Aardvark Books the bookshop and café near the Welsh border

Aardvark Books is a unique bookshop and café which is situated in the Shropshire village of Brampton Bryan, which is near Bucknell. 

It's home is The Bookery, Manor Farm, the postcode is SY7 0DH. It's midway between Leintwardine and Knighton on the A4113 road. There is a Transport for Wales train service to Knighton which is approximately six miles away. You can book rail travel here https://tickets.trc.cymru

Opening hours are usually Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, though some bank holiday Mondays they might be open, call them on 01547 530744 for details or to confirm.

There's free parking for coach parties, plus up to 50 cars, there's wheelchair accessibility and cyclists, walkers and dogs are welcome.

Bus services might be available check here for details  https://www.minsterleymotors.co.uk

Aardvark Books has in excess of 50,000 books in stock, from the latest releases to second-hand and rare titles.

Sections include cookery, history, non-fiction, books for children, art and much more besides. Books can also be bought on line, too.

Aardvark books is operated by Sheridan and Sarah Swinson who have been there for nearly two decades.

They also have the Aardvark Café at the very hub of the bookshop. With it's word-burning stove, a tempting range of hot drinks, soups, toasties and home-made cakes served on vintage bone china, it's an ideal place to rest a while after a day of book hunting. The ground floor is accessible for wheelchairs, there's wifi and it's dog-friendly. If you intend to turn up with a party of eight or more, please let them know in advance.

There's also a very special section of The Bookery called BookBurrow, which is an adventure for children of all ages.

They host a range of special events including car boot sales, art events and Christmas fairs.

https://www.aardvark-books.com

Leeds Libraries Unite for Festival

Books Up North

Home to in excess of fifty libraries, the city of Leeds has very good reason to celebrate the wide spectrum of support the information and knowledge sector offers its communities, businesses and public organisations. 

With libraries often forming health, academic, arts and heritage subgroups, the Libraries in Leeds network is a unique umbrella organisation in that the common feature of its members is their geographical location.

Not only does the city accommodate a thriving, vibrant public library service, the oldest surviving members’ Subscription Library, four universities and a Conservatoire, it's also the home of national records for DHSC, UKHSA and Royal Armouries. 

The British Library is also working towards establishing a permanent new site in Leeds city centre, powered by its existing site at Boston Spa, which is near Wetherby. Not forgetting the collections of regional and national importance preserved by the Morley team of the West Yorkshire Archive Service, librarians at the Henry Moore Institute and curators at the Thackray Museum of Medicine.

Over the past year the Libraries in Leeds network have been quietly supporting each other, sharing best practice, knowledge and information. This autumn is its first public festival. Everyone is warmly invited to learn, be inspired, get creative and have their say about the future of the public libraries in their own city.

With distinguished guests like Sue Williamson MBE, former director of libraries at Arts Council England, Emma Smith, who is Professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of Oxford, and Dr Nick Barratt, genealogist and consultant researcher to the popular BBC series “Who Do You Think You Are?”, the talks programme is entertaining, relevant and very informative.

Chief Knowledge Officer for NHS Knowledge and Library Services and Chair of the CILIP Board of Trustees Sue Lacey Bryant will be there, discussing how to access reliable health information and highlighting the dangers of health misinformation. 

Also, taking place on Wednesday 6th will be a talk on the University of Leeds designated Cookery Collection, supplemented by a Cheese and Drinks reception close to the current exhibition “Becoming the Brontes” which will also be open to visitors.

From Monday 4th to Friday 8th September various libraries are offering a number of Backstage Tours, where people will be able to get a sense of a librarian’s working life at some of the city’s libraries and archives. And the launch of an exciting, unique exhibition will enable some of the city’s treasures to be viewed side by side in digital collection for the first time.

Saturday 9th September will be the day for families with a range of drop-in activities at the Central Library including the special screening of “I Believe in Unicorns”, a stage performance by Danyah Miller of Michael Morpurgo’s much loved story that celebrates the power of books and the sanctuary of libraries. 

Meanwhile at the Creatorspace at the University of Leeds families will be able to sign up to a two-hour ‘Get Creative’ session and enjoy seeing their ideas become reality. The festival events are either free or listed on Eventbrite as ‘Pay What You Decide’ to encourage maximum accessibility for everyone.

