#IBW2016 is on its way!
Well all bookbloggers and book worms love answering questions about books so when the little birdie from Vintage Books flew over and set us this challenge we just had to accept. Will from Vintage blog does a lovely little video entry but I’ve opted for the blog option here…
First of all, Will……
Will, we just wish it were possible to send you a beer through You Tube but since technology doesn’t allow (yet) we’ll just mentally shake your hand, take the book baton from you and answer the questions over here:
What book(s) are currently in your bag?
Oh so many! We’re lucky enough to be sent books all the time but we have a few on the go so to speak. Two of which are Sara Sheridan’s new book which is all about chocolate! On Starlit Seas is set in Brazil and London.
Another one is a cosy crime mystery Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm from the British Library is one of those lovely cosy crimes that are set all over the UK and are good old fashioned mysteries. I’ve also just popped in a lovely Mark Billingham that I really need to read!
What’s the last great book you read?
Ooh tough question! Let’s go with Roseanna Ley’s Last Dance in Havana as this totally and utterly transports you to Cuba and the world of the rhumba!
What book have you gifted the most?
Recently the book we’ve given away the most was Sarah Hilary’s Someone Else’s Skin as we were book Ambassadors for World Book Night! We gave out 10 copies in one night. Another one we think would make a lovely present (which we’ve given to 3 people so far) is The Curious Charms Of Arthur Pepper as this is just gorgeous and speaks to anyone who reads it.
What’s your favourite independent bookshop?
Again a hard question but we have two fantastic ones up here in the North East – @ForumBooks and Cogito Books in Hexham. They’re always having events, author readings, bookclubs and Cogito even has a book recommendation service with tea and cakes included. Forum too has been responsible for feeding us cake……
What’s been your favourite book recommended by a bookseller (or BookTuber)?
Well since listening to Will’s rather dulcent tones, I’m quite looking forward to reading If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon Mcgregor and that scary book about the house of leaves where the man measures inside and his measurements are larger than those outside! If it scares Will, I’m going to need hospitalisation so maybe not just yet..
What’s your favourite bookshop memory?
In Cogito books where owner Clare handed me the book ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ before plying me with cake. Oh she knows what a good book looks like! And in Forum, when I met the wonderful Jessie Burton and was offered a glass of something sparkly by owner Helen. But to be honest every time we walk inside, we gain another memory as well as another book or two.
What do bookshops mean to you? What do you love about them?
They are so valuable in so many ways as the booksellers in them really care about you leaving with a book you’ll enjoy. The atmosphere in each one is different yet there’s always that sense of quiet excitement when you walk in and just wonder at the books and the possibility of adventures before you. Forget clothes shopping or anything else, there’s nothing quite like the excitement of a bookshop as your time spent there is just the start of your next literary adventure!
What are the books that made you? Which books have most affected or influenced you?
Well this site was inspired by Phileas Fogg and Jules Verne Around the World in 80 Days so it has to be that one! Passepartout started the love of languages and travel and have influenced everything since. I went to live in Sweden because of Camilla Lackberg’s books so anything by her I would say has had a major influence on my reading as well as my life.
The book ‘Winter Garden’by Kristen Hannah was also a book that has stood out – it has just such a great and poignant story that really makes you think about what choices in war are right and wrong. Books which question your self belief are always interesting
I also feel that the story of Me Before You by JoJo Moyes is just so lovely that it has always stayed with me ever since I read it. The film is out soon and I can’t wait to see it although I know I’m going to cry when I do.
What book do you recommend readers gift for Father’s Day?
I’ve just read the latest book in the Tom Gray series – The Gray Salvation byAlan McDermott and think this would make a great father’s day read as it will keep him entertained for hours!
What book is currently at the top of your TBR pile?
45 at the last count as it got so tall it fell over. I have now just ordered one of those Choose your Own Adventure books as Will speaks about in the videos as I too remember them and loved them so so much! Between them and the parallel text books it’s a wonder I could ever read something normal that I didn’t have to make a decision about or decide which language to read it in. Normal books with one story in one language? Seemed so odd at the time!
So come on book lovers – join in with this tag too,leave your link in the comments below so we can share them !
Happy 10th Anniversary Independent Book Week!!
Susan Booktrailer
