Features

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Frances Brody

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Jill Thrussell

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kim Staflund Again

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Matt Addis

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

File:Booknewsletters.jpg September 2015 Newsletter

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Antony Wootten Again

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To C B Calico

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

File:Booknewsletters.jpg August 2015 Newsletter

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

File:Booknewsletters.jpg July 2015 Newsletter

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sarah Bourne

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To John Piper

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

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gerry Brown

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

File:Booknewsletters.jpg June 2015 Newsletter

Hi, hello and how the devil are you?

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

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

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

File:Booknewsletters.jpg May 2015 Newsletter

Hi, hello, how goes it with you? Post-election blues? Or post-election euphoria? Or simply thankful it's all over for another five years? Whichever, it's good to get back to talking about books, right? Right?!

Penguin are hoping to raise £25,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust through their Night of Infinities on 26 June. Over the past three years, millions of people around the world have connected with the story of Gus and Hazel in John Green’s life-changing The Fault in Our Stars. Night of Infinities is a a UK and Ireland wide, TFiOS-themed sleepover that will include all sorts of online fun. The Teenage Cancer Trust does remarkable work, so if you know anyone that might like to take part, do let them know. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg April 2015 Newsletter

Hi there! Spring is in the air! Isn't it a relief? Politics is also in the air. There's a general election campaign on, in case you hadn't noticed. Somewhat less of a relief for many, we fear. If you're looking to escape Cameron, Miliband, Farage et al, and are looking for anything to read that isn't a party manifesto, stick with us. We have some great book recommendations for you this month.

In other news, author David Nicholls says that browsing bookshops then buying online is a genteel form of shoplifting. Do you agree? We think bookshops are precious so we are inclined to concur. Having said that, there's nothing wrong with a choice of format. Not everybody feels the same way about books as objects. Perhaps, rather than the gladiatorial combat Nicholls describes, it would be better if people browsed in bookshops and then chose the physical book or a download at the checkout? Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To John Kemp

Sue thought that John Kemp’s book Caring for Shirley was a remarkably upbeat, life-affirming read considering that it was about looking after his wife who was suffering from dementia and no longer recognised him as her husband. it’s probably one of the most feared fates as you get older, and Sue had plenty to discuss with John Kemp when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Michael Pronko

Rebecca enjoyed Michael Pronko's whimsical, poetic essays on Tokyo life and she had quite a few questions for the author when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tricia Callow, sister of Lesley J Nickell

Ani is an enthusiast about 15th and 16th century history and enjoyed the different approach to the Wars of the Roses which she found in The White Queen of Middleham: Sprigs of Broom 1 by Lesley J Nickell. She'd have loved to chat to Lesley, but unfortunately she died in 2013. Fortunately, Lesley's sister, Tricia Callow had the answers to many of Ani's questions. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg March 2015 Newsletter

Hello dear readers. We hope you're well and that winter is slowly seeping from your bones.

This last month has brought sad news. Sir Terry Pratchett, creator of Discworld and advocate of right to die reform, has died. Lovely Sir Terry, whose stories satirised every aspect of the modern world and the human condition but who, in person, was kind and funny and twinkly, without a nasty bone in his body. We are all a little bit less without him. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg February 2015 Newsletter

Hi, hello, and how the devil are you? Reading feverishly, we hope. As ever, we've rounded up our favourite books out this month and hopefully you'll find something you - or your children - will enjoy in the picks.

The first reviews for the film adaptation of Fifty Shades Of Grey by EL James are out. Most are suggesting that the film is better than the book. It's a polarising volume, isn't it? Our reviewer Zoe is in the positive camp but there are many who aren't. It will be interesting to see what readers think: few of us ever prefer the film to the book. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Virginia Burges

Rebecca thought that The Virtuoso was a sensitive portrayal of a life in transition. She had quite a few questions when author Virginia Burges popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To P J Davitt

Jill thought that One Shot at Glory was a truly relatable story about football hopefuls and author P J Davitt makes it warts and all. She had quite a few questions she wanted to ask when Paddy popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Nigel McClea

Sue thought that A Word Glittering with Spikes was a long, indulgent, romantic read and she had quite a few questions for author Nigel McClea when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Leonce Gaiter Talks To Bookbag About Why Men Are Only 20% of all Fiction Readers

Leonce Gaiter is a prolific African American writer and proud Harvard Alum. His writing has appeared in the NYTimes, NYT Magazine, LA Times, Washington Times, and Washington Post, and he has written two novels. His newly released novel, In the Company of Educated Men is a literary thriller with socio-economic, class, and racial themes. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To R D Shanks

Ani was quietly impressed by debut author Rachael Shanks' A Reverie of Brothers and she had quite a few questions when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg January 2015 Newsletter

Hi, hello and a very happy New Year. May 2015 be healthy, happy and fulfilling for each and every one of you.