Not only is the purpose of the festival to raise awareness about the rich collection of resources that are based in Leeds, but the hope is also that local people will understand that the libraries are theirs to enjoy visiting and using. The Libraries in Leeds network’s website usefully highlights each member’s opening hours, visiting policy, contact details, location and a brief description of their offers.

As diversity, equality and inclusion are key to the sector’s continued success, Leeds Beckett University will be hosting an event during #Libraries Week on Thursday 5th October called “What’s it like to work in an academic library?” where a panel of employees from three of the city’s universities will be talking about their different roles and answering questions about their work.

“University of Leeds Libraries are proud to be part of and sponsor the inaugural Libraries in Leeds Festival. The festival celebrates the thriving libraries sector in the wonderful city of Leeds, highlighting the importance of libraries as critical social, knowledge, innovation, and cultural infrastructures. I look forward to our communities making the most of this festival and enjoying the wonderful collections and experiences that our sector offers,” said Masud Khokhar, University Librarian and Keeper of the Brotherton Collection, University of Leeds.

And Andrea Ellison, who is Chief Librarian of Leeds Libraries said "Libraries are pleased to have been one of the founding members of the Libraries in Leeds network. We value the opportunity that this vibrant and innovative network brings for our staff teams to meet and collaborate but also the opportunity through this festival to promote to residents and other stakeholders the rich diversity of the city’s library network.”

Sally Halper, Director of Research Services at the British Library said: “We're thrilled to be involved in the Libraries in Leeds Festival as we work towards deepening the British Library’s roots in Yorkshire and establishing a permanent new site in Leeds city centre. Libraries have a powerful unifying influence and we want to ensure as many people as possible, wherever they are, can discover and use the national collection and our services as part of the wider network of libraries and archives that make Leeds such a vibrant city.”

You can follow the latest developments on social media:

@Libs_in_Leeds

#lovelibraries

http://www.librariesinleeds.org

(Image courtesy of Lauren)

The Gruffalo named Britain’s most popular first read as nation celebrates National Book Lovers Day

As book lovers rejoice and join together on Wednesday for National Book Lovers Day, a new study has learned that the most popular first reads parents are picking up for their children today.

Commissioned by The Works, (EDITOR My favourite bookshop!) the survey discovered one in five parents are picking up Julia Donaldson books to read to their children for the very first time, with The Gruffalo leading the way as the most popular first read.

A number of classics featured on the list, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar which is still being enjoyed as a first read over 50 years on from its release. 

Also, the study also explored reading trends, uncovering that those parents who were introduced to reading later in their own childhoods, significantly more likely to read to their own children at a later stage in their development.

44% of parents read to children from birth

However, those parents who were late to reading themselves could be stunting their own child’s progression

As the nation celebrates National Book Lovers Day on Wednesday (August 9), a new study has unveiled The Gruffalo as the go-to book when it comes to reading to our children for the very first time.

The Survey, commissioned by The Works, aimed to uncover reading habits among parents and children and whether our own experiences of reading influences how we read to our children, as well as the top books we read to children today.

And the results proved overwhelmingly favourable towards Julia Donaldson titles, with The Gruffalo not only taking the crown as the number one read book to children, but with titles such as Zog and Room on the Broom also popular, a total of one in five children have a Donaldson book read to them as their very first story.

Donaldson books were joined by some old favourites, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which is still the second most popular first book read to children, despite being over 50-years-old, while the That’s Not My… series, written by Fiona Watt is the third most common set of books read to children as their first reads.

The full top 10 first books parents read to their children:

The Gruffalo

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

That’s Not My… 

Guess How Much I Love You

Peppa Pig

Spot 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Dear Zoo

Winnie the Pooh

Harry Potter

When it comes to the age in which we’re reading to our children, book lovers will be pleased to see 44% of parents pick up a book to engage their children in storytime from birth, with a further 27% of parents doing so from under the age of two.

But the study also revealed 10% of adults questioned for the survey don’t remember reading their first book until they were in secondary school, resulting in parents 20% less likely to read to their child under the age of two, while less than one in five parents that don’t recall reading until after the age of 12 will introduce reading to their own children from birth.

