Book Review: A Little History of Philosophy / Nigel Warburton / YA – Adult

Published by Yale.

This attracted my attention with its design. I am a great believer in not allowing the cover to dictate whether I should read a book or not, but that’s not to say I don’t appreciate a good, well designed book and find it an introduction to something I might otherwise not read. Each chapter heading has a linocut/engraving – with their own charm (credited to Jeffrey Thompson). Cream relatively good quality paper, well laid out and clearly printed. I haven’t read any other book about philosophy at all – so it was the production of this, that tempted me into its covers.

I suppose, if anything I’m agnostic. I can’t say I am religious – at least not organised. There may well be an entity responsible for things. In my view, if there is, they certainly have some questions to answer.

Even before starting this book I had begun to wonder if ‘God’, whoever you might think they may be – is actually a small schoolboy type entity. He has been set a project to design and build a world, with interrelated systems, each reliant on another. On the whole he / she (I’m pretty sure in this scenario he is a school boy, I have no idea why)…has done his home work well. Is quietly proud of his world. It has a weather and geology system that works, the land shifts and moves as required, things are well balanced, the cycles of life are moving well, and with a plethora of interesting creatures, each reliant on the other – as his project requirements demanded. He is, however, just a small god-school-boy and he hasn’t learnt when to stop and adds, just a final addition. A so called intelligent life form that has begun to destroy the careful balance; mankind.

He has as is the way of things, tried to sort the problem out. Various religious ideas have developed – some of which instigated by him, but things are definitely going awry. So much so our initially excited god-schoolboy has begun to panic and in frustration has opened his wardrobe to throw the world into the back of it, beneath his school uniform lying on the floor, covered in dust, shoved there when his mother demanded he tidied up. He has slammed the door…and has left it to fester while he tries to ignore the problem…

So, when I started this – I had begun to ask those big questions, but without really realising what I was doing, beginning to take an interest in philosophy.

Each chapter of this book is dedicated to one or more philosophers/thinkers. The chapters are organised by the date of each, starting with Socrates and Plato…to Peter Gadfly. I know of some of them – others, I am ashamed to admit I had never heard of. That’s what books do for you. They educate. Particularly if well written, as this is. It is a superb introduction to Philosophy and the characters that ‘populate’ that rather wide subject.

He famously asked God to make him stop having sexual desires, ‘but not yet’, because he was enjoying worldly pleasures too much….

This is a brilliant, thought provoking book – which just gives a taste of the myriad of ideas that Philosophy encompasses. It is at the moment residing in my bed, along with an adult crime novel, a piece of 9 – 12 fiction, and another novel for YA readers.

It is part of the Yale ‘Little History Books‘ – and has now provoked my interest in other titles from it – there’s one about Archaeology, another about Language and I might (though this is would be extraordinary), be tempted by the Little History of Finance. I never was much for numbers…

This has made me laugh and think – brilliant.

Book Review: When the Sky Falls / Phil Earl / 9 – Adult

Andersen Books June 2021

‘Hey,’ said Joseph, forgetting himself, ‘that tickles.’

*This is an astoundingly good book; a blending of Goodnight Mr Tom (Michelle Magorian), The Machine Gunners (Robert Westall), The One and Only Ivan (Katherine Applegate) and A Kestrel for a Knave (Barry Hines). A tale of responsibilities. Bravery. Hope. It is a book that will make readers worry about Joseph, Mrs F, Sylvie and, of course, Adonis, a superb silverback gorilla.

Touching, scary in parts, beautifully written it covers a friendship that develops from a beginning of fear into one of understanding and love.

This is a book that, as all good books do, pulls an emotional response – that’s what good books should do – that’s what makes a good book. One that makes you remember, long after you have put it down. This is one of those.

When a connection is made – there is nothing like it. It only happens rarely, when the people take the time to stop – wait, listen, to watch and to learn.

Family. It’s amazing what makes a family…

Joseph has many problems: he is staying with someone he doesn’t know or understand, bombs are falling and he suffers from dyslexia, all of which makes his life at his new school difficult.  To say the least.

This is a Sue MUST READ.

