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I’m old enough to remember when Advent Calendars were two small sheets of cardboard stuck together. Every day my brother and I would open a numbered window in the glitter-covered top cardboard to reveal a small picture on the cardboard below – a star, an angel, and, on 24th December, the nativity scene and the promise of Christmas presents just one sleep away.
Now my grandkids enjoy chocolate versions of the stars and angels – a yummy treat each day before going off to school. However Insight Editions have taken advent calendars to a fabulous new level.
Whatever your child’s passion, Insight Editions probably have a themed advent calendar to suit, including Harry Potter and Disney’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Books Are Magic is perfect for junior bookworms and adults haven’t been forgotten either – I was rather drawn to the Gilmore Girls calendar.
Each calendar looks like a beautifully illustrated A3-sized book, but when you open it, instead of pages, you discover 25 different-sized pockets inside, each displaying an attractive themed picture and a number. You know the rules – you open the correctly-numbered pocket each day from 1st December onwards. Some of the prizes are really great. I road-tested Christmas Town, based on The Nightmare Before Christmas, and in the interests of the review I broke all the rules and opened every single pocket at once (which was a lot of fun by the way). I’m now the proud owner of skeleton key rings, pencils, miniature themed cards, coasters, Christmas decorations and more. Some of the gifts were quite substantial, others were smaller, but that all adds to the excitement of the surprise.
At £26.72 from the Insight Editions website, these are very entertaining, and the gifts will last significantly longer than a small chocolate – and won’t damage your waistline either. Check out the large selection of different themes. Available from 3rd September 2024. Great for your kids, your friends (and you – treat yourself).
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.
“I think we were all as exhausted as the performers!”
Based on the 1733 La Serva Padrona (The Maid Turned Mistress) by Giovanni Pergolesi, Mr Punch at the Opera is a mash-up of opera, Punch & Judy, audience participation and pantomime.
Aimed at children as an introduction to live opera, it hits its mark from the off. The children are involved straight away – the adults are given party blowers, too – all of us are encouraged to join in with the action. 45-minutes later, I think we were all as exhausted as the performers!
(rehearsal photo)
In the Arcola’s intimate Studio space, the live music (piano and cello) and superb opera singing create an exciting atmosphere. The fun and jollity that Matthew Kellett (as Hubert) and Grace Nyandoro (as his maid Serena) bring is infectious. The icing on the cake are the Punch and Judy characters brought to life by Professor James.
The production is from The Opera Makers and they have quite a task but make it look easy. The performers are obviously enjoying themselves as well and that helps as we all as one agree the whole thing is absurd – but it’s escapism of high quality.
[rehearsal photo]
The show is a part of the venue’s Grimeborn Opera Festival. Live opera still to come has productions of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Burke & Gonzalez’s 555: Verlaine En Prison, Jessen’s Plantation A and Verdi’s La Traviata. Stunning stuff. Contact the Arcola for details.
Paul Vates.
Photography Becca Marriott Adaptation Becca Marriott and the company
Director /Libretto Becca Marriott Musical Director/Piano Panaretos Kyriatzidis
Cello Alison Holford Puppetry Director Professor James
Running Time 45 minutes – no interval Dates until Saturday 24th August 2024
Check with the theatre for show time Venue Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL
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Vincent, A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott is published by Frances Lincoln, an imprint of The Quarto Group, to coincide with the National Gallery’s Van Gogh exhibition in September 2024. This Graphic Biography is a portrayal of Van Gogh’s life as you’ve never seen it before, so we are told. But is it really?
Oh, yes, indeed it is. I confess I am a newby where graphic works are concerned and initially the small bites of text amongst relevant illustrations made me wonder just who this was aimed at? I tend to nip into the Golden Fleece in Thirsk to slurp coffee while reviewing a book, and once there cornered Kirsten, young enough to be familiar with the graphic concept I thought, as she rushed about with coffees and heaven knows what. Indeed she was, and is clearly an authority! She felt that graphic books are for any age, and work successfully to bring situations to life. Though Vincent by Simon Elliott would, I feel, start with the older teenager and on into adults. I say this in view of the moving, sometimes troubling, often heart-rending, but always fascinating study.
