Burley Cross Postbox Theft

The reviews for Burley Cross Postbox Theft have been very enthusiastic and, for once, seem to agree with the blurb.

The Sunday Telegraph commented 'A funny, heartbreaking book. From Love letters to suicide notes, her language vaults, somersaults and cartwheels across the page'.

I love this chunk of blurb - '...Burley Cross is a Cranford for today, albeit with a dose of Tamiflu, some dodgy sex therapy and a whiff of cheap smelling Vodka.'

Come in and read the rest.

(Author, Nicola Barker, has nine previous books to her name and one, 'Darkmans' was shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker and Ondaatje prizes, but don't let that put you off her!)

Loose-Limbed

We've had good feedback about the new crime series by David Barrie.

The first two, Wasp-Waisted and Night-Scented, star French Detective, Franck Guerin, in stylish thrillers set in Paris.

In Loose-Limbed, he has to tackle a killer loose in the Paris Opera Ballet.

The first two are set in the world of art and fashion but, in all three, the underworld intrudes.

We have them on a three for two offer if you call in and mention you've seen it on the blog.

We regret - a limited number only

Hobbit Country

Discovered, on looking in on Twitter, that Ian Brodie has been out and about with his camera again. Some amazing shots of New Zealand included in a wide ranging portfolio on http://www.ianbrodiephoto.net 

The views round Hobbiton, Matamata, are enough to bring tears to my eyes. See my feeble effort shot through the car window and compare. Hunt around on his site for some beautiful shots.

Ian has a new edition of his book on the film locations due out soon. Don't visit NZ without it!

Pop in again Ian, next time you pass through.

Window

Sorry about the state of the shop today. Some person pushed in the window again. Perhaps they will be kind enough to come forward. We realise it was probably an accident but it's not six months since it last happened. A little vexing.

Bride Flight

Delighted to see Bride Flight now out in paperback. By Dutch author, Marieke Van Der Pol, this was one of my favourite reads of last year, when in hardback.Here's what I thought of it then -


In 1953, there was an international air race between London and New Zealand. This is the fictional story of three young Dutch women and a young man who were passengers in a plane in that race. These young women, innocent yet pregnant Ada, confident, independent Esther and Marjorie, desperate for a child, each start their new lives under very different circumstances, yet their lives are forever linked to each other through Frank, the young man. This link is wonderfully contrived yet totally believable. This believability eases itself upon the reader because of the convincing characters and involving story line. The quality of the writing is consistently high throughout, making it difficult to believe this is a translation. Impossible not to enjoy.

The book is much better than the jacket wording suggests.

Local writers

Now we have all our local authors in one place (apart from MC Beaton who has a unit entirely to herself!)

Jane Bailey is there with her two charming tales, as are Julian Roach, Henry Porter, Paul W. Nash and Rebecca Tope (who sold even more than usual because of our apple window). Phil Rickman and Veronica Stallwood also have their murder mysteries on the shelves and we've re-stocked Ann Granger too.

We are we're hoping that Ann will come for a signing in June. We've not met her yet but her Mitchell and Markby Cotswold series have sold very well and I've enjoyed them too.

She has a new Cotswold series out now starring 'Campbell and Carter'. The first is Mud, Muck and Dead Bodies and the hardback due in June is Rack, Ruin and Murder.

Chimneys of Green Knowe

Pleased to hear that a DVD of The Chimneys of Green Knowe (ridiculously called From Time to Time) is now available.

Directed by Julian Fellowes and staring Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Carice van Houten and Timothy Spall, to name just a few of the stars, this is an enchanting family film.

You can buy a copy direct from Green Knowe itself. Have a look at http://www.greenknowe.co.uk/shop.html

Better still, book a visit to the house - The Manor at Hemmingford Grey.

You could call in, see where Tolly slept, his mouse and toys and the birdcage - perhaps the chaffinch will yet appear.

 The hundreds of scented roses in the garden are, alone, worth the visit (ask when blooming - they might be early this year)

Someone (perhaps Diana Boston)  will show you round this amazing old place and you can buy the film too.

