News

It's good news this week if you like shopping, even if the high street is likely to feel quite different. As we learn the new ways of carrying out our simple tasks, I wonder if there are elements we might embrace for the better?

Standing alongside each other in a queue, 2m apart, brings an opportunity to exchange a word or a smile with our neighbour, and to appreciate the architecture, the plants, and the birdsong in our local environment. As we're unable to rush, perhaps we can take stock and enjoy being in the moment.

Of course, if you're queuing to go into a bookshop, it's understandable if you're struggling to rein in the excitement and anticipation as you wait to collect or choose a new title!

Reviews and recommendations have been particularly useful over these past few months, when we haven't been able to browse bookshelves for ourselves.

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my weekly recommended titles. I'm working my way through the lists I've been given in return!

I've also found that the many online author talks and festivals have been hugely stimulating - I've discovered new writers and dipped into subjects that I might not have considered, had I attended the events in the flesh. Do remember to support your local high street by buying the promoted titles from your local bookshops - they all offer post or delivery services as well as opening their doors this week.

Looking forward, on Thursday 25 June, at 7pm, the first online event at Aldeburgh's Jubilee Hall will be a conversation between writer Meg Rosoff and broadcaster Nina Nannah. They will be talking about Meg's new book for a young adult readership, called 'The Great Godden'. Advance copies can be purchased from Aldeburgh Bookshop or reserved from Browsers in Woodbridge, Dial Lane in Ipswich, or any high street bookshop. This is a free event, but donations are invited to support ongoing events at Jubilee Hall.

Later this month, Felixstowe Book Festival will have elements of its 2020 programme live online on 27-28 June. Novelist Carol Drinkwater will be among the speakers and you can see my interview with Carol in this month's 'Suffolk' magazine here.

I won't be at Browsers for a couple more weeks, but you can find out details of the procedures now in place by signing up to the shop newsletter here.

It's difficult to process the news these days. As well as the underlying fear, confusion and uncertainty of the global pandemic, the horrific death of George Floyd has brought an outpouring of grief, anger and disgust.

What has happened to our world, to our society?

If you need, like me, to have hope for a better future, then please do read a new book by the Dutch writer Rutger Bregman. It's called 'Humankind' and I found it a very upbeat and engaging read. It was stimulating, challenging and hugely uplifting and optimistic.

The author stresses that the argument we've been fed for generations, that humans are motivated by an accumulation of money, property and status, isn't correct. He gives one example after another about how it is, instead, in our nature to show and receive kindness, collaborate and build community, listen and understand each other, and appreciate differences and celebrate likenesses.

It is a powerful message, not least because he shows how a better society may be attainable, even giving ten points of action in his concluding chapter.

And, if I may, I'll leave you with one of the points he raises regarding how we feed our minds and hearts. Turn off the news, he says. Think as carefully about the information you feed your mind as you do about the food you feed your body. Turn away from the television and social media, and find a source of more nuanced and in-depth writing.
 

I thought 'attending' the Hay Festival talks this week might be a mistake and, sure enough, I've got another long list of books I want to read!

Yes, there are the latest books by novelists I'd had my eye on, but there were also some fascinating presentations about our world today.

The future of work, journalism, healthcare, artificial intelligence, politics; these themes and many more were addressed by some engaging and inspiring speakers. (I was particularly taken by Daniel Susskind talking about 'A World Without Work'.)

I doubt I would have sought out these sessions in the normal run of things. The fact that the Hay Festival responded to our current situation by taking their programme online gave me, and thousands of people all over the world, the opportunity to hear some enlightening and stimulating talks, and be introduced to new and exciting thinkers.

There were a few particularly memorable presentations - do look up Polly Samson talking about her novel 'A Theatre for Dreamers', with music from her husband David Gilmour and a poetry reading from her son Charlie Gilmour, all in a make-believe Greek taverna - it's wonderful, a real tonic!

All the talks can be accessed via Hay Player for a one off cost of £10. I urge you to sign up if you haven't done so. I don't think you'll regret it - I'm still buzzing!

It may be a Bank Holiday but, as we are all aware, these are not normal times, so we will be having our monthly book group discussion tomorrow evening, just as if it was any ordinary Monday - albeit meeting online.

