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I thought 'attending' the Hay Festival talks this week might be a mistake and, sure enough, I've got another long list of books I want to read!

Yes, there are the latest books by novelists I'd had my eye on, but there were also some fascinating presentations about our world today.

The future of work, journalism, healthcare, artificial intelligence, politics; these themes and many more were addressed by some engaging and inspiring speakers. (I was particularly taken by Daniel Susskind talking about 'A World Without Work'.)

I doubt I would have sought out these sessions in the normal run of things. The fact that the Hay Festival responded to our current situation by taking their programme online gave me, and thousands of people all over the world, the opportunity to hear some enlightening and stimulating talks, and be introduced to new and exciting thinkers.

There were a few particularly memorable presentations - do look up Polly Samson talking about her novel 'A Theatre for Dreamers', with music from her husband David Gilmour and a poetry reading from her son Charlie Gilmour, all in a make-believe Greek taverna - it's wonderful, a real tonic!

All the talks can be accessed via Hay Player for a one off cost of £10. I urge you to sign up if you haven't done so. I don't think you'll regret it - I'm still buzzing!

It may be a Bank Holiday but, as we are all aware, these are not normal times, so we will be having our monthly book group discussion tomorrow evening, just as if it was any ordinary Monday - albeit meeting online.

This month's book is called 'The Friend' by Sigrid Nunez.

If you'd like to join in the discussion, please reply to this email so that I can send the details of how to get involved. Each meeting is unique so even if you took part last time, you'll need to receive this month's log in details.

I wonder when, and how, we'll be able to meet again in person? And when will authors be able to visit to tell us about their latest books?

On Tuesday, the new book by crime writer Martin Walker will be released. It's the 13th in his series about Bruno, the French village policeman and it's fabulous! Just right for these times. An easy, escapist read, imagining life, company and food in rural France.

Martin came to speak to us last year. You can listen to what he had to say here. But he got in touch this week so I've posted his letter below.

As author events, and festivals, have been cancelled, there is now a rich offering of talks, plays and readings streaming online. I've found the choice rather overwhelming, but this week did listen in and found it very stimulating so I hope you won't mind me making some recommendations...

Actress Emilia Clarke has invited her celebrity friends to each read a poem from the 'The Poetry Pharmacy' by William Sieghart and has posted the videos on Instagram. This is a fantastic book - I gave it to everyone I knew one Christmas but forgot to keep a copy for myself!! It's currently out of stock, but will undoubtedly be available again soon.

'Wild Geese' by Mary Oliver, read by Helena Bonham Carter and 'Everything Is Going to Be All Right' by Derek Mahon read by Andrew Scott were particularly soothing and inspiring, I found.

This weekend the Norfolk and Norwich Festival and the National Centre for Writing have held conversations, reflections and connections online which are still available here. I particularly enjoyed the discussion between Sara Baume and Elizabeth Mcneal about writing and craft.

And don't forget the Hay Festival Digital is underway now until the end of the month. There are some fascinating speakers and some challenging conversations, so do take a look at the programme. I found the lecture on the future of journalism by Afua Hirsh here both thought-provoking and challenging. And the powerful short talk by Elif Shafak here has much to ponder. She looks to global solidarity, and distinguishing between information, knowledge and wisdom as she hopes for a better future in the world after coronavirus. She also stresses the importance of books and storytelling.

More details of other festivals, talks and readings will follow each week. Do please let me know if there are you would like to recommend.

Finally, we're approaching the date when small businesses may be able to reopen. So do sign up for updates from Browsers here to find out how and when we might be able to step into a bookshop again.

The weather forecast for this week is looking very promising!

Sunshine and warm days are perfect for sitting in the garden with a book, or enjoying birdsong and blossom on the trees as we take our daily exercise...while continuing to 'stay alert' and stay safe.

Getting outside and putting one foot in front of the other has certainly helped me in these difficult times, and I've been reminded of the visit by tv presenter Kate Humble a couple of years ago when she talked to us about her investigation into the benefits of walking.

Her book 'Thinking on My Feet' is packed full of fascinating information. There are scientists explaining the benefits of walking for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing; stories of extraordinary people who share their own experiences of healing and renewal through walking; and tales of Kate's own yomps through the countryside with her beloved dogs. You can listen again to her talk here.

