Trashionista: October 2006

« September 2006 | Main | November 2006 »

October 31, 2006 5:43 PM

MOVIE NEWS: The Undomestic Goddess

We mentioned a while ago that Aline Brosh McKenna, who wrote the script of The Devil Wears Prada movie, was working on Allison Pearson's I Don't Know How She Does It.

Now it seems that she's also working on a screenplay of Sophie Kinsella's The Undomestic Goddess for Universal Pictures. [via Variety]

Posted by Keris on October 31, 2006 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Devil Wears Prada, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

SPOTLIGHT: Adriana Trigiani

Diane's controversial review of Adriana Trigiani's Queen of the Big Time inspired me to spotlight her this week (Adriana, not Diane).

Born and raised in Big Stone Gap, Virginia (yes, really!) to a large Italian family, Adriana graduated from college and moved to New York City to become a playwright. After founding and performing with an all-female comedy troupe, Adriana worked as a writer/producer on TV shows including The Cosby Show.

In 1996, she wrote and directed a documentary, Queens of the Big Time. She then wrote a screenplay called Big Stone Gap, which a friend suggested she turn into a novel. Hugely successful, Big Stone Gap was followed by sequels Big Cherry Holler and Milk Glass Moon. Adriana's other books Lucia, Lucia, Queen of the Big Time and Rococo have all been New York Times bestsellers.

Adriana is adapting and directing the film version of Big Stone Gap and has also written the screenplay for Lucia, Lucia. She lives in New York (in Greenwich Village, no less) with her husband and daughter (whose name is Lucia!).

Along with her sister, Mary, Adriana has written a cookery book memoir called Cooking With My Sisters. Listen to an interview with the Trigiani sisters here.

Carry on over the cut for Adriana's bibliography.

Big Stone Gap
Big Cherry Holler
Milk Glass Moon
Lucia, Lucia
Queen of the Big Time
Rococo (see Adriana talking about Rococo here
Back to Big Stone Gap/Home to Big Stone Gap

Did you know? Adriana has also worked as a cook, nanny, house cleaner and office temp.

Posted by Keris on October 31, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance, Series, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Bee Season by Myla Goldberg

Beeseason Unlike The Secret Life of Bees, Myla Goldberg's Bee Season actually is a book about bees, although not the buzzing black and yellow kind but the culturally-entrenched American tradition of spelling bees. Eliza Naumann is a mediocre pupil and unremarkable in every way until one day, aged eleven, she discovers a sudden talent for spelling. Her father Saul, a Jewish cantor and scholar of Kabbalah (the serious, mystical orthodox version rather than Madonna-style Kabbalah lite) who's never paid her that much attention before is suddenly her biggest fan and mentor, and together they travel the country as Eliza's prodigious talent grows.

But back at home, Eliza's brother Aaron is feeling neglected and finds an unusual way to cope and Miriam, Eliza and Aaron's mother, is reverting to an unhealthy compulsion that she thought Saul's love had cured. Maybe Eliza's new-found talent isn't quite the blessing she once thought?

With elements of mysticism/magical realism plus explorations of faith, mental health issues and family dynamics, this is a book that simultaneously manages to be very deep and very readable. Myla Goldberg's style is witty yet understated and unpretentious and this is a book which handles several issues whilst never becoming depressing. It's poignant yet funny, sharply drawn but sympathetic and the characters are very believable. It's a great example of 'show don't tell' writing, in which characters' motivations and feelings are revealed through the smallest actions and the reader is credited with the intelligence to understand them. It's also interesting to get an insight into spelling bees, a curiously American phenomenon which most of us have heard of yet never participated in! [The film Spellbound is worth a watch for the same reason, incidentally].

Much more than a coming of age story or a book about spelling, Bee Season deserves the buzz (sorry!) that its publication recieved.

Rating: 5 out of 5

*DID YOU KNOW?* Bee Season was made into a film in 2005, starring Richard Gere, Juliette Binoche and Kate Bosworth.

Like this? Try We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 31, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (0)

GUEST BLOG: Francesca Segre

I know that it isn't yet November and NaNoWriMo doesn't start until tomorrow (or rather, a minute past midnight tonight) but in case anyone was still on the fence about whether or not to take part, our first NaNovember guest blog from author Francesca Segre may inspire you. (Look out for more from Francesca during NaNovember!)

Over to Francesca ...

November. Ah, what a special month. Three years ago this month I did what I did not know was possible. I wrote a book. Yup. I sat down on November 1, 2003 and four weeks later, I had written approximately 200 pages. Within six months, I had an agent, and in March of 2006, my novel Daughter of the Bride was born.

The novelty of writing in November has everything to do with a great program organized by Nanowrimo.org (National Novel Writing Month,) which encourages writers around the world to dedicate November to making 50 thousand words of their novel happen. Nano sent me encouraging emails throughout the month, provided an online graph to chart my word count progress, and created a community of other masochistic writers with whom I could commiserate. If you want to write a book but can’t muster the discipline, this is a great kick in the pants. And there’s usually a cool T-shirt to boot.

I admit, my Nano experience of writing, getting published, and landing a movie deal with Goldie Hawn is not the average Nano occurrence. But I’d argue that if happened once, it can probably happen again, and I’m not one to pass up an opportunity.

I’m doing Nano again this year on the off chance that I get lucky twice. How about you?

Posted by Keris on October 31, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, NaNovember | Permalink | Comments (4)

Pop! author causes controversy

Popart I love the TV show Veronica Mars (even if I don't always know what's happening due to the labyrinthine story lines and the fact that I didn't see the first two series), so i was excited to hear that one of the show's writers, Aury Wallington, had written a new YA novel, called Pop! all about a seventeen year-old girl's quest to lose her virginity. Nothing too outrageous there (teens have been reading about sex since cavemen learnt to scrape crude drawings on caves, surely?) but rumour has it that Borders shops in the U.S won't be stocking the book... something they neither confirm nor deny, according to Galleycat.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 31, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

Laurell K. Hamilton essay

Happy Halloween! As today is October 31st, I thought it was a good time to bring you this essay from Laurell K. Hamilton, which she wrote for the wonderful books site/shop Powells. It's about dealing with rejection- and how a determined writer should never give up!

Not very spooky perhaps, but her books are a little more Halloween-appropriate, as discussed in last week's Thursday Three.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 31, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence

Amysedaris_1 Anyone who's read any David Sedaris will know that his family's a little...kooky, to say the least. So when I tell you that his little sister, actress/comedian and now author Amy Sedaris, has brought out a new book about entertaining, you'll understand that she's not exactly positioning herself as the new Martha Stewart. The title of her book, I Like You: Hospitality Under The Influence might be another clue, too! The recipes are real, but the delivery is definitely tongue-in-cheek.

According to her website*: "Sample chapters include: A Greek Dinner Date; Grieving; Entertaining Children; A Rich Uncle Comes to Visit; Baby Shower; The Elderly; Cooking for Oneself; Picnic; and a variety of courtships, such as dating a hunter, a dieter, or an alcoholic."

*great name! Nothing wrong with some healthy self-esteem.

If you like this type of fun and determinedly non-politically correct home entertaining guide, you might also enjoy A Slob in the Kitchen (Recipes and Entertaining Advice from a Housewife Superstar ) by the ever-humble U.S TV presenter/model/author Karen Duffy.

Fanny Craddock must be turning in her grave.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 31, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 30, 2006 12:18 PM

MOVIE NEWS: Little Children

I absolutely loved Tom Perrotta's Little Children. I found it interesting, or rather irritating, that it examined a lot of the same issues as Jennifer Weiner's Goodnight Nobody, but while that book was dismissed as chick lit, Little Children was lauded as literature. Funny that. (Yep, I'm on my hobby horse again!)

Anyway, the film's out soon, stars Kate Winslet, and looks great.

Posted by Keris on October 30, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (2)

It's almost NaNovember!

We had so much fun with Bafab week at the beginning of this month, that we've decided to repeat and extend the festivities next month! November is National Novel Writing Month - more commonly known as NaNoWriMo - an annual challenge to write 50,000 words in the 30 days of November.

During what we're calling NaNovember, we'll have interviews with - and guest blogs by - authors whose NaNo novels have been published (including Trashionista fave Lani Diane Rich), reviews of the books and - yes! - more giveaways. And that's not all! We'll also have features and updates on the NaNo experiences of certain Trashionistas and much much more.

It's going to be great and it all kicks off on Wednesday 1st NaNovember. You'd be mad to miss it.

Posted by Keris on October 30, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

I know I mentioned last week that the word "unputdownable" is overused in book reviews, but it got me thinking about the books I didn't want to put down and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins was definitely one of those.

It's a melodramatic mystery thriller (in fact Collins is often credited with being the originator of the modern mystery). Told by a selection of different narrators, along with diary extracts and other documents, the book begins with Walter Hartright accepting a position as a drawing master to two "young ladies" - Marian Halcombe and Laura Fairlie. But before taking up the position he meets a mysterious woman all dressed in white and helps her escape from her pursuers. He is horrified when he hears that she has escaped from an asylum.

On arriving at his new home, Walter falls immediately in love with Laura (who looks a lot like the woman in white), but Laura has promised her father that she will marry evil Sir Percival Glyde. And then - and I don't say this lightly - all hell breaks loose.

Don't be put off by the fact that The Woman in White is a "classic", it's amazingly readable and seems much more modern than anything by Collins's friend and contemporary, Charles Dickens. With wonderful, original, infuriating and dreadful characters, a tragic love story, twists and turns, shocks and reversals, you'll want to stay up all night to finish this book.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Did you know? The Woman in White has been turned into a musical.

Posted by Keris on October 30, 2006 in British Authors, Classic Novels, Crime / Mystery, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Writers talk about writing- all day long!

Writers FM is a twenty-four hour radio show broadcast over the internet. You can listen to it via the website (all day long, should you wish!) or download it in podcast form. It features author interviews, writing chat and even music, too. When I tuned in, there was an interesting discussion on writer's block.

Another great writing-related radio show now available in podcast form is Writers on Writing. Upcoming guests include the wonderful Kate Atkinson and Oprah fave Janet Fitch and past guests include... well, pretty much everyone (check out the list on the site, and the teeny writing they had to use to cram in everyone's name!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 30, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Technology | Permalink | Comments (3)

More Richard and Judy book news

What's the best gift book to get your mum, dad, boyfriend or best friend? Well, as you should already know, Richard and Judy will be helping you make that choice on December 9th, and we now know (thanks to Bookseller.com) that Rupert Everett, Billie Piper, Gordon Ramsay and the Little Britain boys Matt Lucas and Matt Walliams will also be there to help decide on the best books for Xmas 06. Discover the top picks on Saturday 9th December.

And! Over on the 4 Radio website you can download discussions of this year's R & J book club picks (or the first four of them, anyway: Arthur & George, Empress Orchid, The Farm and Moondust). The new Richard and Judy book club will be coming up early next year (I'm excited!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 30, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Richard and Judy, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 27, 2006 6:24 PM

Virtual bookshops

Earlier this month, Diane told us about Second Life - a virtual world in which .. er .. you can do virtual stuff. Yeah, okay, I don't understand it at all. But I've just read something that's definitely piqued my interest: a virtual version of legendary Paris bookshop Shakespeare & Company.

According to an article in the Guardian, the Second Life version of the shop works well: "I walk through the doors and into a room lined with bookshelves filled with brightly coloured spines, armchairs and stools tucked into cosy nooks and crannies ... It is also a bookshop with a sense of atmosphere, the kind where you feel that maybe you'd like to sit down, kick back and browse for a while. It conveys both warmth and purpose - features that many virtual world buildings lack."

Which got me thinking .. what if we could create our own perfect Trashionista (virtual) bookshop? What are the must-have features (sofas, coffee, George Clooney at the till)? Where would it be (New York, Rome, London)? Which authors would we invite for readings? What would our bestsellers list look like? All suggestions gratefully received.

(Just don't expect me to actually create it. Like I said, Second Life flummoxes me ...) [via AOL's Book Maven]

Posted by Keris on October 27, 2006 in Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (3)

Ghost writers are in the money

We've talked about ghost-written books before, mostly agreeing we feel a bit sorry for the authors who don't get credited for what they've written, whilst celebrities like Jordan get lots of cash and are hailed as "authors". (Of course, if writers want to take on that kind of writing gig, that's their lookout). This week The Scotsman reported that ghostwriters are now earning a hefty chunk of those huge advances paid to celebrity "authors" (as they should, right? Or will that encouarge the trend to continue?)

[Via Galleycat].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 27, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yet more book swapping

Here at Trashionista, we love book-swapping sites. Well you can't turn your nose up at free books, can you? Now there's an online book exchange store!

At Novel Action you pick the books you want from the site and send them an equal number of your own unwanted books in exchange. It's just for the US at the moment, but I imagine if it's successful it won't be long before there are international branches (or international copycat sites). Plus there's a forum called the Novel Cafe.

Posted by Keris on October 27, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (2)

MOVIE NEWS: A Guide to Recognising Your Saints

Saints_1 Based on the book by Dito Montiel, which gives an autobiographical account of growing up in Queens, New York in the 1980s, A Guide to Recognising Your Saints is a new film starring Robert Downey Junior and Rosario Dawson. (It was also co-produced by Sting). It was released on 13 October in the US, and is coming to the UK on 23 February. Watch a trailer here.

[Via The Ellen Degeneres Show, Amazon and Allocine].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 27, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Movie News, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani

Queenbigtime I first discovered Adriana Trigiani when Richard and Judy chose Lucia, Lucia as one of their first book club choices. After loving that book, I went on to devour her Big Stone Gap series. So I was excited when Queen of the Big Time was released last year. The story of Nella Castelluca and her hard-working farm family, the novel covers several decades of Nella's life. Trigiani weaves together a story of love, loss, heartbreak, disappointment and hope.

And yet she doesn't do it very well.

I want to state up front that this is no criticism of her writing talent- Adriana Trigiani can create an evocative atmosphere like no-one on earth, especially in her mouth-watering descriptions of food! But this is a book that covers a long time period, and where a lot happens- and yet there's absolutely no plot so I felt very unsatisfied and disappointed after reading it. For a novel like this to work, I think it's better to centre it around one particular aspect or time of a person's life. You can't just describe the ups and downs of a person's life and call it a story. Clearly Trigiani worked hard at creating an interesting cast of characters, but then she didn't do anything with them. And her research is woeful- she has characters whose ancestry is Welsh, whom she refers to as English. (Let's just look at that map of the British Isles again, shall we? Write out 100 times, "England and Britain are not the same thing"...)

I'm also getting more than a little fed up with the Trigiani formula: young woman has to make sacrifices for her family; big family trip to Italy; lost love turns up and woman is/isn't reunited... come on, isn't it time for a change? When it works well, it doesn't matter so much that it's a formula, but when it doesn't, as in this book, it's an added irritation. I'll still give Adriana Trigiani's work a try in future, but maybe I'll wait until she's deviated from this well-worn and disappointing subject matter.

You can read an extract here (Amazon readers don't seem to agree with my assessment!)

Rating: 1 out of 5

Like this? Try The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (it's heaps better!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 27, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 1/5, Recent Release, Richard and Judy, Romance, Rubbish Books | Permalink | Comments (2)

FRIDAY FLICK: Bend It Like Beckham

Based on the young adult book by Narinder Dhami, Bend It Like Beckham is the enormously successful British movie that foisted the astoundingly irritating Keira Knightley on an unsuspecting world.

Parminder Nagra is Jess, an Asian girl who idolises David Beckham and wants nothing more than to play football. Despite the fact that her strict Sikh family is utterly against it, Jess joins a local women's football team and meets Jules (Keira Knightley). Jules's mother doesn't approve of her playing football either (believing it will lead to lesbianism!) and this, along with the girls' shared love of football and crush on their coach (played by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) cements their friendship.

I found this quite a sweet film, but I have no idea why it was so successful - it reminds me a little of those Children's Film Foundation films we used to be shown at school (that's if you're as old as me). Mildly entertaining, but really nothing special.

Posted by Keris on October 27, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

Book stuff on Handbag.com

Handbags and books have been linked for a long time. Not only is, "A handbag?!" a famous funny line from The Importance Of Being Earnest but they're the perfect place to stash your latest read for bus journeys or a quick lunchtime catch-up. Plus, you can buy bags that look like books.

So it's no surprise that women's website Handbag has a thriving books section- with book news and reviews and a recently-revamped books message board, which even has its own monthly book club. Plus, they're offering an exclusive free story, The Commuter, as a podcast for your journey to/from work. (The blurb uses the phrase "agony of single life" which frankly makes me blanch, but you don't have to let that put you off!)

If you want to read more bag-related news, visit our sister site The Bag Lady.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 27, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Non Fiction, Recent Release, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 26, 2006 4:11 PM

More "chick" and less "lit"

I've read a couple of interviews today with opposite takes on the same subject - how do authors feel about the term "chick lit".

In the November 2005 issue of Writer's Digest (no, it doesn't take me a year to read a magazine - I just bought it on ebay), Melissa Bank says she doesn't like the term, saying, "It sounds derogatory to me - that it's not serious or substantial or wouldn't be of interest to anybody who isn't a 'chick'. I feel like it's a funny ghettoization, the way African-American or gay literature is classified that way. It puts them in a category that says, Oh, you'll want to read this if you're one of 'them' - that it's not really for everybody. It's a code word for limited audience or limited appeal."

But don't all books have "limited audience or limited appeal"? Let's face it, if the term "chick lit" hadn't been invented Bank's books would be categorised as "women's fiction", wouldn't they? I mean, her first book was called The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing - does she really think men are going to read a book with a title like that? (Bearing in mind that men apparently don't read books by women authors no matter what they're called!)

Read on for Jennifer Weiner's take.

Jennifer Weiner is more realistic in an interview with nextbook. When asked how she feels about being called "literary" in relation to her new book, The Guy Not Taken, she says, "I will admit to being sensitive to the chick lit moniker when my first book came out. I was like, 'I went to Princeton just like Jonathan Safran Foer, goddamnit!' But I realized if you call a book Good in Bed and there's a pair of legs and a piece of cake on the cover you're not exactly asking for a Pulitzer. And I also realized that nobody really cares, readers just want what they want. And, at the end of the day, I'm writing the books I want to write, so who cares about the rest of it?"

So what do you think? Does it matter? Can "chicks" ever really be "lit"?

Posted by Keris on October 26, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (8)

THURSDAY THREE: Spooky Stuff

Witches and vampires and werewolves, oh my! As it's Halloween on Tuesday, I thought it was the ideal time to do a ghoulish Thursday Three...

Enchanted Inc by Shanna Swendson is a gentle introduction to the theme, as it has a paranormal setting, but is good old-fashioned very readable chick-lit. It's the story of Katie, who moves to new York from Texas and finds that not only is magic real- but she's immune from its effects and the fairies and elves of NYC need her help...

Hold on to your hats- we'll go further into fiction's dark underbelly over the cut... (making ghostly "woooh" noises is optional).

