Difference between revisions of "Features"

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Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->
Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments|articles]].
 
 
 
 
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|title=Top Ten Books For Your Girlfriend
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|title=Self-Improvement Through Reading: How to Choose Books for Personal Growth
|summary=Whether it's a birthday, Christmas, or just a random occasion to tell her you love her, books make great presents for girlfriends. Yes, yes, we know we're playing up to all the stereotypes with historical fiction, romance, celebrities, and lashings of chick lit, but you know she's going to enjoy them. If it's an anniversary and she's looking to get you a gift too, then make sure to point her in the direction of our [[Top Ten Books For Your Boyfriend]]. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourite books to get for your girlfriend?
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|summary=Reading provides insights and techniques for both personal and professional development, making it a potent tool for self-improvement. However, the impact of reading largely depends on choosing the right books to match your objectives. To simplify this process, consider using the Headway app – a platform that provides users with key insights from top research-based books through audio and text summaries, making it easier to incorporate learning into a busy schedule.
 
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|title=Top Ten Books For Your Boyfriend
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|title=How to Write a Book Report: From Choosing the Book to Final Draft
|summary=Whether it's a birthday, Christmas, or just a random occasion to tell him you love him, books make great presents for boyfriends. Yes, yes, we know we're playing up to all the stereotypes with books about sport, music, trivia and everyone's favourite secret agent, but you know he's going to enjoy them. If it's an anniversary and he's looking to get you a gift too, then make sure to point him in the direction of our [[Top Ten Books For Your Girlfriend]]. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourite books to get for your boyfriend?
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|summary=Need help on how to do a book report? Check out our step-by-step guide at thebookbag.co.uk and learn to craft compelling reports that impress today!
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Book report writing shouldn't be a headache! It's almost like telling a friend about a book but with a bit of structure.
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ian Stewart
 
|summary=Bookbag loved Ian Stewart's [[Professor Stewart's Hoard of Mathematical Treasures by Ian Stewart|Hoard of Mathematical Treasures]] and couldn't resist the opportunity to ask him a few questions. We're delighted we did, as his answers are fascinating!
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To David Barrie
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|title=How Serialized Stories Are Revolutionizing the Way We Read
|summary=Bookbag was impressed by David Barrie's debut novel, [[Wasp-Waisted by David Barrie|Wasp-Waisted]] and couldn't resist the opportunity to ask him a few questions.
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|summary=With technology gradually encroaching on every area of our lives, the change extends to literature as well. This brings serialized stories into focus, which overtook our reading habits with its stages, or small sequential parts of a narrated story. In this sense, this new approach is doing more than just changing how we read but also how authors will write, publishers, promote, and readers experience these works. The rise of digital platforms and book writing apps (e.g. [https://www.chapterly.com/ Chapterly]) are at the forefront of this change.
 
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|title=Top Ten Books To Drag The Kids Away From Computer Games For Ten Minutes At Least
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023
|summary=Truth be told, we like computer games - they're great fun, a good way to let off steam, and man cannot survive on books alone. (What we don't like are Bluetooth headsets providing a constant commentary - eldest Murphy son, take note). There are times when tweens and teens need to be dragged away from the computer games though, and these books will keep them entertained and quiet when you're looking for a peaceful afternoon without an endless barrage of bleeps and explosions in the background. Some are high octane, some are a bit more thoughtful, but they're all gripping thrillers. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
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|summary= We've seen some really good self-published books this year: they're up there with the best of traditional publishing. Here's our top ten, in alphabetical order, by author.
 
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|title=September 2009 Newsletter
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn
|summary=It's been a stressful month at Bookbag Towers. Our host's server had a major malfunction and we spent several days trying to sort out the aftermath of being hurriedly moved to a new one. After much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth - Jill's children retired to their bedrooms with sandbags, and Sue's dogs did much the same - we think it's all ok now. We're very sorry if you experienced an interruption to service and we hope you'll forgive us. We promise to make it up to you, we do. Starting with our [[Features|features]] section, which has the low down on this year's [[Man Booker Prize 2009|Booker prize]]. Jill is rooting for the utterly sublime [[Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel]]. What would you like to see win it?
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|summary=Jill enjoyed [[Radio Free Olympia by Jeffrey Dunn|Radio Free Olympia]], a story blending prose and poetry with themes of ecology, folklore, love and loss. She didn't think it was the easiest read, but a rewarding one.
 
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|title=How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide
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|summary=Fantasy has always been our way out of the real world's limitations. It's a space where magic is real, mythical creatures roam, and heroes go on epic quests. This genre is loved by people of all ages and backgrounds. It allows us to explore new worlds and face unimaginable challenges, all without leaving our homes.
  
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But what if you could do more than just visit these magical lands? What if you could create your own? This is the magic of writing a fantasy novel. You have the power to build worlds with your words. You can turn simple ink and paper into landscapes that readers can explore.
  
