Newsletter - February 09
A message
from The Book Monkey
Just click one of the green links below, or scroll down to your section
of choice.
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Events at Mr B's
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Thinkers & Makers |
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Thursday
12th February - 6.30pm at Mr B's - Tickets £3 (inc wine & nibbles) |
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Laurence Shorter - "The Optimist"
 Come and join us for an evening of optimism amidst the crunchy
credit gloom.
Laurence
Shorter’s aptly timed and highly-praised
new book The Optimist strikes us as the perfect antidote to the
barrage of pessimism that greets every turn of the radio dial at the
moment, which is why we’ve invited him to come and cheer us all up.
Laurence will read from his book – in which
he explores the concept of optimism and travels the world to meet some of
the world’s most optimistic people (from Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Mick
Jagger) and gets right to the core of this most vital of philosophies.
So turn off the doom and gloom of Radio 4
for a night and come and join us for
some positivity!
Email
books@mrbsemporium.com or give
us a call on 01225 331155 to reserve a ticket
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Rising Talents |
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Tuesday 17th March - 6.30pm at Mr B's -
Tickets £3 (includes wine & nibbles) |
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 Ross
Raisin - "God's Own Country"
 Ross Raisin comes to Mr B's to read from
and talk about his debut novel God's Own Country, one of the most
talked about debut novels of 2008 which was shortlisted for the John
Llewellyn Rhys prize. To celebrate the release of the new paperback
edition of his dark and thrilling story of loner farmer Marsdyke, Ross
will be here to read from his book and tells us about the writing process.
Join us for this first
Rising Talents event of 2009 as we
introduce you to another great voice of the future.
Email
books@mrbsemporium.com or give us a call on 01225 331155 to
reserve a ticket.
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Thinkers & Makers |
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Lunchtime event - Thursday 7th May - 12.30pm. Venue to be
confirmed (will be central Bath)
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Tickets £5 |
Lord Ashdown - A Fortunate Life
Mr B's, in association with
The Royal High School, Bath, is honoured to be hosting one of
Britain's most eminent and respected politicians this Spring as he comes
to bath to discuss his memoirs.
Published in April 2009, "A
Fortunate Life" promises an intriguing insight into the political
landscape of the late 1980s and 1990s. As high representative in Bosnia -
Herzegovina (2002-2006) and recommended for the role of UN representative
in Afghanistan as well as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Lord
Ashdown was deeply involved in global and British politics.
A highly readable,
fascinatingly detailed memoir of a life of a unique politician.
Be quick to reserve your
ticket. Just £5. Venue to be confirmed shortly but it will be in Central
Bath.
Email
books@mrbsemporium.com or give us a call on 01225 331155 to
reserve a ticket.
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Mr B's @ Bath Lit Fest 2009
Saturday 28th Feb - Sunday 8th March
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As you may know, we are over the moon to be the official Bath
Literature Festival booksellers. There is a superb line-up this
year and you haven't already got your copy of the brochure, come and
grab one at Mr B's.
Mr B's at the Guildhall
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You will
see our dedicated team at every event, taking care of your
bookselling needs and bringing along the spirit of Mr B's. The shop
will of course remain open just as normal throughout the festival
period for those who need to get their
usual Mr B's (or Vlashka) fix.
We also have a
secret blogger who will be giving his thoughts on various events
throughout the festival on our Blog on our Blog of Bloggy Delights
(click here)!
 Writers
of the World
So what would we go
and see if we were there as readers rather than booksellers? If we
had to pick just one of the less "headline" events to recommend to
you from the festival list we'd probably pick Jose Eduardo Agualusa on
Sunday 8th March as we read his "Book of Chameleons" for our book
group and absolutely loved it. He's Angola's greatest author and one
of Africa's most innovative voices so his event is bound to be
fascinating.
Agualusa is just part
of a strong world literature strand and - in line with our
reputation as complete translated-fiction junkies - we'd also
recommend trying out the various events dedicated to some of Hungary's best writers and poets such as
Anna Szabo and George Szirtes.
