Flip Martian

Military history is of interest to me but far more in terms of individuals experiences - their own memories and how it affected them. Usually serving personnel in whichever country's armed forces but not exclusively - I have a biography of a secretary working in Berlin in WW2 to read shortly which I'm looking forward to, as well as that of a diplomat caught up in Moscow at the time of the Russian Revolution in 1917. I started reading quite a few British memoirs by pilots/soldiers etc from the 2 world wars but even more fascinating are the German ones (when translated). We grew up believing "the enemy" to be evil and in reality of course, the people on the ground had the same fears and feelings as people on "our side". War to me is a sign that we are still an evolving species; I don't believe there is anything good or positive about war but that's just my simple view. It is, however, mine.

I'm pleased to see from Willoyd's librarything collection its 3 times the size of mine - I must let my wife know that my collection (just over 600) isn't all that big after all... Biogs are something I have read quite a bit. Howard Hughes The Untold Story was absolutely fascinating - very much enjoyed that one. Blessings In Disguise by Alec Guinness is another, from my recent pile. I bought his others to read on the back of that so looking forward to sitting down with them. Rick Wakeman's "Grumpy Old Rockstar" book is a light read but hilarious - he tells stories very well. My favourite book of the last year though would be I Was Churchill's Shadow by Walter Thompson - Churchill's bodyguard during WW2. As an insight into how things were during war time and what was involved behind the scenes, and also what kind of a man Churchill was in private, its fascinating.

I read mainly non fictions - memoirs and history in the main. I can't seem to engage with much fiction - I always have "this isn't real" in my head for some reason.

Bill Bryson is my favourite travel writer but if you mean "Guide to..." type books, I guess Lonely Planet series is good. When going anywhere new I used to just head into a bookshop and scout through the travel section until I found something that had the kind of info I was after - sometimes that was just an AA book or something.

We have about 10 bookcases in our house... A few years ago I visited my Dad's new cottage in Dorset and he has books everywhere - shelves, large and small bookcases - in every room. I liked that idea, it felt cosy. So gradually we are doing the same here (my wife doesn't mind...too much). I constantly run out of shelf space so have just bought another bookcase which means at least I now have some empty shelves... I'll take some pictures this weekend and post them up.

Not much love for antiquarian books here then? I have a few books from the 1800s but no older than that. My favourite is a Mark Twain UK first edition from 1867 which only cost me £6. I didn't realise it was a first edition until I got it home and looked it up! Still trying to find out more information on it though.

The Book Barge now has a semi permanent berth on the canal behind Kings Cross station in London, I believe (they have a facebook page with their location on). From the second link posted by Melodious - I've been to a few, so I hope the following helps a bit! The Ross old book shop in Ross on Wye I was lucky to visit in March - its a great shop with a wide range of old books. Some quite expensive of course but I found some bargains. Baggins Book Bazaar in Rochester is a lovely old shop with lots of rambling passageways - quite easy to get lost in there (and spend quite a long time looking at books obviously) The Honesty bookshop next to Hay Castle in Hay on Wye is a lovely idea - but when we called in there was nothing of any interest and everything looked a bit damp and curled (its open to the elements, somewhat)! But it is very cheap and close to the other bookshops in Hay, so worth a look. Wild and Homeless Books in Bridport looks nice but is a total mess - 2 floors of books that weren't sorted in any order at all when I was there in May. Really disorganised. If you have the time to look at piles on the floor, on shelves, in boxes to try and find something you're interested in, then you'll be fine - its the only secondhand shop I've hated. If I may recommend my favourite - Astley Book Farm in Bedworth, Warwickshire. Converted farm buildings, 70000 books, a fantastic cafe, leather sofas and chairs dotted around and a wood burner in the winter (ultra cosy). I probably go about once a month and never come back empty handed (or well fed).

Conversely I love the "musty" smell of old books - I'm a bit of a book sniffer and the musty smell is part of the attraction of second hand bookshops for me. 1 with a cafe selling decent coffee is even better.

We have an Age UK bookshop a few miles from here - they sell most books for a pound; biogs are often 2 for a pound. They sell a few antiquarian books cheaply (I picked up a 1930s Winnie The Pooh without a DJ but in great condition for £2.50) . On the other hand, an Oxfam bookshop in Bloomsbury, London often have daft prices - I think they look at Abebooks and select the most expensive price. That said, they do occasionally have a few inexplicably cheap bargains so its always worth popping in (for the stuff I like anyway).

Most of my books (not quite all) are second hand. I have developed a bit of a passion for older books - I buy most of mine from second hand bookshops or charity shops - I'm fortunate in having 3 good second hand bookshops less than an hour away from home and a few I can get to in my lunch break at work in London. If I can't get out, there's mail order - via Amazon sellers, ebay or Abebooks more often at the moment.