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The past is a foreign country

Though we've been bombarded with news and views about one particular book in the past week, there are dozens of exciting new titles being released in the coming months and I've been desperately trying to whittle down my 'to be read' pile(s) to make room for them. 

But as I've been pruning my shelves, I've been distracted by books I've enjoyed over the years and titles I've been meaning to read.

Over Christmas I finally got round to a Mary Wesley title given to me as a present months earlier. And the new Lucy Worsley biography of the great Agatha Christie led me to read one of the crime writer's Mary Westmacott novels for the first time.

Both books were delightful for their gentler pace, refined settings and the gentility, respect and civility in behaviour and interactions. There was also a wry humour, not always intended. It felt comforting and uplifting to step out of modern life and into these worlds of a few decades past.

Of course I'm not alone in enjoying this sense of nostalgia and a number of publishers are now reissuing many forgotten classics. 

The British Library Crime Classics series continue to do very well, and the beautiful endpapers of Persephone books means that they are constant favourites. Faber and Penguin produce modern classics, of course. But I was recently drawn to Pushkin Press reissuing the novels of the Golden Age crime writer Josephine Tey with striking covers, and also two titles by the author of the children's stories about 'Madeline', Ludwig Bemelmens.

So many brilliant books to rediscover and which offer some welcome respite from the issues of our modern world! My 'to be read' list has got much, much bigger!

Thank you for reading.
NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE WEEK
Big Magic
by Elizabeth Gilbert

If you've read her memoir 'Eat, Pray, Love' or her novel 'The Signature of All Things', you'll either be curious or dismissive about this book by Elizabeth Gilbert. I was the former but despite having it on my shelves for the past seven years since it was released, I only read it this week.

And how I wish I read it sooner! She says so many interesting and encouraging things about creativity - and procrastination!

You don't have to be longing to write a book, paint a picture or follow a dream for 'Big Magic' to speak to you. We are all creative, says Elizabeth Gilbert. It's part of being human.

But many of us are hampered in reaching our creative potential by the things we tell ourselves. She explains that we don't need to achieve perfection, to be the best, to make lots of money to gain approval or endorsement for the creative process - instead, we should enjoy it for what we experience in the moment and on the journey.

She has a very easy style and it was a pleasure to turn the pages finding out about her own experiences of writer's block and capturing and exploring ideas.

There is an extraordinary story of how Gilbert had an idea for a novel but couldn't develop it at the time. When she returned to it months later she found that it had lost its appeal for her. However, a chance meeting with the novelist Ann Patchett turned into a friendship and one day Patchett described to Gilbert the idea for the novel she was hoping to work on next. The plot turned out to be almost exactly the same as Gilbert's idea... Read the book to find out more about it!

There are a few quirky ideas in here but also some great practical advice and encouragement and overall I found it enlightening, liberating and enabling! Loved it!

For recommended non-fiction titles, take a look here.
CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK
Pony
by RJ Palacio

While I haven't read the bestselling book 'Wonder' written by this author, her reputation is such that I wanted to give this a try. And my, what an amazing story!

It's powerfully atmospheric of the American west in the late 1800s just before the Civil War. It's about ghosts and mystery, friendship, loyalty, courage and grief. Extraordinary and wonderful!

Silas Bird and his father live quietly together in the wild west of America. Silas lost his mother as a baby and he's a little different from other children, so he and his father keep themselves to themselves.

But one day men arrive determined to take Martin Bird away with them. He's a bootmaker and an inventor and, in a case of mistaken identify, they think he has the skills to help them in their counterfeiting business. Silas is left to fend for himself with his sole companion Mittenwool - a ghost.

Then a pony appears - with a shining black coat, white head and piercing, pale blue eyes. Even though Silas was told to stay put, he thinks this mysterious pony is a sign for him to search for his father and get him help. And so begins the adventure for Silas, Mittenwool and Pony.

This is a startling story. It delivers on so many levels! There's the wild west journey with all the threats of dangerous terrain and menacing characters. There are the ghostly figures seen only by Silas, who direct him on his quest. There's the sorrow and isolation of a boy reaching adolescence without parental care and support. And there is an awakening of resilience, courage and compassion as Silas learns to live with grief and loss. 

The characters are incredible, the atmosphere stunning and the story is moving, original and uplifting. It's aimed at readers aged 11 upwards, and I thought it was great!

Read about more recommended children's books here.
Browsers Bookshop Book Group
at St John's Hall, Woodbridge
Monday 30 January 8pm 
talking about...

Sorrow and Bliss
by Meg Mason

The American novelist and bookshop owner, Ann Patchett recommends this book with great enthusiasm. It made her 'bark like a seal' and is 'brilliantly faceted', scaring her, moving her and educating her. What will we make of it?!
Buy your book from Browsers Bookshop in Woodbridge with a 10 per cent book group discount and read along. There will be details about how to attend the meeting nearer the time. 
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