Difference between revisions of "November 2016 Newsletter"

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== November's News from Bookbag Towers ==
 
== November's News from Bookbag Towers ==
 
   
 
   
Happy November, Bookbaggers! We hate to be the eleventy billionth people to mention it to you, but Christmas is around the corner. Sorry, but it is! If you're looking for some bookish gift recommendations, scroll down to our features section where we have done our best to help you out.
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Hi, hello and how are you all?
  
And poetry lovers - have you heard the exciting news? Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem ''Poetical Essay on the Existing State of Things'' [http://timescolumns.typepad.com/stothard/2015/11/shelleys-poetical-essay-goes-back-to-oxford.html has been bought] by Oxford's Bodleian Library.They're going to digitise it so this early and long-lost work will be available to the public for the first time ever. Hurray! This is exciting, right?
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Everything has gone a little bit crazy in dear old Blightly of late, hasn't it? Brexit has sent us all into a spin and there is a great deal of anger about. Our hope, in this November newsletter, is to bring you - whichever side of the Brexit divide you find yourself on - some of the joy and happiness found in reading for pleasure. Reading is the best escape of all. We'll never change our minds about that here at Bookbag Towers.
  
What else? Best-selling American children's author RL Stine says that he [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/rl-stine-on-fear-street-young-adult-fiction-and-why-he-doesnt-like-writing-about-zombies-a6729351.html doesn't like zombies]! What the what? Sacrilege, says Jill, Bookbag's resident zombie-lover. But here is a story we can approve of: publisher Short Edition has made more than 600 short stories  [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/short-story-vending-machines-to-be-installed-in-grenoble-france-a6728926.html available to commuters] via vending machines throughout the French city of Grenobles. How cool is that?!
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Harry Potter star Emma Watson has been spreading some of the same joy and happiness around. She [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/nov/03/emma-watson-free-copies-maya-angelou-books-on-tube-harry-potter left copies] of Maya Angelou's memoir at various locations on the London Underground for people to pick up and read. It's part of the [http://booksontheunderground.co.uk/ Books on the Underground] project, which we think is absolutely wonderful. If you live in London, perhaps you'd like to join in. If not, perhaps you could just leave a lovely book for someone the next time you get on a bus?
  
Aspiring authors should also look at the Bookseller's inaugural [http://www.thebookseller.com/news/publishers-open-submissions-author-day-316015 Author Day]. It takes place on 30 November. You can also find out more on the hashtag #authorday.
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Collins Dictionary has named its [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/collins-dictionarys-10-word-of-the-year-from-brexit-and-snowflake-generation-to-jomo-a7395121.html ten words of the year]. Predictably, ''Brexit'' is the word of the year but among the other is the Danish word ''hygge'', which we mention in our review of the enjoyable memoir [[A Piece of Danish Happiness by Sharmi Albrechtsen]]. That was in 2013, so you can see we are ahead of the game!
  
And that's about it! Happy reading to all!
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There's also some news from one of literature's most enduring controversies: the Shakespeare authorship question. Did he or didn't he write them all or indeed, write them all by himself? Well, an international team of 23 academics have decided that Christopher Marlowe’s work on the plays of William Shakespeare was extensive enough that he [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/christopher-marlowe-to-get-co-author-credit-in-shakespeare-editions-a7377226.html deserves a credit] in future editions of of Henry VI, Parts One, Two and Three. More notoriety for Kit!  
  
 
'''Golden Hour'''
 
'''Golden Hour'''
  
Our blast from the past this month isn't a single book but an entire series. [[The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis ]] is the most wonderful fantasy series ever written for children. It has sold over one hundred million copies and been translated into more than forty languages. In Narnia, good battles evil, animals talk and people can become more and better than they ever dreamed possible. Don't miss it and don't let them miss it either. And don't forget to check the back of your wardrobe.
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Ok, so it's not ''quite'' a blast from the past this month but we haven't featured something for children here for a while and we think [[Greatest Animal Stories by Michael Morpurgo (Editor)]] fits the bill rather nicely. Morpurgo's curated collection includes Aesop's fables, and popular fairy and folk tales including Brer Rabbit, Peter and the Wolf, Puss in Boots and stories from the Native American tradition. It's a really special collection of animal tales which would make a lovely gift for any child.
  
 
'''Books of the Month'''
 
'''Books of the Month'''
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And on to to the new...
 
And on to to the new...
 
.
 
