Coming up...

• Abingdon Architectural Walk – Mon Jul 26, 6.30pm
• Sophie Hannah Literary Dinner – Tues Aug 10, 7pm

Pevsner’s Walk around Abingdon

Due to overwhelming popularity of our Pevnsers walk, we are delighted to say we are holding a second walk. Dr Simon Bradley, series editor of the remarkable Pevsner Architectural Guides, will again lead an architectural walk around Abingdon - including rare access to two of its oldest buildings. This is to mark the first new edition of the guide to architectural history for nearly 40 years. The walk will begin at Mostly Books at 6.30pm on Monday, July 26. We are again limited to numbers. Tickets priced at £10, include strawberries and cream, a glass of wine in the Abbey Buildings at the end of the walk, and £7 off the price of the book on the evening (RRP is £35).

Email books@mostly-books.co.uk to reserve a place or call 01235 525880.

Sophie Hannah Literary Dinner

We have been wanting to host a literary dinner for some time now, so we are really delighted that bestselling author Sophie Hannah is to be our inaugural speaker – especially as it is has just been announced that her detective thrillers are to be brought to television later this year. If you’re not familiar with Sophie Hannah, let us introduce her: She was nominated for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award twice – praised for gripping, unusual plots, high quality writing and great imagination.

‘This utterly gripping thriller should establish Hannah as one of the great unmissables of this genre - intelligent, classy and with a wonderfully Gothic imagination.’ The Times

'This may well turn out to be the detective novel of the year. A terrifying mystery of manipulation, counter-manipulation and, finally, astounding revelation. It's a haunting story told with bewitching skill.' - The Scotsman

She focuses on mystery rather than breakneck pace and plays with our minds rather than shocking us with blood and body parts and her popularity is due to enter major league when the books are brought to a wider, television audience.

Sophie also writes poetry that is studied in schools. Her fifth collection of poetry, ‘Pessimism for Beginners’, was shortlisted for the 2007 TS Eliot Award, and in 2004 she won first prize in the Daphne Du Maurier Festival Short Story Competition for her suspense story ‘The Octopus Nest’, which is now published in her first collection of short stories ‘The Fantastic Book of Everybody’s Secrets’.

We think the setting of a chat over dinner is a lovely way to meet a writer. If you want to book a group table (e.g. for your book group), please let us know.

The evening takes place in the historic room once used by King Charles I: The Kings Head and Bell, East St Helen's Street. The ticket price includes champagne on arrival, a three course meal, plus a voucher for £6 off a purchase of any of Sophie Hannah’s books on the evening. Cost is £35.

We really hope to see you at our first literary dinner. Please call us soon on 01235 525880 or email books@mostly-books.co.uk if you would like to join us for what promises to be a very special evening.

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PD James’ 90th birthday

Whether it’s Stieg Larsson or Henning Mankell, Sophie Hannah or PD James, crime fiction continues to absorb and delight UK readers. With PD James (who was born in Oxford) celebrating her 90th birthday, we thought August was a good time to have an in-store focus on crime fiction.

Whether you are a fan of the Golden Age, historical crime, one of the growing fans of ’Euro’ crime or want to know more about which debut British writer beat Val Mcdermid to the shortlist of ‘crime novel of the year’, we think we’ve got something to recommend for everyone who wants a little something mysterious and thrilling in their lives. Do ask a staff member if you want a recommend!

Summer reading starts here

As well as picks for the very best in summer reading, we are always happy if you ask for personal recommendations to find just the right thing to suit you or for a gift. We've got all the best in fiction, non-fiction, travel writing - and can order in guidebooks to most destinations for next-day delivery.

Not forgetting the children

We’ve done our best to find some great promotions this summer – as well as lots of new and great reads.

Firstly, we are pleased to offer a ‘buy one get one free’ on selected Templar picture books. Templar are one of the UK’s smaller publishers, who produce unusual picture books – often aimed at older children, or with a non-fiction format. Many of their books are award-winners, so please come in and take a look.

Another of our favourites are Usborne. We think their sticker and activity books and cards are brilliant and we have a range of summer-themed books on a ‘3 for 2’ offer.

In August we shall be taking books from an international children's publisher called Minedition. They choose some of the most innovative illustrators from across the world and are new to the UK. Look out for some special offers on titles such as 'Nori goes to Bed', a flap book about a little cat. Another favourite it a sumptuous version of Hans Anderson's fairy tales. We love them and hope you like them too.

Featured reads and August offers

‘Started Early Took my Dog’ – Kate Atkinson

Kate Atkinson delivers her usual verve, humour, dark plots and unexpected knights in shining armour in 'Started Early Took my Dog', another in her Jackson Brodie literary crime fiction series. This time Jackson is in pursuit of missing children and missing women and delving into a dark era of Leeds’ past where the Ripper will grow to cast a long shadow.

Bent coppers, sexism ('Life on Mars' was only the tip of the sexist iceberg) and an unlikely heroine in the unglamorous shape of retired police woman, Tracy Waterhouse ('unfortunately once you'd established yourself as a hard-nosed bitch it was difficult to admit to the soft and fluffy woman you were hiding inside') who finds herself suddenly on the wrong side of the law after a well-meant act. The plot races along with Atkinson's trademark dependence on coincidence, unexpected plot twists and humour in inappropriate places.