And my recommended non-fiction title this week is about a very long walk.

Called 'The Salt Path' it tells of how a long-married couple, Raynor and Moth, decided to walk 630 miles of the South-West Coast Path. It proved life-changing for them and is a powerful and beautiful read.

This book has been recommended to me time and again, yet it's only in this period of lockdown that I've found the opportunity to read it. And now I, too, want to tell everyone about it! Scroll down for more details.

This month's book group title came to me as a recommendation from a friend some time ago, too. Called 'The Friend' it's about a woman who is bequeathed a dog, a large dog. The story is about the bond between animals and humans as well as looking at grief and loss, healing and friendship, and what it's like to be a writer. There's humour and sadness, and plenty to think about so we should have a good discussion. If you'd like to join in the online book group, please reply to this email and I'll send you the details of how to get involved.

I hope it won't be too long before we can meet together in person, of course, and look forward to hosting many more author events, but in the meantime we can tap into a programme of online festivals throughout the summer. This week there are some fascinating talks on a huge range of subjects, including an extensive children's programme, at the Hay Festival online, 18-30 May.

Finally, as the lockdown eases, do sign up for updates from Browsers here to find out how and when we might be able to step into a bookshop again.

How has your week been? I think we're all finding some weeks have been better than others. In fact some days are better than others!

While we don't know what's ahead, it's good to enjoy the present moment and to take it all one day at a time, keeping sight on the simple things in life - health, home, family and friends (from a distance). And books!

I highly recommend 'Where the Crawdads Sing' which I discussed on BBC Radio Suffolk this week - a wonderful escapist read! You can listen in here.

I hope you managed to catch something of the Big Book Weekend? If you didn't watch it 'live', then the videos are still on their website, and there is another tremendous line up of writers to meet through the online Hay Festival later this month, 18-30 May.

And do sign up for updates from Browsers Bookshop here to find out how to get any new book purchases!
 

I'm pleased to report a very successful inaugural Zoom book group discussion last week.

Of course, the sad news is that we're likely to be 'meeting' this way again later this month, on Monday 25 May. A Bank Holiday, I was reminded. But we agreed there might not be the usual claims on our time, so hopefully a chat about books will appeal and we'll get another good gathering.

This month's other Bank Holiday is this Friday. While many events and activities have been cancelled, others have been reorganised using Zoom - in which many of us are now becoming fairly expert (that's relief speaking, rather than bravado, you understand).

Friday marks VE Day, of course, but for three days next weekend, there is a virtual literary festival taking place, called the Big Book Weekend.

At first, this didn't fill me with glee, I confess. The joy of going to a festival or author talk, for me, is rubbing shoulders with the writers, seeing them up close and personal, and eavesdropping the conversations of other audience members. But I've taken a peek at the site hosting this event and it looks very slick and well thought through with various different features.

The programme of authors listed looks interesting indeed. If you didn't catch Maggie O'Farrell, Alexander McCall Smith, Michael Morpurgo or Kate Williams when they visited us in Woodbridge, hear them talk about their latest books on screen at this event. And some usually hot tickets will be more easily accessible this way - Marian Keyes or Neil Gaiman anyone?!

If this, and other events, inspire your reading, do contact an independent bookshop, or Waterstones, to source the title for you. Prices are good, delivery times are (fairly) speedy and titles are widely available.

There are changes happening within the book trade day by day, mostly good. If you have signed up to the newsletter from Browsers Bookshop in Woodbridge, you'll know the details of what is now on offer. If you haven't, please do so by clicking here for future updates as they happen! Or look up the website here. They will be very glad of your support!

Thank you to everyone who shared their recommended reading with me this week. I was thrilled that many of you were joining me in returning to favourite children's books.

"I highly recommend revisiting 'The Railway Children' if you're in need of a nostalgic escape," wrote children's author Anna Fargher. She is currently self-isolating at her home on the Suffolk coast as she waits for the publication of her second book 'The Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue' this summer.

And thanks to Carol and Lynda for reminding me of the joys of 'Anne of Green Gables', as well as 'Little Women', 'What Katy Did' and 'The Secret Garden'.

It was good to know that a number of you have discovered 'Quiet', which I mentioned last week. "It is a wonderful book," says John P. "I wholeheartedly recommend it!"