News

When I'm about to write an article, or find a theme for these newsletter messages, I need to have an opportunity for my mind to wander. And I have discovered that inspiration often strikes when I'm driving. (These are easy-to-navigate journeys with relatively light traffic and when I'm not carrying any passengers, you understand.) It's regularly proved a very productive time - I solve all sorts of problems while I'm moving along. The trick is remembering them all when I get to the destination.

But I haven't had reason to get in the car in the past few days so have looked to other means of triggering my thought processes. And I've found that knitting can do the trick!

For the past couple of years I've been knitting socks. They're small projects which are very satisfying, easily transportable with no complicated instructions to follow so I've taken them with me when I know I'll be somewhere with a lot of downtime (or when I'm watching television which doesn't require full concentration).

I've found, though, that without other stimulus, the rhythm of the needles and the progress of the project helps me think. And it seems I'm not alone.

The Olympic diver Tom Daley has attracted a lot of attention for knitting on poolside as he waits for his turn in various competitions and an exhibition of the garments he's created has just opened in Japan.

However I'm finding that knitting is also quite a thing for authors. The crime writer Josephine Tey even called her writing her 'weekly knitting'.

I remember some time ago that a children's book was about a knitted character called Milo Armadillo and the author-illustrator Jan Fearnley had written a knitting pattern so that you could make your own Milo Armadillo - which I did!

I've recently been introduced to the author MJ Robotham with her fictional memoir 'The Scandalous Life of Ruby Deveraux' and found that on Instagram @robothammandy she has posted lots of images of knitted dolls she has created, often modelled on booksellers or her publishing team, and garments themed around the characters of her novels. 

And Barbara Kingsolver, the author of 'The Poisonwood Bible' and more recently 'Demon Copperhead', has published a knitting pattern for mittens reflecting her book 'The Lacuna'.

But a friend recently sent me a link to an episode on BBC Radio Four series Shedunnit which was about crime writers who were also knitters (and many of their sleuths were knitters too!). The programme included an interview with a designer who has created a new book of knitting patterns inspired by the writing of Margery Allingham, but unfortunately it's sold out so I can't report back on it yet. I don't need any more projects though - still a few more socks to knit!

Thank you for reading.

What did you do with your extra hour today?!

I would have liked to have taken advantage of the clocks going back by gaining more sleep but it didn't happen. So I grabbed a book instead - not a surprise, and never wasted time, of course. 

I do find it rather disorientating for the day, though, getting used to the new time. And it means that there's no denying it - we're now on that fast track to winter and Christmas. 

But we do have a treat in store with the visit by Angela Harding in a few short weeks. Her advent calendars are a delight and her account of her life exploring the countryside, rivers and coastline which inspire her stunning linoprint pictures is truly uplifting and invigorating. If you're looking for ideas for Christmas gifts, there are a huge range of products now boasting Angela's stunning images and you'll get a copy of her new book for yourself or a friend when you come to our event on 1 December (scroll down for details).

Of course we're hoping this week's Budget won't leave us short when it comes to our spending for Christmas. And I wonder what Matt, the cartoonist with the 'Daily Telegraph' will highlight as the key 'takeaway' from the government's plans for the paper the next day. Come along to meet him on 17 November to find out how he decides what he should feature in his witty, oh-so-clever cartoons each day. 

Both Angela and Matt are great fun so will be perfect to lift our mood as the days get shorter and darker. Have you got your tickets yet?

And do let me know if you're hoping to come to book group tomorrow night. We'll be discussing 'The Children's Bach' by Helen Garner and planning our last meeting of the year. Hope to see you there.

Thank you for reading.

Last week was a very busy week for me, but I still managed to make three trips to the cinema and watch a few hours of shows on streaming channels! 

In normal circumstances I would have told myself that I couldn't fit in all that screen time but it depends on your priorities doesn't it?! I knew that if I didn't get to see the films this week, the opportunities would have passed me by. They didn't have any other showings at the cinema and my free offers on the streaming channels came to an end this weekend!! 

Looking back, each film or series was an adaptation of a book and it's been interesting considering how I've responded to them all.

There were the books I hadn't read which I saw as films at The Riverside - 'Touch', a novel by Swedish writer Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, and 'Outrun', a memoir by Amy Liptrot. Both interesting films, beautifully shot, though a little slow, and which haven't left me keen to read the original text. 

And there were the books I had read - 'Disclaimer' by Renée Knight and 'Slow Horses' by Mick Herron, both streaming on Apple TV.

