Changes

[[Category:Reference|*]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= D J Taylor1394159544|title= The Prose FactoryRecycling for Dummies|author=Sarah Winkler|rating= 5|genre= ReferenceLifestyle|summary= D J Taylor's exploration 'Recycling one ton of plastic can save up to 16.3 barrels of writing, reading, publishing and critical reviews spans a century oil.'' ''Recycling one ton of literary history, discussing everything paper can save 17 trees from Eliot-era modernists and Georgian traditionalists, being cut down.'' If you send an apple core to the impact of politicslandfill, creative writing degrees, reviewers it will take between 6 months and critics2 years to decompose. It is A glass bottle will take up to 1 million years. As a just-post-WWII baby, I faced a deep dilemma: reducing, reusing and thorough exploration recycling is part of my DNA. NEVER throw away anything that might ''possibly'' come in handy now or in the multi-complex influences on English literary life over future. NEVER buy anything if you can cobble together something that would serve the past century purpose. Almost everything can be used one more time and any purchase must pass the test of 'Is this absolutely essential?' On the way these have shaped readersother hand, I suspected I was guilty of wishcycling: assuming that something must be recyclable (toothpaste tubes - I' preferences m looking at you) and reading habitsdropping it in the kerbside bin. But don't be put off by thinking that this is a dustyYes, encyclopaedic tome – it is I could go searching on the internet - and get conflicting advice - but what I needed was a large book at around 500 pages – but it is accessible and thoroughly readablerecycling bible. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099556073</amazonuk>s

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Van der Kiste1913750353|title=A Beatles Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Britannica's Word of the Beatles but Were Afraid to AskDay|author=Patrick Kelly, Renee Kelly and Sue Macy

|summary=So, you've finished writing your book and you think the hard work is all done? You might have thought 're convinced that just about everything which could be said about all you need to do now is get it published and the Beatles had been said money will start rolling in? Wrong and certainly there's been no shortage of books about what went wrong, what happened again. You presumably wrote the book because you wanted to - and you had a talent for delivering the money and even what went rightwritten word. You knew your subject back to front. But what INow you've never seen before is a 'miscellany' - all those little facts re going to have to get to grips with the book supply chain, which are so hard even parts of the publishing industry believe to track down and this is where historian John Van der Kiste comes into his own: hebe wrong but it's a man with an eye for detail too difficult to change and no one wants to be the ability first to bring everything together into a very readable wholetry. ItThen, when you ''finally's ' have a wonderful collection copy of the small factsbook in your hands, you're going to have to work out how to sell it - because it ''is'' going to be down to you.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781555826</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Paul JarvisFrederic Gros|title=British Airways Colouring BookA Philosophy of Walking|rating=45|genre=CraftsPolitics and Society|summary=Over I confess I picked this one up from the past couple library in my pre-lockdown forage of years we've seen a lot of colouring books: flowers, patterns, fantasy creatures, characters and settings from television shows, films and books and lots more, but random stuff. Now I have to go out an buy my own copy so that I can't recollect that we've ever before had one which featured a ''company''. Mind you, British Airways, is rather special; iconic and rather more long lasting than most passing celebrities. It has ''heritage'' and ''tradition''. The ''British Airways Colouring Book'' is based on exclusive posters, photographs and artwork from turn down the company's archives pages I have marked and the 46 images allow the reader return to its varying wisdom when I need to recreate these as they wish. There's a bonus too: on the facing page of each image there's a potted history Some books draw you in slowly. I passed the book to someone with an interest This one had me in BA and he found the book interesting and informative first two pages, wherein Gros explains why ''withoutwalking is not a sport'' even thinking of doing any colouring.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>144566612X</amazonuk>1781688370

