Fifty-eight years ago, William Golding decided to write a book that would depict boys as boys truly were. (I know this not because I am a Golding scholar, but because I read the novel’s introduction). A response, no doubt, to the child-detective, boys’-own, let’s-save-the-day-and-then-have-lemonade style books in fashion at the time. He called it Lord of the Flies, crashed his [...]
Archive for the ‘Genre’ Category
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Posted in Books, classics, Reading, William Golding, tagged a question of children, adventure tales, am i too old to be reading this?, how books make me feel, postaweek on 4 April, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Today by David Miller
Posted in Books, David Miller, fiction, tagged dealing with reading disappointment, postaweek2011, reading rules, tally-ho England on 13 November, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Regular readers may recall that I sometimes steer clear of books due to preconceived notions of what I don’t like to read. Often, happily, I am proved wrong or wonder what all my fuss was about when a book breaking such rules entertains, informs and impresses me. In fact, it happens a lot. Which could highlight that I’m a [...]
Trick of the Dark by Val McDermid
Posted in Books, Books and Television, fiction, thriller, Tony Hill, Val McDermid, tagged dealing with reading disappointment, following a series, postaweek2011, things editors get worked up about on 9 October, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
I’m not usually backwards in coming forwards. On reading this statement, those who know me well are probably rolling their eyes and muttering a mutter of faux disbelief. ‘You don’t say, I always saw you as a timid creature lacking confidence in your own opinion.’ But often in these book reviews I meander about a little. A bit of [...]
A Book That is Nice Just to Have
Posted in Books, illustrative, non-fiction, P'o'B babble, Science, tagged borrowing books, old books, postaweek2011, tweety bird on 25 July, 2011 | 2 Comments »
A little-known fact about your humble blogger (though becoming more known as I seem to be publicly embracing it of late) is that I like birds. A lot. And I don’t just mean that I’m into all this bird jewellery that’s fashionable at the moment, but that I feel a particular affiliation and have a [...]
Being an Editor
Posted in book editing, P'o'B babble, Publishing, tagged postaweek2011, things editors get worked up about on 1 July, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
When you haven’t had to look for a job in over a decade, you forget quite how much time it takes up. While I stomp both the online and physical streets of London’s publishing industry, and try to make money via freelance editing, Pile o’ Books is wanting of attention. So while I gather the [...]
The Other Statue by Edward Gorey
Posted in Books, Edward Gorey, illustrative, Reading, tagged dealing with reading disappointment, following a series, picture books, postaweek2011, sad and kooky themes on 15 June, 2011 | 3 Comments »
Before moving digs to Britain I read The Other Statue by Edward Gorey as a welcome break to packing. I’m very good at taking breaks from the activity I should be focusing on. For example, I am writing this post when I should be editing a true crime manuscript. A friend said the other day, ‘Sometimes I feel like [...]
