Monthly Archives: July 2020

Urban Arboreal

by Stephen | Leave a comment

Michael Jordan. Aurum Press. (160p) ISBN 9781781317419

Urban Arboreal

Urban Arboreal

I absolutely love books about nature, especially about trees, and when the opportunity arose that I could get a review copy of this book I jumped at it.

Last year I had read ‘Around the World in 80 Trees’ and this is a similar concept, though only looking at trees that share our urban environment.

Each tree surveyed in Urban Arboreal has a couple of pages, one for some text and the other for beautiful illustrations. These illustrations aren’t scientific and give a feeling of the tree rather than a pure visual index and are all the better for it.

The text, though brief due to the format, is interesting and informative. Letting you know the history of the tree and whereabout in the city is the best place to still find striking examples of the species.

Overall a lovely little book which has found it’s place onto my shelves with my other nature books.

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The Diary of a Bookseller

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Shaun Bythell. Profile Books. (320p) ISBN 9781781258637

The Diary of a Bookseller

The Diary of a Bookseller

This was another book I bought as part of me really getting into the bookseller lark and reading a lot to do with other booksellers through the years, this though was by far the funniest and the closest to home.

The cast of recurring characters really added a depth and life to the world of The Bookshops, along with Shaun Bythell’s dry humour make this one of the must read books about bookshops and booksellers I’ve read so far.

The diary format also makes it the perfect book to pick up and read in small bites (though I did read it in one fell swoop the first time).

Behind the humour and characters though is a story of how much hard work goes into running a bookshop, the financial tightrope, the constant seeking of new ways to get people in and once in buy books.

Really looking for the next instalment of The Diary of a Bookseller which is due out at the end of August 2019.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Books v. cigarettes

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George Orwell. Penguin. (144p) ISBN 9780141036618

Books v. cigarettes

Books v. cigarettes

Totally bought this because of the multiple essays on books, bookselling and book reviewing – some of my main pleasures in life.

The title essay is still as apt now as it ever was, comparing the price of a book with another common leisure purchase which today we usually use a coffee as a comparison rather than cigarettes. Well written and structured and putting forward arguments I’ve used.

The other book related essays are great examples of Orwell’s writing and thought processes, and still seem as relevant today as when he wrote them in the early 20th century.

The other essays in Books v. cigarettes are about seemingly unrelated subjects, but are all linked with a view on society in his time that of class and the growing thoughts on socialism and how unjust uk society was if you had no money. The essays on boarding school, poverty, and patriotism are all well reasoned and explained.

A great little read, especially if you’ve read any other Orwell non-fiction and appreciate his thoughts and writing style.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Battle of the Beetles

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M.G. Leonard. Chicken House. (320p) ISBN 9781910002780

Battle of the Beetles

Battle of the Beetles

There was such a wait for Battle of the Beetles, the final book in the trilogy, it was sooooo long, really looooong.

The wait was well worth it though as we follow, Darkus, Victoria and Bertolt in their quest to foil Lucretia’s plans for world domination using FrankenBeetles, genetically-enhanced and super-intelligent beetles, whilst completing her own transformation.

The quest takes the friends (and Uncle Max of course) around the world, trying to enlist help, but finally they have to face Lucretia alone in upper-Equador to help Darkus’ dad and Lucretia’s daughter, save the world from famine and devastation, and finally face Lucretia.

All our other favourite characters make an appearance along with some new ones, one is especially carnivorous!

Again M.G. Leonard’s love of beetles shines through and her writing is so fast-paced with never a let up that this book was read in one sitting (there were a couple of breaks for tea and other natural things).

A fantastically exciting adventure, a great finale!

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.