brings together five emerging voices in poetry. It is a gift book pure and simpleAnd despite what the publisher says, much in I wouldn't personally impose an age restriction on the way writing here. Each poet uses words that Pooh Bear was a little simple at times (''Pooh… thought how wonderful it would be will appeal to have a Real Brain which could tell you things'')many readers. With it comes a simple blurb, and almost instructions that it is for giving, and there is a space for a loving dedication at the beginning, which is again only apt, as it is all about love. Love of honey, love in friendship, love of all various kinds, but just love. It canI found this particularly so with Jay Hulme't help but make you most warm-hearteds poetry.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405276150</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jo WaltonStevenson_Garden|title=What Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And FantasyA Child's Garden of Verses|author=Robert Louis Stevenson|rating=52
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=Jo Walton has published over ten books, several of which have been award winning. On top of that, she has a voracious appetite for books - both as Robert Louis Stevenson was a well respected very versatile writer ; he delved deep into the human psyche when he wrote ''The Strange Case of original fiction, Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' but as a well respected reviewer too. Not only does she have time he did not restrict himself to do all that, but she also writes a regular column for Tor.com, on Science Fiction and Fantasy books, and it is these columns that a selection of which are collected here.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472111613</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Emma Tennant, Hilary Bailey and David Elliott|title=Did We Meet on Grub Street?|rating=3.5|genre=Entertainment|summary=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 representations of the book gothic and allows the writers to recount numerous anecdotes from their days in the publishing businesspersecuted. Whilst the primary audience for this book may well be students of creative writing and media studies, it He also serves wrote brilliant children's adventure stories such as an interesting exploration of an aspect of modern history: how a once-burgeoning industry is now a shell of its former self, much like a lot of manufacturing. Because of this, I was disappointed that no space was given to a consideration of how the rise of the e-book ''Treasure Island'' and Kindle has directly damaged both the sale of books and the potential for new books to be written (fewer real books sold = fewer financial advances paid to writers = fewer books written). Also''Kidnapped'', given the clear love of books as treasured artifactsbut, the dismissal of the Harry Potter phenomenon seems truculentagain, given the impetus the series gave he did not restrict himself to prose writing because here he demonstrates his ability to reading amongst both the young and adults.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0704372983</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Otto Penzler (editor)|title=The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries|rating=5|genre=Crime|summary=Nostalgia is a big part of the Christmas experience, and that's provided in sack-loads by 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 furnish new and unexpected pleasures for even the most well-read of book wormswrite poetry.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784082252</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Esiri Poem|title=Burnt Tongues: An Anthology A Poem for Every Day of Transgressive Short Storiesthe Year|author=Chuck Palahniuk, Dennis Widmyer and Richard ThomasAllie Esiri
|rating=4
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=George R R Martin For those who do not read much poetry, for those who do not know where to start, this is undoubtedly the biggest name in modern a fun and easy commitment to take on. Reading a poem a day fantasydoes not take long, mere minutes, and Gardner Dozois an American science fiction author of considerable renown. Here, the two collect twenty one stories by with over three-hundred poems in here there's bound to be a list of well known and hugely loved authorspoem that speaks to each reader directly.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783297190</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Herbertson_Wordsworth|title=While Wandering - William and Dorothy Wordsworth: A Walking CompanionMiscellany|author=Duncan MinshullGavin Herbertson
|rating=5
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=''While Wandering - A Walking Companion'', William Wordsworth was first published ten years ago as ''The Vintage Book a defining member of Walking''the romantic literary era. Reprinted and retitled with a stunning new cover by James Jones and Finn DeanHe was part of the first wave, and his poetry helped to shape a foreword by Robert Macfarlane, large part of it. Nature was the best writer on walking key: existing in recent years (nature, finding one's own true nature and becoming natural in my humble opinion)the process were the driving forces behind it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>009959336X</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|titleisbn=A is Amazing!: Poems about FeelingsMahfouz_Muslim|authortitle=Wendy Cooling and Piet Grobler|rating=4.5|genre=Children's Rhymes and Verse|summary=How do you get young children interested in poetry? The Things I guess you hope that you don't have to – you want them to be aware of clapping and skipping songs by nature, and of lyrics to music heard in school and at home. Surely it's a case of making sure a child never learns to hold verse in disfavour, and carries a natural eagerness for poetry through to adulthood. But just in case, there are books such as this wonderfully thought-through compilation, that will catch the eye and entertain those aged six or seven and up, and provide for many a read of many a different style of verse.