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong is the story of Elena, the only female werewolf on the planet. She wants to make it in the 'real world', trying to fit in as a human, but comes to realise that you can only ignore who you really are for so long...

Laurell K. Hamilton is the queen of spooky stories, and with titles like The Laughing Corpse I'm not surprised! Heroine of her stories is Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter. When Anita finds vampires, she kills them and re-animates their victims. She also investigates grisly murders and basically saves the world in ass-kicking Buffy style... so you know who to call if you have any trouble come October 31st!

Thursday Three Archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 26, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Series, Supernatural, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

Reading Beverly Hills 90210

Lord, did I ever love Beverly Hills 90210. I loved Brandon. I loved Dylan. I hated Brenda (didn't everyone hate Brenda?). I wanted to go to school there and work on the newspaper with Aaaaandrea and punch Ian Ziering in the face during the opening credits (playfully and in time with the music, of course). Ah, those were the days.

If you miss it as much as I do (although I seriously doubt you do), you'll be delighted to know there are LOADS of 90210 related books! Unfortunately, because the show's been over for so long, many of them are out of print, but I'll do what I can ...

After that introduction, I'd better start with a serious one. How about Beverly Hills, 90210: Television, Gender, and Identity (Feminist Cultural Studies, the Media, and Political Culture) by E Graham McKinley? Based on, according to Entertainment Weekly, "intense sessions of anthropological research", the book focuses on how watching the show informs the construction of identity for young female viewers. Blimey.

Carry on over the cut for more frivolous picks.

I can't see an authorised guide, but there's an unauthorised guide with a startlingly boring cover.

There are loads of novelisations, like Two Hearts, Senior Year and More Than Words.

And - oh look! - The "I Hate Brenda" Book!

There's also a book called All I Need to Know I Learned on Beverly Hills 90210 which I really want to read, but can't find anywhere. Damn.

Posted by Keris on October 26, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Series, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend by Alison Pace

Since, as Diane's just pointed out, Alison Pace has finished writing her third novel, I thought today would be a good time to review her first: If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend.

Gallery manager Jane Laine is sent on a five-month international art fair tour with British artist, Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons (as we have seen, American authors think all British men are named Ian). Unimpressed with his art, Jane thinks Ian's a fraud and isn't impressed with the assignment either. In fact, Ian makes Jane nervous, but, as they travel to London, Rome, Chicago, Santa Fe, she finds that there's much more to Ian - and to his art - than she originally thought. Can you guess what's going to happen?

I really enjoyed this book. Jane is sweet and relateable and Ian is quite the fox. Alison Pace has been an art researcher and worked at Sotheby's and it shows - the art and art fairs are interesting and convincing. Jane's boss, Dick Reese of the Dick Reese Gallery is fabulously awful and with relevant Andy Warhol quotes heading up each chapter and a cameo appearance by Owen Wilson, If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend is an original, fun and funny read. Roll on Alison's third book!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Pick Me Up by Zoe Rice

Posted by Keris on October 26, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Alison Pace's next book (and what she's watching now she's finished it!)

If you've never read the blog of Pug Hill author Alison Pace, then you've been missing out on a great read- and her latest book-related gossip. This week she revealed that she has turned in the first draft of her third novel, Through Thick And Thin, which is to be released late summer next year. She also discussed her new favourite TV show (which I can't wait to see, after watching the first ten minutes on Youtube): Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Another one to add to our list of chick-lit authors' fave TV shows!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 26, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chocolate and books- delicious!

Galaxy There's nothing nicer than curling up by a winter fire with a big bar of chocolate and a good book, is there? Chocolate manufacturers have obviously caught on to this fact, as Aero has teamed up with Amanda Holden to sponsor their book club (current read: The Three Day Rule by husband-wife team Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees; past reads include Twenty Times a Lady by Karyn Bosnak and The Accidental Mother by Rowan Coleman). Galaxy chocolate also have a book club in the pages of Glamor magazine (UK only), where recommended books have included The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult. And! Galaxy have now created a special suede book cover- which would make a very luxe Christmas pressie for any book-lovers you know. And I do mean luxe- it's £30 from Selfridges, but would hide the fact that you're reading this, or preserve your copy of this. (Of course, if you wanted to be a lot less tasteful, there's always Flapart instead...)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 26, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Rees, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 25, 2006 7:08 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Last week, you were all in favour (although Gemma was a little reluctant!) of the new Jane Austen covers. I have to say I agree with you, I think they're fab!

This week, I want to ask you about something completely different... Novelisations. There's something strange about adding '-isations' on the end of the word novel, isn't there? And yet they're huge sellers. As Keris has pointed out, there's a lot of them relating to teen shows like Dawson's Creek and The O.C.

In case you're unfamiliar with the term, a novelisation is a book created after the fact: a novel re-creating or expanding the storyline of a popular film or TV series. Keris has confessed to reading a Gremlins novelisation (hey, there's no shame in it!) and I had one or two Beverly Hills 90210- themed novelisations back in the '90s... But what do you think about them: are they a great way of prolonging the pleasure, or a sad attempt to extract money from the susceptible tweenage market? In other words...

Is it a Yay or a Nay, and Why?

Yay or Nay Archives.

[Don't forget it's Yay or Nay day at Hippyshopper, Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]

Posted by Aigua Media on October 25, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Series, Television, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: Dating Big Bird by Laura Zigman

Zigman_2 Dating Big Bird was published in 2000, and was Laura Zigman's second novel (after Animal Husbandry, which was filmed as Someone Like You. Phew!) It's the story of Ellen Franck, a clever, attractive New York woman looking for a man who wants the same things she does: stability, children and commitment. She's not having much luck. Instead, she has a sexless relationship with an older man, whom she loves but who's too scared of being hurt to commit to her. Meanwhile, her sister is happily married in the suburbs, with an adorable little girl who can't quite fill the child-shaped gap in Ellen's life...

Although it might sound like a familiar chick-lit story (same old, same old), Zigman's talent is that her books aren't that predictable. Even though this was written a few years ago (meaning she was ahead of most 'mum-lit' writers) it still feels very fresh. There's a real emotional depth to her writing, which kept me hooked. I've said before that this isn't a topic that really interests me on a personal level, but I found Dating Big Bird very moving, and it even made me cry. As well as Ellen's story, her friend Marian is in a similar situation while their boss, fashion designer Karen Lipp, is pregnant and doesn't seem to care.

Zigman is a very generous writer in that she wants the best for all her characters, and creates believable people that we care about and can relate to even if we're not in the same situation ourselves. She also works well writing about New York (she deviated to Washington for her third novel Her, which didn't work quite as well). For some reason, she doesn't seem to be as well-known here as she is in the U.S, which is a great shame, as she's a top-class chick lit author. If you've never read any of her books, this would be a great place to start.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Isabel's Bed by Elinor Lipman.

Posted by Aigua Media on October 25, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Are you the Next Great Crime Writer?

Enough of this namby-pamby girlie nonsense (I'm joking, of course), Court TV is running a contest to find the Next Great Crime Writer.

The judges include crime authors Faye Kellerman, Jonathan Kellerman and Lisa Scottoline (watch her welcome message on the site - frightened me out of my wits), and the prize is a book deal with Regan (an imprint of HarperCollins).

Sadly (for us Brits) it's only open to US residents over the age of 18 and the closing date is November 27th. [via MediaBistro]

Related posts: HarperTeen FanLit / Avon FanLit

Posted by Keris on October 25, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Crime / Mystery | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trashionista recommends: Relentlessly Positive

You know how much we love The Devil Wears Prada round here, but we appreciate it might not be quite as entertaining if you actually do have a Boss From Hell!

Fab new site Relentlessly Positive has some tips if you're in an Andie-esque situation, but even if you're not, it's worth reading for the title alone: The Devil Wears Primark. Genius.

Posted by Keris on October 25, 2006 in Book related, Devil Wears Prada | Permalink | Comments (0)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Megan Crane

Megan Crane is the author of Everyone Else's Girl and English As A Second Language. She's also a contributor to fab group blog, The5Spot and now lives in Los Angeles after spending five years in the UK. (Plus she's another of those 'author friends of Trashionista' Diane was just talking about!)

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Meredith must move home to confront high school ghosts and (yikes!) her family!

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

I write in my fabulous home office, which is my desk shoved in the corner of my apartment. It's very glam.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

I couldn't possibly pick, but if I had to, it would be between Anna Maxted's Getting Over It and Marian Keyes's Rachel's Holiday.

(Rachel's Holiday is Hester Browne's fave too!)

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

Am I allowed to say Buffy? For obvious ass-kicking reasons?

(Yep, our favourite authors are Buffy-mad!)

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

Just write! That's the secret! And it is also advice I should take myself, as I am a world-class procrastinator.

What are you reading at the moment?

You Could Do Better by Stephanie Lehmann

(Which we loved!)

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

I've been finishing a few things for my third book Frenemies (coming next June), and then I'll be diving back in to my 4th novel for Warner's 5 Spot. I'd love to tell you about it, but I'm not really a plotter, so I don't quite know myself.

Thanks so much, Megan - and apologies for all the interruptions! And, yes, I know I always say this but reviews of Everyone Else's Girl and English As A Second Language are coming soon. Really!

Posted by Keris on October 25, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

No more giveaways... until next week!

Yep, Bafab was a whole heap of fun, and we had a brilliant response from all of you. (Thanks for making it so special! *sob*) We're still getting the occasional hopeful Bafab competition entry but I'm afraid those book giveaways have now ended.

But don't despair! We have more giveaways coming during November, and some very exciting stuff on the way... stay tuned to find out what!

Posted by Aigua Media on October 25, 2006 in Bafab, Book News, Book related, Competition | Permalink | Comments (0)

Authors love Shiny's sites!

We know that authors like Hester Browne, Laura Dave, Mary Sharratt, Shanna Swendson and Lauren Baratz-Logsted (to name just a few!) are big fans of Trashionista, but now it seems that published authors can't get enough of Shiny's other sites, either... Today, Corrie Blog reports on their own best-selling female fiction writer fan. (Though they might have phrased it more succinctly!) Perhaps she'll pop by Trashionista soon...

Authors and non-authors among you- which of our sister sites do you also enjoy? (I love Shiny Shiny and Corrie Blog despite knowing very little about gadgets or Coronation Street!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 25, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 24, 2006 11:18 PM

One in ten kids goes without a bedtime story

Did you have a bedtime story every night as a child? I know I did most nights, if not all. And since I learnt to read for myself, I've read pretty much every night before bed! The two can't be unconnected... And yet, according to a BBC article which reports on a recent survey of UK parents, one in ten children never has a bedtime story, and only a third of parents read to their children every day. It's my part of the country that's the worst, with a whopping 49% of Yorkshire parents neglecting their literary duties. Over a quarter of parents overall admitted to skipping a few pages (perhaps these would be more to your tastes if you're one of them!- that's a joke, by the way...) I know parents have a lot on, but it's important to read to your children at least occasionally- and no skipping pages!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 24, 2006 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (4)

SPOTLIGHT: Lauren Weisberger

This week we turn our attention to arguably the most successful chick lit author of the last few years - Lauren Weisberger.

Lauren was born in 1977 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Cornell University in 1999 she backpacked around Europe and Asia before moving to New York to work as Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour. Amazingly, it was the very first job she applied for.

This experience inspired her first novel The Devil Wears Prada, which was published in 2003 to great fanfare and enormous popularity. It was subsequently made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway (see what we thought of it) and is soon to be a TV series too!

Lauren's second novel, Everyone Worth Knowing (for which she received a $1million advance), was published in October 2005 and was also a New York Times bestseller, despite the general consensus being that it's not quite as good as her debut (USA Today declared it "a major letdown").

Lauren lives in New York and is working on her third novel (yep, another $1million advance).

Continue over the cut for her bibliography and more

The Devil Wears Prada
Everyone Worth Knowing

Click here for a list of Lauren's favourite books.

Did you know? Lauren's a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy (like some other of our favourite authors!)

Posted by Keris on October 24, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Devil Wears Prada, Fashion-Lit, Modern Fiction, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto

We recently told you that Marisa Acocella Marchetto's Cancer Vixen is to be made into a film starring Cate Blancett.

I was desperate to read it from the minute I heard about it and I got the chance last weekend. The word 'unputdownable' is overused in book reviews. I mean, it's not true, is it? There's no book that you literally can't put down, but there are some books that once you start reading you don't want to stop and, for me, Cancer Vixen was one of those books. I've never read any graphic novels so I opened the book not knowing quite what to expect, but it sucked me in from the very first page. Carry on over the cut to find out why.

Marisa was a successful New York cartoonist and about to get married - quite late in life, it has to be said - when she found a lump in her breast. We find out that it's cancer on page 2 and from there we're thrown straight into her reaction, and that of her family and friends. Plus how is she going to tell her fiance? And how's she going to pay for the treatment? She's freelance and she's let her insurance lapse.

Luckily Marisa's friends, family and fiance are all wonderful and she keeps her spirits up by working and making sure she wears the most fabulous shoes to all her chemo and radiotherapy appointments.

It sound stressful and sad, doesn't it? But Marisa's very funny and her illustrations add to the humour. Her drawing of 'angry' cancer cells 'magnified 3 gazillion times' giving the finger with their tongues stuck out made me laugh out loud. There are some sad moments, of course. There's a moving interlude about Marisa's experience of 9/11 and something that happens as a result of her treatment actually made me sob, but in the main this book is hilarious, uplifting and, yes, unputdownable. Read it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try My (So-Called) Normal Life by Erin Zammett

Posted by Keris on October 24, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (5)

Adopt a book!

Children, unwanted animals, books... Soon there will be nothing you can't adopt! The British Library, which has the world's greatest collection of books, is offering the chance to adopt a book for yourself, or as a present for a loved one. It's really more like sponsoring a book, as you don't actually get to take it home and read it, but you do get to help preserve our literary heritage. And you can choose which book to adopt! Prices start at £25 and there's more information on their website.

[Via Mslexia magazine].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 24, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related, Classic Novels | Permalink | Comments (0)

Blogger Dooce forced to produce a book

Dooce is a huge popular American blogger, and I've written before about bloggers turned authors on the site- so the idea of a blook by Dooce was a mouth-watering prospect to me and thousands of Dooce fans. But it's not going to happen- or at least, not quite as planned... She'd signed up to produce a book for publishers Kensington- then apparently changed her mind. Instead of letting it go, Kensington took her to court to compel her to produce a book for them (and not just a notebook with 'I hate Kensington' copied 100 times)- and they won. Dooce (aka Heather Armstrong) will now be editing an anthology for the publishers- I'm sure that will be great fun on both sides, with no hard feelings! How about The Awkward Anthology for a title?

[Via Galleycat].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 24, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (3)

Studying Zadie Smith

The Guardian had an interesting piece yesterday about school set texts.

The only books I remember reading at school were Jane Eyre and The Importance of Being Ernest, but, according to The Guardian, this year's A level candidates were being examined on Zadie Smith, Julian Barnes and Louis de Bernières. Next year's exams will feature AS Byatt's Possession and Michael Frayn's Spies.

The novelists most widely-read by students are Margaret Atwood and Ian McEwan (I studied both on my degree course). Apparently (and incredibly) Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale has been studied "as much as Pride and Prejudice (and a great deal more than any other 19th-century novel)." But McEwan's Enduring Love is hot on its heels. Atwood's Cat's Eye, Alias Grace and Oryx and Crake have all appeared on course lists as has McEwan's The Child in Time and Atonement.

The popular of "post-colonial literature" at universities (yep, that was one of my courses too) has led to Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, Michael Ondaatje's The English Patient and Zadie Smith's White Teeth appearing on reading lists.

And the benefits aren't just becoming part of the canon - with 80,000 candidates sitting English A-level each year, there's the sales potential to consider.

So what modern books do you think should be studied at schools and universities? And are there any books you were forced to study that you really wish you could have avoided?

Posted by Keris on October 24, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (8)

October 23, 2006 5:49 PM

BOOK REVIEW: As Seen on TV by Sarah Mlynowski

Sarah Mlynowski's As Seen on TV was one of the earliest reality TV based books of which there are now many!

When Sunny Langstein's boyfriend asks her to move to New York and in with him, she leaves Florida and her job behind. So when she fails to find work in New York and then gets the chance to audition for Party Girls, a new reality version of Sex and the City, the decision is easy.

Sunny not only has to pretend to be single, but dye her hair and change her name (to Sunny Lang). And then when she starts enjoying the spotlight and its inherent temptations a little too much it looks like her move to New York might not turn out quite as planned.

I really enjoyed this book. Sarah Mlynowski has a bright and chatty style and the details of the reality show process are very funny and, presumably, quite realistic. One question on the application form made me laugh out loud:

Are you fat? Please circle Yes or No

The issues raised by instant fame are dealt with intelligently and amusingly and the clever epilogue made the hairs on my arms stand up!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Posted by Keris on October 23, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

Davidsed_1 American David Sedaris is well-known across the pond for his humorous essays about his eccentric family and the strange things that happen to him, but he's a lot less well-known over here, despite the fact that he lives in Europe (in France). Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is his most recent book, published last year. After loving one of his earlier offerings, Me Talk Pretty One Day (click that link to read an extract), I was a little disappointed by his other books Barrel Fever and Naked, which I found a bit patchy. Thankfully, with Dress... Sedaris is back on very funny form.

The autobiographical stories/essays in this collection span from Sedaris's childhood- taking in his weird neighbours, rich old relatives and childhood bullies- to the modern day and the problems of how to get rid of mice in your French farmhouse (drown them on your front doorstep?) There's some very unusual characters here but most entertaining are David and his family, which includes his chain-smoking mother and perma-swearing brother Paul, and his sister Tiffany, who likes to chat whilst on the toilet... they're an odd, colourful bunch, and an endless source of amusement. Not because we're laughing at them, but with them (and maybe feeling a little bit better about ourselves in the process...) David is also endearingly honest about his somewhat obsessive-compulsive tendencies and those odd thoughts that most of us tend to keep to ourselves!

It's hard for me to believe, but I know not everyone loves this type of humour. If Woody Allen's films leave you cold and you think Oscar Wilde, Dorothy Parker and Carrie Fisher are over-rated hags (what?!), you probably won't enjoy this book. Likewise, if you're offended by swearing and sexual innuendo (not to mention mouse-drowning) there's moments here that will make you cringe. But if you like a book to make you laugh and reading about someone else's problems makes you feel better, this book is a dream.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Conversations and Cosmopolitans by Robert Rave and Jane Rave; Queen of the Oddballs by Hillary Carlip.

Remember Meg Tilly?

Because I'm a dork, I mostly know Meg Tilly from Masquerade (starring Rob Lowe), but she's appeared in plenty of more successful films including The Big Chill, The Two Jakes and Valmont, and received a best-supporting actress nomination for Agnes of God.

What I didn't know is that she's no longer acting - she's now a novelist. She's recently released a book called Gemma plus a 1995 book, Singing Songs, has been reissued. She's currently working on a young adult book.

