Books
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Your summer reading list – sorted!
Need a new read to bring to the beach (or, y'know, to keep on the bedside table)? The literary brains at Muddy have rounded up the best new and upcoming novels to add to your TBR pile.
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8 gorgeous new gardening books
Bountiful borders, striped lawn and artfully placed sculptures here we come, but first, sit down, grab a coffee and get lost in the sublime pages of these beauties (those weeds can wait another hour or so)
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Culture’s calling! What to see in London in 2022
Thrilling theatre, exhilarating art, fantastic festivals - these are the tickets you need to book now. Settle in for a capital city culture hitlist, and a jam-packed 2022.
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Are We Having Fun Yet? Highs & lows of the nativity
In an extract from her hilarious new book, Lucy Mangan tells the all-too-familiar tale of a Christmas nativity, from the sublime to the ridiculous
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Ready, set cook! 9 new cookbooks for Autumn
Want to switch up your meal plan for the new season? Or just a sucker for tempting pictures of food? If any of the above apply, we have you covered
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Autumn reads: 8 cosy books to get stuck into
Page turners, psychological dramas, a who dunnit and the latest book from the writer of Big Little Lies. We've got your next book club/sofa/commute read... sorted.
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High brow vs low brow: Muddy’s holiday reads
Need a new page-turner? From high brow tomes that'll impress your book club to bingable guilty pleasures, here's what we're *really* reading this summer.
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What’s on in Essex this August?
The social calendar’s full and celebrating summer! From sunset theatre and street festivals to chilled vibes in the vines, here’s what’s on locally this month.
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Novels set in Essex: titles to add to your reading list
Ahh, what better way to enjoy a lazy summer’s day than with a good book? Whether soaking up rays in your garden or sheltering from the rain snuggled up on your sofa, here are 9 brilliant titles, all set right here in Essex.
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What’s on in Essex: July 2021
Oh joy, July’s here and we are so ready for it! From fresh new festivals and sizzlin’ theatre shows to outrageous comedy and al fresco cinema, here’s the lowdown on what’s going on this month…
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May’s top releases for Children’s Book Week
It's Children's Book Week! Need some new reading material for your little bookbugs? These seven new releases should have them captivated (and quiet).
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Superflashy newsflash!
Claire Danes hits the county, Frinton-on-Sea bags best beach and Banksy comes to Brentwood: here's all the hot Essex goss you can handle right now
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Incoming: the hottest Essex events lined up for summer
Right now, the idea of gathering at a festival or buzzy cultural event seems like a distant dream, but once restrictions are lifted and sunnier climes return, there’s plenty to look forward to across the county this year.
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The best cookbooks to buy now
Sick of making the same seven dinners, week in, week out? Or just a sucker for tempting pictures of food? If any of the above apply, we’ve got you covered.
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Your ultimate autumn culture planner 2020
Culture vultures, grab your diaries. Here's your Muddy-curated cheat sheet to the season's best art, theatre, TV, books and film in the UK.
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Neighbourhood watch: what’s hot and happening near you now
Wondering what to get up to this week? Don't worry: we've done all the hard work for you, and Caitlin Moran is kicking us off in style with her new sofa-savvy live tour. So pre-order the wine and clear your iCal – this is one you're gonna wanna book...
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In conversation with: She Rises author, Kate Worsley
Did you write a book during lockdown? Nope, us neither. But the global pandemic-shaped pause has created a new generation of novelists who want to. So what's it really like to pen a best-seller, and are there any hot hacks? We asked an Essex pro to share her story…
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Culture: the hot summer reads set in Essex
With stay/vay-cays finally on the horizon, we’ve rounded up some of the region’s hottest reads to see you through the holidays. From ghostly sightings across the salt marshes to satire in Southend, we've got you covered
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Need a new lockdown read?
It's Independent Bookshop Week so support your local purveyor of fine literature by popping in and buying one of these super summer reads. All come recommended by the Muddy crew.
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Culture vulture: my June hitlist
Less time propping up bars means more time enjoying the creative arts right?! Here's what I'm loving this month.
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10 of the best gardening books
Fancy getting all green fingered in the garden but don't really know where to start? Here's a helping hand with 10 terrific tomes to add to your reading list.