Books Are My Bag (September 14)

Picture courtesy of http://bibliobeth.wordpress.com/2013/09/14/books-are-my-bag-my-bookish-life-so-far/

Books Are My Bag is a nationwide celebration of bookshops, calling on all bookworms to purchase a book from their local bookshop on Saturday 14th September. After dropping my youngest at the airport to start his second year at uni this morning I drove into town and visited Waterstones. I wanted a birthday gift for a 10 year old girl (a couple of One Direction Books) and one for the hospitalised 12 year old, I selected Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman.

Blurb

Two young people are forced to make a stand in this thought-provoking look at racism and prejudice in an alternate society.
Sephy is a Cross — a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a Nought — a ” colourless” member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood, but that’s as far as it can go. In their world, Noughts and Crosses simply don’t mix. Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum — a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger. Can they possibly find a way to be together?
In this gripping, stimulating and totally absorbing novel, black and white are right and wrong. Goodreads

I selected this as my daughter loved it and it is quite a big book perfect for when you are confined to bed, I do hope she enjoys it.

While I was there I also bought a couple of books for the primary school my children attended for their library.

My first was Stig of the Dump by Clive King I was read this at school and promptly secured myself my own copy as I loved it so much. A great story, reading the beginning with a cup of coffee today bought back great memories.

The cover I remember

Blurb

Barney is a solitary eight-year-old, given to wandering off by himself. One day he is lying on the edge of disused chalk-pit when he tumbles over, lands in a sort of cave, and meets’ somebody with a lot of shaggy hair and two bright black eyes’ – wearing a rabbit-skin and speaking in grunts. He names him Stig. They learn to understand one another, and together they raid the rubbish dump at the bottom of the pit, improve Stig’s cave dwelling, and enjoy a series of adventures that are sometimes wildly improbably and sometimes extremely practical. Goodreads

Lastly I bought a book that I haven’t read, The School for Good and Evil

Blurb

A dark and enchanting fantasy adventure perfect for girls who prefer their fairytales with a twist.

Every four years, two girls are kidnapped from the village of Gavaldon. Legend has it these lost children are sent to the School for Good and Evil, the fabled institution where they become fairytale heroes or villains.

Sophie, the most beautiful girl in town, has always dreamed of her place at the School for Good while her friend Agatha, with her dark disposition seems destined for the School for Evil. But when the two are kidnapped they find their fortunes reversed…

Related articles

• Celebrating Bookshops: Books Are My Bag (broadconversation.com)
• Noughts and Crosses By Malorie Blackman (reviewdragon.wordpress.com)
• Books Are My Bag (thepenguinblog.typepad.com)
• Why Do We Choose The Books We Do? (bookjourney.wordpress.com)