The Book Vipers discussion

This thread is for talking about anything to do with books.

Our local bookshop has announced it is closing at the end of this month. It is just a discount bookshop, but nevertheless it is a very good one, and I've bought many books in there over the years.

Now I shall have to go up to Shaftesbury for our nearest bookshop. Feeling cross.

That is so sad. :-(

I had though of starting a thread on peoples favourite bookshops.

If they can find one now - bookshops seem to becoming a rare thing.

We've lost so many shops recently in Gillingham. The photo shop, and greengrocers went last year, along with the bakery, and a takeaway. Recently the sports shop closed, and the bookshop next door to it is going. The Co-op supermarket has remained empty since the fire, and will not be reopening. The town is emptying fast. Soon there will be nothing left but the charity shops.

On the bright side Elizabeth some charity shops are good for books.

I do buy quite a lot of my books from our local charity shops. My favourites are Scope and Weldmar which seem to have the best stock but not necessarily the cheapest though. Prices are going up even there and you can't buy anything for less than £1.50 now.

Elizabeth, that is a shame. Our "proper" book shop has relocated to an industrial estate slightly out of town. They only have a small selection in stock, but can order you anything in. We have an excellent Oxfam second hand shop and a WHSmith, plus our charity shops are always well stocked too. But as you say, they are cheaper, but not that cheap.

I absolutely love our local charity shop, 3 books for £2.

Picked up lady of the rivers, a titanic book and what to expect when you're expecting (premature purchase!)

Is anyone else having problems with the advertising banner for that book that's everywhere on Goodreads at the moment? I went to write a review for The Thirteenth Tale but the advertising banner was right across the middle of the review section and cannot be closed or moved. This only appears to be a problem on the main site, not on the app, which does still work normally. Will have a look and see if anyone else has complained about this on the official GR site and, if not, will mention it.

I have noticed it when clicking on the notifications, only seems to be on the news feed page.

Paul wrote: "I have noticed it when clicking on the notifications, only seems to be on the news feed page."

Have just reported it on the Feedback group. Probably just a glitch, so hopefully they will fix it soon. Haven't noticed it happening with any other advertisements.

It does look quite an interesting book, but it is starting to annoy me that it's constantly in the way!

Just finished my new website have a look would welcome any constructive feedback please
www.bookwormedreviews.com

Thanks Sam. I'll have a look later

Paul wrote: "Thanks Sam. I'll have a look later"

I would appreciate that Paul. Thanks for your time

It is a nice, easy to navigate site Sam. Well done. I have only got as far as registering a domain name

Costa prize winner has just been announced:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainme...
Is this on anyone's list to read?

I had this on my tbr list for a few months, having read good things about it. Bought it last week when it had price reduction on Amazon. Will be reading it fairly soon.

Yes I bought it just recently, I think it's still on offer at £1.99 on kindle. I'd had my eye on it for a while, mainly because of the cover and the title, so I hope it's good!

Thanks for the feedback on my site Paul

Paul wrote: "Costa prize winner has just been announced:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainme...
Is this on anyone's list to read?"

I snapped this up at £1.99 on kindle just after they announced the prize. It could fit into several places on my Magic Square, new writer, award winner or book chosen for its cover.

^

I'm going to read it next after the one I've just started!

Cheryl wrote: "^

I'm going to read it next after the one I've just started!"

Please let us know what it is like

Hello ..

I do not know if it's what I will say in its proper place or in the wrong place, but I love Britain and I'd like to study, but that it is very difficult, but it may be impossible .., so I'd like to read about the history of the old British ..

It does not matter, only the role of Britain in World War II or the war between Britain and Argentina, or any other war or an important event in any period was in England ..

Would prefer to be a famous books but not new ..

Thank you

The British Library have unveiled their Victorian and Romantic section on their Discovering Literature website. Well worth a peep.
http://gu.com/p/3p9hy

Looks good Debbie.

I had a quick look today and there are some amazing artefacts and articles. I could have stayed on for hours. It is fascinating.

Someone posted this in a group that I in on Facebook. makes for interesting reading:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisf...

Paul wrote: "Costa prize winner has just been announced:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainme...
Is this on anyone's list to read?"
Ooh I read that. It was lent to me by a friend who wasn't too sure how she felt about it.

Here's what I wrote about it;

"Not entirely sure if I liked or disliked this book, found it gripping or frustrating. There were parts of it I thought were just brilliant and other parts that just irritated me. Though the further in I got the more I leaned towards the positive sides of all my indecision.

You best read it yourself and make up your own mind"

So I too wasn't sure what I felt about it. I wonder if that was the intention? Bring over the frustration the main character felt?

There are some superb dedications here:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jzebarrow/the...

Win a years worth of books with the Guardian: http://www.nationalbooktokens.com/gua...

Thanks Paul. May try that. A year of books for you may bankrupt them tho. Haha

Ok, I have officially lost it. Today I was in a thrift book store and saw a beautiful hardcover copy of Moonstone. I've already read it, so I recommended it to a random woman who was shopping. She bought it, but probably thought I was insane. First I told her the plot, my son was mortified.

You should so turn up at her house in a couple of weeks to see if she has read it. hehe

Sandy wrote: "Ok, I have officially lost it. Today I was in a thrift book store and saw a beautiful hardcover copy of Moonstone. I've already read it, so I recommended it to a random woman who was shopping. She ..."

I regularly recommend books to complete strangers Sandy

I think that's the joy of bookshops. There are no strangers but fellow readers. Hope your random woman enjoys it, Sandy!

Booker Prize Long List coming out on Wednesday!

Yeah, Jason follow-ups are important!

Cathy,that is so true.

Though this was of some interest:

http://www.gretchenrubin.com/happines...

Is it just me, or is this new cover for Charlie and the chocolate factory sinister:

http://www.penguinclassics.co.uk/nf/B...#

Very sinister! What are they saying? Verucca Salt looking like Lolita is more important than Charlie or Willy Wonka? Very odd.

Creepy

Weird. Stepford wives, when children!

I'm really excited about the Sept. reads. I hope everyone will participate. Vipers challenges me to read books I never would have thought to read. I'm going to read all of the nominated books. :)

After a book recommendation for a challenge I am doing, it needs to be based in Antarctica. Anybody read anything that is really good?

I'll send you some Jason

I did a challenge which involved reading a book based in each continent, and for Antarctica, I read Skating To Antarctica. I gave it three stars, and I see in my review that I was quite critical of how disjointed the narrative was, but I also found it very vivid and interesting and unusual, and I remember the details of it clearly. It's non-fiction - an autobiographical account of a British woman who went on a trip to Antarctica because she wanted to be surrounded by whiteness. It's kind of like a cathartic trip for her.

Thanks you two, will check them out.

This literary map of London is fantastic:

http://i100.independent.co.uk/article...

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has read 'Daughter' by Jane Shemilt, which only came out at the end of August, and could advise me if it's suitable for a 14 year old daughter...she's forever complaining that I live in fear that something might happen to her, so I thought it might be following the in joke, but I wouldn't want it to be too upsetting and I won't have time to read it first (as I often do) because I've only just got it and her birthday is tomorrow! In fact it might be interesting to also have any suggestions for teenage - appropriate books?