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Now, I'm a great one for 'to do' lists. I use them to set out what I want to achieve in the year, the week, the day, even the hour on some occasions - yes, really.

But I'm not so keen on book lists.

A friend sent me her 16-year-old daughter's A level reading list this week. It made me feel very inadequate. And all the various book prizes tend to overwhelm me. So many books, so little time.

I'm never short of reading material, but I do like to receive recommendations. And it is good to keep having our reading habits challenged, I think. Imagine the gems we'd miss if we didn't occasionally step out of our comfort zone.

It's fascinating to see what some people are reading. I'm always interested in taking a look at Barack Obama's lists, for example. And Transport for London is hoping to encourage conversation among passengers through introducing a book club with its recommended fiction and non-fiction titles each month.

It's a shame, then, that a number of book prizes have been discontinued recently - the cancelling of the Costa Book Awards came as a shock to the whole industry, it seems, and the axing of the Blue Peter prize seems the end of an era. The Sunday Times Short Story Prize is under threat and the Desmond Elliot prize which recognises debut novelists, will be paused next year as a new sponsor is sought.

With this backdrop, it seemed a relief to learn of the release of the longlist for the Booker Prize 2022 last week - at least it was going ahead! And, of course, there are some interesting novels included. So, once again, by popular demand, we are going to run the Browsers Booker Challenge! 

Participants will agree to read one or more of the titles on the longlist and report back on how they liked it, whether they thought it might make the shortlist, and if it might even win the prize overall. We'll meet together on the evening of Monday 5th September, the day before the shortlist is announced. It will, as always, be interesting to see if our opinions match those of the judges. 

It's always a fun and interesting meeting, so if you'd like to take part, please email me as soon as possible, and I'll let you know which books need a reader. You're also welcome to attend if you wish only to listen to the reviews and perhaps compile your own reading list as a result. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for reading.

The National Theatre Live screening of the new play 'Prima Facie' by Suzie Miller in Woodbridge's Riverside Cinema last week was extraordinary.

Sold out weeks ahead, the audience was wrapt throughout the two hour, one woman performance and broke into applause at its conclusion.

Jodie Comer played the part of a criminal defence barrister who is forced to see proceedings from a different perspective as events unfold.

She was phenomenal, barely drawing breath throughout the performance. She ran the gamut of emotions, moved the furniture, ate, drank and changed her clothes on stage, and endured a rain storm. And we were completely gripped by all that she was and all that she said.

Beyond the personal drama, there was a strong message behind the play which has been written by a former barrister. It sought to highlight the failings of the legal system in tackling sexual assault in particular, but spelt out a salutary message that in any trial, there is no real pursuit of 'truth'. Ultimately the jury is swayed by the most persuasive storyteller, whether that is for the defence or the prosecution. 

We all have stories to tell - to others and to ourselves - and this is explored in the memoir by Tanya Shadrick 'The Cure for Sleep' (scroll down for more details). I was fascinated by her roles as writer in residence at a swimming pool, but also a hospice. Here people, when confronted by the end of life, displayed an urgency in sharing their stories and, once done, were very much at peace.

We draw on our life experience in all sorts of stories and our book group discussion tomorrow evening will explore how Elspeth Barker's childhood informed her novel 'O Caledonia'. If you'd like to come along to the meeting, please let me know by replying to this email and I'll send you the details. 

Thank you for reading.

Thank you to everyone who came along to hear Sarah Langford speak about 'Rooted' the other day. I understand some of you are well into your second reading of the book! I hope that you're enjoying some good conversations as a result. There's plenty in it to set us all thinking and talking.

So I was interested to read a blog by the American author, marketeer and businessman, Seth Godin a few days ago who commented about the value of books in encouraging debate.

"Books used to be a solitary endeavour," he says. "Ironically, it took...the noise of the web to flip that idea upside down.

"Now a book is a totem, a chance to share, an item to be discussed, a physical instantiation of an idea that can be drawn on, exchanged or simply sit on your desk.

"Because the book is complete, coherent and represents a moment in time. Because a book can create a conversation and an event." 

We'll be taking part in another conversation in a week's time when it's our monthly book group meeting, the last one of the summer. We'll be discussing 'O Caledonia' by Elspeth Barker on Monday 25th July. If you'd like to come along, please let me know by replying to this email and I'll send you the details. 

Thank you for reading.

This week we've witnessed the first steps in a change of leadership of the government: it looks unlikely to be a quick or easy process. But there has been a quieter and more straightforward succession in the world of literature in the past few days, as the latest children's laureate has been announced.

Taking the post for the next two years is Joseph Coelho, a performance poet, playwright and author of picture books and verse novels for children aged three to 13. He is the 12th author to take on the role.

Past laureates include, most recently, Cressida Cowell who has championed school libraries during her tenure. Others were Michael Morpurgo, Quentin Blake, Malorie Blackman, Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson, and many more familiar names.

For Coelho, he hopes to use his profile to promote the power of poetry and "build the nation's library membership".

Prior to lockdown, in a Library Marathon, he joined 140 libraries out of 209 authorities. Now he says he has 70 left to do and on each visit he performs poems and stories, talks with staff and borrows books. The events seek to encourage local people who haven't joined to do so, and those who've already joined to borrow more books. 

He also wants to encourage children to see themselves as writers, poets, illustrators, and storytellers. 

And, in getting the nation writing and performing poems, he hopes to reclaim the term poet. "So often poetry has been 'done' to us," he says, "we've taken on poetry's baggage ... the notion that a poem has a right and a wrong way to be read, to be analysed, to be written. How could that ever be the case when poetry translates the soul." Exciting times!

Thank you for reading.

This weekend has been dominated, one way and another, by coverage of the Glastonbury Festival, taking place after a three year hiatus. With enthusiastic crowds and headline acts, it's been declared a great success and an indication that things are finally back to normal.

Yet other smaller and newer festivals have had to be cancelled due to lack of support, and others have had attendances lower than in previous years.

While many people are eager to do all the things they used to do, there's no doubt that others are more hesitant and, with the cost of living and covid cases both on the rise, there are practical reasons why some people are unable to participate in social events as much as they may like. 

Though the arts, theatre, performance, music and entertainment may seem peripheral to life when times are becoming harder for more of us, we mustn't forget how much they contribute to our sense of joy and wellbeing. And if we don't support the people putting on these enterprises now, they may not be there for us when things become more straightforward again.

The coming weeks see many local events taking place which boost our communities, reduce the need for travel and are often very competitively priced. I hope you will consider supporting them and book your tickets in good time so that the organisers are confident of going ahead with their plans. 

We can be informed, entertained and inspired by Sarah Langford on 8 July (see below), find out more about the writing of Rupert Thomson, whom we discussed in book group this year when he visits Suffolk Book League in Ipswich on 14 September, and delight in a great programme at the Lavenham Literary Festival in November. There are riches in store!

And tomorrow it's book group! So let me know by replying to this email if you are planning on coming along and I'll make sure the coffee's on and the chairs are out, and we can enjoy sharing our ideas about 'The Blue Book of Nebo'. I look forward to seeing you soon! 

Thank you for reading.