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Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=October 2009 Newsletter
|summary=Hi again from Bookbag Towers. The banner headline this month: one of us had suspected swine flu. Nobody will actually give you a diagnosis though, so you lay sweating and shivering on the sofa and take your Tamiflu, but you've no idea at all whether or not you'll have to go through it all again when you actually ''do'' get it. Bah. The other banner headline, of course, is that the Booker judges met with our approval this year by giving [[Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel|Wolf Hall]] the big prize. If you haven't read it yet, you really are remiss. It's an absolutely wonderful book and will stay with you for a long, long time.
}}
{{newfeature
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Michelle Lovric
|summary=Bookbag loved Michelle Lovric's [[The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric|The Undrowned Child]]. It's a wonderful alternate world historical fantasy, pitting myth and legend against science. We jumped at the opportunity to ask her a few questions.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books To Help Down-Size And Make Ends Meet
|summary=Sick of the rat race? You're down-sizing, cutting back or just what to make the most of what you've got? We sort out the books that will make it easier and give you a better life.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sarah Prineas
|summary=Bookbag loved Sarah Prineas' [[The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas|The Magic Thief]] and [[The Magic Thief: Lost by Sarah Prineas|The Magic Thief: Lost]]. We were thrilled with the opportunity to ask her some questions about it, and get to know her a bit better.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten War Novels
|summary=So, you've read [[Catch-22]], [[Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut|Slaughterhouse 5]] and [[Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks|Birdsong]]. You're looking for more war novels to move you with tales of bravery, to make you cry at the futility, and to help you look deep inside yourself. Work your way through our top ten war novels, and realise that whilst war may not be the answer, books about war so frequently are. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourite books about war?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books For The Defenders Of Reason
|summary=We are living in one of the most prosperous periods in the history of humanity, and our lives are longer and healthier than they have ever been before. Despite that, people seem to be getting more worried about a huge number of issues, some clearly valid, some ridiculously improbable, some downright loony. A growing (and often justified) mistrust in government and big business is paralleled by a growing (and completely unjustified) belief in outlandish conspiracy theories, alternative therapies that work worse than placebo and [[The Secret by Rhonda Byrne|non-existing pseudo-science]]. The human brain, adapted to small hunter-gatherer groups roaming the Pleistocene savannah has some trouble dealing with the information overload of modern global culture. Magda has chosen a selection of books which won't rewire our brains but can go some way to making us more aware and more wary of the creeping ways of unreason. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourite books by and for the defenders of reason?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Laird
|summary=Bookbag loved Elizabeth Laird's [[The Witching Hour by Elizabeth Laird|Witching Hour]] - just as it's loved all her previous books. We were thrilled with the opportunity to ask her some questions about it, and get to know her a bit better.
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{{newfeature
|category=comments
|title=Book Slam
|summary=Dawn Powell tells us about a different type of night club - this one's devoted to books and poetry readings.
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{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Julia Green
|summary=Bookbag really enjoyed [[Breathing Underwater by Julia Green]] - an engaging story of coming to terms with grief. We jumped at the chance to ask her some questions about her work.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Benjamin J Myers
|summary=Bookbag loved [[The Bad Tuesdays: Twisted Symmetry by Benjamin J Myers|Twisted Symmetry]] and [[The Bad Tuesdays 2: Strange Energy by Benjamin J Myers|Strange Energy]] - the first two books in Benjamin J Myers' ''The Bad Tuesdays'' series. We jumped at the chance to ask him some questions about them.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=April 2009 Newsletter
|summary=Well, we've been at it again. Adding stuff. The chocolate rush over Easter got us all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and we decided to go mobile. So, you can now receive the choicest Bookbag morsels direct to your mobile phone. If you're away from the computer, or if you're in a bookshop and spoiled for choice, you can use our updates to choose a good book to read. All you need to do is text BOOKS2U for adults or KIDBOOKS2U for children to 63336 to subscribe.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
|summary=Bookbag loved the fun, quirkiness and directness of [[Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld]]. It takes a single optical illusion and weaves a narrative around it. The opportunity to ask its author and illustrator a few questions was one that we couldn't pass up.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books about Britain, Britishness, and the Brits
|summary=Magda, she of the missing articles, has chosen her favourite books about Britishness. Read about how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others. What are our totems, aside from a nice cup of tea? We are a peculiar people at times, you know, even if our articles are better than hers. <ducks>. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourite books about Britain?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Retellings of Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales
|summary=We all know the classic myths and legends - we've picked up bits and pieces of them, from a myriad of sources over the years. We think we know them like the back of our hand, but do we really? Here are the best retellings of historical legends, to refresh our memories and rekindle our love of the great and timeless tales, from many civilisations and cultures. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books About Language
|summary=To paraphrase one of our reviewers, books are Bookbag's business and Bookbag's love, and books are made of words. Words, among other things, make language. Language is one of the things that make us human. This is a mixed-bag top 10 of books that deal with language, with words, with communication of meaning that goes beyond language, and with our favourite variety of language: the one that makes books. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Shirley Hughes
|summary=Bookbag really enjoyed [[Bye Bye Birdie by Shirley Hughes|Bye Bye Birdie]] - Shirley Hughes' first graphic novel for adults. The chance to ask such an icon of children's literature a few questions was more than we could resist. She was absolutely lovely and we were thrilled to talk to her.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books About Vampires
|summary=You've read Dracula and devoured all the Anne Rice books. You love books about vampires but don't know which to read next. These are the books that scare us, that make us jump, that make us check under the bed for things that are going to bite us. Here are the best books about vampires. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites? You may also enjoy our [[Top Ten Books For Children Who Love To Be Scared Silly]].
