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'''Golden Hour'''
In honour of its author, our blast from the - fairly recent - past this month is [[Withering Tights by Louise Rennison ]]. We all remember After killing off Georgia Nicolson of ''Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging'' but in a blaze of hedonism and vampires, it was time for Louise Rennisonto start a new series, with a new teenage girl's other heroine, first-person narrative. In ''Withering Tights'' we meet one Tallulah Casey, a lanky girl worried about her knees and underdeveloped cleavage, and off to stay at a posh drama performance workshop centre in the wilds of Yorkshire. Tallulah is just as memorable, fresh and funny. ''Withering Tights'' This is the first book about Tallulah and if you don't want to read it from the title alone, there is no hope for you. Thank you, Louise Rennison. For everything. We'll never forget you.
'''Books of the Month'''
In fiction, Luke recommends [[Beloved Poison by E S Thomson ]]. St Savior's is a crumbling infirmary – its walls stuffed with ambition, jealousy and hatred. Six tiny coffins, each containing dried flowers and mouldering rags, are uncovered inside the decaying chapel. A silent outsider, with secrets of her own to hide, is determined to discover the truth. And in a trail that leads from the bloody worlds of dissecting table and operating theatre, through to the squalor of Newgate Prison and its gallows, Jem Flockhart faces a ruthless adversary. This is a captivating ride through a dark, dank, and thoroughly vivid world. E.S. Thomson has created a compelling new crime solver in a wonderfully populated Dickens-esque world
In non-fiction, John thought very highly of [[Ray Davies: A Complicated Life byJohnny by Johnny Rogan ]]. Undoubtedly one of the most versatile and gifted British songwriters of all time, the personality of Ray Davies of The Kinks is every bit as complicated as this magnificently detailed biography reveals his life to be. It's a long read which leaves no stone unturned. The author has interviewed Ray and his brother Dave, as well as other members of the band, managers, friends and associates, and built up a well-rounded picture of his career, personal life and character, in addition to appraising his group and solo recordings with enthusiasm as well as objectivity. An extensive discography ensures that the book will serve as a work of reference for the fan as well.
For teens, Jill was bowled over by [[Crush by Eve Ainsworth ]]. Anna's mother has left her father - and her brother, and Anna herself. That's how Anna sees it and although her mother wants contact, Anna is refusing it. It's not as though Anna sees this as some heroic defence of father and brother either: she's fed up with them, too. Her father is always distracted and he isdefinitely is definitely favouring little brother Eddie, who, as Anna sees it, is a spoiled brat. School has picked up on the fact that all is not right with Anna and has signed her up for counselling sessions. And then, Will appears. ''Crush'' is a look at how abusive relationships can twist an intense first love into something it shouldn't be. It's absorbing, moving, and handled with great sensitivity.
For the littler ones, John recommends [[My Book of Stories: Write Your Own Adventures by Deborah Patterson ]]. There certainly are other books for young readers to teach them creative writing, but none are quite like this. Its USP is in the writing, for this book like none other has gone right back to the experts. Using very familiar influences – Narnia, Hogwarts, treasure islands and other classics of children's literature – we get a full-on choice of tasks to do, and ideas for our own stories. It's a very clever volume, which leads by the best example to open up a world of creative writing and imaginative invention.
'''Features'''
We have some cool features for you this month. Author Quentin Bates [[Quentin Bates talks to Bookbag about about ''Thin Ice''|called round]] as part of his blog tour to tell us all about his book [[Thin Ice (Officer Gunnhildur) byQuentin by Quentin Bates |Thin Ice]], the seventh book in his Officer Gunnhildur series. It's not about crime. It's about people!
We've also been finding authors and asking them questions, as is our wont. Jill thought that [[Fox by Anthony Gardner]] was plot-focused and had twists to suit every thriller fan. She was impressed by the serious depiction of the downtrodden individual against the erosion of hard-won civil liberties. There was quite a lot to chat about when the author [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anthony Gardner|popped into]] Bookbag Towers. Ani was impressed by the world building in [[Lilith: Eden's Planetary Princess (The Michael Archives Book 1) by C E Robinson|Lilith: Eden's Planetary Princess]] and knew that there was an exciting series to come. She had quite a few questions for author [[:Category:C E Robinson|C E Robinson]] when he found himself [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To C E Robinson|in her sights]].
'''''All at Bookbag Towers'''''
See what we were reading [[March 2015 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|* 2016 03]]