We have the most wonderful book story for you this month. For the last three years, an anonymous artist has been leaving sculptures made from old books in and around Edinburgh. The sculptures are absolutely beautiful: delicate, evocative, inspiring. We at Bookbag love a bit of book art. Anf finally, the artist has spoken in an interview with the BBC. She still doesn't say who she is, though! We love this story. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Femi Bolaji

Sue was moved when she read God Tells the Sun to Shine: An Amazing Story of Love and Forgiveness and there were was quite a bit to chat about when author Femi Bolaji popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Chris Priestley Talks To Bookbag About A Christmas Carol And The Inspiration For The Last of the Spirits

Jim was blown away when he read The Last of the Spirits by Chris Priestley|The Last of the Spirits and he was delighted when author Chris Priestley popped into Bookbag Towers to chat about it. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alan Kennedy

Jill thought that Lucy was a vivid, clever story of love, art, war and missed opportunities. She and author Alan Kennedy had quite a bit to chat about when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Dee Blick

When Sue finished reading The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Marketing a Bestselling Book on a Shoestring Budget she was enthused to write a book - until she realised that she was one of the few people who didn't have a book inside her - but there was still a lot to talk about when author Dee Blick popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg November 2014 Newsletter

Hi, hello and how are you?

November 17-21 was Anti-Bullying week here in the UK. And we were really happy to see the world of books get involved. Penguin launched a campaign called Choose Kind that ties in with the gorgeous Wonder by R J Palacio, a book about a disfigured young boy attending school for the first time. We at Bookbag are all for anything that tries to inspire all people to be a little bit kinder to each other and so we'd like to add our voice to the chorus asking everyone to #choosekind. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Konstantina Sozou-Kyrkou

Sue enjoyed Black Greek Coffee, a series of short stories which look at the darker side of Greek domestic life and had quite a few questions when Konstantina popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Christopher Bowden

Jill thought that The Green Door was an absorbing,evocative and truly enjoyable read. She had a few questions for author Christopher Bowden when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg October 2014 Newsletter

Hello! How's it going? What have you been reading? There's so much good stuff about that we bet you are spoiled for choice. Read on for some of our recommendations for a fabulous reading experience this month. However, you don't have to wait until the end of the month to find out which books we're enjoying. You can always follow us on Twitter, where we post links to reviews of the books we liked every single day. Get ahead of the Bookbag curve! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Leigh Russell

Peter thought that author Leigh Russell captured the atmosphere of the racecourse well in Race to Death and he had quite a few questions for Leigh when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Matthew Tree

Sue thought that Snug was a deceptively simple novel with unsuspected layers. It left her thinking about our colonial history and when Matthew Tree popped ino Bookbag Towers she had quite a few questions for the author. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg September 2014 Newsletter

Hi, hello and we hope all is well with you. Summer, what we had of it, is over. And it's time for the autumn books release rush. There's an awful lot of good stuff coming out over the next few weeks. Ian McEwan, Will Self, David Mitchell, Martin Amis, Sarah Waters, Howard Jacobson and Ali Smith all have new books to come. So keep an eye peeled on on the Bookbag homepage]. We'll be reviewing as much as we can as quickly as we can, promise! Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To P De V Hencher

Jill thought that The Leopard of Dramoor by P De V Hencher had an intricate and interesting plot with a vivid sense of time and place. She had a few questions for the author when he popped in to see us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ed Straw

Jill's not easily impressed by political books but she did enjoy Stand and Deliver: A Design for Successful Government by Ed Straw. She had quite a few questions for Ed when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg August 2014 Newsletter

