Features

Check out the full lists of interviews, top tens and articles.

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Pamela Johnson

Rebecca was impressed when she read Taking in Water by Pamela Johnson - she was reminded of Iris Murdoch's The Sea, The Sea - and Johnson's writing style put her in mind of two of favourite authors, Tessa Hadley and Kate Atkinson. She had quite a few questions when the author popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg September 2016 Newsletter

Hi, hello and how are you all, dear readers?

Here's some cool news to start us off this month - an innovative new monthly print magazine for 8-12 year-olds is about to launch. Scoop will offer an inspiring mix of short stories, poetry, non-fiction features, comic strips and activities. It will feature some of the very best creators of literary and visual content for children - think Neil Gaiman, Eoin Colfer and Laura Dockrill, just for starters. Not least, Scoop is for children who will be thrilled to receive their very own magazine in the post, addressed only to them. We love the sound of Scoop. It reminds Jill of the Puffin Post, to which she enthusiastically subscribed as a child. If you have a child who loves to read, you should look it out. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ritchie Valentine Smith

Ani enjoyed Words of Power, the first volume of a new samurai fantasy series by Ritchie Valentine Smith. She had plenty of questions for the author when he popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To S B Charles

Jill thought that Gliding With Black Swans by S B Charles was a roller coaster of a thriller and she couldn't wait to chat to author S B Charles when he popped in to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Christopher Bowden about 'The Purple Shadow'

It's not long since Jill enjoyed Christopher Bowden's novel The Green Door, so she was delighted when she had the opportunity to read his latest book The Purple Shadow. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg August 2016 Newsletter

Well, hello there, readers. We hope you're well. And we hope you're getting back to reading now that Rio 2016 and all the associated Olympic excitements are done and dusted. We have some great books for you to consider this month. So read on...

How many books do you think you might have read over the last three years? You'd be going some if you said a thousand, right? But what if you said 2.500? That would be amazing! Well, Faith Jackson, aged 12, has done just that. She has met authors, been given books, and now is about to be featured in Ripley's upcoming Odd Around the World. We like the cut of your jib, Faith. Keep reading! Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg July 2016 Newsletter

Hello! We hope you are well. We hope you are not traumatised by Brexit. We hope you are not in despair at the apparent collapse of our political system. Of course you may be one or both. If so, you have our sympathies and our best efforts at distracting you from the various non-reading related stresses currently engulfing the country. Books are constant! Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg June 2016 Newsletter

Let's get the snark out of the way first! Simon Literary Cowell has declared his intention to write a book for children because all the books he reads to his son are "boring". The internet responded O RLY? Simon, probably not up with youth speak, also got some advice from various children's authors, understandably somewhat miffed, including Philip Ardagh and Michael Rosen. We suggest Simon browses through the Bookbag children's section. He won't find much to bore him in there. We think the Mini Cowell might enjoy Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog by Mini Grey , for example. Oh, what a silly, silly man. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg May 2016 Newsletter

Hi, hello and how the devil are you? Read anything good lately? If you're looking for ideas, we can oblige with this month's recommendations and a blast from the past that's worth revisiting. If there's anything you think you can add, do let us know.

We'd like to take a moment to say goodbye to the fabulous Jenny Diski, who died from cancer recently. She wrote a diary in the London Review of Books post-diagnosis and it was as witty and acerbic as all her writing. We will truly miss her. Rest in peace, Jenny. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Russell Mardell

Jill thought that Cold Calling was unexpectedly delightful and above all, very, very human. She had quite a few questions for author Russell Mardell when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Joel Mentmore

After she read Smart Ani realised that she would never be completely comfotable with her mobile phone again. She had quite a few questions for author Joel Mentmore when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Hazel McHaffie

Sue absolutely refused to be separated from Inside of Me until she found out what happened to anorexic India and her mother. She had quite a few questions for author Hazel McHaffie when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg April 2016 Newsletter

Hello there, Bookbaggers, and how the devil are you? Well, we hope. What are you reading today? Anything we should know about? If you are undecided about what to read next, we have plenty to recommend to you from this month's releases. Guess what? In a poll commissioned by Amnesty International UK, parents were asked to choose the activity that they thought developed their child’s empathy the most - and reading was the runaway winner. We agree! Reading is a vicarious experience and really helps us all - not just children - to appreciate the world through someone else's eyes. Amnesty UK will also give a special commendation this year to one of the shortlisted books in the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway awards . This will be the first ever human rights commendation for children’s books and we think it's a really positive initiative. Read more...