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847805132</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=A Broken WorldWould Tell You: Letters, diaries and memories of the Great War|author=Sebastian Faulks and Hope Wolf|rating=4.5|genre=History|summary=Sebastian Faulks and Dr Hope Wolf have expertly brought together this far-reaching collection of memories, diaries, letters and postcards written during and after the First World War. While Faulks is the author of novels such as ''Birdsong'' and ''Charlotte Gray'', Dr Hope Wolf is a research fellow in English at the University of Cambridge, whose doctoral research focused on archives at the Imperial War Museum. The combination of such a respected author, whose most famous (and arguably his best) novel is set in the First World War, and an academic whose expertise is the in the same area, means that this fascinating collection hits all the right notes. It's commemorative, poignant and very human.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091954223</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Dead But Not ForgottenBritish Muslim Women Write|author=Charlaine Harris and Toni LP Kelner (Editors)Sabrina Mahfouz|rating=3.5
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=''Dead But Not Forgotten'' returns What does it mean to Sookie Stackhouse's world, exploring the lives be British and misadventures of some of the more minor characters in the seriesMuslim? This is a question these writers tackle with stunning clarity. The collection features stories about Pam Ravenscroft, Adele Hale Stackhouse, Luna, Diantha, Bubba and many Modern-day British society has a varied sense of the other colourful characters from Bon Temps cultural heritage; it is a society that is changing and the wider universe of Sookie's story, written by authors such moving forward as Seanan McGuire, Rachel Caine, Nicole Peeler, Christopher Golden it adds more and many more.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B00GBQXN6K</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Stories of World War One|author=Tony Bradman|rating=5|genre=Teens|summary=World War Onevoices to the population, or the Great War as but it was known at the time, was a cataclysmic war. Millions died and life was changed forever for the survivors - for the women is also one that has an undercurrent of Britain, anxiety and for the working classes and ruling classes alikefear towards those who are minorities. 2014 So this collection displays how all that fear is received; it comes in the centenary form of its outbreak stereotypical labels and the redoubtable Tony Bradman has gathered together a dozen of our best writers for young people to create an anthology of short stories to commemorate the anniversaryracial prejudice, which are themes eloquently reproduced here.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408330350</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Holland Cheap|title=Daughters of TimeView from the Cheap Seats|author=Mary Hoffman (editor)Barry Holland
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersAnthologies|summary=This 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 his favourite rugby player, which is just as it should be. He is an anthology aimed at tweens and younger teens on the subject a qualified engineer but is unable to work because of ''some mental ill-health. All of historythese things feed into 's most remarkable women'View from the Cheap Seats'. It's an interesting idea, particularly which is a collection of poems and imaginings as the usual suspects are perhaps avoidedvivid and immediate and striking as you could hope for. No Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Victoria, or Florence Nightingale. Instead we get Boudica, Mary Seacole, Aphra Behn Barry sounds like a thoroughly nice bloke and Julian of Norwich, amongst others. It doesn't altogether work for me but there are enough strong stories his book was a pleasure to make it well worth a lookread.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184877169X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Marshall EFT|title=No Man's Land: Writings From A World At WarThe Book of English Folk Tales|author=Pete Ayrton (editor)Sybil Marshall and John Lawrence
|rating=4
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=July 2014 marks the centenary From ghosts to witches, to giants and fairies, ''The Book of the outbreak of the Great War: English Folk Tales'' is a war that has become imprinted on the national consciousness fascinating collection of Britain (stories retold by social historian and plenty folklorist Sybil Marshall. Out of modern nationprint for over three decades, this beautiful new clothbound edition is complete with wood-states), partly because engraved illustrations by John Lawrence and is sure to capture the attention of a new generation of the large numbers lovers of people (mostly men) writing about it. I don't mean journalists, who had been covering wars for the Victorian public, but artists: poets, authors, memoirists and painters. The poets especially have stamped World War One on collective memory, through countless poetry anthologies, recitals at memorials, and in school classroomsfolklore.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846689252</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Trotman_Winter|title=Of Lions and UnicornsWinter: A Lifetime of Tales from Book for the Master StorytellerSeason|author=Michael MorpurgoFelicity Trotman (editor)