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Simon Rogers1788037812|title= InfographicsThe Fraternity of the Estranged: TechnologyThe Fight for Homosexual Rights in England, 1891-1908|author=Brian Anderson|rating= 5|genre= ReferenceBiography|summary=As parentsOriginally passed in 1885, the law that had made homosexual relations a crime remained in place for 82 years. But during this time, we can often be bombarded with questions restrictions on same-sex relationships did not go unchallenged. Between 1891 and 1908, three books on the nature of homosexuality appeared. They were written by two homosexual men: Edward Carpenter and John Addington Symonds, as well as our children start the heterosexual Havelock Ellis. Exploring the margins of society and studying homosexuality was common on the European Continent, but barely talked about in the UK, so the publications of these men were hugely significant – contributing to discover the world. These questions soon become increasingly complexscientific understanding of homosexuality, especially with and beginning the latest technological advances. How do computers work? What's inside a smartphone? How can earth communicate with spacecraft? Thankfully we now have a handystruggle for recognition and equality, illustrated guide leading to help us: ''Infographics: Technology''the milestone legalisation of same-sex relationships in 1967.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783704489</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Felicity Trotman (editor)1912242052|title=Winter: A Book O Joy for the Seasonme!|author=Keir Davidson|rating=3.5|genre=AnthologiesArt|summary=This seasonal anthology contains a nice mixture of poetry, nature and travel pieces, and excerpts from longer works of fiction. Felicity Trotman, a freelance editor and member of the English Civil War Society, has arranged the material into three sections: 'The Old Year', Oh Joy for me!'Christmas, Sacred and Secular', and gives Coleridge credit for being 'The New Year'. This creates an appropriate sense of chronological progressionthe first person to walk the mountains alone, and also serves not because he had to make Christmas the heart of the book. Blackfor work, as a miner, quarryman, shepherd or pack-horse driver, but because he wanted to for pleasure and-white illustrations – mapsadventure. His rapturous encounters with their natural beauty, photographs and engravings – are interspersed throughoutits literary consequences, and each author gets a short paragraph changed our view of biography and backgroundthe world''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1445664747</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Caroline Taggart1072549271|title= Misadventures in the English LanguageThe Simple Act of Self-Publishing With Amazon: A Simple Step by Step Guide|author=Georgianne Landy-Kordis|rating= 34.5|genre= ReferenceBusiness and Finance|summary=Misadventures in I frequently meet authors who are struggling to be published by the English Language styles itself as an examination of traditional houses, but when I suggest self-publishing they explain that they don't have the big bucks required to go down that road with Author Solutions or Matador or their like. I then ask if they've considered Kindle and the confusing bits of grammaranswer is, vocabulary and punctuationinevitably, that they wouldn't know where to start. I can empathise with some indication that. Despite having used a computer for about thirty years, running most of which rules matter my life ''and which can be broken without dire consequences'' a website online, though I'm still nervous when it's actually broader than this description makes comes to starting something new. I like someone to hold my hand as I go through it soundfor the first time. It has chapters on: words and phrases borrowed from other languages, new usage and changes That was why I was very interested when ''The Simple Act of meaning, common grammar and punctuation pitfalls, confusing spellings, dreadful jargon, and using unnecessary words that donSelf Publishing With Amazon''t add anything to your sentence except lengthcame across my desk...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782436472</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Dave Haslett and Geoff NelderHigashida_Fall|title= How To Win Short Story CompetitionsFall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight: A Young Man's Voice From the Silence of Autism|author=Naoki Higashida and David Mitchell|rating= 3.5|genre= ReferenceHome and Family|summary= This guide to what is for many writers Naoki Higashida was only 13 years old when he wrote the international best-seller ''The Reason I Jump''. The book was popular because it gave a rare glimpse into the workings of the first step on their path to glory (or not) is only available autistic mind, as told from the unique perspective of a Kindle download teenager with non-verbal autism. Naoki communicates by using an alphabet grid, or as by tracing letters on the palm of a PDF direct from the publisher's websitetranscriber. It is not issued Despite this slow and laborious method of writing, he has published several books in print formathis native Japan and manages to give public presentations to raise awareness of his condition. Given the low price on Amazon, it feels like Fall Down 7 Times Get up 8 reintroduces us to Naoki as a worthwhile investment for anyone interested young adult in taking this route to enhance their his 20s and explains how his perspectives on life have changed since writing profilehis first book.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B0083YRFI0</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Alexandra CoghlanJenkins_100|title= Carols from KingBritain's: The Stories of our Favourite Carols from King's College100 Best Railway Stations|author=Simon Jenkins|rating= 4.5|genre= ReferenceArt|summary=The exquisite sound of a lone chorister singing ''Once in Royal David's City'' amid In the chapel of King's Collegemid-twentieth century, Cambridge, marks the start of railway was something which harked back to the Christmas festivities for millions of people round the globe. Broadcast at 3pm on Chrismas EveVictorian age with trains being supplanted by cars and planes, but steam was being replaced by oil, ''A Festival of Nine Lessons even then and Carols'' provides a precious moment of tranquility amongst in the bustle of the festive season. Here author Alexandra Coghlan takes the reader on a journey through the fascinating history of carols, from the very twenty-first - sung by the angels century oil is giving way to the shepherds at Bethlehem - to anecdotes from contemporary Kingelectricity. It's choristerscleaner, more environmentally friendly and shows them how carols have evolved from pagan songs the stations which we'd all rushed through as quickly as possible, keen to become one of our nation's most sacred treasures. Accompanied by lyrics escape their grime, were restored and music and compiled became places to be admired, possibly even lingered in conjunction with Radio 4 and King's College Chapel, ''Carols from King's'' is the official companion for fans of Christmas and carols alike. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785940945</amazonuk>Simon Jenkins has chosen his hundred best railway stations.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Dave Haslett and Kate HaslettTaylor_Owls|title= The Date-Owls: A-Base Book 2017Guide to Every Species|author=Marianne Taylor|rating= 45|genre= ReferenceAnimals and Wildlife|summary=So here's a question for you: how do you go about reviewing a list I feel like I am being watched. A huge pair of piercing orange eyes are staring right at me, locking me into their gaze. In contrast with the hardness of the deep- especially a list that runs to 3amber eyes, soft grey feathers fan out into the surrounding area, intricate,800 entries detailed and 544 pages? No, I'm not sure eitherbeautiful. An enigma; harsh and gentle at the same time, but I'm going the owl is beckoning the reader to give it turn the pages and take a gocloser look inside...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B01C4TZ4FA</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Nev SchulmanJVDK_ELO|title= In Real LifeElectric Light Orchestra: Love, Lies & Identity in the Digital AgeSong by Song|author=John Van der Kiste|rating= 4.5|genre= ReferenceEntertainment|summary= Nev (it's pronounced Neev) is a man who knows about My memories of pop music in the early sixties revolve around guitars and drums, sometimes the darker side of online datingpiano with only occasional excursions into strings and brass. Known for his documentary 'Pop music rarely stands still and it wasn'Catfish'' – a film which showed an online flirtation going sour, Nev then began making a tv show of t long before the same name, travelling America to offer advice to those in online relationshipsbasic instruments were seen as constraints and The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and possibly being catfished (which means being lured into a relationship by someone adopting a fictional online persona). Now the go-The Beach Boys began to expert in online relationships for millenialsexperiment, a generation who have never known a world without Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and with other online places groups following where interactions can formthey led. HereAmongst these groups was The Move and their lead guitarist and songwriter, he takes his investigation Roy Wood. Wood wanted to develop the page – exploring relationships in group's sound by adding more instruments but was prevented from achieving what he wanted by cost limitations and because the era rest of social media, delving deeply into the complexities of dating in a digital age, and continuing the dialogue group didn't really share his show has begun about how we interact with each other online – as well as sharing insights from his own storyenthusiasm. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1473608066</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Neil R A Bell, Trevor N Bond, Kate Clarke and M W OldridgeHendrix_PBHell|title=The Paperbacks from Hell: A-Z History of Victorian Crime Horror Fiction from the '70s and '80s|author=Grady Hendrix

