Palm Sunday Edition ... nearly and some reviews!

In case you didn't know it this Sunday is Palm Sunday - so just one week to go until Easter! (Of course judging by the weather we wouldn't blame you for thinking it might be Christmas that was coming instead!)
So anyway just to let you know that we do still have a few Palm Crosses left, Paschal Candles there are too, but not many, and sadly all the Fairtrade Real Easter Eggs are all gone - but the plastic Gospel Eggs are still in stock and really good fun! and if you really do want chocolate then the TraidCraft Fairtrade Brownies are really quite delicious - I personally taste tested them just for you all, Stem Ginger Cookies might have to be checked for quality control purposes next!
Oh and when you do come in please do check out the rather nice National Book Tokens stands and displays around! remember they are a great gift and can also be used at http://www.hive.co.uk/shop/lincoln/unicorn-tree-books-crafts/ to purchase ebooks with too - don't forget to register us as your fave bookshop whilst visiting Hive - we really need you to do that for us!
(if you can't make it into the shop to see the nice new displays then hop over (like and easter bunny!) to www.facebook.com/UnicornTreeBooks and take a sneak at the pics on there (and if you haven't already liked us then please do!

Right that said now for the reviews! just a short few this week! sorry but enjoy all the same :D

All these reviews and indeed a geat many more can be found on the excellent Good Book Stall Website www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk - well worth checking out :D
All the books reviewed here (and don't forget to check out the review page we have on here as well!) and those found on www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk can also be found at or ordered from Unicorn Tree Books too, both in the shop and online at either www.lincolnbookshop.co.uk or www.lincolnchristianbookshop.co.uk or at the wonderful www.hive.co.uk (but please do remember to make us your favourite shop when you visit Hive! the online bookshop where every sale supports independent physical bookshops!)

Indeed all these reviews are the property of The Goodbookstall and me - please don't use them without ascribing them to me as the author and also to www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk (who they should also be linked to if used online!) and yes that does include if you cut and paste bits of them and add a few words here and and take a few out there too! 

Title – As A Fire By Burning – Mission As The Life Of The Local Congregation

Author – Roger Standing

Format – Paperback

Price – £25

Publisher – SCM Press

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN – 978-0-334-04370-6

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

A very good comprehensive but easy to read book that collects together contributions form a diverse range of people and churches across a number of differing fields and church styles that highlight the many different mission experiences and ideas in and around local congregation settings and experience. It also has good general conversation and consideration within it of what mission is, how it can be practiced, how it has been practiced and why it should be practiced. There are times when the jargon is a strong presence, but nevertheless this is still appropriately used and fitting for a book that is as much practitioner guide as subject study, and this jargon to be fair is well placed so as to make sense and lead into theological and missiological discussion of some depth. I foound it to be a very well written book, that was surprisingly easy to read given the weight of it's subject matter and very good! Heartily recommend it.

Title – Maiden, Mother & Queen – Mary In The Anglical Tradition

Author – Roger Greenacre (Ed. Colin Podmore)

Format – Paperback

Price – £24.99

Publisher – 978-1-84825-278-3

Date of Publication – January 2013

ISBN – 978-1-84825-278-3

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

This is an absolutely beautiful consideration of the anglo-catholic veneration of Mary found within quarters of the Church of England. This book also serves in some way as a fitting memorial and remembrance of a well respected proponent of Anglican Marian devotion, Roger Greenacre.

However for me the collection of homilies to be found in section two of the book were a real highlight and joy to read, with real depth of feeling and insight to them, and a strangely british refined passion running as an undercurrent to them – the love, attraction and desire to share the reverence that Roger Greenacre so obviously had for the Blessed Virgin Mary cannot be overlooked in these short homilies collected here. Of course the third section of the book which incorporates an historical investigation and understanding into marian devotion and suppression within the anglican communion is also very well done and surprisingly easy to read due in part to the short sections utilised which means there is not much heavy labouring to be done in reading this book. This really is a wonderful book for anyone within the anglo-catholic tradition looking to further their devotional practice and understanding of the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or indeed for anyone in the anglican church who wants to gain an understanding of the part Mary can and does play within the church and it's faith framework.

