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Max Minerva’s book shop: a lifeline in dark times

Picture of exterior of Max Minerva's boo shop

Max Minerva’s is my local book shop. During the first lockdown, I managed to break my toe and went to hospital. Other than eating chocolate and feeling sorry for myself, I needed a distraction. This bookshop provided the lifeline I needed.

Book shop owners optimism

I recently read how people are opening bookshops during this unnerving time. The optimism and hope this generates for a community cannot be underestimated. They provide a place for people to be together and feel connected.

Max Minerva’s opened before anyone knew about Covid but had, as part of their mission, a wish to become part of the community. I would say they’ve succeeded.

My son is a reluctant reader but even he has been seduced by the dynamic window displays and knowledge of those that work in and run the shop. They are always happy to help with recommendations and it is easy to pre-order if they don’t have what you want in stock.

The overall feeling, as with any good book shop, is one of calm and relaxation. It is a haven for book lovers who just want a sanctuary to browse.

Surveys have shown how people’s need for escapism in these dark times have led them back to bookshops. Pre-pandemic there was a feeling that book shops were struggling and some would disappear.

Book sales surge

Interestingly, UK book sales increased by 16% during 2020. At a time when the world feels uncertain and dangerous, escaping into a book offers respite for the mind. Reading is proven to reduce stress and improve mental health and wellbeing.

Mental health benefits of reading

In fact, Dr Paula Byrne helps run a charity that promotes bibliotherapy which is using books as therapy. When I had a bereavement in my family, I read The Lovely Bones and found it very comforting. The thought of that person looking over me gave me solace when I felt bereft.

Books take you to a different place. They help to ease your mind. What’s not to love? For further reviews, please click here.

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Are grammar games fun?

Grammar game with a card left and right of the game which is centred. A pair of sunglasses is in the foreground of the image and there are black bars behind the game.

This would seem like a simple question to answer. If, like me, you love how a well-placed comma can alter meaning in a sentence then the answer is probably – yes. However, if you are still struggling with your vs you’re then you may fall into the ‘no’ camp. For you, grammar games are not fun.

Last minute present ideas

I thought I’d try out a grammar game and give my honest feedback. I bought it just before Father’s Day when I realised my failure to get my husband a card from our son. Tempting me in my favourite card shop was Grammar Police. The strapline on the publisher’s website read, ‘The team game for smug grammar Nazis’. I admit it: I was intrigued.

Who wants to play?

“Who wants to play?” met with a silence I rarely enjoy in my house. Each time I asked the husband or child if they wanted to join me in a quick game, I faced indifference. Undeterred, I thought I’d try it out on some keen 10 year olds. I chose my target audience well: confident girls who read all the time, and enjoyed spelling words for others in class. Essentially, small versions of me at the same age.

It’s okay to be competitive with children, isn’t it?

We sat around a long narrow table. I was hunched low like a card player in a saloon bar. The girls, who were sat across from me, formed a witches coven huddled together. We started off with low stakes and eased ourselves in with one and two point questions.

Confident faces radiated from the girls and their smiles were just a little too pleased. At this moment, I knew what I had to do: start in with the tougher questions. I’m aware I don’t come across as very sympathetic in this story, but in my defence, the girls agreed to play and know how competitive I am.

We began with brimming confidence all round. According to the rules of the game, the cards need to be shuffled and placed on the table. I get it. It should be random, but I wasn’t sure how ‘fun’ it would be if we were all struggling from the start.

Read through the cards first!

So, some of the cards were potentially offensive and/or unsuitable for children. I do usually read through resources before handing them out for this reason. In my defence, I was tired and it was the end of a very long day. That’s not a good enough excuse. I wanted to try it out for my blog and well…

Sample card to work through: CAUTION! DON’T TOUCH THE STAFF WILL HELP. There is one mistake in this card. As they report on the card, it’s the difference between touching the staff and something else!

I would recommend this for children aged 12 and older as recommended on the box. I was a little surprised to find a couple of errors. As this is a grammar game it seems they probably should have had it proofread before releasing it. They could have tried Clear Copy UK. After all, this is our core business.

Is it enjoyable?

