Category Archives: books

Art Since Pop

There are some reference books that follow you and stay with you through out your life. ‘Art Since Pop‘ is such a book, published in 1975 (by Dolphin). This book simply sets out to do what it says in the title, explaining art movements such as Process Art, Land Art, Conceptual Art and Body Art, in a brief but concise way. None of the movements of fine art covered in this pocket sized book are dealt with in great depth but it provides an informed introduction to these different concepts and methodologies, reassessing its effectiveness and ability to move on and change. The beauty of this book is the fact that it was written closer to ‘as it was happening‘ and gives an optimistic appraisal of art movements that have since been sidelined or dismissed as mere Cul-de-sacs.

John A. Walker (b. 1938) is a British art critic and historian who has written over 15 books on modern and contemporary art with an emphasis on mass media. He has also written on design history methodology. Walker’s books include Art since Pop (1975), Design history and the history of design with Judy Attfield (1990), John Latham: The Incidental Person – His Art and Ideas (1994), Cultural Offensive: America’s Impact on British Art since 1945 (1998), Art & Outrage (1999), Supercollector: A Critique of Charles Saatchi with Rita Hatton (2000),Left Shift: Radical Art in 1970s Britain (2001), Art in the Age of Mass Media (3rd ed.: 2001), Art and Celebrity (2003) and Firefighters in Art and Media: A Pictorial History (2009).

Walker was a Reader in Art and Design History at Middlesex University near London until retiring in 1999. He was trained as a painter at Newcastle upon Tyne.


The Birthday Party by Veronica Henry

The Birthday Party
(In Paperback)
Published by Orion 21 July 2011
Delilah Rafferty has lived out her tempestuous marriage to hell-raiser Raf in the full glare of the media spotlight. Now, from the luxurious comfort of her beautiful kitchen, Delilah is planning her birthday party, a night that will see a star-studded gathering of friends and family celebrate in traditional Rafferty style. But she has more on her mind than just invitations… Raf has been offered a part in a movie he can’t refuse. But will that mean he’ll succumb to the temptations he’s struggled so hard to resist for the last ten years – beautiful women and too much wine? And Delilah’s three daughters, Coco, Violet and Tyger, are building careers of their own, only too aware that the press are waiting for them to slip up. For although the Rafferty girls might look like angels, they are only human. As with all families, there are secrets and rivalries bubbling away, and on one gloriously starry night, it’s all going to come spilling out This is your invitation to a birthday party of the year…
By 
Zak  on Amazon.com The Birthday Party

I loved this – the secret love child of Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins – what more can you ask for?

Why use your local Library?

Reports and rumors reveal that e-commerce spending is becoming polarized, with websites like lovemoney.com advising readers not to buy products like books (recommending swap sites, bookmooch.com and readitswapit.co.uk) advising their readers to use these alternatives instead of Amazon etc. On the surface this cheap, recycling, money saving piece advise sounds like a good idea but…

Industries like the book industry are struggling to make a profit so advising people not to buy new books not only puts retailers out of business – do you have an independent book seller on the high street of your town? – it also means there will be fewer ‘quality’ publications physically published and new authors will be unable to make a living, simply because they will have to self publish.

People are constantly looking for free promotions from businesses and are no longer prepared to pay a fare price for things. We have appeared to embraced the ‘something for nothing’ culture and are consequently (probably) destroying the fundamental laws of capitalism…Continue reading ?

If you want to read a book for free why not use your local Library? Closures of this fine institution are imminent due to lack of support from the general public so instead of sitting in front of your computer looking for free deals why not go to the Library and get the real deal! Not only do you get a free book, the author of the book you borrow will get a small micro payment – that seems a more fair deal to me.

Tweetie Pie – 140 ways To Say I Love You


It’s Valentine’s Day and you don’t know where to start – should you go with a self-penned ode to my love munchkin,’ a handwritten Shakespearean sonnet, or a dirty limerick? Tweetie Pie brings together 140 creative ways to tell your special someone how much you love them. All short enough to tweet yet more than long enough to say I love you’ (twelve times over, in fact). From the poignant and affectionate to the quirky and amusing to the flirtatious and titillating for your lover’s eyes only, every shade of love is here. Beautifully designed and bound, this is the perfect Valentine – or any time- gift for the person you love.

Tweetie Pie: 140 ways To Say I Love You