Just as the books that we read in childhood help frame the way that we see the world, so too do the stories that we consume in our teenage years refine our ways of thinking. Inside these books, whole worlds appear and disappear with the opening and closing of chapters and it is in these worlds that we are able to fight battles and travel across continents and find friends and endure an endless supply of challenges.
Juniper Books founder Thatcher Wine (great name) believes that there is a book out there for everyone that means something incredibly personal, be it an inspiring person’s story, a picture book or an unknown novel.
“I have this vision everyone should have the books they love, in the format they want, so they have reason to revisit those books, share them with others, and keep them forever. For every single person in the world, there is a printed book that means something.”
Picture books are the first leap into the world of reading for most children, so we’re always on the look out for good quality, quirky stories that will be loved by children and adults alike. The best picture books transport us to different worlds through their richly imagined stories and evocative illustrations, and teach us about others and ourselves with wisdom and humour. Here are a few stories that have enthralled and delighted us.
Publisher:Murdoch Books Pub Date:July 2016
China Miéville’s October is a timely reminder of the revolutions in Russia in 1917. Miéville does not hide his sympathy for either Lenin’s Bolsheviks or the broader idea of the revolutionary struggle of workers to overthrow capitalism. Indeed his partisan perspective, encapsulated in the title of his work, is crucial to the book’s focus and direction. Though the revolutionary year began in February, it is October that proved decisive. Nonetheless, his account is no mere hagiography glorifying either the inevitability or perfection of the realised power of the Bolsheviks. October is as much the story of the confusion and dead ends of this revolutionary contestation, as much as its stunning initial successes.
It was a cold winter afternoon when Yaba Badoe’s novel was placed in my eagerly waiting hands. “At last!” I thought, “something entirely different.” A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars tells the story of Sante, a baby orphan castaway, who is washed ashore and brought into the life of Mama Rose. Raised in Mama Rose’s tribe of lost children, Sante and her adopted family are a traveling performance troupe, each with strange talents — though Sante’s is the most mysterious of all. Though Sante is always on the move from one town to the next, her mysterious past begins to catch up with her and it’s not long before a bamboo flute, jeweled dagger and her faithful bird begin to change the course of her life.
Get excited! In a little over a month we’ll be celebrating how amazing and magical bookstores are and would love to see all you book lovers here at Paperchain for Love Your Bookshop Day on Saturday the 12th of August.
We’ll have a few cheeky extras for you to enjoy in addition to our regular fabulous range and legendary staff so don’t miss out!
Come for a cup of tea and try some toothsome* literary treats that we’ll be whipping up and if you are looking for literary love you’re in luck!
We’ll be hosting ‘Blind dates with a book’ for you to have a shot at finding that perfect read, and we’re also breaking out our favourite vinyls for a variable soundtrack throughout the day, so bring along a favourite album, we’d love to hear what you’ve got!
And to further enable all our book-loving tragics, we’ll be posting a code on social media for you to use at the time of purchase for a cheeky little discount on the day.
See you all on August 12th, come and show us some love!
*It sounds made up however ‘toothsome’ is in fact real.
-J RR Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
As the nights turn cooler and the day’s light fades quicker than before, we turn inward to the worlds that lie between the covers of our books.
There is something wonderfully atmospheric at this time of year, as the leaves yellow and fall away from their branches and the skeletal arms of the tree become stark.
As nature changes we often search for books that compliment transformation of season, and while there are many to choose from, today we are going to share a few of our favourite cosy reads with you.
paperchain bookstore 