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So, get ready for an adventure. This journey is not just about castles and wizards. It's also about the craft of writing. You'll learn to use language and imagination to make a rich, varied story. And who knows what unexplored realms you'll discover along the way?
|category=interviews
 
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K S Turner
 
|summary=Bookbag thinks that Kate Turner's [[Before the Gods (Chronicles of Fate and Choice) by K S Turner|Before the Gods]] is something rather special and we couldn't resist the opportunity to ask her a few questions.
 
 
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|title=Man Booker Prize 2009
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|title=How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices
|summary=We have reviews of all the books on the longlist and we'll let you know the winner as soon as we hear!
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|summary=Reading is one of the most effective ways to improve your vocabulary. Not only does it expose you to new words and their meanings, but it also allows you to see them used in context, which is essential for understanding and using them correctly. With the rise of language learning apps, such as Promova, many people have turned to technology to improve their vocabulary. However, reading remains a tried-and-true method that has been used for centuries.
 
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|title=August 2009 Newsletter
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|title=3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters
|summary=We know this is a newsletter about books, and we know that we keep opening with some remark or other about sport. It's completely off-topic, we know, and we're sorry, but we just can't help it, we're going to do it again. Did you see Usain Bolt? Did you? Isn't he just something else? And it's just as well he appeared on our summer scene because August is a quiet month for books. All the holiday reads are already published (and in your suitcases, packed for lazy days by the pool) and thoughts haven't quite turned to the run up to Christmas. But there's still plenty out there and we've done our best to bring the the worthwhile to your attention. You're going to need them, aren't you, what with the barbecue summer that never was....  
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|summary=How much do you know about ghostwriters? These professionals lurk in the shadows of the publishing industry (both self- and traditional publishing), with most members of the public having only ever heard of them because of the Pierce Brosnan film. Given the awkwardness a lot of people feel toward ghostwriters, it's no surprise that there are a number of misconceptions about what they do, so I'm hoping to clarify three important things in this post.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ben Kane
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix
|summary=Bookbag loved Ben Kane's first two novels - [[The Forgotten Legion by Ben Kane|The Forgotten Legion]] and [[The Silver Eagle (Forgotten Legion) by Ben Kane|The Silver Eagle]], which bring Roman times to vivid lifeHe mixes history and emotion beautifully, making for a sometimes disturbing, but always entertaining read.  After being fortunate enough to meet him at an evening at our local library recently, he was delighted to be put to the sword in Bookbag style.
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|summary=Sue really enjoyed [[The Lensky Connection by Conrad Delacroix|The Lensky Connection]], a thriller set primarily in RussiaShe had quite a few questions for author Conrad Delacroix when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
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|title=Top Ten Picture Books For Overcoming Bedtime Woes
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022
|summary=Everyone knows the cry of ''I want a glass of water!'' Bedtime can be a real problem, with children not wanting to settle down to sleep, being scared of the dark, or even frightened of being left alone. These picture books address the issues in a gentle manner, helping kids better understand their fears and thus overcome them. It's not all serious though: there's a good smattering of humour too, which makes them great fun to read. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourite books for overcoming bedtime woes?
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|summary=We're constantly amazed at the quality of the self-published books which come our way and we've seen some real gems in 2022.  Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author:
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jane Mitchell
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|title=3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents
|summary=Bookbag loved Jane Mitchell's novel [[Chalkline by Jane Mitchell|Chalkline]] and was delighted to ask her some questions about it. It's a powerful story of a child soldier in Kashmir. It's beautifully written with great accuracy, doesn't flinch from its subject, but maintains a deeply affecting humanity.
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|summary=If you're all set to publish your novel, it might be time to [https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-find-a-literary-agent/ get yourself a literary agent]. Since you're essentially picking the person responsible for presenting and marketing your book to the world, this is no easy task. When you've sent your [https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/how-to-write-a-query-letter/ query letters] and started getting responses, these tips will help you choose the right person for you.
 
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|title=July 2009 Newsletter
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|title=Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know
|summary=Ok, so we lied. Andy Murray didn't win Wimbledon. He will one day, though, and he did well, didn't he? AQA's prediction of doom this month? England will win the Ashes. Titter ye not, there's hope yet. One half of the Bookbag management isn't too fussed about sporting results for the next few weeks though: Jill is off to Tuscany and she just can't wait. One third of a suitcase is dedicated to books, so expect some relaxed-sounding and very generous reviews when she gets back, sated with sun, four cheese pizza and every flavour of ice cream the gelateria has to offer. Let's get down to business before she bursts with anticipation.  
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|summary=Lolita, a highly controversial book, is not subject to bans in American schools. Here are the most important things you need to know about it.
 
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|title=What's In A Name?
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|title=Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews
|summary= Kate Furnivall muses on the difficulty of getting ''just'' the right title for a book.
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|summary=The Crucible is a tragedy that’s been debated and discussed for many years. Its current running in theaters has received a rather intriguing review. Keep reading to find out more.
 