So, on with the content: this graphic novel – for that’s what it is when all is said and done, is ‘told’ by Vincent’s sister-in-law Jo van Gogh-Bonger – and covers the entirety of Vincent’s short but agitated life. Jo was the wife – soon to be widow – of Vincent’s loyal younger brother, Theo. By page 2 and the first Malteser consumed – of three that the Golden Fleece provides in a small spirit glass with every coffee – I was captivated, because I ‘got it’.
Digitally illustrated on an iPad by author Simon Elliot, the format of this novel ably tells the story of Vincent, his agitated personna, his route to perfecting his style, with the illustrations reflecting the stages of his progress. For instance, at the start the illustrations have a flat tonal colouring, changing until they finally reflect the raw primary colours and style of Vincent’s later works. So… so… clever of Elliot. It was not only effective but also affective in that it stirred my emotions. Heavens I had almost forgotten my Maltesers, something that never happens. So another was popped into mouth.
Poor Vincent, so unhappy, so tormented, a genius. Poor Theo, so supportive, so drained by Vincent’s torment and who understood his brother’s work when others couldn’t or wouldn’t. Wonderful Jo … who was determined to promote Vincent’s art on the death of them both and who continued to do so until the stuffy critics, having read Vincent’s letters she had kept, began to understood at last the import, sheer genius and originality of his work, and even then she continued.
At the Golden Fleece I turned the pages, ruminated, had another coffee, (another three Maltesers) read and read. I learned a great deal about the family Van Gogh, about painting, about the torments of genius, about the graphic novel. I think I’m in love…Final Maltesers eaten, and now I beg you to read Vincent, A Graphic Biography: £14.99 HB and eBook/9780711294967. I really I do.
I’ve written since I can remember. I wanted to be a journalist from about 6yo and my passion for telling stories has continued since then! It was lockdown that gave me the time to write my first book, it gave me a chance to escape
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Oh everywhere! For my romcoms it’s a mixture of people watching (listening!) and dreaming of exotic places. For the historical ones I have a real passion for telling forgotten women’s stories, particularly from the early 20th century so I’m often on the lookout for the next story. Swim was inspired by something I saw on the Antiques Roadshow, whilst the one I’m working on at the moment was influenced by an advert I saw!
What’s your writing routine?
I don’t know if it’s a routine to be honest. I’d love to say I have a special desk with a view where it’s all peaceful, like the writers of yesterday, but mainly it’s write whenever I’m free. Sometimes I can get a chapter down first thing in the morning, other times it’s much later in the day. If I’m writing a book I do tend to try and get a chapter down a day as a minimum, so I don’t lose the momentum.
You also write novellas as Holly Green which is very cool. Can you tell us more about that?
The novellas were a way for me to dip my toe into writing romcoms, but I thought it best to write under a pen name whilst also bringing out the other books (it’s been a busy ten months), to prevent confusion. I like the novellas as they’re all around 40k, they’re all marketed as fun, light reads, and I love the response I’ve had to them! They’re called the Secret Series, but can be read in any order.
You have written for twenty years, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write the thing. I know it’s tempting to go on loads of courses and read lots of advice, but honestly, the two things are write the thing you want to say, and make sure you read loads too, whether that’s in your genre or the magazine you want to write for. You’re not a writer if you’re thinking about writing a book…but you are if you’re actually putting words down on paper!
You write both historical and contemporary fiction. Do you have a favourite?
That’s like trying to choose a favourite child… I love them both equally because they do different things for me. I love writing commercial and romantic fiction because I love telling a fun story, I love bringing the way I view the world to paper, whereas with historical fiction it needs so much research and can be a slog to get it to work, but once I’ve got under the skin of the character and can say what I want to say, something clicks and the words flow.
Star Survivor is based on reality television. Did the drama those shows have make it easier or harder to write the book?
To be honest, reality TV isn’t just about the drama on screen, it’s as much about whatever is happening off screen too. Take Love Island, we see what’s on screen, then we discuss it all on social media and make judgements, and then afterwards we dissect relationships and people as though they’re characters. It’s too easy for us to forget they’re real, that’s part of the reason I wanted to write SS.
