Nigel French and I discussed books on the BBC Radio Oxford Afternoon Bookgroup this afternoon. We had a wide-ranging discussion with presenter Sybil Ruscoe, whizzing through independent bookselling, bookgroups, the 'Wolf Hall' phenomenon, 'Restless' (William Boyd) and some classic favorites: 'Birdsong' (Sebastian Faulks), 'A Spot of Bother' (Mark Haddon) and 'Carter Beats The Devil' (Glen David Gold).
We then talked about World Book Day coming up on March 7th, the importance of reading stories to children, and rounded it off with a couple of recommendations - including 'Heretics' by Will Storr, a quite brilliant book which explores how stories are how we see the world, and the implications of this in terms of how we see ourselves, and the narratives we construct.
Listen to the show here (which you can do until Feb 11) - you'll need to fast forward to 1 hour 9 mins to get to the start (although if you start at 1 hour 5 mins you get to hear Blondie's "Heart of Glass" as well!)...
Showing posts with label World Book Night. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Book Night. Show all posts
World Book Night 2012: The Unlikely Writing Journey of Rachel Joyce
On World Book Night - an evening of bookish celebration around the country - Abingdon Library was packed to welcome debut novelist Rachel Joyce, author of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry'. The event was the culmination of the 'Oxfordshire World Book Night Read', put together with the energy and enthusiasm of Oxfordshire librarians and publisher Transworld.
The idea was simple: reading groups around Oxfordshire received proof copies to read and discuss ahead of the event, and other Oxfordshire libraries hosted book events on the night too with a variety of authors. It seems to have been a great success.
We've loved recommending 'Harold' in the shop (although the title sometimes morphs into the author's own name: we have described it variously as 'Harold Joyce', or 'Rachel Fry', or some other mash-up. Having met the author now, this may become worse). It's one of those perfect books (for us) that appeals to a wide range of readers, but has real emotional depth and ensures Harold stays in the mind for a long time after the book ends.
The physical book itself is very desirable: Transworld have produced a gorgeous hardback, particularly in its choice of understated yet pitch-perfect illustrations at the start of each chapter. (There were appreciative comments on this from the audience).
Rachel has the endearing quality that I think the best writers have of seeming slightly bemused about all the fuss, as though she looked up from writing one day and realised all these people were there wanting to discuss it. Fittingly for a book about a compelling journey, her own route to published author was both fascinating and revealing.
Rachel's background is writing for radio, and has been hugely successful in that field (you can read her impressive radio CV here). She described how writing for radio requires skills honed for telling a story in 7,000 words, and the need for 'hooks' when writing over several episodes (and much bigger hooks if episodes run over the weekend!). Again, as with the best writers, there's a feeling of a long apprenticeship, and so no surprise perhaps that a debut should feel so assured.
Neither is it surprising that 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' grew out of a radio play, one written initially after her own father was diagnosed with cancer. The initial motivation was, she felt, to try to keep her father alive, and though he never saw the book, it is more poignant when, at the start of the novel, when Harold resolves to walk to where an old friend, Queenie, lies dying, he writes "I will keep walking, and you must keep living."
Rachel described the act of writing as something she has to do, and despite plenty of obstacles to this (four children, 'nuff said) she described writing as "knitting in your head". This 'knitting' gets done wherever convenient (even in at the cinema whilst on chaperoning duties) and it seems her family also keep her on the straight and narrow, with her husband intervening when trips to research the route threatened to get out of hand ("you're writing fiction, not a travelogue!").
(Following on from learning a little about how Frank Cottrell-Boyce writes, maybe a chaotic household should be seen as a pre-requisite for writers?)
Rachel spoke quietly - but passionately - about her love of the countryside, a plea for map-reading (as opposed to sat-navs) and how these passions end up woven into the books.
Kudos to the library staff who came out in force (and had to stand at the back) but mostly to Alison Barrow from Transworld who chaired the evening so brilliantly, and Rachel herself - go Harold!
We have signed copies of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' at Mostly Books. Buy a copy through PayPal and have it delivered post-free within the UK here:
Alternatively, reserve a copy in-store for collection on 01235 525880
or contact books@mostly-books.co.uk
We have signed copies of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' at Mostly Books. Buy a copy through PayPal and have it delivered post-free within the UK here:
Alternatively, reserve a copy in-store for collection on 01235 525880
or contact books@mostly-books.co.uk
Quilts!
This weekend, Mostly Books was very pleased to provide the bookshop for the Abingdon Quilting Groups Exhibition. I think the bookshop was much improved with the splendid quilting background it was given by the organisers...
We were also very pleased to sponsor the Spectator's Choice Prize - which Anna Christiansen won with a beautiful
Japanesey quilt in black, white and red which was very dramatic:
This evening it is World Book Night, and if you are a giver (or even a receiver!) around the country, ignore the rain, and enjoy a night of bookish pleasures. We will be looking forward to meeting Rachel Joyce at our joint event in Abingdon Library later...
Harold and Maureen and their epic journey of redemption - to Berwick Upon Tweed
Hotly tipped as being one of the debuts of the year, Rachel Joyce has written a story about a modern day pilgrimage with a very unlikely hero – Harold Fry.
Harold Fry hasn't done anything much since he retired. In fact, looking back, he hasn't ever done very much. So when he sets out to post a letter and ends up deciding to walk over 600 miles to deliver it in person, no-one is more surprised than Harold at his new-found determination.
Fun, thoughtful and touching read where you are always willing Harold to succeed. The journey is less than smooth, but it is also redemptive and a lesson that it is never too late to start again.