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|title=Top Ten Books About America
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|title=How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math
|summary=We're posting this top ten in honour of the 4th of July and our friends across the pond. Big, brash, bold, ever-optimistic, there's no missing America. Here are our favourite books in which the United States, or parts of it, take centre stage. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourite books about America? By the way, did you know that the 4th of July is also Liberation Day in Rwanda, St Bertha's day (who dat?!) and Michael Johnson's birthday. We've stolen him away for BBC athletics punditry. Sorry, you can't have him back.
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|summary=Singapore Mathematics is a unique way of presenting this science. Parents and teachers will be able to understand and explain to children the simplest mathematical processes using images.  
 
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|title=Top Ten Children's Books About Weighty Subjects
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|title=Finding More Time For Reading
|summary=Bookbag's certain belief is that fiction is perfectly placed to incite topical and philosophical debate amongst the young. It enables them to explore dangerous and painful subjects vicariously, so they're engaged emotionally, but have enough distance to feel secure and safe whilst doing it. We bemoan political uninterest in our teenagers, so what more perfect way than a good book is there to energise them about the social issues that affect us all? Here are some of our favourites, but there are many, many more. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites too?
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|summary=If there is one thing that a lot of people could benefit from having more of in their lives, it's [[A Bookbagger's View:What it's like to be a reviewer|literature]]. Plenty of us have gone through this experience of suddenly finding that we are not reading as much as we used to. There are a lot of possible reasons for this, and it's something that you might be able to approach in a number of ways if you want to make sure that you are getting back into reading again. But one of the most important parts of this is probably that you are able to find enough time for reading, and that can be harder than you might initially think.
 
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|title=Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson about Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand
|summary=The 2009 Booktrust Teenage Prize longlist has been announced. Last year's winner was [[The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness]] and previous winners include [[Henry Tumour by Anthony McGowan]] and [[The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon]]. Teenagers can apply to be judges at [http://www.booktrust.org.uk/Prizes-and-awards/Booktrust-Teenage-Prize Booktrust.org.uk] before 27 July. The winner will be announced in November. Here's what Bookbag thought of the books. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] what you thought too.
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|summary=Sue was absolutely riveted to [[Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand by Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson]]. It's brilliantly readable but rather frightening: people's lives and livelihoods could be in the hands of company boards which are dysfunctional. Sue wanted to know more.
 
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|title=Independent Booksellers' Prize 2009
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021
|summary=The 2009 Independent Booksellers' Prize shortlist has been announced. You can vote for your favourite in independent bookshops around the UK, until 28 August, so get out there and support your friendly local bookseller! The winner will be announced in September. Here's what Bookbag thought of them. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites too?
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|summary= We thought that 2020 was a strange year but 2021 has been equally so. Once again we've been amazed by the quality of self-published books which have come our way. Last year's top ten consisted of eleven books (maths never was our strong point...) but this year we're going to have to make it a baker's dozen as we really couldn't split them apart. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author...
 
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|title=June 2009 Newsletter
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|title=How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market
|summary=Hi again from Bookbag Towers. There's some stop press news: Andy Murray's going to win Wimbledon. You heard it first here. What year this might happen, well, we're reserving judgement. Jill's younger son is convinced it's this year though, so make sure you tune in. In the unlikely event you're not a great fan of tennis - and Jill's son thinks this is a silly thing to say, since everyone is a great fan of tennis, and cricket, and football, and rugby - then read on Macduff, we have some great books to talk about this month.  
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|summary=Book reviews are a crucial tool for the reading community — it’s via these that opinions are exchanged, ideas discussed, and recommendations found. But though the growth of book review sites is promising for readers, a saturated market also means that it’s getting increasingly difficult to make your mark as a book reviewer.
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If you’re looking for ways to freshen your voice and make a stronger impression, I’ve got a few tips that might help. As an avid reader of book reviews, I’ve noticed that the ones that stay with me usually follow these three guidelines.
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|title=Top Ten Adult Books That Teens Should Read
 
|summary=Do you remember your first foray into adult fiction? We certainly do. There's a whole world of grown up books out there just waiting for you, and it's so exciting. Quality genre stuff is ideal for the child ready to move up a level, and anything involving a young protagonist is also great. Here are our favourite ten suggestions. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites? On the flip-side of the coin, adults will love our [[Top Ten Teen Books That Adults Should Read]].
 
 
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|title=Top Ten Books For Your Father
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais about The Independent Director in Society|summary=Sue was an enthusiastic reader of [[The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do by Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais|The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do]] and she had several points she wanted to discuss with the authors when they popped into Bookbag Towers.
|summary=Dads deserve presents. They deserve an opportunity to put their feet up with a good book and relax. Whether it be for father's day, a birthday, Christmas, or just to show him that you love him, these are the perfect gifts to buy for your father. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites books for your dad?
 
 
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|title=Orange Prize for Fiction 2009
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|title=Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won
|summary= Dawn Powell didn’t manage to get to the awards ceremony of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2009, but she did manage to get to the shortlist event at the Southbank Centre the day before (2nd June). She reports on the highlights of the event.
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|summary=Comic books and movies, in general, have been given the portrayal of good; always winning and saving the day. however, thanks to the creativity of writers, we have a few writers of comics who have managed to alter this unsaid rule, 'evil wins at the end of the day'. While it may not be a great thought to bear in mind, it is still something a bit fascinating to dwell on. And, we believe that it is a breath of fresh air to discover that we have something different from the cliché where the hero always emerges as the victor.
 