I would say this could be a lot of fun with a few friends and some beers on a Friday night. I am aware that for some this could seem like hell but there are hints to help the players. For extra support and a deduction in points you could explain how many grammar, spelling mistakes or missing words there are for each clue.

Who won?

No one in the end. After reading one particular card I realised that perhaps Grammar Police might be better suited for a more mature audience!

Will I play again?

Definitely.

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Swimming in the Dark review

Cover of Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski on a pink cloth with sunshine over the picture

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski is my first dive into the modern gay novel. It was recommended by Nick, an editor on Twitter, who prompted my interest. Jedrowski delivers a tender story of forbidden love against the backdrop of socialist Poland in 1980.

As it was Pride month in June, I wanted to expand my knowledge of gay novels. My previous dip into this very deep pool was limited to Virginia Woolf and other dead poets and authors.

Reading to develop empathy

Reading develops empathy towards lives known to us, but not fully understood. Exploring this novel makes me want to read more stories about how it feels to love people that some find difficult to accept.

I understand why Swimming in the Dark is an instant classic. It captures the pain and suffering of first love exquisitely in this sensual novel.

Story

Ludwik is a shy, anxious student sent to an agricultural camp for the summer with the rest of his class. At the camp, he meets Janusz who displays a quiet confidence that Ludwik is drawn to. Their relationship liberates Ludwik and together they spend a heady summer exploring their love away from the watchful citizens of Warsaw.

When they return to the city, the lives of the two students diverge. The Party dominate everything, and to live as gay men is dangerous. Janusz is seduced by the wealthy inhabitants of Warsaw, and he enjoys the benefits of their privilege and power.

Meanwhile, Ludwik is haunted by memories of his mother and angered by the realities of food lines and lack of opportunity. The propaganda makes people afraid to express how they truly feel.

The story feels bittersweet as the protagonists struggle to continue their care-free existence in the confines of the real world. While Ludwik longs for escape, Janusz is more pragmatic and surrenders to society’s expectations.

Throughout the novel, the sense of longing for acceptance is tempered with the realities of the regime in which the characters live. We are left wondering if these two lovers would find acceptance if they lived in a different place and time.

‘I wanted to cease existng. I wanted to un-be.’ (Swimming in the Dark)

If you want to relive the torment of first love, this book will transport you there. If you’d like to read other book reviews, click here.

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Why do I need a proofreader?

proofreading and editing a document
Close-up Of A Person's Hand Marking Error With Red Marker On Document

If you write an article, blog, leaflet or memo about an area that you know well, you can give it a quick read through and publish. What could go wrong? Why do I need a proofreader? Proofreaders are the people that exist in the shadows. They are the ones that take a piece of well-written writing and elevate it into something better (that’s what a good editor does but more of that in another blog post).

A proofreader provides the final checks on your copy. Their motto is: consistency and error free, or it should be. They will agonise over a misplaced comma; wrestle over capitalisation; and, frequently, deal with the misuse of words including homophones.

What are homophones?

Homophones are words which are pronounced the same way but spelt differently and have different meanings. Many writers, even good ones, occasionally get tripped up by homophones. Spell checkers and online grammar tools are a great support to any writer, but they often miss homophones and if you don’t want too (see what I did there) miss them, your copy should be checked carefully.

There, their,they’re. Don’t worry

Auditorily, they are identical, but there meaning is completely different.

There is no doubt clear writing matters

There is an adverb used to indicate place and direction, which can be used as a prepositional phrase, or a pronoun. If in doubt, consider how you would use each ‘there’ in a sentence to help avoid confusion or mistakes. Dan is over there next to the linesman.

Their love for one another was found in those small moments of intimacy

Their is a possessive pronoun which means ‘belonging to them’. As I tell my students, their contains the word ‘heir’ to show ownership. Their idea of the perfect holiday was lying on a golden beach drinking margaritas as the kids played in the surf.

They’re two of the best people I know

The final ‘they’re’ is the easiest to conquer as it is a contracted form of two words: they + are. They’re always late, so we should start eating without them.

If you are still asking yourself, Why do I need a proofreader? (I’m asking this question AGAIN for SEO reasons). It is to help you focus on your message, but be reassured that your copy is error free. Proofreaders can ensure you are using language accurately so your writing and message is clear.

