Changes

{|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15"''You’re the froth on my soy cappuccino''<br>''You’re the spread on my paleo toast''<!-- Pop Up Projects --br>|''You’re the nose of my GM-free Pinot''<br>| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:PUP_Rising''You’re organic, my love.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910959375/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]You’re the most!''<br>

Ha! How can you not laugh at this gently mocking take on love in the hipster world? }}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"PUP_Rising|==title=[[Rising Stars: New Young Voices in Poetry by |author=Pop Up Projects]]|rating===4[[image:4star.jpg|linkgenre=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] summary=This collection brings together five emerging voices in poetry. And despite what the publisher says, I wouldn't personally impose an age restriction on the writing here. Each poet uses words that will appeal to many readers. I found this particularly so with Jay Hulme's poetry. [[Rising Stars: New Young Voices in Poetry by Pop Up Projects|Full Review]]}}{{Frontpage<!-- Stevenson -->|isbn=Stevenson_Garden|-title=A Child's Garden of Verses| styleauthor="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Robert Louis Stevenson[[image:Stevenson_Garden.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910959103/ref=nosim?tagrating=thebookbag-21]]2| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Anthologies|summary===[[A ChildRobert Louis Stevenson was a very versatile writer; he delved deep into the human psyche when he wrote ''s Garden The Strange Case of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson]]=== [[image:2starDoctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' but he did not restrict himself to representations of the gothic and the persecuted.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] [[:Category:ChildrenHe also wrote brilliant children's adventure stories such as ''Treasure Island''s Rhymes and Verse|Children's Rhymes and Verse]] Robert Louis Stevenson was a very versatile writer; he delved deep into the human psyche when he wrote ''The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' 'Kidnapped'', but , again, he did not restrict himself to representations of the gothic and the persecutedprose writing because here he demonstrates his ability to write poetry. He also wrote brilliant children's adventure stories such as ''Treasure Island'' and ''Kidnapped'', but, again, he did not restrict himself to prose writing because here he demonstrates his ability to write poetry. [[}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Esiri Poem|title=A Child's Garden Poem for Every Day of Verses by Robert Louis Stevensonthe Year|Full Review]] <!-- author=Allie Esiri --> |-rating=4| stylegenre="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Anthologies|[[image:Esiri Poem.jpg|left|linksummary=http://wwwFor those who do not read much poetry, for those who do not know where to start, this is a fun and easy commitment to take on.amazon.co.uk/dp/1509860541/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbagReading a poem a day does not take long, mere minutes, and with over three-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"hundred poems in here there's bound to be a poem that speaks to each reader directly.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Herbertson_Wordsworth|title=William and Dorothy Wordsworth: A Miscellany|author=Gavin Herbertson|rating=[[A Poem for Every Day of the Year by Allie Esiri]]==5|genre=Anthologies [[image:4star.jpg|linksummary=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes William Wordsworth was a defining member of the romantic literary era. He was part of the first wave, and Verse|Childrenhis poetry helped to shape a large part of it. Nature was the key: existing in nature, finding one's Rhymes own true nature and Verse]]becoming natural in the process were the driving forces behind it.}}{{FrontpageFor those who do not read much poetry, for those who do not know where to start, this is a fun |isbn=Mahfouz_Muslim|title=The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write|author=Sabrina Mahfouz|rating=5|genre=Anthologies|summary=What does it mean to be British and easy commitment to take on. Reading Muslim? This is a poem a day does not take long, mere minutes, and question these writers tackle with over threestunning clarity. Modern-hundred poems in here there's bound to be day British society has a varied sense of cultural heritage; it is a poem society that speaks is changing and moving forward as it adds more and more voices to each reader directly. [[A Poem for Every Day the population, but it is also one that has an undercurrent of the Year by Allie Esiri|Full Review]] <!-- Herbertson -->|-| style="width: 10%anxiety and fear towards those who are minorities. So this collection displays how all that fear is received; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"it comes in the form of stereotypical labels and racial prejudice, which are themes eloquently reproduced here.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Holland Cheap[[image:Herbertson_Wordsworth.jpg|left|linktitle=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1903385598/refView from the Cheap Seats|author=nosim?tagBarry Holland|rating=thebookbag-21]]4|genre=Anthologies| stylesummary="vertical-alignA little bit about Barry Holland: top; text-align: left;"|===[[William he was born in Newport, South Wales, to working-class parents. He loves rugby and Dorothy Wordsworth: A Miscellany by Gavin Herbertson]]=== [[image:5starhis son - his son is his favourite rugby player, which is just as it should be.