JournalLive - Culture - Book Reviews

Post-Fleming Bond novels are being reissued

JournalLive — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

“JAMES BOND changed down into third gear, drifted the Saab 900 Turbo into a tight left-hand turn, clinging to the grass verge, then put on a fraction more power to bring the car out of the bend.”

Roughing It By Kirsty Ferry

JournalLive — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

mmm. This isn’t too bad after all,” said Helen, stretching out in the sleeping bag. It was a V-shaped thing and she had worked out that if she poked her feet into the bottom, they actually felt quite toasty. She had wriggled off her socks and they now lay on the floor beside her – an action which would have been untenable earlier on in the evening.

£25k Northern Writers’ Awards contest now open for entries

JournalLive — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE annual Northern Writers’ Awards are now open for entry, giving rising talents a chance to share in a prize of £25,000.

Author Paul Torday tells of his new novel

JournalLive — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

PLENTY of successful authors are happy to trawl Britain’s mean streets where poverty and crime combine to be a potent source of spine-chilling fiction.

Squeeze in for an exhibition of story and rhyme

JournalLive — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A NEW exhibition devoted to the work of Gruffalo creator Julia Donaldson is to open at Seven Stories.

Chance to meet Karen Charlton and Barry Stone

JournalLive — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

KAREN CHARLTON, whose debut historical novel was published before Christmas, will be signing copies of Catching the Eagle at Waterstone’s, Newcastle, on January 14.

North East mat making memories are fascinating

JournalLive — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:00:00 GMT

A BOOK recording memories of mat making in the North East also proves its worth as a fascinating social history, as Tamzin Lewis discovers.

Interview with children's author Anne Fine

JournalLive — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

HAT will award-winning author Anne Fine be doing this Christmas Eve? Quite possibly going ever so slightly doolally.

Books worth looking out for in new year

JournalLive — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Disappearance and Dickens are literary themes for 2012. JAMES HOGG, sales executive of Newcastle-based Inpress, which represents small publishers, selects some New Year reads.

New Writing North plans to expand in 2012

JournalLive — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

NEW Writing North is one of the organisations that Arts Council England has chosen to significantly develop partnerships and work across the North West and Yorkshire as well as our home terrain of the North East.

Preview of books published in 2012

JournalLive — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

RATHER like bankers stashing their bullion away, the big publishing houses are playing it safe next year with anniversaries emerging as the principal theme for new books.

Debate over Shakespeare's plays explored by Northumbria University lecturer

JournalLive — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:30:00 GMT

THE theory that Shakespeare did not write the plays attributed to him inspired the recent Hollywood film, Anonymous, and it will be the subject of a public lecture in Newcastle today.

Newcastle: A tale of one city that survived the worst

JournalLive — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

PEOPLE who want to put Newcastle in a nutshell talk about Geordies and the legacy of coal and shipbuilding on the Tyne.

Closing gala for 29th Children’s Book Festival

JournalLive — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

IF you suspect children are not reading as much these days, you should get along to Benfield School in Newcastle this weekend.

Holocaust survivor set to speak at Newcastle Winter Book Festival

JournalLive — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

COMEDY, poetry, autobiography and gruesome crime...just some of the ingredients of the Newcastle Winter Book Festival. David Whetstone savours a literary feast.

Life of Magrs

JournalLive — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Author, professional fantasist and Doctor Who fan Paul Magrs tells David Whetstone about his latest publishing venture

Children’s books are brimming with colour

JournalLive — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:00:00 GMT

If there was a Desert Island Discs for young children, The Very Hungry Caterpillar would be a contender for the equivalent of the Bible and given to everyone. But in addition to this timeless classic, Eric Carle has written a host of marvellous books, the latest of which is The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. It’s brimming with Eric’s signature bold collages, colours and clever writing. And it is inspired by the German Expressionist painter Franz Marc’s Blue Horse. Eric first came across his work as a child while living in Nazi Germany, during which period Franz Marc was branded a degenerate. Eric’s book is about how there are no rules in art – ‘one must not stay within the lines’ is Eric’s advice.

Former Chancellor Alistair Darling to speak at Durham Book Festival

JournalLive — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:00:00 GMT

DURHAM Book Festival reaches its climax this weekend with a host of authors heading for the Town Hall.

North East writers have poetry collections published

JournalLive — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:00:00 GMT

NEW collections of poetry by two North East writers are being launched by Northumberland-based Red Squirrel Press to mark National Poetry Day.

Wife’s plea lifts veil on secrets of the castrato

JournalLive — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The extraordinary life and marriage of an 18th Century castrato are detailed in a new book. DAVID WHETSTONE reports