Trashionista

October 11, 2011 10:46 PM

CELEB READ: Dollhouse

The Kardashians are back, and this time they're focusing on fiction. Their last book, Kardashian Konfidential, focused on the famous sisters and their stories and tips. Now, however, the girls have returned with their new novel, Dollhouse, which is due for release in November. Here's a bit more info...

The first novel by the sibling celebrities is an entertaining, surprising, and moving look at three sisters, their crazy lives, and the unbreakable bonds and family love that unite and sustain them. A dramatic peek into the lives of a trio of sibling celebrities, this novel reveals the inner workings of a glamorous, high profile, and complicated family with a huge heart and a lot of love.

Posted by Elle Symonds on October 11, 2011 in American Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (10)

March 11, 2011 8:53 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Kathy Cano-Murillo (plus giveaway!)

We loved Waking Up in the Land of Glitter, the first book Kathy Cano-Murillo's Crafty Chica series. And now she's back with the second novel in the series - Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing. We were delighted to take part in the blog tour and interview Kathy about blogging, her book and being a Crafty Chica!



We also have two fantastic prizes to give away! Two lucky readers can win a copy of both Crafty Chica books. Read on to find out more.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.

Real Women Have Curves-meets-Willy Wonka-meets-Carmen Miranda's accessories!

What inspired you to write Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing?

I wanted to write a story about a young woman who believed in herself and her goals and dreams, even when it seemed no one else did. I wanted to show the power of blogging and how it can change someone's life on both ends of the keyboard! I wanted to showcase creative Latinas!

Where do you do most of your writing?

In my writing nook, which I have decorated with saris, bejeweled lampshades and tons of sticky notes! Sometimes at the bookstore if I'm writing during the day and the house is busy with activity.

What is your favourite book?

I have so many. There are two recent ones I LOVED: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella; and Spooky Little Girl by Laurie Notaro.

Which part of Miss Scarlet's was the most fun to write?

I loved writing the scene where she is in a meeting with her boss. I wanted to show the competition between them and how much Scarlet's boss underestimated her. I also became very connected to the date she went on with Marco Vega.

What are you currently reading?

The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published authors?

Instead of looking, make it a point to start doing. Jot down an idea for a story in one sentence and then build upon it. Create a loose outline by writing a summary paragraph for each chapter and then start writing the book! You won't be a published author unless you actually write a book.

Are you working on anything else at the moment, and if so can you tell us?

Yes, I'm outlining a new novel about a cake decorator. I'm also outline a new craft book too! I blog all about both on my Diary of a Crafty Chica blog!

Thanks, Kathy!

Trashionista has two Crafty Chica prizes to be snapped up! You can win a copy of both novels - Waking Up in the Land of Glitter and Miss Scarlett's School of Patternless Sewing. All you have to do is drop us an email, making sure you put 'Crafty Chica' in the subject line. Good luck!

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 11, 2011 in American Authors, Competition, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (25)

August 20, 2010 10:10 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Sandy Lo (plus giveaway!)

We last spoke to Sandy Lo  last year, about the release of her debut novel Lost In You. Sandy's back, and this time she's penned her second book, Dream Catchers. We spoke to her about this latest release, and what she's been up to since her last interview!

 

Plus, Sandy Lo has three signed copies of Dream Catchers to give away! Simply send an email to the editor (elle.symonds [at] gmail.com) to be entered into the draw. Be sure to put 'Dream Catchers' in the subject heading. Good luck!

 

We last spoke to you early last year. What have you been up to?

Well, since we last spoke, I've done a few book events in New York, including an awesome release party in my hometown of Staten Island for "Dream Catchers" earlier this year.  Along with "Dream Catchers", I wrote a song for the book called "Haley's Letter" which is available on iTunes under the band name Tortured.  Other than that, I began my own web show with my friend called "The Sandy Squared Show", where we discuss entertainment and feature new talent.

 

Tell us more about Dream Catchers.

"Dream Catchers" is like a romantic comedy for young adults.  The main female character, Haley Foster, is a bit of an anxiety-ridden social misfit who is very wealthy and sheltered.  She basically is bored with her life and doesn't want to return home from college for the summer.  She winds up getting on the wrong bus going home, loses her wallet and her cell phone and meets Jordan Walsh, a laidback musician who's pretty much the opposite of her.  They push each other's buttons the entire bus ride until they're stranded together.  Jordan dares Haley to go with him to New York and break out of her rich girl bubble.  She surprisingly takes the dare and learns how to finally live her only life and experiences her first love.  For me, the book was so much to write and I've received great feedback from my readers saying how much they enjoyed the story and its characters.  They also said they didn't want it to end, which is why I'm currently writing the sequel!

 

What inspired you to write the book?

I actually wrote the first chapter in October 2001 while I was a freshman in college.  So many of Haley's emotions expressed in that chapter was what I was feeling at the time.  I went on to find myself and what I truly wanted out of life and who I am over the past nine years.  When I went back to writing the novel eight years later, I wanted to finish Haley's journey of self-discovery.  I wanted to prove dreams come true and it's okay to chase them, or catch them when they come soaring by.

We understand that you write for StarShine Magazine. Could you tell us more about that?

I am actually the founder and president of StarShine Magazine.  I began it as an e-mail newsletter back in 2001 to gain journalism experience, since at the time, that was my career path.  By June 2002, I turned the newsletter into a full-blown online magazine that interviewed stars like Goo Goo Dolls, Backstreet Boys, and Aaron Carter.  Now, after nine years, I'm still running StarShine Magazine and interviewing today's big stars like Lady Gaga, Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift.  In fact, I even got to interview one of my favorite bands 30 Seconds To Mars, who acted as my muse while I wrote "Dream Catchers".  I was able to tell them about the book and how they inspired my fictional band Tortured.  StarShine has helped bring out the best in me and introduced me to many friends and entertainers that I am honored to know.

How much success did you get with your first novel, Lost In You?

As a self-published author, it's very difficult to get your name out there.  I am fortunate to have a platform to publicize my books such as StarShine Magazine.  That being said, "Lost In You" has sold fairly well with what little resources I have.  Several publications/websites have raved about the book.  My favorite review was from Denise Solis, who is a fellow author and mother of Backstreet Boy, AJ McLean.  Since the book was influenced by the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees, it was an honor to have someone so close to them review the book.  Denise was also a character in the book and was flattered by that.  Overall, I was proud of what I accomplished with "Lost In You" and hope with each book, I gain more readers and keep the ones I have coming back for more.

Do you have any plans to write more? If so, can you give us any details?

I think I will always have plans to write more!  There wasn't a time in my life where I can remember me NOT writing something!  My next novel will be the sequel to "Dream Catchers", which will probably come out in early 2011.  After that, I plan to work on more of a supernatural book, "The Watch Dog", which takes place in Nashville, Tennessee, where I plan to move to next year.  That one means a lot to me since it will be dedicated to Brownie, the dog I grew up with.  She passed away when I was sixteen, but her memory is so much alive within me.  She was my protector and I feel she still watches over me.  So I'm taking that beautiful idea and working it into the theme of this book.

 

Thanks, Sandy!

 

You can find out more about Sandy Lo  over at her official website.

Posted by Elle Symonds on August 20, 2010 in American Authors, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (137)

June 8, 2010 10:36 PM

NEW RELEASE (and a competition!): Win a copy of Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Here's some news that'll please fans of Meg Cabot (Trashionista included!) After her highly successful adult books including the Heather Wells series (Size 12 is Not Fat) and Queen of Babble, Meg's latest adult novel, Insatiable, is out today - and we have two copies of the book to give away.

Here's the synopsis of Insatiable:

Vampires. This isn't the first time they've taken a bite out of popular culture.  And with INSATIABLE (June 8), #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot blends trend with tradition as only she can to create a fresh, funny, pulse-pounding and poignant update of our darkest eternal Gothic romance, Dracula.

Sick of hearing about vampires?  So is Meena Harper.  But as a writer for Insatiable, the second-hottest daytime soap (thanks to her burdensome if lucrative psychic ability to see into the future and determine how people are going to die), Meena's being forced to use a vampire story line to boost ratings.  But, just as Insatiable is switching to a vampire theme to attract a younger demographic, a spate of chilling murders-by-exsanguinations grips New York City.

Enter Lucien Antonescu, a sexy, melancholic Romanian history professor / vampire who recognizes that the murders are the work of rogue vampires who have broken away from his order (Lucien happens to be the son of Vlad the Impaler, whom Bram Stoker gave such a bad rep).  Lucien's opposition: Alaric Wulf, a sympathetic detective from the Palatine Guard, who hopes to use Meena and her prophetic gift to stop the murders and track down Lucien.

Unfortunately for Alaric, Meena is a little in love with Lucien.

Meg Cabot winningly applies her trademark likable fallible protagonists and breezy storytelling.  With INSATIABLE, she injects some much needed Gothic romance (and humor) back into the vampire oeuvre, and once again stakes her claim as the "master of her genre."


To order your copy, click here. Or to find out more about Meg Cabot and her books, check out Meg's official website.

Posted by Elle Symonds on June 8, 2010 in American Authors, Announcements, Book News, Competition | Permalink | Comments (403)

March 11, 2009 7:18 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Are you there, Vodka? It's me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

I’m a big fan of memoirs, particularly the funny, short-story sort (see: Jen Lancaster, Laurie Notaro, Marian Keyes…) So I was delighted to stumble across Are you there, Vodka…?, a memoir by American actress and comedienne Chelsea Handler.

 

Admittedly, I haven’t seen much of Chelsea's TV work, what with being in the UK and all. But after reading this book, I’ll tell you one thing: I love her.

 

Are you there, Vodka? Is a selection of short non-fiction stories, in which Chelsea shares some amusing anecdotes from her life. Starting at childhood, where she lies to classmates about starring in a movie with Goldie Hawn as a no-homework excuse to her first DUI, Chelsea’s essays discuss life with her family and friends and some of her hilarious antics, including the time she got dumped by a guy she didn’t even like in the first place...because of his hair.

 

Chelsea is hilariously witty and admittedly, had me laughing all the way through, particularly seeing as she’s very blunt. Granted, she can be a bit crude at times (so be warned: this book is not for the very easily offended!) but not afraid to say what she thinks!

I'm now going to check out her other book, My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands. Consider me a new fan of Chelsea Handler because I got through Vodka in a day and already can't wait to read more! Chelsea has a fantastic writing style and the ability to portray some of life's awkward moments in the funniest way possible.

And that is why I love her.

Rating: 5/5

Posted by Elle Symonds on March 11, 2009 in American Authors, Memoirs, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (33)

February 2, 2009 10:19 AM

YAY OR NAY: Pride and Prejudice and... Zombies?

Did you ever read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice? 

Did you delight in the tale of plucky, picky heroine Elizabeth Bennett and her on/off passions for the brooding Mr Darcy - but felt that something was missing from the story?

Was it zombies?

If so, then make sure you pick up a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, "reimagined" by Los Angeles-based writer Seth Grahame-Smith to inject "all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie action" into the cherished classic.

Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy will continue their courtly mannered sparring, but Elizabeth will also be waging war against the legions of undead rising from their graves as a mysterious plague turns the residents of Meryton into flesh-eating monsters.

Yes, I am serious. No, it isn't the 1st of April.

Grahame-Smith's previous novels include How to Survive a Horror Movie and The Big Book of Porn, so it's safe to assume that his tongue was lodged firmly in his cheek when he wrote this:

'Complete with 20 illustrations in the style of C. E. Brock (the original illustrator of Pride and Prejudice), this insanely funny expanded edition will introduce Jane Austen's classic novel to new legions of fans.'

Of course, references to Jane Austen spinning in her grave would be entirely appropriate here, but thankfully I have too much taste to make them. 

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies will be available from Quirk Books from the 15th of April 2009.

Posted by on February 2, 2009 in American Authors, Book News, Classic Novels, New Releases, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (74)

January 23, 2009 12:20 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Twilight

The film adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s teen vampire romance novel, Twilight, has been out in cinemas for a while now, but I've been dragging my heels about seeing it. 

I was strangely reluctant to even read Twilight (although I’ve no idea why – given that I was more than happy to follow the adventures of one boy wizard for a decade), but I’m so glad I did.  The book is beautifully, dreamily written and I was instantly hooked.

You see, the real reason I was wary of the film is because I’m now reading Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the series, and I didn’t want the complex emotional world that Meyer had created in my head to be toppled by a dumbed-down, effects-laden Hollywood version.

Happily, Twilight isn’t like this at all.  It begins with the teenage Bella narrating, just as she does in the book, “I had never given much thought to how I would die....”, as she leaves her scatty mother in hot, dusty Phoenix, and travels to the permanently-overcast town of Forks to live with her father.

Kristen Stewart, with her haunted good looks and wry delivery, is a pitch-perfect Bella – shy, brainy and perhaps more mature than her parents.  There’s a slight cinema verité element to everything – all the dialogue and interactions feel very realistic, from Bella’s gruff reunion with her equally awkward father, to  the various jolts and discomforts of starting at a new school.

But a contrasting romantic atmosphere takes over when Bella meets the pale, enigmatic Edward (again, played to perfection by Robert Pattinson) who compounds Bella’s discomfort by seeming to think that she smells bad.

But when Edward moves at impossible speed to physically stop a van from ploughing into Bella, she decides she needs to know more.  Despite Edward’s warnings that Bella should stay away from him, he’s equally drawn to her. 

Which is when Edward confesses that he’s a vampire – one of a family of vampires who have all taken an oath to avoid human blood. Bella falls for Edward, and you can see why.  The boy can really smoulder (which I noticed despite Pattinson being several millennia my junior...). 

But since Edward thirsts uniquely for Bella’s blood – “you’re like my own personal heroin supply”, he tells Bella - can it ever really be safe to love a vampire?

Twilight is directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who brings her indie documentary-style realism from her previous films Thirteen and Lords of Dogtown, balancing it perfectly with the romance and suspense of the love story and supernatural aspects.  And it's so refreshing to see a novel adaptation that neither ignores the plot nor hamstrings itself by following the novel too faithfully.

There are a few really nice moments - at one point, Edward catches an apple Bella has dropped in lovely reflection of the cover of Meyer's book. Also, there's a scene where he plays piano - an irrational movie pet-hate of mine is when the actor clearly can't play and is just miming, but Pattinson actually plays - in fact he composed some of the music for the film.

All in all I thought it was fantastic, and I’m excited now that Meyer’s second novel in the series, New Moon, is currently in production with both leads on board.  It’s a great compliment to them that I didn’t for a minute think of Kristen Stewart as “the daughter from Panic Room” or Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory, because I’m usually such a film nerd.  In fact, I even forgot Pattinson was English. 

I left the cinema on a blissful cloud of gothic romance.  I asked the friend I’d dragged along what she’d thought of it.  She hadn’t read the book, and a lot of her motivation for accompanying me was around the sweets I’d bribed her with.

“Well,” she said.  “It is really a movie for fifteen year old girls.  But I loved it, because I’m a fifteen year old girl at heart.  Aren’t we all?”

My thoughts exactly.

Posted by on January 23, 2009 in American Authors, Friday Flick, Movie Magic, Rating: 5/5, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (29)

November 20, 2008 10:26 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

I turned to what is probably my favourite book of all time, when the book I was going to review today was so depressingly poor, I couldn't get past the first chapter. I have therefore decided to (re)read and review something of quality - just to remind myself that there are some cracking books out there.

Little Men by Louisa May Alcott follows Little Women and Good Wives and fascinatingly shows us what has happened to Jo, Meg, Amy, Laurie and indeed Plumfield.

In the first two books Louisa demonstrates her ability to write excellent female characters. There are some men in there, but it is mainly about the four girls. In Little Men we are given just as well drawn male characters (orphans, relatives, boarders and a firebrand), along with a feisty young girl called Nan and Jo's niece Daisy (Meg's daughter, along with her son Demi). They all live at Plumfield which is now a school.

Jo is now Mrs Bhaer, married to the professor, and they have a beautiful life in gorgeous countryside with Amy and Meg just down the road. Whenever I open the book I feel snug and secure as I read about the innocent goings on of the children and how Jo is teaching them manners, patience and lots of other life lessons. When everything is getting chaotic around me, Little Men is like the calm bit at the middle of a hurricane.

And I just love this invitation from Daisy and Nan to the boys. To me, this just sums up the whole book.

Mrs Shakespeare Smith would like to have Mr John Brooke, Mr Thomas Bangs, and Mr Nathaniel Blake to come to her ball at three o'clock today.

P.S Nat must bring his fiddle, so we can dance, and all the boys must be good, or they cannot have any of the nice things we have cooked.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott (the final one)

Posted by Helen Redfern on November 20, 2008 in American Authors, Classic Novels, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (31)

November 17, 2008 12:03 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Hermux Tantamoq Adventures series by Michael Hoeye

I was planning to simply review the latest book in this delightful series - Time to Smell the Roses - but then I realised that most of you will probably not have heard of the books at all, so instead, I thought I'd introduce them!

I discovered Hermux Tantamoq a few years ago when I worked at Waterstone's. I met the author, Michael Hoeye, at an event and I'd loved the first book, Time Stops for No Mouse, so much that I made an absolute arse of myself. (Okay, the free drink probably didn't help.)

The Hermux Tantamoq series began as emails Michael Hoeye sent to his wife while she was travelling and features the rodent residents of Pinchester. The hero is watchmaker and part-time detective, Hermux Tantamoq who an Amazon reviewer describes - quite brilliantly, in my opinion - as "Niles Crane as a mouse".

In the first book, we're introduced to Hermux's pet ladybird, Terfle, and also meet the soon-to-become love of Hermux's life: adventurer and aviatrix, Linka Perflinger. In this and further books, we meet mysterious chipmunks, a mouse supremicist group, genetically modified bees and more.

The books have been described as Indiana Jones meets Beatrix Potter and that does sum them up neatly. But I'm not sure it conveys how charming, funny and romantic they are. They're also, at times, quite genuinely tense, even for me who is about 30 years older than the target audience!

The characters are incredibly well-developed. So much so that you often forget that you're reading about rodents.

They'd be ideal books to read aloud at bedtime - particularly since each chapter is only about three pages long - but I think I've read each of the books in one sitting. A hot chocolate and a doughnut (or ten) would be the perfect accompaniment. Or maybe a dried aphid, if you're a ladybug.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try ... er, nothing we've reviewed. But I guess it's kind of similar to The Rescuers or Stuart Little!

Posted by Keris on November 17, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (27)

November 14, 2008 10:22 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn & My Mother's Wish by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Two Christmas Stories You Can Believe In

I love Christmas. I love the lights, the tree, even the hustle and bustle. But, one of my most favorite things about Christmas is treating myself to a cup of cocoa and a good Christmas story. Some years I'm drawn back to the old standbys like A Christmas Carol or even How The Grinch Stole Christmas. But, this year I have two new Christmas favorites.

The first book, Engaging Father Christmas, is actually the second book in a series by Robin Jones Gunn. (The first book is Finding Father Christmas - my last year's favorite.)

Gunn's novellas are cozy. Set in London, they have everything I need for a heartwarming Christmastime read - love, intrigue and, of course, a happy ending. The books each stand alone, but my recommendation would be to read them together.

In Engaging Father Christmas, the main character, Miranda Carson, is headed to see her boyfriend whom she met the prior Christmas. She's unsure of exactly where they stand and running into a old flame at the train station makes things even more complicated. She's also in town to see her step-mother - a woman who hasn't been able (or willing) to accept her as a true member of the family. She's hoping this trip she'll be able to win her approval and finally have a real family. But, a serious of events casts a doubtful shadow over Miranda's trip and she's not sure she'll ever find a family to belong to.

The second story is My Mother's Wish: An American Christmas Carol by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt. The US is joining the ranks of the Christmas Carol producers and this YA novella is a sweet example. Ellee, a frustrated teenage girl, just doesn't see things the way the rest of the world does. Her controlling mother won't give her a break, even refusing to refer to her as anything but Eleanor (her grandmother and namesake) and comparing her every move to that of her perfect sister.

Ellee finally gets fed up and decides that running away from home is the only way to escape her mother's disappointment in her. She gets more than she bargained for when she finds herself at the Comeback Cafe with no money, no ride and not a friend in site. Lives interwoven is the theme of this book and it's a beautiful picture of how each of us can have an effect on those around us.

Rating: 4/5

Posted by Aigua Media on November 14, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (25)

November 12, 2008 10:50 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch

I really enjoyed Allison Winn Scotch's debut, The Department of Lost and Found, and I'd been looking forward to her second book, Time of My Life for a while (particularly since I saw the beautiful cover).

It's another in a fairly long line of "what if" type books. Like Jenny Colgan's Do You Remember the First Time (in which a 30-year-old woman wakes up one day to find herself transported back to age 16). Or Catriona McCloud's almost-brilliant Growing Up Again, in which the main character also goes back in time to age 15.

Time of My Life has probably got the most in common with Mil Millington's Instructions For Living Someone Else's Life, in which Chris Mortimer goes to bed aged 25 in 1988 and wakes up aged 43 in 2006. But, you know, in the opposite direction.

Time of My Life's Jillian only goes back seven years, but they're an important seven years. In the present, she's married to Henry, living in the suburbs, a stay-at-home mom to eighteen month old Katie. She's not happy and more and more she finds herself thinking about her former life in New York, working as an advertising executive and living with the sexy Jackson.

And then - via a masseur unblocking her chi - she's back in her old life. At first, it's good. The sex is better than she remembered and, thanks to her future knowledge, she's kicking ass at work. But she misses her daughter. And, when she starts bumping into her future husband, Henry - and is able to directly compare him to Jackson - she's not sure which time she belongs in.

I enjoyed Time of My Life, but I found it a bit slow-going. Reviews on the back cover describe it as "a fabulous, madcap read". Also "funny" and "hilarious". I'm not sure they were reading the same book. I didn't find it funny at all and it's far from madcap. In fact, it's what I would call emotionally intelligent. Jillian looks deeply into the experiences that made her into the person she was (in the future, if you know what I mean). Her mother's abandonment at age 9. The death of her best friend. Her need to be popular.

Despite this, I never really felt I got to know Jillian as well as I would have liked. In fact, I was more interested in her friend Megan and I'd love to read a book from her point of view.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Growing Up Again by Catriona McCloud

Posted by Keris on November 12, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (16)

November 5, 2008 11:12 AM

BOOK NEWS: Being Nikki

I LOVED Airhead, the first in Meg Cabot's, er, Airhead series.

The second, Being Nikki, isn't out until May 2009, but I thought I'd tell you about it anyway, because I'm excited. Are you? (Read more about it over the cut.)

Related posts: TV & Movie News: Meg Cabot | Meg Cabot interview

Things aren't pretty for Emerson Watts. 

 

Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac the body of a teenaged supermodel.   

 

But it turned out she was wrong. Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who's gone mysteriously missing, a brother who's shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who's intent on destroying Stark Enterprises to avenge the death of his lost love, and a British heartthrob who's written a song about her that's topping the charts.

 

How can Em balance all that with school, runway shows, and weekend jaunts to St. Johns - especially when she's got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op; a sister who is headed to the high school cheerleading championships; a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side...

Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren't really airheads after all...especially one model in particular.

 

But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.

Posted by Keris on November 5, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (24)

November 3, 2008 10:55 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

I was afraid to read Elizabeth Scott's Living Dead Girl. I've loved her other books, but this was something completely different.

It's the story of “Alice” who was abducted, aged 10, by Ray. She's now 15 and constantly subjected to physical, mental and sexual abuse. Ray killed his previous “Alice” when she reached 15 so Alice is waiting until he kills her too. She's not afraid, she would welcom it. But Ray's got something different in mind – he wants her to help him kidnap his new "Alice".

This book is described on the back cover as “more than a novel... it is a visceral experience” and I would agree. I found it incredibly hard to read, in fact I had to scan it quickly because I wanted to find out what happened, but I wanted to avoid as much detail as possible.

Brilliantly written as it, it's the kind of book that could give you nightmares. Even if it doesn't, I guarantee you won't be able to stop thinking about it.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Dear Zoe by Philip Beard (or The Lovely Bones, which we haven't reviewed).

Posted by Keris on November 3, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (15)

October 31, 2008 8:27 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center

I mentioned the other day that I loved Katherine Center's The Bright Side of Disaster and I really did. It's been a couple of days since I finished reading it and I wish I hadn't. I miss it.

It's the story of Jenny who is engaged to be married and pregnant with her first child. Her fiance, Dean, doesn't seem entirely present, but Jenny thinks it's just cold feet about the wedding and the baby... until Dean takes off (leaving a note) and Jenny goes into labour.

Once her baby daugher, Maxie, arrives, Jenny decides that everything is going to be about the baby. Maxie may not have a dad, but Jenny vows to make up for it by being the best mother ever. And yet... motherhood is so much harder than she expected.

Her mother helps out when she can (despite being allergic to Jenny's cat), but her best friend has fallen in love and is MIA. Luckily there's a new neighbour who is not only kind, sympathetic and handy (and gorgeous), but is also great with the baby.

But then, inevitably, Dean comes back. And he wants to be a family again.

I know. When I read the blurb, I thought, I've read this before, but Katherine Center's writing, along with the wonderful characters, make this a memorable read. I LOVED the neighbour, Gardner and LOATHED the useless Dean. Plus Center writes about the early years of motherhood (not to mention the horror of labour) with insight and warmth. Highly recommended.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Feels Like Maybe by Claire Allan

Posted by Keris on October 31, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (106)

October 24, 2008 9:35 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt

Reviewed by Jill Hart

The Miracle Girls is a sweet novel about second chances. Ana Dominguez has just moved to Half Moon Bay and is doing her best to fit in to her new life. Unfortunately, Riley, the most popular girl in school, has singled Ana out for her own brand of high school torture. When Ana and Riley end up in detention together, Ana is sure things can't get any worse.

God uses this bad situation to bring Ana together with a group of girls (Riley included) who, like her, are living their second chance at life. Ana realizes that they have been brought together for a purpose, but she must now convince the other "Miracle Girls" - maybe not Riley - that their friendship is meant to be.

I really enjoyed Miracle Girls and am already looking forward to the next book in the series. This is the type of novel that is timeless, that I'll want my daughter to read when she hits her teens (or tweens). I look forward to the day when I can share my love of reading - and clean, godly books like this one - with her.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try It's All About Us by Shelley Medina

Posted by Aigua Media on October 24, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, New Releases, Rating: 3/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (18)

October 21, 2008 10:24 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson & Lauren Myracle

Yes, I know, it's not Christmas yet (not long now, though, you know!), but last week the weather was so miserable and drizzly, I just felt like I needed some Christmas cheer.

And who better to bring Christmas cheer than one of my favourite YA authors, Maureen Johnson, along with John Green and Lauren Myracle?

Let It Snow is three linked stories, all taking place in the same town during the same period - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Maureen Johnson's The Jubilee Express is about Jubilee Dougal, a girl named after a house in her parents' miniature Christmas village. When her parents are arrested trying to buy the latest (limited edition, of course) Christmas building, she finds herself on a train headed to Florida to spend Christmas with her grandparents. And when that train hits an enormous snowdrift and can go no further, she finds herself in Gracetown, subject to the hospitality of a boy she meets in the Waffle House.

The characters in John Green's A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle are desperately trying to get to that same Waffle House to spend the evening with hot cheerleaders (who are also taking refuge from the stuck train). Well, two of them are interested in the cheerleaders (the boys, JP and Tobin), the girl - Angie, known as the Duke - is more interested in cheese-covered hash browns (as was I, the entire time I was reading this story). Due to the overwhelming snow, the trip to the Waffle House takes hours and is fraught with peril (not least from the other boys trying to get to the cheerleaders first), but then things take a romantic turn...

Finally, in Lauren Myracle's The Patron Saint of Pigs, we meet Addie (who we have heard of in both the previous stories). She's recently broken up with her boyfriend, Jeb, and is broken-hearted. And yet she still has a frightening early shift at Starbucks... and a teacup piglet to collect.

I really enjoyed this book. All three stories are wintery, Christmassy, funny, gripping and romantic. I enjoyed Maureen Johnson's the most, mainly because I love her humour, and Lauren Myracle's didn't quite hold my attention (there was an awful lot of chat with Starbucks customers when I just wanted to get to the romance!), but the ending more than made up for it.

I love it when characters cross over in stories and this was done in an incredibly entertaining way. One for curling up with the fairy lights on and a cup of hot chocolate to drink.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson, Looking for Alaska by John Green or How to be Bad by Lauren Myracle (and Sarah Mlynowski and E Lockhart)

Posted by Keris on October 21, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (29)

October 17, 2008 12:56 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Thin Is the New Happy by Valerie Frankel

I'd been looking forward to this book for so long. I love Valerie Frankel's novels (and her blog) and I do like a good weightloss/body image memoir, particularly when they're funny, and Thin is the New Happy didn't disappoint.

Frankel had been struggling with her weight and, more importantly, body image, since the age of 11 when her mother decided Valerie was overweight and something must be done. (She writes: “I could have food. Or I could have approval. I couldn’t have both.”) I'm constantly amazed at the terrible comments parents direct at their children in these kinds of books, but Valerie's mother's mother was even worse, so you can almost understand why she was so fat-phobic. This pattern also acted as a catalyst for Frankel to deal with her issues - she was determined not to pass them on to her own two daughters.

Frankel addresses these issues in a variety of ways. She gives up dieting. She contacts one of the boys who teased and bullied her about her weight at school. She attempts to have it out with her mother. She tackles her constant negative self-talk by buying a clicker to record just how many negative comments she makes about herself each day (the result is staggering). She has her (dull and functional) wardrobe overhauled by a style expert. She even poses naked for a national magazine.

All the while, Frankel is also relating stories from her life that relate to her body image and weight, so we learn about the death of her first husband and her subsequent relationship with her second. We learn much about her mother and sister and daughters. We learn about her time as an editor at women's magazine, Mademoiselle (not a healthy place for a woman with body issues - the chapter heading is "Ugly Valerie").

As I almost always find myself saying about memoirs, Thin Is the New Happy is brutally honest. It's also very funny. But more importantly, it's inspiring. And it left me with one image that I can't get out of my head - after deciding not to look at herself in a shop window she passes each day, Frankel instead looked down at her daughter, who smiled up at her "big and beautiful", causing her to wonder how many of these moments she'd missed "while frowning at my profile in storefront windows".  This was a wake-up call to me, as I'm sure it will be to many women.

If you've ever had any issues with body image (and I'll just bet you have), you need to read this book.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

Posted by Keris on October 17, 2008 in American Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (16)

October 14, 2008 10:15 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Maggie has struggled for years to make sense of her mother's suicide. She resents the fact that she has had to make up for her mom's absence - doing the cooking, cleaning and other "motherly" tasks. She wonders what it's like to be a normal teenager.

Then her sixteenth birthday arrives. Maggie's birthday wish is that sixteen will be a great year - that she's be pretty and popular and that her brother's best friend (whom she's had a crush on forever) will notice her.

Her birthday ushers in a whole new period in her life, but it's not quite what she expected. Her father gives her a family heirloom as a gift (just the fact that he remembered her birthday is a miracle) and announces that it's time for her to meet the 'special someone' in her life. Then she makes a discovery that will change the course of her life forever.

