Trashionista

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Just after Anne Enright won this year's Booker prize, I read the following headline: Why Prize-Winning Author 'Dislikes The McCanns'. I didn't read the article, but it immediately made me dislike Anne Enright and not want to read her book. I know it's unreasonable, but that was my knee-jerk reaction.

Happily reading Jen Lancaster's second book, Bright Lights, Big Ass, I was more than a little disconcerted to find her waxing lyrical about Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Fox News.

Earlier this week on the Guardian books blog, Ben Myers wrote a piece entitled "Do  writers' filthy opinions soil their books?" with the subtitle "Reading the work of authors whose private opinions are unforgivably extreme is a very uneasy experience."

So are you bothered by the politics or opinions of an author? Would you read the books of someone with wildly opposing politics or would you avoid reading anything by anyone you wouldn't want to sit next to on a plane or at a dinner party (assuming you don't like to instigate food fights at dinner parties)?

Basically: Do you care about authors' personal opinions? Yay or Nay and Why?

[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: Rex and the City by Lee Harrington

I've never owned a dog, but I do love reading about people who do, particularly if they write as well as Lee Harrington.

Rex and the City began as a column for The Bark magazine (which author Alison Pace has also written for) but it doesn't read like a series of columns, it's firmly a memoir and is as much about Harrington's relationship with her boyfriend, Ted, as it is about her relationship with her dog. Plus the "and the City" of the title isn't just an awful pun, New York - in particular Harrington's Lower East Side neighbourhood - is practially another character in the book.

Ted and Lee adopt Rex (who was, in reality, named Wallace) from a shelter primarily because of his beauty, but they soon believe they've taken on more they can chew. It's clear that Rex was badly mistreated, but the shelter won't give them any details. Rex is antisocial, frightened, untrusting and occasionally violent. But Lee and Ted decide not to give up on him and, eventually, he learns to trust them and they, in turn, learn to trust each other.

Like Marley & Me, Rex and the City is the story of a family being changed by a dog, but it's not as sweet as John Grogan's book. I suppose I'd describe it as less endearing and more "urban", which seems fair given the title. Harrington writes beautifully and the book is full of wisdom about relationships, both human and canine, but she never claims to have all the answers (in fact, I believe there's a second volume on the way, so she couldn't, could she).

I found Rex and the City totally engrossing and it made me both more determined to adopt a dog and more aware of the issues that involves.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Marley & Me by John Grogan

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Zoe McCarthy

Zoe McCarthy's blog, My Boyfriend is a Tw*t (no asterisk in the real title, but I know some of our readers may have delicate sensibilities!) is enormously popular and now, whether you're a fan or are just hearing about it for the first time and want to catch up, you can buy the blog in book form!

Zoe kindly took time off from writing feverishly (seriously, that is the most writerly author photo we've ever had!) to answer our questions.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

A manual aiming to help women living with a tw*t based on true facts, and wonderfully illustrated.

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

In my cluttered office at home. Everything feels right here: a mess.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding. It's the only book that has had me crying with laughter.

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

There's only one and that's me. (In other words, you've got me on that one.)

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

If, like myself, you want to write a book about your life, jot down notes that you would like to include rather than remember them later on and add them to the appropriate chapter to avoid duplication and a change of writing style. (Yes, that was something that I learnt as I went along, proof-read and realised that I'd mentioned the same accident three times in my first book. Big oooops.)

Don't write about the same subject as another author who has just published a best-seller thinking "wow, that's a good idea - I'll write about that."

What are you reading at the moment?

How to be Good by Nick Hornby.

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

Reverse parenting.

Do you have a theme song?

No. But somebody will be writing one for me soon, I'm sure.

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!)

Q: "Did you find writing your first book difficult?"
A: "Sh*t, yes!"

COMPETITION: Mslexia Diary

A bit of a difference for this week's competition, in that it's not for a novel. No, it's for a rather fabulous diary from Mslexia magazine.

I love Mslexia and not just because I've written for it (Like Daughter, Like Mother about young adult fiction in the current issue, if you're interested) and so has former co-editor Diane.

Full of facts, information, recommendations from authors and, you know, spaces to write your appointments in, we've got 3 to give away. Carry on over the cut to find out how one of them can be yours and how, even if you're not lucky enough to win one, you can buy one at a discount.

Blimey, we're good to you, aren't we.

To be in with a chance of winning, email us (editor @ trashionista.com [remove spaces]) your name and address and complete the following sentence:

Mslexia is the magazine for women who ... ? What?

Closing date: 30 November 2007

Special offer: £12.99 for a diary at Mslexia's website. Simply enter the code 'd8' to get your discount.

BOOK NEWS: Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Amnesia plotlines seem to be all the rage at the moment. Not only do we have Caprice Crane's fabulous Forget About It and Cecelia Ahern's TV show, Samantha Who?, Sophie Kinsella is getting in on the act with her latest stand-alone (i.e. non-Shopaholic) book, Remember Me?

It's the story of Lexi, who wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident, thinking it's 2004 and she's a twenty-five-year old with crooked teeth and a disastrous love life. But, to her disbelief, she learns it's actually 2007 - she's twenty-eight, her teeth are straight, she's the boss of her department - and she's married! To a good-looking millionaire! How on earth did she land the dream life??! [via Amazon]

It's out in both the UK and US in February 2008. (That's the US cover, the UK one isn't up on Amazon yet, I wonder if I'll like it.) 

TUESDAY THREE: Two for one!

Here at Trashionista, we read a lot of books (obviously) and sometimes we get more than we bargained for, in that some books feature a book within a book ... two for the price of one!

In Jo Barrett's debut novel, The Men’s Guide to the Women’s Bathrooms, former lawyer Claire St John has left New York after divorcing her cheating husband Charles. She's now back home in Austin, Texas to write her bestselling book. About what, she's not quite sure. Then she hits on a brilliant idea: she'll demystify women for men. She'll call her book The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom and, as we read this book, we also get to read Claire’s book. Not only is Jo Barrett a smart, witty and talented author, but her heroine is too! 