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersAnthologies|summary=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 English Civil War Society, has arranged the material into three sections: 'The Old Year'Of Lions , 'Christmas, Sacred and UnicornsSecular', and ' is a collection The New Year'. This creates an appropriate sense of short stories chronological progression and extracts from Morpurgo’s most popular booksalso serves to make Christmas the heart of the book. The book is split into five sectionsBlack-and-white illustrations – maps, photographs and engravings – are interspersed throughout, which focus on recurring themes in his writingand each author gets a short paragraph of biography and background.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007395353</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Elphinstone_Winter|title=Rags and BonesWinter Magic|author=Melissa Marr and Tim Pratt Abi Elphinstone (EditorsEditor)|rating=43.5
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=Some With everything from dragons to mysterious crimes, voice-stealing witches to time travel, and magical worlds to first performances of today's top authors have come together to retell classic tales world- famous ballets, this is a collection of short stories that delights from fairy stories start to Victorian-era fictionfinish. As usual with this kind Anthologies of anthologyshort stories can sometimes fall flat, it's with one or two good ones and then a fairly hit-or-miss affairbunch of mediocre fillers, but this collection has no weak links...all the hits here stories are so strong that they're well worth picking good, and most of them are brilliant. I felt entirely caught up in each individual world as I read, loving the book forvaried and extremely likeable heroines throughout. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472210522</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Chris MossPhinn_Virgin|title=Smoothly From Harrow: A Compendium for the London CommuterThe Virgin Mary's Got Nits|author=Gervase Phinn|rating=4.5
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=If you want Christmas in our house is the time we tend to get ''behind'' what commuting on a plane and head to either sun or snow, anywhere that is really like - not in an academic or a political wayfar, but far away from the perspective of having your hand through a strap madness at home, last-minute dashes to the shops on Christmas Eve and wishing food cupboard stockpiles that the man next to you wasn't ''quite'' so enamoured of Brut aftershave - then you need would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, nor a travel journalistmere 36 hours. Step forward (but mind But I do remember the gap)feeling of Christmas when I was younger, Chris Mossback when it was magical, who writes regularly for and back when you knew exactly what the ''Daily Telegraph'' season would bring with carol concerts and has done the same for the ''Guardian'', ''Independent'' school nativities and various magazinesChristmas parties. Most importantly, he's commuted from Camberwell, Camden, Hackney, Harrow, Herne HillThis book is an anthology of those moments, Surbiton and Tooting. Personally, I think he deserves it took me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a medalchild.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905131623</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Ayrton_Pasaran|title=The Time Traveller's AlmanacNo Pasaran: Writings from the Spanish Civil War|author=Anne VanderMeer and Jeff VanderMeerPete Ayrton (editor)
|rating=4
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=From H.G Wells to In ''Doctor Who¡No Pasarán!: Writings from the Spanish Civil War'', there is something about Pete Ayrton has chosen a good time-travel story majority of texts by Spanish writers, arguing that the conflict has long been written about from the power to ignite the imagination in a way unique to the genre. Perhaps it is due to the fact that when dealing with the subject point of view of time travel, literally ''anything is possible''. Well, almost anything...apart from going back in time and killing your Grandfather, which we know would cause an almighty paradox and probably destroy the universeinternational brigades.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781853908</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Edwards_Manor|title=Stuff I've Been ReadingMurder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries (British Library Crime Classics)|author=Nick HornbyMartin Edwards (editor)
|rating=4.5