|genre=True CrimeHorror|summary= Victorian crime has never ceased to cast its spell. Is it because such terrible goingsDemonic possession, murderous babies, man-on took place sufficiently long ago that they do not disgust us in the same way as equally dreadful events fromeating moths… for these books, no plot was too ludicrous, sayno cover art too appalling, no evil too despicable. Now horror author Grady Hendrix risks his soul and his sanity (not to mention the last few days of which we read from todayreader's papers or online coverage? Whatever !) to relate the reasontrue, there is an endless fascination with murders untold story of a fascinating and other major transgressions of the law from the often forgotten era of gas lamps and swirling fog – true Victorian melodrama, misbehaviour and horror from real life writ large. It is amply catered for in this title, the joint work of four authorspublishing.|amazonuk=Read the synapse-shattering story summaries!<amazonukbr>1445647869See the horrific hand-painted cover imagery!</amazonukbr>And learn the true-life tales of the writers, artists, and publishers who gleefully violated every literary law but one – never be boring.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Alexandra HarrisBrowne_Many|title= Weatherland: Writers and artists under English skiesThe Many Faces of Coincidence|author=Laurence Browne|rating= 43.5|genre= ReferencePopular Science|summary=The story Browne does not mislead with this choice of English culture over title; he does without a thousand years can be told as the story of changing ideas about the weather. A sweeping panorama, ''Weatherland'' explores how writers and artists, looking up at the same skies and walking in the brisk air, have felt very different things. A journey through centuries and cultures, Harris walks doubt explore the reader through misty moor and foggy fen, lays with them on bright sunlit beaches, treks with them to stormy summits, and introduces them to a fascinating cast many faces of writers, artists and cultural figures along the waycoincidence.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0500292655</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Hugh Jefferies1903385679|title=Great Britain Concise Catalogue 2016The 100 Best Novels in Translation|author=Boyd Tonkin|rating=3.5

