A welcome re-issue of an iconic classic of 1950s poetry. “It is easy to be beautiful; it is difficult to appear so. I admire you, beloved, for the trap you’ve set. It’s like a final chapter no one reads because the plot is over.” Made famous in recent years due to the TV series of both Mad Men and … Read more
As part of Feminist Book Fortnight we are delighted to be hosting Dreadnought South West’s Rebellious Sounds Archive. Call into the bookshop to experience this inspiring installation during FBF22, 14th-28th May. The Rebellious Sounds Archive project presented an opportunity to commemorate, consider, share the heritage of women since the Representation of the People Act of 1918, and to recognise how women’s suffrage … Read more
Annette Shaw is a freelance journalist with 30 years of experience, and has a regular column in Devon Life, sharing her pick of brilliant books with Devon connections. Annette writes: “Books have been a lifelong passion. I was lucky with my early home life as we had bookshelves in every room as well as reading with mum and dad. As … Read more
Westcountry-based nature writer Tom Cox’s first full-length novel is full of treats and surprises, and touches on the inter-connectedness of us all. Villager follows the history and fortunes of a fictional Devon village, spanning from its distant past to the near future. Seamlessly woven into the landscape and personalities is the influence of an obscure musician called RJ McKendree, … Read more
Tom Cox is a writer, journalist and broadcaster who has written many bestselling books such as 21st-Century Yokel, Help The Witch and Notebook. He lives near Dartmoor, wrangles a number of cats, and has just released his first full-length novel, Villager – You can read our review here. Question 1 – What book changed your life? My first instinct is … Read more
An outstandingly powerful coming-of-age novel about chance encounters and how the choices we make create our future. The worlds of three 16 year olds, Chantelle, Jackson and Marc, collide when they witness the stabbing of 14 year-old Shaq outside of a busy shopping centre in Manchester. The three teenagers, from very different walks of life, are unexpectedly brought together … Read more
More recommendations this month from staff and volunteers at The Bookery – a great mixed bag of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books to tempt you with!
Thank you to our friends at Penguin Random House for permission to reproduce this tribute to Shirley Hughes, one of our most beloved children’s authors, who died in February this year at the age of 94. Shirley was an award-winning author of more than 50 children’s books, and illustrator of some 200 more, with worldwide sales of more than 11m. … Read more
Juvenile lust, desire and greed are laid bare in this quietly powerful Booker International longlisted novella. Bored teenage gardener Polo works in the ‘Paradais’ complex and in his downtime hangs out with Franco Andrade, a porn-obsessed loner who fantasises about his glamorous neighbour. When a plot is hatched to fulfill his dream, Franco enlists the drifting Polo to be … Read more