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{{Frontpage{|class-"wikitable" cellpaddingisbn="15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->0957181167 <!-- Webley -->|title=Blue Skies and Boat Trips: The Norfolk of Brian Lewis|-author=Alan Marshall| stylerating="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|5[[image:1980891117.jpg|linkgenre=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1980891117/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Art| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[G Engleheart Pinxit 1805: A year There are few positive things which can be said about a substandard apartment when you’re on holiday but this time, in trying to avoid looking at a problem I found myself looking more closely at a couple of pictures on the life walls - and was completely taken by the work of George Engleheart by John Webley]]=== [[image:4Brian Lewis. I searched online and could only find ‘used’ versions of this book and the print I wanted was ‘not available’.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating} Oh, dear - then a few doors down from the apartment, I found a gift shop with a stack of brand new books - and a framed print of the picture I wanted.}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Art{{Frontpage|Art]]author=Antoine Laurain, [[:Category:HistoryLe Sonneur and Jane Aitken (translator)|Historytitle=Red is My Heart|rating=3.5|genre=Literary Fiction |summary=[[:Category:Antoine Laurain|Antoine Laurain]] George Engleheart was one of the leading portrait miniaturists of Georgian London, with a career lasting from the 1770s to the Regency erabooks have always been black and white and read in my house. He And so was also this one of the most prolific, painting nearly 5,000 miniatures altogether (over twenty of them being of King George III). Throughout most of that time he carefully recorded the names of each of his clientsalthough I could have spelled that more accurately – this one was, and subsequently transcribed them into what is referred to as his fee book, black and white and red. [[G Engleheart Pinxit 1805: A year in Yes, he has an artistic collaborator on this piece, and I think it's possible to say not one page lacks the life influence of George Engleheart by John Webleysome striking visual ideas.|Full Review]]isbn=1913547183}}<!-- Hewitt -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=1912242052| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"O Joy for me!|author=Keir Davidson[[image:Hewitt_Renoir.jpg|leftrating=3|linkgenre=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785782738?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785782738]] Art| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Renoir's Dancer: The Secret Life of Suzanne Valadon by Catherine Hewitt]]=== [[image:4'Oh Joy for me!'' gives Coleridge credit for being ''the first person to walk the mountains alone, not because he had to for work, as a miner, quarryman, shepherd or pack-horse driver, but because he wanted to for pleasure and adventure.5star His rapturous encounters with their natural beauty, and its literary consequences, changed our view of the world''.jpg}}{{Frontpage|linkisbn=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Biography1980891117|Biography]], [[title=G Engleheart Pinxit 1805:Category:Art|Art]] Deep A year in the rural parts life of George Engleheart|author=John Webley|rating=4.5|genre=Art|summary=George Engleheart was one of France in the 1860sleading portrait miniaturists of Georgian London, you would never really expect with a career lasting from the 1770s to find someone who would come to embody a full artistic period – and not just a movement at thatthe Regency era. He was also one of the most prolific, but a full generation of both creative and societal changepainting nearly 5,000 miniatures altogether (over twenty of them being of King George III). And if you were to expect Throughout most of that someonetime he carefully recorded the names of each of his clients, they would like and subsequently transcribed them into what is referred to as not be malehis fee book. But almost stumbling into the hedonistic culture of Montmartre came Marie-Clementine }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Hewitt_Renoir|title=Renoir's Dancer: The Secret Life of Suzanne Valadon|author=Catherine Hewitt|rating=4. She started 5|genre=Art|summary=Deep in the circus that first caught her teenaged eyerural parts of France in the 1860s, although her gymnastic career was short-lived. But what she did have from that was the poise you would never really expect to be an appealing model for some seriously important paintersfind someone who would come to embody a full artistic period – and not just a movement at that, and but a natural beauty and figure to appeal to full generation of both them creative and their audiencessocietal change. And what she also hadif you were to expect that someone, much to they would like as not be male. But almost stumbling into the surprise hedonistic culture of many and Montmartre came Marie-Clementine Valadon. She started in the distaste of somecircus that first caught her teenaged eye, although her gymnastic career was artistic talent of her own… [[Renoir's Dancer: The Secret Life of Suzanne Valadon by Catherine Hewitt|Full Review] <!short-- Murakami -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Murakami_Music.jpg|left|link=https://wwwlived. But what she did have from that was the poise to be an appealing model for some seriously important painters and a natural beauty and figure to appeal to both them and their audiences.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1784700142?