}}
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=March 2009 Newsletter
|summary=Hello! The telltale signs of spring are in the air. Bookbag has seen some sunshine! At last! We didn't do too much basking though; we were too busy getting ourselves set up on Twitter, the latest thing in interweb and mobile communication. If you'd like to keep up with us in a more chatty way
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Tube Reads
|summary=When you're hopping from Tube to Tube, you want a book in bite-size chunks that you can pick up and put down at a moment's notice. Some are quick and light, others are perfect escapism when when you're delayed for half an hour on the Circle Line, and others will make the best use of our time by improving our minds. These are our favourite books for reading when we're on the Underground - but you could read them on any bus, train, plane, donkey or bicycle if you wanted. ...Maybe not the last one. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks to Knife and Packer
|summary=Bookbag enjoyed the silliness in [[Return of the Chocoholic Vampires (Zac Zoltan's Mad Monster Agency) by Knife and Packer|Return of the Chocoholic Vampires]] and couldn't resist the opportunity to ask Knife and Packer a few questions about it.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books For Your Mother
|summary=Mums deserve presents. They deserve an opportunity to put their feet up with a good book and relax - whether it be for mother's day, a birthday, Christmas, or just to show her that you love her, these are the perfect gifts to buy for your mother. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourite book for your mum?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Crime Novels
|summary=Don't worry - these are not the top ten crime books which you ''ought'' (dreadful word!) to read or the most-hyped books. These are ten books which we think you'll love – the ones where you just have to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. There are a few names you'll know well, but quite a few which might be new to you. Why not tell us about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks to Peter Akinti
|summary=Bookbag was deeply affected by Peter Akinti's novel [[Forest Gate by Peter Akinti|Forest Gate]], about contemporary life in Britain. It moulds urban, black and refugee experiences and deals unflinchingly with suicide. It hurts to read - but never, ever forgets that love can save us all. Peter Akinti was kind enough to be interviewed by Bookbag.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=The Richard and Judy Shortlist 2009
|summary=Richard and Judy's favourite books for 2009.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books With Gorgeous Illustrations
|summary=Here at Bookbag, we love books. We love words, but that's not all a book is. These are the best books for poring over, soaking up the atmosphere and just flat out enjoying. These are books featuring our favourite illustrators - so often the unsung heroes. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books For Dog Lovers
|summary=We're dog lovers here at Bookbag Towers, well, apart from those who prefer cats and we've found some wonderful books to share with you. There's fiction and non-fiction and something for every age group. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks to Jenny Valentine
|summary=Jenny Valentine's third novel [[The Ant Colony by Jenny Valentine|The Ant Colony]] is a deeply humane and heartwarming story of mistakes and regrets and how to put them right. It's witty, wise and full of unforgettable characters. We think Jenny Valentine just gets better and better, so we jumped at the chance to talk to her.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Quirky Kids' Books
|summary=Bookbag thinks quirky is a very good word. We love a little bit of subversion. Life wouldn't be the same without it. Children love subversion too, and here we have some glorious indiscipline, some sweetness without saccharine, and some illustrations that you'll look at over and over again. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books For Slightly Geeky People
|summary=Geeks are cool. They're brimming with knowledge, wisdom, and a quirky attention to detail. They love immersing themselves in science, trivia, facts, lists and history. Here are the best books to buy for the geeks in your life. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks to Patricia Fara
|summary=Patricia Fara's definitive history of science is a wonderfuly informative read. It's packed with interesting detail and thought-provoking conclusions. She was kind enough to discuss [[Science: A Four Thousand Year History by Patricia Fara|Science: A Four Thousand Year History]] further with Bookbag.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Love Stories For Teenagers
|summary=They say the first love is the sweetest - and certainly, we all remember our first loves. But they also say that course of true love never runs smooth - and this selection looks at first love in all its guises, in all sorts of situations. They cover apartheid, sexual ambiguity, mortality and abuse. They take place all over the world, and the styles are just as diverse. There's kitchen sink drama and magic realism. But most of all, there's first love. Enjoy! Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Teen Chick Lit Books
|summary=Chick lit often gets a bad name, but we don't see why. Girls like girlie things. Boys like, um, what do boys like? Fart jokes? Well, girls don't. They like love stories, and rivalries, and chocolate, and bonding. Teen girls are no different, and good for them. Here are some great examples of chick lit for them. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
}}
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
|title=February 2009 Newsletter
|summary=Hello! It snowed! Thank heavens that's over - it sends Brits into a complete tizzy, doesn't it, that white stuff? You'd think we'd all be happy sledging and building snowmen and making the most of an event that comes just once every other decade. But oh no, we moan about the roads, the trains, the schools and the hospitals. We demand snow ploughs in plenty - but we only moaned about the cost of our council tax last week.
}}
{{newfeature
|category=lists
|title=Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2009
|summary=The 2009 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize was announced on 18 February. The judging panel had a hard time picking from the wonderful shortlist, but ultimately decided on [[The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison]] as the winner.
}}