You write about a real life Olympian, Lucy Morton, in Swim. How did you weave fact and fiction together so well?
I wanted to celebrate Lucy’s story, I was surprised noone had before. But I realised that it couldn’t be a book ‘just’ about swimming, there needed to be things other people could be interested in. That’s where the fiction came into it. I wanted to talk about what was happening in those times in the context of a woman’s place. I love Swim, and am thrilled at the reception it’s getting.
I love your social media posts. Especially TikTok. Do you have any advice for writers who want to put themselves out there?
To be honest, all authors need to be on social media, unless you’re Margaret Attwood! I’d recommend choosing one or two channels and sticking with them. The most important thing is to be real. Don’t try and be someone you’re not, or follow trends. It’s all well and good trying to go viral, but most of the times there’s no real rhyme or reason to a successful sm post. Be yourself and have fun. If you don’t want your face on there, don’t do it. Post about the themes of your books, or your research but mainly try and engage with people.
What’s next for you?
Lots! The third in the Secret series is out September, Secret Crush. I’m working on a second historical fiction novel set in the same era as Swim, and have a couple of other projects in the pipeline too. Though three novellas and two books in 11 months is enough for this year…
A plethora of poets, novelists, chefs, historians, politicians, children’s authors, biographers, journalists, and even the odd national treasure, descend on the spa town this autumn. Kate Atkinson, one of the world’s foremost novelists, launches her new Jackson Brodie book, Death at the Sign of the Rook, in an exclusive event in partnership with Grove Bookshop on 18 September. Then, from 4 to 20 October, over 90 events will take place across 17 days at the King’s Hall and venues across the town.
Headline acts include household names such as Julian Clary, lexicographer Susie Dent, and Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, with their debut murder mystery novels, Curtain Call to Murder,Guilty by Definition, and Dance to the Death. The acclaimed American novelist Jodi Picoult brings her latest novel By Any Other Name, and Booker-prize winning novelist Alan Hollinghurst celebrates his first book in over a decade, Our Evenings.
Giles Brandreth – image credit: Joe Fenna ILF 2022
National treasures Prue Leith and Gyles Brandreth return. Prue with her latest cookbook, Life’s Too Short to Stuff a Mushroom and Gyles delves into the secrets of happiness and the joys of the English language, with Happiness in Just a Minute. I have a huge soft spot for Giles, after his kindness more years ago than I care to remember, when introducing me and my novel at some Literary Dinner. He, of course, had been hilarious. A hard act to follow, but somehow I began, and realised I was by inclination a dreadful show-off and had to be hooked off (almost). I was not nearly as hilarious, but managed to enjoy myself, and gained applause. But of course, because no-one was rude enough not to.
John Suchet promises a candid talk on his part memoir, part biography In Search of Beethoven: A Personal Journey, which explores how music became the great passion of his life. Bringing political clout are Alan Johnson’s biography of Harold Wilson and Sir Graham Brady’s explosive new memoir from the heart of Westminster, Kingmaker: Secrets, Lies and the Truth about Five Prime Ministers.
Looking beyond politics let’s go up to space with Maggie Aderin-Pocock and her book, Webb’s Universe: The Space Telescope Images That Reveal Our Cosmic History, and philosopher AC Grayling, with his exploration of the new space race, as he asks the galactic question, Who Owns the Moon?
Architect, and star of BBC’s Your Home Made Perfect Laura Jane Clarke gives her tips on interior design, while clothier and judge on The Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant discusses overconsumption in fashion and how we can make ourselves happier by rediscovering the joy of living with fewer, better-quality things. Comedy and life lessons come in the form of Paul Sinha and Helen Lederer, who’ll both be discussing their new memoirs.