Maggie Come Lately covers a more serious subject matter than the usual chick lit/YA that I choose. It's a coming-of-age story of a girl who is searching for her place in the world. It's dark at times and yet there is a ribbon of faith that runs through the book and helps to put her struggle in perspective. It's a story of hurt and betrayal, but also one of redemption.

Rating: 4 of 5

Like this? Try Dear Zoe by Philip Beard

Posted by Aigua Media on October 14, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (16)

October 13, 2008 11:38 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Seduction by Gemma Holliday

You know me, the words "erotic fiction" made me a teensy bit afraid. I'm not a prude (okay, I'm a bit of a prude), but I'm always wary of reading anything described as "erotic" and I'm certainly wary of reading anything with people in their underpants on the cover.

But Geneva Holliday's latest book, Seduction, while it is indeed erotic, is also great fun. I think I read it in two sittings and I was pretty much smiling throughout.

Seduction features Mildred Johnson. She works for the managing director of an investment firm and is, by all accounts, deeply unattractive and insecure.

Tony Landry is a player. Despite still living with his mother, he sleeps with a different woman every night (and sometimes more than one at a time) and is basically a moral vacuum.

So when Tony gets a job at the company where Mildred works, the reader isn't unduly worried. I mean, Mildred's certainly not his type. But then Tony's friend tells him how he can use his new job to steal money from the company and, for that, he needs to convince Mildred that he's in love with her. And he does. And poor Mildred falls for him too. Hard. (Fnarr.)

Tony, the swine, jilts Mildred on their wedding day and nicks off to Barbados with his ill-gotten gains.

Mildred, devastated, goes to Barbados on holiday. Well, she thought it was a holiday, but it turns out her friend has sent her to a weightloss boot camp. Mildred loses weight and becomes stunningly gorgeous.

And then she bumps into Tony and sees the chance for revenge...

(I know it seems like I've given away pretty much the whole book - and I kind of have - but that's no more than it says on the back cover!)

Like I said, Seduction is great fun... as long as you don't take it too seriously. (And, to be honest, I'm not sure you could.) At the beginning, Mildred is such a dope and so insecure that I just wanted to shake her, but then she changes quite dramatically and I'm not entirely confident it's for the better (I can't say any more than that because I don't want to give the ENTIRE book away!).

But bits of it *were* pretty sexy, so it would make a rather fabulous beach read, I think. And I'll definitely be reading more Geneva Holliday books.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Amorous Woman by Donna George Storey

Posted by Keris on October 13, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Romance, Series | Permalink | Comments (12)

October 10, 2008 11:59 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs

I'd been looking forward to Kate Jacobs' second book for almost a year, so earlier this week, I made myself a cup of tea, got myself a packet of dark chocolate digestives (*my* comfort food) and curled up on the sofa to indulge... (I had the book as well).

It's the story of TV chef Augusta "Gus" Simpson who learns that her long-running cookery show is getting, in the opinion of the audience and the television station, stale. I'm afraid to say I found the book stale too. (The biscuits, however, were fine.)

Gus's producer tells her that they need to liven things up and so she finds herself agreeing to a live show with special guests. The original plan, basketball stars ("Hot guests and cool food") falls through when they are delayed by the weather and the head of the station instead brings, younger, hotter (and cooler) Spanish internet chef, Carmen Vega to cook alongside Gus. Gus, of course, can't stand Carmen, but the audience loves her and so Gus and Carmen are given a show to co-present.

Meanwhile, Gus is trying to control the lives of everyone around her - her daughters, their boyfriends, her best friend and neighbour, the reclusive Hannah - while refusing to live her own life (widowed more than twenty years earlier, she hasn't dated since).

But I'm afraid I didn't really believe a word of it. I didn't warm to Gus at all. I didn't find anything that happened particularly believable, plus it was all rather cliched (why did she dislike Carmen? Because she was younger and more attractive). The storyline that Hannah was hiding out after a scandal seemed to appear from nowhere.

I know I recently complained about criticisms of chick lit as predictable, but, seriously, the love interest in this book practically arrived with a flashing "LOVE INTEREST" light show above his head. And yet I didn't find myself rooting for he and Gus to get together because I didn't care enough about either of them.

I've also complained in the past when people call a plot "contrived" because, let's face it, all plots are contrived by the author - but I got the impression reading Comfort Food that Kate Jacobs was sitting and thinking, "Hm. What should happen next? Oh yes, I know, I'll send them all on a team building course." It just didn't seem natural to me and I found myself mostly scanning the entire second half of the book.

I was particularly disappointed because I enjoyed The Friday Night Knitting Club so much. Jacobs' next book is a sequel to that one, so here's hoping it'll find her back on form.

Rating: 3/5 (I toyed with a 2, but it *is* well-written, so I've decided on a 3)

Like this? Try The Perfectly True Tales of a Perfect Size 12 by Robin Gold (a similar idea, but so much better)

Posted by Keris on October 10, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (14)

October 9, 2008 1:03 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum

The first time I heard of Julie Buxbaum's debut, The Opposite of Love, was when I found out it was to be adapted into a film with Anne Hathaway playing the lead. When I received the book it had a quote, from Marian Keyes no less, on the front cover. "Gripping, wise and extremely refreshing. I loved it." Made into a film and Marian Keyes' endorsement. This book, I thought, must be great.

It is the story of Emily, a successful Manhattan lawyer, working for a prestigious law firm. Intelligent, well educated and in a relationship with a fabulous man, Andrew, whom she loves. After spending a great weekend together with him, she dumps him. Because she had an inkling he was about to propose. Her friends and Grandpa Jack are incredulous. They thought him perfect for her. But it seems Emily, like her friend Jess states, gets pleasure out of breaking her own heart.

We then go on an emotional journey with Emily as she is sexually harassed at work, is given a case at work that goes against every instinct in her body, faces a future with a confused Grandpa, a distant father and, also, motherless, as her mum died when she was only fourteen.

This is a book about Emily finding herself. We know the outcome of this as it is written in the prologue. But would the journey be interesting enough to keep you turning those pages? Well, I found the first one hundred pages great at first. Julie has a fresh writing style which I really admire. But it did begin to get a little dull and I was desperate for Emily to make something happen for herself. Eventually she does which keeps me reading for the rest of the book.

It was interesting to see how she puts herself back together again. As I got to the end I had a fleeting thought that maybe everything happens a little too conveniently. But I also found it powerful at times. My eyes were stinging with emotion right towards the end, then bizarrely, I also found myself skipping little bits. Again it was starting to get a little (tiny tiny) bit boring. I'm looking forward to seeing it on the big screen though and will definitely pick up her next book. I agree with Marian, it was wise and it was refreshing. I think this writer has a great future ahead of her.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try The Private Lives of Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller

Posted by Helen Redfern on October 9, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (11)

October 3, 2008 1:15 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Call of the Highland Moon by Kendra Leigh Castle

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

Call of the Highland Moon is the first of a new paranormal series created by Kendra Leigh Castle. I have to admit that the cover of this book featuring a scantily clad man and its classification as paranormal romance didn’t really fill me with hope of a contemporary fantasy storyline. Okay I made the classic mistake and judged a book by its cover and boy was I hoping that my prejudices were going to be proved unjustified.

The first chapter introduces Gideon MacInnes in his other form as a werewolf. However, it is when Carly Silver, the owner of a specialist romance bookshop, is introduced into the story, that the book begins to take a different feel. Carly is well known for rescuing strays and when she finds a large dog near death on the steps of her shop she takes him home to patch him up ready to deliver to the vets the next morning.

She falls asleep with the dog by her side and wakes up with a handsome naked man lying next to her - some people have all the luck! However, the things that tried to kill him are still out there and since they are stuck in a snowstorm they have no choice but to wait for the enemy to strike.

The first chapter comes across as old fashioned and is not written in the same style as the rest of the book. Don’t let it put you off because as soon as Carly enters the scene in chapter two, the whole style of the book updates and humour is injected. I mean who can’t laugh at a Leigh Castle writing a heroine who owns a romance bookstore called Bodice Rippers and Baubles, she certainly doesn’t take herself too seriously. This worked in her favour as it made me immediately warm to her characters and also to Leigh Castle as a writer.

Even though this is classed as romance it also has a strong fantasy storyline that had been well thought through and is original (well except for conjuring up the occasional image of Stargate, but I loved that film so you won’t hear any complaints from me).

The chemistry between the characters was so brilliantly created, not just between Gideon and Carly, but the friends and family were drawn in such a way as to be very believable and they brought much humour with them too. I loved Carly’s overprotective brother who always seemed to spoil any chance of any romance by blundering in trying to protect his little sister.

Overall this was fresh, fun and fast paced with a strong original plot, I want to read the next in the series now.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Posted by Keris on October 3, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (7)

September 25, 2008 9:57 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Handbags and Homicide

An interesting title that managed to grab me straight away. I'm not a big handbag person but I do like a bit of mystery, so this seemed a perfect book for me to read whilst resting my bump. By Dorothy Howell, it is a Little Black Dress book, and I've enjoyed two of them recently so had high hopes for this one.

Haley Randolph is really into her designer handbags. Not fake, knock off ones, but the real thing. However, her expensive taste has led to very large credit card bills. She works in the accounting department for a well respected law firm, but has to take on evening  work at Holt's department store just to pay for everything. Then, a few days after starting work there, she walks into the stockroom and finds her boss lying dead on the floor.

The police are called, the owner of the store arrives but gradually the finger of suspicion starts to fall onto Haley as she found the body and no-one else appears to have been in the stockroom at the time. Then she goes to work at the law firm and finds out she has been put on administrative leave. There is a discrepancy that has to be investigated in her work.

All this would have me hyperventilating, but Haley appears to be such an airhead the seriousness of the situation kind of passes her by. She thinks the owner of the store, Ty, is pretty hot, carries on working at the store (this is now her only source of income) and takes it out on her credit card. Gradually though she wants to clear her name and starts some investigating of her own. She's a bit like a Clueless or Legally Blonde version of Meg Cabot's Heather Wells.

At the beginning her stupidness frustrated me. But. The book had that page turning factor so I kept going and the stupidness kind of fell into place. I enjoyed the last third of the book in particular, when she becomes a bit more clued up and is determined to clear her name. Then the book finishes. On a cliffhanger! How frustrating is that? So I googled the book, came across Dorothy Howell's website and find there is another Haley Randolph mystery coming out next year. Phew. That's alright then.

Breezy, amusing, with mystery. A great, light read. I look forward to the next one.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 25, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (9)

September 18, 2008 10:39 AM

BOOK REVIEW: A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand

Claire Danner Crispin lives in Nantucket with her husband and four delightful children. She has a lovely house, a good husband, an au pair and a talent for glass blowing with her pieces fetching a lot of money. She is a caring, intelligent woman although she carries guilt around with her on a daily basis. Guilt over Daphne Dixon's accident, guilt over her son's birth and guilt over a bird that is lying on the side of the road.

So why would this woman, with such a lovely life (bar the guilt) risk it all for an affair with a man, who actually, isn't that nice?

In all honesty, I really don't know. And that is the major problem I have with this book. The storyline just doesn't seem plausible. Yes, she could have a deep seated unhappiness that has made her do something so risky, but if she does, we don't know about it. It didn't make sense.

Claire is asked to co-chair the Nantucket's Children Summer Gala by Lock Dixon. It is a huge task, even with a committee, but she agrees. She also agrees to make a special one off piece of art for the auction. What with all that, plus her family commitments and her affair with Lock she soon finds her life is spinning out of control.

Much is made of the fact she has four children and so is really busy, but my sister has four children and is also really busy, but still manages to get other projects done. And, unlike Claire, my sister doesn't have a live in au pair. I am all for women having a life outside their children but I can't condone Claire having an affair. I didn't like her at all and the book feels, well for want of a better word, whiny.

There were stereotypes. Of course Claire wasn't going to get on with her co-chair (but as to why we never found out), there was the alcoholic rock star, the husband who was a bit thick as he worked in the building trade, the billionaire who had lots of money but not a lot in looks, the au pair. And of course Claire was catholic. So she had the guilt.

The ending was predictable, although I felt nothing was resolved. I didn't like any of the characters and felt some of them were just added with no real thought as to where they would go. The cover did not go with the story, plus there is a major typo on the inside flap. It all makes me feel that this book was rushed to get out.

I know I am being incredibly harsh, but this book depressed me and made me cross (not a good combination). After reading Barefoot, I just expected better than this.

Rating: 2/5

Like this? Try Barefoot by the same author, Elin Hilderbrand. It is much, much better.

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 18, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 2/5 | Permalink | Comments (13)

September 17, 2008 12:06 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Jane Porter

One of the (many) great things about this job and this site is that you can discover authors that you wouldn't normally come across. Jane Porter is a fine example of this. An American author, originally from California, her titles and covers were the sort of books I would steer clear of as they are about mothers. Nothing disrespectful about that but personally as a mum myself I don't always want to read about a subject so close to home.

But Jane's perceptive take on women and their families in Mrs. Perfect had me hooked right from the beginning, so this week I decided to shine the spotlight on her. 

Jane has written four titles under the genre of modern chick lit and numerous titles under the banner of Harlequin Presents. The latter are stories with powerful, sexual alpha male heroes, an independent heroine, a glamorous setting and an element of fantasy. Completely different to her modern lit ones (except for the independent heroine I should think).

After travelling extensively, and gaining a degree from UCLA in American Studies and a Masters in Writing from the University of San Francisco, she now lives in Seattle with her two boys. She has worked in sales & marketing and has been a director of a non-profit organisation as well as teaching English to junior high and high school students.

Jane has been a finalist for the RITA award from the Romance Writers of America in 2002 and 2003. Her book Flirting with Forty has been made into a TV film with Heather Locklear.

Bibliography

Mrs. Perfect

Odd Mom Out

Flirting with Forty

The Frog Prince

Go here to see Jane's Harlequin Presents books

Jane Porter interview

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 17, 2008 in American Authors, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (8)

September 16, 2008 10:43 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

I've wanted to read this book for so long. Not only because I'd heard such good things, but also because of the forthcoming film starring Michael "George Michael Bluth" Cera, who I love.

With alternate chapters written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, I was slightly worried that it wouldn't live up to the hype (which is mainly why it took me so long to read it), but it absolutely did.

The story takes place over one night in New York. Nick's just been dumped, so when he sees his evil ex with a new man, he has to do something, fast. So he asks Norah to pretend to be his girlfriend for five minutes. Norah's not so keen, but she's no fan of Nick's ex either so she goes along with it. Their interest is piqued because the kiss is utterly amazing and they spend the rest of the night on what turns out to be a pretty outrageous first date.

As I was reading this book, I kept thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) "This is SO GOOD!" The writing is brilliant. The characters are totally convincing and never cliched. If ever a character does something stupid, they then deal with it (or, at least, agonise over it) without allowing it to drive the plot. It also captures the excitement of New York. Of a big night out. Of first love and first heartbreak. It made me want one reckless night of my own (never gonna happen...).

Loved it. And now I can't wait for the film.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Looking for Alaska by John Green

Posted by Keris on September 16, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (26)

September 10, 2008 11:06 AM

SPOTLIGHT: Karen Quinn

If I were Karen Quinn I would probably still be squealing with excitement. Not just because she has had three books published, but also because her debut, The Ivy Chronicles, has been picked up be the movie people with the starring role rumoured to be Sarah Jessica Parker. This is the stuff of dreams, right? And it was all predicted by a psychic.

Growing up in Denver, Karen went on to become a lawyer, but realised it wasn't for her after she fell asleep during a trial. She then went on to work for a credit card company in advertising, working her way up to Vice President. Until she was downsized.

Not knowing what to do next a psychic told her to relax as something big would happen for her soon. So she partnered a friend, setting up a business which helped families in Manhattan get their children into the right schools. (This went on to provide material for her first novel). When she left this business she visited another psychic, who also told her a big change was coming up. But what could she do in the meantime whilst waiting for this "big thing?" Well, she sat down and wrote a novel. In three months.

She showed it to an editor, who liked it, but then lost interest after page 100. So she spent another two months working long days editing it. She showed it an agent, primarily for advice, but the agent liked it so much she offered to represent her. There was a bidding auction, until finally it was sold to Viking. Ah ha. So this was the big thing the psychics were talking about.

Since then she has written two more novels, Wife in the Fast Lane and Holly Would Dream and has helped out unofficially with the script for The Ivy Chronicles.

Spotlight archives

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 10, 2008 in American Authors, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (9)

September 8, 2008 1:09 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter

Jane Porter writes both modern chick lit and classic romance with Mrs. Perfect falling into the former category. I've not read any of her books before so I was curious as to whether I'd enjoy her books or not.

Taylor Young (a secondary character from Jane's previous book, Odd Mom Out) has a seemingly perfect life. She has a handsome and successful husband, three beautiful children, an active social life and various voluntary commitments. She is organised, in control and, to outsiders, content.

All of these things, however, have come at a price. She is in control because if she wasn't she'd be massively out of control, she undertakes many voluntary jobs so that things are done right and because no one else volunteers and she maintains her weight by denying herself meals. All of this is beneath the surface though. Her husband, whom she still loves passionately after all these years of marriage, has secrets of his own. Communication between the two of them is, well, there isn't any, and eventually the facade that the Young's have created to the outside world, comes crashing down around them.

In this current economical situation so many people who have previously lived just within their means, are being caught out. No longer are their homes secure, no longer are their lives stable. This book has managed to capture one woman's life brilliantly, as their lives have to change.

The characters in this novel are brilliant. Taylor, spoilt and snobbish at the beginning becomes a supermum. Her friends and their reaction to Taylor's news are well drawn. She begins to see that not everyone is who she thinks they are.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and whipped through the book in no time. I could relate to so many things in Taylor's life (although I don't have a multi million pound house). There were times, when a particularly sticky situation would come up I'd think, "why don't you do 'x', that'll sort out some of your problems" then I turn the page and she's gone and done it, thankfully, before it has become irritating.

Great book. Loved it.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 8, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (12)

MORE ON MONDAY: Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny

As I continue my apparently never-ending campaign to get to the bottom of my relationship with money, I read Barbara Stanny's Overcoming Underearning.

I must admit, I was a little apprehensive because a) it looked a bit too American in focus and b) I thought it was more suited for higher earners working in industry rather than a little freelancer like myself.

As is so often the case these days... I was wrong.

The book is subtitled both "A five-step plan to a richer life" and "Overcome your money fears and earn what you deserve". It can simply be read (obviously), used as a journal (there is space to write your own thoughts) and as a workbook, working through the five steps.

I kind of did a combination of the three and found it incredibly helpful, for organising my thoughts about money, discovering my "limiting beliefs" and making decisions about how much money I want and need. (And I'm not finished with it yet, there are a number of pages dogeared to remind me to come back and read again in the future.)

It's extremely readable and straightforward and illustrated with examples from Stanny herself as well as her clients.

If you have any issues around money - not simply that you're worried that you don't earn enough - I think this book would help you out.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Not Buying It by Judith Levine (It's nothing like it, but at least it's about money!)

Posted by Keris on September 8, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (11)

September 3, 2008 2:43 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Tess Gerritsen

I find Tess Gerritsen as intriguing as one of her books. Educated at Stanford she then trained as a doctor at the University of California. Whilst on maternity leave she began to write and that is when her second career began to take off.

Her first novel, a romantic thriller, was published in 1987. She wrote a total of nine romantic books, before settling into the medical thriller genre. Her first of these, Harvest, won nationwide acclaim. So far she has written ten from this genre, including the Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles series with a new one coming out soon.

I love her books. I've not read any of her romantic ones (though I should) but I have read the medical thrillers which I thought I never would (or could). The main characters are women. Gritty courageous women at that. She has won Best Romantic Suspense Novel with The Surgeon which is the first novel featuring the plucky Jane Rizzoli.

She has a website and blog which gives a fascinating insight into the world of a published writer.

Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles Series (read in order)

The Surgeon (2001)

The Apprentice (2002)

The Sinner (2003)

Body Double (2004)

Vanish (2005)

The Mephisto Club (2005)

Medical Thrillers (read in any order)

Harvest (1996)

Life Support (1997)

Bloodstream (1998)

Gravity (1999)

The Bone Garden (2007)

Romantic Suspense Novels

Call After Midnight (1987)

Under The Knife (1990)

Never Say Die (1992)

Whistleblower (1992)

Presumed Guilty (1993)

In Their Footsteps (1994)

Peggy Sue Got Murdered (1994)

Thief Of Hearts (1995)

Keeper Of The Bride (1996)

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 3, 2008 in American Authors, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (17)

September 2, 2008 4:06 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Jack With a Twist by Brenda Janowitz

Jack With a Twist is Brenda Janowitz's second novel featuring lawyer Brooke Miller. In the first, Scot on the Rocks, Brooke's boyfriend dumps her just before her ex-boyfriend's wedding, which they were supposed to attend together.

In Jack..., Brooke is trying to arrange her wedding to her gorgeous fiance (um, Jack) at the same time as working on the biggest case of her career. Things are thrown into turmoil when Brooke finds out that Jack is working on the same case... but for the opposition.

Between dealing with her controlling mother, Jack's even more controlling family, and the enormous workload dealt to her by her future husband, Brooke is also trying to find a wedding dress and, you know, have some semblance of a life.

I enjoyed Jack With a Twist even more than Scot on the Rocks. As with Scot... there are some improbably situations that drove me a bit mad, but Brooke is such a sweet character and the supporting characters are such good value that I didn't mind as much as I might otherwise.

Brooke herself reminds me of a less daffy Becky Bloomwood or Lizzie from Meg Cabot's Queen of Babble series. And, yes, that's a compliment!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot

Posted by Keris on September 2, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Series | Permalink | Comments (29)

September 1, 2008 3:30 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

Reviewed by Stella

Lipstick Jungle is the story of three friends, all three of whom are successful, powerful women in New York. Nico O'Neilly - editor of popular, well regarded magazine Bonfire but still has ambitions to go further with her career; Victory Ford - fashion designer to the stars, single and loving it; Wendy Healy - movie producer and wife to a stay-at-home husband and mother of three children.

Nico is having an affair, Wendy runs into marital problems and Victory's last collection was a dud. Suddenly all of their lives are turned upside down and they have to work together as friends to see each other through the tough times.

Despite being a card-carrying, box set-owning member of the I Love Sex & the City Club, I'd never read anything by Candace Bushnell before this. At first, I was loving it. All the glitz, glamour and excess of the rich and famous reminded me of those fabby '80s Jackie Collins novels I used to love (I was very young back then).The main characters of Wendy, Nico and Victory and their high-flying, champagne guzzling, sexy lifestyles all seemed so promising.

Sadly, about a third of the way in, I discovered I didn't actually care for any of our heroines. In fact finishing the book was more an exercise in hoping one of them would get their come-uppance than looking forward to a happy ending. (She didn't, by the way.) While the three women were all supposed to be best friends and met each other for lunch in times of crisis, the author failed to develop any real affection or sisterhood between them. The male characters were uniformly cretinous. There didn't appear to be any real story arc and the ending just kind of petered out and, for my money anyway, the last line of the book was one of the cheesiest last lines I have ever read.

Having said that, when I finished this book I thought I had kind of enjoyed it. After a bit of thought and running its pop-feminist message through my brain I've come to realise it's not really very good at all. It's probably the kind of thing I would have enjoyed in my late teens/early 20s, but in today's female fiction market it feels exceptionally shallow and out of place. If I wasn't a fan of Sex & the City, Lipstick Jungle certainly would not entice me to pick up anything written by Candace Bushnell again.

Rating: 2/5

Like this? Try Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger

Posted by Aigua Media on September 1, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 2/5 | Permalink | Comments (13)

August 27, 2008 12:51 PM

BOOK(S) REVIEW: A Round-Heeled Woman and Unaccompanied Women by Jane Juska

I bought Jane Juska's memoir so long ago that, although the Waterstone's receipt was still stuck in the front cover, everything but the company name had faded away (I hate when that happens; how much better would that money have been in *my* bank account!).

Anyway, I finally started reading it and, after three chapters, loved it so much that I had to put it to one side so I could take it away with me. I loved Jane Juska's voice - wry, self-deprecating, honest - and I was desperate to read more about her adventures, but I am also always keen to have a good book to read on a plane, so I had to wait.

In case you've never heard of it, A Round-Heeled Woman is a memoir written after Juska decided to place the following advert in the New York Review of Books:

Before I turn 67 - next March - I would like to have a lot of sex with a man I like. If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me.

Incredibly brave, don't you think? Or, as Juska herself points out, foolish. I wanted her to find intelligent, entertaining, kind men and have, as she wished, lots of sex (great sex, in fact). This didn't exactly happen.

Juska's "sexploits" aren't the only focus of the book, though, she's also led an interesting life, teaching in high schools and San Quentin Prison and we learn a lot about this too, plus her family background, education in the fifties, marriage and problems with her son.

Of course, the dates with the advert's respondents and any subsequent sex are the bits that stick in the mind... actually, I'm not certain that's true. Some of the sex parts stick in the mind (ew), but I find myself thinking more about the way the men treated her. She falls in love (which she didn't intend to) with more than one of them and it doesn't work out well.

That was my problem with the book, really - and it's my problem, not the book's. I was hoping for a life-affirming memoir. I wanted Juska to get everything she wanted and more and she doesn't. In fact, she gets her heart-broken more than once. I found, as I read on, I was feeling sadder and sadder.

But not so sad that I didn't leap at the chance to read the follow-up - Unaccompanied Women - in which she's still looking for that elusive mate and, at the same time, somewhere secure to live. In fact, security is a major issue in both books, which made me worry for Juska even more. Security - financial and emotional - is one of my major driving forces and I'm "only" 37. I hate the idea that I will still feel the same in another 37 years.

I didn't enjoy Unaccompanied Women quite as much as A Round-Heeled Woman, simply because Juska reports the stories of a number of other women and I didn't find them quite as interesting as her own. Having read the books, though, I feel quite protective of Juska and hopes she gets at least some of what she really wants.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron (for wittily written essays on ageing) or My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler (for a sex memoir)

Posted by Keris on August 27, 2008 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (9)

August 26, 2008 1:26 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Blessed Are the Meddlers by Christa Ann Banister

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Sydney Alexander is back and happily married to the man of her dreams. Now, if she can just find great guys for her friends life will be perfect. She's already done it once - she set up her hippie neighbor Rain with Stinky Nate. They are happily married now as well, so Sydney is convinced she can make the same magic happen for other friends.

Sydney takes on the challenge of matchmaking for a few of her friends including her boss, Lucinda. As she becomes confident in her set-up abilities, she even takes on the role of "Lucy for the Lovelorn," a syndicated column that could take her career to new heights.

In the midst of it all Samantha, Sydney's sister, is going through a relationship crisis. Well, more like a relationship melt-down. Sydney tries to give her advice, but Samantha soon realizes that she must make the decision for herself - follow her heart and see where it leads.

Sydney's matchmaking talents rival those of another beloved heroine, Jane Austen's Emma. And just as Emma eventually comes to the conclusion that meddling rarely changes things for the better, Sydney must learn some lessons through a few matchmaking disasters.

I thoroughly appreciated Banister's humor and writing style in her first novel, Around The World in 80 Dates, and Meddlers is made up of the same stuff. The story is well-told and filled with compelling characters. Sydney's experiences made me laugh, made me cry and above all reminded me that giving advice is not always as simple as it might seem.

In the back of the book, readers will find a readers guide, Sydney's Recommendations For Life's Little Circumstances and a list of resources for those who want to be a part of promoting music education (as Sydney's husband discusses in the book).

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Around The World in 80 Dates by Christa Ann Banister

[N.B. How similar is the cover of this book to the cover of Christa Ann Banister's first book? - Keris]

Posted by Aigua Media on August 26, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (9)

Richard & Judy Summer Reads 2008 Winner

The winner of the Richard & Judy Summer Reads 2008 is No Time For Goodbye by Linwood Barclay, a creepy, sinister tale about Cynthia's family who disappear without a trace. Cynthia wakes up one morning, worrying about what her parents will say to her about her behaviour from the night before...but her parents aren't there. Or her brother. Read the blurb over the cut or click here for an extract. Just reading that has given me the chills. Brr.

On the morning she will never forget, suburban teenager Cynthia Archer awakes with a nasty hangover and a feeling she is going to have an even nastier confrontation with her mom and dad. But when she leaves her bedroom, she discovers the house is empty, with no sign of her parents or younger brother Todd. In the blink of an eye, without any explanation, her family has simply disappeared. Twenty-five years later Cynthia is still haunted by unanswered questions. Were her family murdered? If so, why was she spared? And if they're alive, why did they abandon her in such a cruel way? Now married with a daughter of her own, Cynthia fears that her new family will be taken from her just as her first one was. And so she agrees to take part in a TV documentary revisiting the case, in the hope that somebody somewhere will remember something - or even that her father, mother or brother might finally reach out to her... Then a letter arrives which makes no sense and yet chills Cynthia to the core. And soon she begins to realise that stirring up the past could be the worst mistake she has ever made...

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 26, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Richard and Judy | Permalink | Comments (5)

August 22, 2008 10:25 AM

BOOK NEWS & COVER: Testimony

I was looking through the new releases on Amazon, as I often do, when this book cover caught my eye. I think it is beautiful. It will be autumn soon (sorry but it will) and the soggy but still red and orange leaves on the floor of the wet steps make for a great cover. Plus what is she thinking about? Maybe I should read the book...

Testimony is by Anita Shreve and will be out in October.

Carry on over the cut for the description.

At a New England boarding school, a sex scandal is about to break. Even more shocking than the sexual acts themselves is the fact that they were caught on videotape. A Pandora's box of revelations, the tape triggers a chorus of voice -- those of the men, women, teenagers, and parents involved in the scandal -- that details the ways in which lives can be derailed or destroyed in one foolish moment. A gripping emotional drama with the pace of a thriller, Anita Shreve's Testimony explores the dark impulses that sway the lives of seeming innocents, and the ways in which our best intentions can lead to our worst transgressions.

Related posts: Light on Snow review | All He Ever Wanted review

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 22, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (9)

BOOK REVIEW: Tommy Sullivan is a Freak by Meg Cabot

It's hard to find new things to say about Meg Cabot's books when I find I'm reviewing them about once a month... but luckily I don't need to find new things to say, I can just keep saying they're fantastic. Because they are. (Just in case you did not get that.)

Her latest teen book (I think...), Tommy Sullivan is a Freak features Katie Ellison who is both intelligent and popular. But it's come at a cost. She has to hide who she really is and what she really thinks.

She didn't used to. She used to be good friends with Tommy Sullivan, but when he discovered that some members of the town's precious football team cheated on their SATs - and exposed them - he was run out of town.

Oh, but now he's back. And threatening to ruin everything Katie's worked for. And he's really hot.

Like all of Meg's books, Tommy Sullivan is a Freak is an easy read with hidden depths. I flew through it and, I have to say, I LOVED Tommy Sullivan, one of the foxiest teen characters I've read for a while. Plus I learned a lot about bivalves and that kind of knowledge can't be underestimated. Probably.