Lisa Beth Kovetz's debut novel, The Tuesday Erotica Club, is the story of four women from very different backgrounds, who form a weekly writing group, which quickly becomes a weekly erotic writing group. As you might suspect from the title, there's a certain amount of erotic writing in the book, as we are treated to the women's creative efforts. It just stops short of being too much, but probably isn't for the squeamish about sex. However, the real plot of the book is about the importance of female friendship and it's a very good, well-crafted read.

A very (very) different novel is A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. Nadia and Vera’s father, Nikolai, has always been eccentric, but when he announces, two years after their mother’s death, his plans to marry a young Ukranian woman neither of them has met, the sisters are concerned. As the sisters try to remove the woman and her son from their father’s life, Nikolai is working on his book - A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian. Which is exactly what it sounds like...

BOOK REVIEW: Split Ends by Kristin Billerbeck

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Award-winning author Kristin Billerbeck’s newest novel is a great read from cover to cover. The story is both funny and serious and Billerbeck gives readers the perfect dose of both. I found myself cheering for Sarah throughout the novel and trying to decide what I would do if I was in her shoes. It’s an easy read and yet will get the reader thinking about what’s most important in life.

Sarah Claire Winowski is a small town hairdresser with big dreams. She joins her successful cousin in California to carve out a new life for herself. Los Angeles, however, may be more than Sarah Claire bargained for.

After being told to change her name, her clothes and the way she talks, she’s not sure she’s cut out for the lifestyle she longs for. The one bright spot in her future may be her cousin’s roommate, but she not so sure about him, either.

When she meets her new boss it confirms her worst fears. Can she really take months of getting coffee for a boss she can’t stand? Her boss, Yoshi, may be one of the best hairdressers in L.A., but Sarah isn’t sure she can stick it out long enough to learn what he has to teach her. Sarah must struggle to find herself and figure out if her dreams are worth the cost.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck

Win a copy of Nick Hornby's Slam

I wrote about Nick Hornby's young adult debut, Slam, last week and it turns out that our sister site, Nollie (dedicated to extreme sports for women), has actually read it ... and has five copies to give away. They said:

Whether you're a teen or not, this novel has themes that we can all identify with (not least fear of smashing your teeth out in a skate park) and will have you have you page-turning for hours to find out how Sam (one of the most believable characters I've ever had the pleasure of meeting) copes with fatherhood, and what sage advice the Tony Hawk poster will impart next.

Why not skate on over to Nollie and see if you can win a copy.

Write the "End of This World"

Collaborative story websites seem to be all the rage at the minute. I've just heard about another one, launching this Thursday (1st November) - End of This World.

The site's founders will provide the first and final chapter of the story, which as the title suggests will be the destruction of the world, and the rest of the story will be written by the users.

Related posts: The Neverending Story | Do you like collaborations?

BOOK NEWS: Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore

Goodness, celebs are writing children's books like they've got nothing better to do. Must be all those hours hanging around in luxury trailers.

I haven't read many (apart from Madonna's first book), but I like Julianne Moore
so I might well read the cutely named (and illustrated) Freckleface Strawberry.

You can hear Moore talking about it on the latest Amazon podcast.

Related posts: Is there no end to Jordan's talents? | Geri Halliwell writes children's book | Kylie joins celebrity authors

Ex Libris: The Game of First Lines & Last Words

Christmas is coming, you know, so what do you buy for the book-lover in your family?

A really nerdy game! Ex Libris is "the game of first lines and last words" and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Plus, if memory serves (I saw it in Borders last week), it does actually come in a tin.

Anyway, you challenge contestants to write an opening or closing sentence and convince the other players that that's the actual real line.

Take it to you book club for the last meeting before Christmas!

Related posts: Bookopoly | Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman

MORE ON MONDAY: The 4-Day Win by Martha Beck

Martha Beck is one of my heroes. I devour her books. I re-read them frequently. I keep them on a shelf above my desk for inspiration. I love her. So imagine my excitement when I read that her latest book would be a (sort of) diet book. Since I've been trying and failing to lose weight for approximately two thirds of my life, I couldn't read it quick enough.

The 4-Day Win is subtitled "change the way you think about food and your body in just 4 days" which is actually a little disingenuous. The plan features a series of 4 day wins - 4 days being the optimal time it takes to change your behaviour and implement new habits that stick. There is a jump start programme on which, Beck assures, you will start to lose weight almost immediately. But this book doesn't feature eating plans and exercise suggestions, it's more about learning to change the way you think about food.

Yes, I know there have been a bunch of non-diet diet books lately and yet the world's population is still getting fatter, but Beck explains clearly and concisely why this is the case. Why even though losing weight may seem to be the most important thing in your life, you still can't do it.

Based on sociological and psychological research, It all makes perfect sense, it's readable, fascinating and, because it's Martha Beck, hugely entertaining. Has a diet book ever made you laugh out loud before? No, me neither. (My favourite line: "Tracy and I agreed that she would try a two-pronged approach to changing her body and mind. So we got her a fork with only two prongs...")

No, I haven't actually lost any weight, but that's because I haven't started doing any 4 day wins yet (I'm still in what Beck calls the "pre-contemplation" stage - in other words, I just read the book, I didn't actually do any of the - theoretical, not physical - exercises).

In Beck's book The Joy Diet, she said she'd never write an actual diet book. And yet now she has. And I for one am thrilled about it.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Beyond Chocolate by Audrey & Sophie Boss

BOOK NEWS: Britney's mum to write parenting memoir

According to publishing blog Galleycat, Lynne Spears (Britney and Jamie-Lynn Spears' mother) has signed a deal to write a memoir about "raising high-profile children while coming from a low-profile Louisiana community."

I'm sorry to be judgmental, but surely Lynne Spears has got better things to do with her time than writing a book about her daughter ... like maybe helping her get herself together so she can get her own kids back?

BOOK NEWS: Slam by Nick Hornby

I've been meaning to mention this book for, ooh, months, but it kept slipping my mind. It's the first young adult book from lad lit author turned literary darling, Nick Hornby.