Other titles that Phil Earle has written include: Saving Daisy, Heroic, Bubblewrap Boy and the one that most sticks in my memory – Being Billy. There are a number of others – which I regret I haven’t read, mainly for younger readers…

*All of the titles mentioned here have been made into films – most eponymous, however, A Kestrel for a Knave was entitled Kes… Obviously read the books first (the books came first), but do watch the films…they are all classics, both in book form and film. Hopefully someone out there will do the same for When the Sky Falls. ‘They’ certainly ought to.

Book Review: We Were Wolves / Jason Cockcroft / YA

Published by Andersen Press. HBK

Lips blue, he said, ‘Jesus, son.’

The production of this reminded me of Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls. Reading it – I found it had the same tension, edge to it too. In some ways a simple story of survival. This is, however, so much more than that.

Emotive, brilliantly written a book about fathers and sons…relationships. How one man’s path, isn’t another’s. We make our own way.

It left out the fact that he fought for this country, that he was brave, that he was everything I would never be. It left out the way he’d yell in the mornings after he woke up, like a muntjac. It didn’t mention the smell of the caravan, either, and the tick-tick of the rain…It didn’t say that I loved him, and he loved me.

It is a beautiful book, though a touch perturbing…but none the less engrossing with a line of wildness in it.

The book is written AND illustrated by the author – and the artwork fits the text superbly. A wonderful merge of arts.

Andersen have published this in a larger than usual hardback – some 18 x 215cm tall with a fantastic dust jacket. Remove that and you have a black cloth binding with the title and author blocked in bronze on the spine. Beautifully done and the end papers, both stuck and lose are covered with an illustration of woods… A superbly finished production.

Book Review: The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh / Helen Rutter / 9 -12

Scholastic.

This is a funny book about a young comedian and drummer. With EVERYTHING to go for. He has a sense of rhythm – a sense of timing – and his jokes make everyone laugh. At least those who hear them.

He also has a stammer – and has just started secondary school…

His stammer makes him different – so different from everyone else that he can’t see beyond it.

He’s desperate. Hardly says two words together in the first few weeks at his new school, beyond a whispered response to the register…

A story of recognising your values, your strengths and that sometimes, what makes you different, makes you more unique and special…that good things can happen and you should always believe in yourself.

A super book…everyone has their ‘stammer’ – the thing that makes them want to curl up into a ball and disappear into the leaf litter. This is a story of someone who doesn’t…

I wish I had the sense of rhythm that Billy has…the ability to ‘let go’ – especially when drumming…

A Moon Boy Loves my Best Friend / Rebecca Patterson / 6 – 8

Andersen Press

This was fun. Initially, to be honest, I wasn’t sure it was ‘for me’, as the phrase goes. Nothing particular about it, just a general sense. I then began to read this funny and rather curious book about a school trip – and the repercussions that result when an unauthorised excursion goes just a little wrong.

Light hearted, illustrated throughout by the author. A tale of a trip to Camp Crater – on the moon. Luckily things are a little more progressed than now – it seems there’s a large shopping complex as well as the adventure park there – so this school trip is nothing like anything I went on.

I do remember getting lost on a school trip once – and returning to the coach park to find no-one there. Which was disconcerting to say the least. This gave me that same sense of panic – and so – having giggled and totally understood the need to have a pair of micro pugs…I thought it was one that should be reviewed on my blog. If only for the fun and giggles.

At the moment – isn’t that what we all want? Some fun and giggles would go a VERY long way.

So here’s to micro pugs, cornflake cakes (I used to love those), space travel and giggles…

Book Review: Thirteen Curses / Michelle Harrison / 9 – 12

Published by Simon & Schuster.

The second volume in the Treasures trilogy – by this consummate of authors. So, what happened to Red? Did she find her brother? Did she ever manage to return? Did he? If he did – was he changed? What happened to him? The end of Thirteen Treasures concerned me – I was worried about Red – and the story seemed to be so set around Tanya, but that involved Red too and Red – well if you have read the Thirteen Treasures you will know how involved Red was in Tanya’s story…

So, having finished, the first the obvious thing was to order the second and found that this story – this fantastic book continues RED’s story, what happened after.