Read an extract here.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try How to be Popular by Meg Cabot

Posted by Keris on August 22, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (11)

August 21, 2008 2:59 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The True Naomi Story by A.M Goldsher

As with most authors I review, I googled A M Goldsher straight away. I am always suspicious of authors who use just their initials. Often this means they are trying to disguise their gender as they believe the truth will put their readers off. My suspicions were correct, the author of this Little Black Dress book was A Man. Like Keris yesterday, I thought, what does he know about writing chick lit?

The answer? Well, um, quite a lot actually.

But. (There is always a but.) On opening this book up I read the first few pages, threw it down and thought, yup Helen, you were right. Men can't write chick lit. I was confused, didn't understand Naomi, Jenn was quitting, there were names of people causally thrown out there that I didn't know. And I didn't understand the bra issue.

When I picked the book up again some months later I read chapter two and before I knew it was half way through the book. I began to understand all the references in chapter one as we go back in time and see how Naomi and Jenn set the band up in the first place.

So if you hadn't yet guessed, Naomi is in a band. The band consists of the brains and keyboard skills of Jenn, the bass of Travis (Jenn's younger brother), and the drums of Frank. Naomi is the singer, and because of which, gets most of the attention. Plus the record company thought the band should be called Naomi.We see the build up to their success, their actual success, the fall out - then what happens next.

Sometimes I had to re-read the dialogue, it is written the way I guess a twenty something New Yorker would talk, but I soon got used to that. The plot whipped along, I got to know all the characters and I found it not just satisfying but also breezily entertaining. I've got another book by Mr Goldsher in my to be read pile. I think I might just bring it forward slightly.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try One Night Stand by Julie Cohen (another Little Black Dress book)

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 21, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (8)

August 19, 2008 2:39 PM

BOOK REVIEW: A Mile In My Flip-Flops by Melody Carlson

Reviewed by Jill Hart

I love Melody Carlson's books, so I was tickled pink when I received her newest book, A Mile In My Flip-Flops. the book's main character, Gretchen Hanover, is a charming if somewhat lost thirty-something. She is recovering from a broken heart. Her fiance has run off with an old girlfriend, leaving Gretchen with not only shattered dreams, but an apartment full of stuff - enough to fill the house they would have shared.

Gretchen has moping around for months and consuming more Ben & Jerry's than she ever thought possible. Until one fine day when, while watching her beloved HGTV she has a "light bulb moment." She decides that the way out from under her grief and despair is hard work … like flipping a house.

So, Gretchen sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Will she end up with a great investment or will her flip be a flop?

This book made me feel as if I were right in the story helping Gretchen flip the house. I, too, watch HGTV and have always wondered if I could do it. Walking through the experience with Gretchen was a blast, but at the end I was glad all the hard work had been hers.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Raising the Roof by Jane Wenham-Jones

Posted by Aigua Media on August 19, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (5)

August 18, 2008 2:35 PM

BOOK NEWS: A new Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles

I have just been reading Tess Gerritsen's blog and discovered the exciting news that there will be a new Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli book out very early next year in the UK, although US readers only have to wait until September this year.

It will be called Keeping The Dead in the UK and The Keepsake in the US. Carry on over the cut for the US cover.

Related posts: Bloodstream review | TV Series | The Bone Garden review

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 18, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Crime / Mystery | Permalink | Comments (5)

MORE ON MONDAY: Mother Shock by Andrea Buchanan

I think I'd had this book - which is subtitled "Loving every (other) minute of it" - on my Amazon Wishlist since I was pregnant with my son, who is now 4. I'm now pregnant with my second child and finally got around to buying it. And I'm so glad I did.

This book is a collection of essays examinining Buchanan's experience, mostly of the first year of motherhood. She learned early on, that the transition to motherhood has much in common with the culture shock experienced when you move to another country and each section begins with direct comparisons, which are startling in their accuracy.

Buchanan then goes on to write about, as you would expect, her pregnancy, her daughter's birth, ambivalence (and fear) about having another child, miscarriage and more. Before she was a writer, she was a professional pianist and there's a beautiful essay about her daughter's burgeoning interest in the piano.

I'm constantly amazed and impressed by the honesty in these "mommy memoirs" and this one is no exception. Buchanan admits things in writing that I have barely even admitted to myself in my head. It's incredibly brave and incredibly comforting.

I actually loved *every* minute of it and would wholeheartedly recommend it both to new mothers and not-so-new mothers alike.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Making Babies by Anne Enright

Posted by Keris on August 18, 2008 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

August 15, 2008 8:47 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Driving Sideways by Jess Riley

I'd heard great things about Jess Riley's debut - not least a glowing review from Marian Keyes on the cover - and, after reading the first few pages, I set it to one side to take on holiday with me. And I was glad I did.

Driving Sideways is the story of Leigh Fielding, a 28-year-old woman who has recently had a kidney transplant. Believing a) that she has some unfinished business to attend to (with a best friend, an ex-boyfriend, and, most importantly, the mother who left when she was just a child), and b) that she has taken on some of the characteristics of the man whose kidney she received (bravery, taste in music, interest in kayaking), Leigh takes off alone on a road trip.

She's not alone for long though, soon she's accompanied by an annoying, possibly dangerous, and yet somewhat sweet teenaged girl and they... I kind of want to say "have adventures", but that doesn't really explain it very well. But I can't say much more because I don't want to give anything away.

Okay, they do "have adventures", but they're more emotional adventures than, you know, madcap ones. And that's the beauty of this book. When I was reading the book, I didn't want it to end and now, when I think back on it, I almost feel that I was on the road trip with them.

It's funny, snarky, sweet and gripping. I loved it.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Lady Luck's Map of Vegas by Barbara Samuel

Posted by Keris on August 15, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

August 13, 2008 9:05 AM

BOOK REVIEW: How To Be Bad

How to Be Bad is a novel written by three authors. Three brilliant and successful YA authors, two of whom happen to be among my absolute favourites (the third, Lauren Myracle, I have been assured that I will also love as soon as I get around to reading one of her books).

How to be Bad is also the story of three girls: Mel, Vicks and Jesse, who all work at the Waffle House and all have problems they want to run away from. And so they do. Albeit temporarily.

Following a row with her mother (following her mother winning first prize in a wet t-shirt competition – yikes!), Jesse just wants to get away. So when she learns that Vicks's boyfriend hasn't called since leaving for university two weeks ago, she suggests that they take a trip to Miami to visit him.

The only problem is neither of them has much money. But Mel does. Plenty of money and no friends. So she suggests she pays for everything if she can come along.

And so off they go. Two best friends (one of whom is behaving rather oddly) and a new girl who wants to be friends, but who they don't know very well.

Of course, a road trip isn't a road trip without adventures on the way and the girls call in to see an old stuffed crocodile, the world's smallest police station and, of course, go to a party and meet a boy.

I wasn't sure about this book at first – I didn't feel like enough was happening – but the personalities of the girls sucked me in and, by the end, I felt like I knew them. The book touches on all sorts of issues, including virginity, Christianity, drinking, sibling rivalry, family relationships, money.

Incidentally, even though I think the three authors have very distinctive individual styles, you can't see the joins in this book; I have no idea who wrote what, which is pretty impressive.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart or Me vs Me by Sarah Mlynowski (not YA) or something by Lauren Myracle!

Posted by Keris on August 13, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)

August 12, 2008 3:38 PM

An Interview With Princess Mia

As many of you know, the next Princess Diaries book to be released is to be the tenth - and final - book of the series (boo hoo). It is out in January next year, but in the meantime I found on Meg Cabot's website that Mia has been interviewed by teenstyle magazine here. Whilst teenstyle wants to talk to her about romance and prom dresses, Mia is a little preoccupied with the small matter of an election due to take place in Genovia soon...

Related posts: To The Nines | After Eight | Meg Cabot Interview

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 12, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: Ace of Hearts by Jean Holloway

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

Ace of Hearts is Jean Holloway’s debut novel. What really interested me about this book was that it was written by Holloway over twenty-five years ago and has only just caught the attention of conventions and books clubs now. I was extremely intrigued to find out what it was about this book that had suddenly captured people’s imagination so long after its creation.

Obviously as it was written so long ago, it was also set in that time. The eighties is conveniently an age before mobile phones, DNA analysis and complicated forensic computer technology were invented. So we are back to good old-fashioned guessing… I mean detecting!

Shevaughn Robinson is the main character and is the first black female to be so successful in the police force. She has just been promoted and transferred into homicide and her first case turns out to be the first of a series of gruesome murders. There’s a vicious sex attacker out there and he’s getting more and more confident with each killing. Unfortunately for Shevaughn the killer knows who she is and is getting more and more obsessed about her as he finds out she is leading the investigation.

I have to be honest to all the weak stomached people out there – this is a grim and gritty read. There are a lot of details included that might put you off your lunch, but I also have to admit that it’s an addictive read. I can understand why this book has suddenly attracted a lot of attention. The tension in the book is kept up on every page and the fact that you know who the killer is right from the start makes it even more of a page turner. The reader knows how near all the characters are becoming and it made me want to shout out a warning to them, but of course I’m not mad so I didn’t (honest!) For the softhearted there was a subplot running throughout of a romance that diluted the main serial killer theme and there was a twist right at the end after you thought it was all over.

Overall I think crime lovers will adore this book as its racy and dark themes will tantalise and excite most readers. For those who like flowers and romance there’s also something in there for you too, but I’m not sure it’ll make up for all the murders you’ll have to live through. However, if you think you’re strong enough it’s a great read that will surprise you.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen

Posted by Aigua Media on August 12, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

August 8, 2008 10:09 AM

TV News: Lipstick Jungle

It seems we have been talking about Lipstick Jungle the TV adaptation of Candace Bushnell's novel for ages, so finally, I am pleased to say, it is about to be shown in the UK on Living TV in September. Yes, only one whole month to go.

It has already aired in the US and has been commissioned for a second season by NBC, which will also be shown in September.

Related posts: Lipstick Jungle Trailer | British v American Chick Lit

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 8, 2008 in American Authors, Television | Permalink | Comments (4)

August 7, 2008 10:39 AM

BOOK REVIEW: It's All About Us by Shelley Adina

Reviewed by Jill Hart

How far is too far? That's the question that seems to be ever in Lissa Mansfield's mind since moving to San Francisco.

How far will she go to be accepted in the "in crowd?" How far is she willing to go with cute Callum McCloud? How far is she willing to bend to get along with her talkative-opinionated-wacky new roommate, Gillian Chang? And most importantly of all, how far is she willing to push herself to make sure her faith in God is evident in her life?

These questions and more keep Lissa on her toes as she tries to fit into her school life. It doesn't help that she's gotten herself on the planning committee for the Benefactor's Day Ball - the biggest event of the year at Spencer Academy. Can she find a hot celeb to book for the Ball or will she end up disappointing the entire student body?

I don't read a lot of YA (young adult) Lit, but this book so much fun. The characters are charming and right from the beginning I was pulling for Lissa to make the right choices. The best part about this book is that while moms like me (thirty-somethings) will enjoy it, it's also appropriate to be shared with teens and tweens. It would make a great conversations starter for moms and daughters!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith

Posted by Aigua Media on August 7, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

August 6, 2008 1:35 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Holly Would Dream by Karen Quinn

I really didn't enjoy Karen Quinn's debut, The Ivy Chronicles - in fact, I didn't even finish it – but I loved the premise of her third book, Holly Would Dream, and I've been looking forward to it for ages, so it seemed like a perfect book to take on holiday with me.

The premise is that Holly Ross, who works in a fashion museum in New York, is obsessed with all things Audrey Hepburn. When her boyfriend dumps her, she loses her apartment (because it was his apartment) and misses out on a promised promotion all on the same day, it seems like things can't get any worse, but then, thanks to a collection of Audrey Hepburn's dresses, they do.

Holly Would Dream takes in New York, Italy, Turkey and Greece and contains over a hundred hidden references to Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant films. Right up my street, in fact. So did I like it?

Actually I really liked it. It's clear from the beginning of the book that this is a fairy story and there isn't much reality involved, but it's a great escapist read. I liked Holly although I found her irritatingly full of herself at times (which is exactly the same problem I had with Ivy in Quinn's first book). I didn't think there was any chemistry between Holly and the object of her affections, which was a shame. If ever a book was crying out for a sexy, traditional, manly hero, it was this one. But a number of the other supporting characters – from Holly's father, to the rich widows Holly meets on the cruise – are highly entertaining. I could have done without the tired cliché of the gay best friend, but I suppose Holly does work in fashion so I'll just have to let that one go.

All in all, a highly entertaining and almost entirely satisfying holiday read. On the strength of this book, I think I'll give Quinn's second book, Wife In the Fast Lane, a try.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Late Night Talking by Leslie Schnur

Posted by Keris on August 6, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK NEWS: Breaking Dawn

The final novel in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, went on sale this week and sold 20,000 copies in the first twenty four hours in the UK alone. In the US, where it was released on 2 August, it is estimated to have sold 1.3 million copies. [via The Guardian]

I've looked at the amazon reviews and there is a real mixed bunch. Word of warning though, many of the reviews on there contain spoilers, so don't look before you read.

Related posts: New Moon review | Twilight Trailer 2 | Twilight review

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 6, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (5)

August 4, 2008 12:56 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Arguably one of the most successful chick lit books of the past few years, it has also been made into a successful film with Meryl Streep. Which we've reviewed. Twice. Andrea has appeared on Trashionista as a heroine, yet, *whispers* we've never actually reviewed the book. So today I'm going to right this wrong.

If you don't already know (and if you don't where have you been?!) this brilliantly titled book is about Andrea Sachs, who has ambitions to write for The New Yorker and gets a job as Miranda Priestly's assistant. Apparently if you work for her for a year you can practically name the magazine you want to then go on to write for.

Lauren Weisberger has written this from her own experiences as she worked as the assistant for Anna Wintour the all powerful editor of Vogue. Priestly an exacting, outrageous control freak is supposed to be based on Wintour.

Andrea has no interest in fashion, diets, low carbs or any of the stuff associated with that industry. She has to learn fast both how to survive the looks and comments from her peers but also how to manage the demands of her boss. She is reduced to buying the coffee for her whilst also trying to negotiate several other difficult demands at the same time.

The plot of this book isn't it's strongest point. It has humour, a vivid look at the inside of the fashion industry, and definitely that page turning factor. But what carries the book, for me, is the character of Miranda. She is just so outrageously awful, so demanding of all these people who do exactly as she says, so larger than life that you just have to keep reading.

Occasionally I felt irritated by Andrea. Why put up with all of this? But Andrea has got to the point where she is so sucked into it all she believes she doesn't have a choice, which we, as a reader, can see that she does. Because of this I was led to believe that we were leading up to a big ending. A big bang, if you like. And whilst I won't give it away, I have to say the only bit I was slightly disappointed with was the end. Otherwise, I loved it.

Rating: 4/5 for sheer entertainment.

Like this? Try The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 4, 2008 in American Authors, Devil Wears Prada, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (5)

MORE ON MONDAY: Steering By Starlight by Martha Beck

As I've said on more than one previous occasion, Martha Beck's book, Finding Your Own North Star, completely changed my life, so when I heard there was a sequel coming out, I could hardly stand to wait.

Steering By Starlight basically takes the premises of Finding Your Own North Star and shows how they work in application. Beck shares stories of her clients and how she uses her methods to help them find their "right life". (She does this in Finding Your Own North Star too, but she goes into more depth in Steering By Starlight.)

While it is, of course, utterly wonderful, I found Steering By Starlight a little harder to get into than Beck's previous books. Her trademark humour is, of course, present, but this book is also a little less down to earth than her other books. Because Martha Beck is Martha Beck, she gets that this might freak some people out and so advises you to put you "shackles on" whenever she's going to talk about something particularly "out there."

Having said that, this book is still an incredibly useful and inspiring read. As is always the case with Beck's books, I've dogeared half the pages! If you haven't read Finding Your Own North Star yet, you should read that  first (and soon, it's fabulous), but if you've already read and loved that book, you will, I'm sure, find Steering By Starlight incredibly useful too.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Joy Diet by Martha Beck

Posted by Keris on August 4, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (5)

July 30, 2008 10:27 AM

SPOTLIGHT: Audrey Niffenegger

Writing about Clare Abshire from The Time Traveler's Wife for this week's heroine, I came across a lot of  information about the author, Audrey Niffenegger which I thought fascinating, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Like Clare, Audrey is an artist as well as being a writer. She also teaches writing, letterpress printing and fine edition book production. Her visual novels, paintings, photographs and prints are shown at the Printworks Gallery in Chicago.

The Time Traveler's Wife started life as one of her visual novels. Audrey had the title first, but soon realised that this was a story that couldn't be told by painting alone, so she chose the traditional route for this story instead. Five hundred plus pages later, it was published after a bidding war in 2003 to resounding success, and after four and a half years in the making.

The story is so complicated in the way it jumps around in time, that you wonder (or at least I do) how Audrey could have put it together in the first place. Well, after starting with the title, she then wrote out the end, then the middle and finally the beginning. She also storyboarded the whole thing, very similarly to the way the artists do for a visual animated film, and moved the pages around a lot. "At one point it was assembled in a completely different order," she has admitted.

The Time Traveler's Wife is Audrey's debut novel and has spent over twenty weeks in The New York Times bestseller list. The rights have been sold in many countries, and as we now know the film rights have been sold with the film now in post production stage, to be screened in December.

Spotlight archives

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 30, 2008 in American Authors, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK REVIEW: To My Dearest Friends by Patricia Volk

I absolutely adored Patricia Volk's memoir, Stuffed, so I was excited to read her latest novel, To My Dearest Friends. Set in New York, it's written in a strange and conversational style that I found took a bit of getting used to, but once I was used to it, I couldn't put it down and read it in a day.

It's the story of Alice Vogel and Nanny Wunderlich, who don't know each other, but were each the best friend of Roberta, who has recently died of cancer. They meet when they're both called to Roberta's solicitor's office and given the key to Roberta's safe deposit box.

What they find in the box surprises both of them, but while Alice is happy to let it lie, Nanny feels it warrants further investigation and that she and Alice should meet frequently to discuss it. Which they do, in Bergdorf's.

But of course they both have their own things going on. Alice is having both marital problems and her business (which was her mother's and grandmother's before her) is failing. Nanny is struggling to afford her home following her husband's death.

This book is so wise and funny and clever. It seems fairly light on the surface, but it covers so many different relationships: friends, husband/wife, mother/daughter, even employer/employee.

I loved it.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Summer At Tiffany by Marjorie Hart

N.B. The covers again. The really boring brown was the hardback. The paperback's much better, don't you think?

Posted by Aigua Media on July 30, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

July 29, 2008 10:56 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Reviewed by Denise Tomlinson

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy The Sugar Queen when I first picked it up as I haven't read the acclaimed Garden Spells and, well, the story of a sad woman who eats too many sweets and reads romantic novels didn't sound like it was going to be anything to write home about. Indeed, the first few pages really didn't seem too promising. However, I'm happy to say that after a shaky start, I was totally and utterly hooked.

Josey Cirrini is a poor little rich girl stuck tending to her elderly mother's every whim with the aforementioned sweets and romance novels her only consolation until one day, she finds tough-talking local waitress Della Lee Baker has taken up residence in her closet. Della Lee is determined to shake up Josey's narrow existence and starts pushing her to live her life to the full.

Through Della Lee's machinations, Josey meets Chloe Finley, a local woman suffering a devastating heartbreak after discovering that her boyfriend, Jake, has cheated on her. Tentatively, Josey and Chloe become friends and Josey discovers that Chloe is also friends with Adam, Josey's postman and long-term crush. As Della Lee pushes her, Josey begins to defy her mother to discover life outside of her home and blossom into the person she was always meant to be.

This is a story of friendship, love and people's capacity to change but it is the lovely magical realism touches that really bring the book to life. Chloe is a person who magically attracts books and not just any old books but somehow the exact books that she needs to help her in any given situation  -I would love to have that power! Her passion for Jake is so palpable that it can cause eggs to fry in their box when she is near him. Josey discovers that the colour red can make wonderful things happen for her and there is definitely something magical about Della Lee.

The portrayal of the old- fashioned small ski resort of Bald Slope that is home to Josey, Chloe and Della Lee is also really engaging with a rich cast of eccentric old ladies, ski bums and taxi drivers who are incapable of breaking a promise, not to mention Josey's long-dead and near mythical father, Marco Cirrini.

I admit I was skeptical to begin with but there is something enchanting about this book. The characters are very lovable - I was cheering on Josey in her voyage of self-discovery, feeling desperately sorry for Chloe in her time of despair and loving the developing friendship between the two, the various sub-plots keep you guessing and yes, there is some romance as well!

This is a great summer read (Keris & Helen were spot on!), pour yourself a Pimms, sit back and enjoy.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie,  Eileen Dreyer,  and Anne Stuart

Posted by Keris on July 29, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (8)

Who Can Save Us Now?

A subject close to my own heart, superheroes, along with one of my favourite authors, Jennifer Weiner, appear together in this anthology of stories about superheroes edited by Owen King and John McNally. As Jennifer says on her blog,

I've got a short story in Who Can Save Us Now...that I think is pretty nifty (the book in general, not my story in particular...although I really like the title of my story. It is called "League of Justice (Philadelphia Division)," and is based in part on the premise that all of the superheroes with really cool talents have moved to New York.)

Related posts: Author Interview | Jennifer Weiner and Jane Green on Martha Stewart |

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 29, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (3)

HELEN'S HEROINES: Clare Abshire

Clare Abshire is an artist who has had a rather unusual childhood. She was visited by the same man who, each time he appeared, was of a different age, as he came to her through the element of time travel. She was first visited at the age of six when he is more of a father figure towards her, but as she gets older, and especially when she is eighteen, he becomes the man she is in love with, and whom she'll later go on to marry. Confused? How do you think she feels?

Appearing in the novel, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Henry DeTamble is afflicted with a genetic condition called chrono-displacement disorder, where he is suddenly pulled through time, either the past or the future, and it cannot be controlled. Clare is his wife. A woman who, despite unusual circumstances, tries to maintain a normal life. But as she states herself, "It's hard to be the one who stays". The one who worries where he is, the one who fears for his life and doesn't know what condition he'll come back in.

When Clare meets Henry that time in the library, Henry has no idea who she is. How can she explain to him that he had travelled back in time and was with her throughout her childhood? It hasn't happened for him yet. "I'm at a loss because I am in love with a man who is standing before me with no memories of me at all."

When they do finally meet with both of them in their proper times, Clare is a tiny bit regretful that her secret man is no longer a secret, but also exhilarated as now it all begins. She feels at peace with him because their future is all mapped out, but all of this comes at a very high price.

More Helen's Heroines

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 29, 2008 in American Authors, Helen's Heroines | Permalink | Comments (6)

July 28, 2008 10:45 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Klepto by Jenny Pollack

Klepto, a young adult book by Jenny Pollack, is about Julie Prodsky, a New Yorker who meets Julie Braverman on her first day at the High School of the Performing Arts (the "Fame" school, in other words). Julie P finds Julie B much cooler and is thrilled to be her friend, particularly when she starts teaching her how to "get" stuff from shops.

Yep, "getting" is Julie P's word for stealing, shoplifting, taking stuff without paying. I wasn't at all sure about this when I started reading, the teen "hobby" of shoplifting never appealed to me and I wasn't sure the book would either, but I ended up really enjoying it.

Part of my enjoyment came from the fact that the book is set in '80s New York. New York is very well-described and it made me nostalgic for my own '80s experience (which is some feat, since it was mostly feeble and embarrassing).

The actual stealing isn't treated lightly. Well, it is to begin with, but before long the girls realise that what they're doing is wrong, but the book is never preachy or heavy-handed on the topic.

Reading the author bio, it's clear that the book is thinly-veiled memoir, which, I guess, is why it's set almost thirty years ago (can you believe that 1981 is almost thirty years ago?!), but it also makes it even more convincing.

Rating: 4/5

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

N.B. I included the covers to show how they can go from old-fashioned (top) to up-to-date (bottom) between hardback and paperback printings!

Posted by Keris on July 28, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (9)

MORE ON MONDAY: Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox

Don't think this book is another celeb writing about himself, name dropping and kissing and telling to make a bit of cash. This book, published in 2003, is nothing like that. Michael J. Fox is not just known for being an actor (Spin City and Back to the Future are my favourites) but also for being very young when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

The book starts by describing the first time Michael noticed a tremor in his hand. Then we go back to 1963, his childhood as a son of a Sergeant for the Royal Canadian Army Signal Corps. As a family they moved around Canada a lot. We then see him drop out of school to try his luck with Hollywood, getting the Family Ties TV show and his rise to fame from there.

The main tone of the book though is of his love for acting, his family and his battle with Parkinson's, which cruelly means an end to his acting career.

I found this book not only educational but also inspirational. This man has achieved so much and is still going, determined to find a cure for this cruel disease. At no point does he have any self pity or any complaint about how hard life is for him now. Perhaps the title of this book gives it away, but Michael actually believes Parkinson's has actually given him some positive things. The chance to appreciate his life and also, with his fame, the ability to help search for a cure.

He is honest. He's no goody, goody after all, but his writing comes across as touching and uplifting and Michael as a thoughtful, intelligent man.

I finished reading the book and not only was I inspired but also in awe of him.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Still Me by Christopher Reeve

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 28, 2008 in American Authors, Celebrity Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (5)

July 25, 2008 10:58 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Good Things by Mia King

Reviewed by Stella

Mia King's Good Things is the story of Deidre McIntosh, a 40-year-old local TV presenter in Seattle. She lives with her gay best friend, William, and presents a popular local show called Live Simple. Seeming having lived a charmed life before, where she was in the right place at the right time, Deidre is unprepared for her life to come crashing down around her ears one day.

Her TV show is cancelled and her best friend moves in with his lover leaving Deidre looking for a new place to live. By chance, Deidre meets Kevin in a restaurant, impossibly handsome and generous, he offers her a place to stay while she starts to build her new life which may or may not include him.

Good Things is a fast, easy, cute and fluffy chick lit story filled with loveable characters for whom you just want everything to work out well in the end. It's been a while since I picked up something so feel-good and I enjoyed every last minute of it.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Perfectly True Tales of a Perfect Size 12 by Robin Gold

Posted by Aigua Media on July 25, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

July 23, 2008 8:31 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume, ed. Jennifer O'Connell

I know I've been going on about Judy Blume a lot lately, but if you'd read this book, you would be too.

It's a collection of essays by “acclaimed women writers” including friends of Trashi, Meg Cabot, Megan Crane, and Shanna Swendson along with Megan McCafferty, Alison Pace, Laura Ruby, Diana Peterfreund and more. In fact, it's possibly the best line-up of writers I've ever seen in any collection (apart from the one I'm in, obviously!).

And that quality is reflected in the essays. I don't think I could choose between them, since I loved them all. Every single one. The writers write about various Blume books from Forever (of course) to Wifey, via Superfudge, Are You There, God? and Summer Sisters. The essays are honest, funny, sometimes painful and constantly reiterate how incredible and influential Judy Blume really is.

It not only made me want to go and buy all of Blume's books, it made me want to buy all the books by each of the writers included (and that's a lot of books). Even if you've never read a Judy Blume book, I'm confident you'll still enjoy this book. Highly recommended.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Woman's Best Friend edited by Megan McMorris (nothing to do with Judy Blume, but another impressive collection)

Posted by Keris on July 23, 2008 in American Authors, Classic Novels, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (7)

July 22, 2008 11:36 AM

Christa Ann Bannister interview

This is a first for Trashi... so it may not work, but let's give it a go. Our regular inspirational fiction (and more) reviewer, Jill Hart, interviewed author Christa Ann Bannister and we have the audio!

Listen now or download to listen at your leisure. And fingers crossed it works! (Thanks, Jill and Christa!)

Posted by Keris on July 22, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: The Darcys Give a Ball by Elizabeth Newark

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Touted as "A gentle joke, Jane Austen style," The Darcy's Give A Ball is a short, light-hearted novel centered around the lives of Austen's most loved characters.

Jane and Elizabeth are experiencing a small portion of what consumed their mother's thoughts in Pride and Prejudice - the romantic attachments of their children. To aid in this endeavor, they decide a ball is in order. Their children are of age to enter society and what could be more fun than a ball that includes all of their friends and loved ones.

This book is a lot of fun - a quick read, but well put together. There is a bit of romance, a bit of mystery and a bit of intrigue. Austen would have gotten quite a chuckle of what this author came up with to keep her character's lives exciting.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try A Walk With Jane Austen by Lori Smith

Posted by Aigua Media on July 22, 2008 in American Authors, Classic Novels, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (4)

July 15, 2008 11:00 AM

BOOK NEWS: Life With My Sister Madonna

Well Christopher Ciccone has been doing the rounds on the American interview circuit, which can only mean one thing. He's got a book out. Not a book about himself, but a tell all book about his famous sister, Madonna.

Life With My Sister Madonna is out now. No doubt it will be fascinating and I kind of fancy reading it, but I'm always uncomfortable about people writing books off the back of and exploiting the privacy of someone else...what do you think?

Related posts: Madonna and Me by Nikki Racklin | Live to Tell...by Madonna's ex-Nanny

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 15, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (9)

BOOK REVIEW: Girl At Sea by Maureen Johnson

You know I love Maureen Johnson and tend to read her books when I'm in a book lull, but that's not why I picked Girl At Sea. I picked it because I'm desperate for a holiday and I'd read that Girl At Sea was set in Sorrento, Italy and I love Sorrento.

Clio Ford is looking forward to spending the summer working in an art shop with the boy she likes until her mum drops the bombshell that instead she's going to spend the summer in Italy with her irresponsible father.

The idea of summer in Italy would probably appeal to most (it certainly appeals to me), but Clio and her father don't exactly see eye to eye. When Clio was younger, the two of them invented a popular seafaring board game and became, for a while, both rich and famous. Since then, Clio's father has lost most of the money and, following a disastrous holiday when Clio was both nearly killed and then allowed to get a tattoo, things have been more than strained with Clio's mother too.

When Clio gets to Italy, she meets her dad's new girlfriend, Julia, her daughter, Elsa, and research assistant, Aidan, and learns that, along with her dad's best friend, Martin, they're all heading out to sea... but no-one will tell her why or even allow her to contact home.

I wasn't at all sure about Girl At Sea at the beginning. I found it a bit irritating that the adults were so secretive and irresponsible and I didn't really care about any of the characters or why they were heading out to sea, but as I read on I got sucked in. It's not my favourite Maureen Johnson book (in fact, it might be my least favourite), but it was still a good read with another strong and intelligent heroine in Clio.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Girl Overboard by Aimee Ferris

Posted by Keris on July 15, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

July 11, 2008 12:05 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Not-So-Perfect Man by Valerie Frankel

I've read a few Valerie Frankel books and found them to be, while always well-written, a bit hit and miss, so I wasn't sure what to expect from The Not-So-Perfect Man, but I really loved it.

Frieda Schast is a widow with a young son. Her older sister, Ilene, thinks it's about time Frieda started dating again. She also thinks it's about time her own husband, Peter, lost a bunch of weight and she doesn't hesitate to tell Peter so. Frieda's younger sister, Betty, could also do with losing some weight. And finding a man.

But when Frieda does start dating, Ilene doesn't approve. Because Frieda's dating Sam Hill, a sexy, young actor, who Ilene thinks is more fling material than second husband material. Ilene, though, should really be concentrating on her own marriage and the fact that her constant comments about her husband's eating habits just make him want to eat more. Until, that is, he goes on a diet and secretly recruits Betty as his dieting buddy. Because Betty has met a man. Earl was sent to the store where Betty works to implement a new system and make some overall changes, but it seems he wants to make a lot of changes to Betty too...

