Book of the Week - Spook's Alice

Our book of the week for this week is one for the young and young at heart.  Local author Joseph Delaney returns with the latest installment in the Spooks collection.

A lot of dark stuff happened when I was young that I've never even told to my dearest friend, Tom Ward. Dark and scary things I hoped I had left behind for ever ...Over the years, Alice has fought evil side by side with the Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward. But now Alice is alone - in the realm of the dark.

And the creatures she has helped to banish there, now have the chance to take their revenge. Alice must seek the final weapon needed to destroy the Fiend for good. If she fails, the world will fall into despair and darkness.

If she succeeds, it means facing her own death at the hands of her dearest friend. But can she prevent the darkness from overtaking her over completely ...? The penultimate instalment of the Wardstone Chronicles follows Alice, Thomas Ward's loyal companion, to the most terrifying place of all.

Book of the Week - All That Is

A major new novel, his first work of fiction in seven years, from the universally acclaimed master and PEN/Faulkner winner: a sweeping, seductive love story set in the years after World War II. From his experiences as a young naval officer in battles off Okinawa, Philip Bowman returns to America and finds a position as a book editor. In a world of dinners, deals, and literary careers, Bowman finds that he fits in perfectly.

But despite his success, what eludes him is love. His first marriage goes bad, another fails to happen, and finally he meets a woman who enthrals him before setting him on a course he could never imagine for himself. Romantic and haunting, All That Is explores a life unfolding in an unforgettable world on the brink of change -- a dazzling, sometimes devastating labyrinth of love and ambition, a fiercely intimate account of the great shocks and grand pleasures of being alive.

E-books at Look into Books!

Wait!  I can buy eBooks from Look into Books now?

Yes, that's right.  Simply buy a special eBook card from the shop for any amount of your choosing between £1 and £250.  Then, simply log on to the web site.  On there, you'll find every eBook you could ever wish for.  Another great thing about the tokens is you don't have to plug your card details into the web site, so there's no risk of any hackers or other unsavoury sorts getting their hands on your bank account information.

Can I use my eBook token to buy eBooks for any device?

You can use these tokens to buy eBooks for most ereaders, smartphones, computers, tablets and to be read online.  You can't use it to purchase books on Amazon for kindle.  If you have a kindle fire with a magic app, you can buy eBooks from here.

What are the benefits of eBooks?

Ever had a case of Simply Too Many Books?  Shelves buckling under the strain of your collection of Terry Pratchetts and Lee Childs?  You want to buy more lovely books ... but you've no space and it would involve - gasp - getting rid of some of your old treasures and you just can't possibly bear to do that?  With eBooks, you can fit oodles* of your favourite books onto one slim, handy device.  Ever been on a long train journey to Milton Keynes**?  Of course, you want to take your book with you.  If you read quickly, you might even want to take more than one book with you.  With an ereader, you can take as many books as you like, and War and Peace needn't weigh you down any more than The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.  Also, prying eyes won't know if that's really Fifty Shades of Grey that you're reading.  Although time was when you couldn't have eBooks and support your local independent bookshop at the same time, now you can do exactly that!

Okay, I've bought an eBook card and used all the funds on there to buy loads of eBooks.  Now there's no money left on there.

No problem.  Simply bring the card back into the shop, and we can top it up again.  As many times as you like.  Just like that!***

But I already have a National Book Token Gift Card, but it isn't this new eBook sort, and I'm feeling a bit left out.

Don't feel left out!  You can still go along to the web site, and use it to buy eBooks on there in exactly the same way, just as if it actually were an eBook card.  Great, hey?

I have an eBook card, and eBooks are great, but on this occasion I would like a normal book that's made from paper.

Did you know that you can still buy traditional books with your eBook card, even though it has 'eBook' written all over it?  You can!  Just bring it into the shop and spend it in the same way you would an ordinary book token.  Could anything be easier?

Wow, now I just can't wait to get started.  Do you have any recommendations for me?

There are always book recommendations on www.indieboundbookrecommendations.co.uk.  And don't forget to keep checking the Look into Books blog for news of our book of the week.

*scientific term
** or, indeed, anywhere
*** apologies to Tommy Cooper

Book of the Week - Goddess

This week, we have chosen the third book in the Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini to be our book of the week.

She must rise, or they will fall ...Helen's powers are increasing--and so is the distance between her and her mortal friends. To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a dangerous traitor is lurking among them, and all fingers point to Orion. Still unsure whether she loves him or Lucas, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, or risk all-out war.

Book of the Week - Tour de France 100

First staged in 1903, the Tour de France lasts three weeks every July and takes approximately 200 competitors through over 3600km of varied terrain, including testing mountain stages. The race is broken into one-day 'stages', with the overall leader wearing the fabled yellow jersey. Tour de France 100 celebrates 110 years of the Tour and publishes in the run up to the 100th race.

 This book captures key visual moments in its history, including heroes of the race, great rivalries, moments of high drama, accidents and scandals, all accompanied by Richard Moore's authoritative text that illuminates and expands upon the superb imagery.

Book of the Week - The Devonshires

It's the first normal Monday for a couple of weeks.  Boo!  It's not all bad news, though, as it does mean that we have a new book of the week for you.  This week, we've selected The Devonshires - The Story of a Family and a Nation by Roy Hattersley.

The story of the Devonshires is the story of Britain. William Cavendish, the father of the first Earl, dissolved monasteries for Henry VIII. Bess, his second wife, was gaoler-companion to Mary Queen of Scots during her long imprisonment in England.

Arbella Stuart, their granddaughter, was a heartbeat away from the throne of England and their grandson, Lord General of the North, fought to save the crown for Charles I. Fifty years later, the First Duke of Devonshire conspired to depose James II, and make William of Orange king. For the next two centuries the Devonshires were at the heart of fashionable society and the centre of political power.

The Fourth Duke became prime minister and Georgiana, wife of the Fifth, scandalised even the Regency. Spencer Compton, the last of the great Devonshires, was three times offered the preimership, and three times refused it. Even the Devonshire servants made history.

Joseph Paxton was their gardner and Thomas Hobbes was the family tutor. With the help of previously unpublished material from the Chatsworth archives, The Devonshires reveals how the dynasty made and lost fortunes, fought and fornicated, built great houses, patronised the arts and pioneered the railways, made great scientific discoveries, and, in the end, came to terms with changing times. It is popular history at its very best.

Book of the Week - BBC Proms Guide 2013

This week, we have chosen the BBC Proms Guide 2013 as our book of the week.

Running from 12th July to 7th September, the Proms enters its 119th year.  Whether you're a first-time visitor or an experienced Prommer, plan your summer through the 2013 BBC Proms season with the official Proms Guide. It contains: brand-new articles on featured composers, insights on performers, new music and Proms Plus events; introduction to the season from Roger Wright, Director of the BBC Proms and Controller of BBC Radio 3; full listings for every concert and event; repertoire, performers, time, location, ticket and broadcast information; and, details on how to book tickets. With beautiful photographs and images throughout, this official Proms Guide is the most comprehensive way to plan your summer's Proms visiting, watching and listening.