I’ve taken delivery of a few lovely review books (and others) and I’ve also gone a bit over-excited in the History and Politics Kindle sale so I thought I’d just do a share of my incomings rather than make a review post bottom-heavy with them. So exciting!
First of all, from lovely publishers to review for Shiny New Books …
“Work” by James Suzman came from Bloomsbury and is a new history of work that promises new thoughts and surprises. Stephen Rutt is a favourite bird writer of mine and Elliot & Thompson have kindly sent me the paperback of his “Wintering: A Season With Geese”. Finally, the relatively new Zuleika Publishing, who publish narrative non-fiction, history and memoir, have sent me this beautiful-looking copy of “Follies: An Architectural Journal” by Rory Fraser, complete with delightful watercolours of the mentioned buildings. Thank you to all these publishers and look out for my reviews in Shiny and notes about the books here over the next month or so.
These all came from the Kindle sale. Mirna Valerio’s “A Beautiful Work in Progress” is that rare thing, a book about a runner who isn’t skinny or white (to be fair, I’ve read a few books about non-skinny runners) and shares her progress in running from beginner to ultramarathoner. “Black Poppies” by Stephen Bourne tells the story of the Black men and women who served in the First World War and tells their untold stories, ending with the riots of 1919 which I only found out about earlier this year, when Black people who had served in the war were hounded and attacked. David Lammy’s “Tribes: How Our Need to Belong Can Make or Break the Good Society” is a memoir and call to arms for an end to division and to work together for a better society. And everyone I know seems to have read Alexandra Wilson’s memoir, “In Black and White”, detailing her career and experiences as a barrister who is a mixed-race woman from Essex. All good buys, I think you’ll agree!
Finally, June Sarpong’s “The Power of Privilege: How White People Can Challenge Racism”, which surprised me the other day as I’d pre-ordered it, is a short book by a respected social commenter which will hopefully give some good solid tips on how to do this, and Camilla Sacre-Dallerup’s “Dream, Believe, Succeed” is an inspirational memoir by the ex-Strictly dancer.
Anyone read any of these? Not a bad haul at all, right, and I am reading up a storm at the moment, plus I’m on a week off (but not going anywhere) which means plenty of reading time (and a new radiator).
Oct 06, 2020 @ 10:43:21
Some great incomings! Zuleika are new to me and look interesting – I may have to explore…. ;D
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Oct 06, 2020 @ 17:30:46
Do have a look, they have a great list!
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Oct 06, 2020 @ 14:01:46
I think Tribes will be very interesting.
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Oct 06, 2020 @ 17:31:06
Yes, I agree.
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Oct 06, 2020 @ 16:58:21
Wintering looks beautiful, I love those (pink legged?) geese that fly in a figure of 8(?) not sure of the details, but watched them for ages this time last year!
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Oct 06, 2020 @ 17:31:52
It is lovely and I really like geese – I see them a lot in my local park and have been stopping to listen to them cropping the grass recently.
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Oct 07, 2020 @ 06:26:22
Not come across, Zuleika before. Follies looks really good
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Oct 07, 2020 @ 08:38:55
They’re a publisher I think you’d like a lot!
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Oct 07, 2020 @ 17:05:56
I shall go and have a look
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Oct 07, 2020 @ 07:51:27
I saw the new radiator (and happy husband). Perth WA is such a mild place to live that I very rarely turn mine on. I would feel overwhelmed by so many new books, so good luck to you getting through them. And well done with your journey to understand and combat racism. It’s everywhere and so unnecessary.
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Oct 07, 2020 @ 08:40:14
The new radiator is making such a difference already! And yes, it is a little overwhelming to be honest but I’m reading quite a lot at the mo so should be OK. I’ve always read outside my demographic a lot, but it’s great that so many books on combatting racism and on people’s contemporary experiences are getting published now.
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Oct 07, 2020 @ 16:44:23
What an interesting mix of books. Wintering and Black Poppies sound especially appealing.
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Oct 07, 2020 @ 17:20:46
I read Wintering today and it was absolutely lovely.
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Oct 12, 2020 @ 02:37:27
Yay for all these incoming books, especially with those containing elements of racial justice! One thing I was curious about: in regard to getting review copies and/or more books in general, does it ever feel overwhelming for you? I think one reason I abstained from doing more of the ARC/review copies things was that it might feel like pressure or a weight on my time, so yeah I’m curious how that feels for you.
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Oct 12, 2020 @ 17:52:37
I do think it’s important to read other stuff, too, and to support and promote small independent publishers, especially.
And thank you for that question and for your interest. I am pretty careful on what I accept – all the Shiny New Books reviews either come from publishers approaching the editors and them reaching out to us reviewers, and we’re free to say yes or no, or from a couple of publishers I have a relationship with who again will contact me with ideas, and I can take the book on or not. I don’t get much unsolicited stuff, and when I do, it’s from publishers whose lists I’ve agreed to go on (Dean Street Press and British Library Women Writers) and they are novels I know I will like. With NetGalley, I do go a bit wild although try not to go on the site but only respond to emails. I do have a few publishers who will contact me with the next book they would like me to read, but again I don’t feel pressured. I am not very good at reading and reviewing my NG books on the date of publication but am trying to be close now, and then picking up older ones as I go. I don’t feel pressured there particularly as I haven’t been penalised for reviewing a bit late, as far as I know. I do keep my reviewed books ratio up so I get selected for more books!
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