Age banding anyone?
It seems whenever I walk into a bookstore these days I end up browsing the novels in the young adult section. I find it more exciting and promising than the section that, as an adult, the bookstore is telling me I belong in. More >>
Man Booker 2008: Longlist
Another year, another Man Booker Prize for fiction and the longlist has been announced. More >>
Be the Cook-maid
“If a Man would that his Writings have an Effect on the Generality of Readers, he had better imitate that Gentleman, who would use no Words in his Works that was not well understood by his Cook-maid.” More >>
The whole library thing
My husband and I are renovating our house and in doing so I will realise one of my lifelong dreams: to have my own library. An entire room dedicated to books and reading with custom-built (ie husband-built) shelving and a comfy armchair. Bliss. More >>
A novel approach
You know how there’s those things that, to you, seem perfectly reasonable and normal but to other people are just downright weird? Well, I think this might be one of those things. More >>
Seduced by Kindle
Is it just me or is everyone talking about Kindle at the moment? Released late last year by Amazon, Kindle is the cat’s pyjama’s, the bee’s knees, the ant’s pants etc of portable reading devices. More >>
Love this book, or your money back
‘Love this book, or your money back. Publisher’s guarantee.’ These words appeared on a sticker stuck to the cover of a book my mother-in-law had just finished reading. More >>
Nor a lender be
‘You can borrow it if you like.’ No sooner have the words escaped from my mouth then I regret them. I’ve been telling someone about a great book I’ve read and gone and offered to ‘loan’ it to them for an undefined period with no conditions regarding its care and return. More >>
You are what you read
I admit that I’m a book snob. Not only do I judge a book by its cover but I judge a reader by its book. By the same token I expect to be judged by what I read. I expect other people to draw a conclusion about the kind of person I am based on my taste in books just as I am judged by the clothes I wear and the car I drive. More >>
Holiday reading. Decisions. Decisions.
As the time to pack for my holiday approaches I constantly run through in my head the many things I need to take; swimmers, baby monitor, pillows … . It’s all pretty straightforward and doesn’t require a second thought. However, there is one packing decision that I mull over almost to the point of anguish. What books do I take? More >>
Slow down … and read
‘So many books, so little time’; these may well be the words etched on my gravestone. My ‘books to read’ list is infinite, growing all the time no matter how many books I read. More >>
The bell definitely doesn’t toll for me
Mention the name ‘Hemingway’ and most people have thoughts along the lines of ‘classic novels’ and ‘literary genius’. For me the name also used to elicit feelings of guilt – guilt because I’d never read one word written by this acclaimed writer – and a smidgen of inadequacy; I like to think of myself as well-read but do I belong to that category of readers if I haven’t read Hemingway? More >>
Dr Seuss … Dr WOW!
At just three months of age my son’s life is a series of ‘firsts’: first smile, first giggle, first gymbaroo class. Well today he and I shared a ‘first’ together – our first Dr Seuss book. I doubt that he will remember this inaugural reading of The Cat in the Hat but I will carry this wonderful memory with me for the rest of my life. Yes, it had such a huge impact on me. More >>
Card-carrying member
I still remember the day I became a member of the public library in my home town. I can vividly see my mother and I, aged 6, standing at the sparkling new loans desk on opening day as the librarian processed my library card. My very own library card! With a barcode and its own plastic sleeve and everything. More >>