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Mr B's and
Their Co-Sponsors Supporting the Bath Lit Fest
As well as being Official Booksellers we are also sponsoring
several events along with our generous friends and co-sponsors:
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So come and join in this fabulous festival! We look forward to
seeing you during the exciting 9 day existence of Mr B's Guildhall
branch!!
For tickets go to -
www.bathlitfest.org
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Shout it from the rooftops! -
Your Favourites at Mr B's
Nicolette
Jones -
journalist and
author of "The Plimsoll Sensation" -
is
kick-starting our new "Your Favourites" section
in Mr
B's bibliotherapy room, kindly sharing with us some of her top recommended reads.
These - along with
her top recommendations from years of reviewing children's books
for broadsheet newspapers - can be found
on the "Our Favourites/Your Favourites" shelf in the
Bibliotherapy Room upstairs at Mr
B's.
We're looking for more of you to spread the word about your
favourite books so please
email us your list and we
might get your
books in next, feature them on our shelves, sell lots of them and put them in our
newsletter.
Here are
Nicolette's reviews:
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Mr Darcy's Diary by Maya Slater
An
intelligent, beautifully written, entertaining reimagining
of Pride and Prejudice from Mr Darcy's point of view. It
submerges you in the period, and reveals Darcy's
misbehaviour, not least with his friend Lord Byron.
Paperback
£7.99 |
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Looking Up by
Tim Rushby-Smith (memoir)
A compulsive,
humorous and moving book that changed my perspective of
disability, as Rushby-Smith records how an accident suddenly
paralysed him from the waist down, just before the birth of
his first child.
Paperback
£7.99 |
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There's a Hippo in My Cistern:
One Man's Misadventures on
the Eco Frontline by Pete May (autobiographical
memoir).
'Loaded' lad
meets green girl and has to reform his eco-unfriendly
habits. A rom com which deserves to be a film, with lots of
good jokes, as well as insights into green politics. And if
you laugh enough you may be able to turn down the heating.
Paperback
£7.99
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Ruth Belville: The Greenwich
Time Lady by David Rooney.
A small gem,
in the vein of Longitude, written by the curator of
timekeeping at Greenwich Observatory, which tells the story
of the woman who carried a pocket watch from Greenwich
around London to sell the right time to clockmakers, and the
dirty tricks campaign of a big electronic timekeeping
company that tried to put her out of business. Clear and
riveting, the telling of this small life reveals much about
the period, and the history of timekeeping.
Hardback
£12.99
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What Was Lost by Catherine
O'Flynn
A mystery set
in a shopping centre, and a witty and insightful study of
the internal lives of all its main characters. By the
British Book Awards Newcomer of the Year and winner of the
Costa First Novel Prize.
Paperback
£7.99
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Love All by Elizabeth Jane
Howard
Masterly
storytelling and shrewd observation of the characters in a
village in the 60s who are trying to set up a literary
festival; a study of love and self-sacrifice.
Hardback
£16.99
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Chagall by Jackie Wullschlager
Already
shortlisted for the Costa biography prize, and surely one of
the finest biographies of the age, as well as the year.
