Trashionista

British v American chick lit

Just read this on a blog called Bookworm Room:

As you know, one of my big complaints about British chick lit is that the “heroines” are usually needy alcoholics, something that stands in stark contrast to American chick lit, where the heroines usually live good, clean lives.

Me and the Bookworm must be reading different books since I was just thinking the opposite. *Sweeping generalisation alert* I find British chick lit to be a bit more wholesome and a tad more old-fashioned than American chick lit, which is often snarkier and edgier. What do you think?

Related: US versus UK covers 

BOOK REVIEW: Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

In the tradition of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Harry Potter and His Dark Materials, Alice Kuipers' debut has been released in both teen and adult editions.

It's the story of Claire and her mum who are both so busy they barely get to spend any time together and instead the majority of their communication is done via notes on the fridge door.

When Claire's mum is diagnosed with breast cancer, we learn their reactions to it via the notes. Of course, both Claire and her mother are shocked and devastated, but they also struggle to cope - not only with the diagnosis, but with each other.

Because many of the notes are short, I read Life on the Refrigerator Door in less than an hour. I found that because I'd spent so little time with these people and knew so little about them (it's hard to convey much backstory in notes on the fridge door), it wasn't as involving and moving as it could have been.

I'm actually a bit annoyed that this book has been treated as a "serious" book about "serious" issues (and Kuipers' introduction doesn't help) when I've read much more moving portrayals of both cancer and mother/daughter relationships in so-called "fluffy" chick lit books.

The above probably sounds more negative than I mean it to be. I did enjoy this book (as much as you can enjoy a book in which one of the main characters has breast cancer), but I would have liked to get to know Claire and her mum a lot better and without gimmicks.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acochella Marchetto

It's exciting seeing your book for the first time!

I really enjoyed Rae Earl's My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary and I also enjoyed seeing her reaction when she got her hands on the finished book.

TV News: Famous Five

I was never a big Famous Five fan - I was always more of a Secret Seven girl - but I was still intrigued to hear that plans are afoot for a new television series, described as a "reimagining" of the original books.

Julian, Dick, Anne, George - with a descendant of the original Timmy the dog - will be drawn together 30 years after their original exploits to solve "contemporary mysteries". [via BBC]

It's one of those ideas that could be brilliant or could be awful (or possibly even brilliantly awful). No dates yet so we'll just have to wait and see.

Related posts: Thursday Trailblazer Enid Blyton | Inspired by Nancy Drew |  Five books

BOOK REVIEW: Pillow Talk by Freya North

Reviewed by Helen Redfern

I should start this review by admitting I’m a big fan of Freya North. Her books have seen me through my years as a career girl, helping me to rediscover the art of reading for pleasure after three dry years at university. They were also there for me when I met my lovely boyfriend whom, as the years passed, became my husband. I could therefore completely identify with the boy meets girl formula of a Freya North novel.

At some point during the last ten years, like me, Freya’s books have grown up.

That’s not to say they are no longer a fun, sexy and quirky read. They haven’t become staid or boring (as, one hopes, I haven’t either!). But it is no longer just about the sexiness of boy meeting girl. She also explores some deeper issues, and nowhere is this more apparent than with her latest novel ‘Pillow Talk’.

Pillow Talk is about a boy and a girl, childhood (almost) sweethearts, who lose touch, then one day find themselves standing next to each other in an ice-cream shop. The girl, Petra Flint, is a jeweller who also happens to sleepwalk. The boy, Arlo Savidge, is a music teacher at a private school, who has insomnia. We follow them on their inevitable journey towards being together.

Yes the classic Freya North formula is there. Unfortunately this means there are parts where I could guess the plot and I got slightly frustrated with Freya for being so predictable.

North, however, hasn’t finished yet. Just as her readers have matured, so has her writing. As the story reveals our hero and heroine’s secrets she gives us more than the usual ‘girl meets boy, have misunderstanding, get back together and live happily ever after’ scenario. Once they are together we uncover a past that neither of them can forget, and which is the real reason behind their sleep problems.

We are also invited into the fascinating world of jewellery design, discovering, with vivid and enthusiastic descriptions, tanzanite (which Freya describes with the same relish she used about sculpture in her earlier novels) and also into the life of a music teacher who has an eclectic taste in music and whom I would have liked to have teaching me at school.

In terms of ranking this novel I am torn. I feel I should mark Pillow Talk down for being the tiniest bit predictable but at the same time this is part of Freya’s charm – the formula I have enjoyed reading again and again over the years. Pillow Talk is a fabulously sassy, grown up, chick lit read, but my exasperation over the slight predictability is only allowing me a high 4 out of 5.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Vince & Joy by Lisa Jewell

BOOK NEWS: Green Is the New Black

Unless you've been living under a rock, you can't have failed to notice that green issues are all the rage. But green has changed. It's not all muesli and Jesus sandals, oh no, green is now glamorous.

Our sister site, Hippyshopper, loved Tamsin Blanchard's Green Is the New Black, which features tips on everything from eco friendly holidays to recycled wedding attire along with the obligatory celeb input (including Lily Allen and Peaches Geldof).

Related posts: And now for "Eco chick lit" | Take Someone Like Me by Jayne Buxton | Sleeping With the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

BOOK REVIEW: The Restorer by Sharon Hinck

Reviewed by Jill Hart

The Restorer takes us into the life of frustrated soccer mom, Susan Mitchell. It has become a series of hum-drum events and she longs to serve the Lord in a mighty way.

Susan inadvertently stumbles into an alternate universe and a string of adventures like none she has ever dreamt of. The country she finds herself in is in the midst of a turbulent struggle for its own survival. Susan must find a way to survive this foreign world and find a way back home.

Befriended by strangers whom she fears, but is forced to trust, Susan leans on the Lord for strength. But, is God present in this strange place?

Sharon Hinck, the author of the mom-lit Becky Miller books enters a new genre with The Restorer, the first book in The Sword of Lyric series. Hinck blends her traditional mom-lit with fantasy and the end product is a unique blend of genres that is refreshing. Readers will find that The Restorer appeals to a wide range of reading tastes.

