Author Events
May 24 7.30pm
Before Fred & Ginger it was all about Fred & Adele. Find out more when Kathleen Riley talks about The Astaires, her zesty, authoritative & lavishly illustrated biog of a Hollywood legend’s earliest days.
Book Groups
Thursday 10th May
Our crime fiction book group will be discussing ‘The Darkest Room’ by Johan Theorin
Monday 28th May
Our general fiction book group will be discussing ‘King of the Badgers’ by Phillip Hensher
Story Time
Join us on Mondays and Thursdays at 4pm for picture book stories and rhymes.
top be a good boy accompanied by superb colourful illustrations
throughout. We loveDec 7.30pm Jacky Hyams/Bombsites and Lollipops
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This Week
We Love
Waiting for Sunrise
Boyd weaves a highly readable and enjoyable journey through the human psyche. (Full review…)
Famous Five
70th anniversary editions
Exquisitely reissued to celebrate their (unbelievably) 70th birthday. (Full review…)
Other People’s Money
Justin Cartwright
Cartwright’s latest is a wickedly and darkly comic tale of a private banking family in meltdown. (Full review…)
New age of Innocents dawns in North London
Meet Francesca Segal who will be reading and signing her brilliant new novel here on 31 May
There’s little we love more than a really great book set in our locale. So journalist Francesca Segal ticks all our boxes emphatically with her outstanding debut novel, The Innocents, which reimagines Edith Wharton’s The Age Of Innocence transferred seamlessly to the contemporary Jewish community of North London.
In this close knit community how will a young couple’s relationship fare amid family rivalries, rifts, bad pennies and black sheep? Francesca paints the picture with precision, wit, charm and a delicate thread of tenderness. And we’re delighted that she will be sharing the story with us on May 31st at 7.30pm when she will be here to read from and sign copies of the book as well as answer your questions.
Entrance is free and drinks will be served. Please pre-reserve seats by calling us on 0207 431 3770 or emailing info@welbooks.co.uk–or you could even do the old fashioned thing and pop in and let us know. Either way, we do hope you can join us to discover more about what has already become one of our favourite books of 2012
One small step for Philippa Gregory, a giant leap for West End Lane Books
West End Lane Books brokers live online author talk with South Hampstead School and bestselling author
International bestselling author Philippa Gregory will be taking part in her first live-streamed event online at 1pm on Wednesday 30th May after West End Lane Books introduced her publisher to South Hampstead School following the publication of her debut young adult novel Changeling.
The event will be streamed from the school where where Philippa will be talking to an audience of 13-14 year olds from South Hampstead High School about the book, which is the first part of her new series for teenagers, Order of Darkness.
Other schools, book groups and individuals across the globe will be invited to register to watch the live online event and submit their own questions by visiting www.philippagregorylive.com. The event will also be made available to watch on demand for one month.
That’s one small local independent bookshop, one major bestselling author and one massive global event.
May Book Group choice
Join us on May 28th when the book under discussion will be Philip Hensher’s King Of The Badgers
Having cut, diced and dissected April’s excellent book choice, War With The Newts, our convivial little band of readers is turning its attention to the latest paperback from one of our favourite contemporary British writers, King Of The Badgers by Philip Hensher.
The group will be kicking off discussion at 7pm over a glass or two of wine and the meeting is open to all. As ever, the book group book is available at a 15% discount to anyone intending to come along. You will also find Hensher’s A Northern Clemency in our Staff Favourites section as well as his brand new novel, Scenes From Early Life, in our Hardback section.
If you belong to any other local book group we are happy to extend our discount if your order your books from us en masse.
The Astaires: life before Fred & Ginger
Join us on May 24th when Kathleen Riley talks about her enthralling biog of the original Astaire partnership that Ginger eclipsed
Everyone’s heard of Fred and Ginger, one of history’s most iconic Hollywood dance legends, but who now remembers Fred’s earlier and, at the time, sensationally successful, partnership with his sister Adele?
Join us on May 24 at 7.30pm when Kathleen Riley will be talking to us about The Astaires, her unique perspective on the duo that time overlooked once Ginger blazed into Fred’s life and the world’s cinema screens. Her Oxford University Press biography is a lavishly illustrated, evocative and zestful account of Fred’s partnership with his sister Adele at a time when celebrity still meant talent, charisma and dedication. It’s a thrilling read for all fans of Hollywood’s golden age as well as those with an interest in the social and historical context in which the Astaires’ careers developed.
Entry will be free and wine will be served. To book your place, simply call us on 0207 431 3770 or email us at info@welbooks.co.uk