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Thursday 6 December 2018

We're looking towards the end of the year, but there are still events and activities to tell you about, and ideas for Christmas gifts too.

First of all, let me tell you about some television viewing!

The River Deben will be featured as part of a new series called 'River Walks' on Monday 10th December, at 7.30pm on the BBC. The presenter will amble along from Sutton Hoo to Ramsholt Quay and among the people she meets is local writer, Robert Simper.

We have invited Robert to join us to introduce his new book 'A Personal History of Woodbridge' on Friday 14th December but, as a tv star, perhaps he'll have other things to tell us. Come and find out. We'll be open from 6pm until 8pm for an evening's Browsing the shelves. And Robert will say a few words at about 6.30pm, and again at 7.30pm, and will then personally sign copies of his book - a perfect Christmas gift!

The packed schedule of author events is coming to a close for this year, with the visit by Alan Johnson this Friday. Do call the shop to see if there are any more tickets left.

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and support. It's been such a pleasure knowing how much you've enjoyed having these speakers come to Woodbridge.

And perhaps you noticed that one of our guests from the summer, debut novelist Anne Youngson was included on the Costa Shortlist for her book 'Meet Me at the Museum'. Read my interview with Anne here. It's good to be introduced to new and lesser known authors as well as the big names!

I'm well on the way in planning more author events in the new year, but just confirmed is the bestselling novelist Diane Setterfield who will be visiting us at Woodbridge Library on Tuesday 15th January. This will be her first event to promote her new book 'Once Upon a River', ahead of the official publication date, so we'll be among the first to read the book everyone will be talking about! Why not buy a ticket for a friend as a Christmas gift?

Thank you for reading!

Monday 5 November 2018

We're counting down the days now to the first meet-the-author event in our fabulous line-up for November taking place in venues all over Woodbridge.

Kate Humble is joining us at Seckford Theatre on Friday, and there are just a handful of tickets left. Her book is a fabulous collection of memories of walks and people she's met. It also contains Kate's personal response to fascinating research she's discovered which proves the benefit of taking time out of the busyness of our lives to walk, and think, and be!

A few days later, Dan Snow at the Riverside Cinema will remind us that 'you can't understand the present if you can't understand the past'. We have a capacity audience for this event, but if you can't join us, then why not think about ordering a signed copy of Dan's book for a special Christmas gift?

On Tuesday 20th November we'll be gathering in the bookshop to learn all about the Suffolk landscape in terms of the impact made by the military around the time of the Second World War. I've met the two historians responsible for this study and their enthusiasm for their subject is infectious. It will be a fascinating evening and there are a few tickets left. The book is for sale in Browsers now.

And to round off our extravaganza of author events this month, artist and sculptor Maggi Hambling will be coming to Browsers on Friday 30th November to share her memories and admiration for the work of her father, Harry. The book she's published, celebrating his work, is called  'A Suffolk Eye' and Maggi will sign copies on the night. Again there are just a handful of tickets left for what is sure to be a very special evening.

Details of all these events and more are given below.

It's unusual for us to have such a packed programme of events, it's almost looking like a festival! Thank you for all your support - it's great to have such good attendances for all these speakers. I'm sure we'll all leave informed, inspired and entertained.

I hope to see you soon, and thank you for reading.

Sunday 7 October 2018

We may be having a quiet month in October while we enjoy the autumn sunshine, but November is looking very busy with some fantastic author events - there's something for your diary each week.

Just confirmed is a visit by artist and sculptor, Maggi Hambling!

We were very excited to have Maggi attend an event in the bookshop recently, so it's a huge thrill to have her return to talk to us about her own book.

'A Suffolk Eye' is a beautifully produced celebration of the work of Maggi's father, Harry Hambling.

Maggi will talk to us about how Harry only started to paint when he retired but now has a growing following of collectors of his work.

In what is sure to be a memorable occasion, Maggi will share with us something of the relationship between father and daughter, and their shared appreciation of art, as well as some details of her own current projects.

Copies of the book will be available as part of the ticketed entry, and Maggi will be happy to sign them at the conclusion of the evening.

As this event is in the bookshop, it will be a lovely, intimate gathering, but tickets are, of course, limited, so please don't delay if you'd like to join us!

We're focusing on Suffolk for another event this month as two historians will be sharing their research into the impact of military action in the second world war on the Sandlings, the coastline from Lowestoft to Felixstowe.

'A Very Dangerous Locality' will be released this month and is a very detailed, illustrated presentation of how the natural landscape lent itself to war defences, but also provided the setting for trials and experiments in offensive measures. It will be a fascinating evening to everyone interested in local history, our military past, but also the natural landscape in this county.