I have ordered the third volume (Thirteen Secrets) – and hope that it gets here before I have to return to work.

As I think I have said – Michelle Harrison as an author? Then buy it, read it. If possible get her to sign it too. You can trust her books – darker than some, but as a result like good chocolate, with a bit more of a bite – there’s good flavour!

A fantastic trilogy.

Book Review: Not my Problem / Ciara Smyth / YA

Published by Andersen Press. NYP June 2021

Aiden cannot take part in PE today because she is suffering from hysteria.

“Aiden has permission to be absent this morning. She is attending treatment for an imbalance in her humours. She has an excess of yellow bile.” I nodded seriously. “Yellow bile, miss. It causes aggression and liver derangement.”

There is something about Aideen that I love – a ballsy direct humour trying to deal with life in the best way she can.

This is a fantastically funny book – about friendship, favours and hope – one that I haven’t been able to put down at all – I intended to do some of my own writing today, but got distracted, so much so that I had to stop to finish it – and order a copy of The falling in Love Montage – her first book, which was published in 2020. Not my Problem was sent to me by Andersen and was a joy. My big sister wants to read it too…so it will be going to Yorkshire.

Just looked Ciara Smyth up – and it seems that not only does she write very good books, but she loves cats as well. What can I say? Buy this and enjoy the rollercoaster of a ride!

It’s BRILLIANT.

Cat Walk / Jackie Morris / Everybody, well all CAT lovers…

Published by Graffeg

On top of the stone, softened by lichens the cats curl and twine around each other. Below the grass is sodden with early morning dew.

Pakka and I used to walk the common, much like the way Jackie Morris walked her cats, which are photographed so beautifully in this small volume. We didn’t have the landscape, but would go out for an hour, an hour and a half, invariably returning, Pakka having enjoyed a hunt and my having enjoyed developing our rather special relationship.

I now wonder about the walks Pakka and I would have had, if I had only thought to live on the coast in Pembrokeshire.

This could be one of those ‘gift books’, bought as an afterthought. This is though, so much more. A mix of natural history observations, gorgeous photographs, a telling of walks and an appreciation of all things cat. It is definitely not a ’till purchase’, if by that you mean a book bought on the spur of the moment, often regretted.

It’s a book that you should take the trouble to order and to buy.

The photograph of the two cats, curling and twined around one another, detailed above, shows the two felines with damp legs, wet from that early morning dew. A book to dip into and revel in. Perhaps not so much for canine lovers, but those who enjoy feline beauty and the wild landscape of Pembrokeshire, or anywhere else, will love this small volume.

There’s a postcard book too to have…

To Customers Old, New and those in between…

On the 20th of January 2017 I wrote the following post. In a month or so, I will (the winds blowing in the right direction), be returning from furlough again, for the second time. To meet customers, talk about books and start up the engine once more that is bookselling for me…

I came across this and thought it just about covers the reasons why I do it – there are so many – but thought it worth putting out there once more…(with a few tweaks) and oh, to say once more, thank you.

The Reasons Why I do it...

I have been selling books for over 20 years with Waterstones. They say I have become an ‘Expert’ in Children’s books. A title that really means very little to me.

What does, I have recently realised, are my customers and more importantly my younger customers, especially those that I influenced enough for them to begin to enjoy books.

It is what they say and do that matters.

The following, in no order what so ever, stand out for me when I look back over the last two decades. This is not in any way a comprehensive list – just some of the highlights that I have so enjoyed over the years.

Thank you.

The author and teacher who introduced me with such pride to his husband.

The bright enthusiastic girl who so loved her reserved books on Vikings, & gave me a cuddle.

The boy who lost his Lego mini-figure and was so overcome when I ‘felt’ the packets and found a new one; wrapping his arms around my neck and his legs, around my waist.

The girl whose father claimed she ‘would never finish anything’, and wouldn’t buy her the kit; who fired her finished Leonardo da Vinci catapult down the store a week or so later.

My regulars who return asking for more books for their children, who seem to have suddenly begun to have the reading bug.

‘My’ Russian customer, his wide grin, and unpronounceable name. The other gentleman, married to his Mongolian wife.

