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 {|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE--><!-- Thakur -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|{Frontpage[[image:140638853X.jpg|linkisbn=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/140638853X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|==title=[[Somebody Give This Heart a Pen by |author=Sophia Thakur]]==|rating=5 [[image:5star.jpg|linkgenre=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]], [[:Category:Teens|Teens]] summary=Sophia Thakur's debut anthology is a collection of poems that are all unique, whether in relation to their style, length or theme. The collection is split into four sections, titled 'grow','wait','break'and 'grow again', guiding you through a process which is one of the foundations that the anthology is built on. Each section begins with a foregrounded title page containing various small pieces of writing, ranging from a quote by a Nigerian playwright, to African proverbs. This provides a nice introduction to the section before you are immersed into in the beautifully written and eloquent poems that Thakur has clearly put her heart and soul into. [[Somebody Give This Heart a Pen by Sophia Thakur|Full Review]]}}<!-- Behrend -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|{{Frontpage[[image:1789016789.jpg|linkisbn=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1789016789/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | styletitle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"| ===[[You're the Froth On My Soy Cappuccino: Poems for the Present by |author=Don Behrend]]==|rating=4 [[image:4star.jpg|linkgenre=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]]  summary=''You're the Froth On My Soy Cappuccino'' begins with ''A Modern Love Story'':

Ha! How can you not laugh at this gently mocking take on love in the hipster world? [[You're the Froth On My Soy Cappuccino: Poems for the Present by Don Behrend|Full Review]] }}<!-- Pop Up Projects -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=PUP_Rising| styletitle="widthRising Stars: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"New Young Voices in Poetry|author=Pop Up Projects[[image:PUP_Rising.jpg|leftrating=4|linkgenre=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910959375/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Anthologies| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Rising Stars: New Young Voices This collection brings together five emerging voices in Poetry by Pop Up Projects]]=== [[image:4starpoetry.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] This collection brings together five emerging voices in poetry. And And despite what the publisher says, I wouldn't personally impose an age restriction on the writing here. Each poet uses words that will appeal to many readers. I found this particularly so with Jay Hulme's poetry. [[Rising Stars: New Young Voices in Poetry by Pop Up Projects|Full Review]]}}{{Frontpage<!-- Stevenson -->|isbn=Stevenson_Garden|-title=A Child's Garden of Verses| styleauthor="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Robert Louis Stevenson|rating=2[[image:Stevenson_Garden.jpg|left|linkgenre=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910959103/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]Anthologies| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: leftRobert Louis Stevenson was a very versatile writer;"|===[[A Childhe delved deep into the human psyche when he wrote ''s Garden The Strange Case of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson]]=== [[image:2starDoctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' but he did not restrict himself to representations of the gothic and the persecuted.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] [[:Category:ChildrenHe also wrote brilliant children's Rhymes adventure stories such as ''Treasure Island'' and Verse|Children's Rhymes and Verse]] Robert Louis Stevenson was a very versatile writer; he delved deep into the human psyche when he wrote ''The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde'Kidnapped'' , but , again, he did not restrict himself to representations prose writing because here he demonstrates his ability to write poetry.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Esiri Poem|title=A Poem for Every Day of the gothic and the persecuted. He also wrote brilliant children's adventure stories such as ''Treasure Island'' and ''Kidnapped''Year|author=Allie Esiri|rating=4|genre=Anthologies|summary=For those who do not read much poetry, but, again, he did for those who do not restrict himself know where to prose writing because here he demonstrates his ability start, this is a fun and easy commitment to write poetrytake on. [[A ChildReading a poem a day does not take long, mere minutes, and with over three-hundred poems in here there's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson|Full Review]]bound to be a poem that speaks to each reader directly.}}<!