You can view the full study at: https://www.theworks.co.uk/theworks-blog/book-inspiration/the-first-book-we-remember.html

The Secrets of Life: From Big Bang to Trump

The Secrets of Life: From Big Bang to Trump is an amazing quartet of books by SS O'Connor.

He starts at the beginning, talking about the story of the theory of evolution, including why biologists talk about the 'gene-based theory' and the problems associated with DNA, how evolution works, especially considering how flawed DNA is, as a process?

He also raises some very interesting questions: How come genes, if they are merely a bunch of chemicals, can be so sophisticated?

Hoe come nothing good ever lasts forever? What has evolution allowed everything to develop a fatal weakness?

What's the point in parasites if they kill off their host?  Why does death exist? Why does reproduction cease when we become older?

What is it that makes different organisms help organisms of other species? What is it that makes organisms sacrifice themselves for others?

Natural selection. Is it enough to explain the theory of evolution?

If mankind did evolve from animals, how come humans are so different to everything else? How come after humankind only arrived on the scene after 99.995% of the existence of the Earth that mankind is now so totally dominant?

Mutations take generations to have any impact, why did humans manage to change in such a short period of time?

Humans trade. Why? How did this develop? 

Was an apple tree really the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden? 

What was the truth about the hunter-gatherer lifestyle? How violent were they?

China invented so many fantastic devices and concepts. If this was the case, what on earth went wrong?

It's believed that printing and reading changed our world. How did this happen? What took place as a result?

Learn about the mind-blowing and amazingly impactful ideas and theories of Adam Smith? Have you heard of Game Theory? If not, SS Connor will explain it all in a way that you can understand it.

If it's considered that humans are bad, why is everyone so obsessed with the concepts of trust, fairness and the care of others?

Would you reject free money? If so, why?

Life is like a game of poker. Well, is it? If so, why?

Have you read "Lord of the Flies?" If so, does it really explain human nature and human behaviour?

Is violence getting worse or not?

Are people becoming less moral? Or not?

How does capitalism work?

A reader has described the book as "As if I was sat round a table with three very good, intelligent friends, debating philosophy over a bottle or two of Merlot!"

There are four books in the series priced at £10.99 each and are published by the Otium Press.

They'll make an ideal Christmas present for the philosophically minded person in your life.

www.otiumpress.com 

Totnes community bookshop launches crowdfunding bid to secure its future

The stark warning is: “Too many independent, community minded shops are disappearing from our high streets."

Castle Books in Totnes, Devon, has launched a £135,000 crowd-funding campaign to acquire its premises at 4 Castle Street and to thus help secure the future of its community bookshop and outreach programmes.

With the building up for sale, and the shop’s lease coming to an end, the future of the historic and much-loved shop is in jeopardy. Now Castle Books’ dedicated team of volunteers are calling on book lovers from Totnes and around the world to support its campaign by visiting its crowd funding page, making a donation, and helping to spread the word on social media.

For over 50 years, readers, writers, and book collectors living in and visiting Totnes have made a beeline for the second-hand bookshop, located a few steps from the high street in the shadow of one of England’s best preserved Norman castles. 

The shop has changed hands just once in the past five decades, and since 2016 has been owned by a Community Interest Company (CIC). 

It is operated entirely through the good will of a its volunteers who also organise regular literary events for the wider community, including a monthly Book Group and Poetry Open Mic (without the mic!) There are no paid staff. All profits from book sales are channelled back into the local community to support local literary causes.

Among the beneficiaries are Totnes Library, which has received over £5,000 from the shop since 2021. The library staff have used this to help install a new ‘teen hub’, with the support of KEVICCs students, and to create a versatile and welcoming space for community groups and those seeking company and shelter during the energy and cost of living crisis. 

Eve Ashton, Centre Manager for Torbay Libraries commented: “We really can't thank Totnes Community Bookshop enough for their kindness and their generosity. The projects their funding has enabled have had such an impact on thousands of people, of all ages and backgrounds, who use the library.”

Another regular recipient is Grove School, Totnes, whose Headteacher Hilary Priest said: “The Totnes community bookshop at Castle Street has been a genuine and very real godsend to us over the years helping us to buy new books for our children. The donations they give have meant our children are really supported in their love of reading and their readiness for secondary school.”