Marlborough Literary Festival 2013
Carol Ann Duffy & John Samson – credit: Michael Woods
In Verse plays homage to the festival’s 50-year legacy of promoting poetry as they remember that the inaugural festival was opened by poet W.H. Auden in 1973. Audiences can discover the power of poetry at a reading with poets including Peter Sansom of The Poetry Business and Ted Hughes Award winner Raymond Antrobus, or find their own voice on one of the festival workshops. Headline poets include the former Makar of Scotland, Jackie Kay and former poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, who will discuss her beautifully curated book, Earth Prayers. There’s also a chance to catch the up-and-coming stars of the future, including this year’s cohort of New Northern Poets.
Democracies in Danger acknowledges 2024 as the ultimate election year, with almost half the global population taking to the polls, and features talks from journalists, politicians and experts on the state of politics and democracy. Murder, They Wrote celebrates the nation’s bestselling genre, as arresting debut authors to masterminds of the genre discuss why crime fiction pays.
Ilkley welcomes crime authors including Janice Hallett and Saima Mir, as well as a host of celebrities-turned-crime writers, and on… and on… All of which sounds like a pretty good crack to me. To view the full programme and book tickets https://www.ilkleylitfest.org.uk
Hurrah, hurrah, Durham’s annual book festival returns, celebrating the power of the written word. Produced by New Writing North, the Durham County Council event features an exclusive dramatic reading of Pat Barker’s new novel The Voyage Home in association with Live Theatre. The Booker Prize winning Durham novelist will also be in conversation with writer Adelle Stripe.
Sunderland-born Terry Deary is behind the global-hit Horrible Histories, selling over 38 million books in 45 languages. He’ll be presenting his first book for adults, A History of Britain in Ten Enemies. This home-grown talent stars alongside blockbuster American authors Jodi Picoult and Rebecca F. Kuang.
Jodi Picoult has written 30 books and sold 40 million copies. She’ll discuss her latest historical novel, By Any Other Name. On to Yellowface which was an instant #1 Sunday Times bestseller and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. Rebecca F. Kuang discusses her page-turning phenomenon that follows the misadventures of failed novelist June Hayward.
Rebecca Wilkie, Durham Book Festival Director at New Writing North, said: “Our flagship book festival builds on a remarkable legacy. 2024 features a new commission to tell new narratives of our region, and welcomes a local literary icon, Pat Barker, with the premiere of a commission inspired by her new book. Durham is leading on a new era of creativity for the North East.”
The author of The Damned Utd, Yorkshire-born David Peace, will talk about Munichs: A Novel. The New York Times praised Peace for writing “the boldest and most original British fiction of his generation.” Here, he tells the story of the crash and aftermath of Flight 609 carrying the young Manchester United team.
The festival also showcases a new commission, North East Now, which tasked 12 northern writers to pen new narratives for the North East to mark devolution. Three of the writers – Arlen Pettitt, Louise Powell, and Richard Benson – will take part in a discussion exploring their themes that challenge northern stereotypes.
Another Booker Prize-winning author, Alan Hollinghurst, will discuss his astonishing first novel in over a decade – Our Evenings, a dark, luminous, and wickedly funny portrait of modern England. And Tracy Chevalier, of Girl with a Pearl Earring fame, brings her Venetian historical novel, The Glassmaker.
For the first time, Durham Book Festival will host the renowned Forward Prizes for Poetry. An unmissable fixture on the literary calendar, twenty outstanding poets will perform their work at an awards ceremony hosted by poet and performer Joelle Taylor, featuring BBC Radio 6 Music’s Craig Charles. Poetry lovers can also enjoy an evening with the former National Poet for Scotland, Jackie Kay, with her new poetry collection, May Day. The poet-turned-novelist Andrew McMillan will explore the theme ‘writing the north’ with fellow novelist Tawseef Khan.
The above is just a short taster, there are ‘many and varied’ authors at the Durham Book Festival, indeed, a feast, and also a screening of a documentary on the life of the working-class photographer, Tish Murtha, and a talk on capturing working-class lives with writer Tom Newlands and documentarian Jen Corcoran. And yes, I am slightly out of breath as I list so many treats, when, frankly, I am merely skimming the surface. Do go, it all sounds fabulous.
Founded in 1990, Durham Book Festival is a Durham County Council event produced by New Writing North, with support from Durham University and Arts Council England. To book, visit www.durhambookfestival.com