For clearer copy visit Clear Copy UK.

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What is the difference between a typeface and a font? Does it matter?

Romie typeface by graphic designer Margot Leveque
Margot Leveque 'Romie' typeface

Until recently, I thought ‘font’ referred to different styles of text I could choose from and ‘typeface’ meant the same.

This is one example of how words matter, and I’m happy to admit: I was wrong.

Typefaces and fonts

A typeface is the collective term for a family of related fonts, such as Calibri. Fonts refer to the weights, widths and styles that constitute a typeface, such as Cailbri light, italic or bold. Most people use the terms typeface and fonts interchangeably, as I did, but they are wrong to do so. In every day usage it does not matter, but in the publishing world the distinction is important.

I have long been fascinated with how I have absorbed publishing language but misunderstood its meaning. This helps me empathise with those who struggle with homophones: words which sound the same but are spelt differently such as there and their.

A writer who appreciates style

A fellow editor and proofreader recommended I read Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski. Aside from being a beautiful coming of age story exploring sexuality, the book contains an unexpected delight.

Just after the acknowledgements page, there are two blank pages before a paragraph describing the typeface used in the novel. Jedrowski lovingly details the origins of Lintoype Sabon, a typeface that, as he recalls, has been used since 1966 and is considered a modern classic. Why does this matter, you may ask?

When writers, editors and proofreaders have spent hours, sometimes years, creating a mood or realising a world for the reader. That world needs to be presented in the most aesthetic way possible. There is so much thought and consideration given to a book’s cove design. I love how Jedrwoski has taken the time to detail how much thought is put into the typeface as well.

He expresses something about the publishing process that few outside the industry spend time considering. It is how all the elements of the publishing process are put together to support the written words.

The very stylish Margot Lévêque and Romie

A recent article for the excellent online culture magazine, It’s Nice That features a profile of the graphic designer, Margot Lévêque. It is heartening to read how this well-known creative began her professional life after abandoning a degree in biology and switching to a marketing course in Paris. Her signature typeface is the wonderful Romie a typeface based on calligraphy that captures the romanticism of the past with a modern edge. I love how Margot discusses the personification of all her typefaces as if they are her friends and she can imagine them all hanging out with one another.

So, in conclusion, typeface matters if you want to be accurate and you are working in any aspect of the publishing industry. As a proofreader and editor, I need to know the difference. As a potential client, it is useful but not essential.

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When No One Is Watching review

book of when no one is watching by al

You know a novel is working when you read through it in 48 hours and cannot stop eulogising about it. Alyssa Cole’s When No One Is Watching has seeped into my bones and inspired me to look under the bonnet of city life.

When No One Is Watching begins as a lament on the effects of gentrification. Sydney Green is mourning the rapid changes to the Brooklyn neighbourhood she grew up in. ‘For Sale’ signs and moving lorries appear every day, and the local population is becoming unrecognisable. The once clear skyline is now blighted by cranes and the continuous noise of rapidly built condos. Taking part in a local history tour, Sidney is dismayed when no mention is made of the black families that lived in the area. By contrast, the lives of rich white residents, who lived in Brooklyn a hundred years earlier, are well documented. Out of frustration, Sydney decides to create a walking tour of her own.

As she begins to research her tour, she learns of a pharmaceutical company’s rumoured plans to build their headquarters in her corner of Brooklyn. Sydney’s neighbours continue to move out, and local businesses disappear at an alarming rate. Incidents of racial profiling, harassment and misunderstandings leave Sydney shaken and paranoid. Have her neighbours moved out voluntarily, or is something more sinister going on?

Alyssa Cole beautifully evokes the twitchy-curtain hypervigilance of paranoia with a social media platform, “Our Hood”. If you are familiar with the regular contributors of “Next-door Neighbour”, you will recognise the judgmental tone. The comments of “Our Hood” are snippy and vibrate with racial undertones. Tension increases as Sydney finds herself besieged by unwanted visitors, late-night phone calls and noises coming through the walls. If you loved ‘Get Out’ Alyssa Cole’s thriller is a perfect accompaniment. This novel deals with racism, gentrification, capitalism and exploitation of the poor wrapped up in the tropes of a thriller. Cole manages to weave history into a thrilling narrative with a lightness of touch that is to be envied.