[via Galleycat]

Posted by Keris on October 23, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Celebrity Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: The Self Shelf

As I'm sure you've guessed by now, I love all things book-related (though I haven't yet given in to that side table disguised as a stack of giant-books) and this is genius:

It's a floating shelf disguised to look like a book. Available from firebox.com

The title of the book is "This Is Not A Book" in French. Classy!

Related posts: Reading is Sexy T-shirt / Nancy Drew Stationery / Book Bags

Posted by Keris on October 23, 2006 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (8)

October 20, 2006 10:31 PM

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Marie Claire

This month's Marie Claire magazine is a veritable smorgasboard of delights for the discerning Trashionista!

Not only is there an interview with Devil Wears Prada and Princess Diaries star Anne Hathaway (looking like a young Liza Minnelli on the cover, in my opinion), there's a short feature about Janet Evanovich's favourite books (she thinks the fictional hero she most resembles is Bridget Jones) and the scoop on Lauren Weisberger's favourite music (Broadway soundtracks), films (Dirty Dancing), Books (Love Story) and fashion (jeans!).

Shockingly though, Marian Keyes's column seems to have ended. Boo.

Posted by Keris on October 20, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Devil Wears Prada, Girly Stuff, Marian Keyes | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Comeback Kiss by Lani Diane Rich

The Comeback Kiss is Lani Diane Rich's fourth novel and features a couple of characters from Maybe Baby - Finn the bird thief and Babs Wiley McGregor (but you don't have to have read Maybe Baby to read The Comeback Kiss) (but you should, because it's great).

But I digress. Finn returns to Lucy's Lake, Vermont, the town he grew up in and where he left Tessa, his first love, without saying goodbye. A lot has changed, but Tessa hasn't and as soon as Finn sees her, he knows it's going to be hard to leave again.

What Finn doesn't know is that the night he left, Tessa's mother was killed in a car accident while escaping from a fire. Tessa has raised her younger sister, Izzy, despite the interference of an evil social worker, but to do that she's had to put her own life on hold. And the night Finn arrives sees another apparently accidental fire at another of Lucy's Lake's businesses.

I can't tell you anything else because I don't want to spoil it, but what I will tell you is that, like Lani's other novels, The Comeback Kiss is great fun with laugh out loud moments, romance and, um, good lovin' (I'm feeling coy today). Finn is gorgeous, Tessa is another strong female character (this author excels in strong female characters) and Babs is just fabulous, I love her. And I haven't even mentioned the talking dog. No, really.

The Comeback Kiss is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold Autumn night.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try My Favourite Mistake by Beth Kendrick

Did you know? Joshilyn Jackson voted Ex and the Single Girl her favourite chick lit book!

Posted by Keris on October 20, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: London is the Best City in America by Laura Dave

Lauradave_1 You know how you sometimes read the title of a book and then make up your own mind about the storyline? (It's not just me, is it?!) Well, I had this one completely wrong: I assumed it was about an American girl who dumped her fiance and came to live in London... er, no. It is about a girl who dumps her fiance, though.

London is the Best City in America is a debut novel from Laura Dave (who wrote an excellent guest blog for us during Bafab week). It tells the story of Emmy, who left her fiance while he was asleep in a hotel room, moved to Rhode Island and tried to get on with her life. Three years later, she's forced to return home to New York State for her brother Josh's wedding, the first time she's been home in all that time. She's hoping her brother's wedding will go off without a hitch, she won't run into her ex, and she can justify her long absence to her family.

Things don't go quite as planned...

Her first big shock is that, two nights before the ceremony, her brother confesses that he's not sure he wants to get married after all. The two siblings go on a road trip back to Rhode Island, where Josh is briefly re-united with his other woman... and her daughter. Then they travel back to NY so he can decide what to do next... In the midst of all this chaos, Emmy meets up with her old high-school boyfriend, runs into her ex, flirts with Josh's best friend, and tries to make sense of why her relationship with her ex didn't work- and what she wants to do with the rest of her life.

For a novel with so much going on, however, it's told in quite a languid way. The tone is very thoughtful, ponderous (but never dull). It's as much- in fact more- about internal realisations than it is about external events. I liked that a lot, the fact that we see Emmy's progression, and feel that she's happy and knows what she wants by the end of the book. Having said that, I was occasionally slightly frustrated that just as the action got going, we stepped back into Emmy's internal narrative again. But it was always worth the wait! I liked the way the author ties everything together at the end: there's a hopeful, happy ending, but it's realistic, too. Laura Dave's style reminded me a lot of Melissa Bank, although it's a bit less dialogue-based.

Overall, it's an enjoyable read that has something to say. The characters may not make it to London, but I won't hold that against them!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank; The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 20, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

All new Eloise stories

Fans of Kay Thompson's charming Eloise books about a six-year-old girl who lives in New York's Plaza Hotel will be excited to hear about a new animated Disney television series based on the characters.

Featuring Mary Matilyn Mouser (how great is that name?) as the voice of Eloise and Lynn Redgrave as the Nanny, 13 half-hour episodes will be shown on both the Family Channel in Canada and the Disney Channel in the United States next year (presumably they'll turn up on the Disney Channel in the UK too).

The first story in the series, Me, Eloise, is already available on DVD.

[via Feeling Listless]

Posted by Keris on October 20, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Movie News, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

FRIDAY FLICK: The Devil Wears Prada

Devilwearsmovie_1_1 We had to review DWP for Friday Flick, didn't we? After all, we've talked about it for quite some time- and even told you how to make Devil Wears Prada cocktails! (I didn't end up sneaking a flask in with me, but I did go to see it with four other girls and a large tub of popcorn, which seems the ideal scenario).

If you haven't read the book and have managed to avoid hearing about the film (how?!) here's the story: Andi wants to be a serious journalist and has moved to New York to pursue her dream. After trying to get her dream job on a big New York newspaper investigating serious issues, and repeatedly failing, in desperation she attends an interview at Runway magazine (famously based on American Vogue) where despite her lack of fashion acumen, editor-in-chief Miranda Priestley (famously based on Vogue editor Anna Wintour) hires her. And then the fun begins!

Sorry- that was sarcasm... the fun doesn't really begin at all for Andi after that. Miranda makes Margaret Thatcher seem warm and fuzzy: Andi is constantly on call to pander to her every whim, from getting the new Harry Potter in manuscript form to getting her out of Florida in the middle of a tropical storm. And Miranda's senior assistant Emily has no sympathy, and never responds to Andi's attempts at friendliness. Soon Andi's relationship with her boyfriend Nate is suffering and her friends complain they hardly see her. Her dad comes to visit her and she spends the whole night on the phone, instead. Andi says she can't stand her job. But a part of her is sucked in, too: she changes her image, loses weight and starts to fit in to this glam new world. But does she want to? And what will that mean giving up?

I really enjoyed this film- it's perfect fun chick-lit fare, perfectly placed for its target audience. Anne Hathaway is great at this kind of bumbling-awkward-girl-turned-beauty shtick (as the two Princess Diaries films prove). It's also fun to watch stuff like this and try to imagine what's based on reality (I imagine quite a lot, as the book's author Lauren Weisberger was Anna Wintour's assistant!) There are some differences from the book, though: Andi's boyfriend lives with her in the film, which actually makes more sense, and Miranda is a touch softer (although not much- I'd heard reports that suggested she was positively warm and fuzzy- not so!) The ending is also different, and I feel the book's more moral outcome was stronger. But those who haven't read the book I'm sure won't mind. All in all, a fun girly fun, perfect if you love fashion, journalism- or just a light chick-flick of a Friday night. I recommend it!

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 20, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Devil Wears Prada, Fashion-Lit, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Movie Magic, Movie News, Romance | Permalink | Comments (4)

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Hags, Harlots, Heroines

Hags Harlots Heroines is a tongue in cheekily named site dedicated to women's storytelling. It's free to join and you can submit your own stories or read other people's. There's also a book club, book reviews, a handy links section and lots of writing advice. The website blurb says that HH is,

"The site where you can explore and develop your creative writing skills, get your short stories and poems published online, receive feedback and writing tips for fiction and non-fiction, with particular support for writing about women, and where you can meet fellow writers."

Not bad for nothing!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 20, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Trashionista Recommends | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 19, 2006 11:00 PM

More book-swapping sites

We've told you before about Read It, Swap It and Bookmooch and now we bring you news of two more book swapping sites: What's On My Bookshelf and SwapSimple (for videos and DVDs, too).

Have you used any of these sites? What did you think?

[Via the Librarything blog].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 19, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

THURSDAY THREE: Vanishing Points

When I was looking for Mary Sharratt's book The Vanishing Point on Amazon last week (so I could link to it) I found something strange: there are a heck of a lot (86 in fact) of books with the words Vanishing Point in the title! So I decided to explore, and find out a bit more about what's on offer...

Unsurprisingly, most books called (The) Vanishing Point have a mystery theme. Judith Van Gieson's Vanishing Point is one of a series featuring a rare books expert/amateur detective called Claire Reynier. VP is about the disappearance of Jonathan Vail, a talented young writer who goes missing. Thirty years later, his journal is recovered... what happened to him?

Don't you vanish! Carry on over the cut for more...

Vanishing Point by Patricia Wentworth is also a mystery story (I know because it says 'a Miss Silver mystery' on the front) whose cover reminds me strongly of Nancy Drew. It seems Patricia's real name was Dora Amy Dillon Turnbull, and she died in 1961. Her V.P tells the story of a girl who disappears from a quiet village in mysterious circumstances... I'm guessing Miss Silver gets on the case...

The Vanishing Point by Louise Hawes is a bit different. It's a work of historical fiction for children and teenagers about the Italian Renaissance painter Lavinia Fontana. New York Libraries picked it as one of the best "books for the teen age". Which is nice.

Other Vanishing Point books include those by Carol Smith, Marcia Muller and Pat Flower.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 19, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Series, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hollywood cupcake competition

Ellen Meister, author of Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA has a fantastic contest on her website.

In the book a Hollywood studio announces plans to shoot a major movie in the local schoolyard. When the women of the town learn that the star of the movie is George Clooney, inevitably "decorum crumbles like a cupcake from last week's bake sale".

You can win a basket of books for your school library (US only) by choosing "which Hollywood leading man you'd most like to offer your cupcakes to". Choices include Mr Clooney himself (of course), Antonio Banderas, Matthew McConaughey and Brad Pitt.

Posted by Keris on October 19, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Competition, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: Behind with the Laundry and Living off Chocolate by Lynette Allen

Behind with the Laundry and Living off Chocolate? It's like Lynette Allen's taken my life and put it in a book! Luckily she's not writing about my unmentionables on the radiators and how I had four Fox's Classics for breakfast, but rather 'Life changing strategies for busy women'. Sounds too good to be true. Is it?

No, it's fab.

Obviously, laundry and chocolate issues are unlikely to fill a book (well, laundry issues anyway) and Behind with the Laundry and Living off Chocolate basically consists of short chapters of tips, advice, inspiration for all aspects of a busy life. You can start at the beginning and read everything, you can close your eyes and pick a chapter, or you can just read the chapters relevant to your situation.

Chapters include "Green Cross Code for women - stop, listen and act!" (decision-making tips), "Calm your environment, calm your mind!" (this one is actually about dealing with your laundry pile!) and "Are you sitting just a little too comfortably?" (inspiration if you're bored with life and afraid to try new things).

Obviously with such short chapters, you're not going to get in-depth advice, but there is definitely great common-sense information and inspiration to be had - and who has time to read in-depth advice anyway? Plus the book comes with a CD of tips (read by BBC Radio 2's Janey Lee Grace) which is a great idea - you can listen in the car or even while you finally tackle that laundry!

Behind with the Laundry and Living off Chocolate (you can tell I love saying that, can't you) is an excellent book and one I'll definitely be dipping into again.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Gulp! by Gabriella Goddard or Behind with the Mortgage and Living off Plastic by Lynette Allen

Posted by Keris on October 19, 2006 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Self development, Series | Permalink | Comments (2)

The 'Stuff On My Cat' book!

Elvisstuff Popular website Stuff On My Cat treads a fine line between hilarity and mild cruelty. Believing that "stuff + cats = awesome" the site features a variety of pictures of cats with... stuff on them. (Cats + remote controls = unhappy cats). Chick lit author Karyn Bosnak even chronicled her attempts to get her cat Elvis onto the site (she eventually succeeded with the photo on the right).

Now Galleycat reports that Stuff On My Cat the book is coming- and in honour of this, publishers Chronicle are holding a competition for cat-owning booksellers with a place in Stuff's upcoming 2008 calendar up for grabs...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 19, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (2)

Harper Teen FanLit

Remember we told you about Avon's Fan Lit competition? Well, HarperTeen is running a similar competition of its own. Between October 17th to December 15th, you can submit a chapter to collectively create an original story.

The prizes include a trip to New York to meet publishing executives and have lunch with a HarperTeen author and signed books. There's also a fabulous daily blog, which has so far featured contributions from Meg Cabot and Farrin Jacobs.

The catch? You have to be US resident and between the ages of 13 and 21 at the time of entry. That rules me out by more years than I'd like to admit ...

Posted by Keris on October 19, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Competition, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

October 18, 2006 7:36 PM

Courtney Love's a chick lit nicker

You know the title of Caprice Crane's debut Stupid & Contagious* comes from a Nirvana song, right? So what do you think happened when Courtney Love (former wife of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain) spotted the book in a shop?

Well, according to E! Online, she sang the entire chorus of Smells Like Teen Spirit (after asking "You guys do realize what this says, right?") and then walked out of the shop with the book, but without paying for it.

Caprice happily reports the incident on her MySpace page. You can't buy that kind of publicity!

* review coming soon!

Posted by Keris on October 18, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (4)

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Pandp Mansfield_1 I finally saw Reader I Married Him when it was repeated on Sunday, and it was great! But in an interview about the importance of book covers, author Deborah Moggach was rather critical of the new Jane Austen cover designs, which have a more modern chick-lit feel. She even said they 'demean' Austen! Sophie Kinsella however, thought they were a great idea, but will they bring in new readers? More importantly, do you like them, or is it sacrilege? Tell us Yay or Nay- and why!

(Give the ladies at Catwalk Queen a vote, too!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 18, 2006 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Classic Novels, Romance, Sophie Kinsella, Television, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (8)

The titles that got away

An article in New York Metro reveals the working titles of a bunch of bestselling books.

Would Marisa Acocella Marchetto's Cancer Vixen (review coming soon) about her battle with breast cancer be creating such a buzz if she'd stuck with the title Breast Case Scenario?

I actually rather like the original title of Kate Atkinson's One Good Turn - Jolly Murder Mystery. Very Enid Blyton. [via Bookninja]

Posted by Keris on October 18, 2006 in American Authors, British Authors, Crime / Mystery, Memoirs, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: How Will I Know? by Sheila O’Flanagan

Flanagan_1 Prolific chick lit author O’Flanagan pulls another fantastic read out of the bag with How Will I Know? an occasionally thought-provoking story of the relationship between a bereaved mother and her daughter. Covering all the big ‘no-no’s’ of our age – death, divorce and drinking – this book provides a light look at how people deal with all three. The central character, Claire, met her husband Bill when they were very young and discovered her soulmate.

Following his tragic death on a family holiday, her life revolves around her daughter Georgia. Now Georgia has become a teenager, Claire’s concerned about how to give her advice on dating and the dreaded boys. This sets off an amusing and surprisingly up-to-date tale of her attempts to get back into the dating ‘scene’ whilst dealing with the deeper issues of how she feels about moving on from her feelings about the death of her husband. At the same time, her parents are divorcing after many years of marriage, and her best friend is dealing with her husband’s drink problem.

Claire has a hard time rediscovering the world of dating – and online matchmaking services – with some bittersweet experiences. But however sad the story, there’s a funny side to almost everything, particularly the experiences of her daughter getting to grips with a first boyfriend. By making sure she includes a strong storyline for the grandmother, mother and daughter, O’Flanagan has made sure that this book will appeal to a wide range age range of readers.

Of course there are the usual comforting chick lit plot elements – set in Ireland, a convenient working from home job, all tradesmen are attractive and animals are cute and fluffy. There’s a small plot twist as well, but nothing to trouble the brain cells, so all in all a very easy read. I really enjoyed this as a chill-out on the commute to work read, and found myself with tears in my eyes at some moments - perfect beach material for a late summer break. [Emma Tazewell].

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try P.S I Love You by Cecilia Ahern.

Posted by Aigua Media on October 18, 2006 in Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

Second Life: Get INSIDE books...

If you haven't heard of Second Life, I'm not quite sure how to explain it to you! It's basically a computer simulation (with over a million participants) in which you're represented by a virtual alter-ego and can interact with other people's alter egos via the internet. You can attend virtual concerts, go shopping, work (should you want to!) have virtual meetings, parties and holidays. You can even er, have cyber sex- or a change of gender... (You're telling me it's weird!)

And now novelist JC Hutchins allows you to go inside one of his books within the virtual world. Surreal! Which book would you like (or hate) to get inside?

[Via Miss Snark].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 18, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Technology | Permalink | Comments (6)

Reading Gilmore Girls

You know we love Gilmore Girls here at Trashionista. Diane is currently working her way through the series on DVD for the first time, while I am watching it for the umpteenth. So wouldn't it be great if there were a bunch of Gilmore Girls books we could buy each other for Christmas?

Well ... there's no official guide. No unofficial guide. No calendar. No book of quotes (shockingly). No Gilmore guide to life.

There are, however, a few novelisations like I Do, Don't I?, I Love You, You Idiot and Like Mother, Like Daughter.

Looks like soap-on-a-rope again this year, Diane ...

Posted by Keris on October 18, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Series, Television | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: Queen of the Oddballs by Hillary Carlip

Oddballs_1 Author of Queen of the Oddballs Hillary Carlip is a bit of a female Forrest Gump. Not because she has sub-normal intelligence and rambles about the similarities between life and Thorntons's finest (she doesn't!) but because she seems to have been on the edge of so many pop cultural moments: from stalking (sorry, "befriending") seventies songbirds Carly Simon and Carole King, to having a bit part in Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John, seeing John Cusack with his zit cream on and being all but ignored by Oprah on an episode dedicated to her first book (and much more besides!) Hillary's seen it, done it and taught herself to juggle and breathe fire (really). Her memoir's subtitle is "...true stories from a life unaccording to plan". Very, very apt!

I simply loved this book. Part of its charm is, to be honest, that Carlip has a lot of quirky celebrity stories to share (I guess growing up in L.A will do that). But the biggest selling point of the book is Hillary's sense of humour, wit, and honesty. She's not afraid to make herself look stupid or insecure if it makes her story more honest and true, and that's what I responded to most. There are moments of almost unbearable poignancy, especially towards the end of the book, which made me weep. But more than anything, this book made me laugh.