.
In fiction, and for fans of crime, Sue loved [[Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin]]. The twentieth Rebus novel sees Rankin at his best. It's bang on the moment, twisty and totally engrossing. The title is from a song by The Associates which looks at how we treat each other within families, at the harm we do each other and how it can pass down through the generations. It's perfect for this highly recommended novel.
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In fiction, Luke loved [[The Dark Circle by Linda Grant]]. It's 1949, and with the Second World War over, a new decade of recovery is beginning. For East End teenagers Lenny and Miriam, life has been suspended. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, they are sent away to a sanatorium in Kent, to take the cure. Rich in texture and an illuminating look at a practice and period that, whilst it seems long past was only relatively recent, this book
 +
is worth your time and attention.
  
For those of you who enjoy historical fare, Ani suggests [[The Winter Isles by Antonia Senior ]], a wonderful historical fiction introduction to Somerled, a 12th century Scottish warlord and hero. It's action packed and yet is told with an underlying sensitivity, authenticity. With a definite Celtic atmosphere seeping through the pages, this is literary magic.
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Lesley thinks crime fans will love [[Night School by Lee Child]]. Jack Reacher’s latest outing actually takes us back to an earlier one. It's 1996 and he’s still in the army, and on the trail of something worth a hundred million dollars. This is more of a puzzle, less of a thriller than some of the Reacher tales, but has the very same quality of writing that makes for a quick page-turner and a satisfying read.
  
In non-fiction, John recommends a trivia book, [[1,234 QI Facts to Leave You Speechless by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin]]. It's official – Belorussian sausage contains no toilet paper. It's official – this book is an unmistakeable winner. And, as you'd expect from QI, it's the most quotable book of the year! There's something irresistible about trivia, isn't there?
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In non-fiction, and since you'll be reading this newsletter at a time when you're probably thinking about Christmas gifts, try [[1,342 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, James Harkin and Anne Miller]]. It's one more entrant in the best series of trivia books, with unusual statements about the world distilled to their essence and presented in oddly linked fashion. And it's a stonker. Many of its one-liners could be used as startlingly good conversation openers. You need those conversation openers!
  
John also has a recommendation for younger readers. In [[Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio and Wilhelm Staehle]], we meet Warren the Thirteenth. He's the latest in a long line of, well, Warrens, who have been running the Warren Hotel. Unfortunately for him, his father, Warren the Twelfth, passed away too early, and control of the building has passed not to him but to his exceedingly lazy uncle Rupert. Inventive and an absolute pleasure on the eye, it's a must-read.
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For teens, Olivia recommends [[The Diabolic by S J Kincaid]]. Nemesis is a Diabolic, a girl genetically engineered to bond with one specific person and whose sole purpose is to protect that one person at any cost. Bred in a pen and trained to kill, Nemesis is introduced and bonded to Sidonia Impyrean, the heir of a senator of the galactic empire. This is a futuristic sci-fi teen novel with incredibly memorable characters and an outstanding plot.  
  
For teens, Jill fell in love with [[The Light That Gets Lost by Natasha Carthew ]]. At just seven years of age, Trey witnesses the murder of his parents and the grievous injuring of his older brother. He escapes the attack by hiding in a wardrobe. After that, he is taken into care. Assuredly ''not'' your standard dystopian fare, this story finds despair and anguish but also love and loyalty in blood and guts and mud. It might not sound poetic, but it is
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For middle-graders, Jill fell in love with [[The Song from Somewhere Else by A F Harrold and Levi Pinfold]] . If you were being stalked by the school bully and his two sidekicks, and if a kindly soul rescued you from them in the park, you'd be grateful, right? Or would you? This is a beautiful story of friendship, loyalty and bullying. An otherworldly flavour, lyrical language and evocative illustrations combine to create a truly remarkable story.
  
 
'''Features'''
 
'''Features'''
  
We have been talking to authors again this month. Ani enjoyed [[Celeste Three is Missing by Chris Calder]] and thought it was a good, slow burning escapist thriller. Find out more about Chris's obsession with aviation in his [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chris Calder|chat with Ani]] when he called into Bookbag Towers. Sue was impressed by John Searancke's story of his father's war, [[Prunes for Breakfast by John Searancke|Prunes for Breakfast]] and she had quite a few questions for John when he [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To John Searancke|popped in to see us]]. John wants his readers to be inquisitive, which we think is a fine ambition for author and reader alike.
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You really must head to our ''Features'' section this month because we have collated all our favourite books of 2016 into genre lists for you. There's [[Top Ten Literary Fiction Books of 2016|literary fiction]], [[Top Ten Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels 2016|sci-fi and fantasy novels]], [[Top Ten Crime Novels 2016|crime novels]], [[Top Ten Autobiographies and Biographies 2016|biographies]][[Top Ten Teens Books of 2016|teen books]], [[Top Ten Children's Picture Books 2016|picture books]] and more. Do have a look!
  