I loved this book. I loved the banter between the sisters. I loved that the women were all so strong, but also flawed and human. In fact, all the characters seemed real and even thought there are misunderstandings and secrets, they always seem realistic rather than contrived (apart from the ending, which is why I knocked off a point).

It's the kind of book I'll hold onto and read again and again.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Posted by Keris on July 11, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

TV News: The Washingtonienne

HBO are piloting The Washingtonienne, a Washington-set comedy based on the book of the same name by Jessica Cutler. Sarah Jessica Parker will be the executive producer. [via THR.com]

SJP is going to be extremely busy, especially if the rumours of a sequel to the Sex and the City movie are true (please be true).

Related posts: The Ivy Chronicles Casting News (again) | Sex and the City poster

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 11, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Television | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 9, 2008 12:37 PM

KERIS & HELEN'S SUMMER READS 2008: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

In just under one month's time I will be able to get hold of The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, a book I have been looking forward to ever since I read the last page of Garden Spells. This is my third recommended Summer Read (although where the summer is in the UK I really don't know).

It isn't a sequel to Garden Spells, but is about Josey who has a stockpile of sweets in her hidden closet which she devours every night, along with paperback romances. Then, one day, she finds local waitress Della Lee Baker hidden in there. Della is a tough talking, tender hearted fairy godmother who has decided Josey's closet is the safest place to be. In return she is going to change and expand Josey's life.

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 9, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Summer Special | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: Moose by Stephanie Klein

When I featured the video trailer for this book, I warned that it would make you cry... well, if you're anything like me, you'll find the book even more upsetting.

Subtitled, "a memoir of fat camp", it's exactly that - there's a little about Stephanie now at the beginning and end of the book, but the rest of it is about Stephanie's overweight childhood and summer spent at Camp Yanisin. The title refers to the fact that in eighth grade, boys at school started calling her "Moose". But not just Moose, a long, drawn-out, moose-call type of "Moooooooossse". I can't think about that without feeling utterly furious, so you can imagine how I felt when Stephanie reported that her father thought it was funny...

The book is filled with that kind of thing - Stephanie actually feels popular and relatively at home at fat camp, despite the fact that the camp itself sounds ridiculous and pointless (and that's assuming you don't find the very idea of fat camp offensive). The thing I found so depressing about this book was the relentless focus on Stephanie's weight - both by herself and her family. Yes, I know that's what the book's about, but it's just such a miserable thing for a child to have to spend her time worrying about.

Of course, it's certainly possible that I found this book so upsetting because I identified with it so much, but I've recently read two other weight memoirs - Shauna Reid's The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl and Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster - and, although I identified with those books too, I also found them amusing and entertaining (as well as poignant and inspiring); Moose made me sad and angry.

It's very well written and brutally honest (wincingly honest sometimes), but I was glad to finish it.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

Posted by Aigua Media on July 9, 2008 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 8, 2008 12:13 PM

BOOK NEWS: Married Lovers

Jackie Collins is currently touring the US (in a bus!) to promote her new book Married Lovers, which comes out in the UK later this year.

Cameron Paradise, [I love this name!] a stunningly beautiful twenty-four-year-old personal trainer, flees Hawaii and her champion-surfer husband, Gregg, in the middle of one of his abusive tirades and makes her way to L.A. Tall, blond, with a body to die for, it doesn't take Cameron long to find a job at an exclusive private fitness club where she encounters LA's most important players. She has plans to open her own studio one day, and while every man she meets comes on to her, she is more focused on saving money and working hard than getting caught up in the L.A. scene of wild parties and recreational drugs.

Until she meets Ryan Lambert, an extremely successful independent movie producer. Ryan is married to overly privileged Mandy Lambert, the daughter of Hamilton J. Heckerling, a Hollywood power-player son-of-a-bitch mogul. Ryan has never cheated on his demanding Hollywood Princess wife, but when he meets Cameron, all bets are off, especially since she's seeing his best friend Don Verona, the devastatingly attractive talk-show-host and legendary player.In her latest sizzling blockbuster, internationally bestselling author Jackie Collins explores what happens when lust and desire collide with marriage and power-and the results lead to murder.

Related posts: Jackie Collins on chick lit | The return of the bonkbuster?

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 8, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

When I picked up 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover I expected a fun, humorous read. Then I saw that the author Linda Wisdom has written over 70 romance books. This suddenly conjured up an image of the Little Britain character of an old woman dressed in pink, stuffing chocolates while dictating to a long suffering secretary working on one of those electric typewriters, which seem to have a life all of their own. My hopes for this book suddenly plummeted at the thought of an old fashioned flowery romance with a storyline masquerading as paranormal. An idea which was backed up the retro ‘Bewitched’ style cover, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The characters in this story are quirky and upbeat. Jasmine is a witch that was banished from the Witches’ Academy hundreds of years ago and has had to make her way in the human world without help ever since. Her friends are made up of a human lodger that creates websites for vampires, a chain-smoking ghost that haunts her sports car and Fluff and Puff, a pair of bunny slippers that wouldn’t hesitate to bite your hand off. Between her two jobs of curse eliminator and chauffeur she’s been doing okay. However, when her ex-boyfriend, Nick turns up things start to get complicated. Nick is a vampire and his friends have gone missing. They suspect a past enemy has found a way to come back from the dead, but how on earth can they beat a power like that?

There was nothing really to dislike about this book. The characters were likeable with lots of humorous traits and the story was upbeat with a good plot. However, I felt as though there was something missing. Whenever I picked up the book I enjoyed it, but once I put it down I never had a burning desire to return to it and I don’t really know why. It may have been that the one thing the characters did lack was a believable chemistry. I never really cared whether the on off couple Nick and Jasmine were going to get back together or not. There wasn’t enough detail on the enemy for me to feel as though he was a real threat, which was a shame because the action towards the last third of the book showed that the story could have really shone. However, I don’t feel as though I can criticise this book as all it’s individual parts were so good, it’s just when you put them all together I didn’t think they quite meshed.

It was a good read that I would recommend if you are into these types of book, but if you are unsure about this genre it’s most definitely not one to start with.

Like this? Try Girls' Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky

Rating: 4/5

Posted by Aigua Media on July 8, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (4)

July 7, 2008 11:07 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: Under Pressure by Carl Honore

I really enjoyed Carl Honore's first book, In Praise of Slow, so when I heard that he was taking on the culture of "hyper-parenting" I knew I had to read more.

In Under Pressure, Honore visits schools and preschools that are taking a "slow" approach (including a totally outdoor preschool, which sounds amazing), along with looking at current research on how children learn and at the damage that hyper-parenting can actually do.

I found this book fascinating and I've been quoting it to fellow parents frequently since finishing it. It did actually make me rethink how I play and interact with my own son (although I was certainly already closer to "slow" than "hyper", mainly due to inherent laziness).

One of the things I loved about it was how honest Honore is in admitting that he's still struggling with the concept himself. After reading Slow, I imagined he'd become utterly relaxed and chilled and was totally living the slow life. Under Pressure shows that this isn't the case, but he is trying because he knows it's better for both him and his family. Read it and you won't doubt it either.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Family Friendly Working by Antonia Chitty

Posted by Aigua Media on July 7, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (6)

July 3, 2008 1:29 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Alice Walker

Alice Walker describes herself as an author, a feminist and a womanist, a term she started because "black women experienced a different and more intense kind of oppression than did white women".  Born in Georgia in 1944, Alice went on to become an active member of the Civil Rights Movement. Her books focus on African American women and their difficulties in a society that was racist, sexist and often violent.

Although she had a book of poetry published whilst a senior, her first novel wasn't published until 1970, entitled The Third Life of Grange Copeland. Her second was semi-autobiographical in that it focused on activist movements in the South. This was Meridian and was published in 1976.

Her most famous novel is The Color Purple which was published in 1982. Telling the story of Celie, we see how she fights her way in life against racism within the wider society and sexism within her own culture. The book was adapted into a film and more recently into a play. Alice also won a Pulitzer Prize for it.

Bibliography (short stories and novels - she also has a collection of poetry and non-fictional works)

The Third Life of Grange Copeland (1970)

Everyday Use (1973)

In Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women (1973)

Roselily (1973)

Meridian

(novel) (1976)

The Color Purple (1982)

You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down: Stories (1982)

Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self (1983) 

Am I Blue? (1986)

To Hell With Dying (1988)

The

Temple

of My Familiar (1989)

Finding the Green Stone (1991)

Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992)

The Complete Stories (1994)

By The Light of My Father's Smile (1998)

The Way Forward Is with a Broken Heart (2000)

Now Is The Time to Open Your Heart (2005)

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 3, 2008 in American Authors, Classic Novels, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (7)

Nanny Diaries authors Stand Up To Cancer

Nanny Diaries authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Krause have written an article for the charity Stand Up To Cancer.

When I would tell people that my mother was undergoing treatment for cancer, I frequently got the impression that the listener was flashing to a paler-than-normal Meryl Streep baking cookies and lovingly throwing a costume party to cheer up her grieving family.

Read the full article here.

Dedication, McLaughlin and Krause's latest book, is out in paperback any time now. Diane and I both loved the book and I really like the new cover.

What do you think?

Related: Laura Zigman blogging on breast cancer

Posted by Aigua Media on July 3, 2008 in American Authors, Book covers, Book related | Permalink | Comments (3)

July 1, 2008 1:45 PM

HELEN'S HEROINES: Mia Thermopolis

Or to give her correct title, Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia. I haven't read a huge amount of young adult fiction, but I have to say, Mia, in The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot, is one of the finest heroines there is in this genre. No, not everyone will be lucky enough to find out they are secretly a Princess, but Mia's everyday actions, and the fact she always digs deep for strength and stands up for what she believes in, is surely something all girls can aspire too.

Mia is a girl after my own heart. Passionate about her beliefs, she prefers to wear boots instead of heels and she writes. A lot. We see, through her diaries, that she is young (obviously), naive and doesn't have lots of self confidence. The reader, by reading between the lines, often sees what is obvious, whilst Mia is completely unaware.

She hero worships Lilly, her best friend. Striving to be self-actualised like she is, Mia compares herself quite unfavourably to Lilly, and doesn't see that it is actually Lilly who wants to be more like her. In fact, when JP tells her that Lilly was jealous of her in book nine, Mia was astounded and demanded to know why. "For the same reason I imagine a lot of girls - including Lana Weinberger - are jealous of you. You're pretty, you're smart, you're popular, you're a Princess..." Notice how being a princess is the fourth reason. Mia could still be the other three without the title. Mia doesn't believe JP anyway, believing herself to be a five foot nine, flat chested freak. Mia also feels inferior to her boyfriend, Michael because of his cleverness.

Then, in book nine, we see Mia, wise beyond her years and passionate when she makes a speech about her ancestor, Princess Amelie. She says "sixteen year old girls are capable of so much more that wearing some navel baring outfit...or passing out from partying...and can achieve fame for taking a stand and coming to the aid of people in need." Well said Mia.

Underneath the lack of confidence and belief in her own talents is a strong girl who can rise to any challenge. Now she just needs to sort out her love life...

More Helen's Heroines

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 1, 2008 in American Authors, Helen's Heroines, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (10)

BOOK REVIEW: Slave by Cheryl Brooks

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

Slave is Cheryl Brooks’ first novel. I was very intrigued by this book. For a start the author is a critical care nurse by night and a romance writer by day. Also she has attempted to mix science fiction/fantasy and very heavy-duty romance in the story. When I picked up this book I was wondering whether she could pull off this highly ambitious mix, especially considering it’s her first novel. I was secretly hoping she would, considering she’s had to work on it in between her night shifts. Something I can sympathise with.

This story is set in space. Jacinth’s sister has been kidnapped. In an attempt to find her she has ended up chasing her rapidly cooling trail for the past six years. Always just missing her and hearing terrible stories of her being kept captive, this chase has led her across many planets. Finally she gets information that she’s on a planet where all the women are slaves. She has only one choice - to find a man to act as her owner. She knows it’s risky and decides the best way is to buy a slave herself. She’s hoping if she promises his freedom that he will be loyal for long enough to free her sister.

That’s where she meets Cat, filthy and chained, but she could still see the honour in his eyes. Jacinth’s hoping she can trust him with her life.

I just couldn’t help comparing this to films as Brooks has a great talent for allowing the reader to visualise her scenes in an almost filmic quality. It felt like a cross between Star Wars and Romancing the Stone to me. Brooks seamlessly blended the romance and science fiction even if it was a little racy for me at times. Definitely not a book for the prudish! The story line was high octane and when the plot faltered the romance rushed in to fill the space, it was a perfect balance. I read this in a couple of days and just couldn’t put it down. It was original and entertaining and I can’t praise this book enough. Go and buy it now!

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Vampires Are Forever by Lynsay Sands

Posted by Aigua Media on July 1, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (12)

June 27, 2008 11:33 AM

BOOK REVIEW: House of Dance by Beth Kephart

In the comments on my review of Marisa de los Santos's Belong To Me, Jade said, "Even though they don't actually contain it, I just feel like somehow her books have a sense of magical realism about them...". I feel exactly the same way about Beth Kephart's books. Every time I picked up House of Dance, it struck me that I felt like I was entering a dream ... the real world just faded away.

It's the story of Rosie, whose friends are away for the summer and whose mother is distant, spending all her time with her business partner, with whom she's also having an affair. Rosie's grandfather is dying and, though she doesn't know him all that well, her mother tells her he needs her now and so she starts visiting every day.

On the way to her grandfather's house, Rosie passes the House of Dance. At first it just seems incongruously glamorous, but soon Rosie finds herself climbing the stairs and signing up for dance lessons.

Rosie's grandfather wants to get his affairs in order and, in helping him sort through his stuff, Rosie gets to know him better: his dreams, his regrets and exactly what she can do to give him the perfect goodbye.

This book is so beautiful, I almost felt bereft when I finished reading.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Undercover by Beth Kephart

Posted by Keris on June 27, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (23)

June 25, 2008 12:17 PM

KERIS & HELEN'S SUMMER READS 2008: Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

Marisa de los Santos's Belong to Me is my (Keris) first choice for a perfect summer read. I shouldn't really have started with this book, because I honestly can't imagine finding a much better book...

Belong to Me is the story of Cornelia and her husband Teo, who have moved to a new town so Teo can take up a new job. If those names sound familiar to you, then you're way quicker than me. I absolutely adored de los Santos's debut novel, Love Walked In, but it still took me an embarrassingly long amount of time to realise that Belong to Me features the same characters. When I did realise, though, I was thrilled, since Cornelia is a lovely character and I was extremely happy to spend time with her again.

Anyway, I'll stop blethering and tell you about the book. At first, Cornelia is worried that she doesn't fit in. She meets a neighbour, Piper, who is one of those irritatingly perfect and intrusive neighbours. Piper criticises what Cornelia wears, comments on the condition of her lawn and generally just winds her (and this reader) up. But you do have to give Piper a bit of leeway, since not only is her best friend Elizabeth dying of cancer, but her marriage is falling apart. (Truly, it will take you some time to sympathise with Piper at all, since she is so awful.)

And then Cornelia meets Lake, who is much more fun and much more her kind of person. Lake has also just moved into the neighbourhood along with her son, Dev, but Lake has a secret, which Dev, believing it to be something to do with his estranged father, is determined to find out.

Like Love Walked In, Belong to Me is the kind of book you don't want to put down, but you also don't want to finish. It's beautifully written, funny, moving, sad and just all round lovely. (In fact, it affected me so much, I dreamed about it!) I can't imagine anyone not liking it. The only problem with taking it away is that you may actually miss some of your holiday because you won't be able to get your nose out of this book.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

Posted by Aigua Media on June 25, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series, Summer Special | Permalink | Comments (7)

June 24, 2008 2:08 PM

TV News: I Was Told There'd be Cake

New York Times bestseller I Was Told There'd be Cake by Sloane Crosley has been optioned by HBO in the hope of turning it into a series. Few details are about but Crosley says it is to be less Sex and the City and more like Curb Your Enthusiasm.

[via TV Squad]

Related posts: Bergdorf Blondes | Spotlight: Jennifer Weiner

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 24, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Television | Permalink | Comments (6)

HELEN'S HEROINES: Andrea Sachs

Some people don't like it when the protagonist of a story is a writer. I can understand that, it is a bit of a cliche after all.  Personally though, I love it. One of my favourite Marian Keyes books is The Other Side of the Story, which is about a writer and her agent (and no doubt a heroine will be appearing from that book soonish). I've also just reviewed a lovely book with an erotic writer as the heroine and Carrie Bradshaw is my idol. Not for her shoes, hair or her wardrobe, but because she writes.

So Andrea Sachs, in The Devil Wears Prada, was bound to be one of my favourite heroines for the simple reason that she is. A Writer.

A graduate with a degree in English, Andrea moves to New York to live with her friend Lily and to find a job within the magazine publishing industry.  Not having much luck elsewhere, she gets a surprise interview with Elias-Clark for a job "a million girls would kill for." At first she finds herself dismissive of "the clackers" but soon find herself sucked in to the ridiculous demands of her boss and into becoming a fashionista herself. She hates her job, neglects her friends and family and misses meals -  but she justs needs to stick it out for a year then she could have her pick of writing jobs in New York.

She knows this isn't the job for her, but her determination to keep going in order to gain the job she really likes is pretty inspiring. Having never had a boss or editor from hell myself, I don't know how I'd react to that sort of situation. I don't know if I would have had the strength to put up with it - even for a guaranteed job with The New Yorker. But I have a feeling I wouldn't have lasted a minute, if I'd got the job at all. When it all becomes too much though, I'm glad Andrea does what she does. No-one is paid enough to put up with the soul destroying efforts of her boss, free designer clothes or not.

More Helen's Heroines

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 24, 2008 in American Authors, Devil Wears Prada, Helen's Heroines | Permalink | Comments (8)

RICHARD AND JUDY SUMMER READS 2008: The Private Lives of Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller

Reviewed by Sarah Hague

How many of us have led a blameless life, or have a past unsullied by the slightest hint of something dodgy?

Pippa Lee is the 50-year-old wife of successful book editor Herb who is thirty years her senior and getting frail. They leave their fabulous house and move into a housing complex for the old and infirm. Pippa, by far the youngest inhabitant, finds herself wondering what she is doing there.

In the upheaval and unsettling effect the move has on her, she reflects on her life - her speed-crazed mother, her dissolute youth, her meeting with Herb, her husband, and the stabling effect of the birth of the twins.

The move from contented wife of a successful publisher with all the comforts and social standing that brought, to member of a dying community, nursemaid to her husband, destabilizes her completely. Strange things start happening to her and she meets the odd son of her neighbour who stretches out an angel's wing of compassion and understanding.

Pippa is woman who has spent her life trying to come to terms with who she is and what she is. Many women will recognise her efforts to fit in to her expectations of what motherhood and marriage entail; her desire to be the perfect wife and mother.

Her marriage to Herb is founded on a tragedy and she lives, unknowingly, with the guilt until a second tragedy finally sets her free. Suddenly she realises she doesn't have to pretend any more, can be the person she wants to be, and has the courage to accept and forgive herself.

A fabulous read - complex, compassionate, and beautifully written. Pippa is a modern heroine - flawed, yet kind and loving. A woman for our times.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

Posted by Aigua Media on June 24, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Richard and Judy | Permalink | Comments (7)

June 20, 2008 12:22 PM

BOOK NEWS: One Fifth Avenue

For anyone out there who is suffering from Sex and The City withdrawal symptoms, well, withdraw no more (or for just a little bit longer anyway). Candace Bushnell has her fifth novel out this September called One Fifth Avenue.

One fifth avenue is the building to live in. It is in the trendiest area of Manhattan, known as "the gold coast" where the chicest, the hottest, and those with the best pedigree live.

The Amazon blurb:

There is Schiffer Diamond, an over-forty actress who had given up making movies and moved to Europe, until the call to come home gave her the chance to prove that women of style are truly ageless. There is spoiled, self-assured Lola, whose mother is determined to launch her darling daughter into society and the arms of the right man by clawing her way into the building. There is Annalisa, a reluctant socialite who has renounced her law career to be the perfect wife to her workaholic husband, and Winnie, who is married to an underpublished writer and has been the family breadwinner too long for her own - and her marriage's - good. And there is Nini, a glamorous grande dame who has lived at One Fifth Avenue for decades and seen everything from her penthouse view.

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 20, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (13)

June 19, 2008 11:58 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Around the World in 80 Dates by Christa Ann Banister

Reviewed by Jill Hart

As a travel writer, you would think Sydney Alexander leads a pretty exciting life. Unfortunately, this is only partially true. While she enjoys her work, has a great relationship with her sister, a hilarious hippie for a neighbor, and a strong relationship with God, she just can't seem to find a decent date.

Sydney's typical dates tend to either be "between jobs" (translated: have no money), "emotionally unavailable" (translated: on the rebound) or "with the band" (translated: too cool to care about anything but their music). She's not sure she'll ever meet a man that will be worth the time she spends getting dressed for the date.

An old flame keeps popping up in unexpected places, making Sydney wonder if breaking things off with him was the right thing to do. A blind date set up by Rain, the hippie neighbor, seems to have potential, but the guy isn't a Christian and Sydney isn't sure she's up for "missionary dating" (her sister's words).

In the midst of Sydney's turmoil, her sister, Samantha is trying to figure out the dating scene as well. Sydney and her family have always thought that Samantha should end up with her closest friend, Eli. Samantha, on the other hand, thinks that would be ... well, weird. Samantha, like Sydney isn't going to give up. There just has to be a good guy out there somewhere...

When Sydney is assigned a dream trip story covering travel tips for London, she's sure it means love. What could be more romantic than meeting a man in Europe?

I loved Christa Ann Banister's light-hearted look at love in the new millennium. Her witty writing reminded   me of other chick-lit writers and yet the plot was original and the characters were laughably funny. Her real life tie-ins cracked me up. From Tivoing The Office to getting java at Caribou Coffee to dinner at P.F. Changs - it could have all been straight out of my own life. No wonder I liked it, right?

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Sisterchicks Go Brit by Robin Jones Gunn

Posted by Aigua Media on June 19, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (10)

June 18, 2008 12:30 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Sarah Addison Allen

Both Keris and I (along with many Trashionista readers) loved Garden Spells, the debut novel by Sarah Addison Allen, so I thought I'd find out more about her.

Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina she has a B.A in English Literature which she describes as like "being able to major in eating chocolate". Her father is a retired journalist and she credits him as the reason she became a writer. Meanwhile Sarah's great aunt tried to shape her and her sister into ladies, but in Sarah's words "we're just a little bit wild". Possibly like their mother who, aged fifty, dyed her hair red and got her nose pierced.

Sarah started writing seriously in 1994 and although she sold a few small things, it wasn't until twelve years later in 2006 that Garden Spells was sold. It was supposed to be a simple story, not magical at all, "but then the apple tree started throwing apples". It has been released in fourteen countries.

The Sugar Queen is her new book (already out in the US) but it isn't a continuation of Garden Spells. She does mention however, the possibility of a sequel or prequel to Garden Spells in the future. In 2009 her third book, Quintessential Carolina: Barbecue and Cake will be released.

She has a lovely shiny website where I got a lot of this information. Check out the home page - it made me crave a Wham bar.

Related posts: Spotlight archive

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 18, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (8)

BOOK NEWS: The Senator's Wife

I haven't read anything by Sue Miller before, but as a fan of The West Wing, I am drawn to anything mildly related to American politics. The Senator's Wife has been on my radar for some time so I thought I'd find out more.

Meri, a thirty six year old tomboy, married recently to Nathan, moves from their comfortable existence in the mid west, to a college town in New England. When they find their new house Meri is worried about the expense but Nathan is delighted that they are living next door to distinguished senator Tom Naughton. The Senator is nowehere to be seen, but Meri strikes up an unexpected friendship with his elegant wife, Delia.

Meri is drawn to Delia, she is elegant and poised and learns much from her about marriage, love and motherhood. But as she is drawn in, she also comes closer to a terrible breach of trust, which could just about ruin everything. It is out in paperback now.

Book news archives

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 18, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 17, 2008 2:10 PM

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: You Must Read This

You know we love Jen Lancaster here at Trashionista, so I was tres excited to hear that she read an essay on prestigious US radio show, All Things Considered. Listen to it (and read it) here.

It's part of what I think is a brilliant series - You Must Read This, in which authors recommend their favourite books. Featured authors include Marisa de los Santos (whose Belong To Me I am currently ADORING), Julie Powell and Curtis Sittenfeld.

Posted by Aigua Media on June 17, 2008 in American Authors | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Don't Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoes by Dixie Cash

Now this is an odd one. Dixie Cash is a pseudonym for two Southern sisters (one of whom is named, interestingly, Jeffery). Don't Make Me Choose ... is the fourth in a series featuring the "Domestic Equalizers" - two friends who are hairdressers with a sideline in private investigation.

So. The Domestic Equalizers are Debbie Sue Overstreet and Edwina Perkins-Martin and, in this book, they've been invited to New York to speak at the National Association of Private Investigators convention. Also attending the convention is Celina, a librarian from another small Texas town, who's always harboured ambitions to be a PI herself.

And then. Stuff happens. Okay, er, Debbie Sue and Edwina befriend Celina and they attend some of the conference. Plus Celina meets a hot policeman who the other two aren't sure can be trusted. And somewhere in New York there is a serial killer targeting prostitutes.

To use footballing terminology (sort of), this is a book of two halves. For the 150 pages, practically nothing happens in painstaking detail. Usually I would have stopped reading, but the writing is pretty engaging and I really liked the character of Celina and wanted to find out what happened to her.

The rest of the book loads happens, but I found it utterly unconvincing. Debbie Sue and Edwina are caricatures and I just didn't believe in them. Yes, it's far-fetched and kind of a farce, but it should still be convincing. I mean, Lula in the Evanovich books is over-the-top, but I totally believe in her.  I didn't believe in Debbie Sue and Edwina for a minute (I also struggled to keep straight which was which). That's probably why I liked Celina, because she seemed like a person, rather than a character. I ended up scanning the rest of the book and getting more and more irritated with the women's daffy behaviour.

And yet I'm giving it 3/5. I thought about giving it a 2, but when I think about this book, I think about it with fondness, rather than irritation, presumably due to the first half or the character of Celina. I don't know, it's not an exact science (that's for sure). So to sum up? It could have been really good. It wasn't. But it also could have been a lot worse. Hmmm. Maybe give Celina her own series..?

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Posted by Aigua Media on June 17, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Series | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 16, 2008 10:50 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins

Reviewed by Jill Hart

[Make sure you read to the end of the review, since we have five copies of The Pemberley Chronicles to give away! - Keris]

Have you been longing to know what happens to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy after the wedding? The answer has arrived. The The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins picks up where Jane Austen left off.

The book begins seven weeks after the wedding and finds Lizzie happily at Pemberley. She has endeared herself already as the new mistress of Pemberley and has acquainted herself with her duties and obligations as such. Life marches on and the author gives you glimpses, just as Austen did, into both the trivial as well as major events that take place in the lives of all the beloved Pride and Prejudice characters.

It's an enjoyable read and I was satisfied with most the events the author placed in the lives of Austen's characters. My one main complaint is the overwhelming praise of Mr. Darcy all through Part One. It got to the point that I literally skipped entire sections that rambled on and on about all of his wonderful qualities. It almost seemed that Collins was trying to make up for all of the insults Darcy receives in Pride and Prejudice. It was, however, very distracting and took away from the quality of the story.

That aside, I relished being back in Jane Austen's world. Collins' did a great job of staying true to the characters that we all fell in love with in Pride and Prejudice. It's definitely worth reading.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try A Walk With Jane Austen by Lori Smith

To be in with a chance of winning one of five copies, email editor@trashionista.com with your name and address and "Pemberley" in the subject line, before midnight GMT 30 June. This comp's only open to US entrants, I'm afraid.

Posted by Aigua Media on June 16, 2008 in American Authors, Classic Novels, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (8)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen

It was with great excitement that I went to a book signing of Tess Gerritsen for The Bone Garden some months ago. She didn't disappoint either. Instead of reading an extract from her book she gave us some background information into what gave her the idea for the book and being a writer myself I found it fascinating. I also found the subject matter fascinating, even if I felt a little squeamish at times.

Julia Hamill has been digging in the garden in her new house, when she managed to uncover bones. With the help of the elderly Henry Page, a relative of the women who used to live in Julia's house, they uncover the history of what happened in 1830's Boston including who the bones belong to and the story of the West End Reaper.

In the 1830's Rose Connolly's sister has just died from Child Bed Fever or Puerperal Fever (which is what Tess talked to us about, along with resurectionsists to demonstrate how she got the idea for the novel). It is an epidemic not just in Boston, but in hospitals the world over. Women would go into the hospital, give birth and whilst the baby would be fine, they would not. Incidentally if you are thinking this is not the best book to be reading whilst pregnant, like I am, you are probably right. But I carried on anyway. I couldn't help it, I was gripped.

Child Bed Fever is not the main part of the story, it is the back drop. Whilst her sister was dying, Rose came across a medical student called Norris Marshall and when the West End Reaper pays a visit, their lives become entwined. I am not going to say anymore as this is a murder mystery and I wouldn't like to give anything away.

It wasn't just the subject matter, which added layers and dimension to the story and bizarrely made this novel so much more enjoyable, it was the actual plot itself. There have been times - even with some of Tess's other books, where I have guessed the outcome but for this one I had absolutely no idea. There were twists and turns aplenty and because I was enjoying the book so much I didn't have time to work out who the killer was.

I thought this book was brilliant, her best yet and I have no hesitation at all in giving it five out of five.

A word of warning about Tess Gerritsen books though. Tess is a doctor. She knows human bodies. There are killers in her books and she has a very good knack at description. If you are of a sensitive disposition you may not want to read her books. If you aren't. Give them a try.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Reincarnationist by MJ Rose

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 16, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 13, 2008 4:02 PM

Meg Cabot video

I know we've featured loads of these Meg videos, but they always make me so happy! This one's not new, but I managed to miss it when it first went online, so maybe you did too?

Posted by Keris on June 13, 2008 in American Authors | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: Devilish by Maureen Johnson

I've been struggling a bit with books lately, I have to admit. I haven't found anything that's completely gripped me for a couple of weeks (which is a long time for me!). So I ordered myself a Maureen Johnson because I knew that would do the trick. And it did.

I picked Devilish, mainly because of Sarah's rave, but also because I thought it sounded very intriguing: a teenage girl selling her soul to the devil? Great idea.

Jane and Allison have been best friends for years. Attending St Teresa's Preparatory School for Girls, neither is popular, but that doesn't matter because they've got each other. That is until new girl Lanalee turns up and takes a shiny to Allison. And then Allison's personality and looks completely change and she's no longer interested in being friends with Jane.

Yes, Allison's sold her soul to the devil and it's down to Jane to save her.

This book was just what I needed: funny, clever, page-turning. It made me miss Buffy and it made me wish it had been turned into a TV series, instead of the similar, but inferior, Reaper.

