June 2010 Newsletter

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June's News from Bookbag Towers

Vuvuzelas, eh? Who'd 'ave 'em? Personally, here at Bookbag Towers, we prefer vuvuzelas to the World Cup but even we know that's a sacrilegious remark and so we shall say no more about it...

... ahem.

Possibly a more constructive topic is holiday reading. Do you pack books? Or do you rely on airport potboilers? Or stick to newspapers and magazines? We Bookbaggers obviously have a separate piece of luggage just for our books, and we carry it everywhere we go, no matter how heavy it gets. Fancy being stuck on holiday with nothing to read! Now that is sacrilege!

Features

We've gone interview mad this month! There are some real treats for you there, including a chat with Children's Laureate Anthony Browne. After being enthralled by his latest offering, Me and You, we jumped at the chance to ask him some questions. We've also talked to Mavis Cheek. We thought that her Truth to Tell was such a good story: thought-provoking, beautifully written and laugh out loud funny in places.

And there's more! See what Pete Johnson, Joanne Owen and Joel Stewart have to say too! Keep an eye on our interview section because we have lots more in the pipeline.

Golden Hour

We've gone serious for Golden Hour this month, with a book that isn't as famous as it should be: Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo. A young soldier is horrifically injured during World War 1 and wakes up to a living nightmare. Johnny Got His Gun is possibly the most stomach-churning book about war ever written. It really is not for the fainthearted. Yet in truth, it is a book that everyone should read before they even think about supporting a war, any war. It hurts to read it, but if you have the courage then you will be richly rewarded.

Books of the Month

And on to to the new...

In fiction, Jill has chosen Taurus by Joseph Smith Beautiful and cruel, ancient and new, it expands on Smith's previous novella, The Wolf by adding more human cruelty into the mix. As a bull gradually awakens into its true self, its appointment with the corrida grows ever closer. It's a stunning but uncomfortable read and one Jill feels absolutely privileged to have read.

In non-fiction, Zoe loved How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like by Paul Bloom. What we like and why we like it is the theme of this entertaining and enjoyable book that you don't need a degree in psychology to understand. It is wonderfully witty, extremely entertaining, thoroughly thought-proving and remarkably readable. And it's very healthy to think about things we love!

For teens and young adults, we've gone with some historical fiction for a change and Linda's favourite: Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper. It's a vivid and thrilling Victorian tale of villains, deadly peril and a courageous heroine.It's a highly satisfactory story, with a dramatic plot and a fascinating insight into the world many modern-day readers would have experienced if they had been alive 150 years ago.

For the little ones, Keith recommends Lulu's Loo by Camilla Reid and Ailie Busby Another excellent Lulu book, this time looking at what happens as Lulu progresses from nappies to using the toilet. It's ideal for any family who are heading towards or involved in potty training and is also a wonderful pop-up book in its own right.

Reviewers

We're always on the lookout for people to join our panel of reviewers at Bookbag. We need people who understand that the reader wants to know what the reviewer thinks about the book and not just what's written on the back cover. If you think that you're one of these special people that we're looking for, we want to hear from you. You can find details of how to apply here on the site. Don't be shy!

Competitions

We have competitions for some great books going this month, and every month, so get entering!

And that's about it for this month. If you're passing Bookbag Towers do pop in and see us – we're at www.thebookbag.co.uk.

All at Bookbag Towers

See what we were reading last year.

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