Books by North East authors to get you through lockdown
As lockdown continues, boredom might be kicking in for some. Nothing whiles away the time like a good book. Here’s our roundup of books that are all either by North East authors or set in this part of world.
1. A reminder of just how fascinating the North East is
THE NORTHUMBRIANS: NORTH-EAST ENGLAND AND ITS PEOPLE: A NEW HISTORY - by Dan Jackson. Northumbria is not the same as Northumberland. What makes North-Eastern England so distinctive? Where do the stereotypes come from and what’s the real story? From Bede down to Geordie Shore, this entertaining book tells you what it's all about. Photo: Sunderland Echo
2. Top local talent you ought to give a try
THE SHIPYARD GIRLS SERIES - by Nancy Revell. The eighth novel in the series, Triumph of the Shipyard Girls, was released in March. The books by Sunderland author Nancy Revel have been a big success and hark back to the yards during World War Two. An absorbing reminder that today's difficulties might not be so bad after all. Photo: Sunderland Echo
3. The Far Corner, a fine football read after quarter-of-a-century
THE FAR CORNER - by Harry Pearson. Any football fan will tell you: no matter how bad their team is, they still miss the game when they can’t see it. There is no real substitute (cymbal crash), but this 1994 ‘Mazy Dribble through North-East Football’ from Premier to non-league, is about as good a literary replacement as you will find. Photo: Sunderland Echo
4. The North East writer who became a Hollywood smash
The 1993 film Mrs Doubtfire starred Robin Williams and took around half-a-billion dollars at the worldwide box office. Not everyone knows that it was based on the 1987 novel for teenagers Madame Doubtfire, by County Durham author Anna Fine. As is usually the case, the film is good, the book is better. Photo: Sunderland Echo