One of the most enjoyable elements of fantasy is that you never know what to expect. The Restorer is no different. The story holds you on the edge of your seat and a number of twists keep you reading.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Miss Invisible by Laura Jensen Walker (Inspirational chick lit)

Who are you favourite chick lit heroes?

In my review of Caprice Crane's fabulous Forget About It, I mentioned that the character of Travis had made it onto my list of favourite chick lit heroes.

I didn't actually have a list, but then I thought ... we should compile one! So let me start you off... If I was to make any chick lit hero real, so he could whisk me away to do unspeakable things, it would be Jack from Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep A Secret. Then again, there's Mark Darcy (albeit a bit mean and moody) and, oh my, Joe Morelli (from the Stephanie Plum series). I could go on, but I won't.

Who are your favourite chick lit heroes?

COMPETITION: Frenemies

I loved Megan Crane's Frenemies and - guess what? - we've got one to give away (but just one this week, sorry).

Usual rules apply. Email us with your name and address, with "Frenemies" in the subject line, and the answer to the question over the cut. 

Who is Megan Crane's favourite female heroine? (You'll find the answer somewhere on this site.) 

Closing date is next Tuesday, 4 September, at midnight GMT. In the meantime, you can read Megan's guest blog on "The Concept of the Frenemy" here.

Win a trip to Paradise with Harper Collins

While Summer Special rumbles on, summer itself, er, doesn't. But HarperCollins Publishers have a fabulous competition (but only if you are US or Canadian) to win a holiday to the British Virgin Islands.

Called the Love in Paradise Sweepstakes, all you need to do is sign up for one of the company's email newsletters and you'll be entered into the draw. The prize includes a cabin for two on a luxurious spacious 65-foot multihull* to "cruise the waters of the British Virgin Islands".

*I'm guessing this is some sort of yacht. I did say I didn't know anything about sailing, didn't I?

Related: Writers Revealed podcast

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Caprice Crane

How we love Caprice Crane here at Trashionista (haven't you noticed?). As I was reading Forget About It I was wondering how come we hadn't interviewed her and then, lo and behold, Diane had sorted one out (what will I do without her?!).

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Forget About It is a novel about a woman who fakes amnesia to reinvent herself.

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

In bed? That would be nice? Can someone feed me grapes too? And fan me? No, I write mostly in my office in NYC. But I'm prone to distraction so sometimes I take my laptop and go to a Starbucks (there are three that I frequent). When I'm in LA my office is a Coffee Bean on Sunset. And my drink of choice is this Green Tea Blended Deliciousness. It's like Green Tea ice cream through a straw. Divine.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby. Not traditional "chick-lit" but it's certainly one of this chick's favorite pieces of lit. [We agree!] And honestly, it's about the thing that chicks want most: insight into the mind of the opponent. 

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

If we're talking chick lit, I have to go back to the beginning and say Bridget Jones. She was forceful and determined but maintained that girlish wonder. She said what was on her mind and she struggled in a relatable way. Plus she coined the term "f*ckwit" or at least brought it to my attention. Can I say "f*ckwit"? [Um, no.]

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

Write! Don't listen to anyone who tries to stifle you. Write. Don't get discouraged by rejection (because there will be plenty). Write. Develop a circle of people who you trust that you can let read your work and give you constructive criticism. Write. Create characters that you'd want to read about and stories you'd want to watch unfold. Don't hold yourself back, don't let anyone else hold you back. And don't give up five minutes before the miracle!

What are you reading at the moment?

The manual for my Samsung television set. Yes, I'm calling you out by name, Samsung. Because after one short year - exactly three days after my precious warranty expired, the "lamp" in my television set imploded and left my television set barren. (The horror!) So, fine. I ordered the $150 lamp, paid for Fedex and begged someone to install the new one. And now, not even three weeks later...it's making the sound. The same sound it made just before it died the last time. Seriously, Samsung? Three weeks? 

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

Several ideas. A couple for film and a couple as novels and my biggest problem is deciding which one to really commit to. (Sounds like some guys l know.) I know I will get to them all but it's hard to pick the one I want to do now. (Sadly, also sounds like some guys I know.)  I think I know which one it will be. It's a comedy about attachment to family. In this case, a family that doesn't technically belong to the character. Which makes things complicated.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

"How much money do you make?" Nobody asks and I think they assume it's a lot.  The answer: precious little!  But it's not about the money. It's about doing something you love. And with fiction...you better *really* love it. ;)

Thanks, Caprice!

BOOK REVIEW: Forget About It by Caprice Crane

Caprice Crane's debut novel, Stupid & Contagious was one of our favourite books of last year so Diane and I have both been desperate to get our hands on her new novel, Forget About It and I was first. (Ha! In your face, Diane!) (Sorry about that.)

Forget About It is the story of Jordan Landau whose life sucks. Her boyfriend Dirk is a cheating scumbag who treats Jordan like dirt; her family - mum, younger sister and stepfather - are disappointed, disinterested or downright hostile and her boss has been blatantly stealing her creative ideas. The only good things in Jordan's life are her best friends Todd and Cat.

When riding her bike one day Jordan has an accident and hits her head. Waking up in hospital, she decides it offers her the perfect opportunity - fake amnesia and get a do-over. Stop being a doormat and start her life - relationships, work and family - from scratch. So she does it. The only person in on it is Todd and it goes surprisingly well - Jordan gets to see just how awful people are, to recognise just how badly they've been treating her and to teach them all a lesson without actually having to take any responsibility for it. And, as the icing on the cake, she finds herself falling for the lovely Travis, the man who actually caused her accident.

And then things go horribly wrong and Jordan realises that to avoid losing everything, she's got to get her memory back. And then there's another accident...