Clear Copy UK can understand why When No One Is Watching has been given such high praise. A Hitchcockian thrill ride for the twenty first century.

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The Authenticity Project book review

The Authenticity Project book sitting on the grass with a straw hat and a pair of sunglasses

Imagine living in a city and feeling invisible. In the past you were a somebody, and now with each year you feel less and less significant. People walk past you as if you aren’t there, your only interactions are with telemarketers or cafe customers asking you to make space.

Clare Pooley shows us the hidden pain of loneliness. She shows us what happens when we dare to tell people we are struggling.

Loneliness and lack of connection are so damaging to us that they can make life seem like a torment. The Authenticity Project offers hope that people can connect with one another, but to do so we must risk rejection by being honest and asking for help when we need it.

Julian, a once colourful artist, is drained of life and connection. Exhausted by his invisibility, he decides to take a risk and begin The Authenticity Project. One insignificantly small green notebook grips all who read it with its raw honesty. This book delivers a warm hug by showing us what happens when people drop the artifice to reveal their vulnerability. It is us without the filter; there is no presenting of our best selves.

Monica, a cafe owner in her mid-thirties, finds the book and decides to track Julian down. This is turn leads to Hazard, and the other individuals who are forever changed by the little green notebook.

My sister gave me this book as a present and even mentioned in her inscription she was worried it might seem a little sentimental. After a disconcerting year, this book felt like a validation of our collective pain and empathy.

The Authenticity Project is about making connections and becoming more humane as a result. It left me with a sense of satisfaction and something else, hope.

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Haverscroft review

Haverscroft by S.A Harris on a grey fur rug

‘Haverscroft’ by S.A. Harris is a brilliant ghost story that chilled me to the bone. We meet Kate Kealing, a woman worn down by life’s burdens, as she moves to the remote ‘Haverscroft’ in a bid to salvage her marriage to Mark. With her husband constantly absent for work in London, it is up to Kate to navigate the oppressive damp chill of her new home, and the less than welcoming locals. The previous occupant of the house, Mrs Havers, is a cantankerous old woman who prickles at her interactions with Kate but seems compelled to confide in her.  The house’s secrets keep threatening to overwhelm Kate, and she becomes increasingly convinced the house itself means to harm her children. As Kate begins to unravel the mysteries of the house, the action builds to a devastating climax.

This is an incredible achievement for a debut novel, and I cannot wait to read more from this author. She crafts sentences with the precision of a surgeon. This book reminds me of the best ghost stories passed down to you as a child. I grew up in a chilly, old house, and my sister and I would constantly tense at the creaks and groans the house exhaled depending on the weather. Sash windows rattled in their frames, and in bad storms, it felt as if they would surrender to the horrors of a British winter. If you are looking for an atmospheric thrill, then this book is for you. Snuggle under a warm blanket, and make sure the doors are locked.

Salt Publishing is responsible for this book’s availability, and Clear Copy UK cannot recommend them enough as an independent publisher. I was introduced to Salt a couple of years ago when I attended a Creative Writing course in Bristol: their output is niche and diverse.

Throughout the last twelve months, books have provided a sanctuary from the noise of the outside world. Independent publishers and book shops like Max Minerva’s in Bristol helped me feel connected and listened to in a way that large chains cannot.

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Clear Copy UK Launch

Darker copy of the Clear Copy UK logo on it's website launch date

Clear Copy UK finally launches today to offer our services with an aim to improve your writing, one line at a time. We cater to all organisations and individuals looking to improve their copy. We aim to make your copy clear, concise and simple.

Clear Copy UK offers a range of services including, but are not limited to: copy editing, proofreading, web editing, and educational editing.

Our rates are currently low to encourage new business, to gain experience, and to help grow the company.

Who Am I?

My name is Sophie Dracott, and I have recently graduated from my proofreading and editing course. On graduating, I received a distinction grade and attained a level 4 diploma. I hold a bachelor of arts degree in English Language and Literature, and have over a decade’s worth of experience working in primary education. You can be assured your words are in capable hands, and I endeavour to make your copy as accurate and clear as possible.

If you are looking for any level of copy editing, please fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.