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] William Wordsworth was a defining member He is a qualified engineer but is unable to work because of the romantic literary eramental ill-health. He was part All of the first wavethese things feed into ''View from the Cheap Seats'', and his poetry helped to shape which is a large part collection of itpoems and imaginings as vivid and immediate and striking as you could hope for. Nature was the key: existing in nature, finding one's own true nature Barry sounds like a thoroughly nice bloke and becoming natural in the process were the driving forces behind ithis book was a pleasure to read. [[William and Dorothy Wordsworth: A Miscellany by Gavin Herbertson|Full Review]]<!-- Mahfouz -->}}{{Frontpage|-isbn=Marshall EFT| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"The Book of English Folk Tales|author=Sybil Marshall and John Lawrence[[image:Mahfouz_Muslim.jpg|left|linkrating=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0863561462/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] 4| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Anthologies|summary===[[From ghosts to witches, to giants and fairies, ''The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write Book of English Folk Tales'' is a fascinating collection of stories retold by Sabrina Mahfouz]]=== [[image:5starsocial historian and folklorist Sybil Marshall.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] [[:Category:Literary Fiction|Literary Fiction]] What does it mean to be British and Muslim? This Out of print for over three decades, this beautiful new clothbound edition is complete with wood-engraved illustrations by John Lawrence and is sure to capture the attention of a question these writers tackle with stunning clarity. Modern day British society has a varied sense new generation of lovers of cultural heritage; it is a society that is changing and moving forward as it adds more and more voices to folklore.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Trotman_Winter|title=Winter: A Book for the population, but it is also one that has an undercurrent Season|author=Felicity Trotman (editor)|rating=4|genre=Anthologies|summary=This seasonal anthology contains a nice mixture of anxiety poetry, nature and fear towards those who are minoritiestravel pieces, and excerpts from longer works of fiction. So this collection displays how all that fear is received; it comes in the form Felicity Trotman, a freelance editor and member of stereotypical labels the English Civil War Society, has arranged the material into three sections: 'The Old Year', 'Christmas, Sacred and racial prejudiceSecular', which are themes eloquently reproduced here. [[and 'The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write by Sabrina Mahfouz|Full Review]] <!-New Year'. This creates an appropriate sense of chronological progression and also serves to make Christmas the heart of the book. Black- Holland and-->white illustrations – maps, photographs and engravings – are interspersed throughout, and each author gets a short paragraph of biography and background.}}|-{{Frontpage| styleisbn="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Elphinstone_Winter|title=Winter Magic[[image:Holland Cheap.jpg|leftauthor=Abi Elphinstone (Editor)|linkrating=http://www3.amazon.co.uk/dp/1524633127/ref5|genre=nosim?tagAnthologies|summary=thebookbagWith everything from dragons to mysterious crimes, voice-21]]  | style="verticalstealing witches to time travel, and magical worlds to first performances of world-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[View famous ballets, this is a collection of short stories that delights from the Cheap Seats by Barry Holland]]=== [[image:4starstart to finish.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] A little bit about Barry Holland: he was born in NewportAnthologies of short stories can sometimes fall flat, South Waleswith one or two good ones and then a bunch of mediocre fillers, to working class parentsbut this collection has no weak links... He loves rugby all the stories are good, and his son - his son is his favourite rugby playermost of them are brilliant. I felt entirely caught up in each individual world as I read, which is just as it should beloving the varied and extremely likeable heroines throughout. He is a qualified engineer but is unable to work because of mental ill health. All of these things feed into }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Phinn_Virgin|title=The Virgin Mary''View from s Got Nits|author=Gervase Phinn|rating=4.5|genre=Anthologies|summary=Christmas in our house is the Cheap Seats'', which is time we tend to get on a collection of poems plane and imaginings as vivid and immediate and striking as you could hope for. Barry sounds like a thoroughly nice bloke and his book was a pleasure head to read.[[View either sun or snow, anywhere that is far, far away from the Cheap Seats by Barry Holland|Full Review]] <!madness at home, last-- Marshall -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Marshall EFTminute dashes to the shops on Christmas Eve and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, nor a mere 36 hours.