|summary=ItConsider, if you will, translated fiction. Some say it's difficult to believe impossible – that if a book was so good in one tongue it's the 30th anniversary of the first publication of could never survive being put into another. Samuel Beckett must have laboured over ever syllable and ''Great Britain ConciseBreath'', but this is the thirty-first editionhe could translate his own works, with just under 500 pages and over three and a half thousand illustrationsother equally complex pieces can cross borders. It feels almost painful to look back to the days when the choice was between the ''Collect British Stamps'' series which never pretended (or pretends) to be more than s a checklist market that has actually doubled in sales volume between 2000 and 2016 (but got many people off to a sound start - myself included) and the specialised seriesthanks, which is beyond the purse of many amateur collectors. ''Great Britain ConciseMillennium Trilogy'' sits comfortably between the two extremes with an affordable cover price).|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0852599722</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Robert Kershaw|title= 24 Hours at Novels, in particular, in translation, are – as the Somme|rating= 5|genre= Reference|summary=introduction here so smartly puts it – ''They came past one by one...walking lumps a privileged means of claypassing border posts, with torn clothing, hollow cheeks and sunken eyes...There was a dreadful wearinesssort of universal passport issued by that Utopian state, but a wildness burning in their fevered eyes, showing what this appalling hand to hand fighting had cost them. Utterly unforgivable for me...'' So goes the description Republic of the men, the ''ghosts,Letters'' . We here at the end of the first day of the Somme. July 1 2016 will mark 100 years since this most bloody of battles took place. It was supposed 'Bag regularly try and give equal credit to be the optimistic 'Big Pushtranslator, without whom we wouldn' t be reading what we have in our hands. But all that would end the Great Warsaid, but by sunset do we really need one of those list books about the first day subject? I got given a book the British casualties numbered 57other year detailing 1001 places to go to before I die,470and I might even then have missed out a zero. The battle It would rage until November that yeartake as long as a fortnight's holiday to wade through, and even though this is not as long as your typical Bolano housebrick, with the total number of casualties on all sides exceeding one millionit's not a short thing.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0753555476</amazonuk>Should it take our time?

