Welcome to my stop on the tour for this quirky and engaging book – I’m the last stop on the tour but make sure you check out the other reviews too!
Thanks to Helen Richardson and Salt Publishing for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the Publisher:
A mix of memoir and narrative non-fiction, ‘White Spines’ is a book about Nicholas Royle’s passion for Picador’s fiction and non-fiction publishing from the 1970s to the end of the 1990s, when the publisher stopped its commitment to the distinctive white spine with black lettering.
‘White Spines’ explores thebookshops and charity shops, the books themselves, and the way a unique collection grew and became a literary obsession. Above all, it is a love song to books, writers and writing.
‘I’ve been a bit obsessed with this book since I saw novelist and short story writer Royle tweeting the ultimate in chic shelfies: a photo of his Picador fiction collection, which forms an array of 1,000 white spines, spanning from the 1970s-90s…In this blend of memoir and narrative non-fiction, he explores the bookshops and charity shops where he bought them,the books themselves, and how his collection grew to the point of literary obsession’
CAROLINE SANDERSON, Editor’s Choice THE BOOKSELLER
My Review:
I think most book bloggers and enthusiasts have some insight into what it is like to have a book obsession. Whether it is a passion for a particular author, the desire to collect the whole series or a burning desire to line up those beautiful sprayed-edged special edition hardbacks, we’ve all been there!
I thought I was obsessive – and then I picked up this book and realised I am an amateur!
In this book, Nicholas Royle documents the process of collecting his extensive collection of white-spined Picador books. Published between the 1970s and 1990s, these have a distinctive look and part of Royle’s collection can be seen in his author photo below – impressive! It’s quite lovely that Salt Publishing have used the same look and feel for their paperback editions of ‘White Spines’.
However, this book is about so much more than just collecting books. Yes, there’s a lot of documenting where and when books are added to the collection (not just Picador – there are several secondary collections also on the go!) – especially as Royle doesn’t use the internet to add to his collection, but instead frequents charity and second-hand bookshops across the UK.
Alongside this are conversations overheard in bookshops, bookish dreams had by the writer, stories from Royle’s experiences in writing and publishing…it’s a quirky and lively read that can move seamlessly from an anecdote about a writer (and Royle seems to know them all) to a bookshop review, from a meditation on book cover art to Royle’s own writing experiences.
I’ll admit to having read shamefully few of Royle’s precious Picadors, but it was great to read about the little highs and joys of being a book collector. I also loved that Royle isn’t in the market for pristine editions – copies that have a history, an inscription or inclusions (often bookmarks) such as tickets or letters hold more interest. I get it!
Royle is a charming, witty and engaging narrator throughout this book – although I’m not totally in agreement with him on the subjects of Kathy Lette and Southend-on-Sea! Reading this is like a chat with an extremely knowledgeable, well-read, but sometimes-slightly-random friend – and I’d recommend it for anyone who loves books about books.
On another note, I was also very impressed that Royle can read and walk at the same time. I feel I have been wasting my life by missing all that reading time!
About the Author:
NICHOLAS ROYLE is the author of four short story collections – ‘Mortality’, ‘Ornithology’, ‘The Dummy and Other Uncanny Stories’ and ‘London Gothic’ – and seven novels, including ‘Counterparts’, ‘Antwerp’ and ‘First Novel’. He has edited more than twenty anthologies and is series editor of ‘Best British Short Stories’. He runs Nightjar Press, which publishes original short stories as signed, numbered chapbooks, and is head judge of the Manchester Fiction Prize. His English translation of Vincent de Swarte’s 1998 novel ‘Pharricide’ is published by Confingo Publishing. He lives between London and Manchester and teaches creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.
For more information visit: @NicholasRoyle http://www.nicholasroyle.com/