Title – The #Pray4 Principle – Why Prayer Is Still Important In A Secular Age

Author – Alexander Lee

Format – Paperback

Price – £8.99

Publisher – DLT

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN – 978-0-232-52982-1

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

A well written quite short book that nevertheless really looks at prayer as we use it and understand it both as Christians and as a secular peoples, using the twitter #pray4muamba campaign as the catalyst for consideration and insight, and with stunning clarity Alexander Lee through this book smashes home some important insights that some may well find painful and really want to discount, but to do so would be to overlook a truth we need to address if we are to really see a return to prayer and Christian faith for our nation and secular times. We must not be so quick as Christians to discount the prayers of others, to reject those not 'Christian' enough to fit our stance, instead we should consider the lessons of Paul, of Acts, and their outreach to the gentiles … we should consider Jesus' teachings on prayer and faith that exhort us not to be hypocrites or babblers … but instead to offer hospitality and comfort, acceptance and love …

The #Pray4 Principle really does hold up faith and prayer as an important and still integral part of our nations underpinning foundation, and shows that there at the heart of us all there is still a need for prayer and a deep spiritual yearning, and that with the right attitude of prayer by Christ's followers we can yet make a difference and bring back the lost to the fold, but we have first to be open the gates to them and meet them where they are and not where we are.

Remember we are here to serve you and we really appreciate your support - go on Shop Local and use an Independent - it's better for all of us when we go local to go global ;-)

So we'll look forward to seeing you, recieving an email from you, chatting on the phone (01522 525557) with you or even facebooking or twittering with you when you come in for your books, gifts, cards, crafts, candles, stationery, ereader, fairtrade product or for anything else we sell!
- or indeed for any other reason too!

Mother's Day Edition

Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday, it's been fun in the shop as we headed towards this great annual event :D
Margaret Dickinson, our lovely local best selling author, had her new book out just in time for it again, and as is usual did her regular round of signing dates and so we had lots of signed copies whizzing out the shop, we still have a few left and in honour of Mother's Day we are offering them with a free £5 Voucher if you buy your Mother's Day Card at the same time :D
Of Course it's also Fairtrade Fortnight - see more about what we have been doing with that here: https://www.facebook.com/UnicornTreeBooks/posts/426424537445774 .. and just in case you wanted to blend Mother's Day and keep up with Fairtrade ethos then remember gifts come in fairtrade flavour too!
We can do chocolate or biscuits, you can even get Pasta and cook her a lovely meal ... or you could get her fairtrade jewellery, some lovely bracelets and necklaces both in ethnic stylings or silver ... or maybe she's the stationery type - lovely fairtrade gift sets, pens and notepads too...
And Last but not least on the Mothering Sunday theme, for the thoroughly modern mum ... how about a Kobo Glo?? Mothers Day offer of just £79, but be quick as we have very limited stock...

So there we go that's Mothering Sunday!

Now just to let you know next week is the first of the 2013 Lincoln Theological Society Lectures - it's on 'Judas, Jesus & The Cost of Salvation' and it's by Rev'd Canon Dr Anthony Cane.
We do have tickets still available - £5 for a good glass of wine and interesting lecture can't be bad can it! oh and of course the chance to browse the wonderful bookstall provided by us as always :D
The lecture is at Bishop Grosseteste University on Tuesday 12th March - Doors open at 7PM for a 7:30Pm Lecture.

and finally it's review time!All these reviews and indeed a geat many more can be found on the excellent Good Book Stall Website www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk - well worth checking out :D
All the books reviewed here (and don't forget to check out the review page we have on here as well!) and those found on www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk can also be found at or ordered from Unicorn Tree Books too, both in the shop and online at either www.lincolnbookshop.co.uk or www.lincolnchristianbookshop.co.uk or at the wonderful www.hive.co.uk (but please do remember to make us your favourite shop when you visit Hive! the online bookshop where every sale supports independent physical bookshops!)