In future, I'll always turn to Maureen Johnson in times of reading need (although she'd better write quicker because there's only two books of hers I haven't yet read!).

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Golden by Jennifer Lynn Barnes or Jinx by Meg Cabot

Posted by Keris on June 13, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)

June 11, 2008 11:50 AM

BOOK REVIEW: One Night Stand by Julie Cohen

As a relative Trashionista newbie I am learning all the time. Not to judge a book by its cover, a cliche but true and not to have preconceived views about certain books. I don't know why, but I thought  Little Black Dress books would be romance but with a submissive heroine...not my sort of thing at all (where have I been?) So I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got around to reading One Night Stand by Julie Cohen. I don't often admit to being wrong, but I do today.

One Night Stand is about Eleanor Connor, a bartender with a secret life. She writes erotic novels under the pen name Estelle May. So far she has written sixteen of them and is currently struggling with her seventeenth. Her own life, however, is a lot paler in compassion, with nothing happening and certainly nothing like the lives of the women in her novels. Until one night a stranger walks into the bar.

Slightly tipsy, Eleanor acts completely out of the ordinary and has a one night stand, something her friend and neighbour Hugh has on a regular basis, but definitely not something she has ever done. Then she finds out she's pregnant.

I did enjoy this book. I loved Eleanor. I loved that she was successful, was independent and when faced with the news that she was pregnant took it in her stride. Hugh was also a great hero, though both of them were a bit dipsy at times, and the tension mounting between the two of them was extremely well written. There is also plenty of humour and great observations about English pub life and living in Reading (Julie herself is American). I read it in day, it's a real page turner and never frustrating.

So, I have learned my lesson and will read more of both Julie Cohen's and Little Black Dress books in the future.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Hex and the Single Girl by Valerie Frankel

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 11, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (8)

June 10, 2008 8:04 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

I absolutely loved Jen Lancaster's first two books, so much so that, when this, her latest, arrived, I gave a little squeal, did a happy dance, started it immediately and pretty much didn't look up again until I'd finished.

Such a Pretty Fat is, as the title suggests, a memoir of Jen's attempted weightloss. Because she has such a healthy ego, Jen's weight has never really been a problem for her, but when she realises that it's possibly becoming a problem for her health (and also, of course, when an author friend suggests it might be a good subject to write about, she decides it's time to step away from the pie and step onto a treadmill.

Because Jen is Jen, of course things don't go smoothly, but that's good, because the book is even funnier the more honest Jen is about her failures and struggles with eating less and moving more.

Jen Lancaster is one of those writers that you feel like you know. I loved Such a Pretty Fat and will certainly be passing it on to all my friends. I just can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

(I just read on Jen's blog that her next book is to be called Pretty in Plaid. But what's it about, Jen? What's it about?!)

 

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by Shauna Reid

Posted by Aigua Media on June 10, 2008 in American Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (10)

June 9, 2008 12:09 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Chocolate Mouse Trap by Joanna Carl

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

The Chocolate Mouse Trap is the fifth book in The Chocoholic Mysteries series by JoAnna Carl. This is the first one I have read and I was very curious how Carl was going to mix chocolate and murder mysteries. The combination sounded as though it could be delicious or nauseating (personally I suspected the latter).

This book (and I am guessing the others, due to her frequent reminiscences of past murders) revolves around Lee Mckinney who works in her aunt's chocolate shop. After meeting a party planner, Julie, that has passed some business her way, she is now being inundated by her "inspirational"€™ emails. That is until Julie'€™s killed.

When all the people on her emailing list are plagued with computer problems and then more attacks start to happen, Lee feels she has to investigate. Why would a harmless food industry emailing list be the target of an attacker? She'€™s determined to find out, even if it means risking her own life.

I have to say, this book is quite bizarre. It's basically a cosy murder mystery, but Carl inserts these chocolate quotes between chapters and I wouldn't like to be caught with her main character Lee, when she'€™s on a chocolate lecture. All she has to do is name a chocolate and you get a detailed description of it after. It is all an extremely strange idea and definitely not very good to read while you are trying to diet. I bought 2 bars of chocolate in a day because of this book! Or perhaps that'€™s the idea and she gets commission from a chocolate company!

Overall, the basic book is a good one, it kept me interested, and although the pace did tend to lag occasionally, I thought it was a good read. I just found all the chocolate facts and details to be a bit strange, but then there must be a chocoholic market out there as this is the fifth in the series.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try The Forever Summer by Suzanne Macpherson

Posted by Aigua Media on June 9, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 3/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 6, 2008 11:00 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Queen of Babble Gets Hitched

I wasn't wild about the first Queen of Babble book, but I liked the second one very much. The third? The third, I loved!

I can't say much about the plot in case you haven't read the earlier books. Book two annoyed some by ending on a cliffhanger, but that didn't bother me at all. I guess it depends on whether you already feel that you've committed to reading a series which, since it's Meg Cabot, I had.

So Lizzie is in New York and working in wedding dress restoration. Her love life is complicated and, thanks to the success of the business, her working life is becoming complicated too. She's not entirely sure what she wants, but she - and the reader - are confident she's going to get it.

In Queen of Babble in the Big City I said that Lizzie reminded me of Becky Bloomwood, but I didn't notice that so much in this book. Lizzie manages to be sweet and naive, while not coming across as an idiot, a feat that I'm not convinced Sophie Kinsella always manages to pull off with Becky.

While I ended up loving Lizzie, the strength of the Queen of Babble series is the supporting characters. From Lizzie's foul-mouthed gran to Chaz, Shari and, in the second two books, Tiffany the former receptionist who, for me, had all the laugh-out-loud lines in Queen of Babble Gets Hitched. (I also loved gum-chewing, knickerless heiress Ava Geck ... now just who could have been the inspiration for that character?!).

All in all, I loved this book and I'm sorry we won't be hearing more about Lizzie Nicholls.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Posted by Aigua Media on June 6, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (11)

June 5, 2008 10:11 AM

BOOK REVIEW: I like You: Hospitality under the Influence by Amy Sedaris

Reviewed by Diane Shipley (remember her?!)

I'd like to nominate Amy Sedaris as the anti-Martha Stewart. Although Amy has written a guide to entertaining and hospitality, it could possibly put any serious "homemakers" into an early grave. Like her brother David (who I love!) actress/author/comedian Amy is witty, intelligent... and more than a little strange.

I Like You... is made up of 29 chapters, giving advice on putting together different types of parties and get-togethers, from wakes to brunch. Plus there are recipes for quick and tasty meals for one and a number of cakes and desserts which sound positively mouth-watering. (Sedaris clearly knows her stuff: she has her own cupcake company in New York.)

Sometimes I couldn't work out whether the author was serious, such as when she talks about bringing home a group of Japanese business men she didn't know and cooking for them, or when she recommends holding impromptu twenty-five cent sales during a dinner party. But despite the sardonic tone, all of the recipes here are genuine and Sedaris is clearly enthusiastic about entertaining.

Unfortunately, the book reminded me of all the reasons I don't enjoy cooking or throwing parties (the effort, the clean-up, the small talk!) but that's a personal thing. It also made me laugh when Sedaris said she loved being a waitress, and would always rather eat at home than eat out. Reverse both those statements and you have my views exactly!

I do wonder if the wit and irony of the book might perhaps turn off people who don't realise the recipes should be taken entirely seriously. It might be better to have skipped the information on the best way to douche (!) and have made a few more concessions to conventionality... Also (picky, much?) I'd have preferred the book in an A3 format, that could have been laid flat so it was easier to follow the instructions. (I imagine...)

Despite a few reservations (and the caveat that this book is not for the easily offended!) I'd definitely recommend I Like You as a refreshingly modern guide to entertaining; an alternative to the likes of Martha Stewart and Delia Smith, who take it all too seriously for my liking.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

Posted by Aigua Media on June 5, 2008 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 4, 2008 11:24 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

I've had Garden Spells in my possession for some time now, but it has taken me ages to get around to it. I think the reason why I was put off reading it was because there is a sticker on the front saying "Adored Chocolat? Be enchanted by Garden Spells." The thing is, I didn't adore Chocolat. I found it hard to get into and actually gave up on it. I guess I felt Garden Spells would be the same and it just felt like hard work. But then I opened it.

Garden Spells is the story of the Waverley women in North Carolina and the magical house they have lived in for generations. The flowers that grow in the garden are used by Claire in her catering business and they are known throughout Bascom to have magical properties. Then there is the apple tree. Eating one of its apples - and the tree is insistent that you will - creates visions.

Claire lives on her own in the Waverley house visited often by old Evanelle, a distant relative and the only other Waverley left in Bascom. Evanelle has a gift for giving people objects when they don't even know they'll need them. The peace is interrupted by Claire's new neighbour Tyler along with the return of her long lost sister, Sydney, bringing with her a young daughter and a secret.

I really have the urge to gush with this novel, I enjoyed it so much. It was evocative, engaging,  magical, warm, inspiring, romantic. It was an enchanting feast of a fairy tale for women. I completely believed in it, I still do.

Sarah's descriptions transported me into the garden and it felt like I was there watching the story unfold before me. She has such a beautiful way of writing, "it smelled strongly of lavender and peppermint, like walking into a Christmas memory that didn't belong to her," that the book is simply a pleasure to read.

I can't wait to read her next book, The Sugar Queen, which is out now in the US and 7 August in the UK. I will definitely read that one straight away.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Chocolat (I'm going to give it another go)

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 4, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (9)

June 3, 2008 12:40 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

I've been hearing about Sarah Dessen's books for years now, but I hadn't read one until The Truth About Forever.

It's the story of Macy, who is trying to keep it together following her dad's death (which she secretly feels she could have prevented). Macy's way of dealing is to keep her life very small and controlled and everything's going fine until her boyfriend suggests they take a break (he's not sure Macy is in line with his future "goals"), she gets a new job that she hates and she meets a chaotic catering crew who are always looking for extra help.

Liking the fact that when she's with the Wish caterers, she's just Macy and not Macy-whose-dad-died, she starts spending more and more time with them, particularly the gorgeous Wes. She and Wes enter into a game of truth and become closer and closer, sharing their secrets, but it's still safe because they both have partners (Wes's girlfriend is in prison).

But Macy had to have learned her coping strategy from someone and it was her mother who, when she realises how much time Macy is spending with her new friends, takes back some control of her own.

I loved this book. I liked Macy from the first page and the Wish crew are charming and hilarious. Wes is extremely sexy and charismatic and the book is filled with little details - about art, family, emotion, friendship, letting go and moving on - that are so brilliantly and subtlely woven into the story that you barely notice them until you finish reading and realise how utterly satisfying it all was. Although Macy and her family are sad, this isn't a sad book at all; in fact it's a very positive book. I'll definitely be reading more Sarah Dessen.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Posted by Aigua Media on June 3, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (13)

May 30, 2008 9:03 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello

Even though I also write for our sister site, The Bag Lady, I must admit I knew very little about the Hermes Birkin bag before reading Michael Tonello's book. I knew it was an "It" bag, with a waiting list. I knew that Victoria Beckham has loads of them. I knewLogan bought one for Rory in Gilmore Girls. And ... that's it.

Michael Tonello knew even less about them than me, but it didn't stop him becoming an enormously successful Birkin reseller, managing to get hundreds of the bags without joining any waiting list. How? 

Well ... after moving to Barcelona, Tonello's job fell through. Stuck in Spain with no work permit, he had to find a way to work for himself. Trying to make some fast cash, he sold some of his stuff on ebay and was surprised to find how much he could get for Hermes gear in particular. Starting with scarves, he trawled Barcelona's Hermes stores for old stock, i.e. collectables, and was amazed to find he was making a huge profit.

Through those sales he made contact with a number of Hermes collectors who advised him on what to look out for and before long he was travelling all over Europe and selling Hermes on ebay full time. Since he'd developed wish lists for his clients, Tonello had begun to learn about the mythic Birkin bag and, after a while, decided to try and get his hands on one.

At first his requests were met with rudeness, but soon he developed a (ridiculously simple) formula and the Birkins started coming thick and fast. (One of the photo captions states that Hermes claim to only make 100 Birkins per year: "If that were truly the case it would mean that I bought the entire annual production that year - and then some!" comments Michael.)

Despite being unfamiliar with the Birkin, I found this book a hugely entertaining read. Tonello is a funny and charming writer and his Birkin-gathering life was so glamorous I got completely caught up in it (and enormously envious of the fabulous hotels he stayed in, the incredible food he ate, the amazing wine he drank... sigh). It's the kind of book that's so accessible, you miss the author when you've finished reading.

It's not just about a bag, it's about taking chances, seizing the moment, truly living your life. I loved it. (But it hasn't made me want a Birkin. I prefer the Chloe Bay...)

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Shops by India Knight (nothing like it, really, but still great)

Posted by Aigua Media on May 30, 2008 in American Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (4)

May 23, 2008 11:39 AM

FRIDAY FLICK: Runaway Jury

The Runaway Jury by John Grisham is, by far, my favourite Grisham book. I went through a period of reading all of his books and this is the one that stood out. I was extremely anxious then when I heard they were making a film of the book and substantial changes were going to be made. Why do they do that?

If you have never read any of Grisham's books, you should know that most of them are about law and lawyers and plaintiffs and juries all woven into a tight, juicy plot. The Runaway Jury - the book - is about a woman taking a large fictional tobacco company to court claiming that her husband's premature death was because of the cigarette manufacturers. Runaway Jury - the film - changes substantially in that the cigarette manufacturers are replaced by firearms dealers. As I was a big fan of the book, could the film have the same effect on me?

The basic premise of the film is the same. There is a jury consultant (Gene Hackman) who can communicate illegally through jury selection with the defence attorneys. One of the potential jurors is Nicholas Easter (John Cusack) who works in a video game store and tries to get out of jury duty. The judge refuses and he is picked. What starts off routinely, then becomes odd. The jury start to behave strangely, someone is controlling them and soon it appears they can be bought...

When a book is adapted you can't expect every single detail to appear in the film. It's impossible. In Runaway Jury the film, there are irritating departures from the book. There are gaps in the plot and often a lack of realism. If you have read the book and want to watch this film, pretend you've never read it and in return enjoy a tense, slick and exciting thriller.

Related posts: Friday Flick archives

Posted by Helen Redfern on May 23, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (3)

May 22, 2008 8:56 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

A reader recommended Eloisa James's books a while ago, but I didn't think they were quite my thing. Even when I was sent this book, I looked at the cover, laughed, and thought I don't think so... And then I started reading it and I absolutely adored it.

Set in 1783, Jemma, Duchess of Beaumont has returned to London (and her husband) from Paris (and her lover(s)), but she's not planning to settle down, that's for sure. She fully intends to be just as independent and shocking in London as she was in Paris. And then a distant cousin, Lady Roberta, comes to stay. Roberta has fallen for the dastardly Duke of Villiers at first sight and wants Jemma's help in seducing and marrying him.

After giving Roberta a foxy makeover, Jemma challenges Villiers to a chess match, hoping to humiliate him as revenge for his dishonouring of another friend's husband and also mindful of the fact that if he falls for and marries Roberta, that will be the ultimate humiliation (Jemma's not a fan of marriage).

By the way, in the late 18th Century, chess was considered dramatic and sexy and wildly exciting. How things change, eh?

There's also Jemma's brother Damon who, while not quite as shocking as his sister, does have an illegitimate child and a bit of a reputation. Although perhaps he's just been looking for the right woman. And he thinks he's found her in Roberta.

There's a quote from chick lit author Carole Matthews on the back of this book: "Sheer joy from beginning to end" and she's absolutely right. I read it avidly and often with a massive grin on my face. It's charming, cheeky, funny and sexy and I know I'll re-read it in the future. And of course I'll definitely be reading more of Eloisa James's books. Highly recommended (even if you don't think it looks like your kind of thing!).

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Crossed Bones by Jane Johnson ("Don’t worry; there’s not a ripped bodice or heaving bosom anywhere," said Sarah in her review. There's both in Desperate Duchesses.)

Posted by Aigua Media on May 22, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Romance, Series | Permalink | Comments (7)

May 20, 2008 11:10 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

Two chapters in to Elizabeth Scott's third book, Stealing Heaven, I made myself a cup of tea, kicked off my shoes, piled cushions up behind myself, put my feet up on the sofa and settled in for the long haul.

Danielle has grown up travelling around the country, helping her mother rob wealthy homes. She's never had a real friend, never had a boyfriend, or a real home, she didn't even attend high school.

But when she and her mum arrive in the beach town of Heaven, Danielle finds herself starting to change. First she meets a girl who she feels she could be friends with. Then she meets a man who she feels she could be more with, but unthinkingly she not only tells him her real name, he sees her car, he knows where she lives ... and he's a cop.

While Danielle is trying to stop herself becoming too fond of Heaven, her mother is scoping out the local houses to find which one to burgle. Of course, the best prospect belongs to the family of Danielle's first friend.

But that's not the family's only worry - Danielle's mother has a cough, a really bad cough...

I LOVED Elizabeth Scott's first two books - Bloom and Perfect You - and now that Stealing Heaven has made it three in a row, I'm very excited to read her next, Living Dead Girl.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Either Bloom or Perfect You!

Posted by Aigua Media on May 20, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (8)

May 19, 2008 9:13 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: Did I Expect Angels? by Kathryn Maughan

I didn't know what to expect from Kathryn Maughan's Did I Expect Angels? I'm not a big fan of the title or the cover, they both seem a little pretentious to me. Of course, the fact that it's about grief wasn't a big draw either. You know what I'm going to say now, don't you? Yeah, I really liked it.

It begins with Jennifer Huffaker in the pharmacy trying to decide how many bottles of aspirin it will take for her to kill herself. Following the death of her husband, Jack, eighteen months earlier, Jennifer has sunk into a depression that no-one - not her family, friends, or her young daughter, Kaitlyn, can get her out of.

But in the store, she bumps an acquaintance, Henry, who senses her desperation and insists that she come with him and listen to his story. Henry moved from Costa Rica to the US and has suffered many trials and setbacks of his own.

Alternating with Henry's story is Jennifer's own story - the story of her relationship with Jack.

Did I Expect Angels? is not just an utterly compelling story, it's two utterly compelling stories. I found Jennifer's story hard to read since I knew, from the first page, that Jack was going to die and so it was hard to enjoy their happiness. Henry's story was difficult too, but I was desperate for him to succeed and find happiness in the US.

Above all, it's just beautifully written and I'm amazed that it's Maughan's first novel. I look forward to reading her next.

Ratng: 4/5

Like this? Try Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

Posted by Aigua Media on May 19, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, More On Monday, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (5)

May 16, 2008 1:08 PM

BOOK NEWS: The new queen of fantasy?

Harry Potter has been knocked off the number one bestseller position in the United States by Stephenie Meyer. Described as a "teetotal Mormon mother of three" she has sold seven million copies of her books about high school vampires.

In an article about Meyer, The Times believes she is building a convincing claim to be the heir to J.K Rowling's crown. Time Magazine has listed her in its list of the top one hundred most influential people in the world.

Related posts: Twilight Trailer | Movie Magic: Twilight

Posted by Helen Redfern on May 16, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (3)

FRIDAY FLICK: The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption is taken from the Stephen King collection of novellas, Different Seasons. This isn't a scary Stephen King book or film. Instead it is a story of, well, wrongful imprisonment for a start, but also hope, integrity and, funnily enough, redemption. The first time I watched it,as a student, I turned my nose up, but from the beginning I was hooked. When I watched it again a few weeks ago, once more I was sucked into the story.

It is 1947 and Andy Dufresne (played brilliantly by Tim Robbins), a young banker, is wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He is sent to the notorious Shawshank State Prison where he meets Red (Morgan Freeman) who is actually the narrator of the story. Red is a man who can get things, and after about a month Andy asks him for a rock hammer as he is into rock carving.

Andy is not your typical prisoner. He is a caring man, not hardened and claims, to the disbelief of his fellow inmates, that he is innocent. He is calm, patient and mild-mannered, initially seen as weak, but proves himself to be anything other than.  He is targeted by a gang called "The Sisters" and is attacked by them for a few years.  Andy never loses hope though and gradually life for Andy in the prison improves as he becomes useful to the warden.

The acting of  Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman along with all the other actors is excellent. The portrayal of the brutal conditions inside the prison is often uncomfortable viewing but stick with it. It has an excellent ending. One of the best, if not the best, I have ever seen in a film.

Realted posts: Friday Flick archives

Posted by Helen Redfern on May 16, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (6)

May 15, 2008 1:08 PM

BOOK REVIEW: A Walk With Jane Austen by Lori Smith

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Part history, part armchair travel-guide, and part memoir, A Walk With Jane Austen by Lori Smith put my travel bug in overdrive. Being a big Jane Austen fan, I can easily imagine what it might be like to walk where she once lived. A Walk With Jane Austin gave me a glimpse of the UK from the comfort of my couch (well, LoveSac actually).

When Smith decided to travel to Britain, she was looking for a change of scenery and a chance of pace from her hectic life. Smith heads 'across the pond', and begins her journey in Oxford. She continues on to London, Winchester, Bath and beyond. Throughout the trip, she shares thoughts and feelings straight from her heart.

In Oxford she meets Jack, who she finds intriguing and charming. In London, she visits an old friend and writes about the terrorism that is all over the news these days. In each chapter she shares how she's processing her journey and how her faith is being stretched, expanded and deepened.

Mixed in amongst her experiences, Smith shares the parts of Austen's life that took place in each location. She notes that in Oxford, where her journey began, was also where it's thought that George and Cassandra Austen, Jane's parents, met. In Steventon, Smith discusses that this, or something nearby, is Jane Austen's birthplace. The story intermingles with Austen history and it's a fun walk through time. The book also has a deeper dimension, where Smith shares her inmost thoughts and feelings.

Smith's book began as a blog where she wrote about her experiences. In the preface, she mentions that on the blog she often received questions from readers as to whether the entries were fictional or not. She makes mention that it's very much a work of non-fiction, although having been written after the trip from her extensive journaling, she may have added some additional perspective in hindsight.

Put altogether, the book does read like a novel and knowing that it's not makes it an ever better read in my opinion. I identified with Smith in many ways and found myself wishing I had been traveling along with her. Maybe she'll take another trip and invite me along? Hey, a girl can dream...

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Madonna and Me by Nikki Racklin

Posted by Aigua Media on May 15, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (8)

May 14, 2008 12:03 PM

MOVIE NEWS: Twilight trailer

I haven't read Twilight yet, but I've heard such good things that I'm already looking forward to the movie. Check out the trailer: 

It's rather low-key, don't you think? But I LOVE the ending.

Posted by Aigua Media on May 14, 2008 in American Authors, Movie News, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (8)

May 13, 2008 2:55 PM

BOOK NEWS: The Safety of Secrets

Despite my obsession with book covers, I've never before even thought about book cover photo shoots (yes, am I *that* dense!)

But if you click here, you can watch a short video about the photo shoot for Delaune Michel's book, The Safety of Secrets.

We'll have more from Ms Michel later this month (including our first ever live chat!), but in the meantime, we have five copies of The Safety of Secrets to give away. Find out more over the cut.

This time, the competition is open to US entrants only, I'm afraid. To enter, please email editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with "Safety of Secrets" in the subject line. Don't forget to include your name and address.

The competition closes at 12 midnight GMT on 31 May.

Posted by Aigua Media on May 13, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers, Competition | Permalink | Comments (6)

BOOK REVIEW: Lottery by Patricia Wood

I'd heard good things about Patricia Wood's Lottery long before it was shortlisted for the Orange Prize, but once I saw it was on the shortlist, I knew I had to read it.

It's the story of Perry L Cranall who is "not retarded". He knows this because you have to have an IQ under 75 to be retarded and his IQ is 76. He lives simply and happily with his Gram and works in a marine supply store. But when Gram dies, everything changes for Perry. His awful family sell Gram's house from under him and leave him with practically nothing.

But then Perry wins $12 million on the Washington State Lottery. Funnily enough, his family soon becomes much more concerned about his welfare, but fortunately Perry has friends - and his own Gram-taught sense and values on his side.

I loved Lottery. Perry reminded me of a cross between Forrest Gump and Christopher in Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.

The characters never seemed like characters, they seemed like real people. And I loathed Perry's family so much that I almost had to stop reading. It's a sweet, funny, charming, moving book and a very well-deserved Orange Prize nominee. (The winner is announced 4 June.)

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

Posted by Aigua Media on May 13, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (6)

May 9, 2008 11:19 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks be E Lockhart

I've loved all of E Lockhart's books, but I have to admit I was a bit afraid to read her latest, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, since a couple of friends whose opinions I respect really didn't like it at all. Well, I don't respect their opinions anymore*, since I loved it.

Frankie attends the exclusive boarding school that her father and sister (and father's father, etc.) attended before her. When she started there, she was in her sister's shadow, but now that her sister has left - and Frankie has experienced some physical "blooming" - things are looking up.

* only joking.

Frankie is thrilled when her long-time crush and star of the school, Matthew Livingston, suddenly notices her and they begin dating. She's not so thrilled when she realises that Matthew is lying to her in order to hang out and plan pranks with the all male secret society of which he's a member.

Frankie refuses to let Matthew and his friends underestimate her and so decides to carry out a few pranks of her own with startling results.

From the first page I loved this book. I loved the character of Frankie and her refusal to be patronised. I loved how she co-opted a boys' club and had them all under her control without them ever suspecting her. There are plenty of feminist characters in young adult fiction, but I find them to be more overtly feminist (yet not stridently so) in E Lockhart's books.

While I didn't love this as much as the Ruby Oliver books (like this one and this one - and there's another coming soon!) - the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds reminded me a bit too much of the Life and Death Brigade in Gilmore Girls and there's a running joke about language that I found a bit irritating - it's yet another addition to my brilliant YA bookshelf. If E Lockhart just wrote about nine more books a year, she could give Meg Cabot a run for her money!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund

Posted by Aigua Media on May 9, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

May 8, 2008 10:05 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Sisterchicks Go Brit by Robin Jones Gunn

Reviewed by Jill Hart

It's official. I want to be a SisterChick when I grow up. I hope I might be so lucky. Robin Jones Gunn's SisterChick series is centered around the lives of two "midlife mamas", Elizabeth (Liz) and Kellie. The two friends have been through ups and downs together and know each other almost well enough to read the other's thoughts.

Sisterchicks Go Brit, the seventh book in the series, finds Liz and Kellie on their way to see Big Ben. How they end up traveling to the UK is a story in itself, but I'll leave that a mystery because what's best about the book is what's in the middle - the trip itself. The gals visit all of the places I'd like to go if I were cross the pond - the old haunts of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, the sights and sounds of London, shopping at Portabella Road in Knotting Hill. Ahhh, I could envision myself alongside them as they bopped from place to place. (And bop they did.)

Liz and Kellie have quite a journey. They are spectators at a village pancake race, taken on a whirlwind tour of British authors sites, and even end up in a hot air balloon. If that isn't enough, one of them manages to get herself pulled aside for questioning on The Underground.

I've read many of Gunn's other books, but I actually jumped into this series with this book. Even though I didn't have a lot of background on the characters, the book was enjoyable and held it's own. Although these mamas are middle-aged I still related to them and laughed with them along the way. I liked the book enough that I've already gone out and found myself a copy of the first book so that I can start from the beginning and experience life through the eyes of the two hilarious chicks. I almost forgot to mention, Gunn includes a bonus for her fans in the back of the book. She shares pictures and thoughts of her own trip to the UK as well as an excerpt from the Sisterchicks devotional, Take Flight.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try I Heart Bloomberg by Melody Carlson

Posted by Aigua Media on May 8, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (5)

May 6, 2008 11:29 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Names My Sisters Call Me by Megan Crane

I remember reading a review of one of Lisa Jewell's books that described it as "emotionally intelligent" and that's what I kept thinking as I was reading Megan Crane's fourth book, Names My Sisters Call Me.

The story of three sisters - Norah, Raine and Courtney - I found it intelligent, emotional and wise, but that's not to suggest it's a serious read, it's also extremely entertaining and I found it hard to put down.

The book begins with the youngest, Courtney's, lovely boyfriend Lucas proposing. Thrilled, Courtney realises she wants her middle sister, Raine - who neither she nor the eldest, Norah, have seen since Raine disgraced herself at Norah's wedding - at her wedding.

So Courtney travels to San Francisco to reconcile with Raine. Of course, there's also the small fact that, before Raine ran away, Courtney was dating - and madly in love with - Raine's friend Matt, who went to San Francisco with her. Is it Raine Courtney wants to reconcile with - or is it Matt?

I've enjoyed each of Megan Crane's books more than the last and Names My Sisters Call Me was no exception. The relationships between the three sisters are perfectly drawn and emotional and infuriating in equal measure.

Fabulous.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

Posted by Aigua Media on May 6, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (4)

May 1, 2008 1:49 PM

BRAND NEW BOOK NEWS: Postcards From Yo Momma

Blook news! Doree Shafrir and Jessica Grose have bagged a book deal based on their blog of mom emails, Postcards from Yo Momma.

Hyperion editor Gretchen Young bought the book at auction and is planning to market it as a Mother's Day gift book.

[Via Galleycat]

Related posts: Judging panel for Blooker Prize | From blog to book

Posted by Sarah Painter on May 1, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Non Fiction, You heard it here first! | Permalink | Comments (17)

BOOK REVIEW: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Like Amy I really enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's YA fantasy Twilight. New Moon is the follow up and it doesn't disappoint.

Bella Swan moved to rainy Forks to live with her dad. She fell in love with a vampire - Edward Cullens - who, luckily, is a 'good vampire' and has sworn off human blood. At the beginning of New Moon they are as in love as at the end of Twilight, but all that is about to change...

I really don't want to give any of the plot away - it's so brilliantly paced and inventive that I would hate to spoil it.

Still, I will say that New Moon is just as full of intrigue, adventure and heady, intense romance as Twilight. The wonderful character of Jacob Black is developed as he and Bella become best friends, and Meyer builds her world (a world in which mythical creatures live alongside us), layering it with more depth.

Yes, this is officially classed as a YA book - and it's (obviously) supernatural, but please don't let either of those facts put you off. This series (New Moon is followed by Eclipse) is just a good story, well told. Full stop.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Posted by Sarah Painter on May 1, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)

April 30, 2008 2:43 PM

MOVIE NEWS: An Invisible Sign Of My Own

Aimee Bender's novel An Invisible Sign Of My Own is being adapted for the big screen and America Ferrera has signed on for the starring role.

The quirky story is about a twenty-year-old loner, Mona Gray, who as a child turned to maths for salvation after her father became ill. As an adult, Mona teaches the subject and still relies on numbers to keep her world safe and ordered. Will love change that forever?

[Via Hollywood Reporter]

Related posts: Movie news archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 30, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (7)

April 29, 2008 11:41 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Candy Girl by Diablo Cody

I had to read Candy Girl after watching and completely ADORING the movie Juno, the screenplay of which was written by Diablo Cody.

Candy Girl is subtitled "a year in the life of an unlikely stripper" and does exactly what it says on the tin. After moving to Minneapolis, Cody was working in an advertising agency and living with a musician she met on the internet. Bored at work and passing a strip club one day, she wonders what it would be like to strip. And so she volunteers for amateur night.

