Category: Discussion posts

An Edwardian Christmas by John S. Goodall

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Edwardian ChristmasToday I’m featuring a treasured possession that always comes out at Christmas in our house. It’s An Edwardian Christmas by John S. Goodall, a wonderful picture book containing beautifully painted scenes that depict a nostalgic Christmas surely many of us would love to experience. If you’re lucky you may be able to find a copy in a second-hand bookshop or buy a used version online. 

Here are some of my favourite scenes in the book. 

Front cover (above) – A white Christmas is pretty rare here in the south of the UK (we usually get our snow after Christmas) but who wouldn’t love one so they can build a snowman. Never mind the cold, because Nanny made sure we were properly dressed up in boots, winter coats, scarves, hats and gloves.  Plus there will be tea and crumpets waiting for us in the Nursery when we get back.

Edwardian Christmas Market Oh, for the days when shopping for Christmas food was like this not battling with your trolley around the supermarket or clicking items for an online shop.

Edwardian Christmas Church

The candles are lit in the vestry and the choir is warming up so it’s time to hurry through the snow to the local church for Midnight Mass.

Edwardian Christmas Tree

Decorating the Christmas tree is a childhood memory for a lot of us but who wouldn’t have liked the fun of decorating this monster?

Edwardian Christmas Kitchen

This kitchen looks positively calm which I don’t think is representative of many of us who take on the responsibility of cooking Christmas Dinner. Mind you, we probably don’t have this many helpers! I do hope Cook is taking that turkey out of the oven rather than putting it in otherwise there could be a long wait for lunch…

Edwardian Christmas Home Entertainment

No slumping in front of the TV to watch the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special or a decades old blockbuster but civilized entertainment for all the family around the pianoforte.

Edwardian Christmas Buffet

I don’t know about you but my Boxing Day buffet never looks like this. Where are the turkey sandwiches, the tin of Quality Street and the tub of Twiglets?  Would you mind awfully passing me another slice of smoked salmon…

Edwardian Christmas Costume Party

Fancy dress party, anyone? No, costume ball please – much more glamorous but no less entertaining from the look on the faces here.

Edwardian Christmas Sale

Forget Black Friday or Cyber Monday, rather a visit to the local department store to view the merchandise and bag a bargain.

Edwardian Christmas Pantomime

No reality TV stars or near-the-knuckle jokes but a good old-fashioned pantomime with nobody recording it on their mobile phone.

Would you love to inhabit An Edwardian Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 4

10 Ways To Support Your Local Literary Festival

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10 Ways To Support Your Local Literary Festival

First of all – a confession.  Before I started this book blog at the back end of 2016 and, despite having lived not far away for over twenty years, 2017 was the first year I became aware that there was such a thing as Henley Literary Festival.    I know, call myself a book lover?  Luckily, I did learn of it in time to attend a couple of events, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.   You can read my reviews of Rachel Joyce talking about her book The Music Shop here and Anne O’Brien, author of The Shadow Queen, and Rory Clements, author of Corpus, talking about historical fiction here.

HenleyLiteraryFestivalI plan to attend a lot more events during this year’s Henley Literary Festival which runs from 29th September to 7th October 2018.  Already there have been some exciting announcements about authors who will be appearing, including Sir Michael Morpurgo, Justin Myers, GQ columnist and author of The Last Romeo, and Sharlene Teo, author of Ponti.

To make up for my oversight, I thought I’d help others to do what I’ve failed to do over the years by suggesting ten ways you can support your local Literary Festival.

  1. Follow the Festival on social media and subscribe to the Festival newsletter, if they have one.
  2. Share news about the Festival on your own social media and tell your friends about it.
  3. If your local Literary Festival runs such a scheme, become a Friend of the Festival, as I have for Henley Literary Festival. It may give you access to priority booking, special events or discounted tickets.
  4. If time and other commitments allow, consider becoming a volunteer at the Festival.
  5. A rather obvious one, this – attend as many Festival events as time and pocket will allow!
  6. Review events you attend on your blog and share them on social media.
  7. Buy a book by one or more of the authors appearing at the Festival. Get your book signed if you get the opportunity!
  8. Share reviews of books by the visiting authors on your blog.
  9. Support Festival partners and sponsors. For example, The Bell Bookshop is the bookselling partner of the Henley Literary Festival.  Hmm, I wonder how I can support them…?
  10. If you’re a blogger, create a blog page devoted to the Festival where you can add links to event reviews, book reviews, etc. (I’ll be doing this soon.)

Of course, supporting the town or city where your Literary Festival takes place can be just as valuable.   It’s a good excuse to search out bookshops, as I did when I went to Henley, and find yourself a new favourite coffee shop, pub or restaurant for refueling stops between events.

Literary festivals are brilliant cultural events, bringing together authors and book lovers, introducing new readers to the world of books and giving a boost to local communities. Be sure to support yours!