Hardback £30 |
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The
Book Monkey's Top Bananas
To guide you
swiftly to what we think are the most tempting new releases
that we've not yet had the chance to read or review, we've now
got our new Book Monkey's "Top Bananas" shelves right near the
counter at Mr B's. Here's a selection of our current Top
Bananas:
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2666
by Roberto Bolano
Epic novel in
fictional crime-ridden US/Mexico border town, Santa Teresa
Hardback - £20
Click here to buy
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Somewhere Towards the End
by Diana Athill
91 year old
author writes about anything she feels like writing about
Paperback - £7.99
Click here to buy |
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The Cellist of Sarajevo
by Stephen Galloway
Three
Characters dodge sniper-fire in war-torn Bosnia as a
cellist plays on regardless in a bomb crater
Paperback - £7.99
Click here to buy |
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Northline by Willy Vlautin
Alison
leaves Las Vegas to re-start her life and dream of banter
with Paul Newman
Paperback - £7.99
Click here to buy |
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The Vagrants
by Yiyun-Li
Second
offering from award-winning debutant set in 1970s
Communist China
Hardback - £12.99
Click here to buy
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Once on a Moonless Night
by Dai Sijie
Long-awaited
novel from author of Balzac and the Chinese Seamstress
Hardback - £12.99
Click here to buy |
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A Brief History of Tea
by Roy Moxham
Ode to tea
from Chinese discovery to quintessential Britishness
Paperback - £7.99
Click here to buy |
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History of Histories
by John Burrow
Critically
acclaimed history of 2500 years of history writing and
writers
Paperback - £10.99
Click here to buy |
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Enough:
Breaking Free from the world of More by John Naish
A timely
reminder that we've all got enough stuff (apart from
books)
Paperback - £7.99
Click here to buy |
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Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
by Junot Diaz
Pulitzer-prize winning novel featuring an overweight
Dominican boy's dream of becoming a celebrated storyteller
despite his cursed family
Paperback - £7.99
Click here to buy |
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Benny & Shrimp
by Katerina Mazetti
An offbeat
love story told in alternating chapters by the endearing
protagonists. Kooky translated Swedish fiction.
Paperback - £7.99
Click here to buy |
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Bluebird
by Vesna Maric
Suprisingly
buoyant Balkan war memoir describing the author's own
evacuation from Bosnia to Penrith at the age of 16
Paperback - £12.99
Click
here to buy |
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Mr B's
Terrific Televised Tuesday Book Group
Richard & Judy
at Mr B's!
Very
excitingly, the Richard & Judy Book Club
contacted Mr B's to ask whether they could film our book
group talking about one of the new R&J book club choices. So we
thought about it for a nano-second and said "yes please!". We were
lucky enough to be allocated Kate Atkinson's "When will there be
good news" as the book to talk about. Sadly the great British Freeze
meant that it was postponed by a few days as the crew were stuck in
London but they finally made it last week to Mr B's and filmed some
of our brave book group members. R&J themselves were not there,
sadly, so Vlashka missed her opportunity to add a photo to her
Vanity Hall of Fame.
Thanks to those who were able to come along. We will let you know
when it will be on the TV and so when you need to clear you diaries
and get your Sky package extended to cover whatever random channel
it's on.
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You see him
here.....you see him there...
Mr B's as Official Bookseller
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Here are some
of the great local literary events coming up where Mr
B's will be the official bookseller.
For tickets to
these events, click on the links provided below.
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Theatre Royal Special Events
Every few
weeks Bath’s Theatre Royal invites a prominent author to speak
about their book in the Theatre prior to a sit-down lunch in
The Vaults restaurant.
Tickets
and further information–
www.theatreroyal.org.uk
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Coming up
6th March
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Julian Fellowes -
Award-winning
Actor, writer, director and producer, Julian Fellowes returns
to Bath to talk about his distinguished career and the release
of his second novel, Past Imperfect, following on from his
debut, Snobs, which has become an international bestseller.
24th
April - Kate Colquhoun - In "Taste" Kate
Colquhoun explores two thousand years of our rich culinary
heritage, celebrating every aspect of the history of our
cooking in a feast of unusual and fascinating facts. In her
new book, "The Thrifty Cookbook", she talks about how
to make the most of food, especially leftovers, and how some
well chosen store-cupboard basics can transform any leftover
carrot or bacon rind into a tasty meal. Much-loved British
broadcaster and charity-dynamo introduces her new
inspirational book demonstrating how life is just starting to
get really interesting when you hit your 50s.
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Calcot Manor Hotel Meet-the-Author
Lunches
Monthly
lunches followed by author talk and book-signing in this
beautiful Cotswold hotel and spa near Tetbury, Gloucs.