-- Esiri --> {{Frontpage|-isbn=Herbertson_Wordsworth| styletitle="widthWilliam and Dorothy Wordsworth: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|A Miscellany|author=Gavin Herbertson[[image:Esiri Poem.jpg|left|linkrating=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1509860541/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]5| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Anthologies|summary===[[A Poem for Every Day William Wordsworth was a defining member of the Year by Allie Esiri]]=== [[image:4starromantic literary era.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes He was part of the first wave, and Verse|Childrenhis poetry helped to shape a large part of it. Nature was the key: existing in nature, finding one's Rhymes own true nature and Verse]]becoming natural in the process were the driving forces behind it.}}{{FrontpageFor those who do not read much poetry, for those who do not know where to start, this is a fun |isbn=Mahfouz_Muslim|title=The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write|author=Sabrina Mahfouz|rating=5|genre=Anthologies|summary=What does it mean to be British and easy commitment to take on. Reading Muslim? This is a poem a day does not take long, mere minutes, and question these writers tackle with over threestunning clarity. Modern-hundred poems in here there's bound to be day British society has a poem that speaks to each reader directly. [[A Poem for Every Day of varied sense of cultural heritage; it is a society that is changing and moving forward as it adds more and more voices to the Year by Allie Esiri|Full Review]] <!-- Herbertson -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: toppopulation, but it is also one that has an undercurrent of anxiety and fear towards those who are minorities. So this collection displays how all that fear is received; text-align: center;"|it comes in the form of stereotypical labels and racial prejudice, which are themes eloquently reproduced here.}}{{Frontpage[[image:Herbertson_Wordsworth.jpg|leftisbn=Holland Cheap|linktitle=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1903385598/refView from the Cheap Seats|author=nosim?tagBarry Holland|rating=thebookbag-21]]4|genre=Anthologies| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; textA little bit about Barry Holland: he was born in Newport, South Wales, to working-align: left;"|===[[William class parents. He loves rugby and Dorothy Wordsworth: A Miscellany by Gavin Herbertson]]=== [[image:5starhis son - his son is his favourite rugby player, which is just as it should be.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] William Wordsworth was a defining member He is a qualified engineer but is unable to work because of the romantic literary eramental ill-health. He was part All of these things feed into ''View from the first waveCheap Seats'', and his poetry helped to shape which is a large part collection of it. Nature was the key: existing in nature, finding one's own true nature poems and imaginings as vivid and becoming natural in the process were the driving forces behind it. [[William immediate and Dorothy Wordsworth: A Miscellany by Gavin Herbertson|Full Review]]striking as you could hope for. Barry sounds like a thoroughly nice bloke and his book was a pleasure to read.<!-- Mahfouz -->}}|-{{Frontpage| styleisbn="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Marshall EFT[[image:Mahfouz_Muslim.jpg|left|linktitle=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0863561462/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] The Book of English Folk Tales| styleauthor="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Sybil Marshall and John Lawrence|rating=4|genre=Anthologies|summary==[[From ghosts to witches, to giants and fairies, ''The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write Book of English Folk Tales'' is a fascinating collection of stories retold by Sabrina Mahfouz]]=== [[image:5starsocial historian and folklorist Sybil Marshall.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] [[:Category:Literary Fiction|Literary Fiction]] What does it mean to be British Out of print for over three decades, this beautiful new clothbound edition is complete with wood-engraved illustrations by John Lawrence and Muslim? This is sure to capture the attention of a question these writers tackle with stunning claritynew generation of lovers of folklore. Modern day British society has a varied sense of cultural heritage; it is a society that is changing and moving forward as it adds more and more voices to }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Trotman_Winter|title=Winter: A Book for the population, but it is also one that has an undercurrent Season|author=Felicity Trotman (editor)|rating=4|genre=Anthologies|summary=This seasonal anthology contains a nice mixture of anxiety poetry, nature and travel pieces, and fear towards those who are minoritiesexcerpts from longer works of fiction. So this collection displays how all that fear is received; it comes in Felicity Trotman, a freelance editor and member of the form of stereotypical labels and racial prejudiceEnglish Civil War Society, which are themes eloquently reproduced here. [[has arranged the material into three sections: 'The Old Year', 'Christmas, Sacred and Secular', and 'The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write by Sabrina Mahfouz|Full Review]] <!New Year'. This creates an appropriate sense of chronological progression and also serves to make Christmas the heart of the book. Black-and- Holland -->white illustrations – maps, photographs and engravings – are interspersed throughout, and each author gets a short paragraph of biography and background.