Here is what Abingdon Library’s Rosie Tilston has to say about 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry':
I loved this book. I was drawn in from the very beginning, captivated by the idea of a man setting out to save someone’s life by walking the length of England. This he does entirely on impulse; he intended to post the letter to his dying friend not deliver it to her personally!
Like Christian from the John Bunyan classic, Harold Fry introduces the reader to the many fascinating people he meets on his journey and with every step and encounter he unravels the tangle of his life. As we, Harold’s travelling companions, piece together his story and each new revelation draws us further into his world we learn too of his wife, Maureen, waiting at home forced to confront her past also, by her husband’s unexpected departure.
Rachel Joyce has written a “page turner” but it would be important not to dismiss it as only that. Here, difficult issues are handled with a touching sensitivity and the reader is left at the end feeling uplifted, moved and changed by the experience.
Like Christian from the John Bunyan classic, Harold Fry introduces the reader to the many fascinating people he meets on his journey and with every step and encounter he unravels the tangle of his life. As we, Harold’s travelling companions, piece together his story and each new revelation draws us further into his world we learn too of his wife, Maureen, waiting at home forced to confront her past also, by her husband’s unexpected departure.
Rachel Joyce has written a “page turner” but it would be important not to dismiss it as only that. Here, difficult issues are handled with a touching sensitivity and the reader is left at the end feeling uplifted, moved and changed by the experience.
We are really pleased to be hosting this joint event with Abingdon Library, Transworld and Rachel Joyce to celebrate World Book Night this year.
Tickets are free. There will be refreshments, as well as lots of enthusiasm about books. This event is expected to be very popular so you do need to get a ticket (from Mostly Books or the library) – although tickets are free.
We look forward to hearing what Rachel Joyce has to say about her own writing journey to becoming such a hotly tipped new authors. The event is on Monday 23 April at 7.30pm.
(Until 29 March, listen to Rachel Joyce on Woman's Hour - fast forward to 34 mins and 30 secs...)
(Until 29 March, listen to Rachel Joyce on Woman's Hour - fast forward to 34 mins and 30 secs...)
World Book Night
Saturday night - and we had NO IDEA what to expect for our contribution to the inspirational book event / crazed social experiment that was World Book Night. Our shop is small, and our in-shop events are usually limited to thirty guests, so one might think it slightly reckless to issue an open invitation, free wine, and - more importantly - FREE BOOKS to our entire mailing list, now numbering more than a thousand local booklovers. Luckily a) we had billed it as a drop-in event over a two-hour period, and b) not everyone showed up.
Still, it did get a bit cosy at one point, but...as our customers tend to be extremely nice, friendly people our guests moved around to ensure that everyone had access to the wine and the books.
We were brilliantly supported by members of the local Abingdon Writers Group, including an extremely talented young writer, Jo, who had been to the Trafalgar Square event the night before. She has written up her World Book Night experiences here, and been far nicer (and slightly more objective) of our modest event than I could ever be.
As Jo mentions, on the evening we cajoled guests into writing their own favourite books - and guilty pleasures - on our World Book Night Board, which is now on display in the shop:
It must also be said that - for us - Saturday was manic for the whole day, but just why was this? World Book Night of course has not been uncontroversial, with plenty of booksellers, authors and publishers critical at a time when many in the industry are under the cosh from the recession, supermarkets, Amazon, eBooks and other economic and technological factors. An alternative World Book Night plan was mooted (and author Nicola Morgan deserves to become the patron saint of independent booksellers as a result).
My own feeling is that a combination of World Book Day vouchers, World Book Night, Alternative World Book Night, and simply some brighter weather on the high street all combined to form a perfect storm of awareness, enthusiasm and passion about books that brought people into bookshops and wanting to part of something special. Slightly cynically, perhaps the fact that World Book Night *was* controversial delivered the amount of press coverage it needed to gain critical mass. Who knows.
Whether this is just a temporary blip or the start of a resurgence in book sales, only time will tell. But I feel that World Book Night - in terms of an audacious concept - has delivered the goods. It will be difficult to do the same next year, but here's a thought: 50,000 copies of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" were given out, kick-starting the Stieg Larsson phenomenon. Imagine next year using the night as a springboard to launch the writing careers of 25 *new* British authors onto the national, and then international stage?
Now that might have some solid economic reasons behind it.
One thing's for sure: at our World Book Night Party, in amongst the wine and free books, we still sold a lot of books.
A huge, huge thank you for everyone who attended...
Still, it did get a bit cosy at one point, but...as our customers tend to be extremely nice, friendly people our guests moved around to ensure that everyone had access to the wine and the books.
As Jo mentions, on the evening we cajoled guests into writing their own favourite books - and guilty pleasures - on our World Book Night Board, which is now on display in the shop:
My own feeling is that a combination of World Book Day vouchers, World Book Night, Alternative World Book Night, and simply some brighter weather on the high street all combined to form a perfect storm of awareness, enthusiasm and passion about books that brought people into bookshops and wanting to part of something special. Slightly cynically, perhaps the fact that World Book Night *was* controversial delivered the amount of press coverage it needed to gain critical mass. Who knows.
Whether this is just a temporary blip or the start of a resurgence in book sales, only time will tell. But I feel that World Book Night - in terms of an audacious concept - has delivered the goods. It will be difficult to do the same next year, but here's a thought: 50,000 copies of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" were given out, kick-starting the Stieg Larsson phenomenon. Imagine next year using the night as a springboard to launch the writing careers of 25 *new* British authors onto the national, and then international stage?
Now that might have some solid economic reasons behind it.
One thing's for sure: at our World Book Night Party, in amongst the wine and free books, we still sold a lot of books.
A huge, huge thank you for everyone who attended...
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