Cody finds her first experience of stripping both terrifying and exhilarating and soon she's stripping regularly. From stripping she moves on to lapdancing, poledancing and more, eventually working in the Dollhouse, a revolting-sounding peepshow.

Cody's writing is enormously honest and entertaining, but even a couple of weeks after finishing the book, I haven't been able to work out what Cody got out of stripping. She suggests that she did it to challenge and frighten herself, but I didn't find that reasoning entirely convincing.

As I read the book, I argued with myself about whether I was for or against stripping - vacillating between it being a valid way to earn a good living by taking advantage of men's perversions and being, you know, a misogynist and patriarchal disgrace. By the end of Candy Girl I was totally resolved that it's a blight on society and no right-thinking woman should do it willingly. But, of course, I might be wrong.

Oh and remember when I read Good Vibrations and said there was one section that made me sick to my stomach? Well there's a bit in Candy Girl that's (arguably) even worse.

So Candy Girl is absolutely not for the faint-hearted, but it's a thought-provoking and entertaining read.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Good Vibrations by Ayn Carrillo

Posted by Aigua Media on April 29, 2008 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (10)

April 28, 2008 3:09 PM

BOOK NEWS: American Wife

I enjoyed Prep (although why it wasn't classed as YA chick lit was beyond me) and haven't read Curtis Sittenfeld's second novel The Man Of My Dreams, but I will certainly give American Wife a look.

It's out in September and is narrated by what sounds very much like a fictional version of Laura Bush. Alice Blackwell is married to a man who becomes president of America in 2000 -  even though his opponent receives more popular votes. 

Related posts: Curtis Sittenfeld - chick lit author? | If it's good it can't be chick lit

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 28, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (4)

April 25, 2008 12:26 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily

Lisa Daily is a relationships expert and columnist and Fifteen Minutes of Shame is her first novel. I was strangely put off by her day job since I assumed - incorrectly as it turned out - that Daily would simply transmit her nonfiction knowledge to a novel. In fact, Fifteen Minutes of Shame is fun, funny, gripping and moving.

Darby Vaughn - "America's favourite TV dating expert" - is happily married to Will, the love of her life and father to the other loves of her life - his two children from a previous marriage, Lilly and Aidan. Of  course, when I say Darby is happily married, what I mean is that she thought she was happily married but, as the book begins, we learn that Will is not so happy. In fact, Darby suspects that he's cheating and learns that she was right ... on national TV.

Humiliated, heartbroken and at risk of losing everything - not just her husband, but her kids, her house and her career - Darby retreats to stay with a friend and employs a divorce lawyer. A gorgeous divorce lawyer named, Holt. Yes, Holt.

Glossing over the name (Holt?), I loved Fifteen Minutes of Shame. I felt for Darby every second - her shock at Will's betrayal, her attempts to rebuild her life and career, and the pain of being separated from the children she loved, was raising and had come to think of as her own.

(The book raised a serious, and heartbreaking, point I'd never even thought of before - that of step-parents' rights. They don't have any, so you could feasibly spend years raising and loving children, split from their "natural" parent and not even have any right of visitation, let alone hope of any kind of custody.)

Some bits of the book didn't ring entirely true - I could have done without Darby's foray into reality show dating - but that was more than made up for by the character of Darby, who I felt like I knew. And then there's Holt - name aside, the man's a fox.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Marshmallows for Breakfast by Dorothy Koomson

Posted by Aigua Media on April 25, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (5)

Angels And Demons casting news

Remember we told you about the film adapation of Dan Brown's Angels And Demons?

Well, today the news is out that leading lady Ayelet Zurer (who?) is to be joined by the very lovely Ewan McGregor. He will play an insider at the Vatican who helps Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks).

[Via Empire]

Related posts: Bad Mother's Handbook casting news | Yet more Shopaholic casting

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 25, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (6)

April 24, 2008 5:16 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Susan Elizabeth Phillips has written historical romance, contemporary women's fiction and romantic comedy.

She received the Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 and has won numerous other awards including Borders Best, the American Library Association Genre Fiction Award,and a clutch of RITAs.

However, according to Susan's blog, she started to write "completely by accident".

Susan left her high school teaching job when her first son was born to stay at home. Her best friend lived nearby and the two used to swap books and talk about what they liked and didn't like.

One day, for a laugh, they decided to write a book together. They submitted the first half to Dell and got an offer. Just like that! Susan says: "I never tell this story at writers' luncheons for  fear I'll have to duck flying french rolls."

The book was historical romance, titled The Copeland Bride and published under the pen name Justine Cole.

Afterwards, Claire decided to follow her own ambition of attending law school.  However, Susan had well and truly been bitten by the writing bug and she set about learning how to write a book on her own.

The result was published under her real name - Susan Elizabeth Phillips - and she hasn't looked back since.

Susan lives in Illinois with her husband Bill. She has two grown up sons and is a keen walker.

Bibliography:

Risen, Glory (1984)
Glitter Baby (1987)
Fancy Pants (1989)
Hot Shot (1991)
Honey Moon (1993)
It Had To Be You (1994)
Heaven, Texas (1995)
Kiss an Angel (1996)
Nobody's Baby But Mine (1997)
Dream a Little Dream (1998)
Lady Be Good (1999)
First Lady (2000)
Just Imagine (2001)
This Heart of Mine (2001)
Breathing Room (2002)
Ain't She Sweet? (2005)
Match Me if You Can (2005)
Natural Born Charmer (2007)

Related posts: Spotlight archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 24, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Romance, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (3)

April 23, 2008 8:08 AM

BOOK Cover: Comfort Food

Kate Jacobs - author of The Friday Night Knitting Club - has a new book coming out in May (June in the UK). Okay, so we already told you this, but the UK book cover has been released and I thought it was worth commenting on.

The US version is arresting, individual, and, dare-I-say-it, literary-looking (if a little dark). Carry on over the cut for the UK version.

Well. Yet another beheaded woman. Are UK publishers so frightened of women that they only dare show bits of them?

And she's carrying a bag. Because women love bags, of course. Sometimes the world makes me sigh very deeply.

Related posts: Rate my book cover | US versus UK covers | Does a book cover matter?

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 23, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (6)

April 22, 2008 11:00 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson

I've wanted to read Shanna Swendson's Once Upon Stilettos for ages, but somehow hadn't got around to it. I finally managed to snuggle down with it over one of the recent rainy and miserable weekends and it brightened me up considerably!

The first book in the series, Enchanted Inc, sees innocent Texan, Katie, living in New York and learning that she is a magical immune - in other words she can see magical acts - but is unaffected by them, which sees her recruited by MSI, Magic, Spells and Illusions, Inc.

In Once Upon Stilettos, Katie's job (she's assistant to Merlin - yes, *that* Merlin) is going very well except it seems MSI may be harbouring a spy. She's got a crush on one of her colleagues, Owen, but she's actually dating another colleague, Ethan. She's put in charge of the Secret Santa as a team-building exercise. And then her parents decide to come to New York for a visit.

Katie's horrified when it seems her mother can see the magical happenings around them. Her mum can't also be an immune, can she? I say also, it seems that Katie's immunity might be on the wane, which couldn't happen at a worse time: how can Katie find the spy without revealing she's lost her immunity? And will she get it back? And, if not, will she be out of a job (and the chance to see Owen every day)?

I enjoyed this book every bit as much as the first in the series. They're so sweet-natured and such good fun. I certainly won't leave it so long before reading the next in the series, Damsel Under Stress.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Jinx by Meg Cabot

Posted by Aigua Media on April 22, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (7)

BOOK NEWS: I'm With Stupid

Written by Elaine Szewczyk, editor of Kirkus Reviews, I'm With Stupid sounds like an exuberant read.

Kas meets William while on safari in Africa and thinks he is the perfect man. Back home, she wonders if she'll ever hear from her holiday fling again... But when an email finally arrives, it isn't quite what she expects. Misunderstandings ensue, which lead (bizarrely) to William travelling to New York and moving in with Kas. Don't you just hate it when that happens?

The blurb on Amazon goes on:
Readers are along for the outrageous ride as Kas copes with her new roommate's eccentricities, including a preoccupation with the Psychic Friends Network and a passion for collecting Big Apple-themed souvenirs, and the realization that her dream man is a comic nightmare.

It sounds a little self-consciously wacky, but she's hooked me with the title...

Related posts: Meg Cabot title changes | Melissa Nathan Award for comedy romance

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 22, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (6)

April 21, 2008 5:54 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie

Strange Bedpersons is one of Jennifer Crusie's early books. It was published by the Harlequinn Temptation line back in 1994 and, as a category novel, it's shorter than her later stand-alone titles.

Nick Jamieson is the exact opposite of Tess Newhart. He's a straight-laced, conservative Republican lawyer and she's free-spirited, out-spoken and was brought up in a hippy commune.

After a short fling, the two are friends of a kind, and Tess agrees - as a favour and against her better instincts - to accompany Nick on a business trip.

It's a light romance, so you know exactly what you will be getting. Nick and Tess fall in love; getting to know each other properly and making compromises that let you know their happy ever after will last beyond the last page of the book.

It's funny and quick-witted with great characters. I loved Tess's best friend, Gina, and marvelled (once again) at how good Crusie is at creating charasmatic, memorable people.

Okay, so it's not got the depth of her later novels - and it's probably got the flimsiest plot that I've seen in a Crusie - but for a short, fun read, you'd be hard pushed to find better.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: The Fortune Quilt by Lani Diane Rich

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 21, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (6)

Jennifer Weiner podcast

Jennifer Weiner did an author event at the Free Library in Philadelphia early this month to promote Certain Girls.

For those of us who missed it, the library has very kindly made it available as a podcast. Woo-hoo! Jennifer's says (on her blog): "Download, and hear me talk about the Jew thing, balancing work and motherhood, and why you should never try to breast-feed in a sweater dress."

Related posts: Author interview: Jennifer Weiner | Top 10 chick lit books

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 21, 2008 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Podcasts | Permalink | Comments (5)

April 18, 2008 11:18 AM

PREVIEW REVIEW: Airhead by Meg Cabot

I was desperate to read Airhead, the first book in Meg Cabot's latest series (yes, another one!), after she said on her blog that when she told her husband what it was about he said, "Meg Cabot, this time you've gone too far." Apart from trying to get *my* husband to call me by my full name, I vowed not to rest until I'd read it.

And while my husband flat out refused to call me "Keris Stainton" at all times, he did shake his head in despair each time he caught me somewhere hiding from the world, reading Airhead and muttering "No way. No way!" and "Meg Cabot's so good. And also mad."

Now I'm determined not to give anything away, so I'm not going to tell you anything about the plot, other than what you can read on the back of the book: Em Watts is a tomboy and secretly in love with her best friend and gaming buddy, Christopher. Em's annoying younger sister, Frida, is a girlie girl who despairs of Em and idolises supermodel Nikki Howard. When Em is forced to accompany Frida to the opening of a new Stark Megastore where both Nikki Howard and hot British singer, Gabriel Luna, will be appearing, Em and Nikki's lives collide in the most startling way.

That's all I'm saying. Except that the idea behind Airhead is so audacious that I actually laughed out loud when I realised what it was.

Oh and I'll also say that I loved it. I loved the characters, the New York setting, and clearly I loved the plot. Cabot's writing is so apparently effortless and convincing that I would cheerfully accept anything she chose to write, no matter how far-fetched.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Split by a Kiss by Luisa Plaja

Posted by Aigua Media on April 18, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (35)

April 16, 2008 11:17 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Twilight

Reviewed by Amy Sheehan

Twilight is a captivating love story with a twist. Seventeen year old Bella Swan has to go and live with her dad in the small northern town of Forks, and needless to say she’s not exactly thrilled. But her view of the place quickly changes when she meets the beautiful and mysterious Edward Cullen.

Bella soon finds herself swept up in a thrilling mystery as she begins to uncover Edward’s incredible secret: he and his family are vampires! But not just any vampires - good vampires, who try to ignore their overwhelming urge to drink human blood and don’t hunt people. Only snag is, Bella is exactly Edward’s taste in, uhm, blood, and he faces a constant inner battle between wanting to protect her, and his overwhelming desire to sink his teeth into her neck. The plot thickens as Bella soon realises that she has fallen in love with him. But can it ever be safe to love a vampire?

I found myself utterly engrossed in this gorgeously romantic read; it’s a fine mix of romance and adventure, and actually reminded me a bit of the film Titanic, because what starts out as a beautifully tender story of forbidden love becomes, by the end, an exciting race for survival.

Edward is the most swoon-worthy hero I’ve encountered in a long time, and I was just as much in love with him as Bella was. Well, he is the perfect man - what with his supernatural looks, strength, speed and powers - but that all just adds to the fun. Other characters that fascinated me included most of Edward’s family - who all have their own individual histories and personalities - but especially Alice, who can see the future, and Rosalie, although we don’t see much of her.

Though technically a young adult book, this one’s not just for the teenage girls. Anyone with any romance in them will love it; it may be slightly mushy in places, but I personally loved it and finished the novel with a big soppy grin on my face. It’s romantic, surprisingly well-written, and what’s more, a page-turner: I was up late reading, dying to know what would happen.

Twilight is excellent as a stand-alone book (I was very satisfied with the ending), but readers like me who are desperate for more will be happy to know that the story continues in New Moon and Eclipse. If they’re this good, I for one can’t wait to read them.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Posted by Aigua Media on April 16, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (12)

April 15, 2008 11:01 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Pretty Little Mistakes by Heather McElhatton

I was so keen to read this book after it was recommended by our readers on more than one occasion. Plus I loved the idea! A modern, chick lit, choose your own adventure? Who wouldn't love that? Well. I didn't. At all.

This is quite a difficult review to write because, while I thought the writing in Pretty Little Mistakes was wonderful, the situations totally believable and the achievement (150 possible endings!) phenomenal, I hated every single adventure I read.

Let me explain about the book a little bit, in case you haven't read it. It's written in the second person, which situates the reader as the main character. So it begins: "You're graduating. Rushing headlong into the unknown rest of your life.Your friends are drifting off in every direction." Etc. At first I thought this would make it difficult to get into, but it did the opposite, within pages I was totally involved.

The first choice is between going to college with your boyfriend and going travelling. Once I'd convinced myself that, since it was a book, I could do what I'd *like* to do (go travelling) rather than what I probably would have done in real life (college), I turned to the next section. Where, when I tell my boyfriend I'm not joining him, he "calls you a bitch and asks you who the hell you think you are and slaps you across the face." Okay. Not loving the boyfriend, but now I get to choose between California and Europe. I pick Europe.

Where, before long I'm basically a concubine for a gangster. Plus I've had a quick lesbian orgy and yet another asshole boyfriend.

I go back. I decide against going out with the gangster and pick another way. I'm a meth addict. And my boyfriend beats me up. Again.

Back to the beginning. I choose California. My car breaks down. I haven't got any money. I have sex with the mechanic. ("OK, OK, it's slutty, but nobody here knows you and what else are you supposed to do?")

I go back to the beginning. I'm killed by a terrorist bomb. Back. I'm raped and then murder my rapist. Back. I go travelling, become a drug addict and get murdered myself (shovel in the stomach ... ow).

By this point, I'm afraid to pick the book up. I don't even want to know what horrible "adventures" lie in store. I tell a friend about the book and she says perhaps it's intentional. Perhaps the idea behind it is that no matter what path you choose, life is shit and then you die.

I'm not a fan of this interpretation, but I do give her the book (which, weirdly, she's really keen to read).

Rating: 2/5 (one for the idea, one for the great writing)

Like this? Try something sweet and charming to soothe your nerves. Any Princess Diaries book would do.

Posted by Keris on April 15, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 2/5 | Permalink | Comments (21)

April 14, 2008 7:49 PM

BOOK COVER: Fearless Fourteen

While I may be moderately excited at the prospect of a new Stephanie Plum adventure (tempered by the hope that it is a return to form after the only-okay Lean Mean Thirteen), I am distinctly underwhelmed by this cover.

I sincerely hope this is a placeholder cover, not the one that will actually go to print and be released this summer. If not, I hope Janet Evanovich's publisher didn't pay very much for it...

Related posts: Did Janet Evanovich invent chick lit? | Perfectly Plum

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 14, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers, Crime / Mystery | Permalink | Comments (6)

April 11, 2008 6:09 PM

BOOK NEWS: I Was Told There'd Be Cake

This debut collection of snarky essays by Sloane Crosley sounds very funny indeed. Titled I Was Told There'd Be Cake,  the essays have headers like The Pony Problem and Bring-Your-Machete-To-Work Day.

Crosley has been compared to David Sedaris, recommended by Meg Cabot and the cover is great. It was published at the beginning of the month and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Related posts: Non fiction archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 11, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (18)

BOOK REVIEW: How I Write by Janet Evanovich and Ina Yalof

Since I love Janet Evanovich's books so much, it was only natural that I would want to read the guide she has written to how she actually *writes* them.

How I Write is basically a glorified collection of the writing FAQs gathered from Evanovich's website, with occasional interjections from co-writer Ina Yalof and Evanovich's daughter - and webmaster - Alex, but that's not to say it's not entertaining and valuable, just a bit, well, basic. There is little writing advice that you wouldn't already be aware of had you read any sort of introduction to writing.

What makes it different is Evanovich's experience and her openness and honesty. Also, writing tutorials are illuminated with examples from the Plum books, which is really helpful.

I'm fascinated by how Evanovich came to write the Plum books (after being a relatively successful author of category romance) along with how she treats the business side of being an author and there's a lot of enlightening information on those subjects in this book. It also features details of Evanovich's writing life, which, if you're as nosy about authors' lives as I am, you'll find fascinating.

If you're looking for a general writing guide there are other books I'd recommend ahead of this one, but if you're an Evanovich fan or as interested in writers as writing, then I have no doubt you'll enjoy this book.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Wannabe a Writer by Jane Wenham-Jones

Posted by Aigua Media on April 11, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

April 10, 2008 6:17 PM

BOOK REVIEW: No Good Girls by Jean Marie Pierson

I requested this book after seeing the fabby book trailer and I must say, I wasn't disappointed.

It is, however, a classic case of the wrong cover being slapped on a book. It's garish, uses cartoon - a pet hate of mine - and simply doesn't match the content. No Good Girls is about a group of female best friends in New York and it is funnier, snarkier and quirkier than the cover suggests...

Geri O'Brien works for a publishing house while collecting rejections for her screenplay. She hangs out with her best friends, Maria, Emmy and Sally and they collectively wonder when they will get their New York Minute.

Maria is a cop looking for action but stuck on the quiet day-shift, Emmy is nursing an unrequited crush and Sally wants a promotion and a man.

While the plot has plenty of action, thrills and slapstick humour, the real strength of this book is Geri's voice. I just loved it. She is an individual, funny heroine with an imaginary friend called J.T. and something of a death wish.

The supporting characters - like J.T. and Geri's car enthusiast dad - were great, too.

Chock-full of brilliant one-liners, film references, and fantastic dialogue, Jean Marie Pierson has won my heart. Hurry up and write another book, please!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 10, 2008 in American Authors, Book covers, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (7)

BOOK REVIEW: Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Joan. Boring name for a boring life. Or so Joan believes until she meets her new next door neighbor. The handsome doctor her age make Joan realize that there may be more to life than settling for living at home, getting up every morning to go to an unfulfilling career and wishing she was living her one of her sisters' lives. But, Joan knows she can't make a change because no one would be there to care for her aging grandmother - a job that she has taken upon herself, but truly enjoys. Not to mention, the doctor may be adorable, but he's also a Christian. And Joan's not so sure that's what she needs right now. Her life is comfortable - why complicate it with thoughts of love and religion. Joan's not sure her life can handle either.

Stuck in the Middle is a picture of what life as like middle child. It seems most three daughter families have the smart, 'motherly' older sister; the sweet, carefree younger sister ... and the insecure, people-pleasing middle child. Joan is the epitome of a middle child and yet she's easy to love. I was rooting for her from the very beginning. The two other sisters frustrated me at first, but as the book progresses you learn how much they care about their sister and they endear themselves as well.

Stuck in the Middle is the first book in the Sister-to-Sister Series and Virginia Smith's sixth book. Smith's contemporary fiction is filled with humor as well as meaningful lessons for life. There is one specific section in the book that really made me pause and re-evaluate how I think about my life (I don't want to give it away, but look for the chocolate ice cream story). I love a book that sticks with me. Weeks after I put it down, it still comes to mind and continues to make me think.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Hanging Up by Delia Ephron (non-inspirational)

Posted by Keris on April 10, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (4)

April 8, 2008 3:27 PM

The Chick Lit debate continues...

I just read a very convincing argument from Dorothy Koomson over the term 'chick lit'. She thinks it should be renamed pronto (and makes an excellent suggestion for the new name). Check it out here.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Weiner gives her usual balanced, intelligent answer to the chick lit question in an interview on her blog and Meg Cabot weighs in with her own take on the term; hop over the cut to read it.

Whatever. People who have a problem with it are usually other authors who don’t write it, and no one is reading their books because they’re so gloomy and boring and don’t have fun scenes with girls spying on their boyfriends and doing pretend kung fu moves in the dark like in Megan Crane’s English as a Second Language.

Meg goes on to make some intelligent, well-balanced points of her own, but I love her first reaction!

Related posts: Did Janet Evanovich invent Chick Lit? | If it's good it can't be chick lit

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 8, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (11)

April 7, 2008 7:19 PM

BOOK NEWS: Not Another Bad Date

Yes, I know we told you that Rachel Gibson's next book was called 100 Bad Dates, but it seems to have had a title change since then... Out in May (US) and June (UK), it has been stuck with an unimaginative cover; yet another bottom-half-only female. Yuk.

The premise reminds me (a little bit) of Daisy's Back In Town. Listen: If only Adele could find a guy that made her heart flutter like her first love, Zach, the college quarterback who swept her off her feet senior year... before dumping her to marry someone else.

Okay, so he wasn't perfect. But when Adele heads back to Cedar Creek, Texas, for a family emergency, she discovers that her hometown heartthrob is still as sexy as ever - and now he's single.
It could be the end of Adele's streak. After all, forgiving Zach for breaking her heart years ago and learning to trust him again will take everything she's got, but Adele can handle anything... anything but another bad date.

Related posts: More book cover snap | Are butterflies the new feet?

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 7, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers, Romance | Permalink | Comments (8)

April 4, 2008 10:57 AM

FRIDAY FLICK: Something's Gotta Give

Okay, this film isn't adapted from a book, but it is about writing... The main character (played by the tremendous Diane Keaton) is a successful playwright.

Written and directed by Nancy Meyers (Private Benjamin, The Holiday), this is a romantic comedy with a difference; it's about middle-aged people (gasp!)

Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) is a perennial bachelor who only dates women under the age of 30. He meets Erica because he is dating her daughter and they take an instant dislike to one another - and not just because of that.

Over enforced companionship (Harry suffers chest pains and Erica relunctantly agrees to let him stay at her beach house while he recovers enough to travel), the two discover that there is a mutual attraction.

There are complications from Harry's handsome young doctor (Keanu Reeves) who pursues Erica romantically, and from Harry's own set of expectations and prejudices.

The on-screen chemistry between Nicholson and Keaton is brilliant, the script witty and the drama refreshing. Plus, there's a great supporting cast in Frances McDormand, Amanda Peet and Jon Favreau.

It made a change to be watching a mature love story (in all senses of the word); highly recommended. 

Related posts: Friday Flick archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 4, 2008 in American Authors, Friday Flick, Romance | Permalink | Comments (6)

April 2, 2008 10:26 AM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Carrie & Danielle

If you've been reading Trashionista for a while, you may have picked up on the fact that I have a somewhat obsessive personality. When I discover a book or author I love I become kind of evangelical about it and won't rest until everyone shares my opinion (bend to my will!). One such obsession is Carrie & Danielle's Style Statement.

I discovered the company a while ago, began reading their Friday Focus emails and have been waiting impatiently for the Style Statement book. Well, it's out in less than a month (1 May) and not only have Carrie and Danielle answered our questions, they've given us a copy to give away.

Carry on over the cut for the interview and your chance to win a copy.

The Style Statement is such a fabulous idea. How did you come up with it?

Thanks! Carrie was an interior designer and wanted to create a more meaningful approach to designing people's homes; design based on authenticity rather than dictatorship. So she began Style Statement as a simple questionnaire about what people loved in their living space. The process has since evolved into a deep and playful inquiry that covers every area of life-from your living room to your relationships, your career and your wellness plan!

How have your own Style Statements made a different in your life?

Carrie: My Style Statement is Refined Treasure, and it is my compass in everything I do. It reminds me to Treasure myself, my body, my time, and the people around me. It's a great filter for how I shop and what I bring into my home...and my whole life. The focus of it creates so much ease for me.

Danielle: I'm Sacred Dramatic. Style Statement works on the 80/20 principle: the first word represents your 80%, your foundation, the 2nd words is the 20%---your creative edge. In this way, mine really helps me to bring all of me to what I do-to embrace my contradictions. Things have got to be meaningful and impactful. I'm and introvert who feels at home on stage, a soul-seeking philosopher who loves trashy magazines and disco.

What can we expect from the book? Are readers going to be able to define our own Style Statements?

Yes! The book, Style Statement Live By Your Own Design, is a Discover-It-Yourself process. Guided by our Life Style Map, you'll ask yourself questions you've never asked yourself before. This is the place where you get to consider your choices in shoes, lovers, and careers!

Everything matters when you're taking your authentic self into consideration. You'll see patterns in what's working and not working for you in your wardrobe and your life at large, and with our Style Vocabulary as a jumping off point, you'll distill all of that down the two words that most meaningfully describe your genuine self. The book is an experience - a chance to define yourself on your own terms.

And...it's simply GORGEOUS!

Can you tell me more about your forthcoming e-magazine, CARRIE & DANIELLE?

Our e-magazine, www.CarrieandDanielle.com (launching in April) is really unique in that it's going to be an interactive newsletter. So, while we're offering inspiration and recommendations on everything from everyday Buddhism to eco-friendly jeans, we'll also be asking our subscribers what they recommend and desire and what inspires them. Of course, this is the beginning of an incredibly cool social site...watch out!

Do you get a chance to read? What are you reading at the moment?

Carrie: Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose is possibly the best book I've ever read. It's all about the space to "be." It's a lovely clear message - Accept Awake Aware - and I can feel myself expanding with it. I'm impressed that Oprah has created the seminar series (I just signed up). I want Eckhart to be my new best friend!

Danielle: Magazines are like an essential food group to me, and with all of the action around our book and new site launch, mags are where it's at for me this season. My essentials: Dwell, Fast Company and Inc., O, and Marie Claire can be smart. A friend just gave me Abigail Thomas' A Three Dog Life - it's waiting for my next holiday.

Who is your favourite fictional heroine and are you able to define her Style Statement?

Danielle: My favourite fictional heroine...Scout Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird. She was a little badass with a big heart and her daddy's integrity. Inspiring. As for her Style Statement...we never, ever dare to guess. Seriously.

Carrie: Nancy Drew - she's young, strong, independent and kind.

Do you have a theme song?

Carrie: "Let It Be" by the Beatles, but I absolutely love the version by Carol Woods from the film Across the Universe.

Danielle: it's a cross between Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah and The Commodore's Brick House << owww! >

Thanks so much, Carrie and Danielle!

For the chance to win a copy of Style Statement (and I'd recommend it because it really is gorgeous), just email us at editor @ trashionista . com (remove spaces) with your name and address and the words "Style Statement" in the subject line. Closing date is 30 April and it's UK contestants only, I'm afraid (it's really heavy!).

(Don't worry, this isn't today's competition, there'll be another one - open to all - along later.)

Posted by Keris on April 2, 2008 in American Authors, Interviews, New Releases, Non Fiction, Self development | Permalink | Comments (9)

BOOK REVIEW: The Kept Man by Jami Attenberg

Reviewed by Sarah Hague

How would you react if your loved one had a stupid domestic accident and ended up in a coma? Would you pull the plug or hold onto the hope that s/he would wake up? How long would you hold onto that hope? A few weeks? Few months? A year?

Jarvis Miller has been waiting for her beloved husband Martin, an artist, to wake up for six years. For six years she herself has been living in a limbo-land of visiting him, waiting, loving, and being brave.

Then her washing machine breaks down and, one Tuesday, she has to go to a launderette where she meets a group of three kept men. They all have dynamic working wives so can pursue their own interests as they like. They are the first people Jarvis has communicated with in six years, and she likes them, so she goes back next Tuesday.

In her gradual coming to terms with Martin's living death, she makes some discoveries which change her perspective on her situation, and she realises that her wonderful husband was not quite the loving faithful husband he pretended to be.

The story unfolds with tactical brilliance. Jarvis is a complex character - both brave and vulnerable. Her artist husband is the centre of her life even in his comatosed state - she has remained a faithful, sad, loving wife. But as she herself wakes up, so we follow her as she explores why she is hanging on, and whether she should continue to do so.

Superbly written, it's the story of one woman's journey from a living death, towards Life, whatever it might hold. A fantastic read, with colourful, charming characters and strong human warmth.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

Posted by Keris on April 2, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

March 31, 2008 10:13 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: Lucky by Alice Sebold

Alice Sebold's memoir of the brutal rape and beating she suffered as an eighteen-year-old college student is something I have been meaning to read for a long time. Knowing it was going to be tough, I kept putting it off, but I am so glad I got round to it in the end...

Yes, it is very hard to read in places, but the majority of the book is about Sebold's (interesting - and a little crazy) family and her triumphant battle to convict the man who raped her.

Sebold writes with amazing honesty and insight. The account of her horrifying attack  is given with terrifying, startling candour and I can only imagine how hard it must have been for Sebold to write it.

She is amazingly brave, not just for the account of the attack, but for honestly recounting the reactions of people to her after the event and her slow recovery.

Lucky is also a book of hope. Sebold survives. She wins against the man in a rape trial and she wins against him by healing and by going on to help others with this important book. Having read and adored The Lovely Bones, I already thought Sebold was an amazing writer - now I believe she is an amazing person, too.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 31, 2008 in American Authors, Memoirs, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

March 28, 2008 10:16 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot

Queen of Babble is, I think, the only Meg Cabot book that actually disappointed me. Of course, it's Meg, so it was still funny and sweet, but it reminded me too much of Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep A Secret (my favourite Kinsella book).

Queen of Babble in the Big City is the second book in the Lizzie Nicholls trilogy and I enjoyed it much more than the first.

Following their summer romance, Lizzie is staying with Luke in his mother's New York (Fifth Avenue, no less) apartment. She wants to find a job restoring wedding dresses, but, since the only job she can find is unpaid, she has to take a morning job as a receptionist in her friend Chaz's father's law firm.

Best friend Shari is staying with Chaz (her boyfriend) until she and Lizzie can get a place together, but it seems like things aren't going well in her relationship with Chaz. Her job, however, is fabulous. So fabulous, that she's spending all her time there (and with her new boss).

Can Lizzie find a job doing what she loves (and getting paid for it)? Can she get Luke to commit? Can she help Shari and Chaz sort out their problems? And can she cope when Luke's parents come to visit?

Queen of Babble in the Big City is charming, sweet and funny and Lizzie seemed much more mature than she did in the first book (although this time she reminded me of Becky Bloomwood!). She's still sweet and naive, but this time it was more endearing than irritating so I'll definitely be reading the final book (Queen of Babble Gets Hitched).