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1468313177/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Book But I do remember the feeling of English Folk Tales by Sybil Marshall Christmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, and John Lawrence]]=== [[image:4starback when you knew exactly what the season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This book is an anthology of those moments, and it took me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a child.jpg}}{{Frontpage|linkisbn=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:AnthologiesAyrton_Pasaran|Anthologies]], [[title=No Pasaran:Category:Short StoriesWritings from the Spanish Civil War|Short Stories]]author=Pete Ayrton (editor)|rating=4|genre=AnthologiesFrom ghosts to witches, to giants and fairies, |summary=In ''The Book of English Folk Tales¡No Pasarán!: Writings from the Spanish Civil War'' is , Pete Ayrton has chosen a fascinating collection majority of stories retold texts by social historian and folklorist Sybil Marshall. Out of print for over three decadesSpanish writers, this beautiful new clothbound edition is complete with wood engraved illustrations by John Lawrence and is sure to capture arguing that the conflict has long been written about from the attention point of a new generation view of lovers of folklorethe international brigades. [[The Book of English Folk Tales by Sybil Marshall and John Lawrence|Full Review]] <!-- Trotman -->}}{{Frontpage|-isbn=Edwards_Manor| styletitle="widthMurder at the Manor: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Country House Mysteries (British Library Crime Classics)|author=Martin Edwards (editor)[[image:Trotman_Winter.jpg|left|linkrating=http://www4.amazon.co.uk/dp/1445664747/ref5|genre=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Anthologies| stylesummary="vertical-alignI'm not big on short stories, but two factors nudged me towards this book. Firstly, it's broadly golden age crime, one of my weaknesses and secondly, the editor is [[: top; text-alignCategory: left;"Martin Edwards|===[[Winter: A Book for the Season by Felicity Trotman (editor)Martin Edwards]]=== [[image:3, a man whose knowledge of golden age crime is probably unsurpassed and he's done us proud, not only with his selection but with the half-page biographies of the writers, which precede each story.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] There's just enough there to allow you to place the author and to direct you to other works if you're tempted. It's an elegant selection, [[:Category:Reference|Reference]] This seasonal anthology contains a nice mixture of poetry, nature from the well known and travel piecesthe less well known, all set in and excerpts from longer works of fictionaround the country house. Felicity Trotman, }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Colfer_Place|title=Once Upon a freelance Place|author=Eoin Colfer (editor and member )|rating=3.5|genre=Anthologies|summary=You know the bit of the English Civil War Societyblurb on every ''Artemis Fowl'' book, has arranged where Eoin Colfer had it said about how you pronounce his name? That wasn't the material into three sections: 'The Old Year', 'Christmas, Sacred intention of an up-and Secular'-coming author to be recognisable; rather, and 'The New Year'it was pride. This creates an appropriate sense Pride in the difference of chronological progressionit, and also serves to make Christmas the heart of the bookIrishness of it. Black- Ireland, it seems to me, is more full than usual of people, things and-white illustrations – mapsideas, photographs and engravings – places that are interspersed throughout, and each author gets a short paragraph different by dint of biography their singular nationality – and background [[Winter: A Book for so many deserve to have pride attached to them. The places might not be the Season by Felicity Trotman (editor)|Full Review]] <!-- Elphinstone -->|-famous ones, but they can be the source of pride, and of stories, which is where this compilation of short works for the young comes in, with the authors invited to select their chosen place and write about it.}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Cleeves_Murder|title=The Starlings and Other Stories[[image:Elphinstone_Winter.jpg|leftauthor=Ann Cleeves (editor)|linkrating=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1471159809/ref4|genre=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Anthologies| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Winter Magic Six authors, known collectively as 'Murder Squad', and their six accomplices were each given photographs of the remote landscape of Pembrokeshire by Abi Elphinstone (Editor)]]=== [[image:5staracclaimed photographer David Wilson and asked to come up with a short story inspired by what they saw.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]]Some of the stories will be more to your taste than others, [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] With everything from dragons to mysterious crimes, voice-stealing witches to time travelas is only to be expected in such a varied anthology, but none are weak and magical worlds to first performances of world-famous ballets, this is if you enjoy crime short stories then this book could be a collection of short stories that delights from start to finishreal treat. Anthologies 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 }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Milne_Love|title=Love From Pooh (Winnie the stories are goodPooh)|author=A A Milne|rating=5|genre=Anthologies|summary=For a small book, and most of them are brilliant. I felt entirely caught up in each individual world as I reada small review – this is a quite delightful little thing, loving the varied about which not a lot can be said. It is a gift book pure and extremely likeable heroines throughout. [[Winter Magic by Abi Elphinstone simple, much in the way that Pooh Bear was a little simple at times (Editor''Pooh… thought how wonderful it would be to have a Real Brain which could tell you things'')|Full Review]] <!