Back with more of those 'things'. In the absence of a book blog, but having shared a lot of Robert Macfarlane related things here... let's just say this is very music adjacent. Also, it's my blog! Shh!
Tuesday night was a true highlight of my bookselling career so far, and such a lovely reminder of the pure magic that books can hold. Hamish Hamilton very kindly invited some booksellers along to dinner at Swan London to celebrate the upcoming release of The Book of Birds by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris - the author and illustrator powerhouses behind The Lost Words and The Lost Spells. The book is easily my most anticipated of the year, and I feel so lucky to have been there.
I can trace the origins of my relatively new found love of birds through books. I remember the exact moment I picked up a copy of Dara McAnulty’s Diary of a Young Naturalist in the shop (drawn in by the cover and the Johnny Flynn lyrics within.) As I read it, my eyes were quickly re-opened to the wonder of birds. I watched Rob interviewing Dara online and found my way to Rob’s work, starting with The Lost Spells, through which I completely fell in love with Rob’s words and Jackie’s art.
Serendipity/a mycelium like network saw Rob collaborate with Johnny Flynn, and I’ve been fawning over his work and following him around at various events for various projects ever since. In fact, the first time I ever saw Rob at an event was his concert with Johnny, just next door to where we had the meal on Tuesday, almost exactly four years ago. I wrote about that night here.
Jackie’s books are dotted around the shop, her postcards for The Lost Words are on my wardrobe - they’re some of the only ‘art’ that decorates my room. I find myself constantly mesmerised.
Rob and Jackie releasing a bird book - which has been 7 years in the making - feels like it is *just* for me, but I absolutely can’t wait to share it with everybody.
It was such a joy to hear them introducing the book, talking about the processes behind it, the love that went into it, and to hear Simon Prosser from the publisher sharing his deep love for this book. This really feels like something special.
I’ve flicked through the book, each time stopping on another absolutely gorgeous illustration of another bird, catching a snippet of Rob’s writing - I have no doubt that his words are just as marvellous as the illustrations that surround them. I can’t wait to dive into the book and to shout my love for it from the rooftops (or, at least, sidle on over to customers and do my very best recommending) when it takes flight in May.
Thanks again to Hamish Hamilton / Penguin for letting me come along to this lovely evening.