Check out http://www.greenknowe.co.uk/visiting.html

Like to know more about Green Knowe and the books? Trawl back to a previous page, October 17th 2010, when I paid a visit to the old place.

The Emerald Atlas

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens sounded a great youngsters read. The book jacket mentions affinity to books by CS Lewis, JK Rowling and Philip Pullman.

I immediately thought of Lemony Snicket when I read that it concerned three children who have passed from one orphanage to another until memory of their parents starts to fade.

However, with its 'old leather book' and 'an ancient prophecy' it does sound very like Narnia.

A quick dip-in makes me think it reads well and I look for ward to reading it and reviewing it in the near future.

It's for 10+ and is a hardback at £12.99 and is release on 14th April.

Free books

There cannot be many bookshops who diversify into green grocery.

Take a look at our window, marvellously dressed by Nina, and you will find that we are giving away a free Rebecca Tope book with every apple purchased.

We took the lead from the delicious looking jacket on A Market for Murder, one of the three re-issues from Rebecca.

The price of apples in Cotswold Bookstore?

£7.99 each !!!

£3.99 Paperbacks and Ann Granger

All three of us have been unpacking books all week. We now have a wider range than ever of paperbacks at only £3.99 each.

Authors include Georgette Heyer, Bernard Cornwell, Margaret Dickenson, Clive Cussler, Nora Roberts, Katie Fforde, Rebecca Shaw, Dick Francis, Maureen Lee, Ruth Rendell, Annie Murray, Lesley Pearse, Lynda La Plante, Wilbur Smith, Elizabeth Jane Howard, V.L. McDermid and many more.

We've also added Ann Granger to our range of local authors. They are books in the Mitchell and Markby series of murder mysteries set in the Cotswolds.

Lucy

Here's another of our friends who, we hope, will come to see us again soon.

Lucy certainly seemed to pleased to see us or was it the biscuit tin she could see?

The paperback of TRASH has just arrived. This time around we have it where it belongs - on the children's shelves. I reviewed it when it was in hardback and include the review here because it is such an enjoyable and uplifting read, despite the subject matter.

Trash by Andy Mulligan Paperback at £5.99

The setting of this unusual novel is the filthy, dangerous rubbish tips outside a city in an unnamed African state. The subject is the plight of the families who survive by scavenging from these dumps. Central to the story are three street wise young boys who make an astounding find on the tip. It is one that puts their lives in danger from corrupt officials and police. A wrong step and they could be killed and cast onto the heaps that provide them with a living. Amazing in its ability to contrast the terrible lives these children lead with the joy they have in living, this small, courageous book gives cause for thought, even as you share the boy’s adventure.

Buildings of the Cotswolds

A book has just arrived which will be of interest to both our visitors and the residents of The Cotswolds and we have a limited number at a much reduced price.

Originally £16.99 and now only £6.99 with us, Buildings of the Cotswolds really is good value.

The Colour and black and white photos and fascinating text detail the history and architecture of over 100 buildings from Shipston-on-Stour and Chipping Campden in the north down to Tetbury, Malmsbury and beyond.

Well worth taking with you when you are out and about in the area.

Naughty Nina

Well, the shop's efficiency has today, risen back to 11o% as Nina is back from house painting. (She says we don't pay her enough so she has to moonlight)

The book about her is still selling well though, so far, nobody has asked her to sign copies.

We have had comments that her photograph on the jacket appears to have been airbrushed (or was that fly-blown?)

With Naughty Nina as the title to this post, I expect a jump in page views.

A Grave in the Cotswolds

Rebecca Tope's latest paperback arrived today. Called A Grave in the Cotswolds, it is the eighth of her murder mysteries set in - well, I suppose that's obvious. However, to be more specific, this one is set in Broad Campden.

Thea Osborne and Hepzie the spaniel are house-sitting again and guess what - another body!This time, old friend Drew Slocombe is chief suspect which not only involves Thea on his behalf but also cleverly harks back to her earlier books in which Slocombe is the sleuth.

Three of these, Grave Concerns,The Sting of Death and A Market for Murder, have now been re-issued and are now in stock.