The American who wanted to take home the next unpublished Harry Potter in his suitcase. ‘You have some hidden in the back.’

The mother who came to say she had seen the film, A Monster Calls (Patrick Ness) after reading my post, and was so moved by it.

My Dorset customer, passionate about all things Persian, who bought around a thousand pounds worth of books from me, almost on a monthly basis, who has now become a friend. Sadly since this post she has died, but I remember her and her passion with great joy.

The owls I arranged to visit Harrods at the penultimate Harry Potter event.

The queen, yes the queen, who bought a copy of the picture book Tadpole’s Promise for her husband.

The Sussex House event with Linda Davies, and her longbow, celebrating Longbow Girl.

Sgt. from Sussex House, quiet, kindly, wonderful, but with such authority.

Selling almost 1,000 copies of The Undrowned Child (Michelle Lovric) in Harrods. Since then selling almost as many more at Waterstones Finchley Road O2

The man who bought a copy of The Undrowned Child even though he only wanted a book on accounting.

The man who bought another copy, when he had just come in to buy an English version of the Koran.

The Sussex boy, ‘Hop-a-long’ who came to an event in a shopping trolley.

The small boy who came to say he had broken a plastic stand.

The father who apologised for his ‘feral children’.

The teachers who have become such good friends.

The elderly couple who bought their Christmas books for their family every year in Harrods – the list of their relatives, ages and details neatly inscribed on the cardboard taken from a cereal packet.

The lady who insisted on double bagging her books, and wanted copies ‘not touched’ by human hands, and has now become a rather extraordinary friend.

The various children who have returned to tell me how much they have enjoyed the last book I sold them.

The boy with autism, who made friends with me.

The customers who ‘followed’ me from Harrods to Finchley Road O2 . Every winter one elderly couple travelling to the store; a very different environment for them. Just because I happened to work there now.

The Sussex events in store, a high light, initially a very reserved author Lynn Reid Banks and her phenomenal rendition of The Green Eye of the Yellow God by Milton Hayes.

The hopeful father who came to buy a book for his child, aged 7, but didn’t know what he was interested in. Only to admit after we had gone through several titles, that the boy was just seven weeks old.

Being taken to see the play Private Peaceful with Sussex House.

The little girl with downs syndrome who suddenly left her carer and came and stroked my arm.

The Sussex House boys’ response to an event with bottles of smells to inhale – a truly raucous event.

Maya Leonard celebrating Beetle Boy with an event in store and her brilliant Ballroom Event with Sussex House.

The man who came and bought a copy of all the Biggles books we had in stock – just because I admitted that perhaps they weren’t particularly politically correct and why.

The customers who have asked for a suggestion for one or two books, who have left with a pile tucked under their arms and bags in their hands and grins upon their faces with excited children ‘at foot’.

Lastly, the mother who came to thank me and tell me of her son with dyslexia, who after advice from me, started with Barrington Stoke and was introduced to good stories. Who recently returned home to talk to his mother about the book he was reading. She was so pleased. ‘…his lower lip was quivering…he could hardly get his words out,’ she said,‘…he was so involved in the book…’ to find he was reading The Northern Lights (Philip Pullman).

It is the people that have made this job a joy – who have made me grin, laugh and become involved. The books are another, but that is perhaps for another time.

This time is to say thank you – I wouldn’t be doing this job if it weren’t for you making that connection.

This more than ever, is the time to say ‘thank you’. I hope to see you in real life soon.

Hom / Jeanne Willis / Illus. Paddy Donnelly / 5 to Adult

Published by Andersen Press.

…he was peace loving happy and free.

I am a bit of a fan of Jeanne Willis’ work. It started years ago, with Tadpole’s Promise. Years later and I still enjoy her books.

This one is rather special. Our hero, a young boy finds himself alone on an island, having been shipwrecked. At least that’s what he thinks at first – that is till he meets Hom.

Hom is without doubt a character from our past and has many attributes of early man. That he is shown with green skin is a little strange. None-the-less this is a lovely tale of a friendship and a secret, to be kept until our hero comes home…

Beautifully, not to say wildly illustrated by Paddy Donnelly – a book about the importance of friendship and the simpler things of life, being happy and most essentially, free…