The book moves chronologically and at the start of each chapter, there's a summary of events from that time period (usually illustrated with a picture of the author at the time) which I found informative and very entertaining. Example from 1980: " I use a whole sheet of paper to remind myself to try the newly released new product by 3M- post its." The author also uses different formats for some of the chapters (a script, a diary, a letter to Olivia Newton-John) but this never becomes gimmicky or annoying, which must be a reflection on the talent of the writer.

Hillary really is an interesting and unique individual who's taken an inspiring yet down-to-earth "Oddball" journey through life. And I'm so happy she decided to write about it!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

*DID YOU KNOW?* Hillary is also a talented web visionary. You can check out her home page here, with links to her other fabulous sites, including the Queen of the Oddballs site. (So pretty!)

Like this? Try But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 18, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book related, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lily Burana

Lily_burana_now_1 Lily Burana has been a punk, a stripper and a non-fiction writer (not to mention a Trashionista Guest Blogger!), but now with her fictional debut Try, she's a novelist, too. Here's what she had to say in answer to our probing interview Qs...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer: Young Western artist returns home, meets a rodeo cowboy and discovers what "passion" really means.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)? I wrote most of Try propped up in bed, with my laptop. That is, when I wasn't scribbling notes in a speeding truck traveling between rodeos. I like music or television in the background when I'm working, but I can't stand hearing people talk.

Your favourite chick-lit book? I liked Emily Giffin's Baby Proof because it dealt with a pretty heavy issue--whether or not to have children. I thought that was very original and she kept the character sympathetic throughout.

Carry on over the cut for more!

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why? I liked Bone from Bastard Out of Carolina. She was tough and smart and looked unflinchingly at how the world worked, even though she was just a girl.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers? Limit the amount of sharing you do with your work while it's in progress. Pick one or two people whose opinion whose feedback you really trust (probably not close friends or family members who won't want to hurt your feelings), and don't get discouraged when faced with rejection. It happens to everyone--truly.

What are you reading at the moment? I'm reading stacks of magazines for a change! It's so nice to come out of the writer's zombie state to read about current events and all the great shoes I've been missing by not reading anything but books and my own manuscripts for the past year or so.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!) I'm hoping to write something about being an Army wife, though I'm just kicking around ideas at the moment.

Thanks Lily!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 18, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Interviews, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 17, 2006 2:35 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund

Anyone who read Diana Peterfreund's brilliant defence of chick lit would surely want to read her novel and I was no exception.

Secret Society Girl is the first in a series (the second book, Under the Rose, is out next year) featuring Amy Haskel who is unexpectedly 'tapped' into her university's most prestigious (and, of course, secret) society, Rose & Grave. The members of Rose & Grave allegedly control all aspects of the media (including the winners of American Idol), the police, even the government. Getting tapped by them is a pretty big deal, in other words. The only trouble is, Amy doesn't seem to fit the profile and can't understand what they want with her.

Amy's best friend and roommate Lydia has also been tapped, but we don't find out who by (not in this book at least). Her 'friend with benefits' Brandon isn't interested in all the secret society business, but he is interested in becoming more serious with Amy. The trouble is, once Amy's initiated into the society she forgets about everything else, including her studies (though that doesn't matter because Rose & Grave has an archive of past papers). And when Amy finds out why she was chosen, things get even more out of control.

I really loved this book. Diana Peterfreund has a chatty, witty, intelligent writing style and a brilliant way with cliffhanger chapter endings. I don't think I finished a single chapter without at least reading a couple of pages of the following one. There are a couple of problems: Amy's decision on whether or not to keep schtum about the society seems to shift depending on the requirements of the plot and Brandon's not exactly consistent either, but they're small issues. Secret Society Girl is a fast, funny, original read and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Rating: 4 out of 5

If you like this, try Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Related stories: Ivy League chick lit

Posted by Keris on October 17, 2006 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (50)

SPOTLIGHT: Tony Parsons

I thought it was about time we branched out with our spotlight and tried a male author. Nick Hornby is arguably the originator of "Lad Lit", but Tony Parsons certainly took the concept and ran with it.

Born in Essex in 1955, Parsons started out as a writer for music paper the NME before turning freelance and writing for publications including The Face, Marie Claire, The Daily Mail, Arena, The Guardian, Elle, The Daily Telegraph, The Spectator, The Sunday Times, GQ and Red along with a couple of books of cultural and music criticism and a few failed novels.

He famously (or perhaps infamously) married Julie Burchill, a fellow NME journalist, and they had a son, Bobby, before divorcing acrimoniously (in fact, I'd say they took acrimonious to new levels). This relationship was the inspiration behind his fourth novel Man and Boy which became a publishing phenomenon, selling two million copies in 36 countries.

Parsons' subsequent novels - One for My Baby, Man and Wife and The Family Way were all number one bestsellers. His most recent book is Stories We Could Tell. Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Suzie Mackenzie said Parsons books 'are characterised by an utterly personal choice of subjects - parenthood, friendship, love, betrayal, men trying to juggle their commitments - and an utterly personal way of telling them.'

He has now re-married, and lives in London his second wife, Yuriko, and their daughter, Jasmine. He still writes a popular, if controversial, column in the Daily Mirror.

Carry on over the cut for Tony's (fiction) bibliography.

Man and Boy
One for My Baby
Man and Wife
The Family Way
Stories We Could Tell

Did you know?

Man and Boy was made into a TV movie starring Ioan Gruffudd

Parsons also wrote Bare, the 1990 authorised biography of George Michael. (They were friends at the time, but fell out when an interview Michael had given to Parsons was published in the Daily Mirror, apparently without his permission).

Posted by Keris on October 17, 2006 in British Authors, Modern Fiction, Prize Winners, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Good Girls Kill For Money Club

Here's a great website that I've just discovered: with a name like The Good Girls Kill For Money Club how can you not be intrigued?

It's the blog of five female crime authors and recent posts include thoughts on mothers-in-law, discussions of plot, and an interview with blogging literary agent Miss Snark. I love the design almost as much as the content: the author photos are all black and white Audrey Hepburn-style poses and the banner is very 1950s kitsch, with the tagline, "Coffee, Tea or Murder?" Perfect for fans of Crusie and Evanovich style fiction!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 17, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bookcrossing: telephone boxes are the new cafes

You've all heard of Bookcrossing, right? It's where people leave their old books for others to find, read, and continue to pass on, with all transactions being recorded via the Bookcrossing site. It's been going since 2001, and in 2004 "bookcrossing" was added to the Oxford Dictionary.

Traditionally people leave books in cafes or (in summer) on park benches but now The Telegraph reports that in the London's financial district, telephone boxes are the new bookcrossing hot-spot. (I guess they have to be used for something- there can't be too many City types without a flash mobile!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 17, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

Joshilyn Jackson video

Yes, we're in an audio-visual mood on Trashionista lately (I've even created a new technology category). So continuing that theme here's a video of the lovely Joshilyn Jackson being interviewed about Between, Georgia on her local talk show, Atlanta & Company. What a soothing, melodic voice!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 17, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Interviews, Recent Release, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

Manga romance

Could manga be the next big thing in romance?

With the global manga market being worth $5 billion and romance being the best-selling genre (in the US and Canada) it's surely a marriage made in heaven, particularly with young adults.

Romance giant Harlequin certainly thinks so. Harlequin Ginger Blossom is their new line of manga adaptations of best-selling titles: Harlequin Violet is a bit raunchy and Harlequin Pink is "purely romantic" (titles include My Real Fake Boyfriend and Three Wishes).

The sequel to Meg Cabot's young adult book, Avalon High (which is fabulous, btw) will be split into three separate mangas under the umbrella title Avalon High: Coronation.

So what do you think? Are you interested in romance mangas or are they just for kids?

Posted by Keris on October 17, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

October 16, 2006 5:30 PM

Reading Strictly Come Dancing?

Bruce_tess02_1 [Note to readers: please pardon the following self-indulgence!]

I was trying to work out a way to subtly mention that I'm now writing weekly Strictly Come Dancing updates for TV Scoop but I've realised that in life, as in the show, it doesn't do to be subtle! Both Keris and I are massive fans of SCD and if you are too, here's where to read my updates on Week 1 and Week 2. (Look out for them every Monday from now on if they tickle your fancy).

I thought that perhaps I could relate this topic to books by linking to a plethora of Strictly-related books, but no such plethora exists. There's just a kind of SCD annual (which nevertheless looks fabulous!) Here's this year's, and last year's.

If you search for "come dancing" in Amazon books, you're also offered this and this... Hmm.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 16, 2006 in Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: We Need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Kevin_1

This is one of the most controversial books I've ever reviewed for Trashionista, a real 'love it or hate it' novel (many of my friends fall into the latter category, but I know a lot of people who really enjoyed it too- if 'enjoy' is the right word for such a bleak story). It won the Orange Prize in 2005, and deservedly so. But what's all the fuss about?

We Need to talk about Kevin is narrated by Eva Katchadourian in the form of letters to her estranged husband, Franklin. Their son Kevin is in prison for mass murder and Eva is struggling to pick up the pieces of her life. Shunned by the community and feeling isolated from her family, she's also lost her business and can't see any kind of future for herself. So she looks to the past, going over the events of the last twenty years to try to make sense of why her life ended up this way. She wants to know why Kevin turned out the way he did: was it nature or nurture?

That's a question that the reader has to draw their own conclusions about and one of the things I loved about this novel was this moral ambiguity- although Eva wants a child for all the wrong reasons, can she really be blamed for the way Kevin turns out? She isn't a likeable character, and yet at times I identified with her and understood why she came to hate Kevin. At other times, it's clear she loves her son very much- and a terrible mother surely wouldn't, after all he's done. There's lots to think about and debate here: when does a parent stop being responsible for their child's behaviour? Is an overbearing parent better or worse than a slightly detached one? Who sees Kevin's true character, his mother or father? How reliable a narrator is Eva? I've got a feeling that multiple readings of the book would yield new interpretations and layers of meaning.

I also admired the way Shriver created a story in which none of the characters come across as at all likeable, and she skilfully controls the reader's reactions- at times I was sad for Eva, at other times I disliked her intensely, and I hated Kevin almost from the beginning but had to remind myself that I wasn't hearing about him from a necessarily reliable narrator. It's a complex book, very well-structured. By about half-way through you know how it will end, and yet the ending is still a shocking and compelling read.

I can see why some people wouldn't like it: it's not a pleasant story, and I'm sure it makes parents rather uncomfortable! It's also rather slow to get started, and takes concentration in the early chapters to pick up on what the narrator is talking about. But then it takes off, and you're gripped! It's a hugely affecting story that stays with you long after you've finished reading, and one of the best books I've ever read.

Rating: 5 out of 5

*DID YOU KNOW?* Lionel Shriver changed her name to sound like a man's, as men have greater literary success...

Like this? Try The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 16, 2006 in American Authors, Classic Novels, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, More On Monday, Prize Winners, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

MOVIE NEWS: Eat, Pray, Love

Remember how much I loved Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love (you do memorise my reviews, don't you?), well it's being made into a film starring Julia Roberts and produced by Brad Pitt. Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy will adapt the book and direct. Apparently, it's going to be 'a large-scale epic that covers four countries'.

Pitt and Murphy are also working on a film version of Augusten Burroughs' memoir, Running With Scissors.

In fact, looks like Brad's a bit of a bookworm. If you check him out on IMDb, he's also listed to produce The Time Traveler's Wife (possibly with Mean Girls' Rachel McAdams as Clare), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and A Million Little Pieces (which is apparently being "reconsidered").

[via Romantic Times]

Posted by Keris on October 16, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Movie News, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (3)

Support a Trashionista!

Trashionista reader Jenny Gardiner's humorous women's fiction manuscript, Sleeping With Ward Cleaver, is a finalist in the American Title contest (modeled on American Idol!), the prize for which is a publishing contract!

Over the next six months, voting will be conducted for two weeks per month via the Romantic Times website, with low-voting finalists being eliminated each round. Voting dates are Oct 16 (i.e. today!) -29, Nov 13-26, Dec 18-31, Jan 22-Feb 4, Feb. 19-Mar 4. So why not support a Trashionista and cast your vote today!

Carry on over the cut for more about Jenny's book (it sounds great) or read an extract here.

Sleeping With Ward Cleaver is a coming-of-middle-age novel about Claire Doolittle, who realizes her life hasn't quite met up with her expectations. Overwhelmed with the demands of motherhood and life in general, it doesn't help that the funny, romantic and thoughtful man she once married has turned into a real-life version of Ward Cleaver, the famously dull, bossy father from the 1950's sitcom Leave it to Beaver. And last person in the world Claire ever imagined having to sleep with for the rest of her life is a man whose sex appeal more closely resembles that of George Washington than George Clooney.

Throw in an ex-fiance who returns via email to try to woo Claire back with promises of what was, and a sexy young colleague of husband Jack's, whom Claire suspects of some sort of hanky panky, and you having the makings for a mid-life crisis that threatens to plunge Claire's world into chaos.

Posted by Keris on October 16, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Playtrade- a new way to buy (and sell) books

Anyone who's used Amazon over the last what- three or four years? Should be familiar with Amazon marketplace- their system for buying and selling used books. I always thought Play.com, while a fabulous site (free P&P, people!) was missing a trick by not having anything similar. But now they have! Playtrade has many of the same features of Amazon's Marketplace, but only approved traders with a track record in book sales can sign up to sell stuff at present. (I would think this will change pretty soon). I think prices will need to come down soon, too- When Play is offering a book at £1.99 including shipping, I can't see that Playtraders offering the same for £6.88 are going to get much business... but it's early days, and I see potential!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 16, 2006 in Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Man of the Month Club by Jackie Clune

I've seen Jackie Clune on TV and found her very funny so I was excited to read her first novel, Man of the Month Club (and surprised it hasn't been promoted more). The book is about Amy who runs her own business, has a glamorous home, a flash car, great friends and basically wants for nothing. But when a baby is abandoned on her doorstep and her friends all start getting pregnant, she realises there's just one thing she does want ...

Carry on over the cut to find out what it is (but I bet you can guess!).

Yep, it's a baby. So Amy decides that she's going to spend one year having sex with whatever men she can find in the hopes that before the year is out she'll be pregnant. If she doesn't manage it, she'll give up on the entire plan. Unfortunately, though, actually getting men to sleep with her is more troublesome than she thought and a good few months have passed before she even manages that. Her friends are all surprised, but happy for her, but her friends aren't particularly well-drawn and even though there's a lot of them, I didn't really take to any of them.

Considering Jackie Clune is a comedian, Man of the Month Club made me laugh exactly once (that was a really good line though). It's not a bad book, I found it mildly enjoyable, it is very well-written and the hero is pretty sexy, but there are problems. I think Jackie Clune may have thought she was subverting both the chick lit genre and some stereotypical ideas about women and their ticking body clocks, but I don't think she succeeded with either attempt. Like all good chick lit (I'm being sarcastic) Amy's got a Gay Best Friend, but in a cunning twist, he's not sweet, funny and encouraging, he's a cynical bitchy queen - I felt like the author thought 'oh, I'll give her a gay best friend, but I'll make him mean, that'll be funnier'. It wasn't. Also - guess what? - even though Amy's shop is called Precious Little Darlings (which would've been a better title for this book), she doesn't even like children! Hilarious! (Yes, I'm still being sarcastic. I'll stop now.)

I didn't particularly like Amy and I didn't particularly like the idea that a perfectly happy and successful woman can't hit the big four oh without the urge to procreate. But the ending? Well I don't want to give anything away, but the ending kind of makes the entire book pointless. I really wanted to like this book. But I didn't.

Posted by Keris on October 16, 2006 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (5)

October 13, 2006 5:30 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Pick Me Up by Zoe Rice

When I read that editor-turned-author Zoe Rice's book Pick Me Up was not only set in New York, but also featured a heroine who is mad about Robbie Williams, I knew I had to read it. Plus there's a cover comment from Sophie Kinsella - "Clever, witty and fun! Izzy is a great character. So funny!" - and who am I to resist the chick lit queen herself?

So is Pick Me Up a pick-me-up or is it all too easy to put down (sorry ..)? Carry on over the cut to find out.

Izzy works in an art gallery, has a glamorous PR best friend, wonderful clients and a cat named Robbie. She's happy with her life until the gallery's benefactor drops dead, her fabulous boss takes a job on the other side of the country and she's landed with an artist who seems not to be able to stand her .. most of the time.

I really enjoyed this book. Izzy's a charming, down-to-earth character and the supporting cast - particularly Izzy's gallery colleague, Kimmy (who I hope gets her own book one day) - are great fun too. Although I found it a little bit predictable - there was no doubt in my mind who Izzy was going to end up with - that didn't spoil my enjoyment because I was cheering for them to get together. There are laugh-out-loud moments and an enormously romantic ending. You know what I'm going to say, don't you? Yeah. Pick it up.

Rating 4 out of 5

If you like this, try Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Posted by Keris on October 13, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

Poor Paul Burrell

Last month Diane told us how bored she is of Paul Burrell and it seems she's not the only one.

The Sun has reported that only five people turned up to a signing of his latest book The Way We Were (which is, of course, about Princess Diana) and one of them did it for a dare (and didn't even buy the book)!

Posted by Keris on October 13, 2006 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

FRIDAY FLICK: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Based on the enormously successful young adult novel by Ann Brashares, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants stars Gilmore Girls' Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera and Blake Lively as the four best friends who find a pair of 'magical' jeans in a charity shop/thrift store. The magic lies in the fact that they look equally great on each of the girls despite the girls' disparity in size and shape.

Separated for the summer, the girls hatch a plan to share the jeans - keeping them for a week and then posting them on, accompanied by a letter of the exciting things they got up to while wearing them.

I know, it sounds ridiculous, but is it good or is it pants? (Sorry, couldn't resist.) Read on and find out.

The summer is, of course, an eventful one. Tibby, the rebellious one, is working in a supermarket and making a documentary film when she meets a much younger girl and, in the absence of her friends, finds herself spending more and more time with her. The sporty one, Bridget, is spending summer at soccer camp in Baja California and is determined to tackle one of the instructors (ha!). Lena, the shy, artistic one, goes to Greece to stay with her grandparents and, inevitably, meets a boy. Carmen goes to stay with her dad (played by Bradley Whitford, West Wing fans) and - and this is a suprise to poor Carmen - his new family.

This is all standard stuff for teen movies (and books for that matter), but the script by Delia Ephron and the charm and talent of the cast (particularly Amber Tamblyn and America Ferrera) make this something special. I loved it.

Posted by Keris on October 13, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Romance, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)

Meet the authors at Barnes and Noble

Yes, I guess if you're lucky enough to live near a Barnes and Noble, you might regularly Logo_bn05 get the chance to see best-selling authors in their natural habitat. But anyone who doesn't need not miss out any longer, as Barnes and Noble has a Meet the Authors podcast, featuring audio and video interviews with well known authors such as Jennifer Weiner, Sue Monk Kidd and Armistead Maupin.

All the instructions and links you need can be found on the site.

