The Books That Made Deborah

"I started working at The Haslemere Book Shop about nine years ago, after retiring from teaching Special Needs at a comprehensive school. Initially I was drafted in to help out during a time when Emily was off with ‘flu. It was fun to work alongside my good friend Sue, and gradually I became a once-a-week regular member of staff. After Covid I took on the re-organisation of the Second Hand section, which I enjoy - you never know what books are going to turn up! It’s satisfying to unite a customer with a book that’s been waiting on the shelf for a new home! And, of course, it’s great to be part of such a happy and supportive work team!"

Why I Chose The Pauper’s Cookbook by Jocasta Innes

"This book was a revelation when it first came my way in the mid-1970s. It demonstrated how low-income workers like me could exercise a discerning attitude towards buying fresh food and creating cheap meals (10p to 20p per head!!) without the need of fancy gadgetry. Innes’ approach, enthusiasm and imagination resulted in an inspiring manual that I read and re-read as I cooked my way through it over the next decade. I still refer to my battered copy occasionally. It offers a window back to a time when food shopping was a very different experience - fewer supermarkets, less choice of ingredients, and no chilled, ready-prepared meals!"

Why I Chose The Siege by Helen Dunmore 

"This novel deals with the Nazis’ strategy in the Second World War of wiping out the population of Leningrad through starvation. The story of one family’s journey through unimaginable hardship has stayed with me since I read it. Dunmore’s characters exhibit the full gamut of human nature - cruelty, resilience, kindness. The book ends on a note of hope despite all the suffering. Now, decades later, the same war strategy is being played out. Unbelievable."

Why I Chose Humankind by Rutger Bregman

"This book has given me plenty to think about since reading it shortly after it was published. Bergman re-examines works of major thinkers over the centuries to demonstrate that humans have a powerful instinct to co-operate rather than compete or distrust. Yes, we are all flawed, and horrific events continue to happen all around us - but Bergman reminds me to keep looking for the best in others and to remain hopeful. "

Why I Chose Nature’s Ghosts by Sophie Yeo

"I’m looking differently at the natural landscape around me following my recent reading of Yeo’s book. She offers an understanding of how and why the living world has changed over the millennia, and  how ecosystems considered ‘natural’ are “haunted by the ghosts of megafauna”. She says our future doesn’t have to be doomed, that wilderness needs people and humans are a keystone species integral to the ecosystem. For me, it’s a convincing, positive argument that is keeping me cautiously hopeful about the future. "

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