It sounds good - about a skateboarding-mad teenaged boy whose Tony Hawk (the world's best skater) poster starts talking back to him - and it also proves that Hornby's got his finger on the pulse (YA is huge right now!).

Related posts: Fever Pitch review | The Complete Polysyllabic Spree review | A Long Way Down review

MOVIE MAGIC: Stupid and Contagious

Yay, last week's Movie Magic finally captured your imagination ... or it might have been because I suggested a size 6 (probably) actress to play size 12 Heather Wells...

You've all read Caprice Crane's Stupid and Contagious, yes? (If not, why not? We've recommended it so many times!)

So if it was to be made into a film (which I sincerely hope it will be in the future), who would play Heaven and Brady?

I'm thinking the scrumptious Dave Annable (Justin in Brothers & Sisters) as Brady and Katherine Heigl as Heaven. What do you think?

Movie Magic archives

BOOK REVIEW: How To Bring Up Your Parents by Emma Kennedy

You probably recognise Emma Kennedy from the Heat magazine TV ads, but she's an established comedian, writer and actress. How To Bring Up Your Parents is her first book and it's based on her popular (and very funny) blog.

I was a bit concerned when I started reading this book because the first section - "the science and history bit (because you're worth it)" - didn't really do much for me, but once Kennedy got onto the subject of her actual parents - Hysterical Mum Brenda (HMB) and Welsh Dad Tony (WDT) - the book really got going. 

Rather than just being a series of blog posts in book form, How To Bring Up Your Parents is arranged around "Practical Problems" such as Entertaining, Leaving Home and Sex and Other Embarrassments. Kennedy's parents do seem to be genuinely funny, but Emma's interpretation of them is utterly hilarious. It's a very affectionate portrayal too - they really seem to have an enviably close and honest relationship.

Reading this book will both make you appreciate your parents more and comfort you to learn that your parents aren't quite as mad as you always suspected (or perhaps that they are and that's okay too!).

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try The Yes Man by Danny Wallace

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Elizabeth Bennett vs Bridget Jones

This week we’ve got two classics of English literature battling it out. One is in her 30s, the other in her 200s. You decide who wins between Elizabeth Bennett and Bridget Jones

Elizabeth Bennett

The Books: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, the story of the Bennett family girls and their hunt for eligible bachelors

The Age: The Regency period, a time of social niceties and empire line dresses

Men: Fitzwilliam Darcy, an unlikely suitor who thinks he’s too good to become embroiled with the Bennett family but does so anyway

Films: Filmed for the big screen and TV numerous times, the most popular of which is probably the 1995 BBC adaptation – who can forget Mr Darcy jumping in that pond? This version started Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth

Bridget Jones

The Books: Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridget Jones – The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding, following Bridget's search for the perfect fella - and what she does once she's got him

The Age: The 1990s, when women got drunk and wore big knickers

Men: The bounder, Daniel Cleaver and the standoffish Mark Darcy

Films: Both books have been filmed, starring Rene Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth (as Darcy again)

Conclusion: One’s a classic of literature, the other’s a classic of chick literature and we arguably wouldn’t have had Mark Darcy without his predecessor.

Who wins?

BOOK REVIEW: Violet On the Runway by Melissa Walker

When I was a youngster I fell in love with a series of books about an innocent young girl - I think she was called Caitlin - who got into modelling. It was like America's Next Top Model, but not so skanky. So I was excited to read Melissa Walker's Violet On the Runway, the story of 17-year-old Violet, who believes she's P.L.A.I.N. until a model scout tells her she could be a star.

Violet's friends and family are unsure this is the right thing for her, particularly when the scout, Angela, insists she goes to New York to try out for the Fashion Week shows.

Violet does brilliantly and ends up moving to New York to model and live in one of those model apartments with other models, on of whom is, inevitably, a complete bitch. Violet enjoys the modelling, particularly since she seems to be good at it, but she's not sure New York, the people or the industry are right for her...

I enjoyed Violet On the Runway to an extent. It was an easy read and Violet is an endearing character, but I felt like it didn't really live up to its promise. Early in the book Violet overhears Angela talking about how Violet's going to be "skewered" and, for me, the skewering just never happened. It was too nice, Violet's journey was too easy.

But then this *is* the first in the series - the first chapter of Violet By Design, out in March next year, is included in this book - so perhaps things hot up for Violet in the future.

One thing I will say though is that there never would have been any cocaine snorting in the Caitlin books. Either young adult fiction is getting too realistic or I'm getting old. Or both.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Dramarama by E Lockhart

Is anyone watching Samantha Who?

I've seen the first two episodes and I really like it, mainly because Christina Applegate is so engaging.

I'm not a huge fan of Cecelia Ahern's novels, but I'm on board with the screenwriting (which I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear!). She's good!

Related posts: Cecelia Ahern's television show | Where Rainbows End | P.S. I Love You

BOOK COVER: The Godmother

Yes, I'm still obsessing over UK vs US covers, I'm afraid.

The cover on the left is the British cover of Carrie Adams's novel, The Godmother. I haven't read the book, but I imagine the British cover captures the story better than the American cover on the right.

But the American cover is so pretty, don't you think?

Book covers archives

BOOK REVIEW: These Boots Weren’t Made For Walking by Melody Carlson

Reviewed by Jill Hart

The title alone made me want to read this book. While Melody Carlson is known more for her young adult fiction, her entry to the inspirational chick-lit scene is a welcome one. Carlson is a talented writer and These Boots Weren’t Made For Walking is no exception.

Cassidy Cantrell just bought her first pair of designer boots, which she knows will impress everyone. She’s pretty sure they are going to get her the promotion she’s been angling for as well. Little does she know how much her life is about to change. Job problems and boyfriends woes send Cassidy on a search to find herself. She heads home only to find that her normal run-of-the-mill mom has changed, too – and Cassidy’s not sure it’s for the better.

