If you follow me on Twitter you’ll no doubt have seen me regularly complaining ruefully about the wonderful offers the left-wing publisher Verso Books often runs; they’ve been responsible for any number of volumes arriving on the TBR, and a quick glance over the shelves revealed I have a surprising number of their books lurking on there! I’m refusing to say how many are hanging about digitally…..
So when they announced not only offers to celebrate their 50th birthday but also a new book club, I was really sorely tempted. In the end I caved in – first off, these two books arrived on the shelves at half price and I was *very* excited! Another Saramago plus a book about walking (of which I do a lot…) – treats!
However, the book club was also appealing. At half price for the first few months, I would get a physical book every month (a choice of two) as well as digital copies of all new releases. Plus the Verso diary and a notebook as well. Blimey – what’s not to love! I’m a big fan of Verso, because their focus is pretty wide – though they lean to the left, it isn’t all just dry politics, they cover art, culture, philosophy, gender studies, architecture, history, sociology, ecology, music, economics, race – you name it, they probably have a book which fits into the category in which you’re interested. And there are so many favourite authors – Sartre, Benjamin, Saramago, Berger – well, you can see why I’m often tempted.
So needless to say I succumbed… I signed up for the Verso Book Club, and the first two months have brought forth the physical delights shown above! The digital delights are – well, there’s tons of them (as you can see from the list below)!! I probably have at least a year’s reading already, which is rather wonderful, and there are lots of titles I’ve wanted to read for ages so that’s a bonus! October’s looking good too…
The observant amongst you might have noticed that there are two copies of “Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal” on the stacks above and there’s a good reason for that, which I’ll come to. This was the September Book Club title, and I was very excited about this, as Noam Chomsky is an author I first encountered in my teens and for whom I have a great deal of respect. I’ve begun to dip into this book which looks scarily relevant; the first pages reveal that the Doomsday Clock is now pointing to 100 seconds…
You might recall my coverage of Richard Clay’s excellent radio programme “Two Minutes to Midnight” back in 2018, which looked at our attitude to nuclear annihilation. To realise that we’ve now reached an even closer point is shocking, and you can still catch up with Richard’s programme here – it makes sobering and fascinating listening…
But I digress… Owing to a glitch in their systems, Verso sent out two copies of “Climate Change…” to me this month. I contacted them and offered to return it, but they were happy that I didn’t and so instead I thought I would offer this as a giveaway to anyone who is interested. This will have to be UK only I’m afraid, as overseas postage has shot up horrendously lately. So if you would like the book, please leave a comment and perhaps suggest an independent publisher you recommend that I should support – as I’m most definitely in the state of mind to keep doing that at the moment!
Meantime, if you’re interested in reading thought-provoking books, I definitely recommend you take a look at Verso’s list – there’s an awful lot of good stuff there! As for me – well, I’m thinking I may have to start a dedicated Verso bookshelf… ;D
Sep 15, 2020 @ 07:44:09
I’d never heard of Verso before. I shall definitely be checking out their climate related books. Once more you are bad for my bank account! I would recommend Bluemoose Books and Vagabond Voices if you don’t already know them.
Sep 15, 2020 @ 11:30:32
They’re a fascinating publisher and bad for my bank balance too! Thank you for the recommendations – I have come across Bluemoose but don’t think I’ve explored Vagabond Voices before!
Sep 15, 2020 @ 08:14:18
Aren’t book clubs wonderful? There’s something so alluring about the multiplicity of choices they represent, combined with (in my case) the sheer greed of having more books arriving on schedule! I personally can’t resist the NYRB Classics Club, with its monthly selection of authors who are almost always new to me. Even when I don’t read the selections, I feel as though my universe is being enlarged (and hey, I do read them sometimes!)
I’m not familiar with Verso, which sounds like a most interesting publisher — I’ll have to click over and check out their fiction offerings . . . .
Sep 15, 2020 @ 11:17:50
They really are and I like it when it’s a publisher who issues a good variety of books. I really ought to sign up for the NYRB one, but I have so many of their books pending already…
Verso are great, and they do have regular sales – so worth checking out 😀
Sep 15, 2020 @ 17:56:23
I am basically forcing myself to look away here, as I will only go and join the club and I have TOO MANY BOOKS. But enjoy and I hope your winner enjoys their book!
Sep 15, 2020 @ 19:44:58
LOL! But worth checking out…. ;DD
Sep 15, 2020 @ 18:10:44
The book club sounds great, a lovely initiative for this publisher. I have bought several books this week, and had a review copy arrive, so don’t put me in the draw for this one. It sounds really interesting though.
Sep 15, 2020 @ 19:44:08
It’s a really nice book club so far, and frankly it will take me a while to read everything so far! ;D I’m drowning a bit and trying not to panic!
Sep 15, 2020 @ 20:20:11
Love the idea of the book club…
Sep 15, 2020 @ 20:48:11
It’s got some fascinating books and very good value!
Sep 15, 2020 @ 22:39:48
oh my, too tempting, even if I could have only ebooks, as I live in the US.
I was a big fan of Chomsky as well, but only as for linguistics. I haven’t read any other book by him, I’m afraid.
I can’t participate in the giveaway, but I tweeted about it
Sep 16, 2020 @ 13:40:00
Verso are rather good, and I believe they have an American arm so you might be able to find them! And thank you for sharing the giveaway!
Sep 25, 2020 @ 06:30:07
Sep 25, 2020 @ 19:34:01
Oh, my, yes…what a lot of great books/themes on offer. No wonder you don’t care to admit how many of their epubs are lingering unread on your device(s)! *grins*
Sep 25, 2020 @ 20:11:59
Not saying… Just too many, and more will arrive next month and they all sound fascinating!!
Jan 18, 2021 @ 07:05:00