Ok. Hi. We hope all is well with all of you. World news this month has been so horribly unhappy and depressing, hasn't it? Sometimes, it makes you feel utterly hopeless. We don't have any answers here at Bookbag but we do wish peace for all people in every country and we hope that one day humanity will achieve it. One possible way is, in the words of the proverb, to walk a mile in another man's shoes. Books can help us do this. Books allow us to see the world through someone else's eyes, to put ourselves in someone else's place. They can be distractions but they can also be tools of comings-together. And it's in that spirit of comings-together that we bring you this month's newsletter. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To The Queen

Her Majesty does not do interviews, but all at Bookbag dropped their Union Jack flags and waved a curtsy when The Queen of Twitter made a royal visit to Bookbag Towers. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Kim Staflund

Sue was so convinced by Kim Staflund's book How to Publish a Bestselling Book ... and Sell It Worldwide Based on Value, Not Price! that she was tempted to give it a go - and she hasn't even written a book. When Kim popped in to see us she had a few questions to ask. Read more...

Jim's Top 15 Books Reviewed in the Last 5 Years

We couldn't believe it when we realised that it was five years since Jim first reviewed for Bookbag. Time goes so quickly when you're enjoying yourself! It was a tough job but Jim rose to the challenge of selecting his top fifteen books. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Melvin Burgess

Jill thought that Doing It by Melvin Burgess was a funny and truthful peek into the minds of sex-obsessed teenage boys. Girls aren't left out, either. Parents might find it shocking but the kids will find it real. When Melvin popped into Bookbag Towers it was Jim who was on hand to ask some questions. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg July 2014 Newsletter

Hi, hello, how are you? Happy summer! Got your holiday reading sorted out yet? If not, read on. We have plenty of recommendations for you.

Guess what? We have some great news! The weekend of Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July saw the UK's first ever YA Literature Convention, held as part of the established London Film and Comic Con. Curated by Malorie Blackman, Children's Laureate and author of many of our favourite books, including Noble Conflict, and organised with the help of Booktrust, LFCC organisers Showmasters, and many of the top YA publishers around, the event, held in Earls' Court 2, was a staggering success. Our man Jim was there and had a wonderful time. If you want to read more about, you can read all about his adventures over the weekend. Let's hope it all happens again next year! Read more...

Rebecca Mascull Talks To Bookbag About Writing Historical Fiction

Ani thought that The Visitors by Rebecca Mascull was a beautifully crafted mesh of conquering adversity/hist-fict/ghost story with a murder investigation slipped in for good measure and a satisfying novel that's worth every penny and, indeed, every moment spent in its company. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lorraine Jenkin Again

On a warm summer's day Sue sat in the garden and sank gratefully into Jam Tomorrow by Lorraine Jenkin. There were quite a few questions she wanted to ask Lorraine when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Jim Dean Talks To Bookbag About The UK's First Ever YA Literature Convention

The weekend of Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July saw the UK's first ever YA Literature Convention, held as part of the established London Film and Comic Con. Curated by Malorie Blackman, Children's Laureate and author of many of our favourite books, including Noble Conflict, and organised with the help of Booktrust, LFCC organisers Showmasters, and many of the top YA publishers around, the event, held in Earls' Court 2, was a staggering success. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Alan Hamilton

Sue was blown away when she read Stalemate, a reworking of the unsolved murder of Julia Wallace in Liverpool between the wars. Even knowing how it had to work out she still couldn't put the book down - and she had a lot to ask author Alan Hamilton when he popped in to chat to us. Read more...

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To N S Blackman

Jill thought that The Secret Dinosaur: Giants Awake was a super-fun adventure and she had quite a few questions when author N S Blackman popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...

Sarah Skilton Talks To Bookbag About Writing ''High and Dry''

Jim was very impressed by Sarah Skilton's High and Dry particularly because it was very different to her last novel. Sarah chatted to us about the books. Read more...

File:Booknewsletters.jpg June 2014 Newsletter

Hello there! We're writing this in the midst of World Cup fever. We don't mind a bit of football at .Bookbag Towers but we really don't get feverish about it. If you're the same, read on. We have plenty of reading recommendations for you and you might need them if all around you has gone Rio mad. Read more...

Robert James Talks To Bookbag About Popular: The Launch

Jim went to the launch of Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek (A Memoir) by Maya Van Wagenen. We insisted that he tell us all about it. Read more...

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