}}{{Frontpage|-isbn=Elphinstone_Winter| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Winter Magic|author=Abi Elphinstone (Editor)[[image:Holland Cheap.jpg|left|linkrating=http://www3.amazon.co.uk/dp/1524633127/ref5|genre=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Anthologies| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; textWith everything from dragons to mysterious crimes, voice-stealing witches to time travel, and magical worlds to first performances of world-align: left;"|===[[View from the Cheap Seats by Barry Holland]]=== [[image:4starfamous ballets, this is a collection of short stories that delights from start to finish.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] A little bit about Barry Holland: he was born in NewportAnthologies of short stories can sometimes fall flat, South Wales, to working class parents. He loves rugby with one or two good ones and his son - his son is his favourite rugby playerthen a bunch of mediocre fillers, which is just as it should bebut this collection has no weak links.. He is a qualified engineer but is unable to work because of mental ill health. All of these things feed into ''View from all the Cheap Seats''stories are good, which is a collection and most of poems and imaginings them are brilliant. I felt entirely caught up in each individual world as vivid I read, loving the varied and immediate and striking as you could hope forextremely likeable heroines throughout. Barry sounds like a thoroughly nice bloke and his book was a pleasure to read.[[View from the Cheap Seats by Barry Holland}}{{Frontpage|Full Review]]isbn=Phinn_Virgin<!-- Marshall -->|title=The Virgin Mary's Got Nits|-author=Gervase Phinn| stylerating="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|4.5[[image:Marshall EFT.jpg|left|linkgenre=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1468313177/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Anthologies| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Book of English Folk Tales by Sybil Marshall Christmas in our house is the time we tend to get on a plane and John Lawrence]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]]head to either sun or snow, anywhere that is far, far away from the madness at home, [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]] From ghosts to witches, to giants last-minute dashes to the shops on Christmas Eve and fairiesfood cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, ''The Book of English Folk Tales'' is a fascinating collection of stories retold by social historian and folklorist Sybil Marshallnor a mere 36 hours. Out But I do remember the feeling of print for over three decadesChristmas when I was younger, this beautiful new clothbound edition is complete back when it was magical, and back when you knew exactly what the season would bring with wood engraved illustrations by John Lawrence carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This book is sure an anthology of those moments, and it took me right back to capture the attention wonder of Christmas as a new generation of lovers of folklorechild. [[The Book of English Folk Tales by Sybil Marshall and John Lawrence}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Ayrton_Pasaran|Full Review]] <!-- Trotman -->title=No Pasaran: Writings from the Spanish Civil War|-author=Pete Ayrton (editor)| stylerating="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|4[[image:Trotman_Winter.jpg|left|linkgenre=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1445664747/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Anthologies| stylesummary="vertical-alignIn ''¡No Pasarán!: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Winter: A Book for Writings from the Season Spanish Civil War'', Pete Ayrton has chosen a majority of texts by Felicity Trotman (editor)]]===Spanish writers, arguing that the conflict has long been written about from the point of view of the international brigades.}}{{Frontpage[[image:3.5star.jpg|linkisbn=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:AnthologiesEdwards_Manor|Anthologies]], [[title=Murder at the Manor:Category:ReferenceCountry House Mysteries (British Library Crime Classics)|Reference]]author=Martin Edwards (editor)|rating=4.5|genre=AnthologiesThis seasonal anthology contains a nice mixture of poetry|summary=I'm not big on short stories, nature and travel piecesbut two factors nudged me towards this book. Firstly, it's broadly golden age crime, one of my weaknesses and excerpts from longer works of fiction. Felicity Trotmansecondly, a freelance the editor and member of the English Civil War Society, has arranged the material into three sectionsis [[:Category: 'The Old Year'Martin Edwards|Martin Edwards]], 'Christmas, Sacred a man whose knowledge of golden age crime is probably unsurpassed and Secularhe's done us proud, and 'The New Year'not only with his selection but with the half-page biographies of the writers, which precede each story. This creates an appropriate sense of chronological progression, and also serves There's just enough there to allow you to make Christmas place the heart of the book. Black-author and-white illustrations – mapsto direct you to other works if you're tempted. It's an elegant selection, photographs from the well known and engravings – are interspersed throughoutthe less well known, all set in and each author gets a short paragraph of biography and background [[Winter: A Book for the Season by Felicity Trotman (editor)|Full Review]]around the country house.