The story of Castle Books began in 1969 when Belle Collard bought 4 Castle Street and opened Totnes’s first vegetarian and wholefood café. In 1972 Belle put a shelf of books in the upstairs dining area for her customers to enjoy. An advert described it as “The only restaurant in Devon where you can buy a first edition with your first course, and a print with your pudding.”

Gradually the books took over from the food and Belle began to put all her energies into buying and selling book stock. So much so, that in 1975 the restaurant gave way to ‘Collards Books’, filling all three floors of the building.

As Belle aged, she found climbing the stairs increasingly demanding and in 1991, aged 72, she took the decision to limit the shop to the ground floor where she continued working two or three days a week for another 20 years, with the help of some trusted volunteers.

When Belle sadly passed away on 15 September 2013, she bequeathed her entire stock of books to her volunteers who established a community interest company (CIC) to continue the shop’s operation. Her daughter Jennie, who inherited 4 Castle Street, generously granted the newly formed CIC a 10-year lease on the ground-floor shop before selling the building. And thus Castle Books was born.

Castle Books continues to be run by a 20-plus team of committed volunteers and is held in warm affection by both local customers and visitors to Totnes. The range, quality and affordability of the books are as notable as ever, with regular acquisitions backed by generous donations ensuring the stock is always fresh and always relevant.

“We recognise it's a big ask in these somewhat difficult times, but we want to do all we can to secure Belle’s legacy and keep Castle Books as a thriving literary and community hub for Totnes, hopefully for another 50 years!” said volunteer manager Francis Checkley. 

“Too many independent, community minded shops are disappearing from our high streets. Purchasing the fabric of the shop will allow us to secure our future for new, future generations of book lovers and ensure our community bookshop remains a vital part of Totnes’s heritage.”

Would you like to help secure a ‘happily ever after’ for Castle Books, its volunteers, and the community they serve? Then please visit the shop’s Crowdfunding page to donate and help spread the word via social media. 

“Customers from all corners of the world seek out (and stumble upon) Castle Books for our wonderful choice of books and friendly welcome. We’re sure many of them would be willing to contribute – if only they knew about our campaign,” said Francis.

https://www.castlebooks.org

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-castle-books-community-bookshop

That's Food and Drink: Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis (Interview)

That's Food and Drink: Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis (Interview): Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis is a book that hold hundreds of (mainly) baking recipes from over the last 100 or so years, collated, t...

What We Don’t Know About Our Friends by L. Christie

This is a trilogy of stories from the past, present and future, exploring friendship, bereavement, identity, and AI.

“There’s a powerful sense of hope and positivity for the future in each of these stories.” – LoveReading ambassador review.

Meet me @

Whilst working at the reception of his local spa & beauty salon on the second anniversary of his best friend Sarah’s fatal accident, Kieron receives a mysterious phone call.

The Dialog Tree

Milton isn’t enjoying early retirement. His hopes of a rural idyll came partly true, but it’s not the same without his love. Milton had avoided the chatbots as Desiree wasn’t keen on a digital recreation unless Milton was the curator. Today, Milton is ready to take up the challenge, is he ready for the results?

Tia’s Inheritance

In an anonymous back alley in Zürich, 1847, Tia’s life is going nowhere fast. The daughter of a stage magician and Mer, the occasional supporting act, Tia’s life slowed when Mer went missing. When Tia receives a surprise marriage proposal her world is sent into a spin, then Mer returns.

Author L. Christie is based in England. They enjoy writing contemporary and historical fiction stories. They identify as neurodiverse and gender-fluid

"This is a new release for this collection, and this is the first time I've felt ready to share these stories on this scale" – L. Christie

Random facts:

• They are left-handed.

• They worked in partnership with the same Manchester Chamber of Commerce that the author J.K. Rowling worked for, when they worked for a joint venture organisation that included the Chamber.

• They are a decaff person. Although, they do like the odd 'proper' cup of coffee.

Pronouns: Them/they

Instagram: @lchristie.uk

Find out more via the author page at https://www.nextcreations.co.uk

PUBLICATION DETAILS

Publication date: 31 August 2023

Genres: Fiction, LGBTQ+, supernatural

Launch format: Amazon Kindle (Global)

Publisher: Next Creations

Preorder the digital edition via Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Dont-Know-About-Friends-ebook

NEXT CREATIONS

Founded on meaningful, inclusive stories with relevance.