Told you it was a techie day! (For more tech-related stuff, you can always go to our sister site Shiny Shiny, for technology with a girly slant- and panda videos).

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 13, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Modern Fiction, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

Book Trailerpark- for book trailers news!

I've talked about blogging this week and last, and we've told you about the popularity of book trailers before. I guess the logical amalgamation of both these things is Book Trailerpark, a new blog about book trailers. It's only been running since October 9th, but it's fascinating already- although they could include a bit more about women's fiction... I'm sure they will soon! Anyway, here's a trailer they recommend, for Julie Powell's fabulous Julie and Julia (vegetarians beware...)

[Via Galleycat].

(Clearly we're in a techie mood here today!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 13, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Non Fiction, Recent Release, Technology, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: This is Chick Lit edited by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Chicklit As I said on Wednesday, This is Chick Lit was created when its editor, the lovely Lauren Baratz- Logsted, read about the creation of an anti-Chick Lit book, This is Not Chick Lit. Thinking that sounded bizarre (no-one calls anthologies This is Not Sci-Fi, do they?) not to mention mean-spirited, she decided to help create a positive book showcasing great chick-lit writers.

This is Chick Lit is the result.

Featuring stories from authors including Johanna Edwards, Stephanie Lehmann, Karin Gillespie and Deanna Carlyle, it's fair to say that to British readers at least, we're talking up and comers or well-known but not super-famous chick-litters. A small part of me felt that maybe a more mighty response to the "not" book would have included titans of the genre like Jennifer Weiner and Marian Keyes, but that's not to undermine any of the great writing found in this volume.

I found the book fun and easy to read, and unlike many short story collections, where I need to stop and read something else in between, I raced straight through this one, wanting to savour the next story, and the next. I really liked most of these stories, particularly Cafe Con Leche Crush by Heather Swain, Takeoffs and Landings by Johanna Edwards and Dead Friends and other Dating Dilemmas by Julie Kenner. I also really enjoyed the fact that at the start of each author's story was a brief paragraph of what chick-lit means to them, a celebration of the term. And Lauren Baratz-Logsted's introduction is positive, empowering and inspiring!

Unfortunately, I found the first story, about two writers on opposing sides of the chick-lit battleground, a great idea but handled in a rather heavy-handed way. I also felt the collection ended on quite a negative note, with a story about a spoiled whiny woman who no-one wants to marry... (Bit cliched, no?) But there's mould-breaking fiction here too, and experimental pieces like Confessions of a Three Eyed Freak by Ariella Papa demonstrate that there's far more to the genre than shoes (although there is one on the cover!), sex and shopping.

A great effort, and a more than worthy defence of Chick-Lit, if such a defence is needed.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 13, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 12, 2006 8:27 PM

Melanie Lynn Hauser on YouTube

Diane wasn't entirely convinced by Melanie Lynn Hauser's Confessions of Supermom, but when I saw the author was reading from it on YouTube, I had to share (we've never had any film-type thingies - can you tell I'm not a techie? - here at Trashionista so I thought it would be fun).

Posted by Keris on October 12, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Series, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

The best modern novel?

What's the best novel of the last twenty-five years? In the US, The New York Times gave that honour to -yes!- a book by a woman, modern classic Beloved by Toni Morrison (which was made into a film starring Toni's good mate Oprah a few years ago).

Now The Guardian is asking the same question- and you can make a nomination via their site.

But you can also tell us! We'd love to hear your nomination, or nominations (hey, go mad and suggest as many as you want, we don't mind!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 12, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Classic Novels | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson

Gods_2 Yes, the small 'g' is deliberate, and yes, this is a great read. gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson (whose blog I was just recommending!) is the story of Arlene Fleet, who left a dark secret back in Alabama and ran away to Chicago after leaving high school ten years ago. When she left, she made a deal with God-with-a-big-G that she would be an exemplary human being: never lying, fornicating or returning to Alabama as long as God made sure that nobody ever found out what she'd done. But now she's under pressure to return for an important family party, not just from her relatives, but from her boyfriend Burr, too. As he's black, and many of her relatives are racist, Arlene has more than a few things to worry about as she makes the journey home to confront her past...

What a great set-up, and what a thoroughly entertaining read! I can't say too much about what happens when Arlene returns to Alabama, but I was hooked as I found out why she'd left and her family history, and at no point did I guess what might happen next or how the book might end. I'm really not sure what genre I'd put this book into: it has the complicated texture of literary fiction, the entertainment value, romance aspect and sassy heroine of chick-lit and the excitement and pace of a wonderful thriller (which Joshilyn Jackson apparently reads a lot of, so no surprise there).

Books set in the deep south seem to have so much atmosphere, and gods is no exception. It was Jackson's debut novel, and a very confident and throughly well-written debut it is. My only slight criticisms are that the story is a little far-fetched, although it's a sign of Jackson's writing that she makes it seem so believable it's only afterwards you think 'but that wouldn't really happen...?' Also, although this book is great, her second book is superlative, so I can't give this one full marks in comparison! (If you've never read her work, start here and work up). Still, a great read that I highly recommend.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson, Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie; The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 12, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

THURSDAY THREE: From book to blog

Last week's Thursday Three looked at bloggers who became published authors, and this time: the reverse! That's authors who set up blogs after becoming successful writers (to the glee of their readers!)...

First up has to be Jennifer Weiner, whose Snarkspot site is hugely popular and has been name-checked once or twice (or 500 times) on this here site. She not only discusses latest events in her life (and keeps you up to date with all her tour dates, book readings etc) but she takes a healthy interest in book news and issues- defending women's right to write whatever kind of fiction they want.

What will the other two sites be? Carry on over the cut to find out...

Faster than Kudzu is Joshilyn Jackson's fantastically funny and entertaining web log, where she discusses her writing, random pop culture events and bizarre twists of fate. Always witty, unpredictable and a guaranteed cheerer-upper.

Finally, we couldn't leave out the lovely Marian Keyes! Hers is not a blog as much as a monthly newsletter which you read via her site, but it's like reading several lovely blog entries all at once, as she shares her writing news and personal news in her eminently likable, chatty way. Fans can sign up for the newsletter by email, too.

What are your favourite author blogs? (Yes, any published authors reading - you can share your own!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 12, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

Reading The O.C.

Who doesn't love The O.C.? Much like Beverly Hills 90210, The O.C. features a bunch of spoiled-ish rich kids hanging out, talking a lot and generally being glamorous, but this time in Orange County, California, rather than Hollywood, California - so it's completely different, see? While 90210 lasted out a good few seasons before becoming unacceptably ridiculous, The O.C. only managed one perfect season before jumping the shark.

In its favour The O.C.'s got Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) - darling of geek-loving women everywhere - not to mention Jim Robinson from Neighbours. (Apparently some people find Ryan attractive. I can't see it myself, but those people will probably like the Lads of The O.C. calendar.) While I'm on that subject, there is an unofficial biography of both Adam Brody and Benjamin McKenzie entitled Meet the Boys of Summer.

The official book is called Meet The O.C. Superstars and is apparently "a must" for fans of the show. Amazingly, I can't find an unofficial book.

There are novelisations like Spring Break and the fabulously titled The Summer of Summer (who thinks these things up?) plus, brilliantly, 'Twas the Night Before Chrismukkah but that seems to be about all. Shame.

Posted by Keris on October 12, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Series, Television | Permalink | Comments (3)

A little bit of politics

A couple of weeks ago we told you about author Louise Bagshawe's political ambitions, well it seems now she's on her way. According to The Independent, she has been selected to stand in Corby, Northants.

Meanwhile, in the US, a man named Fred Head (no, really) is running for Texas Comptroller and claims his opponent, "Republican Pornographic Book Writer" Susan Combs "is a two faced, hypocrite who was obviously more concerned with her literary career and seeing her name in print than the morals of the young People of Texas". The pornographic book? It's called a Perfect Match, it's a Kismet Romance and it was published 16 years ago!

Does anyone remember the episode of Ally McBeal in which a politician tried to close down a bookstore for selling books "with nudity, pictures of copulation ... graphically describing sex acts" which turn out to be by Herb Ritts, John Irving, Balzac? And the Biscuit's summing up was a version of Ya Got Trouble from The Music Man? It's uncanny! (If you don't remember, or if you'd like to revisit it, there's a transcript here.)

Posted by Keris on October 12, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Opinion, Romance | Permalink | Comments (5)

October 11, 2006 5:50 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

I'm reaching the end of This is Chick Lit, which I'm going to be reviewing soon (later this week, in fact!) and it's inspired this week's Yay or Nay.

The book was created as an antidote to This is Not Chick Lit, designed to offset the negativity of that title and showcase the variety and talent of chick lit writers. An admirable idea- but what do you think? Is it better to confront and perhaps out-do your bully, or to ignore them and not dignify them with a response?

Do you like the idea of creating a book in response to another book, or not? Tell us: is it a Yay or a Nay, and why?

Our other Yay or Nays

[Don't forget it's Yay or Nay day at Hippyshopper, Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 11, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Short Story Collections, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (2)

Nancy Drew Stationery

Considering she wasn't as popular here as the US, we've gone a bit Nancy Drew mad lately. Last week I told you about the Nancy Drew book bags, this week I've discovered Nancy Drew stationery.

Chronicle Books has a full range including the fold and mail stationery pictured (because when I was growing up I thought fold and mail stationery was the height of sophistication!) along with address books, journals, notecards and more. Perfect Christmas pressies for the Nancy Drew nut in your life.

Posted by Keris on October 11, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Girly Stuff, Series | Permalink | Comments (1)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lani Diane Rich

Lani Diane Rich is utterly hilarious and if you haven't read her blog posts at Literary Chicks then go there immediately (immediately after you've finished reading this, obviously). She's writes clever, funny and sexy books and is mad about Colin Firth - what's not to love?

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

The Comeback Kiss is about what happens when you get a second chance at your first love.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

I like to write in an office. Because I have kids at home and no door on my office, I take my laptop into my bedroom, to the library, coffee shop, etc. - anywhere where I can put on headphones and be relatively assured that I won't be bothered. I've even been known to drive my van out to a local park and write in there!

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Ooh, tough call. I have a lot of favorites, so I'll revert to what I love to do most - pimp an upcoming book by a newcomer that I think is really fabulous! It's called The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club by Jessica Morrison. It'll be out, I believe, in May of 2007, and I think it's wonderful. It's about a very organized woman whose life plan fails her when she loses her job and her fiance in one day, so she gets drunk and hops the next flight to Buenos Aires. When she gets there, she has no idea how to live spontaneously, and it's really fun to watch her find herself. I loved it.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

My favorite female heroine is probably Wanda from Time Off For Good Behavior. I know it's tacky to pick one of my own characters, but I'm obviously most emotionally involved with them. I love Wanda because she just won't take crap from anyone, and woe betide the poor fool who tries to give it to her.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

My biggest suggestion is to just write. I'm the kind of person who can only learn something by screwing it up first, and I strongly believe that the only way to become a better writer is to write. Also, always come to the page thinking about how you can have the most fun. I think that attitude opens up an area of your imagination that gets shut down when you're worrying too much about rules and whatnot.

What are you reading at the moment?

Joshilyn Jackson's Between, Georgia on audiobook, and CJ Barry's Unleashed in traditional form. Very different books, but both fabulous in their own way.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

What I'm working on now is my next romantic comedy for Warner Forever, tentatively titled Hard to Get. It's about a woman who's never had to work a day in her life inheriting an inn and having to run it. Unfortunately, it comes with a small town full of quirky characters - including an unethical real estate broker who's pushing her to sell to a big chain for his own benefit, and a sexy police detective-turned-bartender who wants her not to sell... for reasons of his own.

Thanks, Lani!

See what we thought of Lani's Ex and the Single Girl. Reviews of all Lani's other books coming soon (I'm a fan).

Posted by Keris on October 11, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

Mary Sharratt's dressed-up book tour

Mary When we interviewed Joshilyn Jackson, she told us she was reading (and "really digging") The Vanishing Point by Mary Sharratt*, so it was natural that we'd want to interview Mary, too. Mary's something of an innovator- instead of taking her book tour high-tech, she went way low tech: inspired by the seventeenth-century setting of her novel, she undertook a tour in historical clothing! Read a fascinating tour diary here or visit Mary's site for more info- where she's promoting her latest book, the decidedly modern-sounding collaborative effort, Bitch Lit...

*Which was one of the recommendations on the Bafab home site, incidentally.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 11, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

Knit Lit?

I'm sure you all know how popular knitting is with models and Hollywood actresses (as well as my predecessor Jenni and our ed in chief Gemma!) So I knew there HAD to be at least one novel involving knitting out there, and here it is: the intriguingly titled Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton is a 'knitting mystery' (who knew?)

The majority of knitting books are unsurprisingly non-fiction, but Stephanie Pearl-McPhee writes knitting memoir/advice books that sound funny and interesting whether you can knit one, pearl one (like Julia Roberts) or not (like... me). Her latest is Knitting Rules and despite my lack of knitting know-how, I'm still tempted to read it! Her blog, Yarn Harlot however, is pretty hard core knitting natter, but a good read all the same (and includes four free patterns, too).

Are there any other knit-heavy novels out there?

Oops! I almost forgot about the timeliness of my post- it's actually National Knitting Week in the UK from this Saturday, 14th October, when there will be a Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. More on Knitting from Catwalk Queen.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 11, 2006 in Book News, Book related, Fashion-Lit, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Non Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK REVIEW: The Boy Book by E Lockhart

I discovered E Lockhart's books via her wonderful blog, which is probably the wrong way round, but no matter. The Boy Book is the sequel to The Boyfriend List, which is my absolute favourite, non-Meg Cabot, Young Adult book! Although having said that it would probably be up there with my favourite books full stop.

In The Boyfriend List, Ruby Oliver becomes a social outcast after a former friend circulates a list she made of 'boyfriends'. But they weren't really boyfriends, just boys with whom she's had contact - still her former friends and the rest of the school think she's a tramp. Does she have any better luck in The Boy Book? Read on and find out.

With her ex-best friend Kim away for the summer, Ruby thinks she might be able to recover some semblance of her former life. Her friend Nora seems happy to hang around with her and Noel seems to like her and even her ex-boyfriend Jackson's paying her some attention, but when Kim's return coincides with a school trip to Canoe Island, it looks like Ruby's in danger of losing everything all over again.

Interspersed with extracts from The Boy Book itself (a study of habits and behaviours, plus techniques for taming them), this book is funny, sweet and so true. Like The Boyfriend List, it serves as a reminder of how appalling girls can be, but Ruby is a fabulous and intelligent heroine. I loved it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

If you like this, try The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Posted by Keris on October 11, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)

October 10, 2006 4:45 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Conversations and Cosmopolitans by Robert Rave and Jane Rave

Cosom_cvr_1 I loved the idea of Conversations and Cosmopolitans: a gay man and his mother alternately discuss life, love and relationships, sharing details of their own experiences, particularly Robert coming out as gay and how that changed their family dynamic.

It promised to be sweet, witty, insightful and funny- and maybe a bit moving, too.

But was it?

I'm glad to say yes, it was! I'm a sucker for a good memoir, and this is a very good one. It made me cry in a couple of places, and some of Jane's experiences showed that sometimes straight people are looked down on for their sexuality too- which was a very interesting and unexpected angle... But mostly, it made me laugh and kept me hooked. So hooked, I read it in a day, eschewing other petty responsibilities like eating and sleeping to do so!

My favourite chapters were The End, about Robert's coming out letter (which he shares, typos and all) It's Getting Hot in Here, about Jane's first experiences of Cosmos- and meeting Rupert Everett! and The Gay Glossary, explaining gay terminology (the first made me cry, the last two made me laugh. A lot).

Conversations and Cosmopolitans could have been a bit longer though... why are good books so often so short?

Rating: 4 out of 5

PS: We're going to be bringing you an exclusive interview with Robert and Jane Rave very soon- I recommend reading the book in preparation, perhaps with a cocktail on hand...

Like this? Try Queen of the Oddballs by Hillary Carlip.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 10, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Waters for the Booker?

Last month, I told you about the Booker Prize shortlist and today we'll finally find out who's won!

Sarah Waters' novel The Night Watch (which I believe my co-ed Keris found a tad disappointing...?) is the current bookies' favourite to win, with odds of 6-4. But this is one prize where the favourite is often pipped to the post by something completely unexpected, so we'll have to wait and see. (I'm just glad to see women outnumber men on the shortlist for a change! Especially as they include Kate Grenville, a huge fave of mine...)

Anyway, the winner -whoever he or she may be- will be announced during the 10 O'Clock News on BBC1 tonight, and you can catch further coverage later on Newsnight, News 24 and Radio 4, if you're so inclined.

[Via Publishing News and The Man Booker Prize website]

UPDATE!: What did I tell you?! The Booker was once again predictable in its unpredictability- congratulations to Kiran Desai!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 10, 2006 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Television | Permalink | Comments (3)

Literature Map

I've just discovered a peculiar site called Literature Map. You type in the name of an author and it comes up with a map of other authors you might like.

I put in Jennifer Weiner and was recommended Jodi Picoult, Marian Keyes, Anna Maxted, Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding (no surprises there!) along with Neil Gaiman, John Krakauer, Michael Crichton and more.

It's not particularly useful and loads of the names are misspelled, but it's strangely compelling to watch. Or maybe I should just get out more ...

Posted by Keris on October 10, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

SPOTLIGHT: Wendy Holden

Pun queen Wendy Holden was born in Yorkshire and read English Literature at Cambridge University. After graduation, she became a journalist writing for Tatler, Harpers and Queen, The Sunday Times and The Sunday Telegraph.

Her debut novel, Simply Divine, was inspired by her experiences on the glossies and was an immediate hit. After Bad Heir Day was another huge success, Wendy gave up journalism to become a full-time novelist. Her third novel, Pastures Nouveaux (called Farm Fatale in the US, it's one of Shanna Swendson's favourites), was followed by (confusingly) Fame Fatale (called Gossip Hound in the US), Azur Like It and The Wives of Bath. Her latest book The School for Husbands, has seen her titles getting cute new covers (in the UK).

Wendy Holden lives in London and Derbyshire with her husband and two children.

Inexplicably, we've never reviewed any of her books! We will set that right forthwith!

Carry on over the cut for Wendy's bibliography.

Simply Divine
Bad Heir Day
Pastures Nouveaux/Farm Fatale
Fame Fatale/Gossip Hound
Azur Like It
The Wives of Bath
The School for Husbands

See Wendy talking about Azur Like It here

Posted by Keris on October 10, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Romance, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (3)

The unexpected bestseller...

What would you guess the twenty-second most popular book on Amazon UK would be?

This? This? Maybe this?

It's actually this! Hmm... maybe more engineers should be reading Trashionista for some more exciting ideas?!

[Via Galleycat].

