A good book will be remembered for a lifetime, a poor one will just eat up your time.
There’s always been an attraction to the idea of ‘slow living’– the conscious slowing-down of the clock, trying to squeeze (albeit gently!) as much joy and fulfilment as possible from every moment. I’ve never thought of it as being a movement or a club, it’s not a subscription service or a product, there’s no branding or style to follow, it’s not political or religious. But it does require some effort not to get swept along on the tides of pressure of everyday life, and the anxieties they bring – that’s the conscious bit. The feeling of ‘please slow down, I want to get off’ could be considered as being generational – the older we get the more likely we are to understand less of fast developing technology, let alone social media and artificial intelligence (the oxymoronic twins of modern life?). It was heartening to read in the paper this morning that ‘slow living’ is becoming a thing amongst younger generations too – that quality is better than quantity. If it is a movement, it’s only right that it builds slowly – seeking out better is becoming a thing, from the clothes we wear to the food we eat to the friends we cherish.The idea of quality vs. quantity helps slow things down, allows experiences to build and wisdom to sink in – this has always been relevant with books. Although an important consideration, books judged solely by their monetary value miss the point that the real cost is the time it takes to read – a good book will be remembered for a lifetime, a poor one will just eat up your time.
Today is the first day of meteorological Summer – hurrah – let’s hope it lasts forever and is full of quality!
June by John Updike
The sun is rich
And gladly pays
In golden hours,
Silver days,
And long green weeks
That never end.
School’s out.
The time Is ours to spend.
There’s Little League,
Hopscotch, the creek,
And, after supper,
Hide-and-seek.
The live-long light
Is like a dream,
and freckles come
Like flies to cream.
The master Conn Iggulden is back, and he’s our top fiction pick of the week. Nero tells the story about the last great Julio-Claudian Emperor. This brilliantly dramatic and action-packed historical fiction is the story of Nero’s birth and his childhood, raised under the watchful and scheming eye of his mother, Agrippina. Our top non-fiction pick is Laura Cumming’s new memoir, Thunderclap. This text cleverly weaves Laura’s life, the life of her painter father, and Dutch Golden Age artists.
The rest of our brilliant, new fiction contains: The Theatre of Glass and Shadows by Ann Corlett – set in an alternate London, the Theatre district is a walled area of South London, devoid of police and lawless, and hiding one of the darkest and most spectacular performances in the world; The Burnings by Naomi Kelsey is set in 1589, when nothing scares men like witchcraft – but could black magic really exist, or is it just rumour?; The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma is set during the Biafran War, it’s an ode to brotherhood, love and unimaginable courage; Providence by Craig Willse is a thriller set around an introverted English professor whose life is turned upside down when he falls for a dangerous and enigmatic Sophomore – this is perfect for fans of P. J. Vernon’s Bath Haus and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, as well as Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley.
In non-fiction, we also have the-best-of-the-best. Shoulder to Shoulder by Jake Hall transports us through time and into the world of trailblazers, bringing their tales to life and exploring both the inexplicable joys and brutal realities of their fights for justice and queer rights. Paris: Block by Block by Cierra Block is a new way of looking at Paris, this book meticulously explains the best places to go in some of the most visited streets in Paris, making sure you don’t miss a single thing. A Year in Story and Song by Lia Leendertz (who writes the most popular Almanac every year) is a captivating collection of stories and songs that celebrates the seasons. From May Day, to Midsummer, to Halloween, this is a book to treasure all year round. Lastly, we have Apache at War by Steve Jones, this is an uncompromising and vivid account of flying the ultimate fighting machine. Steve Jones offers the taut, gritty, and graphic reality of flying in military service.
And finally, for children, we have The Wrong Shoes by Tom Percival (for ages 7+): Will has the wrong shoes – he’s always known it but doesn’t know how to change it. Navigating the difficulties of home and school when you feel you stick out is tough, but finding confidence with the help and empathy of friends can be all you need to see the way. Whilst, for ages 2+, we have Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank you Book – find out who has the best manners in Busytown! In this book we learn how to be polite, stay safe and be the most helpful we can possibly be.
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 newletter with links to books – including this week’s Signed Editions – can be found HERE