Her desires, such as the boots, reflect the desires of girlie-girls everywhere and make the reader take a closer look at their priorities. At the center of it all is a young woman coming of age. Through Cassidy’s struggles, the reader will learn the value of faith, friendship and fun. 

Melody Carlson weaves a light-hearted, entertaining tale about a young woman trying to find her place in the world. Carlson has written over 90 books ranging from childrens works to teen and adult literature. By the end of the novel I still wanted to head to the mall and yet this novel really made me think about my cravings for shopping and all things materialistic. I consider this book a great balance of insightfulness and humor.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

BOOK NEWS: Coleen McLoughlin gets a five-book deal

We should have called this celebrity week at Trashionista. After news of Kerry Katona’s second book due out next year, comes an amazing five-book deal for, can you believe it, Coleen McLoughlin! The publishing house in question is HarperCollins and Ms. McLoughlin will not, apparently, have to write her novels. Phew. All that writing would interfere with the shopping.

[Source]

Related Posts: The Oxford English Dictionary approves of WAGs | Is there no end to Jordan's talents? | Geri Halliwell writes children's book

BOOK NEWS: Win a part in Kerry Katona’s Rough Justice

If you enjoyed Kerry Katona’s Tough Love then you’re going to love this – you could appear in her next novel, Rough Justice! Just enter your details here and you’ll be entered into Random House's prize draw to have a minor character in Rough Justice named after you.

Go on, you know you want to!

Related Posts: Rough Justice by Kerry Katona | Is Kerry Katona the new Jordan? | Celebrity Memoir Mania

BOOK NEWS: Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys

Former Trashionista co-editor, Diane, alerted me to this book (thanks, Diane!) - she knows what I like - and with the Dumbledore bombshell (!) it seemed like a good time to mention it.

The gay best friend is one of the most enduring chick lit cliches (so enduring that I've heard publishers now warn authors against it; the book I'm currently reading has gay dads instead), but Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys is a collection of  essays celebrating "the fierce bond and special intimacy between straight women and their gay male best friends, as well as the sometimes disheartening realization that the boy you like, likes boys". Yep. Been there.

Contributors include Cindy Chupack, Ayelet Waldman and Gigi Levangie Grazer and the foreword is written by my own GBF (in my imagination), Armistead Maupin. Sounds like a must-read to me.
 

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Last week you were unanimous in a Yay for Princess books and a Nay for author Mary Hoffman's blanket denouncement of them (except for the one *she* wrote, that is).

This week - a story that's been, ooh, everywhere. (A couple of days ago my husband said, "So JK Rowling has said Dumbledore is gay and there's been a furore?" And I said, "Er ... no! I write about books for a living and if she'd said that and if there'd been a furore, I think I'd know about it!" And then I went back to the computer where I found ... a furore. *whistles*)

So, yes, it's true, JK Rowling has announced that Dumbledore was gay all along. No, I'm not asking: Dumbledore gay? Yay or nay? Rather, I'd like to know what you think about authors dropping in extra titbits of information after a book or a series has been released.

Do you think Rowling should have outed Dumbledore before now? Or do you wish she had kept it to herself? Or do you think (like my lecturers at university would) that if he wasn't gay in the book he can't be gay because he doesn't exist?!

In other words: authors' extras - Yay or Nay and Why?

[picture via New York Magazine]

[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!]

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Matt Dunn

Now here's a turn up for the books (heh). An interview with a male author - Matt Dunn. But he is an honorary Trashionista, oh yes. His last book, The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook, was nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year award. But he's here to tell us about his new book, From Here to Paternity.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

A guy’s journey to paternity. Trouble is, he has to meet the right woman first…

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

On the deck of my yacht in Majorca. Or truthfully, sat at my desk, staring at a blank wall. It’s the best way to come with ideas.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

If Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity counts [It most certainly does! - Keris], I’ll have that. Otherwise Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series are all brilliantly written and hilarious.

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

It has to be Bridget Jones, doesn’t it?

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

Start by putting some words down on paper, and then just keep doing that every day - if you can do a thousand words each time, you’ll have finished your first draft in three months. If I had a pound for everyone who’s said to me that they’ve always wanted to write a book, but when I ask them if they’ve begun yet, they just stare at their shoes and mumble ‘no’. Just start typing!

What are you reading at the moment?

David Mitchell’s Black Swan Green. He’s such a good writer that he makes me want to go and retrain as an accountant or something.

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

My next novel. Which is a sort of sequel to my second book, The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook.

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!)

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a writer?
A: Trying to become a writer. It’s the best job in the world.

Thanks, Matt!

BOOK REVIEW: Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula is Marta Acosta’s first published novel about a young woman who finds her heart’s desire in the least likely of places – with a family of vampires.

Latina Ivy League grad Milagro de Los Santos is the star of Happy Hour at Casa Dracula. She can’t find her place in the world or a man to go with it. Her life changes when one night at a book party for her pretentious ex-boyfriend she meets an oddly attractive man. After she is bitten while kissing him, she falls ill and is whisked away to his family’s estate to recover. She discovers the family’s secret; they say that they are carriers of a hereditary disease, but others claim they are vampires. As Milagro falls for a fabulously inappropriate man, she finds herself caught between a family that has accepted her as one of its own and a powerful, clandestine organisation that refuses to let the undead live and love in peace.

What raises this book head and shoulders above the rest of its genre are the strong characters. Milagro is so endearingly lacking in self-confidence, yet she still fights her corner with the most hilarious acerbic put-downs. She is just so likeable that I found myself rushing through the book rooting for her to get her heart’s desire. More importantly her ex-boyfriend’s personality is so hideous that I loved hating him and enjoying any of the plot that made his life a misery. The combination of the humour and fast pace made Acosta’s book one of the best that I’ve read in a long time.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

Do you like collaborations?

I want to read The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jenny Crusie, Eileen Dyer and Anne Stuart, I really do – supernatural chick lit’s my favourite - but I’m wary of collaborations. I tried Come Again by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees but didn’t get past the first chapter and the last James Patterson collaboration I read was the worst thriller I’ve ever read (I can’t remember the name – it was so bad I threw it away). I didn’t even finish the Crusie/Bob Mayer collaboration Don’t Look Down – the characters just didn’t have their usual Crusieness.