Girlier than Stupid & Contagious, Forget About It is fun, inspiring, hilarious and audacious (I found myself doing that "Oh, no she didn't!" thing). Jordan's family, boss and boyfriend are so awful I couldn't wait for them to get their comeuppance. Her friends Todd and Cat are lovely and Travis now makes it onto my list of favourite chick lit heroes of all time.

Forget Me Not* Forget About It has cemented Caprice Crane as one of my favourite authors. I can't wait to see what she does next.

(Look out for our interview with Caprice later today.)

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Me Vs Me by Sarah Mlynowski

*Doh! Forget Me Not is *my* book... LOL (Good catch, Luisa!)

The picture above is the US version, which I love. Forget About It is out in the UK (4 October) with Little Black Dress and this cover:

I prefer the US version, how about you?

BOOK REVIEW: Lover Revealed by JR Ward

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

This book is the forth in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, where JR Ward has created a world where a war is raging between vampires and their slayers. However, a secret band of brothers exists as defenders of their race.

Lover Revealed concentrates on Butch O’Neal – a hard-living ex-homicide cop, who is the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. But he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world and take part in the turf wars with the lessers. He’s got nothing to lose. He’s in love with a beautiful aristocratic vampire who’s way out of his league. If he can’t have Marissa, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers. When fate curses him with everything he wants he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back. But even her love may not be enough to save him…

Starting this series on the fourth book was not the greatest way to enter into Ward’s writing. I spent most of the first half confused and trying to make sense of all the different storylines. The glossary at the beginning for all the words Ward has invented filled me with dread that I would never understand this book. However, once I ignored the glossary and managed to get a handle on all the characters, this book came to life.

The on/off love story between Butch and Marissa is intelligently written and leaves you guessing until the end. It has a high action plot that is intense and immerses you in Ward’s world. My only criticism is the writer’s love of mentioning any up to date gadget/designer that she can think of. It sometimes made this book sound more like an advertisement distracting from the great writing.

Overall this was an excellent read, but I would think that starting at the beginning of the series would increase the enjoyment and lessen any confusion.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

A word from the (co)editor... and that word is 'goodbye'

Yes, you read that right: I'm leaving Trashionista. At the end of the week, in fact. *Sob*

Despite being lucky enough to read and write about fabulous women's fiction for a job - and working with a great friend, and being sent free books! and the wonderful opportunities this site has given me... I'm off.

I may well be crazy, and I'm sure there will be times I'll regret it, but I just feel it's time for me to move on. Not to better things (what could be better?!), just different things. So apart from the occasional review (read what I thought of Alice Sebold's latest when it's released in October) and the probably less-occasional comment, I'll be gone by September.

So before I go, I want to thank all the lovely readers, authors, publicists and publishers who've made the last year-and-a-bit such a wonderful experience. I've discovered a lot about the world of publishing in my time as a books ed, most of it fabulous. And I've read some really good books! I've also got to thank Keris for being such a brilliant co-ed (we didn't argue, not once, even when I was *really* bossy!) and of course to ed-in-chief Gemma for setting up the blog in the first place. And to our predecessor Jenni who took us under her wing when we first started... Jeez, this is getting a bit Oscar-worthy isn't it?! Moving on...

I must admit there is the odd thing I won't miss: panics induced by the size of my review pile, the knowledge that I can't read anything non-chick lit for the next six months due to the afore-mentioned review pile, trying to think up topics for Yay or Nay (you don't know the head-scratching there's been!) ... and re-sizing pictures from Amazon every. blooming. day. Gawd, I hate resizing!

But there's much more I'll miss: reading new releases before other people (hee - sorry!), the doorbell ringing with another new delivery, getting paid to give my opinion on what I'm reading (something I'd gladly do unpaid, though I never told my bosses that!)

I know the site will continue to go from strength to strength without me - I don't know much abut what Keris has planned for when I'm gone (apart from a lot of crying, of course...), but I look forward to finding out. I may not be an editor for much longer, but you'll never stop me being a reader.

Once a Trashionista, always a Trashionista, I say!

Book tables

I saw these book stack "nightstands" on Apartment Therapy and thought they looked fantastic.

I usually have a stack of books about that size on my bedside table, but I never actually thought of getting rid of the table and just using the books. I don't think it'd work for a couple of reasons (a boisterous 3-year-old and a clumsy husband). What do you think?

Related posts: How do you arrange your bookshelves? | Dead Good bookshelf | Fold-down bookshelves

BOOK NEWS: Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham

Remember we recommended Holly's Inbox? (Was it really five months ago? How time flies.) Well turns out it's now a book!

The novel version tells Holly's story in full and includes material not available on the website (well, it would, wouldn't it!).

TUESDAY THREE: Life's a beach

Yes, despite the weather, we're continuing with the Summer Special. This week I thought I'd look at beach reads since I've actually started compiling my own holiday reading list (about which more later).

First up is Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini. Inspirational chick lit, it's the story of free-spirited Bri Stone who begins to worry that her hard-working lawyer husband Douglas may be bored with her. When friends and family urge her to change to hang on to her man things start to fall apart. With pressure from her mother-in-law to make her beach house more suited to a man of Douglas’s stature, bitchy comments from a former friend, and a new, erratic boss at the tour company, Bri doesn’t quite know what to do for the best.

Sexy Shorts for the Beach is a collection of short stories with a summery theme.
Featuring a brilliant mix of styles and feels to the stories - some are amusing, some are poignant and and some are downright romantic - we recommend it highly.

How could I write about beach reads without mentioning Belinda Jones? The Paradise Room takes us to Tahiti, and islands so beautiful they even melt the heart of Amber Pepper, a woman who's usually much happier with a brolly than a bikini. But in Tahiti she really begins to find herself, and that means a few very important decisions need to be made...

MORE ON MONDAY: Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman

You know how much I love books, but I also really love books about books. The only thing is they can sometimes be a bit dry. I bought Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris on recommendation, but hadn't picked it up because ... I thought it looked a bit dry. Stupid me. I should know by now not to judge a book by its ... well, I don't know what I judged it by, but I was stupid. It's a gorgeous book.