}}<!-- Elphinstone -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Colfer_Place| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Once Upon a Place|author=Eoin Colfer (editor)[[image:Elphinstone_Winter|rating=3.jpg5|leftgenre=Anthologies|linksummary=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1471159809/ref=nosimYou know the bit of the blurb on every ''Artemis Fowl'' book, where Eoin Colfer had it said about how you pronounce his name?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical That wasn't the intention of an up-align: top; textand-align: leftcoming author to be recognisable;"|===[[Winter Magic by Abi Elphinstone (Editor)]]=== [[image:5starrather, it was pride. Pride in the difference of it, of the Irishness of it.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]] Ireland, it seems to me, is more full than usual of people, things and ideas, [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] With everything from dragons and places that are different by dint of their singular nationality – and so many deserve to mysterious crimes, voice-stealing witches have pride attached to time travel, and magical worlds to first performances them. The places might not be the famous ones, but they can be the source of pride, and of world-famous balletsstories, which is where this is a collection compilation of short stories that delights from start to finish. Anthologies of short stories can sometimes fall flatworks for the young comes in, with one or two good ones the authors invited to select their chosen place and then a bunch of mediocre fillers, but this collection has no weak links...all the stories are good, write about it.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Cleeves_Murder|title=The Starlings and most of them are brilliant. I felt entirely caught up in each individual world as I read, loving the varied and extremely likeable heroines throughout. [[Winter Magic by Abi Elphinstone Other Stories|author=Ann Cleeves (Editoreditor)|Full Review]] <!-- Phinn -->|-rating=4| stylegenre="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Anthologies[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|left|linksummary=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"| ===[[The Virgin MarySix authors, known collectively as 'Murder Squad's Got Nits , and their six accomplices were each given photographs of the remote landscape of Pembrokeshire by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4acclaimed photographer David Wilson and asked to come up with a short story inspired by what they saw.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas Some of the stories will be more to your taste than others, as is only to be expected in our house is the time we tend to get on such a plane and head to either sun or snow, anywhere that is far, far away from the madness at home, last minute dashes to the shops on Christmas Eve, varied anthology, but none are weak and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for if you enjoy crime short stories then this book could be a month, nor a mere 36 hoursreal treat. But I do remember the feeling of Christmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, and back when you knew exactly what }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Milne_Love|title=Love From Pooh (Winnie the season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This Pooh)|author=A A Milne|rating=5|genre=Anthologies|summary=For a small book , a small review – this is an anthology of those moments, and it took me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a childquite delightful little thing, about which not a lot can be said. [[The Virgin Mary It is a gift book pure and simple, much in the way that Pooh Bear was a little simple at times (''s Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] <!-- Ayrton -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ayrton_PasaranPooh… thought how wonderful it would be to have a Real Brain which could tell you things'').jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/184668997X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[No Pasaran: Writings from With it comes a simple blurb, and almost instructions that it is for giving, and there is a space for a loving dedication at the Spanish Civil War by Pete Ayrton (editor)]]=== [[image:4starbeginning, which is again only apt, as it is all about love. Love of honey, love in friendship, love of all various kinds, but just love. It can't help but make you most warm-hearted.