I know Keris loved The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes so I’ll put my wariness aside and give it a go. If nothing else it will be a pleasure to look at – that’s one beautiful cover!

What do you think of collaborations?

BOOK NEWS: Rough Justice by Kerry Katona

Kerry Katona’s first novel, Tough Love, is published this week, and the follow up, Rough Justice, is already on Amazon for pre-order even though it isn’t published until next April. Rough Justice is the story of Charly Metcalfe whose footballer boyfriend, Joel is murdered, putting Charly and her family in the frame.

Related Posts: Jordan outsells the Bookers | Julian Clary's Murder Most Fab | Geri Halliwell writes children's book

Chica lit blog tour

How do you feel about Halloween? Because I am a giant scaredy, I can't stand it. Fake blood. Cobwebs. Teenagers in Scream masks. It's enough to make me cower indoors for days at a time.

Luckily, this weekend, a bunch of chica lit writers will be posting short stories on their blogs to "bring Halloween cheer". So at least I'll have something to do while I ignore the trick or treaters. Find full details of the first ever Chica Lit Ghost Story Blog Tour over the cut.

October 27: Berta Platas
October 28: Mary Castillo
October 29: Sofia Quintero
October 30: Kathy Cano-Murillo
October 31: Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

Related posts: In Between Men by Mary Castillo | Latina lit | Thursday Three: Spooky Stuff

TUESDAY THREE: Two women

A standard chick lit plot is that of a woman having to choose between two men, but there are a good number of books now featuring a man choosing - or not - between two women.

In Donna Hay's The Two Mrs Robinsons, Oliver Robinson dies, leaving behind two women who love him: the ex-wife he hasn’t divorced and the girlfriend he hasn’t married. The uneasy truce that exists between the two women is stretched to the limit when Eve, the ex-wife, decides to run his restaurant while Anna, the girlfriend, thinks they should sell it. Desperate to turn things around the two women find they have to compromise and soon start to grow closer as they look out for each other.

While bigamy isn’t the usual subject of a warm, feel good chick lit novel,  Sheila O’Flanagan has produced an engaging read with Yours, Faithfully exploring the bizarre relationship between two women married to the same man. Sally has been married to Frank since they were very young and they have a teenage daughter, Jenna. Iona met and married Frank after a whirlwind romance four years ago. They are now trying for a baby. Neither wife knows about the other until Frank is involved in an accident. When they learn of each other’s existence and meet in the hospital sparks fly, but then after a period of hatred towards what each calls ‘the other woman’ we see how their relationship develops and grows.

Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed is told from the point of view of Rachel, who is about to turn thirty and having a bit of an early mid-life crisis. Her best friend since school Darcy seems to have everything: a wonderful man, a glamorous job in PR and a wedding to plan. Rachel on the other hand, feels lost and overlooked. Especially whenever she's with Darcy. Life perks up a little when she finally realises she has great chemistry with a man she's known for years... shame he also happens to be Darcy's fiance, Dex...

BOOK REVIEW: Glamour by Louise Bagshawe

I've never felt tempted to read a Louise Bagshaw novel because I always thought they were bonkbusters and while I was very much into the bonkbuster as a genre when I was about 14 - Judith Krantz, Jackie Collins, you know - these days, not so much.

But then I started reading Bagshawe's latest book, Glamour, and I got into it straight away. It's the story of three school friends: British brain Jane, Texan glamourpuss Sally and Jordanian Helen (who has both brains *and* beauty). But things suddenly go badly wrong for all three girls and they end up living very different lives and losing touch.

Of course, when they inevitably find each other again, it turns out that not only are they all beautiful and successful, they're all brilliant at the same business - retail - and so they decide to set up a store. But not just any store - the most glamorous and exclusive store in the whole wide world!

I sound a bit sarcastic, don't I? Well, the thing is, although I thoroughly enjoyed Glamour, I also found it to be enormously cliched and, well, not very good. The women are basically archetypes and the men are the traditional alpha males who treat the women like precious objects (but of course they also respect their success and intelligence ... to a degree).

Plus Bagshawe is the mistress of the mixed metaphor and some of them made me laugh out loud (yes, grammar humour - I'm a dork). Like this one - "... Sally and Jane were like a jigsaw puzzle. They made no sense on their own, but together they were unstoppable." Yes, look out for those unstoppable jigsaw puzzles!

Oh and as for it being a "bonkbuster", it's really not; there's hardly any bonking in it at all (oh, it's years since I've used the word "bonking"!).

What is *is* is the very definition of a guilty pleasure. Despite frequently saying "This is rubbish!" and being disappointed by the totally unbelievable ending, I could barely put the book down. Next time I go on holiday, I just might be packing a Louise Bagshawe book for the flight.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Adored by Tilly Bagshawe

Mark Wahlberg for The Lovely Bones

Ryan Gosling has apparently dropped out of Peter Jackson's film adaptation of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones. Gosling was due to play Susie's father, but he's been replaced by Mark Wahlberg. It's more than last minute, since filming was apparently due to begin today! [via BuzzSugar]

I've just had a look on IMDb and Gosling is still listed, along with Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon (love her), Stanley Tucci (love him) and Michael Imperioli (the unfortunate Christopher from The Sopranos). Sounds like a great cast.

Related posts: The Almost Moon review | Alice Sebold interview

BOOK REVIEW: Blood is the New Black by Valerie Stivers

I was very excited when I reported the forthcoming debut novel from Valerie Stivers in book news back in September – vampires and fashion are just my thing – so imagine how excited I was when Blood is the New Black plopped through my letterbox weeks before publication.

The story revolves around Kate McGraw and her internship at Tasty magazine. Kate’s a medical student with an eye for fashion – she can diagnose a man and tell you where his suit was tailored at 50 paces. Her mother, who seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth, was a fashion designer, and although Kate has tried to break free of the fashion world her aunt introduces her to Tasty editor, Lillian Hall, who offers her a job at Tasty.