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|title=Top Ten Book Recommendations From Twitterers
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown About Making a Difference: Leadership, Change and Giving Back the Independent Director Way
|summary=We love Twitter. It's a great way to keep in touch with authors and other book fans, hear what they're up to, share what we're up to and find out what's going on in the world of books. If you've not already seen the [http://twitter.com/TheBookbag Bookbag Twitter feed], get clicking! Inspired by Judy Astley's self-proclaimed (and Bookbag-admired) media-tart cheek, we asked people on Twitter what their favourite Bookbag reviews were. Here's what they said. Huge thanks to [http://twitter.com/Judyastley Judy Astley], [http://twitter.com/EliseBlackwell Elise Blackwell], [http://twitter.com/RayBeckerman Ray Beckerman], [http://twitter.com/agnieszkasshoes Agnieszka's Shoes], [http://twitter.com/ninadouglas Nina Douglas], [http://twitter.com/steveemecz Steve Emecz], [http://twitter.com/TamsynTweetie Tamsyn Tweetie], [http://twitter.com/BenjaminGlover Benjamin Glover] and [http://twitter.com/JasonMarkCurley Jason Mark Curley].
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|summary=Gerry Brown is so keen to see people geting involved that there's a free digital [https://www.degruyter.com/view/title/580618 download] of this £42 book.
 
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|title=Top Ten Beach Reads For Teens
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020
|summary=For fear of hearing the dreaded phrase "I'm booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooored" on the beach this summer, fling your teen this must-read list before you go. Kerry's picked her favourite holiday reads for teenagers. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
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|summary= In this strangest of years we've been delighted by the self-published books we've read and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author...
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Penelope Evans
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander
|summary=Bookbag loved Penelope Evans' [[The Weight of Water by Penelope Evans|The Weight of Water]] and couldn't resist the opportunity to ask her some questions about her work.
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|summary=Sue was so impressed by [[The Radical Innovation Playbook: A Practical Guide for Harnessing New, Novel or Game-Changing Breakthroughs by Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander]] that she wished that she had a good business idea of her own so that she could use the book.  Perhaps that was what she was talking about when Olga and Allen popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
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|title=Top Ten Beach Reads For Girls
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire
|summary=Ah, summer's here. The sun is shining, the sky is clear, the weather is gorgeous, and the planes flying overhead look mighty tempting. What's nicer than lying on the beach with a book, soaking up the sun and losing yourself in a good book. Kerry's picked her favourite holiday reads for women. Men can check out the [[Top Ten Beach Reads For Boys]]. (Of course, there's nothing stopping men enjoying these choices and vice versa!) Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
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|summary=Technology can seem frightening to people who don't have the background. In [[Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business by Andrew Hampshire|Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business]] Andrew Hampshire discusses the tech that can add quantifiable value to your business and how to get the most out of it. He and Sue had a lot to chat about when he dropped into Bookbag Towers.
 
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|title=Top Ten Beach Reads For Boys
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|title=Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner
|summary=Ah, summer's here. The sun is shining, the sky is clear, the weather is gorgeous, and the planes flying overhead look mighty tempting. What's nicer than lying on the beach with a book, soaking up the sun and losing yourself in a good book. Kerry's picked her favourite holiday reads for men. Women can check out the [[Top Ten Beach Reads For Girls]]. (Of course, there's nothing stopping women enjoying these choices and vice versa!) Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
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|summary=In every generation, there are kids who become bullies. They bully their siblings, neighbor kids, and their classmates. They seem to believe that other kids look up to them and respect them. That is self-delusion, as most adults are aware, but kids don't have the experience to properly judge what is respect and what is merely fear.
 
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|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Marcus Sedgwick
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|title=From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations
|summary=Bookbag loved Marcus Sedgwick's [[Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick|Revolver]]. It's densely written and chilling in every sense of the word. We jumped at the opportunity to ask him some questions about his work.
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|summary=The gap between sci-fi and reality is not so big anymore. You don’t have to go that far back in time to see huge developments in technology. For example, the smartphone has been around for over 10 years now, but if you don’t have one in today’s society, you’d either be seen as crazy or just out of touch.
 
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|title=May 2009 Newsletter
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|title=5 Great AI books to read in 2020
|summary=Hello! Wimbledon has a new roof, did you see? At the rate rain is coming down at Bookbag Towers, it's looking as though it's going to be needed. We're still holding out for a heatwave though. Last month, we told you about our new text alert service and asked for feedback. We've listened to what you had to say, and made some changes. There are now four services: BOOKS2U (adults), TEENBOOK2U (teens), KIDBOOKS2U (8-13s) and SHARING2U (2-7s). Each will send just one text a week costing 25p, so you can mix and match what you'd like to receive. We're hoping to add more services for adults in the future, but let's see how you like version two first.
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|summary=Artificial intelligence (AI) has expanded into one of the most important technologies in human history. It comes with so many benefits, from improving the efficiency of simple, basic tasks to helping to solve advanced problems by quickly analyzing large data sets.
 