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]]}}In ''¡No Pasarán!{{Frontpage|isbn=Walton_Scifi|title=What Makes This Book So Great: Writings from the Spanish Civil War'', Pete Ayrton Re-Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And Fantasy|author=Jo Walto|rating=5|genre=Anthologies|summary=Jo Walton has chosen a majority published over ten books, several of texts by Spanish writers, arguing that the conflict has long which have been written about from the point award-winning. On top of view that, she has a voracious appetite for books - both as a well-respected writer of the international brigades. [[No Pasaran: Writings from the Spanish Civil War by Pete Ayrton (editor)|Full Review]] <!original fiction, but as a well-- Edwards -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Edwards_Manorrespected reviewer too. Not only does she have time to do all that, but she also writes a regular column for Tor.jpg|left|link=http://wwwcom, on Science Fiction and Fantasy books, and it is these columns that a selection of which are collected here.amazon.co.uk/dp/0712309934/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Tennant_Grub|title=Did We Meet on Grub Street?|author=Emma Tennant, Hilary Bailey and David Elliott|rating=3.5|genre=Anthologies|summary=[[Murder at Essentially, the Manor: Country House Mysteries three authors (British Library Crime Classicsall of whom have long careers in the book industry) by Martin Edwards (editor)]]=== [[image:4revel in the idea of being whining old curmudgeons who miss the good old days of publishing.5starThis unashamed nostalgia provides the focus of the book and allows the writers to recount numerous anecdotes from their days in the publishing business.jpg|link=CategoryWhilst the primary audience for this book may well be students of creative writing and media studies, it also serves as an interesting exploration of an aspect of modern history:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime (Historical)|Crime (Historical)]]how a once-burgeoning industry is now a shell of its former self, [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] I'm not big on short stories, but two factors nudged me towards much like a lot of manufacturing. Because of this book. Firstly, it's broadly golden age crime, one I was disappointed that no space was given to a consideration of how the rise of my weaknesses the e-book and secondly, Kindle has directly damaged both the editor is [[:Category:Martin Edwards|Martin Edwards]]sale of books and the potential for new books to be written (fewer real books sold = fewer financial advances paid to writers = fewer books written). Also, a man whose knowledge given the clear love of golden age crime is probably unsurpassed and he's done us proud, not only with his selectionbooks as treasured artefacts, but with the half-page biographies dismissal of the writers, which precede each story. There's just enough there Harry Potter phenomenon seems truculent, given the impetus the series gave to allow you to place reading amongst both the author young and to direct you to other works if you're tempted. It's an elegant selection, from the well known and the less well known, all set in and around the country house. [[Murder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries (British Library Crime Classics) by Martin Edwards adults.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Penzler_Big|title=The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries|author=Otto Penzler (editor)|Full Review]] <!-- Colfer -->|-rating=5| stylegenre="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Anthologies[[image:Colfer_Place.jpg|left|linksummary=http://wwwNostalgia is a big part of the Christmas experience, and that's provided in sack-loads by this hefty tome of short stories.amazon.co.uk/dp/191041137X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; textSherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Brother Cadfael jostle Morse, Rumpole and Vic Warshawski for space on these tightly packed pages, while lesser-align: left;"|===[[Once Upon a Place by Eoin Colfer (editor)]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Confident Readers|Confident Readers]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] You know the bit of the blurb on every ''Artemis Fowl'' book, where Eoin Colfer had it said about how you pronounce his name? That wasn't the intention of an up-and-coming author to be recognisable; rather, it was pride. Pride in the difference of it, of the Irishness of it. Ireland, it seems to me, is more full than usual of people, things and ideas, and places that are different by dint of their singular nationality – and so many deserve to have pride attached to them. The places might not be the famous ones, but they can be the source of pride, and of stories, which is where this compilation of short works for the young comes in, with the authors invited to select their chosen place and write about it. [[Once Upon a Place by Eoin Colfer (editor)|Full Review]] <!-- Cleeves -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Cleeves_Murder.