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David CrystalFry_Mythos|title=The Oxford Dictionary Mythos: A Retelling of Original Shakespearean Pronunciationthe Myths of Ancient Greece|author=Stephen Fry

|summary=Language changesThe Greek Myths are, not only in the way that it's writtenarguably, but also in the way that it's ''pronounced''greatest stories ever told. I've seen changes So old and influential they cast a shadow over my lifetime western tales and even more substantial changes have occurred in the four hundred years since Shakespeare diedtraditions, yet remain relatable and readable millennia later. For someone watching or reading a play the differences are not usually material: we can generally understand what is being saidHere comedian, actor, television presenter, but occasionally we're going actor and author Stephen Fry brings his considerable talent to miss jokes which rely on these special stories and recreates them with a certain pronunciationwit, or warmth and humanity that brings them into the fine nuances of what is being said. What's required is a dictionary of modern age whilst still giving the original pronunciation honour and respect that's exactly what David Crystal has provided. I'm only surprised that it's taken so long for such a book to appearancient and influential stories deserve.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0199668426</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Andrew DicksonMahnke_Lore|title= Worlds Elsewhere|rating= 4|genre= Reference|summary=From the sixteenth-century Baltic to the American Revolution, from colonial India to the skyscrapers The World of modern-day ShanghaiLore, Shakespeare's plays appear at the most fascinating of times in the most unexpected of places. But what is it about Shakespeare – a man who never once left England, which has made him an icon across the globe? Travelling across four continents, six countries and 400 years, ''Worlds Elsewhere'' attempts to understand Shakespeare in his role as an international phenomenon.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099578956</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewVolume 1: Monstrous Creatures|author=Graeme Donald|title=Words of a FeatherAaron Mahnke|rating=4.5

|summary= Words of Every country, every town, every village has a folktale – a Feather. The title alone suggests an engaging read about language, and story passed down through generations that often focuses on the book certainly delivers. It pairs seemingly unrelated words, digs up their etymological roots dark and reveals their common ancestryunexplained. The English languageNo matter how the modern world moves on, of course, provides rich pickings indeed for there's a still a book part of this type and it everyone that is fascinating vulnerable to see the hidden meaning behind common and not-so-common wordsa good tale. Some connections are fairly obvious once you read them. For exampleFrom ghosts to werewolves, the link between ''grotto'' by way of wendigos and ''grotesque'' is easy to grasp: elves, author Aaron Mahnke delivers the word ''grotesque'' derives reader legends from unpleasant figures depicted in murals in Ancient Roman ''grottoes''. Other connections are just extraordinary, like the so-crazy-you-couldn't-make-it-up connection between ''furnace'' and ''fornicate''. These two words date back to Ancient Rome when prostitutes took all over the cityworld, whilst examining how they's abandoned baking domes. And some connections are more than a little tenuous, seemingly just a collection ve become part of words banded togetherour collective imaginations, as is still striking fear into the case with the ''insult'' and ''salmon'' pairing. One hearts of many of my personal favourites: the Italian word ''schiavo'' for ''slave'' was used to summon or dismiss a slave; this word became corrupted to ''ciao'', a word the more well-heeled among us use instead of ''goodbye''today.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178418814X</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Stephen Hickman|title= The Art of Stephen Hickman|rating= 4|genre= Fantasy|summary= Stephen Hickman has been a well known artist in the Fantasy and Science Fiction worlds for a number of years now, having created covers for authors such as Harlan Ellison, Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, and Larry Niven. His paintings are vibrant, kinetic, sometimes scary, often sensual, traditional, and yet modern. ''The Art of Stephen Hickman'' collects hundreds of these paintings, and the artist himself provides an intriguing commentary alongside which offers a fascinating glimpse into the artistic process. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783298456</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=John Sutherland|title=How Good is Your Grammar?|rating=3|genre=Reference|summary=In the preface of ''How Good is Your Grammar?'', John Sutherland suggests that the abolition of grammar schools in the 1960s coincided with a general decline in grammatical standards in the decades that followed. In our modern age of 'text-speak' and emoticons, the need for grammatical correctness seems to be rather low on our agenda, maybe even regarded as irrelevant by some. Is this gradual erosion an inevitable part of the evolution of communication, or will certain rules always remain an intrinsic part of the fabric of language? Only time will tell, but for those wishing to brush up on their grammar skills, Sutherland has compiled 100 quiz questions that he claims are the ''ultimate test'' for his readers.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780722575</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|authorisbn= Lucy AdlingtonFowler_Forgotten|title= Stitches in Time: The Story of the Clothes We Wear |rating=4|genre= History|summary=''Stitches in Time'' is a lively history Book of clothing. Riffling through the wardrobes of years gone by, costume historian Lucy Adlington reveals the stories underneath the clothes we wear in this tour of the history of fashion, ranging from ancient times to the present day. With beautiful illustrations and full colour photographs, ''Stitches in Time'' is a reminder of how the way we dress is inextricably bound up with considerations of aesthetics, sex, gender, class and lifestyle – and offers the reader the chance to appreciate the extraordinary qualities of the clothing we wear, and the rich history it has led. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847947263</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Jody Revenson|title= Harry Potter: The Character Vault|rating= 4|genre= Entertainment|summary= Unlock new information about your favourite characters from the Harry Potter film series. This coffeetable book profiles the good, bad, and everything in between – from Harry and Ron to Voldemort and Umbridge. Hugely detailed and filled with beautiful illustrations, images, and never before seen glimpses into the design process – this book will answer your questions about character design in the Harry Potter series.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0062407449</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewForgotten Authors|author=Steve Silberman|title=Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter about People Who Think DifferentlyChristopher Fowler

