Tag Archives: books

The End. What I have learned from writing 400 posts on this blog.

Posted on July 20, 2013 by bookvolunteer

My intention in starting to write this blog was to let readers know that Oxfam Wilmslow (or perhaps Oxfam in general) was interested in books. We weren’t interested only in the revenue from sales, but enjoyed researching them, loved reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

100 years of Fashion Illustration, featuring designs by Grayson Perry

Posted on July 15, 2013 by bookvolunteer

I went to the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy last week and basked in the colours of Grayson Perry’s ‘The Vanity of Small Differences’. Grayson Perry has now joined  Danny Dorling and ‘The Gentle Author’ of ‘Spitalfields Life’  as … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Fashion | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What does Rolls Royce mean to you?

Posted on June 25, 2013 by bookvolunteer

I hadn’t given this question much thought until we had the Wilmslow motor show here last summer. It was a successful event: a sunny day, thousands of people, pubs, bars and cafes full and, of course, some great motoring attractions. … Continue reading →

Posted in Engines and Machines, History, Manchester, Motors, Transport, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Will you buy these books to remember a passing era or because they are cheaper than wallpaper?

Posted on June 17, 2013 by bookvolunteer

This pile of  books is testament to the printing trade: a trade that has changed beyond recognition in recent years. The volumes are beautifully produced by the best professionals and are a reminder of how things used to be done. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, Engines and Machines, History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can you tell if these books were written by a man or a woman?

Posted on June 13, 2013 by bookvolunteer

Joan Butler , as we read on the inside flap, was “Author of ‘Team Work’, ‘Unnatural Hazards’, ‘Mixed Pickle’, ‘Trouble Brewing’ etc., etc.”. What exactly does that ‘etc etc’ mean? Having read these two novels, I’ve come to the conclusion that … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to judge a book by its cover

Posted on June 11, 2013 by bookvolunteer

I thought this book was promising before even reading the crucial first paragraph. My clues were Its weight. This is a big book of  905 pages but it still seems heavier than it might have been. Good quality paper soundly … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cheshire, History, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Books with Benefits

Posted on May 25, 2013 by bookvolunteer

Unlike my local library, we have never come across a book containing a rasher of bacon for a bookmark. We have, however, found other interesting items and I always leave them in the book to delight the new owner. The … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Religion, Science, Sociology | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is there any hope for the North?

Posted on May 23, 2013 by bookvolunteer

According to this wonderful book (engagingly written, properly researched and extensively illustrated) “Manchester has always been at the cutting edge of dramatic change – technological, social, political and economic.” So, I’m wondering what dramatic change we have coming our way … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Manchester | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Did you ever finish “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking?

Posted on May 21, 2013 by bookvolunteer

I’m assuming that you have the book at home, because you’re a bookish sort of person and ‘A Brief History of Time’ was on the UK best sellers lists for years and years. 10 million copies were sold but I have often wondered … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Children, Education, Science | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Calling all True Blood – Sookie Stackhouse fans

Posted on May 16, 2013 by bookvolunteer

If you had read the first Sookie Stackhouse novel when it was published in 2001, you would have had to have waited 12 years, until this month, to reach book 13 and the end of the series. Now Oxfam Wilmslow … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment