Stoke Newington Bookshop

Books To Get Snowed in With

Tiny Sunbirds Far Away.
Christie Watson



Read and loved by Jo and Sarah. Costa judges said 'Funny, heartbreaking and utterly real: the characters lodge in your imagination long after you finish the book'.

Kate reckons its perfect for a post-childbirth generation.


The Snowman
Jo Nesbo



Ok so the title fits our theme, but Jo Nesbo is really popular.


The Second Coming
John Niven



It's funny.

Before I Go To Sleep
S J Watson



Another cold and unsettling read, if that's fits your snowed in mood. Won last years' Crime Thriller of The Year.

And a warm one to finish...

The Family Fang
Kevin Wilson



Warm AND funny.

Book of the Day

Biography of Alan Lomax who toured the Southern US for years with a battered tape recorder recording Blues and Folk singers and musicians then unheard of like Muddy Waters, Jelly Roll Morton and Woody Guthrie.


Sometimes his recordings had to be done surreptitiously, whatever, they changed the world of music and now are a unique archive. This new book is selling well and deserves a wide audience/readership!

My New Favourite Cookbook!

I've only just looked at the new book from Ferran Adrià Head Chef of the famous elBulli restaurant.



Called The Family Meal it breaks down whole menus into three easy stages.

Stage 1: The Menu



Stage 2: The Ingredients



Stage 3: Step by Step Directions




Beautifully photographed and produced, come and have a look

Book Event: Counter Power

We have a very topical event here this week, particularly in the light of the internationally speading 'Occupy Wall Street' movement and Lech Walesa's recent speech.

Thursday sees the publication of Tim Gee's book 'Counterpower' and we are delighted that he will be talking about it with Mike Marqusee, author of 'If I am not for Myself' on Thursday 20th October at 8pm.






Tim Gee's book is an important exploration of the power of protest and resistance to lift the problems of political oppression and corporate capitalism.
No major campaign has ever been successful without Counterpower - the power that the 'have-nots' can use to remove the power of the 'haves'.
This is examined by investigating the history and tactics of the suffrage movement, the labour movement, the anti-war movement, the anti-colonial movement, the environmental movement and today's human rights and anti-globalisation movement. In the context of the financial crisis and the threat of climate change, engagement in system critical social movements is on the increase. This unique book demystifies the power dynamics of social change.

This event is £3 entry which includes a glass of wine. See you there (here)!

Bookshop Event: Tonight!

The wonderful Dr Suzanne Fagence Cooper is coming to the shop tonight to give a talk to the N16 Writers Network.

Her book 'The Model Wife' is about the affair between Effie Gray (wife of Ruskin), and Millais; that led to her leaving her husband to start a new life with Millais.

Despite the family-breaking premise, this is a book which celebrates a love that came to be shared by three generations, spanning continents and decades.

Dr Cooper is an expert on Victorian art and has appeared on several television programmes. Despite the paperback publication being delayed, we have the hardbacks available tonight.

Being in a time of increasing freedoms for women, Effie's life, and this talk should prove fascinating. And if you think that sentence doesn't quite make sense- come along at 8.00 this evening to see how a proper writer does it.


This is a Network event. There is a charge of £2.50, which includes a glass of wine.

Happy Birthday: Dr. Samuel Johnson 1709

"No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money."

"When a man writes from his own mind, he writes very rapidly. The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write; a man will turn over half a library to make one book."

"Those authors who would find many readers, must endeavour to please while they instruct."

With thanks to Samuel Johnson Sound Bites

On This Day- Romance Blossomed...

...in1846. Elizabeth Barrett  eloped with Robert Browning. The son of a bank clerk, Robert Browning was viewed as an unsuitable suitor for his daughter by Elizabeth's strict father. The couple had secretly managed to marry one week earlier at St Marylebone Parish Church.

The marriage was a success. Her weak health greatly improved and they had a son. Both enjoyed literary fortune- Elizabeth more than Robert who was sometimes known just as 'Mrs Browning's husband'; a bit galling.

Happy Birthday: O. Henry 1862

A great American short story writer, William Sidney Porter began writing whilst serving time in gaol (in common with other writers this month), for embezzelment.

When I was working as a publisher's Rep, years ago, I had a buyer for a large London bookshop who rated O. Henry as one of the finest, short story writers. But then he was, often as not, sozzled by 10 in the morning- both the buyer and O Henry, and opinionated about many things. My opinion is that Wordsworth Editions, do a fine volume of his collected stories.

O. Henry's stories are noted for their suprise endi..kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Sold Out of The Good, The Bad & The Multiplex

A personal favourite is Mark Kermode's new book on what has gone wrong with contemporary cinemas, thats cinemas- not  just cinema, as in film. You can catch the good Doctor every Friday afternoon on Radio Five Live with Simon Mayo. It is available as a podcast for those of us who should be bookselling.

This is on my reading list, as I enjoy his famous radio 'rants'. It's still on my list, as we have sold out of our original order. When I went to the front table to snaffle a copy, there was an empty space. Doubly frustrating, as it also brings to mind an old boss of mine who was always saying 'you can't sell empty space'

 

Well, we'll have it back in time for the weekend...

Our New T.V. Ad !

Our new friends Local Stars have kindly produced a new video ad for us. Expect to see it soon during News at Ten and X Factor- our promo budget is global this Autumn, (disclaimer- parts of this sentence may not be true).

However, we would like to thank LocalStars for producing a great ad for us!

Follow this link Stokey Bookshop's New Ad Campaign