|summary=''NeurotribesAbsence doesn't make the heart grow fonder'' is is an ambitious book. It aims to challenge the widely-held perception that autism is a disability, or a developmental delaymakes people think you're dead. One of my favourite quotes from the book is this:

There's truth in that statement, you know, but there'One way s a conundrum when it's applied to understand neurodiversity authors. Shakespeare is to think in terms of dead: Dickens is dead, but we haven'human operating systemst buried what they' instead of diagnostic labelsve written: that lives on until... Just because a computer when? Is it until fashion decrees that they should be no more? Or is not running Windows doesn't mean that it, as in the case of some children's broken.'' This refreshing approach underpins the whole of this groundauthors that they are on life support through licensing deals and astute marketing? Christopher Fowler has unearthed (exhumed?) ninety-breaking work, which is essentially a potted-history of autism from the distant past to the present day. It will fascinate and enlighten anyone with an interest in the subject, or nine authors who is affectedwere once hugely popular, directly or indirectly, by the condition. For autistic people, this book represents their roots; their cultural historybut whose works have disappeared, and illustrates how far the autistic community have come over the past few decadessometimes quite literally.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1760113638</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Mary McDonagh MurphyAngell_Triang|title= Scout, Atticus and BooTri-ang Collectables|author=Dave Angell|rating= 43.5|genre= Reference|summary= First published in 1960, ‘’To Kill a Mockingbird’’ is not only a beloved classic, but a touchstone in literary and social historyA guide to the trains produced by the Tri-ang company from its inception until the company became Hornby. ‘’Scout, Atticus & Boo’’ commorates A very personal guide to the fifty years plus since ‘’To Kill a Mockingbird’’ was published, and discusses its impact with contributions from Oprah Winfrey, James Patterson, Adriana Trigiani and Wally Lamb amongst others – particularly Alice Finch Lee, Harper Lee’s older sister who passed away last yearcollecting of model trains. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>178475305X</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stanley GibbonsChase_Orchids|title=Great Britain Concise Stamp Catalogue 2015The Book of Orchids: A life-size guide to six hundred species from around the world|author=Mark Chase, Maarten Christenhusz and Tom Mirenda