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1784700142]]And what she also had, much to the surprise of many and the distaste of some, was artistic talent of her own…}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Murakami_Music|=title==[[Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa by |author=Haruki Murakami and Seiji Ozawa]]=|rating== [[image:3.5star.jpg5|linkgenre=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Art|Art]] summary=Murakami loves music, any reader of his could tell you as much. Norwegian Wood was named after a Beatles song (albeit one not very well known) and After Dark is framed by a music soundtrack in a brilliant display of atmospheric setting. With this , all that love is here. And like all who have a good taste in music, Murakami's is eclectic and very well considered. I found myself looking up musicians after reading this because I found many of his opinions quite convincing. [[Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa by Haruki Murakami and Seiji Ozawa|Full Review]]}}{{Frontpage<!-- Ravilious -->|isbn=Ravilious_Recent|-title=The Recent Past| styleauthor="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"James Ravilious|rating=5[[image:Ravilious_Recent.jpg|left|linkgenre=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1908524936?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1908524936]] Art| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Recent Past by James James, son of the war artist Eric Ravilious]]=== [[image:5star, inherited his father's artistic talents.jpg|link=Category:{{{ratingAlthough he was a gifted painter, his main career was to be as a photographer.}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Art|Art]]{{FrontpageJames, son |isbn=Wood_Gothic|title=American Gothic: The Life of the war artist Eric Ravilious, inherited his father's artistic talentsGrant Wood|author=Susan Wood and Ross MacDonald|rating=4. Although he was a gifted painter, his main career was to be as a photographer.|Full Review]] <!-- Wood -->5|-genre=Art| stylesummary="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Wood_Gothic.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1419725335Who won a national prize for a crayon drawing of three oak leaves before he was properly in his teens?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1419725335]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[American Gothic: The Life of Grant Wood by Susan Wood Who sought acclaim as an artist and Ross MacDonald]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Non-Fiction|Children's Non-Fiction]]came to Europe to study from the greats, only to reject all they had to offer? Who instinctively knew a picture of his dentist (yes, [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]]his dentist) would be more appealing and say more to people than floating water lilies and frilly ballet dancers? The answer in all cases was Grant Wood, [[:Category:Art|Art]]practically the most well-known painter in America at one time, and still the best, alongside Edward Hopper, at presenting his world minus any Modernist trappings.}}{{FrontpageWho won a national prize for a crayon drawing of three oak leaves before he was properly in his teens? Who sought acclaim as an artist |isbn=V&A_Patchwork|title=Patchwork and came to Europe to study from the greats, only to reject all they had to offer? Who instinctively knew a picture of his dentist (yes, his dentist) would be more appealing Quilting: A Maker's Guide|author=Victoria and say more to people than floating water lilies Albert Museum|rating=4.5|genre=Art|summary=Patchwork is a magical craft: you can take relatively small pieces of material and frilly ballet dancers? The answer turn them into another piece of material with an entirely different pattern. Quilting converts a topper and a backing fabric with some wadding in all cases was Grant Wood, practically between into a fabric of an entirely different weight. Combine the most well-known painter in America at one time, two crafts and still the bestyou have something more than magical, alongside Edward Hopperoccasionally fashionable but always deeply satisfying. But where to start, at presenting his world minus any Modernist trappings. [[American Gothic: The Life when there are so many different styles of Grant Wood by Susan Wood both crafts? One answer is to read ''Patchwork and Ross MacDonald|Full Review]] <!Quilting: A Maker's Guide'' which looks -as the cover says - at styles from Italian trapunto to Korean jogakbo and then delivers fifteen projects inspired by the V&A -->collections.}}|-{{Frontpage| styleisbn="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Rutherford_Landscape|title=Landscape Gardens[[image:V&A_Patchwork.jpg|leftauthor=Sarah Rutherford|linkrating=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0500293260?ie4|genre=UTF8&tagArt|summary=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0500293260]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Patchwork and Quilting: A MakerMy first experience of a ''big''s Guide by Victoria garden was Versailles as a teenager and Albert Museum]]=== [[image:4whilst I was impressed, I didn't really like it.