Posted by Aigua Media on October 10, 2006 in Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 9, 2006 6:24 PM

Amazon shorts and plogs (explained)

I know, I'm always bringing you news about what the 'folks' (as George Bush would say) at Amazonlogothumb Amazon are up to (like this, this and this) but it's not my fault they're so darn innovative! So at the risk of becoming an unpaid stooge, I wanted to share a couple more of their good ideas with you. (Yeah, I sound like I'm on staff over there, but I'm really not):

Amazon shorts are short stories available for download for 49 cents each at Amazon.com (I'm not sure whether non-US customers can download them, but it's worth a try!) Authors include Lauren Baratz Logsted, Richard and Judy fave Audrey Niffenegger and Paul Reiser, who I'm slightly obsessed with after belatedly discovering Mad About You via cable TV- but you don't need to know about that...

Amazon Plogs is another Amazon.com service, this time for published authors- a blog that is seen by anyone who looks at your book(s)- so you can use it to provide your loyal readers with insider news like tour information or just have a gossip! It's free to anyone with one book or more for sale. Read the FAQ here.

Hopefully all of these wonderful American Amazon innovations will be making their way this side of the pond very soon... please?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 9, 2006 in Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Non Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Little Miss) Stella McCartney's special 'book'

Being a huge fan of Mr Men and Little Miss books as a child, I loved the news that Stella McCartney's latest fashion show invite was in the form of a specially-created Little Miss book, called (unsurprisingly) Little Miss Stella. One for my next birthday, please...

[Via Catwalk Queen].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 9, 2006 in Book News, Book related, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

That was the week that was!

Anyone who visited our site last week couldn't fail to have picked up on the party atmosphere! Wasn't Bafab just brilliant? We had a great time, and we hope -and suspect- you did, too! Maybe we even inspired some of you to buy a friend a book... if we did, tell us about it!

We have to thank all of our lovely readers for helping make the week such a brilliant success, as well as the Shiny team for promoting us and for answering our question "If you could buy a friend a book, which would you choose and why?"

And of course, the week would have been nothing without Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Shanna Swendson, Hester Browne, Lily Burana, Laura Dave and Jo Elliot, our wonderful guest blogging authors, for generously writing for us AND donating a book each. PLUS, we had very generous donations from Snowbooks & Seal Press, Faber, Andrea Semple, Kathryn Finney and... I hope I haven't forgotten anybody!

You can still enter our giveaways over the next couple of days, if you were silly- I mean unlucky- enough to have passed us by last week... Check out the Bafab archives for a full list.

Here's to another great week on Trashionista this week- we may not have quite the star line-up of Bafab, but we can promise you great book news and reviews all delivered with our trademark sense of fun. So stick around!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 9, 2006 in American Authors, Announcements, Bafab, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Competition, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Non Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

TV NEWS: Wide Sargasso Sea

Admittedly, we were a bit late in telling you about the BBC's production of Jane Eyre, but we're just in time to tell you about Wide Sargasso Sea. Based on the Jean Rhys novel (which, as the story of Rochester's wife Bertha, was inspired by Jane Eyre) it starts tonight on BBC Four tonight at 9pm and concludes on Sunday 15th at 10pm.

You can read more about it and watch clips here.

Posted by Keris on October 9, 2006 in Book related, Classic Novels, Modern Fiction, Prize Winners, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kylie joins celebrity authors

With the release of her first children's book The Showgirl Princess, top pop star (I wanted to say "pop moppet", but this isn't Smash Hits) Kylie Minogue has joined Madonna and Julie Andrews on the shelves of the children's department.

What you may not realise is just how many other celebrities have already released books for children. John Travolta, Jamie Lee Curtis, Will Smith and more have committed their kids' bedtime stories (I imagine) to paper.

My favourite, though, is Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's Carson Kressley's You're Different and That's Super.

So what do you think? Valuable additions to the children's canon or yet more celebrity cash-in nonsense?

Posted by Keris on October 9, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson

If you haven't read any Bill Bryson yet then all I can say is where have you been? Since Notes From A Small Island hit the bestseller lists, Bryson has been enormously successful and popular. Books about travelling around the US and Europe, Africa and Australia followed and earlier books on the English Language were quickly rereleased. A departure into popular science with A Short History of Nearly Everything was another hit and now, with The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, he's written a memoir. Except he hasn't really. Read on to find out why not.

Bryson was born in 1951 and this book is predominantly about the 1950s, most of which he presumably was too young to remember. I've read a number of reviews that claim The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid just doesn't cut it as autobiography, but that's missing the point. This book is less an autobiography and more a travelogue of Fifties America - a fascinating time in a fascinating place. (I imagine it has been marketed as memoir to capitalise on people's interest in and goodwill towards Bryson himself - he really does come across as a sort of lovely favourite uncle.)

We do learn about his childhood and family - his mother was absent-minded and an appalling cook, his father liked to walk around the house naked from the waist down, and we of course learn about Bill's "Thunderbolt Kid" alter-ego - but the majority of the book is given over to a time before couscous, but of enormous wealth and change (in the US). I found it absolutely fascinating and often hilarious.

No, it's not really a memoir, but it's still a fabulous and funny read.

Rating: 5 out of 5

If you like this, try Candyfreak by Steve Almond

Posted by Keris on October 9, 2006 in American Authors, Memoirs, More On Monday, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 6, 2006 4:30 PM

GUEST BLOG and GIVEAWAY!!: Jo Elliot

Joelliot Jo Elliot is the author of I'm Celibate, Get me out of Here! which we raved about back in May ("This book is witty, fast-paced and highly entertaining... 5/5") and her guest blog for us gives us an insider glimpse into the topic of her book, about looking for the love of your life online.

AND! One lucky reader can WIN! a free copy by emailing us your name and address with Celibate in the subject line- you won't regret it!- Sorry, we love our international readers but this one's UK only.

Jo Elliot on Finding the Love of Your life... or not

Internet dating. Isn't that for freaks and weirdos? That's certainly what I thought when I inadvertently joined a dating site 6 years ago. Having been single since God knows when, I was strangely flattered when 'Handsome_Gentleman' landed in my inbox telling me I was his ideal woman. However, one click on his profile revealed that he most certainly wasn't my ideal man.

Tom Evans was, but he broke my heart in 100 places (one of them was Soho). But if at first you don't succeed, then try, try again. Surely there was someone for me in this enormous virtual meat market? And what's more, I could search for them from the comfort of my own desk. And so began a journey that sometimes made me wonder if I'd joined a joke site, and other times took me to such salubrious places as Birmingham Travelodge. Who says romance is dead?

It's just on a life support machine. My friends' hysterical laughter as I recalled my dating stories made me realise I'd be doing the rest of the world a disservice if I didn't share the amusement. So I wrote 'I'm Celibate...Get Me Out Of Here!' I'm glad I'm not Bridget Jones, with two rich, handsome men fighting over me.

I'd never have met The_Hairy_Cornflake.

Posted by Aigua Media on October 6, 2006 in Bafab, Book related, British Authors, Competition, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (24)

More "If we bought a friend a book" for your delectation...

Katpic_1 Kat, editor of The Bag Lady says: "The books I would recommend to anyone would be Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel, and the sequel, More, Now, Again [follow those links to read extracts] - although both are not particularly well-written, it's more the subject matter which interests me, mainly mental illness and drug dependence.

They're a must-read for anyone who lives in the 21st century, when 1 in 3 are going to go through some form of mental illness in their lifetime. It really gives you a perspective on what it's like to be in that situation. And, for those affected by depression or drug dependence, it's a relief to know that other people of the same age are going through the same traumas, and that yes, you too can pull through as well. I'd also recommend Vice's 'Do's and Don'ts', a capsule of all their best do's and don'ts over the years - only for the young at heart and those who have a strong sense of humour. A real leave-in-the-toilet book that will have you bursting out laughing whilst on the job, to the worry of your housemates!"

Stuart writes for lots of Shiny's technology and pop culture sites, including the hugely popular Tech Digest. What does he recommend?

London "Peter Ackroyd's London: The Biography. It's an amazing warts'n'all (and there are LOTS of warts) biography of the capital, organised by themes rather than chronologically. The best thing I can say about it is that it makes you want to get out there and explore the streets and locations he talks about, from wandering along the route of the old London Wall looking for old bits of masonry, to poking around where Newgate used to be or wondering if you can get a whiff of the noxious River Fleet. As someone brought up on the edge of London, I never really had much interest in its history, but this book really brought it alive. And even though it's huge, the writing crackles along with real pace, so it's never dull."

John_pic Meanwhile, John of TV Scoop says.... "OK, you said it's a "generic friend" so I don't know whether they're a lover of sci-fi/fantasy or not, but I am, so maybe I'm trying to convert them;) In which case... I would have to pick something well written, well known, well loved (as in I've reread it many times) and epic in scope. It also helps that it's the first of a trilogy and the world it inhabits is explored in two further trilogies, one set after it in time and one before. Heck if I was feeling generous I might even BAFAT (Buy A Friend A Trilogy). It's The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May, the first book in the Saga of the Exiles series" (No, I'm not sure what's going on in that photo, either...)

Gemmapic_1 Finally, Gemma, our lovely editor in chief and head honcho at Shoewawa and Catwalk Queen (for starters!), is on a business trip to Las Vegas all week (not for the first time- and she's off there again in January, lucky woman!) so it's not surprising that she suggested Divas Las Vegas by Belinda Jones...

Want to know more? Remind yourself what Mof and Keris, Star, and I all said in answer to the question. Or check out the Bafab archives... it's been quite a week!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 6, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book related, British Authors, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, Non Fiction, Opinion, Series | Permalink | Comments (10)

MAMA LAMA DING DONG GIVEAWAY!

Ayunhalliday_1 Remember how much I enjoyed this book? Well, you could be in with the chance to find out for yourself how fab it is with yet ANOTHER fantastic Bafab giveaway, thanks to Snow Books.

And if that wasn't enough, we've got a copy of another of Ayun's books - Dirty Sugar Cookies, this one from Seal Press. (This one's UK only though, sorry.)

To win, just email us with your name and address (so we can send the book to the winner, we won't stalk you, promise) with Mama in the subject line for Mama Lama Ding Dong and Dirty for Dirty Sugar Cookies.

Our other giveaways: This is Chick Lit, Wedding Belles, Shanna Swendson and Queen of the Oddballs (which no-one has entered- come on people!) Hester Browne, Budget Fashionista and Try.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 6, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book related, Competition, Memoirs, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

FRIDAY FLICK: Crazy in Alabama

Based on the 1994 novel by Mark Childress, Crazy in Alabama stars Melanie Griffiths and was directed by Antonio Banderas. (I think they may have met while making this movie.)

I have to admit, I went a bit wild ordering DVDs of films based on books for the Friday Flick and when this one flopped onto the mat my heart sank. Melanie Griffith drives me crackers. I'd read the book years ago, but couldn't remember anything about it except it involved a man's head in a hatbox, so I sat down to watch it with a heavy heart. I expected it to be rubbish. Read on to see if I was right.

Lucille (Melanie Griffith) turns up at her mother's house to drop off her seven kids cos she's off to Hollywood. Her husband said she couldn't go so she killed him and cut off his head. And, look, here it is in this tupperware container. This is how we know that Lucille might not be dealing a full deck. Her nephew Pete Joe thinks she's incredible and so tries to protect her and not let the local sheriff, played by Meat Loaf (yes, really) know where she's going and what she's done. But when Pete Joe sees the sheriff kill a black boy for swimming in the whites-only pool, the town's racial tensions and Lucille's future become linked and, frankly, things don't look good for anyone.

So is it rubbish? Well .. it's a funny one. I don't think it's a particularly good film and I imagine it got some dreadful reviews. It's full of cliches. The tagline is 'sometimes you have to lose your mind to find your freedom' which is nonsense in itself. The ending is ridiculous. But. I really enjoyed it. I thought Melanie Griffith was amazing. I completely forgot she was annoying Melanie Griffith and totally believed in the character and I have to admit I shed a tear at the end.

Posted by Keris on October 6, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 5, 2006 9:53 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

Lolly Winston's debut, Sophie's Bakery for the Broken-Hearted (called Good Grief in the US) was a huge hit and I enjoyed it, so I was really looking forward to Happiness Sold Separately. I wasn't disappointed.

When Elinor Mackey finds out her husband Ted is having an affair it's just the most recent in a long line of disappointments. Elinor and Ted have been trying for a baby with no success and much heartbreak and their marriage has been all but dead for a while. Ted breaks off his relationship with Gina, the nutritionist at the Mackeys' gym, but then when he bumps into her and the son he didn't know she had, he finds it harder than he thought to let her go. In her husband's absence, Elinor starts sleeping under the enormous oak tree in the front garden and then, when the tree has to be cut down, she starts sleeping with the tree surgeon.

I know, it all sounds a bit far-fetched and I suppose it is. Elinor and Ted hop in and out of each other's and other people's beds, but Happiness Sold Separately is entirely believable. I've never read a book where wanting more than one person at the same time is portrayed so convincingly. I had no idea who to root for. I wanted everyone to be happy. Winston writes about the minutiae of life beautifully. So beautifully, in fact, that Happiness Sold Separately reminded me a lot of the wonderful Elizabeth Berg* and I can't pay a much higher compliment than that.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

*Someone else obviously thinks so too because the US cover styles are rather similar.

Posted by Keris on October 5, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

THURSDAY THREE: From blog to book

With the news last week that Catherine Sanderson of the Petite Anglaise blog is the latest in a long line of bloggers to be offered a book deal (I'm sure the publicity when she got sacked for blogging earlier this year didn't hurt!), today's Thursday Three couldn't be much more timely: Blooks. That's blogs turned books, of course...

Julie and Julia has to be up first, as it was the inaugural winner of The Blooker Prize earlier this year. It's about Julie Powell's attempts to to cook every recipe in classic American chef Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, within one year. Funny, frank and educational, it's about so much more than cooking... The original blog's no longer active but you can read the archives (including a very moving tribute), here. Ever the blogger, Julie also has a new blog.

Continue over the cut for more, dear bleaders (that's blog readers, apparently...)

No mention of women bloggers turned authors would be complete without featuring Jessica Cutler, whose sensational Washington-based 'sex blog' propelled her to literary fame. Perhaps because of the delicate nature of some of the material, her book The Washingtonienne is firmly filed in the Fiction section. But how fictitious is it really...?!

And finally, a huge favourite of mine! Mimi Smartypants is a wonderfully witty and intelligent blogger (even though she prefers to call it her 'online diary'), whose book The World According to Mimi Smartypants she is typically (and erroneously) self-defacing about. It's wonderful!

Which blogs would you like to see made into books? (And don't just say your own!)

Other blookers: Abby Lee and the wonderful Angela Nissel.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 5, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, Non Fiction, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (1)

GUEST BLOG and GIVEAWAY: Laura Dave

Newlaura Laura Dave is the author of new novel London is the Best City in America, which Reese Witherspoon is making into a film. (I know!!)

And, she's guest blogging for us for Bafab, about relationships and writing... which means, of course, that we have a copy of her book to give away, if you... what? Email us with your name and address, that's right! (Put London in the subject line).

Torn in Two: Thinking About (And Writing About) Relationships by Laura Dave

When I was waiting for the subway a few weeks ago, I was squeezed between two guys who were talking about love. (Okay, by “squeezed between” two guys, I mean “leaning in” to hear what they were saying, but you get the idea…) One of the guys—let’s call him Teddy—was talking about a woman named Marietta, who he couldn’t get out of his head (with a name like Marietta, who could get her out?!). Teddy was telling his friend that he has never felt this way about anyone before, that he is sure this is love (he actually said love), and he can see himself spending his life with her. Which is when his friend spoke. “What about Meredith?”

Teddy looked demolished—at least to my nosy-body eyes. “I don’t know how I can leave her,” he said. And there’s the rub.

And here’s the common ground: my first novel, London Is The Best City in America, focuses on 26 year old, Emmy Everett, who comes home for the first time in years for her brother Josh’s wedding—only to discover that Josh thinks he is in love with another woman, who is not his fianceé. Trying to be the good sister, Emmy embarks on a road trip with Josh to find this mystery woman and try to make sense of his true feelings.

As the subway pulled into the station—and Teddy and friend disappeared into a different car—I couldn’t help but wonder what he’d decide his true feelings were. I know what I decided Josh’s were. One of reasons I like writing about relationships so much is getting to make those decisions: who is going to be brave, who is going to stand up for the person he loves, who is going to make a bad choice for herself. In all of the best ways, my characters often surprise me—often hold their ground—and I end up making choices for them I didn’t see coming. I end up making choices for them that teach me something.

About a week after I saw Teddy on the subway platform, I ran into him again: Same platform, same busy time of day. Only this time he was with a woman. Which woman was it: wearing a red skirt, and the kind of stiletto heels that make me trip, just from looking at them? It was all I could do to not call out Marietta and see what happened. But, whichever woman she was, Teddy reached out to take her hand and she smiled at him. And maybe that’s the best end of the story either way. At least, I think, that’s how I would write it.

Oh, I'm so intrigued! Thanks Laura!

Posted by Aigua Media on October 5, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book related, Debut Novels, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

BUDGET FASHIONISTA GIVEAWAY!

Budget Yep, it's another Bafab giveaway- and there's still loads more to come! This is one our friends at Catwalk Queen, Shoewawa and The Bag Lady will be salivating over... How to be A Budget Fashionista's lovely author Kathryn Finney has donated THREE signed copies to be won by three of you!

You should have got the hang of how this works by now- To win, just email us with your name and address (so we can send the book to the winner, we won't stalk you!) and "Fashionista" in the subject line.

And speaking of Catwalk Queen, go there to read what Anne Hathaway, Star of The Devil Wears Prada, has to say about her personal style... or lack thereof. (You can enter our giveaway, Anne!)

Our other giveaways: This is Chick Lit, Wedding Belles, Shanna Swendson, Queen of the Oddballs, A Faber Double, Hester Browne, Try and The Man from Perfect. (Plus we'll have more to give away later today and Friday! Phew...) You can enter as many as you like, just send each one on a separate email and we'll pick a winner at random once Bafab's over!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 5, 2006 in Bafab, Book News, Book related, Competition, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Jane Austen Calendar- and one for bookaholics, too!

If you don't know by now that we're big Jane Austen fans around here, I don't know what website you've been reading! Anyway, this Jane Austen "softcover engagement calendar" (from Calendar.com) featuring quotes from her novels is right up our street.

There's also a Book Lover's Page a Day Calendar- in fact, a whole literature section of the website, including Wild Words from Wild Women!

Related: The Chick-Lit Calendar.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 5, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels | Permalink | Comments (0)

ANDREA SEMPLE GIVEAWAY!

Andreasemple_1 The lovely and talented Andrea Semple has kindly pledged a copy of The Man From Perfect to our Bafab giveaway bonanza- thank you Andrea!

To win, just email us with your name and address (so we can send the book to the winner, we won't stalk you!) with Perfect in the subject line.