Kate soon faces the wrath of her fellow interns when she becomes Lillian’s favourite, but that doesn’t worry her as much as the murders that are going on around her. And why are some of her Tasty colleagues so odd? What’s the strange red drink they all have and why do they sleep in their offices? And why do they all start work so late – surely they can’t all be up all night?

I love the new trend of supernatural chick lit and this one really hits the mark – this was a read in one sitting book. It turns the world of fashion on hits head, but is still believable. If you’ve ever wondered how people in fashion manage to stay so thin maybe this is the real reason.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

MORE ON MONDAY: The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy by James Anderson

Using the time honoured tradition of judging a book by its cover, I picked up The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy by James Anderson last week and couldn’t put it down. I’m not usually a fan of mysteries but this has got English aristocracy, an American millionaire, spies and foreign dignitaries galore and is a rip-roaring read.

Set in the 1930s, in a world where people go down to the country for weekend house parties, this is the story of a stolen diamond necklace and secret talks between Britain and an un-named foreign country before the Second World War. Throw in a couple of murders, a rare pair of guns and a local detective and you’ve got a fast paced plot that surprises with every twist and turn.

This is the kind of book to take on a long journey – you’ll find the time just flies by.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith

Stanford Kay

I've got two massive bookcases in my front room and piles of books everywhere else. But I'm trying to cut down, streamline, get rid of ... well, most of them. And I was wondering what to do with the huge expanse of wall that will remain. And now I've found the answer!

American artist Stanford Kay has a series entitled The Gutenberg Variations, which is paintings of bookcases to scale. I know!

I don't know what they cost, but I do know they featured in an Affordable Art Fair, which suggests they might not be totally out of my league... particularly once I've sold all my books. ("Affordable" is priced between $100 - $10,000, you say? Okay, maybe not.)

[via Apartment Therapy]

Related posts: Tracy Kendall's book print wallpaper | Mickey Smith's book photographs | How do you arrange your bookshelves?

MOVIE NEWS: The Kite Runner

I haven't read The Kite Runner yet, but I've heard an awful lot about it so I can't wait to see the film ... I mean, read it. (Jenni, former Trashionista editor, LOVED it!)

Anyway, the film is due out next month and, if you're in the US, there are all sorts of treats on the movie's website, including advance screenings, signed books and the chance to win dinner with the author, Khaled Hosseini.

Have you read it? Did you love it?

COMPETITION: Dangerous Admissions

Yes, first there was the guest blog. Then came the interview and now - duh duh duhhhhhh (I may have had too much tea...) - the competition. But first the blurb. Because it made me laugh.

Miranda "Rannie" Bookman - 43, divorced mother of two, with a recent love life consisting of a long string of embarrassingly brief encounters - is beginning to feel like a dangling participle: connected to nothing. Her career as a copyeditor is down the toilet (she makes one little slip-a missing "l" from the last word in the title of the Nancy Drew classic The Secret of the Old Clock - and suddenly she's Publishing Enemy #1!), so she's been forced to take any gig she can get. And that means giving tours at the Chapel School, the ultra-exclusive, ultra-expensive, private academy that her children attend.

Certainly not the most interesting of employments . . . at least until someone stumbles across the dead body of the Director of College Admissions.

Investigating a murder was never in her job description, but with her soon-to-be-college-bound boy Nate a prime suspect, Rannie has little choice. Besides, who better to dot all the "i"s and cross all the "t"s than a self-proclaimed "language cop"? Her diligence might even lead her to a brand-new love. Or to a killer. Or to another corpse-hopefully not her own.

Okay, so I bet now you really want to read it, right? Carry on over the cut to find out how you can win a copy.

We've got three copies to give away. US entrants only, I'm afraid. Just email us at the usual address, subject line "Dangerous" and your name and address in the body of the email. You've got two weeks - until Friday 2nd November - to enter. Good luck!

Adele Parks is Between the Sheets at the Guildford Book Festival

It feels like there’s a book festival every week these days – when do people get time to read? The current one is the Guildford Book Festival and one of the highlights has got to be Adele Parks talking to Dorothy Koomson and Jane Fallon, followed by Mike Gayle and Matt Dunn on 26 October. Tickets are still available so if you’re in the Guildford area get yourself down there.

For a full list of events at the Guildford Book Festival click here

Related Posts: | SPOTLIGHT: Adele Parks | SPOTLIGHT: Dorothy Koomson | Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon

Chick Lit Quiz

Here’s a bit of fun for a Friday afternoon. I found this chick lit quiz over on the British Council’s encompass culture website. I got 8 out of 10 – how did you do?

Click here for encompass culture chick lit quiz

Related Posts: Chick Lit quiz!

BOOK REVIEW: Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

I added Mary Lawson's Crow Lake to my Amazon wishlist *years* ago on, if memory serves, Jennifer Weiner's recommendation (via her blog, we're not actually friends ... except in my imagination). Despite that, I never actually bought it because it didn't really sound like my kind of book. Too depressing. Too (old) Oprah. But then on holiday I was stuck for something to read and Crow Lake had been left behind by someone else so I picked it up and ... lost about two days.

Set in Northern Ontario, Canada, it's the story of the Morrison family: Kate, who narrates the story, her older brothers Matt and Luke and their younger sister, Bo. At the beginning of the book their parents are killed in a car accident and when Kate reacts incredibly badly to the idea of the siblings being separated, the oldest brother, Luke, decides to give up his chance of teacher training college and take care of the family himself.

The story of Kate's childhood is mixed with the story of Kate as an adult. Apparently repressed and regretful, Kate is an academic, living far away from her brothers and sister and unable to get over the events of their childhood. Not just the loss of their parents, but the loss of the future in academia her brilliant brother Matt (yes, Matt, not Luke) had to give up, for reasons we don't learn until almost the very end of the book.