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=I am lucky enough to be typing 'm not big on short stories, but two factors nudged me towards this while sitting on the fifth floor book. Firstly, it's broadly golden age crime, one of my weaknesses and secondly, the magnificent new Library editor is [[:Category:Martin Edwards|Martin Edwards]], a man whose knowledge of Birmingham. Coming in at a whopping £189 million golden age crime is probably unsurpassed and he's done us proud, not only with his selection but with the burghers half-page biographies of the second city certainly havenwriters, which precede each story. There't skimped in trying s just enough there to allow you to place the author and to direct you to create a 21st century centre of learningother works if you're tempted. Amongst all It's an elegant selection, from the interactive learning zones, digital galleries well known and coffee shops there are of course books. Manythe less well known, many books. Over one million all set in fact. And this in an era when some critics have said that and around the book in its current form is deadcountry house.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241003334</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Colfer_Place|title=Beyond Rue Morgue: Further Tales of Edgar Allan Poe's 1st DetectiveOnce Upon a Place|author=Paul Kane and Charles Prepolec Eoin Colfer (Editorseditor)
|rating=3.5
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=C. Auguste Dupin is often regarded as the first fictional detective and at You know 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 bit of logic and deduction aid the police blurb on their most baffling cases. The characters literary debut was in the short story every ''The Murders in the Rue MorgueArtemis Fowl'' in 1841 and between 1842 and 1844 Poe wrote two more short stories book, where Eoin Colfer had it said about Dupin how you pronounce his name? That wasn't the intention of an up-and his exploits-coming author to be recognisable; rather, it was pride. ''Beyond Rue Morgue'' contains nine stories ( Pride in addition the difference of it, of the Irishness of it. Ireland, it seems to the original Poe tale) by various authors me, is more full than usual of people, things and ideas, and gives many places that are different takes on the same character or influenced by him. From samurai assassins dint of their singular nationality – and the apocalypse so many deserve to an agoraphobic distant relative of Dupin attempting have pride attached to solve a murder without even leaving her home; them. The places might not be the different writers all take famous ones, but they can be the intriguing character to places we wouldn’t expect source of pride, and of stories, which is where this compilation of short works for the creativity of all keeps young comes in, with the character fresh from story authors invited to storyselect their chosen place and write about it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781161755</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Cleeves_Murder|title=Best British Short The Starlings and Other Stories 2013|author=Nicholas Royle Ann Cleeves (editor)|rating=54|genre=Short StoriesAnthologies|summary=Expect to read some quality work in ''Best British Short Stories 2013''Six authors, sourced from a number of short story magazines; known collectively as 'GrantaMurder Squad', 'Shadows and Tall Trees', 'Unthology' and 'The Edinburgh Review' are just some their six accomplices were each given photographs of the publications in which these pieces were to be seen first. If remote landscape of Pembrokeshire by acclaimed photographer David Wilson and asked to identify come up with a red thread between the components of Nicholas Royle’s anthology, I would say that in each short storyinspired by what they saw. Some of the stories will be more to your taste than others, everything as is left only to simmer under the surface. There is be expected in such a frustration brought about by the lack of clarity in every varied anthology, but none are weak and if you enjoy crime short story, which to me is stories then this book could be a reflection of just how unclear the most seismic of situations may be to any individual involvedreal treat.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907773479</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Malcolm GladwellMilne_Love|title=The Big New Yorker Book of Dogs with ForewordLove From Pooh (Winnie the Pooh)|author=A A Milne
|rating=5
|genre=PetsAnthologies|summary=I think it's fair to say that you're For a small book, a small review – this is a quite delightful little thing, about which not even going to pick this book up unless you're a dog loverlot can be said. If you've always yearned for It is a cat gift book pure and shudder at the thought of early morning walks simple, much in the rain then this is definitely no the book for you. But - if you know, or are known by way that Pooh Bear was a dog then little simple at times (''Pooh… thought how wonderful it's the equivalent of that massive hamper of chocolate delights would be to have a chocoholicReal Brain which could tell you things''). Only With it comes a magazine like the ''New Yorker'' could raid its archives simple blurb, and almost instructions that it is for giving, and produce such there is a massive compendium of humourspace for a loving dedication at the beginning, illustrationswhich is again only apt, essaysas it is all about love. Love of honey, fictionlove in friendship, poems and cartoons about dogslove of all various kinds, or have a cast of writers which could put many a bookshop to shamebut just love. It can't help but make you most warm-hearted.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>043402239X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Angela Macmillan Walton_Scifi|title=A Little, Aloud for ChildrenWhat Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And Fantasy|author=Jo Walton
|rating=5
