The Books That Made Heather

"I joined The Haslemere Bookshop in April 2023 - over 2 years ago - I can’t believe how quickly the time has shot past!!  Prior to that I had been running my own retail business in Haslemere selling ladies fashion, school uniform and balletwear.  It has been an interesting and somewhat surprisingly steep learning curve in the bookshop despite 15 years in retail but one that I am very much enjoying. I love working as a member of the bookshop team and also feel I have learned an enormous amount about the different genres.  Although generally leaning towards crime novels I have found myself choosing books, mostly fiction, of various types. "

 

Why I Chose Winnie the Pooh by A. A Milne
"An obvious children’s timeless classic - I loved having this read to me in my early years (although my father tended to prefer reading the Latin version - Winnie Ille Pu - whilst I followed the story along in English) and then reading it myself as I got older.  The characters - especially Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore - really come to life through the amazing illustrations of E H Shepard. "

Why I Chose The Waste Land by T S Eliot 

"I then jumped to my late teens -  I studied T S Eliot as part of English Literature for both ‘A’ and ‘S’ level and was blown away by the vivid imagery and the blunt honesty of “The Waste Land”.  Whilst often depressing the work also dangles a sense of hope (albeit not always easy to grasp through the uncertainty of the future!). Written between the first and second world wars Eliot’s words describe what he sees as a broken society.  Each time I read it I feel I understand more and more although I have to admit that many of the classical references pass me by (I have my father’s old annotated copy to thank for helping with these!)  One day I hope to spend more time exploring some of the themes included in this wonderful work."

Why I Chose the Ordnance Survey's book of Outstanding Circular Walks 

"The last 2 books I have chosen are very much linked … the first being the Ordnance Survey book of Outstanding Circular Walks covering the South Downs National Park and West Sussex.  I love this series of walking books - generally the walks are well written and the maps are taken directly from the OS Pathfinder series which really helps when we get lost!!  I love walking in the countryside enjoying nature at its best."

Why I Chose Where to Watch Birds in Surrey and Sussex by Matt Phelps and Ed Stubbs

"More recently my husband and I came across “Where to Watch Birds in Surrey and Sussex” by Matt Phelps and Ed Stubbs.  Being keen amateur birdwatchers we loved the angle that this book takes - it doesn’t just take you to obvious RSPB sites or nature reserves but instead for example to areas where farmers have done their best to encourage wildlife, to sewage plants(!) or gravel pits to name a few - where birds and other wildlife can be found in abundance.  It has taken us out of our comfort zone from following circular walks compiled by other people to working from the OS map ourselves to plot our own routes.  So far we have had a lot of fun and look forward to more in the near future."

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