RRP £18.99 - mostly books price £13.99

‘Sacred Treason’ - James Forrester

Fans of CJ Sansom, we feel, will be intrigued by ‘Sacred Treason’, an enthralling debut historical thriller set in 16th century London.

Catholic plots against the young Queen Elizabeth spring up all over the country. At his house in the parish of St Bride, the herald William Harvey -- known to everyone as Clarenceux - receives a book from his friend and fellow Catholic, Henry Machyn.

But Machyn is in fear of his life, claiming that the book is deadly...What secret can it hold? And then Clarenceux is visited by the State in the form of Francis Walsingham and his ruthless enforcers, who will stop at nothing to gain possession of it. If Clarenceux and his family are to survive the terror of Walsingham, and to plead with the queen's Secretary of State Sir William Cecil for their lives, Clarenceux must solve the clues contained in the book to unlock its dangerous secrets before it's too late. And when he does, he realises that it's not only his life and the lives of those most dear to him that are at stake. James Forrester is the pen name of award winning historian Dr Ian Mortimer.

RRP £12.99 - mostly books price £9.99

Iris and Isaac - Catherine Rayner

One of our favourite children’s authors, Catherine Rayner has a new title out this summer, with her usual wonderful animal drawings and heart-warming stories about friendship – Iris and Isaac, two polar bears.

Catherine Rayner, winner of the 2009 Kate Greenaway medal for ‘Harris Finds His Feet’ has written a warm and touching story with beautifully written text and wonderfully individual artwork, this is a story exploring friendship and the importance of sharing. RRP £10.99 mostly books price £7.99

Costa Judging

Our summer reading this year is going to be focused on new writers. Mostly Books is one of the judges this year in the Costa Book Awards – judging the category for New Writers.

Costas judges have had a great track record of picking really superb winners – ‘Behind the Scenes at the Museum’ by Kate Atkinson, ‘The Tenderness of Wolves’ by Stef Penney, ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ by Mark Haddon.

We hope to feature some of the best reads that we find. Our guidelines say:
‘A ‘Costa’ book is a sparkling, highly readable book with broad appeal.   Not esoteric; not so ‘beautifully-written’ that the story and characters got forgotten along the way.  Just terrific, intelligent and eminently readable books which large numbers of people will want to buy, and read, and recommend to friends, preferably in years to come.  Your task is to identify a selection of genuinely enjoyable, well-written books.’

We will pass on all our great finds and hope you will enjoy them too. Obviously our picks of what will go forward to the shortlist must remain a closely-guarded secret...

Radio Oxford Afternoon Bookclub

Mark’s next pick of five great reads for the Summer is on Wednesday July 28 just after 2pm on the Jo Theones Show, BBC Radio Oxford. You can also listen on BBC iPlayer for a week after the show (there will be a link from the mostly books blog). Also, he occasionally tweets opinions about books here: http://twitter.com/mostlybooksmark

Services for schools

We also wanted to briefly mention some developments in our services for schools.
We talk a lot to schools about how we can help and if any of the services we are offering (detailed below) are of interest, please don’t hesitate to contact us.Also – do keep the feedback coming.

We offer four key services to schools.
   - Author events. We have a strong relationship with many publishers and get offered authors who are available for school visits. Publishers generally make authors available when they are on tour promoting a new book. This is a great time to take advantage of author visits as there is no charge to the school. However, this does mean visits are often at quite short notice. Also, we do like to work closely with the school to make sure the author gets the most out of a visit as well. Please talk to us if you would like to know more about getting authors into your schools.
   - Book Fairs. We do a fantastic book fair service, which we are not sure many schools know about. We can bring into your school all the latest and best reading – from all publishers. We can either set up a book stall, or leave the books for perusal for a week. A percentage of any purchases by parents will go to the school.
   - New Books Advice. We are happy to set up a meeting three times a year to discuss children’s reading – making sure your library is not missing out on the best, most innovative and award-winning books that all help to get children reading. This is designed to be a helpful free service that various librarians and literacy co-ordinators have asked for.
    - Book supply. We are happy to supply study books and text books. Again, do ask us about discounts.

Check out The Gruffalo

We have added to our range of popular Gruffalo mugs, pencils and notebooks, with a fantastic croquet game and a deluxe breakfast set. We also now have Mr Men and Little Miss drinks bottles to cheer up summer picnics. Our Haba games continue to be popular, as do our Tyrrell Katz range of umbrella, sports bags and lunch bags. There are new mug ranges as well as our ‘Keep Calm and Carry on’ mugs – check out the ‘Mini’ and ‘Get Excited and Make Things’ designs…

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MOSTLY BOOKS
New Bookshop of the Year 2008,
Shortlisted for Independent Bookseller of the Year, 2010
36 Stert Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3JP
Tel: 01235 525 880
http://www.mostly-books.co.uk
mailto:books@mostly-books.co.uk
blog: http://mostly-books.blogspot.com
events: http://www.mostly-books.co.uk/events.html

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