I found Crow Lake utterly compelling. While not exactly depressing, it is dreadfully sad, full of regrets and missed opportunities, but also somehow life-affirming and encouraging. The characters of Bo and Matt are both wonderful, plus Lawson writes evocatively about the lakes of Northern Ontario. I know the characters and events will stay with me for a long time.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Afloat by Jennifer McCartney

MOVIE MAGIC: Size 12 Is Not Fat

Yes, it may seem that since I discovered that Meg Cabot reads this blog, I have become kind of obsessed with her, but that's just plain wrong. I was obsessed with her before.

That aside, it usually takes me ages to think of a book for Movie Magic, but this week Size 12 Is Not Fat sprung immediately to mind and so I'm going with it. Although I don't know why since none of you seem particularly interested in casting imaginary movies with me. No, I'm not sulking. Much.

Anyway. Heather Wells, hero of Size 12, Size 14 Is Not Fat Either and the forthcoming Big Boned - who should play her in a movie version? I'm thinking Jennifer Garner. You?

Spinebreakers

In an attempt to stop losing kids to video games, YouTube, Facebook and other diversions on the internet Penguin have launched Spinebreakers, a book site for teenagers, run by teenagers. Readers are encouraged to participate with competitions and events, book reviews and short stories. The site looks great so if you’re the mum of a teenager send your kids over and encourage them to read books

[Source]

Related Posts: YA star Megan McCafferty invites you to create a trailer | YA author Maureen Johnson's book The Burmudez Triangle banned! | I love libraries, but why don't schools?

BOOK NEWS: Kate Moss Style Book

Fashion journalist and author Angela Buttolph unravels Kate Moss’s style in a new book available in Autumn 2008. Ms. Buttolph will explore the elements of Moss’s style and help us, the humble reader, to unravel her fashion formula. I need all the help I can get, so I don’t think I can wait until next year…

BOOK NEWS: Fur Babies by Liz Jones

Okay, I must admit that when I first saw this book I thought it was as mad as fish. It's the title - Fur Babies. Fur Babies!? But the subtitle is "why we love cats" and I'm cool with that (I've wanted a cat since reading about a kitten called Misha in a Sweet Dreams book about 25 years ago ... and yet I still don't have one. Pah.).

It is apparently a "quirky and revealing" account of infamous journalist Liz Jones's life with her five cats: Snoopy, Squeaky, Susie, Sweetie and now baby Leo. Interwoven throughout are contributions from over 20 fellow feline fans including Ricky Gervais, Catherine Tate, Deborah Moggy, I mean Moggach (Ha! I'm funny), and Maggie O’Farrell.

Related posts: Deborah Moggach on the Tulip Fever adaptation | After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell | The Bad Mother's Handbook on ITV

BOOK REVIEW: Hazardous Duty by Christy Barritt

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Hazardous Duty will take you places you’ve never been – and you may never want to be. Christy Barritt’s inspirational novel enters the life of a chick with a unique career. Gabby St. Claire is a crime scene cleaner. Her days are filled with grime and blood, but the job takes her one step closer to her goal of becoming a crime scene investigator.

A typical day turns into a nightmare when Gabby uncovers a murder weapon while cleaning. When her best, an only, employee is arrested, Gabby knows she has to help prove him innocent. 

How will Gabby convince the surly detective to take her seriously? And what’s with her new neighbor – is he friend or foe? Gabby must solve this mystery or her life will never be the same.

Christy Barritt is the author of eight books and contributor to a number of magazines and websites. Barritt brings a new twist to chick-lit with her unusual crime scene cleaning heroine. The writing is smart, funny and captivating with a dose of emotion to round it off nicely.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Neat Vodka by Anna Blundy

BOOK REVIEW: Hell’s Belles by Jackie Kessler

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

Hell’s Belles is Jackie Kessler’s debut novel leading you into the underbelly of the world, which is literally Hell!

 

Hell’s Belles is all about the transition of Jezebel from powerful succubus, who could seduce the souls away from men, to a mere mortal. When Hell put a bounty on her head her only chance to escape a fate far worse than death was to become human and lose herself in a place where sinners walk hand-in-hand with saints – a place like Belle’s strip club in New York.

Working as an exotic dancer is a piece of cake for a demon that specialised in seduction. But Jezebel hadn’t counted on meeting Paul Hamilton, a man haunted by his past. Goodbye Hell; hello Cupid. But Hell hasn’t stopped looking for her. The secrets Jezebel holds are the most dangerous of all, the kind every demon would do their worst to protect. Demons are closing in, but it’s her love for Paul that’s going to have deadly consequences…

I couldn’t believe that this book was Kessler’s debut novel. Her writing style is so well developed and brilliantly quirky that by the end of the book I began to think she could make a shopping list seem interesting. The plot is gentle and although this isn’t a thriller or mystery that twists and turns, it is a heart warming, action-packed, humorous story that will leave you feeling all gooey inside. Her quick one-liners will have you smiling through Jezebel’s heartbreak.

This was a lighthearted, funny read with an old-fashioned love story underneath all the modern trappings. I would recommend this to anyone and I’m rushing out to buy the sequel, The Road To Hell, when it comes out in November.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson.

BOOK COVER: Rex and the City

I wrote about Lee Harrington's Rex and the City last week and it's a great example of the power of a cover. I didn't mention it in book news (though I certainly thought about it) but I can't stand the hardback cover on the left. It's so awful, I wasn't really sure where to begin.

But look! Look at the paperback cover (on the right). Much nicer. I'd pick that one up in a heartbeat. Wouldn't you?

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Last week author Mary Hoffman wrote about "pink princess culture" in The Guardian.

"Young girls growing up today are offered an almost exclusive diet of synthetic, commercially exploitative pap," she said and I don't disagree. "Walk into any bookshop and you will find several walls of titles featuring princesses, fairies and other pink, glittery characters." Also true. "The Princess Diaries have made a lot of money for Meg Cabot - sales of five million and rising in 37 countries, plus two Disney films - and are based on the premise embraced by many girls, that they are secretly heirs to a throne." Nope, not arguing with that either.