Tickets
and further information from Mr B's or from
www.calcotmanorhotel.co.uk
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Coming
up
Mon 11th May – Libby Purves
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On of the UK's favourite radio presenters/journalists
discusses her new novel "Shadow Child" over a fabulous
lunch
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King's School Bruton
World Book Day
Book Fair
We act as advisers & suppliers for various school book
fairs and other author events at schools across the region. If you would to talk to us about
supplying your school, just drop us a line on www.books@mrbsemporium.com
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Coming up
6th March -
Mr B's is
delighted to be acting as official bookseller for the second
year running at King's School, Bruton for their World Book Day
Book Fair. No general admission - pupils only.
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The Book Monkey's Quirky Quiz
- Win £5 off at Mr B's!
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A very big thanks to
those who spotted my last quiz question buried deep in our Christmas
Catalogue. I was most impressed. Vlashka was delighted to have lots
of biscuits to choose from and chose Sara McGavin's biscuit first so
well done!
You get £5 off your
next purchase at Mr B's.
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FEBRUARY
QUIRKY QUIZ QUESTION
Question:
Name famous works by the following authors which follow a
numerical sequence?
Kesey,
Dickens, Dumas, Conan Doyle, Albom, Milne, T E Lawrence?
Email us on
books@mrbsemporium.com with your answer.
The first ten to answer correctly will be allocated a biscuit in
Vlashka's bowl and the winner will be the first to be eaten! The lucky winner
will be announced in next month’s newsletter
and will get £5 off their next purchase at Mr B’s shop in
Bath
or off an email book order.
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Answer to the Christmas Catalogue's Quirky Quiz
Question:
Give the seasonal-sounding answers to the following 2 questions “What
was the first novel by E.M.Forster?” and “What’s the title of John
Betjeman’s blank-verse autobiography?”
Answer:
"Where Angels Fear to Tread" and "Summoned by Bells"
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Noticeboard
Check out what's going on elsewhere around Bath
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For
Valentine's Day - Saturday 14th February
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Love Georgian at No.
1 Royal Crescent
Enjoy readings
of 18th Century Love poetry reflecting romance in all its guises.
Performances at 11a.m, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm. Included with
admission
www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk
Master Duncan's Speak Easy - Open Mic Night
Fortnightly at
The Festival Cellar Bar - 16/17 Alfred Street, Bath BA1 2QU - £1
entry
Bath Minerva Choir
Saturday 21st March at
7.30pm -Voices and Brass with Bristol Brass Concert.
St Mary's Bathwick
Tickets from
www.bathfestivals.org.uk
Young Writers' Competition - Bath Lit Fest 2009
Final entry date
February 13th
See
www.bathlitfest.org for more
details
City of Bath Bach Choir
Saturday 28th March at
7.30pm - Bath Abbey
Bath Festivals Box
Office - 01225 463 362
Darwin in Bath -
Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution (www.brlsi.org)
As part of a series of
talks on Darwin, the following are coming up:
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Darwin: A Life in Poems - Ruth Padel - Wednesday 4th March.
Darwin's great-great-granddaughter will be performing poems
from her latest book of the same title
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The Wedgwoods and the Darwins - a marriage of Science and Industry?
- Sharon Gater from Wedgewood Museum - Thursday 5th March.
Charles Darwin's
mother belonged to the famous Wedgwood family and this link with
Josiah Wedgwood played a critical role in Charles' efforts to take
advantage of becoming the naturalist on the Beagle during its
five year voyage. In this talk, more interesting connections between
the two families will be explored.
Local businesses we love
- NEW ADDITION
The Thoughtful Bread
Company - A delicious new artisan bread company - seasonal and
locally-sourced or foraged ingredients, fresh each day. Each loaf
hand-rolled and individual in character. Produced using extended
proving periods and baked in their own-built wood-fired oven. See
www.thethoughtfulbreadcompany.com
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute -
Click here to
read their entire programme of talks and presentations.
See what's on at the Little Theatre Cinema in Bath -
Click here
to go to website.
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