Indeed all these reviews are the property of The Goodbookstall and me - please don't use them without ascribing them to me as the author and also to www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk (who they should also be linked to if used online!) and yes that does include if you cut and paste bits of them and add a few words here and and take a few out there too! 

Title – Operation Screwtape – The Art Of Spiritual War

Author – Andrew Farley

Format – Hardback

Price – £11.99

Publisher – Baker Books (Dist. Lion Hudson)

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN – 978-0-8010-1447-5

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

In Operation Screwtape we find the continuation of C S Lewis’ classic Screwtape series. Farley has here updated the agenda, moved the discussion into the realm of technological advancement, of feel good church, of the health and prosperity gospel teaching and a few more familiar ideas as well, and in a voice so well matched to the original works he breaks down and highlights the inherent problems in these things, showing how sometimes what we think is good can actually be so bad for us, showing us how we trap ourselves in our own beliefs of unworthiness, confession, doubt and want. This really is an excellent book, a worthy successor to the original Screwtape letters and a real joy to read. One not just for the Lewis fans, but for anyone that would like a gentle, fun and easily understandable way to consider how we can be best protect ourselves from the traps of the enemy and our own making, and think on many things that we find in modern church teachings.

Title – Spiritual Care Of Dying And Bereaved People

Author – Penelope Wilcock

Format – Paperback

Price – £9.99

Publisher – BRF

Date of Publication – February 2013

ISBN – 978-0-85746-115-5

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

Though not a new book, in some ways it does feel so, as it has been completely updated and expanded, losing the section on Aids, but growing to include amongst it a new indepth section on funerals that offers very practical helps, it also now includes more new personal insights from Penelope’s own life.
This book, as it’s predecessor did, has a gentle air of quiet sympathy and consideration to it that sometimes can be missing in books aimed at ‘pastoral’ ministry, but then in part that’s because this book isn’t just a guide for ministers and practitioners, this book is also a book for those journeying through these intense and painful experiences themselves, this book is not just written by someone more than eminently qualified from years in service working with the dying and bereaved but is written by a person who has gone through the experience personally, intensely and is not afraid to share that, but rather wants to. This book is real ‘spiritual care’ for both those on the journey of death and for those looking to work pastorally with them. An excellent book indeed on a deeply painful subject that I think it would be exceptionally hard to better.

Title – The Christian’s Secret Of A Happy Life

Author – Hannah Whitall Smith

Format – Paperback

Price – £3.99

Publisher – Spire (Baker – Dit. By Lion Hudson)

Date of Publication – January 2013

ISBN – 978-0-8007-8077-4

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

A lovely exceptionally affordable edition of what is probably one of the best known ‘Quaker’ books out there. Though written over 100 years ago this book still reads as well today as it ever has, there are in these simple honest words and thoughts by Hannah Whitall Smith a timeless wisdom and beauty that encourages you on in your own faith. There is strength and purpose, courage and determination and unremitting faith on every page, and all of it simple to understand, easy to read and a blessing to recieve. ‘It depends only upon the fact of an entire surrender and an absolute trust. Anyone who will honestly use these two wings, and will faithfully persist in using them, will find they have mounted up with wings as an eagle, no matter how empty of all emotion they may have felt themselves to be before.’ (pp248).
A beautiful work and at a bargain price make this a brilliant book indeed.