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|title=The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2009
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|title=A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out
|summary=We've been looking at the books longlisted for The Guardian's Children's Fiction Prize 2009 and we're impressed. Picking the shortlist - never mind the winner - is going to be no easy job.  
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|summary= Are you running out of inspiration for what to do with the kids when they can't go out?  We've come up with a baker's dozen of books to give you some brilliant ideas.
 
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|title=Top Ten Books About London
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|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019
|summary=You might not share Dr Johnson's famous sentiment, but London is certainly one of the world's - and literature's - iconic cities. It inspired countless non-fiction books, it is a customary setting of a lot of popular novels, from Dickens to modern chick-lit, and sometimes it becomes a character in its own right. Bookbag selected its very own top ten London books: a list as diverse and idiosyncratic as the city itself. There is history and crime, politics and literature, and even an alternative London in a parallel world. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
+
|summary= We've seen some cracking self-published books this year and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author...
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=comments
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sarah Dyer
+
|title=Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review
|summary=Bookbag was charmed by the unique illustrations and quirky tale in [[The Girl With The Bird's Nest Hair by Sarah Dyer]]. We jumped at the chance to ask Sarah some questions about her work.
+
|summary=Writing a book review isn't difficult, you know, but there are a few things you need to keep us in mind. Desiree Villena gives us five tips.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=lists
 
|title=Top Ten Books for Young Readers That Feature a Passage Between Worlds
 
|summary=Magda has compiled her top ten novels which feature a portal between worlds. In most of them, a character from our reality enters an alternative (and often, but not always, a magical) world, but in some, the journey is the other way, or both worlds are different from ours. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites?
 
}} 
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Michelle Lovric
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin
|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.
+
|summary=|summary=In [[War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam by Melanie Martin|War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam]] Melanie Martin reconstructs what happened to her family in occupied Amsterdam in WWII. It's a highly compelling if occasionally shocking read.  Days after she finished the book Sue could not stop thinking about what she had read and was delighted when the author agreed to chat with her.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=lists
+
|category=comments
|title=Top Ten Books To Help Down-Size And Make Ends Meet
+
|title=Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception
|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.
+
|summary=Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country.
}}
+
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=comments
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sarah Prineas
+
|title=8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi
|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.
+
|summary=Ever felt that you've hit a brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing again.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=lists
+
|category=comments
|title=Top Ten War Novels
+
|title=Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction
|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?
+
|summary=Where do you go when you move beyond classics like ''1984'' and ''Brave New World''?
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=lists
 
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books For The Defenders Of Reason
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018
|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?
+
|summary= Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2018 was difficult as we're constantly surprised at just how good some self-published books are. Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author...
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{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.
 
}}
 
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=comments
 
|category=comments
|title=Book Slam
+
|title=James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle
|summary=Dawn Powell tells us about a different type of night club - this one's devoted to books and poetry readings.
+
|summary=One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Julia Green
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet
|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.
+
|summary=Sue was impressed when she read [[Landslide by Melissa Leet|Landslide]] by Melissa Leet and was surprised to find that it was a debut novel. She had quite a few questions for Melissa when she popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=interviews
+
|category=comments
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Benjamin J Myers
+
|title=Faiz Kermani talks to Bookbag about how a blue frog is helping Malawi's vulnerable children to live safe, healthy and happy lives
|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.
+
|summary=Every child has a right to medical care
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
+
|category=comments
|title=April 2009 Newsletter
+
|title=Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things
|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.
+
|summary=''We could definitely make a flying car – but that's not the hard part. The hard part is, how do you make a flying car that's super safe and quiet?'': Elon Musk
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniel Peltz
|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.
+
|summary=Sue wasn't expecting to enjoy a novel about a ''building'', but was surprised by just how compelling she found [[The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria by Daniel Peltz|The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria]]. There was a lot to chat about when author Daniel Peltz popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=lists
 
