I’m David, a former teacher of English to non-native speakers for 30 years. I have been an avid reader for most of my life, and have a huge range of genres and subjects I enjoy. Recently I have been very interested in Popular Culture and I always look out for books that will help further my interest and self-education in that area. Having stepped back from full time work recently I am looking forward to increasing the amount of book reviewing I can do on my blog, which I started in April 2021.
Blog: David Pearce – Popular Culture and Personal Passions
X: @music_pearce
Instagram: @mrdavid205
Meet David Pearce
Questions on Reviewing
What made you start a book blog and/or book review social media account?
I wanted to share books, along with other aspects of my life and interests, and I felt that I could share them in an engaging way that would connect with people.
What have you learned about the writing and/or publishing industry since reviewing?
I have learned that it’s quite disparate and it is often hard to know where to look for opportunities to review. Most of the books I have reviewed have been ones I have bought for myself and was motivated to share because of their quality. I have won a few competitions, and I always feel that it is only fair to share a glowing review of the book I won.
Are there any authors or books you have discovered through reviewing that you might have otherwise missed out on?
Tom Cox, who wrote Villager, Ring the Hill, and Help the Witch is a great example of an author I won a copy from and then wanted to read everything he’s written.
What do you think makes a great book review?
Putting your personality into it and explaining why it really spoke to you. Some of my reviews, particularly of Elle McNicoll, have been very personal reflections. Also, avoiding any spoilers whatsoever.
How do you handle reviewing a book you dislike?
I don’t review books I dislike. It’s not happened with the few books I have received with the expectation of a review thankfully. If a review was expected I would concentrate on one or two aspects I did like, but I would find it incredibly difficult. Early on in my music reviewing career I had to give honest reviews of two albums I didn’t enjoy, and I felt really guilty doing that to the artists. Since then, I have avoided anything that I would have to review negatively.
Is there anything that puts you off reviewing a book or author?
I don’t have many reasons for avoiding a book or author, although if I haven’t enjoyed previous books I won’t necessarily search an author out.
Questions About Books
Firstly, the most important question, what books are currently ‘by your bedside’?
Beyond the Wall by Katja Hoyer – a book covering the history of East Germany from 1949-1990. It’s a really in-depth read and highly recommended, but I do take it in small doses, reading and reflecting as I go. The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar – an excellent read that I am thoroughly enjoying. It’s a library book as I am on a self-imposed book buying ban this year! I really urge everyone to use their local library because it’s an amazing resource.
What children’s book would you recommend all adults read?
I enjoy going back to books like the Narnia series, especially the earlier ones. Also, Wind in the Willows really affected me when I reread it. It’s a profound meditation on friendship and home.
What was the last book you read that you would recommend?
Not necessarily the last book I read that I would recommend, because I got a proof copy last year, but a recently released book that is simply brilliant is The Barbecue at No. 9 by Jennie Godfrey. It was officially released in February and I can’t see it being beaten as the best book of the year.
Is there an author you always read?
Jennie Godfrey, Lindsey Kelk, Elle McNicoll, Tom Cox, Sebastian Faulks and Holly Smale are all authors I want to read every time they release a new book.
Who is your literary icon?
My tastes are so eclectic that I find it difficult to answer this question. As a child, my icons were Michael Bond and Target books, the two staples of my childhood reading. As a younger adult, it would be R F Delderfield, an author who is virtually forgotten these days. Now, it’s much more difficult to say, although the authors I mentioned that I always read are the nearest I have to icons.
How do you sort your books?
I try to sort them by author, but at the moment, shelf space is at a premium, so I have stacks of books that are roughly connected by genre!
What underrated book should more people read?
To Serve Them All My Days by R F Delderfield is a classic novel about schoolteacher David Powlett-Jones and I have read it at various stages throughout my life and got something different from it every time.
What are three books or genres that define your taste as a reader?
Christmas books are very special to me, and I have a whole box of them that I get down from the loft every year. I have reviews of Christmas books dotted throughout my blog and recommendations of great seasonal reads. Novels set in fantasy worlds like Narnia, Harry Potter and the Lyra Belacqua novels are very much part of my reading DNA. Rom Coms written by female authors such as Lindsey Kelk, Holly Smale and the late and very much missed Sophie Kinsella are an absolute treat for me, because I enjoy the relationships and the social commentary weaved into them. They are not the throwaway reads of popular thought, but a thriving and fascinating commentary on love and life in the 21st century.
And finally…do you have any other reviewers or bloggers you would recommend?
I really like Books By My Bedside and Bookaholic Bex.
Thank you David😊
Books By Your Bedside 
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