A further wartime theme continues with our book group choice this month. 'Death of a Hero' by Richard Aldington focuses on WWI and we will have a biographer of Aldington, a member of the book group, with us at our meeting to tell us something of the background to this novel and its author.

All this, and we do still have a handful of tickets left for the visits by Kate Humble and Dan Snow at the beginning of the month. Are you coming along?!

I hope to see you soon, and thank you for reading.

Tuesday 10 April 2018

Spring may still be struggling to break through the Suffolk mist, but we had our own slice of sunshine in the bookshop this week.

Sunday Telegraph cookery writer, Diana Henry visited Woodbridge to present her beautiful new book of 'menus, stories and places', called 'How to Eat a Peach'.

Sipping Prosecco, we were all held spellbound as she regaled us with tales of Mediterranean meals, childhood ambitions to Cordon Bleu, and a love of lighthouses.

Wonderfully entertaining and inspiring, there was much laughter and wonder. And not least when all the guests were handed their own copy of the new book - dappled light and succulent fruit are pictured with the cover as soft and furry as a peach to touch.

Read my report of the event at Browsers Bookshop here.

 

Wednesday 6 December 2017

It was my idea of heaven yesterday when I joined Lesley Dolphin on the Afternoon Programme at BBC Radio Suffolk to present my recommendations for books for Christmas!

And this year I think the selection of titles is exceptional. There were too many to mention, of course, so I hope people will get in touch if they want to know more. But Lesley dedicated lots of time for me to chatter on about my shortlist of 12 and I hope I gave a broad enough spread for listeners to have some of their Christmas gifts sorted.

So here's top of my list: 'The Poetry Pharmacy' by William Sieghart. A beautiful, bright orange, cloth bound pocket book with a short essay about a 'complaint' on one side and a remedial poem on the other. It's just wonderful!

'Secret Gardens of East Anglia' by Barbara Segall is the most glorious coffee table gardening book! There are 22 houses and gardens here and accompanying the beautiful photography are accounts of the owners, the designers and the histories of these properties and grounds. Beautiful!

'Another Year with Plumdog' by Emma Chichester Clark is a year in the life of a children's illustrator with her beloved dog, Plum. This is such a lovely book. I'm not a dog-owner but I can pore over the pages of this book for hours - the detail of the drawings, the colours, the designs, and the adventures of lovable, mischievous Plum.

'50 Things to do with a Penknife' by Matt Collins. A beguiling bright hardback packed with ideas outlined in clear instructions and illustrations. Lots to keep you busy if you feel like doing some whittling!

'The Secret Life of Cows' by Rosamund Young is a surprise hit. Beautifully written, first explaining the pros and cons of different types of farming livestock, and then relating delightful anecdotes about the funny goings on of cows on Rosamund's family farm. I giggled when I read about a cow playing hide and seek, darting behind trees as she spotted Rosamund walking through her field!

'This is Going to Hurt' by Adam Kay. I have to confess that I haven't yet read this book, but I've heard such good things about it that it's currently top of my list. It's about life as a junior doctor. It's a funny but also shocking account, and has proved a bestseller.

'Moonrise' by Sarah Crossan is something for young adult readers, and particularly something to try for those who struggle to invest the time in reading a novel. It's a stunningly packaged small hardback about a young man on death row in America. He's been estranged from his family but his younger brother moves to the town nearby to be able to visit in the prisoner's last days. Sounds grim but it's amazing! And not least because the story is told in free verse! So quick and easy to read, but so powerful. Everyone should read this book!!

For young children, there are so many books I could mention, but I opted to highlight the titles illustrated by Emily Sutton, because I love her work. In picture paperback there is 'The Christmas Eve Tree' by Delia Huddy, and in hardback, new out is 'One Christmas Wish' by Katherine Rundell. Adults will love them too!

A couple of novels would make lovely gifts this year. 'The Maid's Room' by Fiona Mitchell is set in Singapore it looks at the ex-pat community and their maids. It's rather like 'The Help'. It has a beautiful cover and is a great read but is also quite disturbing as this is based on the author's experience. And 'The Music Room' by Rachel Joyce - the author of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' has written another delightful saga, this time set in a record shop!

'WTF' by Robert Peston. As I'm looking forward to hosting the author, the tv journalist Robert Peston when he speaks to us in Woodbridge in the new year I can't miss this book off my list. It's his interpretation of the events that have led to our current turbulent political situation in the west, and how he sees things looking forward. It's very readable, and fascinating. Each time I read a chapter I bombard friends and family with all I've learned!

So many other books I could mention, but that's all for now. But get in touch if you have a specific request!

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