Rating: 4/5

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

Now can we talk covers? The UK cover above is offensively boring, in my opinion. It's almost as if they just couldn't be bothered and so copied the pattern from some leftover wrapping paper... And what's with the back-to-front "B"? Disappointing.

The US covers (hardback, left, and paperback, right) are much nicer.

Which is your favourite?

 

Posted by Keris on March 28, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Series | Permalink | Comments (6)

FRIDAY FLICK: Catch Me If You Can

Based on the true-life story of Frank W Abagnale, master-con-man, Catch Me If You Can is adapted from Frank's autobiography of the same name.

Frank's story as a charming fraudster is an amazing one. Before his nineteenth birthday he had spent millions of dollars passing fake cheques and had impersonated a Pan Am pilot, a doctor and a prosecuting lawyer.

The film features Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale and Tom Hanks as the FBI agent hot on his trail and is directed by Steven Speilberg.

It would be hard to make a dull movie out of material this good, but I particularly like the way Frank's character and relationships are exlored.

From his adored father (played by Christopher Walken) to Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent who pursues and eventually catches him, Frank shows himself to be strangely upstanding in his relationships and is a sympathetic anti-hero.

A thoroughly entertaining tale, if a little over-long. I now want to read the book!

Related posts: Friday Flick archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 28, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (3)

March 27, 2008 12:57 PM

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Buffy v Wonder Woman

In the last grudge match, we had a battle of the side-kicks and Lula won out. Well, she's pretty handy with a Taser... This week, we turn to comic books for two female super-heroines; Buffy (the vampire slayer) and Wonder Woman.

Buffy

The comic books: Buffy (created by Joss Whedon) was originally a terrible film and then a wonderful, seminal TV series and, finally, a comic book. The books continue where season seven of the TV series finished, with young women around the world waking up to Slayer strength.

Likes: Shoes, shopping, her friends (the Scoobies) and pointy sticks.

Dislikes: Bumpy foreheads, The Master, math.

Loves: Angel (yum!), Spike (bad boy yum!) and Giles (in a totally platonic Watcher-Slayer kind of a way).

Preferred Method of Kicking-Ass: Kick-boxing, karate, slayer-strength, amazing jumps and, of course, the sharp pointy stick.

Wonder Woman

The Comic Books: Created by William Moulton Marston and first published in All Star Comics in 1941, Wonder Woman is looking pretty damn good for her age. In 1975, Wonder Woman got a TV series starring Lynda Carter and in 2006 the comic book incarnation got a relaunch with some of the stories written by Jodi Picoult.   

Likes: Animals, Greek mythology (Wonder Woman was often described as "beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, swifter than Hermes, and stronger than Hercules" and her friend Etta Candy.

Dislikes: Bad guys. Wonder Woman has had a fair few enemies over the years, including Doctor Poison, Doctor Psycho, and the Duke of Deception.

Loves: Steve Trevor, her crime-fighting partner.

Preferred Method of Kicking-Ass: Well, she has super-human strength and throws some painful-looking 'kapow' punches and flying kicks, but Wonder Woman has another trick up her sleeve... The Lasso of Truth. Oh yes.

Conclusion: It's a very tough call. Both Buffy and Wonder Women are strong women with more ass-kicking power in their little pinkies than the rest of us put together.

Wonder Woman has been around a long time and been credited with too many powers and weapons to list. However, Buffy is a resourceful fighter and tough-as-nails; as well as saving the world several times, she has died twice. Will Wonder Woman's show-stopping costume tip the scales in her favour? You decide...

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 27, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Supernatural, Television | Permalink | Comments (10)

BOOK REVIEW: Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie

Fast Women is the first Jennifer Crusie I ever read and as such it retains a very special place in my heart.

It's also a fantastic, fast-paced read with some of my Crusie favourite characters. In fact, I've read this book so many times, I have difficulty remembering that they're not real...

Recently divorced, Nell Dysart seeks work at a down-at-heel private investigation firm. Gabe McKenna, the owner, is in need of a secretary to organise his office and Nell is in need of a paycheck.

Nell is feeling decidedly grey after her divorce. She has been so focused on being controlled and grown-up about the break-down of her marriage, she has forgotten her own needs and desires.

Gabe works with his cousin, Riley, but is used to being the boss. He inherited the agency from his father and wants everything to stay exactly the same. Utterly in control, he also feels utterly miserable.

As Nell organises the hell out of the office sparks fly, and Nell, slowly, returns back to life.

Much as I love the romance between Nell and Gabe (and I do), I love the supporting cast and subplots in Fast Women even more. Nell's two best friends are also her ex-sisters-in-law. There's sweet Margie, who obsesses over her china collection, and Suze - a gorgeous blonde with an older-man husband who is continually searching for meaning in her life.

There is also a lovely subplot between Nell's son, Jase, and Gabe's daughter (from his previous marriage) Lu. They have fallen in love and the way they mirror and reinforce the mistakes their parents are making/have made in relationships is brilliantly poignant and funny.

It's a book full of spectacular arguments, dog-napping, mystery, Clarice Cliff pottery, astrology and strong, smart, funny women. What more do you need?

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 27, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (12)

March 26, 2008 2:42 PM

The Ivy Chronicles casting news

The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn is being made into a film. Yes, I know we already told you this but wait - there's more!

Having worked together on Ocean's 12, producer Jerry Weintraub is being reunited with Catherine Zeta Jones. I assume she'll be playing the main character Ivy Ames. It's been a while since I read the book, but she strikes me as a good choice. What do you think?

[Via Hollywood Reporter]

Related posts: Book Review: Wife In The Fast Lane | Karen Quinn competition

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 26, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

I first read about Joshilyn Jackson's The Girl Who Stopped Swimming when we interviewed her in August 2006 and I've been keen to read it since. I loved Jackson's first book gods in Alabama and former Trashionista co-editor Diane adored her second, Between, Georgia (it's been on my bookshelf for over a year).

It's an inspired idea - Laurel wakes up one night with a ghost beside her bed. It's her 13-year-old daughter's best friend, Mollly, and she shows Laurel her body, floating in Laurel's swimming pool.

The police rule it as an accidental death, but Laurel's not so sure. Didn't she see a shadow in the garden just before finding Molly's body? And wasn't that the hair of local oddball, Stan Webelow, she glimpsed as the police arrived? She's also concerned about her own daughter, Shelby's, evasive behaviour.

And then there's the family's houseguest, Bet, who has come to stay from DeLop, a beyond-depressed and depressing former mining town where Laurel's mother grew up and got away from.

To get to the bottom of everything - and particularly to stop Shelby becoming a suspect - Laurel needs her sister, Thalia, but she and Thalia are no longer speaking. Neither approves of the other's lifestyle and any attempts at finding common ground always seem to end in misery. Inevitably, Thalia's visit results in the exposing of family secrets that Laurel, not to mention her mother, have been trying to deny for years.

I could barely put The Girl Who Stopped Swimming down, although it would be hard to say I enjoyed it. I found it such a sad book on a number of levels. Pretty much every relationship in the book is painful and strained. It's beautifully written and evocatively imagined, which is probably why, by the ending, I felt utterly drained.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Be Mine by Laura Kasischke

Posted by Keris on March 26, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 25, 2008 7:31 PM

BOOK NEWS: No Good Girls by Jean Marie Pierson

No Good Girls is the debut novel of Jean Marie Pierson. It started life as a screenplay (Pierson has a degree in film and video production) and focuses on four best friends in New York.

I'm not in love with the cover, but the book trailer is fantastic. Take a look here, I promise you won't regret it.

Related posts: Book Trailerpark | Book Video Awards 2008

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 25, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 24, 2008 10:17 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: When You Eat At the Refrigerator, Pull Up A Chair by Geneen Roth

I know, I know, I'm always reviewing non-diet books, but they're such a revelation to me after years of reading actual diet books (okay, WeightWatchers magazine). Geneen Roth's When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull Up a Chair is a classic, given credibility in my eyes by having a foreword by Anne Lamott (who I love).

When You Eat... consists of 50 very short chapters (some are only a couple of pages in length) with titles like "Carry a chunk of chocolate everywhere" and "Remind yourself that it's already broken." Weirdly, the word that came to mind when I was typing that was "Californian" so I checked the About the Author page and discovered that Roth does indeed live in Northern California - what was my point? Oh yes, if you're not comfortable with self-development, if, like Beth Lisick, it's way outside your comfort zone and you're smirking now, I'd say read the book anyway.

I found it reassuring, funny, inspiring and frequently more down to earth than the chapter headings (and that "Californian" business) would have you believe. The subtitle is "50 ways to feel thin, gorgeous, and happy (when you feel anything but)" and that's not to be sniffed (or smirked) at, surely?

I kept it on my bedside table and read one short chapter each day. Now that I've finished it, I've turned back to the beginning to read it again until I get the chance to read another of Roth's books.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The 4-Day Win by Martha Beck

Posted by Aigua Media on March 24, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 19, 2008 1:33 PM

BOOK NEWS: Don't Hex with Texas

I loved Enchanted Inc, the first book in Shanna Swendson's Katie Chandler series, so why it's taken me two years (two years!) to read any more I don't know. But I have indeed ordered the second in the series, Once Upon Stilettos, and it will be with me in time to read over the Easter weekend (which I did plan to spend with family and friends, but will now be spending with my chicken pocked child - all the more reading time for me!)

Anyway, as I was ordering the second book, I noticed that a fourth will be out in April. It's called Don't Hex with Texas and features Katie returning to Texas for a family visit, but finding things have become a lot more magical there since she left.

Related posts: Shanna Swendson guest blog | Enchanted Inc movie news

Posted by Keris on March 19, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 17, 2008 5:29 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

I loved Elizabeth Scott's Bloom and, following my review, Trashi reader Little Willow commented that Perfect You is even better so I could barely wait to read it. I didn't actually prefer Perfect You to Bloom, but I loved it almost as much and that saying a lot (because I really loved Bloom!).

Kate's father has given up his job to sell Perfect You vitamins in the mall. While it may be his dream job, it's not going at all well. So badly, in fact, that the family is in danger of losing their home. Kate's older brother living on the sofa and failing to find a job isn't helping either.

Kate's not thrilled to be working for her dad on a failing mall stall, but since her best friend Anna lost a load of weight, dyed her hair and started hanging around with the popular crowd - dropping Kate like a sandbag - it's not like she's got anything better to do.

Until, that is, Will starts meeting her in the supply closet to make out. It can't be more than that, because she can't stand Will and there's no way he's interested in her. Is he?

I sympathised with Kate throughout because everyone around her was so irritating. (Irritating in a good way, I mean - realistically irritating, rather than irritatingly written!) Her grandmother is condescending and rude. Her father, inconsiderate and unrealistic. Her former friend, Anna, well, I wanted to wring her neck. I loved Will and I loved the banter Kate had with him, but he wasn't quite as sexy as Bloom's Evan.

I found Kate's mother - trying to stay positive and support her husband, while simultaneously wanting the best for her family - the most poignant character (possibly because this is a YA book and, depressingly, I'm closer in age to her than to Kate).

But really I just loved Perfect You. And I'm so thrilled to have discovered Elizabeth Scott's books.

Rating: 4/5 (I would like to give it 4.5, but I can't)

Like this? Try Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

Posted by Keris on March 17, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

More Heather Wells

Meg Cabot has revealed that there will be a further two Heather Wells mysteries in her series about the New York dormitory-manager and amateur sleuth.

There are no titles, as yet, but the books should be out next year, bringing the series total to five. The fourth will take place soon after the events in Big Boned, during the summer break. Meg says it will be about "Tania Trace Rock Camp", while the fifth will be "about Heather and Cooper's you know what."

Related posts: Heather Wells optioned for TV | Review: Size 12 Is Not Fat

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 17, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Crime / Mystery | Permalink | Comments (4)

MORE ON MONDAY: Uglies by Scott Westerfield

Scott Westerfield has taken our modern-day obsession with physical beauty and followed it to the logical end. In his future world, an operation is carried out on every child on their sixteenth birthday, turning them from an 'Ugly' into a 'Pretty'.

As well as bestowing physical perfection, the operation seems to lead to a life of parties and fun.

Tally Youngblood is a typical teenager. She lives in a dormitory-style school, separated from her parents (Uglies and Pretties are not permitted to mix), and eagerly awaits her operation.

Then, Tally meets Shay. Shay is also fifteen, but she has a very different view of the operation. She opens Tally's eyes to a different path - a path that leads to a secret community of renegade Uglies, living in the Rusty Ruins.

Tally cannot make the leap of faith - to sacrifice everything she has dreamed of, in order to join an uncertain and less attractive future. She returns home, only to find that the State knows about her friendship with Shay and has a mission for her: infiltrate the community and then report back on its location.

However, once back with the Uglies, Tally discovers that there is a lot more to the 'turning' operation than becoming beautiful...

This book is a real thrill-ride and the world utterly convincing - and frightening. I raced through it book and couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequels (there are three: Pretties, Specials and Extras).

As well as an adventure story (with an active female protagonist - yay!), it also has lots to say about freedom of thought, individuality and the pursuit of physical ideals. Excellent reading matter, in other words, for any teenage girls you may know...

Rating: 4/5

Like this (identity issues handled in original way)? Try: Split By A Kiss by Luisa Plaja

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 17, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

March 14, 2008 10:16 AM

More on My Sister's Keeper movie

Jason Patric (The Lost Boys, Sleepers) has joined the cast of My Sister's Keeper. He will play the girls' firefighter father.

Hollywood Reporter also tells us that Thomas Dekker (Heroes) is to play "the older sister's boyfriend and fellow cancer survivor." I don't remember that character in the book (although it is a long time since I read it). Does anyone else?

Related posts: Movie Magic: My Sister's Keeper | More My Sister's Keeper News

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 14, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (6)

March 13, 2008 6:41 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Daisy's Back In Town

When Daisy Lee Monroe walked out of Lovett, Texas fifteen years ago, she was a frightened eighteen-year-old with a secret.

Now she's back in town, forcing herself to confront the bad boy she left behind - Jackson Parrish.

Unfortunately, her sister is  acting even crazier than usual, her mum can still talk the hind legs off a donkey and Jackson still makes her stomach flip with one glance.

Jackson is (understandably) very upset with Daisy and wants nothing to do with her. She was his friend and lover, and when she left Lovett it was with his best friend, Stephen.

What Jackson doesn't know is that Daisy's betrayal was even worse than that; she was also pregmant with his child  and has waited until now to tell him.

All credit to Rachel Gibson for managing to make me care for a protagonist who has acted so badly. Although I couldn't help but like Daisy Lee, I did feel it was very out-of-character that she had waited fifteen years to tell Jack about his son.

Daisy has to chase Jackson all over town to try and deliver her news. To complicate things further, the lusty attraction that Jack and Daisy felt as teenagers is still alive and kicking.

The Texan setting is lots of fun - a real escapist treat for a Brit like me - and Jack is a very sexy, very alpha hero. Daisy's Back In Town is a raunchy romance from an accomplished writer. 

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try: The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom by Jo Barrett

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 13, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Grace Metalious

Born in 1924, Grace is most famous for writing Peyton Place (1956). The book sold millions worldwide and remained on the New York Times bestseller list. It was also made into a successful film starring Lana Turner and Lee Philips.

Peyton Place explores the dark secrets of the residents of a small New England town, and was denounced by critics as 'trash'.

She went on to write a further three novels, although none (unsuprisingly) enjoyed the same level of success.

Grace was criticised in the day for writing a racy, popular book - sound at all familar? In reply, she famously said, "If I'm a lousy writer, then an awful lot of people have lousy taste."

Grace was born in New Hampshire into a poor family with an absent father, but began writing at a young age. She married in her teens and became a housewife and mother, but despite financial hardship, never stopped writing.

Sadly, she died of alcholism in 1964.

Bibliography:

 

Peyton Place
Return to Peyton Place
The Tight White Collar
No Adam in Eden

Related posts: Thursday Trailblazer archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 13, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 12, 2008 9:49 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Helping Me Help Myself by Beth Lisick

I am a self-confessed self-help junkie, so I was really looking forward to reading Beth Lisick's second book, particularly since I'd heard great things about her first, Everybody into the Pool.

Unlike me, Beth is a self-help skeptic, but following the realisation that, at age 37, she was sleeping in a room with plastic sheeting covering a damp patch on the wall, doing a job for which she had to dress up as a banana, and too unfit to keep up with her four-year-old son, she decides self-help can't, well, hurt and so undertakes to examine (and hopefully improve) one area of her life each month for a year.

From Jack Canfield's book The Success Principles to a Richard Simmons weightloss cruise, via (Men are From Mars author) John Gray, The Artists' Way and a parenting book entitled 1-2-3 Magic!, Lisick repeatedly steps out (way out) of her comfort zone.

I approached Helping Me Help Myself expecting to find Lisick disagreeing with or mocking every self-help method she tries, but she really doesn't. She genuinely seems to approach them all (okay, almost all) with a totally open mind. She's charming, funny, enthusiastic and self-deprecating and (and I know I always say this) by the end I felt like we were friends. So much so that I kept thinking of books to recommend to her before remembering that I don't actually know her at all.

Plus it genuinely contains good self-help information while, at the same time, cheerfully (and without malice) exposing the money-making opportunities inherent in the self-help industry. I loved it.

Self-help addict or self-help skeptic, there's something here for everyone. Oh and it'll make you look at Richard Simmons in a totally different way...

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Give it Up! by Mary Carlomagno

Posted by Keris on March 12, 2008 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Self development | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 10, 2008 2:02 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Strawberry Picker by Monica Feth

Reviewed by Colin Mulhern

A killer seeking the perfect partner. All he wants is beauty and innocence. But when he gets close he notices imperfections, the image is shattered and the papers report another murder.

Caro is his latest victim, and at her funeral, Jemma - Caro's flatmate - swears revenge and decides to track down the killer, but in making her very public oath, she attracts the attention of a hansom, mysterious strawberry picker.

It all sounds pretty good - certainly the makings of a good thriller, but the point of thrillers is, by definition, to thrill - to involve the reader by invoking emotions, to convince them that the characters are so real that they believe and care. You can only really do that if you allow the reader to see what is happening as it is happening. The Strawberry Picker is way too passive in its delivery, telling the reader what people have said or done or doing rather than showing these things in real time. The only thing the characters do actively is make espresso - in so many scenes that you wonder if this is something the author has only just discovered.

The result of this passive, wishy-washy hold-my-hand style is that by the half way mark the characters are as lifeless as they were on page one, the scenes are painfully dull and any aspect of a mystery has withered and died before we even reach the moment where Jenna swears revenge. This, incidentally, is well past the halfway point, and to be honest, by the time I'd got there, I really couldn't care whether she fell in love with the killer, helped her mother edit another successful crime thriller (writers writing about writing - yawn) or make another bloody espresso.

There are too many other things you can spend £5.99 on. Don't buy this.

Rating: 1/5

Like this? Try Be Mine by Laura Kasischke (an adult book)

Posted by Keris on March 10, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, More On Monday, Rating: 1/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 7, 2008 11:09 AM

PREVIEW REVIEW: Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

You know how much I love Maureen Johnson - I've raved about her often enough - so I'm sure you appreciate how much I was looking forward to reading Suite Scarlett. So much that I was almost afraid to open it in case it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. I needn't have worried.

15-year-old Scarlett Martin lives, with her family, in New York's Hopewell Hotel. The hotel has been in the Martin family for generations, but things aren't going quite so well. Due to money worries, all of the staff has been let go and so it's down to Scarlett, her sister Lola, brother Spencer and their parents to do everything: from manning the reception desk to cooking, cleaning and looking after guests. The Martins' youngest child, Marlene, doesn't have to do anything - a brush with cancer has left her with a bratty sense of entitlement.

Martin family tradition states that at age 15 each family member is given their own suite, complete with guest, to look after. The jewel in the Hopewell's crown, the Empire Suite, is now Scarlett's responsibility ... as is its latest guest, who plans to stay for the entire summer, Mrs Amy Amberson.

With Lola trying to maintain a relationship with her boyfriend, Chip, in the face of his rich friends' distain; Marlene keeping engagements with the "Powerkids", a group of fellow childhood cancer sufferers; and Spencer getting his last chance at becoming a professional actor before having to give it all up for catering college ... oh and the fact that all of Scarlett's friends are off doing improving activities for the summer ... Scarlett's feeling rather alone.

Luckily (or perhaps not) the formidable Mrs Amberson takes a shine to Scarlett and Scarlett soon finds herself working as her assistant, which involves taking the notes on Mrs Amberson's life story and, um, setting up a fake audition to get revenge on one of her former rivals.

And then there's Eric, who's working with Spencer on an off- (far, far off-) Broadway production of Hamlet and who might just be the most amazing boy Scarlett has ever met.

There's so much more, but my fingers are getting tired and I don't want to spoil anything anyway. Suffice it to say that I absolutely loved Suite Scarlett. The characters are so real, charming and funny. The setting (of course) is wonderful and evocative. I didn't want it to end, but I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

Posted by Keris on March 7, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 5, 2008 4:16 PM

BOOK COVER: Jennifer Colt

I'd never heard of Jennifer Colt until recently and I still haven't read any of her books, but I do love the covers. The books above are part of the "McAfee Twins" series, which will apparently appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich. So that's me, then.

I just read that the twins, Kerry and Terry, ride a pink Harley. I like 'em already.

Anyone read any?

Related posts: Janet Evanovich interview | Crime/mystery archives

Posted by Keris on March 5, 2008 in American Authors, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (1)

Stephanie Plum news and stuff!

Although the cover isn't available yet, the name for the next Stephanie Plum novel has been released on Janet Evanovich's website... It's Fearless Fourteen and release day is 17 June.

If you need a little something to cheer you up during the wait, why not treat yourself to a Rangeman t-shirt or baseball cap (only available in black, naturally)? I quite fancy the 'cupcake' t-shirt, myself. It's got a v-neck and some neat little embroidery... No sign of a free Morelli to go with it, though.

Related posts: Jenny Crusie merchandise | Spotlight: Janet Evanovich

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 5, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Bookish products, Crime / Mystery | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 4, 2008 7:25 PM

BOOK NEWS: Fear and Yoga in New Jersey

Okay, I admit I hadn't heard of Debra Galant, but the cover of her new novel really jumped out at me, so I did a little digging... Fear and Yoga in New Jersey is Debra's second novel (the first is called Rattled), and she was a freelance writer before publishing fiction. 

The star of Fear and Yoga is Nina Gelleman-Summer,  a stressed-out yoga teacher, which is something of an oxymoron.

Instead of calmly helping her students relax and connect their mind and bodies, she is worrying about litigious students, a hurricane that is heading for her parents' home, and her husband's job.

To complicate matters, her son Adam is showing a sudden interest in having a Bar Mitzvah, and Nina long ago put her faith into crystals rather than her Jewish heritage.

If that intrigues, you here's a link to the first chapter. Don't say I'm not good to you...

Related posts: Book News archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 4, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 3, 2008 3:27 PM

BOOK COVER: Change Of Heart

When we interviewed Jodi Picoult, she told us about her latest book (at the time she had just finished writing it). Well, it's called Change Of Heart and is out in the US this month, April in the UK.

I just saw the UK cover and I find it utterly haunting. I love the blue eggs, but the way they are all broken at the child's feet... I'm guessing that's the way it's supposed to make me feel. Good job.

And, for once I prefer it to the US cover. Carry on over the cut to see if you agree.

Here's the US version. It's certainly in keeping with Picoult's previous covers, but it lacks the atmosphere and impact of the UK one.

Related posts: Book Covers archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 3, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 29, 2008 4:27 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Shakespeare In Love

It is a windy and wet February 29th and I'm feeling a little blue... What better way to cheer myself up than with a filmic favourite? An incredibly romantic, well-acted filmic favourite, that's what!

Shakespeare In Love came out at the end of the nineties and enjoyed huge success. Gwyneth Paltrow wowed audiences and critics with her performance as the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (managing to shine despite the show-stealing turn from Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth).

Shakespeare In Love has a fabulous screenplay by Oscar-winning writers Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard. It manages to be self-referentially funny, clever, and genuinely touching all at the same time.

The cast is star-studded with Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Simon Callow, Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, and Ben Affleck, ably directed by John Madden (Mrs Brown).

Shakespeare In Love isn't just for English Literature students. It's a sunny smile of a film, filled with exuberant performances and good cheer.   

Related posts: Friday Flick archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 29, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 26, 2008 3:55 PM

TELEVISION NEWS: The Tenth Circle

Wow, Jodi Picoult's work is certainly adaptation-friendly. In addition to a TV movie of Plain Truth and the Hollywood version of My Sister's Keeper, Lifetime has made a movie of The Tenth Circle.

It stars Kelly Preston, Ron Eldard and Brittany Robertson and it airs on television in June this year. Jodi has put a couple of photos from the set here.

Related posts: Author Interview: Jodi Picoult | Jodi Picoult spotlight

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 26, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

Lani Diane Rich reads to you

You know I told you about Lani Diane Rich's new book, A Little Ray Of Sunshine, and how fabulous it sounded?

Well, the book is out now, but there's more... Lani has made a recording of herself reading the first chapter and it's available for download on her website. Thanks Lani!

Related posts: Lani Diane Rich interview | Jennifer Crusie, Lani Diane Rich and Anne Stewart podcast

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 26, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Good Vibrations by Ayn Carrillo

Ayn Carrillo's Good Vibrations has been on my shelf for a little while, but I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. First there's the title. Then the subtitle - "One good girl's hilarious exploration of all things bad..." Funnily enough, I spotted the US version which is titled Pornology and has a much more sophisticated cover (see it over the cut). The US is often accused of dumbing down (the title of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone being changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone springs immediately to mind), but they're certainly winning in the chick lit cover wars!

Anyway, back to Good Vibrations. When Carrillo's boyfriend accused her of being "pornophobic" she made a list - she really loves making lists - a "Porn to do list" in fact. On the list were items like "meet a porn star", "visit a strip club", "test vibrators", "check out a brothel" and more. Here's a tip: if the previous sentence offended you, you're not going to enjoy this book.

I'm not easily offended and I enjoyed this book. Carrillo has a chatty and easy writing style, in particular she's good at writing about pretty full-on stuff in a lighthearted and informative way. Having said that, even though I'm no prude and am pretty open-minded about most things, there was one bit of the book that quite literally turned my stomach. Chapter 8. Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

As is often the case with memoir, I didn't believe bits of the book, usually bits that were meant to be funny. There's also a relationship with a man Carrillo met in a sex shop running through the book and that didn't ring true either (although, judging by the acknowledgments, the man exists, at least!). Mostly Good Vibrations is an entertaining and informative addition to the sex memoirs that have flooded the market lately. (Ew. Now I've reminded myself of Chapter 8.)

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

Posted by Keris on February 26, 2008 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 25, 2008 10:14 PM

Book News: Where Demons Dare

This news is especially for one of our regular reviewers, Angela Richardson: the sixth instalment in Kim Harrison's urban fantasy series about a bounty-hunting witch is due out in April.

Angela chose Rachel Morgan as her favourite heroine, and Where Demons Dare (published as The Outlaw Demon Wails in the US) certainly sounds like an exciting read. The bounty-hunter becomes the hunted, with no less than three hellions on her tail...

I must admit, I haven't read a great deal of supernatural chick lit, but considering how much I adore Buffy perhaps it's time I started...

However, the cover of Where Demons Dare isn't doing much for me. It looks a wee bit scary for my tastes. Stop shouting 'wimp' at the screen; I can't hear you.

Related posts: Supernatural archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 25, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Dangerous Admissions by Jane O'Connor

Jane O'Connor has written a raft of books for children, but Dangerous Admissions is her first adult book. It's classic chick lit mystery with a gutsy heroine - single mother Rannie Bookman - a fantastic Manhattan setting and lots of romance and thrills.

Rannie is a freelance copy editor and part-time tour guide for the exclusive Upper West Side private school her  son Nate attends (courtesy of her rich WASP ex-mother-in-law).

When the Director of College Admissions is found dead at his desk - and Nate is a suspect, Rannie turns amateur sleuth.

Unlike most chick lit suspense I've read, Dangerous Admissions is written in third person. As well as Rannie's point of view, we get insight into Nate's life and thoughts.

I also really liked the character of Olivia, Nate's friend and fellow Chapel School student. She has an older brother who is a recovering drug addict and another suspect for the murder.

Jane O'Connor's characterisation is truly excellent; the teenagers had distinctive, believable voices, and I really bonded with Rannie.

The plot is suspenseful, with lots of twists and turns, and there is  a dash of romance, too.

A fabulous new sleuth on the chick lit mystery scene.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Size Doesn't Matter by Meg Cabot

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 25, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 22, 2008 2:39 PM

BOOK NEWS: Helping Me Help Myself

Similar in scope to The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, Beth Lisick's Helping Me Help Myself is about the year she spent following the advice of different self-help gurus.

It's just come out in hardback (Rubin might be a little gutted, as her book isn't out until 2009), and  Beth has made some promotional book trailers. Hop over here to see them.

Related posts: The Joy Diet | Career Helium

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 22, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, New Releases, Non Fiction, Self development | Permalink | Comments (3)

February 21, 2008 1:14 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Smart Vs Pretty by Valerie Frankel

Two sisters - one labelled the smart one (Frank) and the other pretty (Amanda) - are left running a Brooklyn coffee bar after the sad demise of their parents.

Unfortunately, a chain coffee house has opened next door and the cafe's finances are in dire straits. Enter Clarissa, a business studies student who offers to take on the coffee house (for free) as a project.

Not even the smart sister is suspicious, and Frank and Amanda start vying for Clarissa's friendship, while giving her free reign over their business.

Then, about a third of the way in, what had seemed to be a book about sibling rivalry and a 'Mr Coffee' of the week competition, abruptly transforms into a murder mystery.

Although sharply written, with plenty of great descriptions of the characters and the setting, this novel is just too uneven. Now, I love chick lit mystery, but this is one of those books that reminds you just how damn hard it is to get the balance right.

Characters and plot twists come thick and fast, but, unfortunately, these are so convenient as to appear farcical. Plus, the sisters are frequently TDTL (Too Dumb To Live). 

Ultimately, Smart Vs Pretty is a missed opportunity. With a scaled-down plot and more attention given, instead, to the character development of the sisters, this would have been a far more enjoyable read.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try: One For The Money by Janet Evanovich

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 21, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 20, 2008 8:48 PM

MOVIE MAGIC: The Yiddish Policeman's Union

Michael Chabon (The Wonder Boys) and the Coen brothers in the same sentence? Yep, it's my dream come true. Well, one of my dreams. There's the one with Clooney and Depp and Cusack, but we'll gloss over that...

The Coen brothers are going to adapt Chabon's The Yiddish Policeman's Union. It's a tale set in an alternate-reality Alaska, with an alcoholic cop investigating the death of a heroin-addicted chess prodigy who may or may not be the Messiah. Can't wait.

Related posts: Movie Magic archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 20, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Movie Magic, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie

I've wanted to read Gigi Levangie's The Starter Wife since I read an interview with the author in the Guardian and just thought she sounded fascinating. Plus then, of course, there was the TV adaptation of the book starring the wonderful Debra Messing. Well, I finally got around to reading it and it was worth the wait.