Our other giveaways: This is Chick Lit, Wedding Belles, Shanna Swendson and Queen of the Oddballs (which no-one has entered- come on people!) Hester Browne, and Try. (PLUS! More coming soon- Click on Bafab to keep up-to-date!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 5, 2006 in Bafab, Book related, British Authors, Competition | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: I Was a Teenage Popsicle by Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Bev This book really reminded me of This Place Has No Atmosphere by Paula Danziger (a fantastic futuristic kids/teen novel about the first colony on the moon), which I read and loved as an eleven year-old, so I had fond feelings about it from the start. As the title suggests, it's teen lit, something I haven't read since I was... well, a teenager, but Keris talks about it so much (and writes it so brilliantly- stop blushing, it's true!) that I was keen to try.
And I wasn't disappointed. I Was a Teenage Popsicle is the story of Floe Ryan, who died in 2006 but was cyrogenically frozen (well, not frozen, 'vitrified', as she's keen to point out) until a cure for her illness could be found. Now it has, and she's been brought back to life... but it's 2016 now and things are very different...

This is a great plot! It lends itself to some wonderful situations, the best of which is probably the fact that Floe's younger sister Sunny, who she tortured as a teen, is now her big sister... and keen to get her revenge. There's also the whole re-adjustment angle, and the author's speculations about what life is like in the future. Plus, Floe's parents are still vitrified and the clinic where they're held is in financial and legal trouble- and Floe's fellow thawed-out popsicle (there's only two of them in the world) is a boy she really had a crush on back in 2006... so there's a lot going on, and it's written in a fun, fast-paced style that's easy and enjoyable to read.

But much as I enjoyed the book, I had some minor concerns. I found it a touch unimaginative that the author imagines that in 2016 we'll all be wearing Star-Trek style clothing. Isn't that a bit of a 1960s assumption/cliche? Not very original... although if it does happen clearly we'll have solved the problem of teenage self-consciousness by then, which is a major breakthrough! Also, the narrator contradicts herself a couple of times- such as when Floe's sister seems to be getting nicer towards her, and then suddenly isn't or when Floe says she's fit, and then a page later tells us to 'forget when I said that...' which is a bit jarring. Some parts of the story are also skipped over a little. I couldn't help thinking I would have adored this book when I was eleven, less so at sixteen- the characters seemed a little emotionally young, and I wonder if it would appeal more to pre-teens than to teenagers, who might want something a little more... racy? (Look at the popularity of books like the much more explicit Sugar Rush, for example... the characters in Popsicle won't even use a mild swear word!)

But overall, this book is fun and imaginative- a great idea, executed well, even if this future isn't quite as I'd imagine it!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Princess Diaries Seventh Heaven by Meg Cabot and This Place Has No Atmosphere, of course!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 5, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

If Diane bought a friend a book ...

It would be The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.

I know very few people who've read it, and yet I can't think of anyone I know who wouldn't find it fascinating and change the way they look at the world.

His second book, Blink is also well worth reading, but I think The Tipping Point is a guaranteed success- buy it for your friends today... (I swear I don't get paid to say that!)

Brought to you by Bafab! (.. and the letter "D" ...)

Posted by Keris on October 5, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book related, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (1)

Book Bags

Thank you to Luisa for alerting me to these gorgeous bags.

They're from Rebound Designs and there are loads available, including more Nancy Drew, Pride & Prejudice, My Friend Flicka, Jane Eyre, even Harry Potter. It's a good thing Christmas is coming (hint, hint).

And if bags are your bag, then head over to The Bag Lady for bags more. I'm going back to bed.

October 4, 2006 7:40 PM

GUEST BLOG and GIVEAWAY!!: Lily Burana

Lily_burana_now Former punk turned journalist and author Lily Burana's first book was a memoir, Strip City: A Stripper's Farewell Journey Across America. Her second book, the novel Try might not have quite as intriguing a title, but it does boast one hell of an opening line.

(And you can win a copy in hardback by emailing us your name and address with Try in the subject line- you won't regret it!- Sorry, UK only).

But now, on with Lily's fabulous guest blog-

The Rocky Road to Rodeo Romance by Lily Burana

The old maxim “write what you know” may be wise counsel indeed, but how long can you write before you reach the limits of your life experience? A writer’s only got one thinly veiled autobiographical novel in her, and in my case, my first book was a memoir, so I had already used up all my source material by the time it was time for book two. I knew I wanted to write a love story for my second book—a raw, rowdy, dare I say kinky love story, and I had been in love, so in that respect I could work from personal experience. But in my heart, I wanted to set the book in the West—not the old-school Lone Ranger Sunday matinee Hollywood fantasy place, but the modern, totally country, bikini bull ride and rodeo real-deal West.

I lived in Wyoming for a few years, and saw the drama, romance, and excitement of cowboys, rodeos, and honkytonks, but since I didn’t come from that world, I didn’t feel entitled to write about it. But the more I thought about the book I longed to write, the greater my courage grew. F*ck it, I thought, Dr. Suess didn’t live in Whoville before he wrote “Horton Hears a Who,” and Roald Dahl didn’t work in a chocolate factory before he wrote “Willy Wonka,” so why was I being such a write-what-you-know purist priss?

I got some guts and started traveling the rodeo circuit, asking all kinds of nosy questions of the cowboys and the women who loved them, and ended up with a book that several rodeo girlfriends have told me rings totally true. So my advice is to write what you’re obsessed with, and the critical details will fall into place during the process. It’s passion—more than first-hand life experience—that gets the story to stick to the page.

Posted by Aigua Media on October 4, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book related, Competition, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (4)

Five Books

In the Wall Street Journal, First Lady Laura Bush has listed the five books that inspired her to champion literacy. They are:

1. Hop on Pop by Dr Seuss
2. The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
3. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

So since we're all interactive here on Trashionista this week (and inspired by/blatantly ripping off of AOL's Book Maven), I thought I'd ask - what are yours? What are the five books that encouraged and inspired you as a reader?

Carry on over the cut for mine.

1. What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge (I wanted to get scarlet fever and have to stay in bed)
2. The Malory Towers series by Enid Blyton (I wanted to go to boarding school and have midnight feasts)
3. Heidi by Johanna Spyri (I wanted to sleep on hay bales and spend all day on a mountainside)
4. The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden (I wanted to live in New York .. still do)
5. Her Benny: A Tale of Victorian Liverpool by Silas K Hocking (The only book I remember being read to me, by my nan)

Posted by Keris on October 4, 2006 in Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (8)

HESTER BROWNE GIVEAWAY

The Bafab giveaways just keep on comin'!

If you read Hester's guest blog earlier, you'll know I promised you something exciting.

Hester has donated an advance US reading copy of Little Lady, Big Apple (which isn't published until February next year) along with the final UK copy too so you can spot the difference! And if that wasn't enough, she'll sign them both to the winner.

To win, just email us with your name and address and "Hester" in the subject line.

Plus you can still enter our A Boy of Good Breeding & Arlington Park, This Is Chick Lit, Wedding Belles, Shanna Swendson, and Queen of the Oddballs giveaways, too. We spoil you, we really do.

Posted by Keris on October 4, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Competition, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Romance, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

BRANDISH- For the man in your life

I've just got time to take a mini-break from Bafab to tell you about a brand new and very funky Shiny blog, Brandish. While we and our sister sites are all about girl stuff (most of the time), Brandish is a more blokey blog about gadgets- the man's answer to the fabulous Shiny Shiny.

(But girls who want to browse -and even comment- won't get kicked out, promise!)

Posted by Aigua Media on October 4, 2006 in Announcements | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: e-luv by Dave Roberts

Subtitled "An Internet Romance", e-luv is the story of Trevor - and his online alter-ego Lord Brett Sinclair - as he starts to live his life entirely online.

When agoraphobia coupled with a mysery illness result in Trevor losing his job, he finds himself more and more attracted to the internet. Chatrooms, dating sites, online poker. He can be whoever he wants to be and no-one needs to know he can't go out. Except, that is, when they want to meet him in the "real world".

And they do. Amazingly, a number of different women turn up at Trevor's door, never suspecting that he can't actually get through it. One woman even comes from the US, leaving her husband, but bringing her child. Women send him underwear through the post. He receives so many phonecalls from his various online girlfriends that he's forced to come up with a cunning way of establishing who's calling without offending them by asking outright.

Eventually though Trevor starts to realise he needs to step away from the computer and out into the fresh air and with the help of, yes, a woman he meets online, he's able to do just that.

I really enjoyed e-luv. Yes it was funny, but it was also compelling in a slightly disturbing way. I had to keep reading to see just how far Trevor would go and how low he would sink. The only criticism I have of the book is that it doesn't read like fiction at all. I have no idea how much is real (though reading the author's very funny blog, it would seem like quite a lot) and I think this book may have worked even better as a kind of comedy confession book.

Still, it serves as a warning that too much time online can really damage your health!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try The Yes Man by Danny Wallace

Posted by Keris on October 4, 2006 in British Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

GUEST BLOG: Hester Browne

Hester Browne, author of The Little Lady Agency and Little Lady, Big Apple writes about the difficulties in adapting your own book for a different audience (in this case, from the UK to the US). Come back later for a very special Hester Browne giveaway (the clue is in the theme of this guest blog!).

From British to "American" by Hester Browne

Translation rights are the author's best friend: the thrill of seeing your book in a foreign language with none of the stress involved of writing it again. My agent has sold The Little Lady Agency in Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, and Germany, and I've got no idea how the translator is going to make the jokes about Mr Sheen work. I can't even imagine what Melissa's voice sounds like in a German reader's mind.

But when the series was sold in the US, I didn't realise that it would need a translation job and that I'd be doing it myself.

First of all, it's not just the language that has to be translated, so much as the culture. All the references to British TV soaps, chocolate, specific places in London that tell a UK reader exactly what kind of girl Melissa is they all had to be changed, or explained, or deleted. British chick-lit is stuffed with pop-culture references (another reason why it'll be fascinating to read in 100 years' time!), and though US readers apparently love the flavour of British slang, there comes a point where it's just incomprehensible. It's not such a bad thing to have to explain properly, it's kind of lazy to use LK Bennett as a defining character trait, and it really does make you look at London in a new light. You try explaining the WI to a New Yorker. Or the subtle difference between John Lewis and Marks & Spencer.

I didn't completely appreciate how subtly humour changes on the other side of the Atlantic either. British humour is sarcastic, verging on the downright cruel, and it's done on the tongue-in-cheek understanding that we don't really mean it. Like, Melissa's father, Martin Romney-Jones, MP. He's a horrendous character, who schemes, cheats and screams at his family, especially poor Mel. But in the tradition of Basil Fawlty or Edmund Blackadder, he's usually villainous for effect we know the Romney-Joneses love each other really, because they're nice to their dogs, but they're never happier than when they're engaged in a screeching match.

Hmm. I don't think that really travelled, to be honest. American readers took parts of Melissa's story quite seriously, especially her struggles with her family, who they felt should be in therapy or possibly, in court. And when I came to write the sequel, Little Lady, Big Apple, which is set in New York, I suddenly found I couldn't bring myself to be as sarcastic about New York men as I had been about the Londoners I knew so well, because that sort of British sarkiness is just affection, inside-out. I didn't want to offend all the kind, welcoming New Yorkers I'd met, so I had to do a crash-course in NYC Male Failings. And you know what? They're grooming freaks who insist on paying for dinner, and constantly check their mobiles for messages. Try making a job for Honey out of that.

But what I did learn, after the most rigorous editing ever, was that so long as the heart of a novel is true-to-life, it doesn't matter where it's set, or which supermarket the heroine uses. And I hope useless men, ingenious women, and quality lingerie are things everyone can relate to!

Posted by Keris on October 4, 2006 in Bafab, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Romance, Series | Permalink | Comments (15)

YET ANOTHER FAB BAFAB GIVEAWAY!

Are we good to you, or what?

First, remember how much I loved A Boy of Good Breeding? Well, you can find out for yourself what a great read it is by winning a free copy!

AND the good people at Faber are so generous they gave us another great new read to give away- Arlington Park, the new hardback release from Whitbread Prize winner Rachel Cusk.

To win, just email us with your name and address (so we can send the book to the winner, we won't stalk you, promise) and "Breeding" or "Park" in the subject line. You can enter for as many giveaways as you want this week- just make sure you send each entry as a separate email!

Our other giveaways: This is Chick Lit, Wedding Belles, Shanna Swendson and Queen of the Oddballs (plus we'll have more to give away later today, tomorrow and Friday! Phew...)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 4, 2006 in Bafab, Book related, British Authors, Competition, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ally Carter's Audio Advice!

Chick-lit for teens author Ally Carter (whose book- I think it's I'd Tell You I Love You but then I'd have to Kill You-has been optioned to be made into a movie by Disney, aka. the people behind The Princess Diaries film!) is sharing an audio excerpt of advice for writers via her Myspace page. [Click on the third link down in the little audio player in the right-hand side- she has a lovely voice!]

She says, "I know there are a lot of aspiring writers out there, so I wanted to let you know that I've just posted an audio excerpt of the session I did at the 2006 Pikes Peak Writer's Conference on my MySpace.
The session was called "A Movie-Lover's Guide to Writing Novels" and I talked about the craft of storytelling, using some classic movies as examples.
So if you want to hear me talk about some pretty basic (but essential) stuff like plot points, characters, and conflict, check it out." [Via Myspace]

And of course, if you're a myspace member, add us to your friends!

M. Apostilina's Tips for Writers.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 4, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Rachel Johnson

Racheljohnson Rachel Johnson (sister of Boris!) is the author of memoir The Mummy Diaries and new novel Notting Hell (which I suspect of being somewhat based on real life as she lives in Notting Hill...) Anyway, we will be reviewing it (all in good time!) but first, she spoke to us about her favourite books, where she writes and all those other nosy questions we can't help wondering about...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer: A naughty romp through the houses and lives of London's haves and have-yachts in lush Notting Hill. Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)? I write at a desk in my mum's flat. The telephone trills the whole time, but at least I know it's not for me.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)? I write at a desk in my mum's flat. The telephone trills the whole time, but at least I know it's not for me.

Your favourite chick-lit book? I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. More than chick lit. Better. I read it once a year.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why? I have a weakness for all Jilly Cooper heroines, Bella, Octavia, Emily etc but as a podge in my formative years, my vote goes to the heavenly Taggie Campbell-Black.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers? Keep going.

What are you reading at the moment? Be Near Me by Andrew O' Hagan.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!) The sequel to Notting Hell, set in a West Country village colonized by swanky, wanky second home owners.

Thanks Rachel!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 4, 2006 in British Authors, Debut Novels, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (3)

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Well, last week's discussion about books-turned-films was very interesting- most of us agreed the book is usually better than the film, and that short stories or novellas work better as films than novels do. That said, some adaptations work well- Out of Sight and In Her Shoes, for example. And The Devil Wears Prada has just won Variety Blockbuster Book to Film Award- a special award for books turned into films.

This week, I have another hot book topic for you to discuss! You may not have heard of Macmillan New Writing, but it had publishers and authors all a-flutter earlier this year. It's a low-cost imprint of publisher Macmillan which offers previously unpublished authors little help with proof-reading and publicity, and no advance (so don't give up your day job...) but authors do get 20% of royalties from the sale of their book.

What do you think- is this a great way for new, struggling writers to get into print (more authors get the opportunity as it's very low risk for the publisher) or are writers being ripped off? A great innovation, or only for the desperate?

Do you like the idea, or not- Is it a Yay or a Nay, and why?

[Don't forget it's Yay or Nay day at Hippyshopper, Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 4, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (6)

BOOK REVIEW: Journey Out Of Darkness by Jean Darby

Jean Darby is a retired teacher and has based this book on her own experience of fostering a young girl who was raised by a satanic witch.

Journey Out of Darkness traces a girl’s struggle to overcome her abusive past. Rita is one of twins. She clings to her sister Maureen throughout her childhood until their lives take different paths. The mother, who calls herself Cassandra communes with demons, making them do her evil bidding in return for her faithful worship.

Jean Darby has written a large number of children’s books and unfortunately it shows. This book seems to be written in a style aimed for a lot younger reader, with the exception of the rather grim sex scenes. Obviously Darby has had experience of this situation herself, as the book comes across as very believable.

Journey Out of Darkness reminds me of afternoons watching Channel 5 movies - the ones labelled ‘American family drama’. The plot, script and acting are all a bit dodgy, but you feel compelled to keep watching. The situation is so terrible and depressing you just have to find out what happens in the end.

I felt this book said a lot more about Darby’s opinions and prejudices than the topic of child abuse. She is so obsessed with preaching ‘God good/Satan bad’ that she avoids the real issues. She fails to tackle the complete failure of the government systems to deal with abuse. She is so busy with the fact that the mother is evil due to the fact that she worships Satan, that she fails to notice that the character she’s created is obviously clinically insane. This seems to be yet another failure of their systems that she has remained undiagnosed.

Considering the subject matter this book was never going to be an easy read. However, I found it very frustrating that no one questioned the way their schools, social services and medical systems worked. If you want an exciting read that’s full of demons and the occult, give this one a miss.

Rating: 1 out of 5

[Angela Richardson]

Like this? Try A Child Called “It”: One Child’s Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer.

Posted by Keris on October 4, 2006 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 1/5, Rubbish Books, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 3, 2006 10:00 PM

EXCLUSIVE FORUM GIVEAWAY!

Oddballs If you haven't yet joined our lovely Shiny Forum, then you've still got time before the winner of this prize is drawn... but get to it, or you'll miss out!

We have an extra copy of Queen of the Oddballs, and we're giving it away to one of you... (I'm sorry, this is UK only). It's a FANTASTIC book, a memoir about Hillary Carlip, who's starred in films with Tom Hanks and Olivia Newton John, seen John Cusack with his acne cream on and taught famous chat-show hosts to breathe fire. Of course!- But who hasn't?

She's had an odd and wonderful life and her book makes a fantastic read. (I'll be reviewing it soon, but let's just say it will be very favourable!)

To win, you need to sign up for forum membership here (it's free, and simple!) and then answer the question on this WIN A BOOK! thread. Go on, you know you want to...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 3, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book News, Book related, Competition, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (51)

GUEST BLOG: Shanna Swendson

Shanna Swendson, author of Enchanted Inc and Once Upon Stilettos (win a copy of the book of your choice here!) explains why she can't pick just one book to buy for a friend.. she'd have to buy up almost the whole bookshop! (Been there, done that...) Talk about encapsulating the spirit of Trashionista...

I just can't pick a favourite book! by Shanna Swendson

I've never really been a "best friends" kind of girl. I'm more likely to be part of a larger group and to move between different situational groups (in the "Queen Bees" terminology, I'm a textbook case of a "Floater"). I think that has a lot to do with why I can't pick a favorite book or even a favorite author. I have a lot of "book friends" I turn to for different situations or when I'm in different moods.

When it comes to chick lit, Bridget Jones's Diary is a reliable stand-by. I can read a few pages or the whole book if I need a laugh or a reminder that my life isn't as crazy as it sometimes feels. This is also a good book for a stay-at-home New Year's Eve, since it puts resolutions in perspective. I once tried to start a Bridget-like diary for the new year, but it lasted about three days.