It's so difficult to work out what makes a good adaptation, isn't it? I think 'Slow Horses' is brilliant because the cast of characters worked so well. The book was good (I've only read the first in the series, and some time ago) but the tv version has had me completely gripped and I'm eager now to return to the books. 

But 'Disclaimer', despite having Cate Blanchett as the lead and beautiful settings, hasn't held my attention. This when I thought the book a great concept, and will always think of it fondly because Renée held her book launch with me at Browsers in Woodbridge many years ago. I urge you to read the book!

I feel I might be taking a risk in a few days' time, though, because the animated film of the children's book I mentioned recently is showing at The Riverside cinema. 'The Wild Robot' was a wonderful story with a powerful message. I know the film has received good reviews so I'll be going to see it with high hopes!

Thank you for reading.

This weekend I visited an extraordinary exhibition at the Art Workers' Guild in London. It was called the Table Top Museum and for one day only, 30 collectors had been invited to share their particular obsessions.

It was an eclectic mix, to say the least. There were beer mats, sugar sachets, perfumes, map postcards, 'all things blue', coloured knitting needles and...petrified potatoes. Yes. They were rather amazing actually. But there was much more, with each collection displayed on an allocated table in a couple of rooms in this beautifully historic terrace house near Bloomsbury.

A friend was taking part. She loves all things associated with libraries and invited visitors to her Table Top Museum of old library cards, stamps, badges and signage. I've seen some of her collection before, and it was fabulous viewing it in this setting (take a look at her Instagram account @bookyjen).

But I was thrilled to find other bookish collections here. 

The incredible Rob Ryan had a table. He's known for his intricate cut paperwork and screenprinting, and he designs book covers and writes children's books. Here he revealed that when he has enjoyed reading a book, he redesigns the cover with something he considers more fitting than that commissioned by the art directors and marketing teams! (@robryanbookcovers)

The cartoonist and creator of graphic novels, Gary Northfield (@stupidmonster) was here with his collection of Norakuro alarm clocks. Based on the 1930s war propaganda manga dog character, the colourful and cheery models sound a bugle when it's time to get up.

And there was a Table Top Museum dedicated to 'things we find in books'. Two booksellers from the nearby secondhand bookshop, Skoob Books displayed the random items they had discovered in the pages of books handed in for resale. These ranged from shopping lists to party invitations, cigarette papers to love letters, and theatre tickets, photographs and prescriptions. 

The exhibition as a whole was a perfect example of one person's trash being another person's treasure. While I'm busy trying to get rid of my clutter, it was wonderful to see these collections and I loved the stories behind them all.

So what have you discovered in the pages of a book? Or what do you think you might have left there?! And what would you present as your Table Top Museum? I'd love to know...

Thank you for reading.

I seem to have been spending an increasing time in Norfolk in the past few weeks and this weekend took the trip up to Aylsham to visit a new book festival.

It's called the Mannington Book Bash and has been organised by Henry Layte, the owner of the Book Hive in Norwich. This is its second year and it's held in the grounds of a medieval house and its gardens. 

The weather was perfect on Saturday, sunny but not too hot, and there was a lovely relaxed atmosphere as people admired the stunning setting, drank coffee on garden benches and then went into the marquee for the various talks from a rather impressive line-up of speakers.

I only had time for one session but I'd chosen well - it was David Nicholls, the author of 'One Day' speaking about his latest novel 'You Are Here'. He had so much to say about the process of writing - how he plans meticulously, how he can produce up to six drafts of a book as he produces it from scratch each time an edit is needed, and how he finds it a lonely and solitary job being a novelist when his previous life as a screenwriter meant there was always someone at the end of a phone to help if he was struggling with ideas for a scene.

He was extraordinary in how much he was prepared to share with the audience about the technical details of writing, while also being entertaining and amusing.

It was a lovely day. So energising to be in beautiful surroundings, listening to a writer who was so humble and generous in all he had to say, and meeting strangers who were keen to talk about books. I met one lady who used to be in Elspeth Barker's book group and another lady who had made the journey to Norfolk for the event despite living in London and regularly attending a vast array of author talks held in locations which were much more convenient. 

I wonder if anyone will be making a journey to join us at The Riverside for our author events in the next couple of months. Woodbridge is certainly a lovely location for a weekend break, and an author talk is one of the most satisfying and memorable diversions I can think of! Do spread the word and encourage visitors to join us for our Sunday evening with Matt the cartoonist and our Sunday afternoon with printmaker Angela Harding. (And don't forget the early bird prices for bookings before 14 October!) 

Thank you for reading.