Grand Central Birmingham

Staff picks from Foyles Birmingham Grand Central

 We've been picking some of our favourite books here at Foyles Birmingham. Find faves from booksellers Jay and Magda below.

Scandinavians: In Search of the Soul of the North By Robert Ferguson

In 1969 Robert Ferguson made his first trip to Scandinavia when he travels with friends to Copenhagen. This trip sparked a life long interested in Scandinavia and in 1983 Ferguson moved to Norway.

Scandinavians is a collection of Ferguson insights and observations from his time in north surrounded by history. Ferguson paints a witty and enticing picture of the Nordic countries and their people as he highlights the forces that helped define their culture.

Books on Scandinavia are not uncommon at the moment but the depth of Ferguson's knowledge and wonderful writing style separates him from the rest.

Magda

Swimming with Seals

By Victoria Whitworth

Whitworth started her lifelong love affair with the Orkney Islands when she first visited in her twenties and eventually decided to move to the islands. Years later she struggles with the breakdown of her marriage and increasing health problems, which sparks another love affair of swimming in the sea.

It is difficult accomplishment to make a reader, who is sat curled up on a warm sofa, envious of someone swimming in the north sea in January. But that is exactly what this book manages to achieve. Whitworth conveys her experience in such vivid and loving language that I wanted nothing more than to be standing on a beach preparing to wade into the ocean.

Swimming with seal seamlessly intertwines life writing with folk stories, fairy tales, history, landscape and nature. The end result is a fascinating piece of writing which immerses the reader and creates a faithful and loving picture of the Orkney Islands.

Magda

Whatever Happened to Interracial Love?

By Kathleen Collins

Reading the stories from Whatever Happened to Interracial Love is like pouring over old photographs. Each a tribute to the people depicted, linked solely by of love, race, and humanness. Each story unfolds in its own, unique, beautiful way, and it's very rare to find a collection of stories where they are all not only strong but also profoundly moving.

Whatever Happened to Interracial Love is published here for the first time twenty years after the author's death. It is so frustrating to think that these wonderful stories were unseen for so many years but they continue to be relevant today. Collins' writing for me, hits the heights of Virginia Woolf and Zadie Smith.

I was so moved by these stories and I just want everyone to live and breathe these stories like I did, and give Kathleen Collins the praise and love she so rightly deserves.

Jay.

All the books featured above are available to reserve instore, simply click on the links and choose to Click and Collect from the Birmingham shop.

Patrick Ness Release Event

The wonderful Patrick Ness delighted us with an incisive and fabulous evening, launching his latest novel Release. 

For upcoming events in-store, check out the list below. For events in partnership with The Glee Club and THSH please see the main Upcoming Events page and choose Out of Store Events.