|category=lists
|title=Top Ten Books about Britain, Britishness, and the Brits
+
|title=Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017
|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?
+
|summary= Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2017 was one of the toughest jobs we did all year and involved a great deal of discussion.  Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author...
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=lists
+
|category=interviews
|title=Top Ten Retellings of Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey
|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?
+
|summary=Sue was quietly impressed when she read [[21 Doors to Happiness: Life Through Travel Experiences and Meditation by Chit Dubey]] as it chimed with her personal view of life. She was delighted when Chit Dubey popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=lists
+
|category=comments
|title=Top Ten Books About Language
+
|title=Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary
|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?
+
|summary= Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Shirley Hughes
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte
|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.
+
|summary=Peter thought that [[The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership by Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte|The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership]] was the best book on leadership he'd ever read and he couldn't resist asking authors Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte quite a few questions when they came to Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=lists
+
|category=interviews
|title=Top Ten Books About Vampires
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs
|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]].
+
|summary=Luke thought that [[Punk Love Foucault by Gabe Riggs]] was an intense, emotional and visceral read that illuminates and educates with a strong voice and clear, capable prose. There was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=newsletters
+
|category=interviews
|title=March 2009 Newsletter
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona
|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
+
|summary=Sue loved Sandra Aragona's lightly-fictionalised [[Sorting the Priorities: Ambassadress and Beagle Survive Diplomacy by Sandra Aragona|autobiography]] of life as a diplomatic spouse. There was a lot that she wanted to ask about when Sandra popped into Bookbag Towers.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=lists
+
|category=interviews
|title=Top Ten Tube Reads
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence
|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?
+
|summary=Sue was delighted when she read [[The Cossack by K J Lawrence|The Cossack]] as it restored her faith in the thriller genre. When the author, K J Lawrence, popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us, Sue had quite a few questions ready!
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks to Knife and Packer
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell
|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.
+
|summary=Sue found Start Burrell's book [[Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records by Stuart Burrell|Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records]] an inspiring, feel-good read.  She wanted to know more when Stuart popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{newfeature
 
{{newfeature
|category=lists
+
|category=interviews
|title=Top Ten Books For Your Mother
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart
|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?
+
|summary=Luke enjoyed the combination of compellingly-written science fiction which blends themes of innocence and growth with some well depicted moments of horror in [[My Name is Sam by Wes Stuart|My Name is Sam]] and he had quite a few questions for author Wes Stuart when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{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
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks to Peter Akinti
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan
|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.
+
|summary=Sue giggled like a child when she read [[Henry and the Hidden Treasure by B C R Fegan and Lenny Wen]]: it's a good story with some valuable lessons. It was a real pleasure to chat to writer B C R Fegan when he popped into Bookbag Towers.
}}
 
 
 
{{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
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks to Jenny Valentine
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram
|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.
+
|summary=Very few people believe that dogs can talk so it was something of a relief when Sue met author, Annie Ingram.  She has lengthy conversations with her cocker spaniel Kammie and has shared them with us in her [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|book]].  There was a lot to talk about when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
}}
 
 
 
{{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
 
{{newfeature
 
|category=interviews
 
|category=interviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks to Patricia Fara
+
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago
|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.
+
|summary=Ani was quietly moved by [[Returning Home by Stephan Santiago|Returning Home]] and there were several points she wanted to discuss with author Stephan Santiago when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us.
}}
 
 
 
{{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
+
Move to [[Recommended Resources]]
|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.
 
}}
 
 
 
See [[Features page 2|older features]].
 
 
 
 
[[Category:Features|*]]
 
[[Category:Features|*]]

Latest revision as of 08:41, 3 October 2024

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

Bookcomments.jpg Self-Improvement Through Reading: How to Choose Books for Personal Growth

Reading provides insights and techniques for both personal and professional development, making it a potent tool for self-improvement. However, the impact of reading largely depends on choosing the right books to match your objectives. To simplify this process, consider using the Headway app – a platform that provides users with key insights from top research-based books through audio and text summaries, making it easier to incorporate learning into a busy schedule. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How to Write a Book Report: From Choosing the Book to Final Draft

Need help on how to do a book report? Check out our step-by-step guide at thebookbag.co.uk and learn to craft compelling reports that impress today!

Book report writing shouldn't be a headache! It's almost like telling a friend about a book but with a bit of structure. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How Serialized Stories Are Revolutionizing the Way We Read

With technology gradually encroaching on every area of our lives, the change extends to literature as well. This brings serialized stories into focus, which overtook our reading habits with its stages, or small sequential parts of a narrated story. In this sense, this new approach is doing more than just changing how we read but also how authors will write, publishers, promote, and readers experience these works. The rise of digital platforms and book writing apps (e.g. Chapterly) are at the forefront of this change. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2023

We've seen some really good self-published books this year: they're up there with the best of traditional publishing. Here's our top ten, in alphabetical order, by author. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jeffrey Dunn

Jill enjoyed Radio Free Olympia, a story blending prose and poetry with themes of ecology, folklore, love and loss. She didn't think it was the easiest read, but a rewarding one. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How To Write a Fantasy Novel: The Full Guide

Fantasy has always been our way out of the real world's limitations. It's a space where magic is real, mythical creatures roam, and heroes go on epic quests. This genre is loved by people of all ages and backgrounds. It allows us to explore new worlds and face unimaginable challenges, all without leaving our homes.

But what if you could do more than just visit these magical lands? What if you could create your own? This is the magic of writing a fantasy novel. You have the power to build worlds with your words. You can turn simple ink and paper into landscapes that readers can explore.