But then Hoffman writes about her decision to write a princess book herself (Princess Grace). Her justification? "The idea is to beguile little girls into reading what looks like just another princess book - once inside, though, they will find that the central character, Grace, is highly dissatisfied by the conventional princess image."

As is, of course, Meg Cabot's princess heroine, Mia Thermopolis. So, first of all, I take exception to Mary Hoffman using the wonderful Princess Diaries series in her argument against princess books when she clearly hasn't bothered to read them (it also makes me wonder whether she's read the other books she talks about or has simply judged them on their covers).

And second of all, I wonder how you feel about princess books in general. Is Mary Hoffman right? Are they "vacuous and sickening" and do young girls deserve more adventurous heroes or are they just a bit of fun and something all little girls are fascinated by at a certain time in their lives?

So Princess books - Yay or Nay and Why?

[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!]

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jane O'Connor

We featured a guest blog from Jane O'Connor on Monday and I promised you an interview ... so here it is (and look out for the all new interview question!).

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Dangerous Admissions - a divorced freelance copyeditor solves a string of murders at her son's private school by picking up on the kind of mistake a proofreader notices. [That's more than 15 words! - Keris]

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

Often I'm in bed with my laptop; writing is hard for me so I like to be as comfy as possible.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

All the mysteries by Kate White.

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

Bailey Weggins, Kate White's heroine, because she's smart, sexy and has a sense of humor about herself.

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

Eavesdrop. Overhearing people's conversations teaches you the rhythm of dialogue and what people say reveals who they are.

What are you reading at the moment?

Away by Amy Bloom, a novel about a Jewish immigrant mother in NYC and just finished Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Detective's Union which is possibly the most original -- and funny -- mystery I've ever read. 

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

I have a two-book contract with HarperCollins, so I am writing a second mystery starring Rannie Bookman who this time around goes to pick up a freelance copyediting job at the apartment of a very reclusive writer of snarky celebrity bios. The book is going to be BIG (as in NYTimes number 1 bestseller big) but the writer unfortunately won't be at any booksigning events -- Rannie finds her tied to her bed and strangled -- with an Hermes scarf.

NEW QUESTION! Do you have a theme song?

Cynical Girl by Marshall Crenshaw

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 is it that an author of children's books can write hot sex scenes?  Answer: Write what you know about!

LOL! Great answer, Jane! Stay tuned for a chance to win Jane's book this coming Friday.

BOOK REVIEW: Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn

Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn has a really interesting premise. Gideon Rayburn starts a prestigious boarding school, but he's not alone. Well, as far as he knows he is, but we know better, because the book is narrated by a girl. A girl who is living in Gideon's head.

I know. It sounds far-fetched - well, it *is* far-fetched, obviously - but it's only weird for the first couple of chapters, then you come to accept it and it's fine. In fact, it's very entertaining to have a girl's take on a boy's thoughts and behaviour. If only it could have happened to me when I was 16 ... or maybe not.

Gideon's two roommates set him a challenge to lose his virginity to a nice girl named Molly, but of course, Gideon, because he's a boy, has set his own sights on a not quite so nice (but far hotter) girl named Pilar.

At first I thought this book was going to be fairly typical - the roommates would set Gideon up and humiliate him and it would all be terrible and I would find it very stressful, but it wasn't like that at all. Gideon is a lovely character (the girl inside his head falls in love with him within the first few chapters) and the events of the book are much more realistic and less painful than I imagined.

It was actually issued as an adult novel, but it's YA through and through (apart from one instance of a very rude word). Judging by the colours on the back of the book, the publishers were presumably trying to cash in on the success of Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep.

I  haven't read Prep, but I really enjoyed Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

BOOK NEWS: Anne Enright wins the 2007 Man Booker Prize

Anne Enright has won the 2007 Man Booker Prize for fiction with her novel The Gathering. Apparently the book is bleak and depressing and, according to the author, is the equivalent of a Hollywood weepie.

Has anyone read it? If so please let us know what you thought.

Related Posts: Booker Prize longlist announced | Jordan outsells the Bookers | Doris Lessing wins the Nobel Prize for Literature

COMPETITION: Harper Perennial books for a year

Harper Perennial are offering the chance to win free books for a year to one reading group. All you have to do is email them with your experience of reading Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook and you’ll be entered into a competition which could see your group getting free books for 365 days.

Harper Perennial competition details are here

Related Posts: For One More Day

BOOK REVIEW: The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

"When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily."

Nothing like an eye-popping opening line to draw a reader into a story, and man did that one draw me in! The Almost Moon is a very different book from Alice Sebold's last novel, The Lovely Bones, but I predict it will make as much of a stir. While Lovely Bones traded on our fears about child murder, abduction and paedophilia, The Almost Moon tackles the difficulties of aging, divorce, and parents with dementia. It's a more mature book, with a less sympathetic narrator, but it's no less compelling. When this was offered to me for review back in July, I didn't care that it wouldn't be out until October, I grabbed it and dug straight in.

The opening chapters were pacy, tense and very dramatic, with an almost palpable tension. But then... things tailed off a little as Helen, our narrator (and mother-killer) reflected on her past. The story slowed down and I was in danger of becoming bored. Thankfully, the pace picked up again, and I was drawn into this dark (yet somehow not depressing) story.

It's all set in a twenty-four hour period, but with flashbacks to Helen's childhood which explain her relationship with her mother, her father's death, and the strange life her mother has been leading for many years. We also start to realise that Helen's moment of madness when she kills her mother is not isolated: she's been slowly unravelling for some time. Although this isn't a murder mystery, there is a sense of mystery and uncertainty: what will happen to Helen, will she cope, will she maybe even get away with what she's done? She somehow becomes a sympathetic character and Sebold's writing about people's private motivations and strange thought processes is brilliantly evocative - a real class act. I am now convinced that Alice Sebold will be writing hit books for a long time to come.

However... the ending of the book still disappointed me a touch, as I felt the author pulled her punches. But maybe she's just more forgiving and humane than I am! Either way, this book is hard to forget.

Rating: 4/5

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

**PS: I've just seen what looks to be the final, UK cover - here.  Hmm. What do you think?**