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[ I felt stifled and strangely underwhelmed by the flatness of it all. As luck would have it I then saw Hampton Court and it was official:Category:Crafts|Crafts]]I was off big gardens. It would be many years before I revised my opinion. On a trip to Harewood House, [[:Category:Art|Art]] Patchwork is a magical craft: you can take relatively small pieces of material it was too hot a day to be corralled into the house, so I wandered the gardens and turn them into another piece of material with found they were delightful. I felt uplifted. Then a cricket match at Stowe gave me the opportunity to walk the grounds for over an entirely different patternhour. Quilting converts a topper I was completely won over and a backing fabric with some wadding devotee of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. Sarah Rutherford's ''Landscape Gardens'' was an opportunity to put him in between into a fabric of an entirely different weightcontext. Combine the two crafts }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Barrie_Peter|title=Peter Pan and Wendy|author=J M Barrie and you have something more than magical, occasionally fashionable but always deeply satisfying. But where to start, when there are so many different styles of both crafts? One answer is to read ''Patchwork and Quilting: A MakerRobert Ingpen|rating=4|genre=Art|summary=It's Guide'' which looks a childhood staple - as the cover says - at styles from Italian trapunto to Korean jogakbo story of Wendy, John and Michael Darling and then delivers fifteen projects inspired by their beloved nurse, Nana the V&A collectionsNewfoundland dog who took them to school each day. [[Patchwork and Quilting: A MakerIt's Guide by Victoria George Darling, their father, who makes the mistake when he locks Nana in the yard and Albert Museum|Full Review]] <!-- Rutherford -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Rutherford_Landscapethe children are whisked away to Neverland by Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1445669935?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1445669935]]  | style="verticalThere's a wonderful mix of characters, from Peter Pan, the boy who never wants to grow up, Tinkerbell, the rather unpleasant fairy, Captain Hook, Tiger Lily, the lost boys and -align: top; textof course -align: left;"|===[[Landscape Gardens by Sarah Rutherford]]===Wendy, but then it wouldn't have been a classic since the original stage production in 1904 and the novel of 1911 if it were otherwise.}}{{Frontpage[[image:4star.jpg|linkisbn=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:ArtGrahame_Wind|Art]]title=The Wind in The Willows|author=Kenneth Grahame and Robert IngpenMy first experience of a |rating=4|genre=Art|summary=Kenneth Grahame's ''bigThe Wind in the Willows'' garden was Versailles as a teenager one of the defining books of my childhood and whilst more than sixty years after I was impressed, first read the book I didn't really like ve just recently passed itonto another young reader. I felt stifled and strangely underwhelmed by Since the flatness of it all. As luck would book was first published in 1908 there have it I then saw Hampton Court and it was officialbeen some notable illustrators: I was off big gardens. It would be many years before I revised my opinion. On a trip to Harewood House it was too hot a day to be corralled into Paul Bransom provided illustrations for the 1913 edition, Ernest H Shepard (perhaps better known for his illustrations of ''Winnie the house, so I wandered Pooh'') in 1933, Arthur Rackham (possibly the leading illustrator from the gardens golden age of book illustration) in 1940 and found they were delightful. I felt uplifted. Then a cricket match at Stowe gave me Robert Ingpen who illustrated the centenary edition of ''The Wind in the opportunity to walk the grounds for over an hour. I was completely won over and a devotee of Lancelot Willows'Capability' Brown. Sarah Rutherford's ''Landscape Gardens'' was an opportunity to put him in context. [[Landscape Gardens by Sarah Rutherford|Full Review]] <!-- Barrie -->}}{{Frontpage|-isbn=Jenkins_100| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations|author=Simon Jenkins[[image:Barrie_Peter.jpg|leftrating=5|linkgenre=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1786750856?ieArt|summary=UTF8&tag=thebookbagIn the mid-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1786750856]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Peter Pan twentieth century, the railway was something which harked back to the Victorian age with trains being supplanted by cars and Wendy planes, but steam was being replaced by J M Barrie oil, even then and Robert Ingpen]]=== [[image:4starin the twenty-first-century oil is giving way to electricity.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:For Sharing|For Sharing]]It's cleaner, [[:Category:Art|Art]] Itmore environmentally friendly and the stations which we's a childhood staple - the story of Wendyd all rushed through as quickly as possible, John and Michael Darling and keen to escape their beloved nursegrime, Nana the Newfoundland dog who took them were restored and became places to school each day. It's George Darlingbe admired, their father, who makes the mistake when he locks Nana possibly even lingered in the yard and the children are whisked away to Neverland by Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. There's a wonderful mix of characters, from Peter Pan, the boy who never wants to grow up, Tinkerbell, the rather unpleasant fairy, Captain HookSimon Jenkins has chosen his hundred best railway stations.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Hurst_Norfolk|title=On My Way: Norfolk Coastal Walks|author=John Hurst|rating=4|genre=Art|summary=It was pure serendipity: after a five-hour drive, Tiger Lilywe were, the lost boys and - of course - Wendyannoyingly, but then it wouldn't left with an hour to fill in Blakeney before we could have been a classic since the original stage production keys to our holiday cottage. There was an art exhibition in 1904 and the novel of 1911 if it were otherwisechurch hall, so we went in - and found a display of the most gorgeous pictures. [[Peter Pan I'd cheerfully have bought every one and Wendy by J M Barrie and Robert Ingpen|Full Review]] <!