So, get ready for an adventure. This journey is not just about castles and wizards. It's also about the craft of writing. You'll learn to use language and imagination to make a rich, varied story. And who knows what unexplored realms you'll discover along the way? Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How Can Reading Improve Your Vocabulary: Best Practices

Reading is one of the most effective ways to improve your vocabulary. Not only does it expose you to new words and their meanings, but it also allows you to see them used in context, which is essential for understanding and using them correctly. With the rise of language learning apps, such as Promova, many people have turned to technology to improve their vocabulary. However, reading remains a tried-and-true method that has been used for centuries. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 3 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostwriters

How much do you know about ghostwriters? These professionals lurk in the shadows of the publishing industry (both self- and traditional publishing), with most members of the public having only ever heard of them because of the Pierce Brosnan film. Given the awkwardness a lot of people feel toward ghostwriters, it's no surprise that there are a number of misconceptions about what they do, so I'm hoping to clarify three important things in this post. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Conrad Delacroix

Sue really enjoyed The Lensky Connection, a thriller set primarily in Russia. She had quite a few questions for author Conrad Delacroix when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2022

We're constantly amazed at the quality of the self-published books which come our way and we've seen some real gems in 2022. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author: Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 3 Things You Should Know About Literary Agents

If you're all set to publish your novel, it might be time to get yourself a literary agent. Since you're essentially picking the person responsible for presenting and marketing your book to the world, this is no easy task. When you've sent your query letters and started getting responses, these tips will help you choose the right person for you. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Lolita Book Review: Most Important Things to Know

Lolita, a highly controversial book, is not subject to bans in American schools. Here are the most important things you need to know about it. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Stylish Restaging of The Crucible is All Show and No Substance, According to Reviews

The Crucible is a tragedy that’s been debated and discussed for many years. Its current running in theaters has received a rather intriguing review. Keep reading to find out more. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How Bar Modeling Makes Word Problems Easy in Singapore Math

Singapore Mathematics is a unique way of presenting this science. Parents and teachers will be able to understand and explain to children the simplest mathematical processes using images. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Finding More Time For Reading

If there is one thing that a lot of people could benefit from having more of in their lives, it's literature. Plenty of us have gone through this experience of suddenly finding that we are not reading as much as we used to. There are a lot of possible reasons for this, and it's something that you might be able to approach in a number of ways if you want to make sure that you are getting back into reading again. But one of the most important parts of this is probably that you are able to find enough time for reading, and that can be harder than you might initially think. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson about Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand

Sue was absolutely riveted to Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand by Gerry Brown and Randall S Peterson. It's brilliantly readable but rather frightening: people's lives and livelihoods could be in the hands of company boards which are dysfunctional. Sue wanted to know more. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2021

We thought that 2020 was a strange year but 2021 has been equally so. Once again we've been amazed by the quality of self-published books which have come our way. Last year's top ten consisted of eleven books (maths never was our strong point...) but this year we're going to have to make it a baker's dozen as we really couldn't split them apart. Here they are, in alphabetical order, by author... Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg How to Write a Standout Book Review in a Saturated Market

Book reviews are a crucial tool for the reading community — it’s via these that opinions are exchanged, ideas discussed, and recommendations found. But though the growth of book review sites is promising for readers, a saturated market also means that it’s getting increasingly difficult to make your mark as a book reviewer.

If you’re looking for ways to freshen your voice and make a stronger impression, I’ve got a few tips that might help. As an avid reader of book reviews, I’ve noticed that the ones that stay with me usually follow these three guidelines. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown, Andrew Kakabadse and Filipe Morais about The Independent Director in Society

Sue was an enthusiastic reader of The Independent Director in Society: Our current crisis of governance and what to do and she had several points she wanted to discuss with the authors when they popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Comic Books Where the Bad Guys Won

Comic books and movies, in general, have been given the portrayal of good; always winning and saving the day. however, thanks to the creativity of writers, we have a few writers of comics who have managed to alter this unsaid rule, 'evil wins at the end of the day'. While it may not be a great thought to bear in mind, it is still something a bit fascinating to dwell on. And, we believe that it is a breath of fresh air to discover that we have something different from the cliché where the hero always emerges as the victor. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown About Making a Difference: Leadership, Change and Giving Back the Independent Director Way

Gerry Brown is so keen to see people geting involved that there's a free digital download of this £42 book. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2020

In this strangest of years we've been delighted by the self-published books we've read and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander

Sue was so impressed by The Radical Innovation Playbook: A Practical Guide for Harnessing New, Novel or Game-Changing Breakthroughs by Olga Kokshagina and Allen Alexander that she wished that she had a good business idea of her own so that she could use the book. Perhaps that was what she was talking about when Olga and Allen popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andrew Hampshire

Technology can seem frightening to people who don't have the background. In Creating Value Through Technology: Discover the Tech that Can Transform Your Business Andrew Hampshire discusses the tech that can add quantifiable value to your business and how to get the most out of it. He and Sue had a lot to chat about when he dropped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Stand Up to Bullying With a Pulitzer Prize Winner

In every generation, there are kids who become bullies. They bully their siblings, neighbor kids, and their classmates. They seem to believe that other kids look up to them and respect them. That is self-delusion, as most adults are aware, but kids don't have the experience to properly judge what is respect and what is merely fear. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg From Sci Fi to Reality: How Dreams Turn Into Innovations

The gap between sci-fi and reality is not so big anymore. You don’t have to go that far back in time to see huge developments in technology. For example, the smartphone has been around for over 10 years now, but if you don’t have one in today’s society, you’d either be seen as crazy or just out of touch. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 5 Great AI books to read in 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) has expanded into one of the most important technologies in human history. It comes with so many benefits, from improving the efficiency of simple, basic tasks to helping to solve advanced problems by quickly analyzing large data sets. Read more...

