Amber was thrilled by this book post courtesy of Random Things Tours. Amber has secretly coveted Willow’s treasured and rather battered almanac since she saw it in the Emporium’s workshop. Some pages are stained from when they foraged for blackberries under the full moon for added potency, and others have added notes in Willow’s distinctive script. When opened, more often than not, pressed flowers and leaves fall out, each one holding a memory and connection to nature.
Amber longed for an almanac of her own. An annual extension of her Book of Shadows. With a beautiful cover and the promise of extensive information in the blurb, she’s looking forward to giving her unbiased opinion on this edition.
Book Review: The Almanac A Seasonal Guide to 2023 by Lia Leendertz
Title: The Almanac A Seasonal Guide to 2023
Author: Lia Leendertz Illustrated by Whooli Chen
Publisher: Octopus
Genre: Non-fiction, Nature
Release Date: 1st September 2022
Blurb
The sixth instalment of the bestselling season guide is here! Reconnect with the seasons in Britain and Ireland with this month-by-month guide to the world around us – including key dates, tide tables and garden tasks; constellations and moon phases; sunrises, folk songs, seasonal recipes plus a ‘bun of the month’; and – because 2023 will be a good year for planet spotting – the solar system and the zodiac.
The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 gives you all the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark, and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way. Divided into the 12 months, a set of tables each month gives it the feel and weight of a traditional almanac, providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons, perfect for walks, expeditions, meteor-spotting nights and beach holidays. There are also features on each month’s unique nature, with this instalment following the swirling micro world of the garden pond through the year. You will find yourself referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.
PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS ALMANACS
‘Indispensable’ – SIR BOB GELDOF
‘This book is your bible’ – THE INDEPENDENT
‘I love this gem of a book’ – CERYS MATTHEWS
‘Lia Leendertz’s classic almanac never fails to delight’ – THE HERALD
‘It’s a perfect Christmas present’ – ALLAN JENKINS, THE OBSERVER
‘The perfect companion to the seasons’ – INDIA KNIGHT
Thoughts from the Emporium
As you can see from the sample pages below, the beauty of the cover continued inside and gave the level of information hit the criteria Amber wanted.
As a keen amatuer gardener she enjoyed the reminder of jobs she needed to do and the recipes helped her connect the nature she loves to the kitchen she doesn’t. Most of all, she loved the easy to reach tide and celestial information without reaching for her phone.
Divided into month’s the information is accessible and diverse. With the clear layout, its it was easy to read and space to add her own notes in the margins.
This almanac is all she wanted. The compact size means it can be easily slipped inside a bag enabling it to be a constant companion for easy reference. It will be well loved over the year like Willow’s. Recommended for those who love nature, gardening or want to connect to the world around them. It will make a wondeful gift.
Author Biography
Lia Leendertz is an award winning garden and food writer based in Bristol. Her reinvention of the traditional rural almanac has become an annual must-have for readers eager to connect with the seasons, appreciate the outdoors and discover ways to mark and celebrate each month. Now established as the bestselling almanac on the market, this is the sixth instalment.
Social media
Website: Lialeendertz.com
Instagram: @lia_leendertz
Twitter: @lialeendertz
The Enchanted Emporium Bookshelf 