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Why Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks Could Get Your Child Reading
One of the most successful run of children’s books in the 1980s were the Fighting Fantasy gamebook series. Heavily influenced by the Dungeons & Dragons craze at the time, these activity ‘novels’ allowed the reader to shape their own destiny and navigate their way through a story making decisions along the way (and usually fighting monsters!). Perfect for reluctant readers, this hybrid style of book and game was very fashionable and spawned many imitators. Like most crazes though, they gradually … Read more
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Annette’s Devon Bookshelf
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. With her reputation for championing books and authors around the county, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to showcase her reviews here. Deception by Lesley Pearse Her 30th novel. Now that’s an achievement! As a global bestselling author, there’s never any doubt that Lesley’s books will challenge, engage and feel totally satisfying to … Read more
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Annette’s Devon Summer Bookshelf
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. With her reputation for championing books and authors around the county, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to showcase her reviews here. Wild Swimming Walks: Dorset and East Devon by Sophie Pierce and Matt Newbury It takes your breath away. By that I mean the scenery, as well as the cold water. And … Read more
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They’ve Only Gone and Won the Double!
Some of you have already seen the news but if you haven’t, the most extraordinary thing happened on Monday evening… The British Book Awards, aka The Nibbies, are an annual celebration of books and everyone who brings them to life. Often described as the BAFTAs of the book world, they affirm, connect and energise all who have a hand in creating books and all who read them, by showcasing the authors and illustrators who have stirred our hearts and imaginations, … Read more
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The Women’s Prize 2022
The Women’s Prize for Fiction is the UK’s most prestigious annual book award celebrating & honouring fiction written by women. This year’s winner was announced as The Book Of Form And Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. Our review is below, along with the rest of the very strong shortlist from this year. Ozeki’s latest breathtaking novel encapsulates grief, mental illness and Zen Buddhism in an engrossing story about the connections we make to people and the world around us. Following the … Read more
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New Patron Sarah McIntyre
Award-winning illustrator Sarah McIntyre to become Patron of South West Bookshop of the Year The Bookery in Crediton. Award-winning illustrator Sarah McIntyre has been announced as Patron of community-owned bookshop The Bookery, in Crediton – The British Book Awards South West Bookshop of the Year. Sarah has recently re-located to Devon following a decade of visiting her writing partner and local author Philip Reeve on Dartmoor – which has provided the inspiration for the ‘Outermost West’ location in their Roly-Poly … Read more
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Lost Classics Rediscovered
There’s something uniquely exciting about discovering an old novel which is revered but has been out of print, and is revived by publishers for a new generation to discover. The two recent rediscovered gems below are well worth picking up.
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Feminist Book Fortnight 2022
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 has acted as inspiration for contemporary women’s activism. Forty-eight oral histories were collected, covering themes including the setting up of … Read more
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What We’ve Been Reading Recently
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!
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Shirley Hughes 1927-2022
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. In addition to her own work, Shirley championed the cause of illustrators and authors, serving on the management committees of … Read more
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