The View 2022

With so many books hitting the shelves every single week how can you possibly choose what heads to the top of your TBR?

Fear not, we've got you covered. Our fabulous panel are here to share all their hottest tips for 2022 including:

- Personal highlights so far

- Most anticipated releases coming up

- Unexpected gems

- Books to make you laugh, think and cry

Covering children's to YA through to adult fiction and non-fiction they are sure to help you find a book you can't wait to get your hands on!

Jendella Benson

Jendella is author of the novel Hope & Glory and Head of Editorial at Black Ballad – the award-winning digital platform for Black British women. She is also the host of the podcast Black Ballad Presents: The Survival Guide.

She has written for The Sunday Times STYLE Magazine, Metro Online and Independent Voices, as well as previously been a columnist for Media Diversified, MTV UK, and Christian Today.

In 2017 she completed and self-published her project, Young Motherhood. It was covered in the Guardian, BuzzFeed, The Voice Newspaper, on London Live and in publications across Europe, Africa, America, and South America.

Her short story, Kindling, was published in The Book of Birmingham and her visual work has been exhibited across the UK and internationally, most notably at the House of Commons, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and at the International Center of Photography in New York as part of ICP Projected in May 2018.

Finally, Jendella is a TEDx speaker who has also appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour, as well as speaking at various universities and conferences.

Photograph by Tols Abeni

Meera Ghanshamdas

Meera is Co-Director of Round Table Books, an award winning bookshop located in Brixton. The bookshop was founded by indie publisher Knights O f in 2019 after successfully raising more than £30,000 in crowdfunding to turn its then pop-up initiative into a permanent space. Round Table Books exists to celebrate underrepresented children’s books, writers and illustrators, curating and stocking books from the widest variety of UK and Irish publishers possible.

Venue Accessibility

Wheelchair Access:

The Lighthouse venue is fully wheelchair accessible. The venue is on two floors.

We have accessible toilets situated in Level 0 (Ground Floor) and Level -1 (Lower Ground Floor).

Ground Floor: Lighthouse Office, Reception Area & Conference Room.

The Ground Floor is accessed at street level, there is no ramp required.

Lower Ground Floor: Digital Lounge & Toilets & Baby-changing facilities.

Access to the Lower Ground Floor is by platform lift or stairs.

All levels can be accessed using a central lift which has a doorway measuring 90 cm. The lift can hold a maximum weight of 300kg. It is designed to carry two people and one wheelchair, however in cases where a power motorised wheelchair is very heavy it may only be possible to hold one wheelchair and one person. The platform lift is run by the user inside the lift pressing a button and keeping it pressed down until the desired floor is reached. Lighthouse staff will assist with use of the lift.

Important: A maximum of two wheelchairs is allowed at a time in the Lower Ground Floor / Digital Lounge for health and safety reasons.

Other facilities and support:

Portable or backed seating can be provided on request, please ask a member of the team.

For ticked events, a free companion ticket can be provided for support workers or assistants and seats can be reserved in specific locations as requested. Please inform a member of the time at the time of booking.

We welcome assistance dogs and can provide them with a bowl of water.

Concessions

If you would like to come but are unable to purchase a ticket please feel free to contact us at [email protected] and we will see what we can do.

Host or Publisher Brighton Book Festival