A collection of essays on books and reading (it's subtitled "Confessions of a Common Reader"), Ex Libris is charming, funny and enlightening. The essays are personal, about Anne's relationship with books as fostered by her incredibly literate family and friends. I found myself nodding in recognition repeatedly.

My favourite essays were "The Joy of Sesquipedalians*" featuring "Fadiman U", her family's name for the team they formed to answer questions while watching TV quizzes (she knows it's dorky, but she doesn't care) and "Never Do That to a Book" about how different people treat their books (and which I quoted here), but it was hard to single any essays out since there was something wonderful in every single one.

Ex Libris is funny, moving, inspiring and, you know, readable. I loved it.

*Appropriately enough, Sesquipedalian means "long words". 

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson

The UK cover of Ex Libris is actually dark red rather than bright green, but otherwise the same (I couldn't find a good enough pic of it to use here). I just thought I'd share the covers of Fadiman's three non-fiction books because seen together they make me happy.

Brits dream of being authors above all else

According to a new poll, author tops the list of dream jobs for us Britons, with 10% of us hoping to become one. [Via Booktrade Info]

This despite the occasional hardships, that whole 'no guarantee of success' thing and the fact that some people claim becoming an author ruined their lives. I guess we're a gutsy bunch - or we think we all do have a novel in us.

Or we just like the idea of working at home in our pyjamas, not having a boss breathing down our necks, setting our own hours, and earning JK-esque sums of money.

Yes, I think that may be it...

The £3 million book (yes, the world HAS gone mad...)

I once wrote about a really expensive book, but it was only £4,000, which is nothing these days, as it turns out!

The millionaire reader-about-town now has the option to buy a £3 MILLION book, according to the BBC. Special millionaire editions of Dancing With The Bear by British entrepreneur Roger Shashoua are made to order, and covered with 600 diamonds. The author and businessman is aiming the most expensive book in the world at super-rich Russian millionaires and billionaires, and says:

"There is so much money floating around in Russia that it seemed entirely logical to produce a book designed for the Russian market... I am just happy that conspicuous displays of consumption can now be associated with writing, rather than fashion accessories."

Personally, I think if someone has £3 million to splash on a book, it would be a lot more useful donated to a  charity than donated to a rich businessman's coffers. And almost as important, this seems like a waste of good diamonds to me...

What do you think?

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Some lad-lit blogs

How could I not know that Nick Hornby had a blog? Perhaps because it's fairly new - that's my excuse anyway... If you're as in the dark as I was, read it for yourself here. He hasn't updated in a little while, but the rest of his website is a worthwhile browse, and hopefully he'll blog more soon...

Non-fic lad lit fave Dave Gorman, on the other hand, has been updating like billy-o (as my mum would say). Read his blog here, and find out all about what he's been up to, the music on Homes Under The Hammer and the deterioration in quality of a well-known chocolate egg. It's good stuff.

Finally, sometime Gorman collaborator Danny Wallace has a website, where he doesn't blog, but does post occasional news and... 'titbits' might be the right word. There's also the chance to download some video podcasts of the author/TV presenter/head of the Karma Army...

Related posts: Top 10 lad lit | From book to blog. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro

Trashionista recently reviewed Laurie Notaro's novel, There's a (Slight) Chance I Might be Going to Hell. I now can't wait to get my hands on it, having been a fan of Notaro since I randomly stumbled across her books on Amazon. The first, The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club, was all it took to get me hooked.

Usually I'm not a fan of autobiographies: I'll admit to dashing past that particular section in Waterstones after a single glimpse of Paris Hilton/Chanelle emblazoned across a book jacket (but that's a post for another time!) However this changed when I started reading Laurie's wonderful books, which are mainly collections of short, laugh-out-loud autobiographical articles.

Basically, former newspaper columnist Notaro is the self-confessed 'Idiot Girl' of the title  - leader of her own Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club. Unable to fit in with the 'Smart Girls' in life, Laurie and the other Idiot Girls make do with their own little place in the world. And with exploits like these, who wants to be a Smart Girl?

Laurie's book is packed with brilliantly funny pieces on everyday life, from the one about The Pretty Friend (let's face it, we all have one!) to the brilliantly-titled 'Revenge of the Bra Girl.' However, the funniest piece has to be 'Moral Sex', in which Laurie tries to explain to her nana as politely as possible just WHAT Monica Lewinsky got up to...

The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club is something we can all relate to. Despite Laurie's tales being about home and relationships and unlucky shopping trips, her wit and ability to see humour in the most basic of situations is always entertaining! Laurie is someone you just want to go out for a drink with. She's blunt, she's honest, she's funny and even though she puts herself down at some points, she isn't afraid to laugh about her flaws and mistakes. Quite frankly, she's fabulous.

The short articles in this book don't go in order, so you can read a chapter whenever you like. Personally I'd recommend the one about public bathrooms first (thank god - I'm not the only one who hates The Primper!)

As someone who is more of an 'Idiot Girl' myself, I'm well and truly proud. Seriously. Anyone who hasn't got hold of a copy of this should do so now. Since reading this I've purchased other collections: We Thought You Would be Prettier and I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies). Told you she was blunt!

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Bright Lights, Big Ass... by Jennifer Lancaster.

PREVIEW REVIEW: Jinx by Meg Cabot

You know how much I love Meg Cabot. She's one of my guaranteed authors (authors whose books I buy without thinking, considering, reading reviews, etc.). Her latest book (well, I say latest - she's so prolific, she might well have written another since I started writing this review) is Jinx, a stand-alone paranormal (ish) YA and it's not out (in the UK) until 7 September.

Jean Honeychurch has been nicknamed Jinx since lightning struck the hospital on the night she was born. Bad luck doesn't just follow her, it seeks her out and throws up on her shoes. The beginning of the book sees Jean arriving in Manhattan, where her parents have dispatched her to live with her aunt, uncle and cousins for a few months. Something's happened back in Iowa and Jean's family decided it was best to get her out of the way until things have calmed down. 