This month's book is called 'The Friend' by Sigrid Nunez.

If you'd like to join in the discussion, please reply to this email so that I can send the details of how to get involved. Each meeting is unique so even if you took part last time, you'll need to receive this month's log in details.

I wonder when, and how, we'll be able to meet again in person? And when will authors be able to visit to tell us about their latest books?

On Tuesday, the new book by crime writer Martin Walker will be released. It's the 13th in his series about Bruno, the French village policeman and it's fabulous! Just right for these times. An easy, escapist read, imagining life, company and food in rural France.

Martin came to speak to us last year. You can listen to what he had to say here. But he got in touch this week so I've posted his letter below.

As author events, and festivals, have been cancelled, there is now a rich offering of talks, plays and readings streaming online. I've found the choice rather overwhelming, but this week did listen in and found it very stimulating so I hope you won't mind me making some recommendations...

Actress Emilia Clarke has invited her celebrity friends to each read a poem from the 'The Poetry Pharmacy' by William Sieghart and has posted the videos on Instagram. This is a fantastic book - I gave it to everyone I knew one Christmas but forgot to keep a copy for myself!! It's currently out of stock, but will undoubtedly be available again soon.

'Wild Geese' by Mary Oliver, read by Helena Bonham Carter and 'Everything Is Going to Be All Right' by Derek Mahon read by Andrew Scott were particularly soothing and inspiring, I found.

This weekend the Norfolk and Norwich Festival and the National Centre for Writing have held conversations, reflections and connections online which are still available here. I particularly enjoyed the discussion between Sara Baume and Elizabeth Mcneal about writing and craft.

And don't forget the Hay Festival Digital is underway now until the end of the month. There are some fascinating speakers and some challenging conversations, so do take a look at the programme. I found the lecture on the future of journalism by Afua Hirsh here both thought-provoking and challenging. And the powerful short talk by Elif Shafak here has much to ponder. She looks to global solidarity, and distinguishing between information, knowledge and wisdom as she hopes for a better future in the world after coronavirus. She also stresses the importance of books and storytelling.

More details of other festivals, talks and readings will follow each week. Do please let me know if there are you would like to recommend.

Finally, we're approaching the date when small businesses may be able to reopen. So do sign up for updates from Browsers here to find out how and when we might be able to step into a bookshop again.

The weather forecast for this week is looking very promising!

Sunshine and warm days are perfect for sitting in the garden with a book, or enjoying birdsong and blossom on the trees as we take our daily exercise...while continuing to 'stay alert' and stay safe.

Getting outside and putting one foot in front of the other has certainly helped me in these difficult times, and I've been reminded of the visit by tv presenter Kate Humble a couple of years ago when she talked to us about her investigation into the benefits of walking.

Her book 'Thinking on My Feet' is packed full of fascinating information. There are scientists explaining the benefits of walking for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing; stories of extraordinary people who share their own experiences of healing and renewal through walking; and tales of Kate's own yomps through the countryside with her beloved dogs. You can listen again to her talk here.

And my recommended non-fiction title this week is about a very long walk.

Called 'The Salt Path' it tells of how a long-married couple, Raynor and Moth, decided to walk 630 miles of the South-West Coast Path. It proved life-changing for them and is a powerful and beautiful read.

This book has been recommended to me time and again, yet it's only in this period of lockdown that I've found the opportunity to read it. And now I, too, want to tell everyone about it! Scroll down for more details.

This month's book group title came to me as a recommendation from a friend some time ago, too. Called 'The Friend' it's about a woman who is bequeathed a dog, a large dog. The story is about the bond between animals and humans as well as looking at grief and loss, healing and friendship, and what it's like to be a writer. There's humour and sadness, and plenty to think about so we should have a good discussion. If you'd like to join in the online book group, please reply to this email and I'll send you the details of how to get involved.

I hope it won't be too long before we can meet together in person, of course, and look forward to hosting many more author events, but in the meantime we can tap into a programme of online festivals throughout the summer. This week there are some fascinating talks on a huge range of subjects, including an extensive children's programme, at the Hay Festival online, 18-30 May.

Finally, as the lockdown eases, do sign up for updates from Browsers here to find out how and when we might be able to step into a bookshop again.