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=Twenty five years Jo Walton has published over ten books, several of which have been award- winning. On top of that, she has a quarter voracious appetite for books - both as a well-respected writer of original fiction, but as a century well- is a long timerespected reviewer too. It's an incredible length of Not only does she have time as an independent publisher, particularly one which specialises in publishing the best in Welsh women's writingto do all that, but that's exactly what Honno have achievedshe also writes a regular column for Tor. To celebrate the occasion they've published this anthology of twenty five short stories com, on Science Fiction and non-fiction pieces. They've previously been seen in the numerous anthologies published by Honno but when combined they give an interesting Fantasy books, and enlightening insight into the work it is these columns that a selection of these great writerswhich are collected here.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906784337</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary BeardTennant_Grub|title=All in a Don's Day|rating=4|genre=Autobiography|summary=Mary Beard's latest collection, 'All in a Don's Day', of her assembled blog pieces from 2009 until the end of 2011, covers similar concerns to her previous selection, [[It's A Don's Life by Mary Beard|It's a Don's Life]]. Professor Beard is a fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge and became Classics Professor at there in 2004. She is also an expert in Roman laughter, 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 Academy, and makes witty observations Did We Meet on matters as various as television chefs, what and how 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-seekers.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846685362</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewGrub Street?|author=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 and Linda Newbery |title=Magic Beans|rating=4|genre=For Sharing|summary=I 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). There's a selection of stories from traditional sources such as Hans Christian AndersenEmma Tennant, Hilary Bailey and Aesop, and I imagine that the authors were inveigled into writing for publisher David Fickling with a free choice of original stories. So don't expect a collection or compendium, but rather an anthology of tales that have entranced and inspired these writers in their own childhoods – magic beans indeed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857560433</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Christopher Golden (Editor)|title=Monster's CornerElliott|rating=43.5
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=''The Monster's Corner'' is a collection Essentially, the three authors (all of tales that are told from whom have long careers in the monster's perspective. It takes book industry) revel in the idea that we are all of being whining old curmudgeons who miss the good old days of publishing. This unashamed nostalgia provides the heroes focus of our own story the book and has a gloriously good time with itallows the writers to recount numerous anecdotes from their days in the publishing business. Ranging from Whilst the thoughtprimary 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-provoking burgeoning industry is now a shell of its former self, much like a lot of manufacturing. Because of this, I was disappointed that no space was given to a consideration of how the strange, to rise of the shocking e-book and gory – they're a great selection Kindle has directly damaged both the sale of stories from books and the potential for new books to be written (fewer real books sold = fewer financial advances paid to writers = fewer books written). Also, given the likes clear love of [[:Category:Kelley Armstrong|Kelley Armstrong]]books as treasured artefacts, [[:Category:Kevin J Anderson|Kevin J. Anderson]]the dismissal of the Harry Potter phenomenon seems truculent, Sarah Pinborough given the impetus the series gave to reading amongst both the young and many othersadults.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749957859</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Michael PalinPenzler_Big|title=Ox Travels|rating=4|genre=Travel|summary=Ox Travels is an anthology The Big Book of travel writing compiled to raise funds for Oxfam, but it is well worth buying and reading in its own right. Its generous 432 pages offer the chance to meet 36 writers, including travel writers, journalists and novelists, with an introduction by Michael Palin and an afterword by Barbara Stocking, Oxfam's Chief Executive.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668496X</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewChristmas Mysteries|author=David Lodge|title=The Art of FictionOtto Penzler (editor)|rating=45
|genre=Anthologies
|summary=Some academics produce streams Nostalgia is a big part of fantastic concepts the Christmas experience, and ideas but their attempts at articulating them to a wider reading public stumble into jargon and complexity. Thankfully David Lodge has no such troubles. As a mighty fine novelist ([[Nice Work that's provided in sack-loads by David Lodge|Nice Work]], [[Thinksthis hefty tome of short stories... by David Lodge|Thinks...]]Sherlock Holmes, Deaf Sentence Hercule Poirot and many more) who also has a day job as a professor of EnglishBrother Cadfael jostle Morse, Lodge is perfectly qualified to deliver a book Rumpole and Vic Warshawski for space on these tightly packed pages, while lesser-known and long since forgotten writers furnish new and unexpected pleasures for even the craft most well-read of writing an in The Art of Fiction he has delivered one that is informative and enlightening as well as highly entertainingbook worms.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099554240</amazonuk>
}}
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