Since Christmas is coming, and since we always think of you, and since we believe books to be the best Christmas presents possible, we've been compiling some lists of gift recommendations. There are suggestions for [[Top Ten Picture Books 2015|young children]], [[Top Ten Books for Teens 2015|teenagers]], [[Top Ten Fantasy Books of 2015|fans of fantasy]], [[Top Ten Crime Novels of 2015|fans of crime fiction]] and lots more. To see all the lists, go to our [http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=Features Features] page. Do buy someone a book for Christmas!
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We've also been out there talking to authors this month and we have had some great conversations.
 +
 
 +
Jill enjoyed [[Lamellia: The Kingdom of Mushrooms by Gloria D Gonsalves]] and said that she'd be glad to read it to any child. She and the author had lots to chat about when Gloria [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gloria D Gonsalves About Lamellia: The Kingdom of Mushrooms|popped into]] Bookbag Towers. Jill also loved [[The Darziods' Stone by Richard Smith|The Darziods' Stone]] - a fast-paced teen adventure - and had a great time [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Richard Smith about The Darzoids' Stone|chatting to Richard]].
 +
 
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For years Sue has bought mostly black clothes, because they seemed ''safe'': Numba Pinkerton has shown her how to have a wardrobe which works and which she loves. When Numba, author of [[The No Black Project by Numba Pinkerton|The No Black Project]] popped into Bookbag Towers, Sue had [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Numba Pinkerton|lots of questions]] she wanted to ask. Ani thought that [[The Road To War: Duty & Drill, Courage & Capture by Steven Burgauer]] was personal, inspiring & insightful.  She had quite a few points to discuss when Steven Burgauer [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Steven Burgauer|called round]]. Olivia thought that [[Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo|Crooked Kingdom]] was all that she could want from a book and more. She thoroughly enjoyed [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Leigh Bardugo|talking to]] Leigh.
  
 
'''Reviewers'''
 
'''Reviewers'''
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We have [[Competitions|competitions]] for some great books going this month, and every month, so get entering!
 
We have [[Competitions|competitions]] for some great books going this month, and every month, so get entering!
 
   
 
   
And that's about it for this month. If you're passing Bookbag Towers do pop in and see us – we're at [[The Bookbag|www.thebookbag.co.uk ]].
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And that's about it for this month. If you're passing Bookbag Towers do pop in and see us – we're at [[The Bookbag|www.thebookbag.co.uk]].
 +
 
 +
What were we reading [[November 2015 Newsletter|last year]]?
 
   
 
   
 
'''''All at Bookbag Towers'''''
 
'''''All at Bookbag Towers'''''
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(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.)
 
(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 11]]
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[[Category:Newsletters|* 2016 11]]

Latest revision as of 15:11, 22 August 2020

If you'd like to sign up for our monthly newsletter, just drop us an email. We won't bother you more than once a month, but we'll tell you about what we've been reading at Bookbag and any news from the site. We promise never to pass your details on to anyone else. In fact... we won't even tell each other.

November's News from Bookbag Towers

Hi, hello and how are you all?

Everything has gone a little bit crazy in dear old Blightly of late, hasn't it? Brexit has sent us all into a spin and there is a great deal of anger about. Our hope, in this November newsletter, is to bring you - whichever side of the Brexit divide you find yourself on - some of the joy and happiness found in reading for pleasure. Reading is the best escape of all. We'll never change our minds about that here at Bookbag Towers.

Harry Potter star Emma Watson has been spreading some of the same joy and happiness around. She left copies of Maya Angelou's memoir at various locations on the London Underground for people to pick up and read. It's part of the Books on the Underground project, which we think is absolutely wonderful. If you live in London, perhaps you'd like to join in. If not, perhaps you could just leave a lovely book for someone the next time you get on a bus?

Collins Dictionary has named its ten words of the year. Predictably, Brexit is the word of the year but among the other is the Danish word hygge, which we mention in our review of the enjoyable memoir A Piece of Danish Happiness by Sharmi Albrechtsen. That was in 2013, so you can see we are ahead of the game!