What neither they nor Jean anticipated was that her formerly sweet cousin Tory is now a witch in both senses of the word. She's appalling to Jean, has two almost-as-awful sidekicks in Lindsey and Gretchen and is dating (well, they're "friends with benefits") the school drug dealer, Shawn. Luckily her circle also includes suprisingly sweet Chanelle and surprisingly hot neighbour, Zack.

When, on her very first day in town, Jean saves Zack's life, Tory cottons on to Jean's secret. Only she's far from sympathetic. Not only does she think that she, and not Jean, is the latest in a line of family witches, she's in love with Zack and is willing to do anything to get Jean out of her way. But Jinx will learn that ignoring her apparent gift will only make things worse and in order to deal with her wayward cousin she needs to accept herself as she is.

I had thought that Jinx was going to be a bit edgier than Meg Cabot's previous books, but apart from occasional references to sex and drugs, it was a typical Cabot book. By which I mean it was fun, funny, charming and totally involving. I loved Jean, I really loved Zack and I really, really hated Tory. I'm so impressed at Meg Cabot's seemingly inexhaustible supply of ideas and Jinx is another great one. The only disappointment is that I've now got to wait ... ooh, weeks* ... for her next book.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Marked by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

* The third Heather Wells mystery, Size Doesn't Matter, is out in December. And actually I haven't read Size 14 Is Not Fat Either yet.

Would you get married in a book shop?

I wrote about this for our all-things-wedding sister site Bridalwave and then s-l-o-w-l-y realised it might be of interest to Trashionista readers too (it's the warm(ish) weather - it makes me dim).

The photo is of Amanda Marie Traphagan and Stephen Michael Gray, who got married at Austin, Texas's independent Book People store after meeting there when they both attended a reading by Douglas Coupland.

In addition to the family and friends who attended the ceremony, the couple requested that the store remain open and the area not be cordoned off to customers.

Have you ever met anyone at a book reading? I made a couple of (female) friends at a Marian Keyes reading once. We'd all gone alone and we bonded over our love of the Irish one and went out for lunch a bit later, but the friendship fizzled when we realised we didn't have anything else in common...

Related posts: Discworld wedding cake, anyone? | Friday Flick: The Wedding Date | Marriage and mayhem

Margaret Atwood's amazing invention

I read about this a while ago, but I think my brain must have filed it under 'April Fool' or something, because I forgot all about it until now.

Yes, hugely successful and acclaimed Canadian author, Margaret Atwood has invented something called the LongPen - a remote-controlled pen that allows people to sign autographs from anywhere in the world. The pen is being trialled in a record store and several bookstores in Canada, the US and the UK and could expand elsewhere if successful.

The device comprises a video screen and digital writing pad at one location and a video screen and automated pen at another. Norman Mailer and Alice Munro both used it to appear at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in Scotland, while staying in the US.

If you want to see the LongPen in action, you can find it at World's Biggest Bookstore and HMV in Toronto, Barnes & Noble in New York and Waterstone's in London (or online here). And if you do see it, don't forget to let us know what you think.

[via the London Free Press]

Related posts: Underrated cult classics | Posh is a signing sensation | Love in the book signing queue

FRIDAY FLICK: Get Over It

I can't make up my mind about Kirsten Dunst. She's got that indie-cool thing going, and I know I've seen her in some good films, but man can she pick a stinker. Marie Antoniette was distinctly meh. (I know you don't all agree, but I found it  BLAH x 100).

Get Over It really wants to be good, and really, really isn't. It wants to be Romeo + Juliet but fails by being embarrassing and... well, bad.

It's based on A Midsummer Night's Dream, as a cast of high school kids put on Shakespeare's famous comedy. The film descends into weird, Shakespeare-inspired dream sequences and tries to draw parallels between the love lives of teenagers and the love-swapping, drug-inducing players of MND. But it's all rather clumsily done, and I remember watching this film at the cinema, and literally cringing. I suppose the forgiving film fan might find something to enjoy here, but I'd love to know what! 

My advice: Get Over It? Don't bother with it.

Friday Flick archives.

BOOK REVIEW: Behind Every Great Woman There's a Fabulous Gay Man by Dave Singleton

Is it just me? Does everyone in the world have a fabulous GBF (Gay Best Friend) except me... And if so, where can I get one?

Dave Singleton argues that every woman needs a GBF - that's why his book is called Behind Every Great Woman There's a Fabulous Gay Man. But luckily for those of us who don't have our very own Stanford Blatch, Dave is happy to advise us on how to "avoid the pitfalls of the dating game, live stylishly and be even more fabulous than you already are." Which is nice.

The book is essentially a love and style guide for women from a gay man's perspective, divided into two parts: Dating, Men and Relationships and Style, Straight Talk and Self-Esteem.

Dave begins by talking about the importance of a male gay best friend for every straight woman, and about how wonderful his female friends are. Which is lovely for them, but doesn't help those of us without a GBF, now does it?!

There are some really interesting ideas in the first part of the book, such as looking at the part you play in your unsuccessful relationships - finding out where your love insecurities come from, and breaking self-destructive patterns. There are also useful and more light-hearted tips on checking if a man 'plays for your team' or not... The second part of the book is about appearance, plastic surgery and the like and is more superficial - although Singleton advises thinking about whether you're having a procedure done for your looks or your self-esteem, which is certainly good advice.

But a lot of the advice in the book seemed to be stretched a bit thin - I felt it was a bit repetitive and could probably have been squashed into a long feature article as I'm not sure there was enough here to build a book on. Some of the chapters in the second half of the book in particular just seemed there to make up the numbers, and didn't provide much useful insight - why it's okay to wear a short skirt to work, for instance. (Do we need to be told? And I'm still not gonna...) Plus, I couldn't help feeling that perhaps the idea for the book was a bit outdated - I mean, SATC is over and GBFs aren't exactly news. This book was only published in the UK this year, but in the US in 2005, which explains a lot.