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1909823740/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Starlings and Other Stories by Ann Cleeves (editor)]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Six authors, known collectively as 'Murder Squad', and their six accomplices were each given photographs of the remote landscape of Pembrokeshire by acclaimed photographer David Wilson and asked to come up with a short story inspired by what they saw. Some of the stories will be more to your taste than others, as is only to be expected in such a varied anthology, but none are weak and if you enjoy crime short stories then this book could be a real treat. [[The Starlings and Other Stories by Ann Cleeves (editor)|Full Review]] <!-- Milne -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Milne_Love.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1405276150/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Love From Pooh (Winnie the Pooh) by A A Milne]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] For a small book, a small review – this is a quite delightful little thing, about which not a lot can be said. It is a gift book pure and simple, much in the way that Pooh Bear was a little simple at times (''Pooh… thought how wonderful it would be to have a Real Brain which could tell you things''). With it comes a simple blurb, and almost instructions that it is for giving, and there is a space for a loving dedication at the beginning, which is again only apt, as it is all about love. Love of honey, love in friendship, love of all various kinds, but just love. It can't help but make you most warm-hearted. [[Love From Pooh (Winnie the Pooh) by A A Milne|Full Review]] <!-- Walton -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Walton_Scifi.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472111613/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[What Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And Fantasy by Jo Walton]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]], [[:Category:Fantasy|Fantasy]], [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]] Jo Walton has published over ten books, several of which have been award winning. On top of that, she has a voracious appetite for books - both as a well respected writer of original fiction, but as a well respected reviewer too. Not only does she have time to do all that, but she also writes a regular column for Tor.com, on Science Fiction and Fantasy books, and it is these columns that a selection of which are collected here. [[What Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading The Classics Of Science Fiction And Fantasy by Jo Walton|Full Review]] <!-- Tennant -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Tennant_Grub.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0704372983/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Did We Meet on Grub Street? by Emma Tennant, Hilary Bailey and David Elliott]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Entertainment|Entertainment]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]], [[:Category:History|History]] Essentially, the three authors (all of whom have long careers in the book industry) revel in the idea of being whining old curmudgeons who miss the good old days of publishing. This unashamed nostalgia provides the focus of the book and allows the writers to recount numerous anecdotes from their days in the publishing business. Whilst the primary audience for this book may well be students of creative writing and media studies, it also serves as an interesting exploration of an aspect of modern history: how a once-burgeoning industry is now a shell of its former self, much like a lot of manufacturing. Because of this, I was disappointed that no space was given to a consideration of how the rise of the e-book and Kindle has directly damaged both the sale of books and the potential for new books to be written (fewer real books sold = fewer financial advances paid to writers = fewer books written). Also, given the clear love of books as treasured artifacts, the dismissal of the Harry Potter phenomenon seems truculent, given the impetus the series gave to reading amongst both the young and adults. [[Did We Meet on Grub Street? by Emma Tennant, Hilary Bailey and David Elliott|Full Review]] <!-- Penzler -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Penzler_Big.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1784082252/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries by Otto Penzler (editor)]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Nostalgia is a big part of the Christmas experience, and that's provided in sack-loads by this hefty tome of short stories. Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Brother Cadfael jostle Morse, Rumpole and Vic Warshawski for space on these tightly packed pages, while lesser known and long since forgotten writers furnish new known and long since forgotten writers furnish new and unexpected pleasures for even the most well-read of book worms. [[The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries by Otto Penzler (editor)|Full Review]] <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|}}