-- Phinn -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|left|link=http://www 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.amazon It can't help but make you most warm-hearted.co.uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-alignWalton_Scifi|title=What Makes This Book So Great: top; textRe-align: left;"Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And Fantasy|author=Jo Walton|rating=5|genre=Anthologies|summary==[[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4Jo Walton has published over ten books, several of which have been award-winning.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]]On top of that, [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas in our house is the time we tend to get on she has a voracious appetite for books - both as a plane and head to either sun or snowwell-respected writer of original fiction, anywhere but as a well-respected reviewer too. Not only does she have time to do all that is far, far away from the madness at homebut she also writes a regular column for Tor.com, last minute dashes to the shops on Christmas EveScience Fiction and Fantasy books, and food cupboard stockpiles it is these columns that would imply supermarkets a selection of which are shutting for a month, nor a mere 36 hourscollected here. But I do remember the feeling of Christmas when I was younger, back when it was magical}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Tennant_Grub|title=Did We Meet on Grub Street?|author=Emma Tennant, Hilary Bailey and back when you knew exactly what the season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas partiesDavid Elliott|rating=3. This book is an anthology of those moments5|genre=Anthologies|summary=Essentially, and it took me right back to the wonder 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 Christmas as a childpublishing. [[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] <!-- Ayrton -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ayrton_PasaranThis unashamed nostalgia provides the focus of the book and allows the writers to recount numerous anecdotes from their days in the publishing business.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/184668997X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbagWhilst 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-21]]  | style="verticalburgeoning 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-align: top; text-align: left;"|book 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 ==[[No Pasaran: Writings from the Spanish Civil War by Pete Ayrton (editorfewer books written)]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{ratingAlso, given the clear love of books as treasured artefacts, the dismissal of the Harry Potter phenomenon seems truculent, given the impetus the series gave to reading amongst both the young and adults.}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies{{Frontpage|isbn=Penzler_Big|Anthologies]]title=The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries|author=Otto Penzler (editor)In ''¡No Pasarán!: Writings from the Spanish Civil War'', Pete Ayrton has chosen |rating=5|genre=Anthologies|summary=Nostalgia is a majority big part of texts by Spanish writersthe Christmas experience, arguing and that the conflict has long been written about from the point 's provided in sack-loads by this hefty tome of view of the international brigadesshort stories. [[No Pasaran: Writings from the Spanish Civil War by Pete Ayrton (editor)|Full Review]] <!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- Edwards -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Edwards_Manor.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0712309934/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Murder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries (British Library Crime Classics) by Martin Edwards (editor)]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime (Historical)|Crime (Historical)]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] I'm not big on short stories, but two factors nudged me towards this book. Firstly, it's broadly golden age crime, one of my weaknesses and secondly, the editor is [[:Category:Martin Edwards|Martin Edwards]], a man whose knowledge of golden age crime is probably unsurpassed and he's done us proud, not only with his selection, but with the half-page biographies of the writers, which precede each story. There's just enough there to allow you to place the author and to direct you to other works if you're tempted. It's an elegant selection, from the well known and the less well known, all set in and around the country house. [[Murder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries (British Library Crime Classics) by Martin Edwards (editor)|Full Review]] <!-- Colfer -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Colfer_Place.