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Hi, hello and a very happy New Year. May 2015 be healthy, happy and fulfilling for each and every one of you.
We have the most wonderful book story for you this month. For the last three years, an anonymous artist has been leaving sculptures made from old books in and around Edinburgh. The sculptures are absolutely beautiful: delicate, evocative, inspiring. We at Bookbag love a bit of book art. Anf And finally, the artist has spoken in an [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30697553 interview with the BBC]. She still doesn't say who she is, though! We love this story.
Ladybird Books is celebrating its centenary this year. Jill is old enough to have learned to read using its "keyword" system, often seen now as controversial. And she still remembers the beautiful dresses worn by Cinderella in her Ladybird version. The blue one (second night at the ball) was the prettiest, without doubt. These days, vintage Ladybird books are eagerly collected and we think they're a little piece of British literary history, whatever your position on keywords.
And on to to the new...
.
In fiction, Ani recommends [[The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes byAnna by Anna McPartlin]]. The three generations of the Hayes family are salt-of-the-Earth Irish: loud, brash, cussed, argumentative, full of tenaciousness and close. Now they need every ounce as 40 year old Rabbit – Molly and Jack's daughter, Grace and Davey's sister and 12 year old Juliet's mum - is dying of cancer. Why would anyone want to read a touching, funny, life-affirming, love-affirming, well-researched, brilliantly written novel about someone dying of cancer? Ani suggests you read it and find out. (Although it's not recommended for public transport reading unless you consider snot-coated giggles a good look!)
Ani also thinks thriller lovers should read [[The Wolf in Winter (Charlie Parker Thriller) by John Connolly|The Wolf in Winter by John Connolly]], the twelfth and latest in the Charlie Parker series. Prosperous is a small town with a dark secret that pulls many in, including private investigator Charlie Parker. Unlike the others, he may survive… or not… This book offers great tension from a master thriller writer who will put you off small towns for life!
Jim was blown away when he read [[The Last of the Spirits by Chris Priestley|The Last of the Spirits by Chris Priestley|The Last of the Spirits]] and he was delighted when author Chris Priestley wrote for us about ''A Christmas Carol'' and the inspiration for his super book. Is Dickens still relevant today? Chris believes he is, and so do we.
We've also been out and about in conversation with authors recently. When Sue finished reading [[The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Marketing a Bestselling Book - on a Shoestring Budget by Dee Blick|The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Marketing a Bestselling Book on a Shoestring Budget]] she was enthused to write a book - until she realised that she was one of the few people who didn't have a book inside her - but there was still a lot to talk about when author Dee Blick [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Dee Blick|popped into]] Bookbag Towers. Jill thought that [[Lucy by Alan Kennedy|Lucy]] was a vivid, clever story of love, art, war and missed opportunities. She and author Alan Kennedy had a really great [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alan Kennedy|chat]] about it.Sue was moved when she read [[God Tells the Sun to Shine: An Amazing Story of Love and Forgiveness by Femi Bolaji|God Tells the Sun to Shine: An Amazing Story of Love and Forgiveness]] and the ensuing conversation when author Femi Bolaji [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Femi Bolaji|called round]] was very interesting.
'''Reviewers'''
'''''All at Bookbag Towers'''''
See what we were doing [[January 2014 Newsletter|last year]].
(PS – if you don't want to receive further copies of our newsletter please [mailto:unsubscribe@thebookbag.co.uk email us] and we'll see that you're deleted from the mailing list.)
[[Category:Newsletters|* 2015 01]]
