100 Little Pleasures: a new edition of anecdotes from William Wood

William Wood's first book of anecdotes 'A Little Book of Pleasures' was published in 2012 and was well received, particularly after winning a Bronze award at the Wishing Shelf Awards in 2013. His new expanded version of the book, 100 Little Pleasures was published at the end of March this year and is full of further delightful stories drawn from his recollections over the years.

William has always kept a diary, but as he says in the Prologue to his book, a diary is not for public view; it is an entirely personal document for the writer's eyes only and any suggestion of dipping into it to mine it for stories of a particular year or event would make him squirm. Nevertheless, in his unique style of writing in the accusative or 'you' form, he is speaking to the reader on a deeply personal level and reminding him (or her) of senses, memories and impressions that might otherwise be lost and might well have been included in his own or the readers' diaries.

William's anecdotes range from The Morning Post, through On Finishing a Swim to On Going Out Without a Phone; hardly world shattering events, but his powers of evocative description are such that the reader will be nodding in agreement and recognition of the feelings and images aroused.

William Wood is the master of the anecdote and as an expanded edition of his original stories, it is a treasure trove of delightful stories, many of which are reminders of a time gone by and a world we no longer live in.

As one reviewer wrote of the first edition: "I found it thought-provoking and it made me contemplate the simple things in my own life that give me pleasure. Some passages were so poignant or evocative that I think they will stay with me long after I've finished reading it and this book is destined to become one of my own small pleasures or treasures."

And another commented that it is "the lost art of essay writing. Brilliant pieces the reader can dip into when he pleases. The book does not have to be read at a sitting. Rather savoured at leisure."

In a world that is overwhelming us all with events of global and somewhat alarming impact, this is a book where you can not only lose yourself, but (as one reader comments) find yourself as well. 

The link to the Kindle version of the book on Amazon is here 
The link to the previous version with all its reviews is here