Title – Christian Social Teachings – A Reader In Christian Social Ethics From The Bible To The Present

Author – Ed. George W Forell

Format – Paperback

Price – £25.99

Publisher – Augsburg (Dist. Alban)

Date of Publication – September 2012

ISBN – 978-0-8006-9860-7

Reviewer – Melanie Carroll

This is a revised and updated second edition of a book that would be more than at home on the bookcase and in the hands of anyone interesting in ethics and social theory, because it really does provide an insight to the development of our western social ethic. At the beginning of each chapter we get a brief introduction and overview to the authors and subject, followed by a well thought out selection of their writings – think of it as a well chosen tapa selection with all the delightful flavours encapsulated in small tasty easy to nibble bite sized pieces!
As we get to the contemporary issues we get good solid discussion on core topical issues (that probably would be just enough info and detail to scrape a pass grade on an essay if you hadn’t read anything else!).
The only downside with the book is that it is of course American and as such much of the topical discussion is from an American stance and that is a little different to the society we have here in the UK and that can cause some small issue. However on the whole it’s a solid tour through the subject and introduction to key authors and subjects.

Remember we are here to serve you and we really appreciate your support - go on Shop Local and use an Independent - it's better for all of us when we go local to go global ;-)

So we'll look forward to seeing you, recieving an email from you, chatting on the phone (01522 525557) with you or even facebooking or twittering with you when you come in for your books, gifts, cards, crafts, candles, stationery, ereader, fairtrade product or for anything else we sell!
- or indeed for any other reason too!

If you've been down to the shop today...

If you've been down to the shop today you may have got a surprise!
 Books have been moving - in fact every secondhand book has moved to a new home ... we'd have really liked it if they moved themselves something like this:

But they didn't!  Instead I did it (along with some conscripted family and mini minions for a few shelves)!

It was a task and a half but well worth it as it means we can again fit more things in! Yes MORE!
This time not only more secondhand fiction but a whole new glass shelved display of Gifts!

It's not all quite finished yet, but it's getting there ... we are awaiting a delivery or two of new gift stock to come in, and that's why everything had to be moved. So they would have a nice new home ... not as some may claim because the bookshop boss just likes to change it up like the supermarket and keep the customers guessing!
The minion and mates that suggested that were duly despatched ... to get coffee for said hardworked bookshop boss.

We would also like to put customers minds at rest and assure them that no bookcases or books were harmed in the making of this wonderful new shop design - although the same cannot be said for the bookshop boss who was savaged more than once by errant bookcases and vicious thrillers that decided to jump off shelves and pound her into the ground in one notable case!

Still we have survived to tell the tale and invite you all to come down and see what's new and acquaint yourself with some great bargains and new books & gifts too.


Anyway I'm now off to grab a sugar free vanilla latte & a cookie to refuel before playing with the gift displays a little and putting out some new card ranges :D See you all soon here in the shop...

Remember we are here to serve you and we really appreciate your support - go on Shop Local and use an Independent - it's better for all of us when we go local to go global ;-)

So we'll look forward to seeing you, recieving an email from you, chatting on the phone (01522 525557) with you or even facebooking or twittering with you when you come in for your look around, books and supplies - or indeed for any other reason too!

An Ebook Reader Christmas? You can still support Local Bookshops!

Despite what everyone seems to be saying ebooks & your local bookshop don't have to be a mutually exclusive proposition - in fact there are a few ways you can happily use both, thus benefitting your local community and your digital drive!

Here are our very easy suggestions:

Go to our webshop http://www.lincolnbookshop.co.uk/ & use our ebook affilliate links - this is perfect for buying Kindles on and for buying kindle books through - as each sale using this link helps us just a little and costs you nothing more than to favourite the site and click through for your purchases of any amazon product ;-)

Come into the shop (or email/phone/tweet/Facebook us) and buy a National Book Token from us & then you can buy ebooks with it at http://www.hive.co.uk/shop/lincoln/unicorn-tree-books-crafts/
Hive has multiple ebook formats available (though not kindle) and you can also buy Google Ebooks through them as well.
Every single sale from hive.co.uk helps an independent bookshop - not always us depending on where you are but it will always be supporting a local independent bookshop! (and sometimes it's even been known for the books to be cheaper than Amazon's price!).

So there you go - easy ways it can be an Ebook Christmas without being Scrooge like for your local Independent Bookshop here on the High Street or in The Market :D

Remember we are here to serve you and we really appreciate your support - go on Shop Local - it's better for all of us when we go local to go global ;-)

So we'll look forward to seeing you, recieving an email from you, chatting on the phone (01522 525557) with you or even facebooking or twittering with you!