-- Grahame -->|-| style="widthhung them on our walls, but thought that I would have to make do with a couple of greetings cards when I saw ''On My Way: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Norfolk Coastal Walks'' and I couldn't resist buying it.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Blackburn_Threads[[image:Grahame_Wind.jpg|left|linktitle=httpsThreads://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1786751062?ieThe Delicate Life of John Craske|author=UTF8&tagJulia Blackburn|rating=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1786751062]] 4| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Art|summary===[[The Wind John Craske was a fisherman, from a family of fishermen, who became too ill to go to sea. He was born in Sheringham on the north Norfolk coast in The Willows by Kenneth Grahame 1881 and Robert Ingpen]]=== [[image:4starwould eventually die in the Norwich hospital in 1943 after a life which could have been defined by ill health.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]]There were various explanations for what ailed him, what caused him to sink into a stupor, [[:Category:Art|Art]] Kenneth Grahamesometimes for years at a time and he was on occasions described as 's an imbecile''The Wind . But John had a natural artistic talent, albeit that his work had to be done on the available surfaces in the Willows'' was one his home. Chair seats, window sills, the backs of doors all carried his wonderful pictures of the defining books sea. Then he moved on to embroidery, producing wonderful pictures of my childhood the Norfolk coast - and more than sixty years after I first read , most famously, of the book I've just recently passed it onto another young readerevacuation at Dunkirk. Since the book was first published in 1908 there have been some notable illustrators: Paul Bransom provided illustrations for the 1913 edition}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Bray Titania|title=Titania and Oberon|author=Jo Manton, Ernest H Shepard (perhaps better known Phyllis Bray and David Buckman |rating=4|genre=Art|summary=''Equus, Waiting for his illustrations of Godot and A Mid-summer Night''Winnie the Poohs Dream'') in 1933– three very distinctive plays, Arthur Rackham (possibly the leading illustrator from the golden age of book illustration) in 1940 and Robert Ingpen who illustrated the centenary edition my favourite three, out of which you won''The Wind in t often get me choosing just one. But were I to do so, it might actually be the last, for the Willows''. [[The Wind simple reason that I would delight in The Willows by Kenneth Grahame playing any and all characters from it. Yes, I know Hermia and Robert Ingpen|Full Review]] <!-- Jenkins -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Jenkins_100.jpg|left|link=https://wwwHelena look a bit implausible now – but I put it to you stranger things happen on stage… Some of the strangest things involve a player himself, a lowly actor who gets given an ass's head and is forced to be enamoured of a fairy queen.amazonIt's this section of the play that this book concentrates on, in quite stunning form.co.uk/gp/product/024197898X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=024197898X]]}}{{Frontpage|isbn=BM_Origami| styletitle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Origami, Poems and Pictures|author=The British Museum|rating=5|genre==[[Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations by Simon Jenkins]]===Art [[image:5star.jpg|linksummary=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Reference|Reference]]Sometimes you find a delight of a book. On an afternoon when it was unseasonably cold and decidedly wet I discovered ''Origami, [[:Category:Art|Art]], [[:Category:Travel|Travel]] In the mid twentieth century the railway Poems and Pictures'' and I was something which harked back transported to Japan. As the Victorian age with trains being supplanted by cars title suggests we're looking at three celebrated arts and crafts: the ancient art of paper folding, haiku poetry and planespainting. I'll confess that it was the origami which caught my attention, but steam I was being replaced surprised by oil, even then the extent to which the rest of the book caught my imagination. We begin with something very simple: a boat and in case you're worried, all the twenty-first century oil is giving way entries have a degree of difficulty (from 'simple' through to electricity. It's cleaner, more environmentally friendly tricky') and this one is at the stations which welowest level. }}'d all rushed through as quickly as possible, keen to escape their grime, were restored and became places to be admired, possibly even lingered in. Simon Jenkins has chosen his hundred {{Frontpage|isbn=Foreman_Travel|title=Travels With My Sketchbook|author=Michael Foreman|rating=4|genre=Art|summary=I guess the best railway stations. [[Britainchildren's 100 Best Railway Stations by Simon Jenkins|Full Review]] <!-- Hurst -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Hurst_Norfolkliterature can do away with complete veracity, as long as it has something about it that is recognisable – a little of the spirit, heart and character of the real thing, whatever it may be.