For a rainy Saturday afternoon with nothing on my to-do list or calendar, there's nothing better than curling up with Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes. The large ensemble cast and interwoven plot lines are perfect for a good, long, uninterrupted read.

If I need a guaranteed feel-good, I turn to Wendy Holden. Farm Fatale captures the fantasy of moving to a small English village (though why that's a fantasy for me when I'm from a small town and couldn't wait to escape from it, I don't know), and Bad Heir Day has possibly one of the most satisfying endings ever, worthy of a good fist pump and victory dance.

I seem to re-read A Promising Man by Elizabeth Young (I think it had a different UK title) every holiday season. It's a great romance with lots of fun plot twists that goes perfectly with hot cocoa and Christmas cookies as I sit by the Christmas tree and enjoy a rare peaceful moment during the busy season.

Sarah Bird's The Boyfriend School is a great summer-afternoon book to read by the swimming pool or on the back porch with a glass of iced tea handy.

So, if I wanted to give a friend a book, I'd have something for almost every friend at every time of the year (and that's just my chick lit choices -- the list gets longer if you include fantasy, science fiction or mystery!)

Posted by Aigua Media on October 3, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Girly Stuff, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (1)

If Star bought a friend a book ...

You may have noticed (!) that it's Buy A Friend A Book week and earlier today we revealed the book our Shiny colleague Mof would buy his friends (and the book I'd buy mine). Now it's the turn of Shiny Shiny's Star.

"I think the book I would buy would depend entirely on the friend in question. Anything by Wodehouse (or maybe Stephen Fry) if they like their writing witty, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell if they like the Victorian and the Fantastic, and The Three Musketeers if they're the very good sort of mate who would happily loan a friend a book, because there's a new translation out by Richard Peaver that I'm looking for an excuse to buy even though I own two copies of The Three Musketeers already."

Posted by Keris on October 3, 2006 in Bafab, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Jane Austen's Guide to Dating

Lauren Henderson is best-known as a chick-lit writer (I can't believe we haven't reviewed any of her stuff before!) but she's also a Cambridge University graduate who wrote her second-year dissertation on courtship rituals in Jane Austen. So she's well placed to bring us Jane Austen's Guide to Dating (or Jane Austen's Guide to Romance if you have the paperback!)

A mixture of case studies from Austen's novels and real people from the twenty-first century illustrate the points that Henderson has to make about dating. There are ten important principles, from 'If you like someone, make it clear that you do,' to 'If your lover needs a reprimand, let him have it.' I've never really considered Austen's novels in terms of what we can put into practice in our own lives, so I was interested in this new angle. Plus, as a single girl, I wondered if I'd learn a thing or two...

Which is funny, because the most interesting part of the book for me was the refresher course in Austen. Like Henderson, I love Emma and Pride and Prejudice, so I really enjoyed the extra insight into those novels, and it was exciting to discover (in the 'which Austen character are you?' quiz in the back of the book) that I'm Elizabeth Bennet- who knew?! There's also a 'which Austen character is he??' quiz and a guide to all the novels and the main characters in the back of the book, which is very handy and means you could get something out of this book even if you'd never read a word of Austen. (Although why wouldn't you have, huh?!)

That's not to say that the dating part of the book is worthless, though. Henderson is very sensible. And as a survivor of the legendarily tough New York dating scene, she knows her stuff. The real-life love examples are interesting and fit in well with the lessons from Austen. However, there's nothing very revolutionary here- the advice can pretty much be boiled down to: be yourself, don't play games, have a life outside of your relationship and follow your heart. It seemed like some of the same lessons were repeated and I'm just not sure how useful a reasonably intelligent singleton looking for love would find this. Also, I flinch a little at the idea of Austen's work being appropriated in this way. Lauren Henderson's right that Austen had very clear and sensible ideas about love, and I know Henderson realises there's much more to Austen than that- but doesn't using her work in this way play into the hands of everyone who dismisses her as 'just' a romance writer? (I have no problem with romance writers, but Jane Austen had more to say than that).

But I'm just indulging in some minor quibbling! This book is an enjoyable opportunity to revisit Austen, and gives an insight into other people's love lifes that you may learn something from. Any Janeite would enjoy this, whether looking for love for not.

Rtaing: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Flirting with Pride and Prejudice; Getting Personal by Chris Manby.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 3, 2006 in British Authors, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

SPOTLIGHT: Dorothy Koomson

This week the spotlight is on Dorothy Koomson.

Dorothy started out writing, editing and subbing for various women’s magazines and national papers including Red, New Woman, Marie Claire and The Guardian. She spent her evenings writing novels and occasionally trying to get them published.

Her first book, The Cupid Effect, was published in 2003, but it was when her third book - My Best Friend's Girl - was chosen for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads promotion that she really hit the big time (My Best Friend's Girl was subsequently voted 2nd favourite of all the Summer Reads. Victoria Hislop's The Island was first.)

She now lives in Sydney and South London and works full-time on an Australian women's magazine.

Her fourth book, due out next year, is called Marshmallows For Breakfast and is about a woman who returns from Australia to England and ends up sharing a house with a divorced father and his two children.

Click over the cut for Dorothy's bibliography.

The Cupid Effect
The Chocolate Run
My Best Friend's Girl

Did you know?
Dorothy says her books aren't chick lit because "None of my main characters are desperate to find a man or have romance and weight loss as their main goals in life." [via the Richard & Judy Book Club]
But we know there's more to chick lit than that, don't we?

Posted by Keris on October 3, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Richard and Judy, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

SHANNA SWENDSON GIVEAWAY!

Yes, it's another great Bafab giveaway!

No, we're not actually giving away the respected chick-lit author, that would be silly! But she is donating one of her books to a lucky reader, and here's the great thing: you can choose which one! If you win and haven't read first book Enchanted Inc. then you'll get a copy of that, and if you have, you can claim a copy of sequel Once Upon Stilettos.

To win, just email us with your name and address (so we can send the book to the winner, we won't stalk you, promise) and "Shanna" in the subject line.

and look out for Shanna's special guest blog for us later this afternoon... it's a good 'un! (as I'm sure she wouldn't say in Texas...)

You can still enter our This is Chick Lit and Wedding Belles giveaways, too.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 3, 2006 in American Authors, Announcements, Bafab, Competition, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

If we bought a friend a book...

We chatted with some of our Shiny Media pals about what book they would like to buy for a friend (in honour of Bafab), and why... it didn't have to be a specific friend- we just wanted to know what books they recommended, perhaps something we might not have heard of. And we got some great answers!

Mof of Pop Junkie says: "Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. A book that really has everything. Humour (both macabre fun and gut busting laughs), depth of characters, plot twists, originality, power struggles, highs, lows, cults developing relationships, murder, love, intrigue...a book that really does have an embarrassment of riches. Mof_1

For those unaware, it's a book based around a family who are in, and run, a circus. The two parents devise a method of ensuring that their children are born as, literally, 'circus freaks'. The story follows Olympia Binewski, a bald, humpbacked albino dwarf and the fortunes of her maniacal brother Arturo. A book that reverses the roles of us 'normals' and makes a cracking statement about 'different' people."

Continue over the cut to see what my co-ed the lovely Keris would buy a friend for Bafab week (and why)...

Keris2 Keris says: "It would be Asta's Book by Barbara Vine*. Books are always being described as "unputdownable" but this one .. I sat down on benches on the way to work, I read it under my desk, I stayed up until it was finished. And everyone I've recommended it to has said the same. (One friend was annoyed with me because she took it on a romantic weekend away with her boyfriend and was more interested in the book than she was in him. Which isn't really my fault, is it?!)"

*According to an Amazon reviewer, it's called Anna's Book in the U.S- another name-change book!

Hope that gave you some inspiration! Stay tuned for more recommendations over the week...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 3, 2006 in Bafab, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (0)

Product Placement in Books

We're used to product placement in films, TV shows and even music videos, but how do we feel about it in books? Characters often wear (or lust after) Jimmy Choos or drink Coke, but what if the authors were paid to have them do so? Is that a natural progression of advertising or is it selling out of the worst kind?

Meg Cabot has joined forces with Clinique to promote her latest young adult book, How To Be Popular. The book includes a set of stickers made by the cosmetics company and to be used, Meg says, to "stick on your favorite scenes - such as the ones to do with kissing - or tips from the book, for easy later reference". According to Meg, the book and Clinique were a perfect fit. "Because How To Be Popular is about a girl who is trying desperately to be popular, and who gives herself a physical and mental makeover to become that way, we thought partnering with a cosmetics company to promote the book would be cool. And since Clinique's got such a groovy teen skin care line (which I myself used when I was a teen, and still use today), we were like, Kismet, baby." [via Meg Cabot]

Publishers Running Press have done a presumably similar deal for the forthcoming young adult novel Cathy's Book: If Found Call (650) 266-8233 which features a character using CoverGirl make-up. In return for the mentions of CoverGirl in the book, Proctor & Gamble (the owners of CoverGirl) will promote the book on CoverGirl.com and BeingGirl.com (a website for teen girls). [via the Hartford Courant]

This type of promotion is unusual, but it isn't new. In 2004 Ford Motors paid chick lit author Carole Matthews to mention their cars in her books and commissioned her to write short stories for women's magazines and Ford's own website. One story, A Racy Little Number, includes the lines "I look out of the window of the shop and eye my lovely Ford Fiesta Roxanne with something approaching misery. Last year was a different story. Business was booming and I splashed out on my first-ever new car. Brand spanking new - complete with enough gadgets to keep even Alex amused. She's red, raunchy and drives like a dream and now, she's got to go. Believe me, it will be like cutting off one of my own arms." Carole says now her characters will only ever drive Ford Fiestas.

Even the Carole Matthews deal wasn't the first, in 2001 Faye Weldon was paid by Italian jewellery maker Bulgari to plug their products in a novel appropriately entitled The Bulgari Connection. [via BBC]

So what do you think? Perfectly harmless or reprehensible manipulation?

Posted by Keris on October 3, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (4)

October 2, 2006 7:18 PM

WEDDING BELLES GIVEAWAY!

Yep, we have another fab Bafab giveaway for you, dear readers! (And more tomorrow, and the day after that...)

Wedding Belles is the newest book by Zoe Barnes: Nothing is going to go wrong with Belle Craine's dream wedding... or is it? Find out by bagging yourself a free copy! (and go to Bridalwave if you're really planning a dream wedding- they can help!)

To WIN, Just email us with your name and address (so we can send it to you) and put "Wedding Belles" in the subject line. That's important, as we have a lot of books to give away this week and you can enter as many of our giveaways as you want- so you might win big!

Check out our This is Chick Lit Giveaway,too.

Posted by Aigua Media on October 2, 2006 in Bafab, Book News, Book related, Competition, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (1)

GUEST BLOG: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Laurenshot2006_1 Lauren Baratz-Logsted is a chick-lit and non chick-lit writer, editor of This is Chick Lit (we have a copy to give away to one lucky reader!) and of course, special friend of Trashionista. In the first of our special Bafab guest blogs, she tells us why...

I Never Set Out to be a Chick-Lit Writer by Lauren Baratz-Logsted.

I never set out to be a Chick-Lit writer. Not that I’m in denial or anything, but I simply never set out to become any particular kind of novelist; I merely wrote. In November of 2001, having written seven unsold novels, I started reading reviews of books put out by a new publisher, Red Dress Ink. The reviews weren’t universally positive, but one thing I could tell right away: the editorial sensibility behind these books would be interested in my sixth unsold novel, The Thin Pink Line, a dark comedy set in London about a somewhat sociopathic woman who fakes an entire pregnancy...

And so it came to pass: In July 2003, RDI published The Thin Pink Line as their first-ever hardcover. I’ve since gone on to write three more books for them – Crossing the Line, A Little Change of Face, and How Nancy Drew Saved My Life – with a fifth to follow next year. In the years since my first book was published it’s been hard to ignore the slings and arrows Chick-Lit has regularly been subjected to. People who have never read the genre, or who have only read a few books, dismiss the books wholesale as being empty, an error akin to dismissing all literary novels because you find Joyce’s Ulysses too dense.

The Grumpy Old Bookman - in a blog written on June 30 about the genre novelist Laurell K. Hamilton- has these wise words to offer for people looking down their noses at what they perceive to be inferior fiction: “…may I remind you of a point made elsewhere on this blog, namely that it is a fundamental error, with moral implications, to think of fiction as a hierarchy, a sort of tower block, if you will, with literary fiction at the top and the ‘lower’ types of fiction tucked away in the basement. That is a concept which has no intellectual validity. The correct way to think of the various genres of fiction is as a street of many bookshops; and in this street there are no prime sites. Each shop pays the same business taxes as any other: all shops are equal. And the smart customer places her business in different shops at different times; to the advantage of everyone, most importantly herself.”

For those open-minded readers who do not want to be guilty of committing “a fundamental error, with moral implications,” I would like to point them toward This Is Chick-Lit, a positive anthology of stories showcasing the broad range of Chick-Lit – satire, dark comedy, futuristic, paranormal, mystery, romantic comedy, metafiction and magic realism – of which I am editor as well as one of the 18 contributors.

In addition to the Chick-Lit books she’s written, Lauren Baratz-Logsted is also the author of the forthcoming books VERTIGO, a literary novel set in the Victorian era with erotic and suspense undertones, and ANGEL’S CHOICE, a serious Young Adult novel about teen pregnancy. Author website.

Posted by Aigua Media on October 2, 2006 in American Authors, Bafab, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (2)

Discworld Wedding Cake anyone?

This is a wedding cake inspired by Terry Pratchett's Discworld: a flat world made of marzipan and fondant icing resting upon four marzipan elephants which stand on the back of a turtle created from fruit cakes and covered with more marzipan. [via Galleycat]

Once I'd stopped giggling and admiring the imagination of the wedding party (whoever they are), I started wondering ... if I was to design a cake based on a book, what would it be? Carry on over the cut to find out.

In keeping with today's More on Monday review I decided it would have to be 28 Barbary Lane. And it might look a little bit like this:

[via SimCity3000]

Posted by Keris on October 2, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (11)

Borders Book Club

First it was Barnes & Noble, then Waterstone's and now Borders has its own book club.

The first book to be featured is the new one from Mitch Albom (author of Tuesdays With Morrie), For One More Day. The site features a film of a book club discussing different aspects of the book with the author present (which would inhibit the discussion somewhat, I'd imagine). The site also contains recommendations for further reading and other books you might like, information on how to start your own book club and even recipes for food to make and take along to your own club meetings.

Posted by Keris on October 2, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Interviews, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Devil Wears Prada cocktails!

As you should all know by now, this Friday sees the UK release (at long, long last!) of the film adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada so in honour of this fine occasion, one of the film's sponsors, Cointreau, the French liqueur (ooh Cointreau and liqueur are hard to spell, aren't they?- and I haven't taken a sip, I swear!) has created two special cocktails in honour of the film. Perhaps you could have some girlfriends round afterwards for a celebration? Or, y'know, you could try and sneak a flask into the cinema... (JOKE).

Check out the recipes over the cut...

Devil's Desire:

You need: 50ml Cointreau; 25ml pink grapefruit juice; 25ml pomegranate juice; 10ml passion fruit syrup; 1 wedge of lime, squeezed.

Chill a martini glass. Shake ingredients together in a shaker with ice, and strain into glass. Garnish with a spiral of orange peel.

Devil's Delight

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add in this order and stir gently: 1 wedge of lime. Squeeze over ice and drop into glass;

25ml Cointreau;

50ml apple juice ;

50ml cranberry juice.

Garnish with a slice of orange.

Simple! Enjoy...

[Via Response Source].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 2, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Devil Wears Prada, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

THIS IS CHICK LIT GIVEAWAY!

OK! Let's get started with our first fabulous Bafab brilliant book bonanza giveaway... shall we?

We have a copy of the new, hotly-anticipated and much-talked about story collection This is Chick Lit to give away to one lucky reader! For free! All you have to do is email us with your name and address (so we can send the book to the winner, we won't stalk you, promise) and "chick lit" in the subject line.

Later today we'll be bringing you our first guest blogger of the week- This is Chick Lit's editor and chick-lit writer extraordinaire Lauren Baratz-Logsted. It's gonna be good!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 2, 2006 in American Authors, Announcements, Book News, Book related, Competition, Girly Stuff, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

MORE ON MONDAY: Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

With the film version of Armistead Maupin's most recent book, The Night Listener, about to hit cinemas, I thought it was time to mention another of my all-time favourites, the Tales of the City series.

Tales of the City is the first in a series of six books set in San Franciso in the late seventies and early eighties. Mary Ann Singleton is a sheltered secretary from Cleveland when she visits San Francisco for the first time and decides to stay. Moving into 28 Barbary Lane she meets and befriends a cast of outrageous but totally believable and charming characters, pretty much all of whom I fell in love with.

Probably the most popular and best-known character of the series is Michael "Mouse" Tolliver, apparently based on the author himself. Mouse is just gorgeous, vulnerable and real, and even though he's a gay man I identified with him more than Mary Ann so I was very excited to hear that Maupin his finally signed a deal for a new book. It's called Michael Tolliver Lives and, though some other Tales characters may appear, it's primarily about Mouse aged 55 and living with HIV.

But I digress. The Tales of the City series is a modern soap opera. It's far-fetched, melodramatic, unbelievable, stuffed with ridiculous plot twists and coincidences, but I defy you not to fall in love with it. I read the first and then could not rest until I'd read the other five. I've recommended them to everyone. I exclaimed out loud - with shock or delight - when reading them (sometimes in public). Yep, as so many reviews say, I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down. Really. I can't recommend this series highly enough.

Of course, if you're obsessed as me, you'll know that Tales of the City, More Tales of the City and Further Tales of the City were all made into TV mini-series (starring Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis) and are available on DVD.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Did you know? If you're heading to San Francisco you can take the Tales of the City tour (yes, I've done it).

Posted by Keris on October 2, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Classic Novels, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, More On Monday, Prize Winners, Rating: 5/5, Romance, Series, Television | Permalink | Comments (5)

Hello and Welcome to Bafab!

It's Bafab- Buy a Friend a Book- week here on Trashionista, starting now! I'm resisting the urge to say "Bafab will be fab!" but truth be told, I'm not resisting very hard...because it will be fabulous!

So what have we got in store for you for this very special week? Well, a Bafab book bonanza with fabulous free books to give away EVERY DAY, plus special guest bloggers whose names (and book covers) you might well recognise...for starters!

Oh yes, it's all going to be happening here on Trashionista, so stay tuned, keep your eyes peeled, don't go anywhere, and all those other old cliches that mean you really won't want to miss this!

You can also check out the other great sites running Bafab giveaways and excusives (but hurry right back!): A Reader's Journal, Bookblog, Front Street Reviews, Life's Weirder than Fiction, Keeper of the Snails, West of Mars, Write with Karen.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 2, 2006 in Announcements, Bafab, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Competition | Permalink | Comments (3)