Quentin Bates talks to Bookbag about about ''Thin Ice''

Author Quentin Bates popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us about Thin Ice, the seventh book in his Officer Gunnhildur series. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To C E Robinson

Ani was impressed by the world building in Lilith: Eden's Planetary Princess and knew that there was an exciting series to come. She had quite a few questions for author C E Robinson when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anthony Gardner

Jill thought that Fox by Anthony Gardner was plot-focused and had twists to suit every thriller fan. She was impressed by the serious depiction of the downtrodden individual against the erosion of hard-won civil liberties. There was quite a lot to chat about when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg February 2016 Newsletter

Hi, hello and a very happy February to all our readers. It's been a long slog but we are nearing winter's end and that's a relief, isn't it? We're looking forward to some spring sunshine and some fabulous spring books.

David Bowie died. And the nation was shocked and grief-stricken. We were no different. And so, in memory of one our great cultural icons, we perused this list of the great man's top 100 books. The list is as eclectic as you'd expect and inspirational, too. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Michael Pronko about 'Motions and Moments'

Last year Rebecca enjoyed Michael Pronko's first book of essays on Tokyo life and she was delighted to be able to review his third book, Motions and Moments: More Essays on Tokyo. She had quite a few questions for Michael when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Haraldur Erlendsson and Keith Hagenbach

Stacey thought that The Man Who Drew Triangles: Magician, mystic or out of his mind? by Haraldur Erlendsson and Keith Hagenbach was a thrilling, plot-twistingly good tale of folklore, legends, spirits and ultimately of thinking a little differently. She had quite a few questions for the authors when they popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg January 2016 Newsletter

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We hope you had a wonderful festive season and if you were affected by the awful floods, you have our sympathy, solidarity and very best wishes. And at least one book in your Christmas stocking. Read more...

Top Ten Self-Published Books 2015

We've seen some great self-published books this year and had great fun choosing our top ten books. Here they are, in alphabetical order by author. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Spadge Whittaker

Jill thought that Braver Than Britain, Occasionally by Spadge Whittaker in which Spadge researches Britain's top ten fears and faces them all over the course of a year was funny and silly and, yes, brave. It's a joyous little book. EXCEPT FOR THE SPIDERS. Read more...

Bookbag's Christmas Gift Recommendations 2015

We know that you could do your Christmas present book shopping from Amazon's best seller lists, but we like to suggest more unusual books that we've enjoyed over the year. Hopefully you'll find something for everyone here. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Dr Kris J Sime

Jill thought that Dragon's Flight was FUN and that's not something she often says, so she had quite a few questions for authgor Kris Sime when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Top Ten Women's Fiction 2015

We've been looking for intelligent women's fiction that provides a good read and we think that we've found some crackers. Here they are, in alphabetical order by author. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg November 2015 Newsletter

Happy November, Bookbaggers! We hate to be the eleventy billionth people to mention it to you, but Christmas is around the corner. Sorry, but it is! If you're looking for some bookish gift recommendations, scroll down to our features section where we have done our best to help you out. Read more...

Top Ten Crime Novels of 2015

We've tried to give you a varied selection of crime novels for 2015. They come from several continents and some have been translated and there are old favourites as well as some talented newcomers. Here they are, in alphabetical order by author. Read more...

Top Ten Fantasy Books of 2015

We had a fun time choosing our top ten fantasy novels of 2015, not least because it got us into a lot of do you remember...? conversations! It took quite a while to whittle our choices down to ten, particularly as we've excluded any books which are part of a series where you need to have read earlier books to appreciate this one. Here they are, in alphabetical order by author. Read more...

Top Ten Historical Fiction Books of 2015

We've noticed a growing appetite for top class historical fiction and there have been some very good examples in 2015. In making our selection we've avoided books which are the later parts of trilogies and where you really need to have read the earlier books to get the best from them, but here's our selection, in alphabetical order by author. Read more...

Top Ten General Fiction Books for 2015

2015 has been a good year for those books which you just want to enjoy reading and we think that we've found something for everyone's taste. Here they are, alphabetically by author. Read more...

Top Ten Books for Teens 2015

Choosing our top ten books for teens is always difficult and 2015 was no exception. We think there's something here for everyone and they're in alphabetical order by author Read more...

Top Ten History Books 2015

We seem to be celebrating a lot of anniversaries - and the books which accompany them - at the moment, but in selecting our top ten history books of 2015 we've tried to give as wide a selection of periods and subjects as possible so that there's something to appeal to everyone. Here they are in alphabetical order by author. Read more...