It's witty, if not particularly original, and does contain some useful ideas, but may be one to skim rather than use as your style and dating 'bible'.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Jane Austen's Guide to Dating by Lauren Henderson.

(Quite a lot of) Caprice Crane news

Caprice Crane has been a big fave of ours since her fabulous debut Stupid and Contagious (it wasn't the former, but definitely was the latter!)

Next Wednesday, in honour of the release of her new book Forget About It (which Keris is reading at the moment - jealous!) Caprice will be the star of our author interview. (Buy the book from 27th August in the US/on Amazon or from 4th October in the UK).

In the meantime, you can watch a short film, Passing the Time, created as a sort-of trailer for the book (which will be turned into a feature film by Disney, starring Scarlett Johansson - and which meant Crane couldn't make an actual trailer proper for copyright reasons. Or something.)

Finally, if you're quick and in the Santa Monica area, you might be able to catch Miss Crane at a Barnes and Noble signing today. [Via Galleycat].

Women read more than men; some Americans don't read at all

A new poll doing the media rounds suggests that 1 in 4 Americans hasn't read a single book in the last year (what do they do instead?!) The poll also reveals that women are reading more than men, with Republicans reading less than Democrats (maybe it's all those Hillary biographies?)

The average number of books read by those who did crack open the spines of some of Barnes and Noble's finest in the last year was a not-exactly-impressive seven. Which is still better than nothing. But if it's a country- and world-wide trend then it's sad news for publishers, authors, booksellers (and book reviewers, too).

How many books have you read this year? And how can we encourage people to read more - or doesn't it matter?!

TV NEWS: Gossip Girl

Last August we brought you news that Cecily Von Ziegesar's controversial teen series Gossip Girl was to be made into a TV series by OC creator Josh Schwartz.

Now we have some more information for you and (over the cut) a video clip!

The series centres around a group of spoilt rich girls at an exclusive Manhattan boarding school, whose antics are immortalised by an anonymous blogger, Gossip Girl. As Catwalk Queen editor Kim says, "The words 'guilty pleasure' spring to mind..."

Look out for the show in the US from 17 September on the CW. And in the UK... hopefully soon!

Carry on over the cut for a sneak preview... (and if you recognise that narrator's voice, that's cos it's Kristen Bell, aka: Veronica Mars!)

[Via Catwalk Queen].

Book love

I've just read a great post on Publishers' Weekly about Linda Urban's A Crooked Kind of Perfect.

"You know that exhilarating crush-like feeling you get when you meet someone new who makes you laugh and laugh and feel 100% good about the world?" says Alison Morris. "You know how it is - you think you want to spend all your available free time with this person and get to know everything about them and introduce them to all of your friends, except that (let's face it) your friends are already getting sick of hearing you talk about your crush, even if they're being polite enough not to let you see them roll their eyes. Well... I'm currently having that experience. With a book."

I know exactly what she means.

I've mentioned it before, but I get a certain specific feeling in my stomach when I fall in love with a book (it could be the same feeling when you fall in love with a person, but it's so long since I did that, I can't remember).

When I had a "proper" job the feeling would be accompanied by a strong urge to bunk off work and snuggle up with the book, a pot of tea and a family bar of chocolate. Nowadays, it just means get through my work really fast ... so I can snuggle up with the book, a pot of tea and a family bar of chocolate (or today - a packet of Jammy Dodgers stolen from my son).

Today I will be reading Caprice Crane's Forget About It and I'll also be ordering Linda Urban's book (I love the cover too).

What about you? What was the last book you fell in love with and how do you know when you've found "the one"?

BOOK NEWS: Love, Stargirl

Last week, our interviewee Holly Shumas name-checked Stargirl (of the novel of the same name, by Jerry Spinelli) as her favourite female character in fiction.

This week, I was browsing Amazon and found that there's a recently-released sequel: Love, Stargirl. The cover alone makes me want to read it! (But what's new?)

Related: YA archives.

MOVIE NEWS: The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency

I know I keep saying this, but I love the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and I'm really looking forward to the movie.

It's being directed by Anthony Minghella (who directed The English Patient and The Talented Mr Ripley) and stars jazz singer Jill Scott as Mma Ramotswe.

Scott is pictured with the author Alexander McCall Smith who has written an excellent piece about the experience of seeing his book brought to life in the Daily Mail.

The film will be shown on BBC1 this Christmas.

BOOK REVIEW: My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary by Rae Earl

When I first heard about this book (it was excerpted in The Guardian's weekend magazine) I thought, Oh, big deal, I've got a fat, mad teenage diary and no-one's interested in publishing that! And then I read it. And it's great.

Rae is a normal 17-year-old girl. She lives in Leicester and attends public school (on a scholarship). She's overweight and insecure and obsessed with the things 17-year-olds were obsessed with at the end of the eighties: the charts, Nuclear war, raves, prawn cocktail crisps...

She has problems with her mother, with the boy(s) she likes, a bitchy best-friend ... you know, the usual teenage angst stuff. She's also recently spent time in a psychiatric hospital, but that's really glossed over in this book - it's less about serious mental illness and more about the random mental trauma we all go through as a teenager.

This is apparently Rae Earl's actual diary. If that's true  - and after reading it I do believe it is - then she has my utmost admiration. The contents of this diary are so similar to the contents of my own teen diary, that I was often hot with embarrassment while reading it.

It's compulsive reading and highly entertaining. If you were a teenager in the late eighties there is so much in here you'll identify with. Unless, of course, you were popular, thin and not mad as a teenager, in which case, get away from me.

Oh and the reason my diary hasn't been published? Because I destroyed it in the early nineties. The shame.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn

Can I just point out that the cover says "If Adrian Mole had a sister..." but Adrian Mole did have a sister (Rosie). And, yes, I know I'm a dork.

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Just yesterday I wrote about a new book with 'club' in the title, and here at Trashionista we've reviewed (brace yourselves!):

The Tuesday Erotica Club, The Yorkshire Pudding Club, The Jane Austen Book Club, The Friday Night Knitting Club, Man of the Month Club, The Dirty Girls' Social Club, The Second Wives' Club and The Adultery Club.