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/095444003X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=095444003X And if that's the case then it definitely applies to children's literature illustrations, such as those provided close on two hundred times by [[:Category:Michael Foreman|Michael Foreman]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[On My Way: Norfolk Coastal Walks by John Hurst]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Art|Art]] This prolific artist leapt at a scholarship in the US when he'd completed his official,[[:Category:Sport|Sport]] It was pure serendipity: after a five-hour drive we wereformal studies, annoyinglyand it would appear – huge credits list regardless – that he's never stopped moving since, left with an hour as this book takes us to fill in Blakeney before we could have all corners of the keys to our holiday cottage. There was an art exhibition in the church hallworld, so we went in - and found a display of the most gorgeous picturesback home again. I}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Biesty Trains|title=Stephen Biesty'd cheerfully have bought every one s Trains|author=Ian Graham and hung them on our wallsStephen Biesty|rating=5|genre=Art|summary=Trains look imposing, but thought that I would have to make do with a couple of greetings cards when I saw ''On My Way: Norfolk Coastal Walks'' true fans (little boys, usually from about three years old and I couldn't resist buying itupwards) want to know what lies beneath the skin which you can see. [[On My Way: Norfolk Coastal Walks by John Hurst|Full Review]] <!-- Blackburn -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Blackburn_ThreadsThey want to know how it works. Getting to grips with one in real life is quite a big ask, but the next best thing is ''Stephen Biesty's Trains'' which features trains from all over the world and spanning the early steam train (complete with cowcatcher) right through to the trains of the future which can reach a speed of 430 kph and don't even run on rails.jpg|left|link=https://wwwOnce the train reaches a speed of 150 kph the wheels are raised and the train is held up by magnetic forces alone.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099582198?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0099582198]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===}}Move on to [[Threads: The Delicate Life of John Craske by Julia Blackburn]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Biography|Biography]], [[:Category:Art|Art]] John Craske was a fisherman, from a family of fishermen, who became too ill to go to sea. He was born in Sheringham on the north Norfolk coast in 1881 and would eventually die in the Norwich hospital in 1943 after a life which could have been defined by ill health. There were various explanations for what ailed him, what caused him to sink into a stupour, sometimes for years at a time and he was on occasions described as 'an imbecile'. But John had a natural artistic talent, albeit that his work had to be done on the available surfaces in his home. Chair seats, window sills, the backs of doors all carried his wonderful pictures of the sea. Then he moved on to embroidery, producing wonderful pictures of the Norfolk coast - and, most famously, of the evacuation at Dunkirk. [[Threads: The Delicate Life of John Craske by Julia Blackburn|Full Review]] <!-- Bray -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Bray Titania.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/184365329X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=184365329X]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Titania and Oberon by Jo Manton, Phyllis Bray and David Buckman]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]], [[:Category:Art|Art]] ''Equus, Waiting for Godot and A Mid-summer Night's Dream'' – three very distinctive plays, and my favourite three, out of which you won't often get me choosing just one. But were I to do so, it might actually be the last, for the simple reason I would delight in playing any and all characters from it. Yes, I know Hermia and Helena look a bit implausible now – but I put it to you stranger things happen on stage… Some of the strangest things involve a player himself, a lowly actor who gets given an ass's head and is forced to be the enamoured of a fairy queen. It's this section of the play that this book concentrates on, in quite stunning form. [[Titania and Oberon by Jo Manton, Phyllis Bray and David Buckman|Full Review]] <!-- BM-->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:BM_Origami.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0857639382?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0857639382]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Origami, Poems and Pictures by The British Museum]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crafts|Crafts]], [[:Category:Art|Art]] Sometimes you find a delight of a book. On an afternoon when it was unseasonably cold and decidedly wet I discovered ''Origami, Poems and Pictures'' and I was transported to Japan. As the title suggests we're looking at three celebrated arts and crafts: the ancient art of paper folding, haiku poetry and painting. I'll confess that it was the origami which caught my attention, but I was surprised by the extent to which the rest of the book caught my imagination. We begin with something very simple: a boat and in case you're worried, all the entries have a degree of difficulty (from 'simple' through to 'tricky') and this one is at the lowest level. [[Origami, Poems and Pictures by The British Museum|Full Review]] <!-- Foreman -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Foreman_Travel.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1783704721?