Top Ten Picture Books 2015

We really struggled to pick just ten picture books from the brilliant editions we've seen this year and some of our personal favourites had to be left out, but here they are in alphabetical order, by author. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To John Searancke

Sue was impressed by John Searancke's story of his father's war, Prunes for Breakfast and she had quite a few questions for John when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chris Calder

Ani enjoyed Celeste Three is Missing by Chris Calder and thought it was a good, slow burning escapist thriller. She had quite a few questions for the author when he popped in to see us. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg October 2015 Newsletter

Hi, hello, and how the devil are you? Good, we hope!

The wait is over and we now know that Marlon James won the Booker Prize 2015. He's the first Jamaican to win and we couldn't be happier for him. Ani loved A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James, calling it multi-layered epiphany of a novel and if you haven't read it already, you really, really should. You can also find our reviews of all the short listed books here. They're all fabulous. Read more...

Man Booker Prize 2015

We're eagerly awaiting news of the winner of the 2015 Man Booker Prize and we have some exciting books on the shortlist. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandy Hogarth

Rebecca enjoyed The Glass Girl by Sandy Hogarth, an exploration of the psychological effects of sexual trauma and relationship betrayals. She had quite a few questions for the author when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Frances Brody

Sue is a long-standing fan of Frances Brody's Kate Shackleton mysteries. She thought that the latest - A Death in the Dales - was ingenious, well researched and a darned good read. There were quite a few questions when Frances popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jill Thrussell

Ani thought that I'll Meet You In Heaven was a story of love, loss and new beginnings which would be a great comfort to those who have suffered loss. She had quite a few questions for author Jill Thrussell when she popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kim Staflund Again

Sue's always been just a little bit keen to avoid the limelight, so when Kim Staflund's latest book, Successful Selling Tips for Introverted Authors landed on her desk she devoured it and had quite a few questions to ask the author when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Matt Addis

Sue has spent some very indulgent hours recently listening to books narrated by Matt Addis. Most recently she's wallowed in Rape of the Fair Country and The Hosts of Rebecca, both by Alexander Cordell, which she thought were amazing. When Matt popped into Bookbag Towers she wanted to know how it was all done. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg September 2015 Newsletter

Well, they say summer is the silly season but so much has been happening since we last wrote! And so much of what has been happening has tied into the world of books in our thoughts. MPs, given a free vote, rejected an assisted dying bill. And that made us remember beloved Terry Pratchett, who so strongly supported the idea. We miss you, Terry. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Antony Wootten Again

After she finished reading The Grubby Feather Gang Sue couldn't get the characters out of her mind. The book had given her a lot to think about and she had quite a few questions for author Antony Wootten when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To C B Calico

Rebecca was impressed by Dandelion Angel and had quite a few questions when debut author C B Calico popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg August 2015 Newsletter

Hi, hello and how are you? Good, we hope. We have some summer reading recommendations for you as ever this month. If you haven't been on your holidays yet, hopefully there's something there you'd like to take with you. If you have, well, you can still take a look - perhaps for some reading in the garden during the long evenings. Either way, happy summer reading everyone! Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg July 2015 Newsletter

How are you all doing with the summer weather? Aside from sweltering and moaning, that is. We can allow you to swelter but not to moan about it. Sorry! Did you watch Wimbledon? As we write, the tournament is still ongoing, so our fingers are still crossed for Andy Murray, as they were for our fabulous footballing lionesses. We need to review more books about sport, we really do. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sarah Bourne

When she read Two Lives Rebecca thought that author Sarah Bourne was definitely going to be one to follow. They had a lot to chat about when Sarah popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To John Piper

Ani was impressed when she read John Piper's Hibernia Unanimis and she had quite a few questions to ask the author when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown

Sue thought that The Independent Director: The Non-Executive Director's Guide to Effective Board Presence was fascinating and certain to become the go-to book for anyone thinking about taking on an independent directorship. There were quite a few questions she wanted to ask when author Gerry brown popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg June 2015 Newsletter

Hi, hello and how the devil are you?

The days are getting long and for us here at Bookbag, it means the evenings are perfect for reading. Hopefully you feel the same and hopefully this newsletter will give you some ideas about what to read next.

So, what's been going on in the book world? Well, there's been a flurry of laureate-related news.

Firstly, the redoubtable Chris Riddell has taken over from the equally redoubtable Malorie Blackman as the new Children's Laureate. Hooray! We love Chris. He says he wants to put visual literacy front and centre during his tenure and he'd love to see children drawing every day. So would we. Good luck, Chris. Read more...

Check out the full lists of interviews, top tens and articles.