Booklists.jpg A Baker's Dozen of Books to Keep the Kids Occupied When They Can't Go Out

Are you running out of inspiration for what to do with the kids when they can't go out? We've come up with a baker's dozen of books to give you some brilliant ideas. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2019

We've seen some cracking self-published books this year and they're all books which compare well with traditionally-published books in the same genres. We really couldn't narrow the choice down any further - so this year's top ten consists of eleven books and here they are, in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Desiree Villena Talks To Bookbag About 5 Key Tips for Writing a Critical-Yet-Fair Book Review

Writing a book review isn't difficult, you know, but there are a few things you need to keep us in mind. Desiree Villena gives us five tips. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melanie Martin

In War and Love: A family's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam Melanie Martin reconstructs what happened to her family in occupied Amsterdam in WWII. It's a highly compelling if occasionally shocking read. Days after she finished the book Sue could not stop thinking about what she had read and was delighted when the author agreed to chat with her. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Framing the Brexit narrative: immigration, myths and public perception

Loobna Joomun looks at how Brexit is likely to affect the publishing industry - and the wider country. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg 8 ways to motivate yourself to write, right NOW by Jessica Jarlvi

Ever felt that you've hit a brick wall with your writing? Jessica Jarlvi has eight tips yo get you writing again. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Greg Hickey Talks To Bookbag About The Old Guard of Dystopian Fiction

Where do you go when you move beyond classics like 1984 and Brave New World? Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2018

Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2018 was difficult as we're constantly surprised at just how good some self-published books are. Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg James Donald Talks To Bookbag About The Death Of Norman Breyfogle

One of the finest storytellers you've never heard of, who died in September 2018 at the age of 58. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melissa Leet

Sue was impressed when she read Landslide by Melissa Leet and was surprised to find that it was a debut novel. She had quite a few questions for Melissa when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Faiz Kermani talks to Bookbag about how a blue frog is helping Malawi's vulnerable children to live safe, healthy and happy lives

Every child has a right to medical care Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Abi Silver Talks To The Bookbag About A Few Of Her Favourite Things

We could definitely make a flying car – but that's not the hard part. The hard part is, how do you make a flying car that's super safe and quiet?: Elon Musk Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Daniel Peltz

Sue wasn't expecting to enjoy a novel about a building, but was surprised by just how compelling she found The Indomitable Chiesa di Santa Maria. There was a lot to chat about when author Daniel Peltz popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Booklists.jpg Top Ten Self-Published Books 2017

Choosing the top ten self-published books we read in 2017 was one of the toughest jobs we did all year and involved a great deal of discussion. Here's our final top ten in alphabetical order by author... Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Chit Dubey

Sue was quietly impressed when she read 21 Doors to Happiness: Life Through Travel Experiences and Meditation by Chit Dubey as it chimed with her personal view of life. She was delighted when Chit Dubey popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookcomments.jpg Melita Thomas Talks To Bookbag About The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his Daughter Mary

Melita Thomas tell us that Mary was a true Renaissance Princess Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte

Peter thought that The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership was the best book on leadership he'd ever read and he couldn't resist asking authors Elizabeth Fox and Martin le Comte quite a few questions when they came to Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gabe Riggs

Luke thought that Punk Love Foucault by Gabe Riggs was an intense, emotional and visceral read that illuminates and educates with a strong voice and clear, capable prose. There was a lot to talk about when Gabe popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sandra Aragona

Sue loved Sandra Aragona's lightly-fictionalised autobiography of life as a diplomatic spouse. There was a lot that she wanted to ask about when Sandra popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To K J Lawrence

Sue was delighted when she read The Cossack as it restored her faith in the thriller genre. When the author, K J Lawrence, popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us, Sue had quite a few questions ready! Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stuart Burrell

Sue found Start Burrell's book Twelve Times To The Max: One Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records an inspiring, feel-good read. She wanted to know more when Stuart popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Wes Stuart

Luke enjoyed the combination of compellingly-written science fiction which blends themes of innocence and growth with some well depicted moments of horror in My Name is Sam and he had quite a few questions for author Wes Stuart when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To B C R Fegan

Sue giggled like a child when she read Henry and the Hidden Treasure by B C R Fegan and Lenny Wen: it's a good story with some valuable lessons. It was a real pleasure to chat to writer B C R Fegan when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Annie Ingram

Very few people believe that dogs can talk so it was something of a relief when Sue met author, Annie Ingram. She has lengthy conversations with her cocker spaniel Kammie and has shared them with us in her book. There was a lot to talk about when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

Bookinterviews.jpg The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Stephan Santiago

Ani was quietly moved by Returning Home and there were several points she wanted to discuss with author Stephan Santiago when he popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...

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