|summary=The thirtieth edition of the Stanley Gibbons Concise Stamp catalogue lives up to expectations once againOne in seven flowering plants on earth is an orchid: there are 26,000 species in 749 genera. It's been extensively updated They flourish in remarkable habitats such as deserts and prices have been revised in line with the current marketArctic circle, leading to thousands of price increases (particularly in varietiesfact, errorsall areas but the most inhospitable. There's a wide range of colours, Machinsshapes and scents: they're dramatic, Post & Go stamps delicate and booklets), which will please you - or ingenious in the ways that they've developed not - depending on whether you're a seller or a buyerjust to survive but to thrive. ItTom Mirenda describes them as 's pitched at that sector 'masters of the market which has outgrown manipulation'' and ''Collect British Stampsfamous for lying and cheating their way to their many evolutionary successes'', but not yet graduated to the [[Stamps his love of them is as obvious as his respect for the World 2011 by Stanley Gibbons|Stamps of insight they give us into the World series]]processes which shaped our world. The cover price of £34.95 is reasonable when you see the amount of work - and technology - which He hopes that understanding how that has gone into the creation of the bookcome about will inspire us to conserve what we have.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0852599447</amazonuk>

{{newreviewplainFrontpage|isbn=Edwards_Story|title=National Geographic Kids Infopedia 2016The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books (British Library Crime Classics)|author=Martin Edwards|rating=4.5

|summary=Annuals. They are not what they used It's easy to be. As a childconfused by the various 'ages' of crime writing: if you have an interest in the genre you'll almost certainly have heard of the Golden Age of Crime, I remember snuggling into a chair with my 1983 “Crackerjack” annual and generally acknowledged as being completely immersed by the facts, stories, jokes period between the first and activities insidesecond world wars. Maybe I'm getting oldClassic Crime' on the other hand extends the time frame at either end and covers books published in the first half of the twentieth century. Throughout my adult life, but many of todaythere's annuals seem to be little more than a few flimsy sheets been just one genre of colouring paper books which has fascinated me, and posters sandwiched inside a hard cover. Ifthat's crime, so I could hardly resist the chance of reading ''The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books'' particularly as a parentthe author, you are aching to buy your children something with a little more substance Martin Edwards is an accomplished author within the crime genre and quality, then an acknowledged expert on the National Geographic Infopedia 2016 may be just what you are looking forsubject.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1426322445</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= David and Ben CrystalDK_Childrens|title= Oxford Children's Illustrated Shakespeare DictionaryThesaurus|author=DK

|summary= David Crystal, renowned linguist, writer, editor, lecturer and broadcaster has collaborated with his son Ben, Shakespearean actor, author, director and producer One of the most valuable literary skills which children can learn is how to create an eye catching, exquisitely detailed, carefully colour coded and incisive use reference guidebooks. It is extensive and meticulously researched- As a fusion of child every question which I began with ''how do you spell...?'' would be answered with ''EXACTLY as it says in the dictionary''. This was fine, but the Crystals’ Shakespearean knowledgefamily's Collins Little Gem Dictionary didn't encourage exploration, linguistic skill not least because the font was small and theatrical enthusiasmdifficult to read. Lavishly illustrated by Kate Bellamy Fortunately, who favours a bright, attractive primary colour palette, this dictionary is a treasure trove those times have now changed and reference book for any student of Shakespearechildren are now much more inviting. This would be Not every book comes with a five star review set of instructions but for a minor quibble- it is missing an index of characters which would have been useful for pupils assigned character studies as they could have cross referenced 's worth studying the explanatory entries with quotes or themes''How to. It also only concentrates on Shakespeare’s twelve most performed plays so it is not an exhaustive treatment of his work.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192737503</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewplain|title=The Economist Style Guide: 11th Edition|rating=4.5|genre=Reference|summary=If you don't ''write'' what you meansection, how will people ''know'' what you mean?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781253129</amazonuk>not least because similar systems are used in other reference books.