There's also some news from one of literature's most enduring controversies: the Shakespeare authorship question. Did he or didn't he write them all or indeed, write them all by himself? Well, an international team of 23 academics have decided that Christopher Marlowe’s work on the plays of William Shakespeare was extensive enough that he deserves a credit in future editions of of Henry VI, Parts One, Two and Three. More notoriety for Kit!

Golden Hour

Ok, so it's not quite a blast from the past this month but we haven't featured something for children here for a while and we think Greatest Animal Stories by Michael Morpurgo (Editor) fits the bill rather nicely. Morpurgo's curated collection includes Aesop's fables, and popular fairy and folk tales including Brer Rabbit, Peter and the Wolf, Puss in Boots and stories from the Native American tradition. It's a really special collection of animal tales which would make a lovely gift for any child.

Books of the Month

And on to to the new... . In fiction, Luke loved The Dark Circle by Linda Grant. It's 1949, and with the Second World War over, a new decade of recovery is beginning. For East End teenagers Lenny and Miriam, life has been suspended. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, they are sent away to a sanatorium in Kent, to take the cure. Rich in texture and an illuminating look at a practice and period that, whilst it seems long past was only relatively recent, this book is worth your time and attention.

Lesley thinks crime fans will love Night School by Lee Child. Jack Reacher’s latest outing actually takes us back to an earlier one. It's 1996 and he’s still in the army, and on the trail of something worth a hundred million dollars. This is more of a puzzle, less of a thriller than some of the Reacher tales, but has the very same quality of writing that makes for a quick page-turner and a satisfying read.

In non-fiction, and since you'll be reading this newsletter at a time when you're probably thinking about Christmas gifts, try 1,342 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, James Harkin and Anne Miller. It's one more entrant in the best series of trivia books, with unusual statements about the world distilled to their essence and presented in oddly linked fashion. And it's a stonker. Many of its one-liners could be used as startlingly good conversation openers. You need those conversation openers!

For teens, Olivia recommends The Diabolic by S J Kincaid. Nemesis is a Diabolic, a girl genetically engineered to bond with one specific person and whose sole purpose is to protect that one person at any cost. Bred in a pen and trained to kill, Nemesis is introduced and bonded to Sidonia Impyrean, the heir of a senator of the galactic empire. This is a futuristic sci-fi teen novel with incredibly memorable characters and an outstanding plot.

For middle-graders, Jill fell in love with The Song from Somewhere Else by A F Harrold and Levi Pinfold . If you were being stalked by the school bully and his two sidekicks, and if a kindly soul rescued you from them in the park, you'd be grateful, right? Or would you? This is a beautiful story of friendship, loyalty and bullying. An otherworldly flavour, lyrical language and evocative illustrations combine to create a truly remarkable story.

Features

You really must head to our Features section this month because we have collated all our favourite books of 2016 into genre lists for you. There's literary fiction, sci-fi and fantasy novels, crime novels, biographies, teen books, picture books and more. Do have a look!

We've also been out there talking to authors this month and we have had some great conversations.

Jill enjoyed Lamellia: The Kingdom of Mushrooms by Gloria D Gonsalves and said that she'd be glad to read it to any child. She and the author had lots to chat about when Gloria popped into Bookbag Towers. Jill also loved The Darziods' Stone - a fast-paced teen adventure - and had a great time chatting to Richard.

For years Sue has bought mostly black clothes, because they seemed safe: Numba Pinkerton has shown her how to have a wardrobe which works and which she loves. When Numba, author of The No Black Project popped into Bookbag Towers, Sue had lots of questions she wanted to ask. Ani thought that The Road To War: Duty & Drill, Courage & Capture by Steven Burgauer was personal, inspiring & insightful. She had quite a few points to discuss when Steven Burgauer called round. Olivia thought that Crooked Kingdom was all that she could want from a book and more. She thoroughly enjoyed talking to Leigh.

Reviewers

We're always on the look out for people to join our panel of reviewers at Bookbag. We need people who understand that the reader wants to know what the reviewer thinks about the book and not just what's written on the back cover. If you think that you're one of these special people that we're looking for, we want to hear from you. You can find details of how to apply here on the site. Don't be shy!

Competitions

We have competitions for some great books going this month, and every month, so get entering!

And that's about it for this month. If you're passing Bookbag Towers do pop in and see us – we're at www.thebookbag.co.uk.

What were we reading last year?

All at Bookbag Towers

(PS – if you don't want to receive further copies of our newsletter please email us and we'll see that you're deleted from the mailing list.)