There's also The Sunday Night Book Club, The Naked Drinking Club and - to be a bit different - The Book Group.

So is it time to call time on the word 'club' and ask authors and publishers to think of different titles... (there have to be other ways to bring disparate characters together) or don't you care as long as the story is good?

'Club' in the title - 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, Dollymix, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]

BOOK REVIEW: There's a (Slight) Chance I Might be Going to Hell by Laurie Notaro

Ever since Keris highlighted news of Laurie Notaro's debut novel, I'd been longing to read it. So much so, I even paid to get my hands on a copy (yes!)

Subtitled: 'a novel of sewer pipes, pageant queen, and big trouble' and of course, called There's a (Slight) Chance I Might be Going to Hell, it sounded nothing if not intriguing (also: I love the cover!)

The book tells the story of Maye, who moves from a scummy-sounding suburb of Arizona to the leafy, gorgeous small town of Spaulding, Washington State. At first, things seem idyllic: Maye and her husband Charlie have found the perfect house, Charlie has a fantastic job, and the area couldn't be prettier. But Maye has a little trouble fitting in: she embarrasses herself hugely at one of her husband's work functions, joins a book club that turns out to be a coven, and has no luck meeting nice, normal people to be friends with.

Then she hears about the annual Sewer Pipe Pageant, a talent show that anyone in Spaulding can enter. Winning the crown at the pageant is a ticket to respect and popularity and so Maye decides she must sign up. She's going to need a little tutoring though: and that's where she decides to track down a legendary former Pipe Queen who was driven out of town decades before - Maye must solve the mystery of why, find the pipe queen and prepare to win the pageant. That's not too much to ask, is it?

Luckily her freelance writing career has hit the skids, so Maye has plenty of time!

I've always enjoyed Laurie Notaro's essay collections, but on the basis of this book, I think she's even better at fiction. There's a (Slight) Chance... is intelligent, witty, fun, hopeful and a bit poignant, too.  There's a credible mystery woven in to a story about trying to fit in, and it all works really well. I loved reading this and didn't want it to end.

And as Notaro herself moved from Arizona to a small town in Washington with her husband, I can't help wondering if any of the incidents in the book really happened...

But what I really want to find out is when is Notaro's next novel coming out, and can I sign up for my copy now?

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster.

Romance authors, Mills and Boon... and more unoriginal chick lit insults

Australia's Sydney Morning Herald recently featured this interesting article on romance novels, the popularity of Mills and Boon and why romance authors just can't get no... respect.

I learned about the article from a begrdging Bookninja - I love that site, but *wow* they don't love us...

"Romance as the cougar to chick lit’s fox? I think of it more like the laundry lady to chick lit’s halfwit yuppy."

Oooh - zing!

Mooj bookcase

What can I say? It's a bookcase in the shape of a cow. Very a-moo-sing (did you really expect me to resist that?).

It's lifesize (available in adult and calf), on wheels, and suitable for use as a room divider. Available from Joom.

Related posts: NEL's Pack of Dogs | How do you arrange your bookshelves? | Fold-down bookshelves

COMPETITION: Scot on the Rocks

Yes, it's competition time again and - yes! - at last the sun is shining!

This week we've got six - six! - copies of the highly entertaining Scot on the Rocks to give away.

If you fancy a chance of winning one, email us with your name and address and the subject line "Rocks" before midnight (GMT) on Tuesday 28 August. Good luck!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lori Culwell

I absolutely loved Lori Culwell's debut novel, Hollywood Car Wash, and I can't believe I haven't featured her interview sooner (what can I say, we've got authors clamouring - clamouring! - to answer our questions). So, better late than never, over to Lori.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Girl from Michigan becomes a Hollywood Star, gets the Hollywood Car Wash.  (12 words!)

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

I like to write my books by hand, in composition books - usually at Starbucks, at a place in Brentwood called "The Office," or on airplanes.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

I'm voting for The Nanny Diaries for my favorite chick lit book, though Something Borrowed was also quite entertaining.

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

I really enjoyed the progression of the "Darcy" character from Something Borrowed to Something Blue, actually.  I thought Emily Giffin did a great job of turning the reader around on a former antagonist, and making her sympathetic.

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

I would say to anyone who wants to become a writer - just write.  Turn off your "internal editor" and write, then write some more, and most of all - don't listen to people who tell you that you can't do it.  Write, and don't give up.  I think "don't give up" is the biggest secret of success.  :)

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm currently reading (and loving) Eat, Pray, Love.

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

I'm working on my next book, Reality Check, about a girl who ends up behind the scenes on a wacky reality tv show.  It should be good fun.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

Question I have never been asked in an interview, but wish I had - "What's your ultimate dream as a writer?"  The answer is:  "I want to become a bestselling, internationally known author - I think my work is funny, and is a great escape for people who maybe just want a laugh or need to lift their spirits.  I kind of think it's my mission on earth to provide levity to people.  I know I've certainly enjoyed many hours lost in good stories."

Thanks, Lori!

Read Louise Doughty's 'Novel in a Year'

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love Louise Doughty's columns in The Telegraph. Last year, she documented her progress as she  attempted to write a novel in a year, and this book, unsurprisingly called A Novel in A Year is a compilation of her weekly columns. For anyone who missed a few, or indeed missed the whole thing, this will make not only educational but entertaining reading too. I'm planning on snapping it up asap.

Incidentally, Louise Doughty's excellent columns continue but at a more relaxed pace: they're now called A Writer's Year.

Related: BOOK REVIEW: Wannabe a Writer?

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Good Reads

Good Reads is a site in the tradition of Librarything and Shelfari. That is, yet another addictive book-related website for me to spend time on instead of doing anything more productive... sigh. (I warn you: once you log in, it's hard to leave, so join up at your own risk!)