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/191041137X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Once Upon a Place by Eoin Colfer (editor)]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] You know the bit of the blurb on every ''Artemis Fowl'' book, where Eoin Colfer had it said about how you pronounce his name? That wasn'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 of stories, which is where this compilation of short works for the young comes in, with the authors invited to select their chosen place and write about it. [[Once Upon a Place by Eoin Colfer (editor)|Full Review]] <!-- Cleeves -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Cleeves_Murder.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1909823740/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Starlings and Other Stories by Ann Cleeves (editor)]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Six authors, known collectively as 'Murder Squad', and 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, as is only to be expected in such a varied anthology, but none are weak and if you enjoy crime short stories then this book could be a real treat. [[The Starlings and Other Stories by Ann Cleeves (editor)|Full Review]] <!-- Milne -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Milne_Love.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1405276150/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Love From Pooh (Winnie the Pooh) by A A Milne]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] 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 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 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 can't help but make you most warm-hearted. [[Love From Pooh (Winnie the Pooh) by A A Milne|Full Review]] <!-- Walton -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Walton_Scifi.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472111613/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[What Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And Fantasy by Jo Walton]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]], [[:Category:Fantasy|Fantasy]], [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]] 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 a well respected writer of original fiction, but as a well respected reviewer too. Not only does she have time 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. [[What Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And Fantasy by Jo Walton|Full Review]] <!-- Tennant -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Tennant_Grub.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0704372983/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Did We Meet on Grub Street? by Emma Tennant, Hilary Bailey and David Elliott]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Entertainment|Entertainment]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]], [[:Category:History|History]] 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 allows the writers to recount numerous anecdotes from their days in the 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 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 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, given the clear love of books as treasured artifacts, the dismissal of the Harry Potter phenomenon seems truculent, given the impetus the series gave to reading amongst both the young and adults. [[Did We Meet on Grub Street? by Emma Tennant, Hilary Bailey and David Elliott|Full Review]] <!-- Penzler -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Penzler_Big.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1784082252/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries by Otto Penzler (editor)]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] 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 worms. [[The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries by Otto Penzler (editor)|Full Review]] <!-- Palahniuk -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Palahniuk_Burnt.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178329552X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Burnt Tongues: An Anthology of Transgressive Short Stories by Chuck Palahniuk, Dennis Widmyer and Richard Thomas]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Saying certain things out loud just don’t sound right. Some things are so disturbing or politically incorrect that you are best off leaving them inside your head, or better yet not thinking of them at all. When these words are spoken they could lead to the sensation of Burnt Tongue; an aftereffect of knowing what you said was wrong. Are you prepared to enter the world of Transgressive Fiction that aims to disturb, alienate, disgust and question? [[Burnt Tongues: An Anthology of Transgressive Short Stories by Chuck Palahniuk, Dennis Widmyer and Richard Thomas|Full Review]] <!-- Martin -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Martin_Rogues.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00L20BOQQ/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Rogues by George R R Martin and Gardner Dozois (Editors)]]===read of book worms.}}Move on to [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Newest Art Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] George R R Martin is undoubtedly the biggest name in modern day fantasy, and Gardner Dozois an American science fiction author of considerable renown. Here, the two collect twenty one stories by a list of well known and hugely loved authors. [[Rogues by George R R Martin and Gardner Dozois (Editors)|Full Review]]|}