Oh and happy season, may the coffee be good and the chocolate be rich and may it be a cool yule and a Blessed Christmas & New Year to all you friends out there!
 

We are 5 Today!

Today is our 5th Birthday, we've seen an awful lot of change in those five years not only in Unicorn Tree Books (& Crafts) but in the economy, in the market and in the booktrade and we are happy to say we are still here and smiling widely!

 We've drunk a lot of Caramel Latte's, shifted a lot of units, re-arranged how many times and seen our minions fledge and go off to found their own businesses - this bookshop boss thinks that's one heck of an achievement and to celebrate is having a venti caramel latte today!

However I know we wouldn't be here still today if it wasn't for all you lovely customers and I want to say the biggest and most heartfelt THANK YOU! to all of you.

You make each day different, fun and, hey, maybe even a little more crazy than it would be even with the bookshop boss in attendance anyway - so thank you.

As a little birthday celebration we are today giving 5% off all books to celebrate the 5 years of trading and we are also giving 1 reward point for every £5 spent instead of the usual £10 

So come in and celebrate with us as we journey forth into our next 5 years of bookshop bosses, minions and cheerful customers, along with coffee, books, crafts and other fun fuelled things!

So there we go 5 years old today so go on come in and browse and treat yourself to a gift from us that will act as a gift to us, because the best gift we can ever have is your custom!

We'll look forward to seeing you, recieving an email from you, chatting on the phone (01522 525557) with you or even facebooking or twittering with you!

York Book Fair - Collectable bookselling at its finest and we've tickets to give away!

Yes indeed - never ever let it be said that booksellers aren't kind and generous people - 

especially we here at the Unicorn Tree!  

We have 4 complimentary tickets to the York Book Fair to give away - each ticket admits two people and there is even a free shuttlebus from the railway station to the event! Amazing!

So what is the Book Fair?

From modest beginning with just 20 exhibitors at the White Swan Inn in York in 1974, the York Book Fair has grown into the largest, and many say friendliest, rare, antiquarian & out-of-print book fair in the U.K.. Held over two days, 215 of this country's leading booksellers offer for sale a breathtaking diversity of books, as well as maps & prints, ranging in price from just a few pounds up to tens of thousands of pounds. This year we also welcome a number of dealers from overseas.

You will find books over 500 years old, to review copies of recently published works, and everything in between. The venue is very easy to reach, there is unlimited free parking, and also a free shuttle bus from the Railway Station to the Fair every 20 minutes.

Who Will Enjoy It?
Anyone interested in books and reading. This is not just a Fair for dealers, but is open to everyone young and old, and a great place to start collecting. With over 100,000 books for sale, where else can you look at, touch, enjoy, and even purchase so many rarities under one roof. If you are already a collector then it is a great opportunity to meet new dealers in your area, and if you aren't already a collector it's one of the best places to be inspired to become one!

All in all it is a great day out for any book lover, regardless of whether you collect or not, and it's not just books, there are also maps and other ephemera too - it's lovely and I only wish I was going!

So if you want one of these complimentary tickets just go to our facebook page - Unicorn Tree Books - like it if you haven't already and write on the wall to tell us you want a ticket 
- the first four to do so get the tickets! it's just that easy :-)

So there we go that’s the bookshop boss being generous yet again – so I reckon that it must now be time for a hazlenut flavoured coffee I think. 

Anyway don't forget to come in, browse and, we hope, stock up soon, we also have some very good books and collectable things lurking here in Unicorn Tree Books & Crafts too remember and we really look forward to seeing you, recieving an email from you, chatting on the phone (01522 525557) with you or even facebooking or twittering with you!

Unicorn Tree Books, Central Market, Lincoln. LN5 7ET
www.lincolnbookshop.co.uk
www.lincolnchristianbookshop.co.uk