Another squall rolls in, the trees rattle and the downpour starts.
For a brief moment the rain stopped, the glint of sunshine looked warmer than it felt, perhaps the daffodils might have a chance to escape their bulbs after all. But no, another squall rolls in, the trees rattle and the downpour starts. The heady days of Spring will have to wait – back inside, kettle on and pick up that book!
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed – and gazed – but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Our top pick of the week is something entirely unique – Ours by Phillip B. Williams is set in the mid-1800s; Saint, an enigmatic and powerful conjure woman, always flanked by a silent companion, she travels the South annihilating plantations and liberating the enslaved by means of purposeful violence and powerful magic. Saint’s mission is to kill slavery – to scourge its damage from the minds of her charges and to keep them safe forever. This tale of magic highlights the true nature of humanity, and questions what it means to be human. We also have William Blake’s Universe, a beautiful coffee-table book, exploring Blake’s connection to politics during 1700s, and how this influenced his work.
New in fiction, Harlequin Butterfly by Toh Enjoe is a mystery about an elusive writer that has the power to write in the native tongue of wherever he travels; entrepreneur A.A. Abrams looking to unfurl the writer’s gift, but he always manages to end up one step behind. Where There Was Fire by John Manuel Arias starts as a lethal fire erupts at the American Fruit Company’s most lucrative banana plantation burning all evidence of a massive cover-up. Now, twenty-seven years later, Teresa and her daughter Lyra are still picking up the pieces. Freya North’s The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne is a saga following the messy life of our protagonist. Whilst, Olivia Kiernan’s The End of Us is a brilliant crime novel, following the lives of two deplorable couples (I can personally recommend this if you’re in a reading rut and want something juicy and page-turning).
New in non-fiction, Rosie Syke’s Every Last Bite is perfect for those who aren’t enamoured by cooking – all of Rosie’s recipes are low-cost, minimum waste, and minimum energy – what more could you want! For those who love craft, Nicki Trench’s Retro Crochet features stunning patterns from yesteryear. Alistair Moffat’s new book, Between Britain, looks at that small sliver of land between England and Scotland, delving into how it has shaped us as a nation politically, geographically and culturally. And Ingrid Seward’s My Mother and I gives us an exclusive look into the relationship between King Charles and the late Queen.
For children, Rhian Tracey is back with the next installment in her Bletchley Park Mystery series: Hide and Seek. This time the gang are back protecting a piece of priceless artwork during World War Two. This is a fast-paced and exciting mystery for children aged 9-12. In non-fiction, What a Rock Can Reveal by Maya Wei-Haas is a stunningly-illustrated introduction to rocks and minerals, great for 6-9 year-olds.
As always, if there’s something you need help with, or a book you need ordering, please call or email us!
From Amber
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The full newsletter with links to books – including this week’s Signed Editions – can be found HERE