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1783704721]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Travels With My Sketchbook by Michael Foreman]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Art|Art]], [[:Category:Travel|Travel]] I guess the best children's literature can do away with complete veracity, as long as it has something about it that is recognisable – a little of the spirit, heart and character of the real thing, whatever it may be. And if that's the case then it definitely applies to children's literature illustrations, such as those provided close on two hundred times by [[:Category:Michael Foreman|Michael Foreman]]. This prolific artist leapt at a scholarship in the US when he'd completed his official, formal studies, and it would appear – huge credits list regardless – that he's never stopped moving since, as this book takes us to all corners of the world, and back home again. [[Travels With My Sketchbook by Michael Foreman|Full Review]] <!-- Biesty -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Biesty Trains.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1783704241?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1783704241]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Stephen Biesty's Trains by Ian Graham and Stephen Biesty]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Art|Art]], [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], [[:Category:Children's Non-Fiction|Children's Non-Fiction]] Trains look imposing, but true fans (little boys, usually from about three years old and upwards) want to know what lies beneath the skin which you can see. They want to know how it works. Getting to grips with one in real life is quite a big ask, but the next best thing is ''Stephen Biesty's Trains'' which features trains from all over the world and spanning the early steam train (complete with cow catcher) right through to the trains of the future which can reach a speed of 430 kph and don't even run on rails. Once the train reaches a speed of 150 kph the wheels are raised and the train is held up by magnetic forces alone. [[Stephen Biesty's Trains by Ian Graham and Stephen Biesty|Full Review]] <!-- Cumming -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Cumming_Vanishing.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099587041?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0099587041]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Vanishing Man - In Search of Velazquez by Laura Cumming]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Art|Art]], [[:Category:Biography|Biography]] Pitching up at an auction and picking up a lost masterpiece for a pittance is the dream for most art lovers. That seemingly happy circumstance happened to bookseller John Snare at a sale in 1845 and is the centrepiece to Laura Cumming's excellent ''The Vanishing Man – In Pursuit of Velazquez''.[[The Vanishing Man - In Search of Velazquez by Laura Cumming|Full Review]] <!-- Hustvedt -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Hustvedt_woman.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1473638895?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1473638895]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[A Woman Looking at Men Looking at Women: Essays on Art, Sex and the Mind by Siri Hustvedt]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Politics and Society|Politics and Society]], [[:Category:Art|Art]] I must confess that ''A Woman Looking'' spoke to me on a profound, intimate level. This is in part due to the apparent similarities between me and Siri Hustvedt- we are both feminists who love art and also love science in a world which emphasises that these two passions are mutually exclusive. What Hustvedt suggests in A Woman Looking is that it is the similarities between these two areas we should emphasise and that a cohesive, inclusive approach towards art and science could help fill the gaps in both disciplines. One of the unfortunate similarities shared by both art and science is a general inhospitality towards women. This critique is not new, it has been emphasised by women from Suffragettes to Guerrilla Girls and recent research has highlighted the difficulties faced by women in STEM careers, however the fact that this remains an ongoing concern only highlights that further discussion is necessary. Discussion is what Hustvedt provides, balanced yet concerned, coherent but also impassioned. This critique of entrenched sexism is a recurrent theme in each section of the book and is one of the most important elements of her work. [[A Woman Looking at Men Looking at Women: Essays on Art, Sex and the Mind by Siri Hustvedt|Full Review]] <!-- Prendergast -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Prendergast_Digger.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1910646148?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1910646148]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Dog on a Digger: The Tricky Incident by Kate Prendergast]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:For Sharing|For Sharing]], [[:Category:Art|Art]] I'm going to tell you a story about Dog, Man, Lady and the Pup. They all work on an industrial site - in fact Dog and Man live there in a caravan and Man drives the sort of digger which is dreamed about by boys large and small. Lady and the Pup run the snack bar and one day as they're all having something to eat, the Pup goes missing. Man and Lady search everywhere but it's Dog's sharp ears which finally track him down - caught in a branch over a fast-flowing stream. And it's Dog who works out how to rescue him. I needed 88 words to tell you that story, but Kate Prendergast does it without using a single one - and she tells it in a far more engaging way than I could ever manage. [[Dog on a Digger: The Tricky Incident by Kate Prendergast|Full ReviewNewest Autobiography Reviews]] <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|}