The idea behind the site is simple: join up and then add books you've just read, books you want to read next and books you're reading now. You can add reviews and read other people's, get book suggestions based on what you're reading, and the best bit: add 'friends' in the same way as sites like Myspace and Facebook - you can even form groups, so you could create a virtual reading group online and have book chats over Good Reads.

So many possibilities, so many chores being ignored...

BOOK NEWS: The Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan

Another book with club in the title, and hey, why not?!

The Hindi-Bindi Club is getting great reviews. Monica Pradhan's debut novel, it's about an inter-connected group of Indian-American families who face issues ranging from racism to breast cancer to infidelity, and it entwines personal stories of joy and heartache with delicious-sounding Indian recipes.

It sounds like a mix of The Joy Luck Club, Like Water for Chocolate and Desperate Housewives! First magazine calls it "enthralling".  Definitely one to watch out for (and just look how pretty the cover is!)

Related: BOOK REVIEW: The Tuesday Erotica Club | BOOK REVIEW: The Yorkshire Pudding Club.

MOVIE NEWS: Marley & Me

Me and Diane both loved John Grogan's Marley & Me (even though I didn't cry) and I've just read that it's being made into a movie with ... wait for it ... Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. (David Frankel, director of The Devil Wears Prada, will direct.) [via BuzzSugar]

I saw John Grogan as more David Duchovny than Owen Wilson (although Owen Wilson would be great as Marley!), but still I think this could be good.

BOOK REVIEW: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Despite finding Jodi Picoult's books a bit hit and miss, I was keen to read this book from the minute I heard about it. The idea of the Queen of morally difficult issues taking on the subject of school shootings ... how could you not want to read it?

From his very first day at school Peter Houghton is bullied. He's pushed, hit, shoved into his locker, verbally abused and horribly humiliated. And when it all becomes too much he takes four guns into school and starts shooting. It's hard to say anything else about the plot, because the way Picoult writes is so involved and intricate, that I'm not sure what happened when, at one point important information was learned, and I don't want to give anything away.

Along with a subplot about domestic abuse, Picoult asks difficult questions without giving any easy answers. I was a bit concerned that I found myself sympathising too much with Houghton (even, at one point, feeling that the bullies got what they deserved), but that's the great thing about Picoult's books (I'm primarily thinking of My Sister's Keeper), she makes you feel the uncomfortable feelings and leaves you questioning your own morals.

This is an involving and thought-provoking novel. I couldn't put it down.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

TUESDAY THREE: Messing about on the water

The summer theme continues with books about boats and boating (and apologies if I get any of the terminology wrong - I don't want emails telling me that "yachting" isn't "boating" or anything like that).

Sarah Mason's Sea Fever is the story of Erica Pencarrow, who longs to compete in sailing's toughest challenge, the America's Cup. When her dream finally comes true she must conquer not only the sea but also her team's prejudices - a fight she looks set to lose when she falls for a rival sailor. Review coming soon.

Love Overboard, the second of the Janet Evanovich romance novel re-releases, features Ivan who is the proud owner of a two-masted schooner, and a descendant of pirates. During the holiday season he takes a charter of passengers out every week, the success of which relies on his trusted crew. Imagine his horror when, as he's preparing to take his final trip of the season, he's greeted by Stephanie - the woman he sold his beloved family home to only a matter of weeks ago.

Jacquelyn Mitchard's Still Summer is the story of four school friends, who get together for an idyllic sailing vacation – meant to comfort recently widowed Olivia – expecting two weeks of gossip, sunbathing and drinks with little umbrellas. Instead, two days into their crossing, a single small mistake turns paradise a sun-baked hell. Surrounded by water, but with almost none to drink, with refrigerators filled with gourmet food rotting before they can used it, and a deluxe communication system ruined in an instant, the women must hide from the punishing sun and use all their strength and intelligence to try to outwit nature, their own demons and human predators.

There's a review of this coming soon(ish) too, but you'll actually find a (glowing) Amazon review written by no less than Jodi Picoult!

If the above's whetted your appetite for the water, you can also read about Katie Fforde's Dutch barge, sailing the Med, and cruising with Monroe.

When characters come alive...

This morning I was at the train station (I went to Nottingham for two hours - I'm such a jet-setter) when I saw a girl who made me stop in my tracks: with her short platinum hair, battered leather jacket, long legs and punkish look, she looked exactly how I imagine the heroine of the book I'm reading to look.

Spooky, or what?

Carry on over the cut to find out what I'm reading...

The book is Paint it Black, Janet Fitch's long-awaited follow-up to her excellent debut White Oleander (which I heard about back when Oprah's book club highlighted new fiction - aka: the good old days). The main character is Josie Tyrell, twenty year old artists' model and casual drug user, whose painter boyfriend has just killed herself, leaving her reeling.

I'll be reviewing the book next week - so find out what I thought of it then, but in the meantime, have you ever seen characters from a book you're reading 'appear' in real life, and been completely spooked? (I do hope I'm not the only one!)

MORE ON MONDAY: Mere Anarchy by Woody Allen

I suspect unlike most Woody Allen fans, I first appreciated the great director's humour through his short stories rather than his excellent films (Manhattan, Annie Hall, Play it Again Sam, Hannah and Her Sisters, Manhattan Murder Mystery et al.)

His last original collection of fiction was released in 1983 and so Mere Anarchy, a slim volume which still squeezes in 18 stories, was well overdue. But does he still have the golden touch?

I have to be honest, at first I wasn't sure. I'd forgotten that Woody's wordplay can sometimes be dazzling to the point of baffling, and wished often that I knew where my dictionary was...

But once I'd got into the swing of things, I found his way with words entertaining and witty, although wry smile-funny rather than split-your-seams hilarious. The subjects these stories tackle are mostly rather ridiculous - from a man kidnapped because he looks like a famous film star to a someone who loses money after investing in a musical about the adjustable shower head. Other subjects, like nannies selling stories on their employers and the difficulty of getting a child into the right New York pre-school, are bang up to date (even if chick lit did there get first...)

One of my favouri