Gracie Pollock is married to studio head, Kenny. She's a Hollywood wife, with a Hollywood house, Hollywood friends and a Hollywood beauty maintenance programme. She's not happy, but even so she's shocked when Kenny summarily dumps her just before their tenth wedding anniversary, i.e. he "Cruised" her - ended the marriage before the date at which he'd have to pay maintenance.

At first Gracie is devastated. She hasn't just lost her husband, she's lost her entire lifestyle, because no-one in Hollywood is interested in a former "Wife of...", but thanks to the generosity of one of her "real" friends, she and her daughter are able to move, temporarily, to Malibu and start to rebuild their lives.

I really enjoyed this book. I could quite happily have read it in one sitting, so it would be a perfect plane or holiday book. It's got problems - the fact that the lead character is called Gracie and she has a gay friend named Will (and I was already picturing Gracie as Debra Messing), pulled me up every now and then. Also Britney Spears plays quite a major role in the book, which is unfortunate given her recent problems.

Some aspects of the plot (particularly Gracie's love interest) are also pretty unrealistic. But none of that really troubled me, because The Starter Wife is well-written, funny, and packed with Hollywood gossip (all the more credible because Gigi Levangie is married to Hollywood heavyweight Brian Grazer (producer of The Da Vinci Code, 24, and one of Time Magazine's 's 100 Most Influential People in The World).

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try You'll Never Nanny In This Town Again by Suzanne Hansen

Posted by Keris on February 20, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK NEWS: Mrs Perfect

No sooner are we telling you that Jane Porter's Flirting With Forty is being made into a movie, but we've got some more Jane-related news...

Her latest book, Mrs Perfect, is out 5 May . It's about a control-freak wife and mother who loses the good life she has built so carefully. Take a sneak peek at the beginning on Jane's website.

Related: Trashionista Recommends: The5Spot

 

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 20, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 19, 2008 2:01 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Waiting for Birdy by Catherine Newman

Have you ever fallen in love with a book? So in love that you just couldn't stop reading it. Or, if you had to stop, you'd be thinking about it and rushing to get things done so you could get back to it? That was me with Catherine Newman's Waiting for Birdy last weekend. (In fact, my husband was getting annoyed that I was talking more about Catherine's son, Ben, than our own son!)

Taken from Catherine's Babycentre blog, it's the story of gorgeous 3-year-old Ben and Catherine's mixed feelings about being pregnant with her second child, Birdy (don't worry, they didn't christen her that). Nothing dramatic or tragic (thankfully) happens, it's just the story of a family or, as the cover puts it "a year of frantic tedium, neurotic angst, and the wild magic of growing a family".

It's just a gorgeous book. It made me cry (repeatedly). It made me laugh (a lot). And sometimes it made me laugh until I cried.

Later that evening, we were all in the car together and a Cole Porter song came on. After we told him that it was called " 'S Wonderful" and that it was Ella Fitzgerald singing, Ben was silent for a while. "Like at the zoo?" he finally ventured, and Michael shot me a questioning look. "Like what?" I asked. "Like at the zoo. Like Elephants Gerald?"

Catherine articulates every single thing I've ever felt about motherhood. How joyful it is. How painful it is. How everything - everything - is bittersweet.

And the best thing is that, now I've finished the book, I've still got years' worth of blog posts to read! Highly, highly, recommended.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Mama Lama Ding Dong by Ayun Halliday

Posted by Keris on February 19, 2008 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 18, 2008 5:35 PM

BOOK COVER: If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend

While we wait for more news on Alison Pace's fourth book (provisionally titled City Dog, due out September), her publisher has kindly distracted us with a new cover for the reissue of her debut If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend.

I think it's brilliant - do you agree? I've put the old cover over the cut if you want to compare them...

Here you go!

Related posts: Book covers archive | Alison Pace's books of the year

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 18, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (3)

MORE ON MONDAY: For One More Day by Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom wrote Tuesdays With Morrie and The Five People You Meet In Heaven. For One More Day is the story of Charley 'Chick' Benetto a baseball player who spent six-weeks at the World Series and the next twenty years trying to relive the glory days.

He ends up drinking too much, alienating his family, and eventually trying to kill himself. On this darkest of days, something miraculous happens to Charley - he gets one more day with his mother (who died eight years previously). It's the fantasy of anyone who has lost a loved one; Charley  gets to say the things he regretted not saying and just, well, spend one more day...

Like Alexander McCall Smith and Anne Tyler, Mitch Albom has the gift of keen observation coupled with beautiful storytelling. These writers know that the essential truths of human existence are too damn big; we need to view them through the small details of ordinary people and ordinary lives.

In the capable hands of Albom, Charley's story is told with a simplicity that borders on poetry and a kindness that can make you weep. I read it in one tearful sitting and I urge you to do the same.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: Digging To America by Anne Tyler

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 18, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn

I wasn't actually too excited to read Gingerbread, since a while ago I read the next book in the series and didn't enjoy it as much as I expected too, but Gingerbread was thrust upon me and I was urged to read it, so I did. And I was glad I did, because I loved it.

I was a bit worried as I started reading because Gingerbread reminded me so much of Weetzie Bat and I found myself worrying about who (if anyone) had ripped off who(m), but this only lasted a couple of chapters and then Gingerbread became a totally different book.

The heroine of Gingerbread is (fabulously) named Cyd Charisse. She lives in San Francisco with her parents, Sid and Nancy, and her younger half-siblings. Her real dad lives in New York, but she hasn't seen him for years. In fact, not since he gave her the doll, Gingerbread, who remains her best friend (even though she's really too old for a doll).

Following an ill-fated relationship with a boy at boarding school (and, frankly, an ill-fated relationship with boarding school itself), Cyd Charisse is home, dating surfer boy Shrimp and nurturing a secret crush on his brother. Her relationship with her parents seems to be irrevocably damaged by Cyd Charisse's behaviour, but she is seemingly undaunted, even planning to sue them for legal emancipation. Instead, her parents decide to send her to New York to get to know her father.

I describe Cyd Charisse as "seemingly undaunted" because she is much more damaged than she at first seems and this is what I loved about the book. Cyd Charisse at first comes across as tough and streetwise (do young people still say streetwise? I'm so old...), but by the end of the book she's a different person. I really liked her and found her very true to life (from what I remember of being a teenager...).

In fact, I loved it so much I'm going to go back and re-read the sequel.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Meg McCafferty

Posted by Keris on February 18, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

February 15, 2008 2:07 PM

Jennifer Crusie, Lani Diane Rich and Anne Stewart podcast

We've recommended the Will Write For Wine podcast before, but this week's episode deserves a special mention.

Lani Diane Rich, Jenny Crusie and Anne Stewart get together at Jenny's house in Ohio and talk about collaboration (and wine, of course). Since Jenny and Anne worked together on The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes (with Eileen Dreyer) and they are all currently working on Dogs & Goddesses, they've got a lot to say...

What are you waiting for? Go listen!

Related posts: Podcasts archive | Crusie/Mayer writing workshop

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 15, 2008 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Podcasts | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 13, 2008 11:31 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Vampires Are Forever by Lynsay Sands

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

Vampires Are Forever is the sequel to The Accidental Vampire - one of the Argeneau vampire novels by Lynsay Sands. This book is the latest in her series and provides just as much entertainment as her last one.

Inez Urso has worked hard to get to the top of her profession, but her social life has suffered as a consequence. When she is called out to baby-sit Thomas Argeneau she begins to have doubts about her whole career. After all the whole Argeneau family that she is employed by seem to have an allergic reaction to the sun, excellent night vision, and not much appetite for food. Plus Thomas has just tried to bite her neck… but maybe that was just a sign of passion.

Thomas on the other hand, has been waiting forever for a woman like Inez… well, if not forever, at least two hundred years. She’s the most beautiful woman he’s seen in centuries. He couldn’t resist the temptation of just one little bite. Now Thomas will do anything to convince her that only an immortal like him can make her happy.

Yet again this is a great romantic comedy with a large dash of fantasy. The mystery of the missing grandmother that they have to solve adds a lot more depth and tension to this book than her previous novels and as a result this was very gripping. However, Sands never loses the humour in her stories, which makes this book an irresistible combination.

She has also ended this book on a bit of a cliffhanger that is apparently the main plot of the next in the series (although I’ve only read the sneak preview at the end of the book). I’m afraid if you start reading the Argeneau series you’ll be addicted, but it’ll pass many a rainy afternoon, as there are quite a few books for you to catch up on. Plus unlike many it doesn’t really matter what order you read them in.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Posted by Keris on February 13, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (4)

February 12, 2008 12:04 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Midori By Moonlight by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

I know I'm shallow, but I was mainly attracted to Midori By Moonlight because of the cover: moonlight, cupcakes and a cute outfit on the illustration! Also I love the title and the book is set in San Francisco, one of my favourite cities.

Fortunately, the book is just as cute as its cover. Midori moves from Japan to marry Kevin, an American she met out there. Unfortunately, Kevin reignites an old flame at his and Midori's engagement party, leaving Midori both heart-broken and stuck in San Francisco without a visa.

Desperate not to return to Japan - obsessed with US culture, Midori had planned to stay in San Francisco forever - Midori calls a Japanese friend of Kevin's, Shinji/Sean, who, as luck would have it, needs a room-mate.

Midori still has the problem of finding a job without a visa. She wants to be a pastry chef, but soon resorts to working in a "hostess bar". And of course she can't tell her parents - not about the lack of a wedding, the living with a strange man, and certainly not her job - they never wanted her to go to the US in the first place (although they did want her to get married and had been in the process of arranging a marriage for her when she met Kevin).

I loved this book. More like a fairy story than a realistic portrayal of the illegal immigrant experience (I doubt many illegal immigrants have it as easy as Midori), it's charming, sweet, funny and gripping and Midori is lovely and I was rooting for her from page one. Plus there's San Francisco, cupcakes and moonlight. I can't wait to read Wendy Nelson Tokunaga's next book.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Perfectly True Tales of a Perfect Size 12 by Robin Gold

Posted by Keris on February 12, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 11, 2008 5:22 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Seeing Me Naked by Liza Palmer

I've already mentioned how much I love the US cover (shown) of Liza Palmer's Seeing Me Naked, so you can imagine how excited I was to receive the US version for review (it's not out in the UK until 20 March).

Elisabeth Page lives in the shadow of her legendary novelist father, Ben Page, and hip literary adonis brother, Rascal.

Trying desperately to avoid comparisons with her stellar family, she carves her own successful career as a head pastry chef at a top LA restaurant. Naturally, this isn't up to her father's exacting standards, and even Elisabeth has started to wonder what happened to her five-year-plan to start her own patisserie.

Elisabeth feels both trapped and safe in a life that she orders with military precision. Still, there isn't enough routine in the world to protect Elisabeth from herself and she finds that fearing her father and craving his approval is a hangover from childhood that just won't go away.

Then, she meets Daniel Sullivan. A beer-drinking basketball coach who, most certainly, will not meet her family's expectations. Can she let herself fall for this kind, loving man? Can she drop the smart-talking, hyper-critical Elisabeth and let Daniel know - and love - the real her?

Sharp, witty and with a convincing, captivating, cast of characters, Seeing Me Naked is a fantastic read. I hope Liza Palmer is a workaholic like Elisabeth, as I can't wait to read her next book...

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 11, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

MORE ON MONDAY: Dirty Martini by JA Konrath

I've heard great things about JA Konrath, but fewer than 50 pages in I had to stop reading. There were poisoned nails set as booby traps ... fear, carnage ... *shudder* ... I had to stop reading. So I gave it to my husband to review...

Reviewed by David Stainton

Forgive me, but when I inevitably discovered that 'J A' stood for Joseph Andrew, meaning the sexy, kick-ass Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels was created by a nerdy-looking forty something bloke, it put me off the book before I'd even given it a chance. Irrational I know, but I can't put it out of my head. It's probably what Victorian readers of Middlemarch felt when they discovered George Elliot wasn't a forty-Woodbine-and-ten-pints-of-ale-a-day fella.

That apart, I was left feeling unsatisfied as a whole at the end of the book. Putting aside my wavering suspension of disbelief about the whole plot, which revolves around a mad sociopath poisoning half of Chicago, and Daniels apparently having to solve the whole case by herself, it just wasn't thrilling enough for a thriller, suspenseful enough for a mystery, or funny enough for a comedy.

The writing is sharp enough, and if Konrath had concentrated on the investigation, without throwing in cliched hokum around ex-partners, both professional and personal then I could have cared more about the outcome. Unfortunately I didn't care enough to overlook the fact that once more than a dozen people had died horribly then the city would have been shut down till the murderer was caught.

As it is, Daniels lurches from one near-fatal encounter with her nemesis to the next, leaving a trail of dead cops and civilians in her wake. And the fact that she didn't see the blindingly obvious link to the killer which is revealed in order to lead her to the final showdown offends me as a fellow member of the law enforcement community. Sorry, but Jack Daniels left a funny taste in my mouth...

Rating: 2/5

Like this? Try One For the Money by Janet Evanovich

Posted by Keris on February 11, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 2/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 10, 2008 9:28 AM

TV & MOVIE NEWS: I Was a Teenage Popsicle

Bev Katz Rosenbaum has announced that her young adult book,  I Was a Teenage Popsicle, has been optioned for film and TV. (The plan is to produce it as a film then spin it into a series.)

For any writers reading (and I know there are lots of you), this came about as the result of Bev sending a copy of her book to the production company after watching one of their shows and realizing the tone was similar to her book!

Bev's advice is to take note of which shows and indie movies are similar to your books and send the producers (you can almost always find the production companies' websites on the net) a copy of your book along with any endorsements/reviews (good ones would probably be best...).

Great advice and good luck, Bev!

Related posts: Heather Wells series optioned for TV | Angus, Thongs & Full-Frontal Snogging trailer!

Posted by Keris on February 10, 2008 in American Authors, Movie News, Series, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)

February 8, 2008 12:10 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

Reviewed by Helen Redfern

The story of three women and their young, male babysitter unfurls during the hot summer in Nantucket. All of them have a story. Vicki has lung cancer, Brenda, Vicki’s younger sister is in disgrace after having an affair with one of her students and Melanie, Vicki’s friend, is newly pregnant with a long fought for baby, only to discover her husband is having an affair. Josh is a twenty one year old writing student on his summer holidays in the right place at the right time.

Vicki and Brenda have inherited a little cottage on the island so have decided to spend the summer there whilst Vicki has her chemotherapy treatment and Brenda sorts herself out emotionally whilst also writing a screenplay. Their mother firmly believes that a bit of sand from Nantucket lying between your bare feet soothes and solves all manner of problems.

This isn’t a fast paced, catch your breath book. It is gentle and slow as we go on a touching journey with the three women and Josh. Emotions are long drawn out and tense at times, making you want to read on quickly to see what happens at the end of the summer. We look into the recent past of the three women and watch as they deal with their issues and come to terms with them.

The women’s characters are displayed warts and all, my only issue was that I saw too many of their faults to truly care for them. The woman I cared for least was Melanie. I thought she was a bit daft, but then her hormones were all over the place and she was in shock because of her cheating husband so perhaps that’s why.

Reading this during dark and dismal January made me look forward to summer. It would be great to read on the beach when you are quite literally barefoot feeling the sand between your toes.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Posted by Keris on February 8, 2008 in American Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Career & Corporate Cool by Rachel C Weingarten

I wasn't sure that Rachel C Weingarten's Career and Corporate Cool would be much use to me. I work for myself so the "corporate" doesn't apply. The book is subtitled 'How to look, dress, and act the part - at every stage of your career' and since I work from home, often in my pyjamas, I didn't think Weingarten had anything to teach me in that area either. As is often the case ... I was wrong.

This book is packed with a lot of advice that you've probably already heard if you've ever read a women's magazine, but it feels somehow much more up to date. It includes questions on how to define your own personal style and then to use this in every area of your professional life.

Containing advice on everything from dress and make-up to behaviour inside and outside the office to the differences between masculine and feminine work styles and how to gracefully handle emergencies, Weingarten covers pretty much everything you'll ever need, no matter what your job. The abundance of post-its sticking out of my copy suggest it's just as useful if you work for yourself.

It's not at all stuffy or preachy, in fact it's entertaining, often funny and a very easy read.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Career Helium by David Thompson

Posted by Keris on February 8, 2008 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 7, 2008 4:08 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Erica Jong

Erica Jong wowed the literary scene with her debut novel, Fear of Flying, in 1973.  With a strong female protagonist - the  unforgettable Isadora Wing - and frank, relationship-centred content, there is no doubt that published today, it would've had a pink cover...

Henry Miller said: "This book will make literary history...because of it women are going to find their own voice and give us great sagas of sex, life, joy and adventure."

I remember reading Fear Of Flying as a teenager and being blown away by Isadora. Yes, she was confused and filled with internal struggle, but she was smart and funny, too. She was striving for balance in her life, and for a way to get what she wanted and needed (both in her relationships and creative work) - and she didn't apologise for her sexuality.

Erica followed Fear of Flying with How To Save Your Own Life (which picks up Isadora's story three years later), six other novels, poetry, a chidren's book, a memoir and non-fiction work on Henry Miller, Witches, feminism and writing.

Erica is a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia University, where she studied 18th Century English Literature. She also attended Columbia's graduate writing program. She has taught literature and writing all over the world.

Erica has been married four times. Her third marriage (to the novelist Jonathan Fast) produced a daughter, Molly Jong-Fast (who is also a novelist).

Novels:
Fear of Flying
How to Save Your Own Life
Fanny, Being the True History of Fanny Hackabout-Jones
Parachutes & Kisses
Sylock's Daughter (formerly titled Serenissima)
Any Woman's Blues
Inventing Memory
Sappho's Leap

Related posts: Best women authors of all time | Chick lit is a feminist issue

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 7, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 6, 2008 6:23 PM

Latest WGA strike news

Vanity Fair has cancelled its famous after-show Oscars party in support of the Writers Guild of America strike.

This latest blow comes just as hopes are raised for an agreement between the WGA and the Hollywood film studios. The word on the net is that a deal is taking shape to end the three-month-long strike and that meetings are being set up for this Saturday.

[Via Reuters]

Related posts:  Golden Globes ceremony cancelled | Writers and producers resume talks

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 6, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News, Television | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Earthly Pleasures by Karen Neches

Karen Neches' Earthly Pleasures begins in Heaven, where Skye Sebring is a hospitality greeter. She meets Ryan Blaine, who has a brush with death following a motorbike accident. Unbeknownst to him, Ryan is one of the stars of Heaven's soap opera, Earthly Pleasures, and, after meeting him, Skye is more than intrigued.

Is that not a completely brilliant idea? I love everything about it ... but there's more. When Skye starts training to return to earth, all of life's lessons are contained in the lyrics of Beatles songs. Fabulous, no? Oh yes, there's more...

Down on earth, Ryan is struggling with  his marriage. Following a near-fatal accident of her own, his wife Susan has changed almost beyond all recognition. He's not in love with her anymore, but how can he tell her?

Also on earth, care home resident Caroline gets a new roommate: Emily is in a coma she's never expected to recover from, but from which Caroline is determined to retrieve her.

I don't want to say much more because I'm scared of giving anything away. Not only is this book full of surprises (and some shocks), it's funny, moving, sad, thrilling and inspiring.

It would have been 5/5 but I was very slightly disappointed with the ending. If I could have given it 4.5/5 I would. I really, really loved it.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try If Only It Were True by Marc Levy, filmed as Just Like Heaven

Posted by Keris on February 6, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (3)

Heather Wells series optioned for TV

It's official, Meg Cabot really is taking over the world... And hurrah for that! Her Heather Wells series (Size 12 Is Not Fat,  Size  14  Is Not Fat Either and Size Doesn't Matter*) has been optioned by ABC Family for a TV series.

Heather Wells is an ex-teen-pop-star and amateur sleuth and, like most of Meg's fabby ideas, I think it will translate well to the screen...

* Titled Big Boned in the US

Related posts: Little Women interpreted by Meg Cabot | Meg Cabot's new Scholastic series

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 6, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Television | Permalink | Comments (5)

February 5, 2008 8:55 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

The Accidental Vampire is one of the Argeneau series of vampire books by Lynsay Sands. She is understandably a New York Times bestselling author as her books are always of the same high standard and are run away enjoyable reads.

Elvi Black has been sleeping in a coffin, staying out of the sun and has given up garlic and food, ever since an accident turned her into a vampire. She’s had to rely on watching Dracula for her tips on how to survive; after all, her mortal friends aren’t going to be read up on proper biting etiquette. But her neighbours are worried about her getting lonely and so place a personal ad for her in the local paper. She never imagined that she’d meet Victor Argeneau, a vampire that could have his pick of any women – dead or alive.

Rich and powerful, Victor’s the perfect man for a novice vampire like Elvi. He’s willing to teach her everything he knows, but he’ll have to do it fast. Someone’s out to put a stake through her new vamp life and only Victor can keep her safe for all eternity.

Lynsay Sands never disappoints, her books always stand out on their own so you don’t have to read her series in order. Don’t be put off by the mention of vampires; underneath it all is an old fashioned romantic comedy that you can’t fail to enjoy. Even though the plot is sometimes a bit thin, this book isn’t really about the plot. The characters and how they relate to each other are what really makes this book work. This was a really fast paced read and is pure escapism that’s guaranteed to make your lazy Sunday speed by… or perhaps that’s just me being really indulgent!

Wherever you read this you’re in for a great ride.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

Posted by Keris on February 5, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (4)

February 4, 2008 5:14 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Psychology of Joss Whedon: An Unauthorized Exploration of "Buffy', "Angel" and "Firefly"

Joss Whedon is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it's spin-off series Angel, Firefly (another series, which sadly only ran for one season) and Serenity (a film inspired by Firefly).

There has been lots of study - both light-hearted and academic - of Whedon's worlds and the amazing characters that inhabit them.

This latest collection of critical essays delves into the psychology of Joss himself, as well taking an analytical look at his creations.

Written by a variety of authors - all of whom have strings of letters after their names -  and with frequent reference to psychological theories and methods, this book had the potential to be very hard-going indeed.

Luckily, it's very readable, and the essays are well-researched and cogent. They cover topics such as neuroscience in Firefly and Angel's relationship with his mother. My personal favourites are the essays that refer to feminism in both Buffy and Whedon's own personality (Joss often refers to himself as a 'radical feminist', just another reason he is one of my personal heroes).

A couple of words of warning, however; this book is definitely not at the 'light' end of the fan-essay-market. Although by no means impenetrable, you really do need to have an interest in psychology as well as in Whedon and his works.

Also, the essays refer widely to the episodes of Buffy, Angel and Firefly, so there are plenty of spoilers.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Serenity Found

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 4, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Supernatural, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Undercover by Beth Kephart

This is her first book for young adults by National Book Award nominee, Beth Kephart. I admit I was a bit intimidated to read this because the whole National Book Award thing made me think of "Literature" and I thought Undercover might be too serious for my tastes. Yes, it's serious. But it's also sweet, charming, sad,  beautiful and ... just flat-out wonderful. ("Just flat-out wonderful" - do you think that's what the National Book Award folks said about Ms Kephart?)

Anyway, it's the story of Elisa who writes love notes for boys to give to the objects of their affection, but isn't so lucky in love herself. Her mother and sister are like two perfect peas in a pod, but Elisa is much more like her father. Her father who is working in San Francisco and who may not ever come home.

Things begin to change for Elisa when, first, she discovers a frozen pond (complete with an underwater
statue of a girl reading a book), and then Theo Moses asks her to write a love note for Lila, the most popular girl in the school. Even after Theo has won Lila, he persists in hanging around Elisa, but she has no idea why. Surely he can't like her?

Whether writing poetry, skating, talking to Theo, missing her father, or worrying about her parents' marriage, Elisa is ... I was about to write "sweet" then, but then I let out a huge sigh. She's not "sweet". She's lovely, but she's also wise and sad and full of repressed emotion*. I loved her and wanted everything to work out for her.

Read this beautiful book to see if it does.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

*Have you ever watched David Duchovny's show, Californication? I can see the daughter, Becca, as Elisa.

Posted by Keris on February 4, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (8)

BRAND NEW BOOK NEWS: Nothing But Good Times Ahead

Eep! I just heard that a book of academic essays on Jennifer Crusie's work is being written. Yep, it's not even got a publisher, yet; that's how new this book news is!

Titled Nothing But Good Times Ahead: The Novels of Jennifer Crusie, the book is edited by Eric Murphy Selinger and Laura Vivanco. It's going to cover topics like ageing, feminism, and symbolism in Crusie's work. We will keep you posted...

Related posts: The Crusie/Mayer writing workshop | Book Review: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 4, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Non Fiction, You heard it here first! | Permalink | Comments (5)

February 1, 2008 2:59 PM

BOOK NEWS: Screen Plays: How 25 Scripts Made It to a Theater Near You - for Better or Worse

Interested in how films are made? Polishing your own screenplay as we speak? David Cohen's new book describes the process of taking an idea for a film from the first concept, to the script and - finally - the screen.

Cohen interviews Hollywood screen writers and looks at the fortunes of 25 movies including Erin Brockovich, Lost in Translation and Monster's Ball.

Aimed at aspiring screen writers, the book is also packed with advice on how to sell your script - and how to protect it once you have. It's out in the US next week, but I haven't managed to find a UK release date yet...

Related posts: The Crusie/Mayer writing workshop | Screenwriters on strike!

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 1, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Movie Magic, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear by Sharon Dunn

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Quirky and hilarious – those are the words I’d use to describe Sharon Dunn’s newest release, Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear. The title alone made me chuckle and the book doesn’t disappoint. 

The Bargain Hunter’s Network (BHN) is a group of women that shop together and, naturally, seek out sales and bargain prices. BHN consists of four women: cat loving Ginger, Kindra the college student, Suzanne the mother of four, and Arleta, the senior citizen of the group. 

In Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear, the second book in the Bargain Hunters Mystery series, the group travels to Calamity, Nevada, the site of an invention convention in which Ginger’s husband wants to take part. 

The group arrives in Calamity and from there things go steadily downhill. A mystery ensues and the HBN ends up right in the middle of the action. The result is a hilarious novel that, while at times silly, entertains and gives a nice break from reality which is something I can always use. J

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Simmer Down by Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant

Posted by Keris on February 1, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Inspirational, Rating: 3/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 31, 2008 2:59 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Tell No Lies by Julie Compton

Julie Compton was a trial attorney for the US Department of Justice. Now she's a writer and stay-at-home mother. Tell No Lies is her first novel and it employs her legal background to great effect. 

Jack Hilliard is a 35-year-old assistant DA who loves his wife, Claire, and enjoys his job. He gets on well with his boss and is never asked to trial cases which compromise his moral integrity.

Jack comes across as a stand-up guy, and it takes a skillful author to make the reader believe in his fall from grace. Luckily, Julie Compton is just such a writer.

Earl (Jack's boss) decides to leave and he asks Jack to run for office (to take his place as the DA). On the same day, a flirtation with his lawyer friend, Jenny, gets rather more serious.

Compton takes us through Jack's dilemma - he wants the promotion, but will never get it if he is publically honest about his views on the death penalty. He is against it - under any circumstances.

Jenny, with whom he is increasingly obsessed, convinces him to misprepresent his position to secure the top job. Then, just over half-way through the book, when I was beginning to think 'okay, how is this going to get spun out for another 200 pages?', Jenny is accused of murder.

This is an excellent psychological thriller and an extremely polished debut. I will watch Julie Compton's new career with interest...

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 31, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 30, 2008 11:08 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Beauty Confidential by Nadine Haobsh

I have to admit, I'm not a big beauty junkie, so I wasn't too excited about Nadine Haobsh's book, Beauty Confidential. I was, however, intrigued by the book's backstory - Nadine was a beauty editor about to start her dream job, when she was outed as the anonymous author of tell-all beauty blog, Jolie in NYC. The dream job offer was retracted ... after Nadine had left her current job. Fortunately, Jolie in NYC's popularity was such that Nadine got a book deal, plus the site is still going strong (although it's no longer anonymous).

Still, the backstory was summed up in a couple of pages and I worried the beauty stuff wouldn't hold my attention. Yep, wrong again. The thing about Beauty Confidential that distinguishes it from the generic beauty pages I flick past every month is Nadine's voice.

She's chatty, funny, down-to-earth and honest. She knows that singing the praises of Nars blush (in Orgasm) isn't going to change the world, but she also knows that if your hair looks good, your day goes better and that's not to be underestimated.

Not only did I fly through this book making mental shopping lists (and vows to spend more than one minute doing my "face"), I've actually referred back to it once or twice since finishing.

From thinking it wasn't a book for me to keeping it on my shelf as an indispensable reference book ... not bad for someone with no interest in the beauty industry. What I'm saying is, if Nadine Haobsh can fire my enthusiasm, she can fire anyone's. And if you're already a beauty junkie? Pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink and enjoy!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon

Posted by Keris on January 30, 2008 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (18)

January 29, 2008 5:48 PM

Writer's caves

I'm interested in everything to do with authors and the process of writing (no, really?) and, let's face it, I'm nosy, so this was right up my street.

US Romance writer Paige Cuccaro has collected pictures of author's caves (also known as their offices, writing spaces, or kitchen tables...) I'm not sure what amazes me more; Bob Mayer's unnaturally tidy office, or the number of writers who have fantastic bay windows and gorgeous views. Take a look here.

Related posts: Writer's rooms at the Guardian | Peek at Jenny Crusie's office

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 29, 2008 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: Princess Diaries To the Nines by Meg Cabot

I opened the cover of To the Nines - the ninth (unsurprisingly) book in The Princess Diaries series - and read "Oh, and Michael, the love of [Mia's] life, has dumped her." Noooooooo! I was so devastated that I almost didn't want to read the book. Of course that feeling lasted all of five seconds and soon I was as engrossed in Mia's life as ever.

If you remember, at the end of After Eight, Michael headed off to Japan to work on a research project, leaving Mia devastated. The loss of her first love has sent Mia into a depression and matters aren't helped by the fact that her best friend (and Michael's sister) Lilly, isn't speaking to her. Mia's not stuck for friends, of course - she's got Tina Hakim Baba and, inexplicably, Lana Weingarten also wants to hang out with her. No Michael or Lilly? Hanging out with Lana? It's like Bizarro World!

On top of her personal struggles, Mia has to deal with the prospect of giving a Grandmere-mandated speech to a secretive and all-powerful women's group and deal with the cowboy (literally) therapist her father is making her visit. All this while she's missing Michael terribly. Of course, there's always JP (aka The Guy Who Hates It When They Put Corn In the Chilli) to make her feel a little better about everything...

I loved this book, of course. Mia is forced to address some issues about herself and her friends and to grow up a bit. I don't want her to grow up, because the sooner she does, the sooner this glorious series will come to an end (in fact, the next book is the last - nooooooo!), but Cabot handles all of Mia's challenges so brilliantly that you can't complain.

This book, with its focus on depression and, fabulously, the differences between a constitutional and absolute monarchy (which I didn't understand until reading this book - what did they teach me at school anyway?!), is the most mature and feminist Princess Diaries book so far.

Like the Harry Potter series, I can see how events in this book foreshadow what's going to happen in the last and I can't wait to read it (except that I don't want to since then there won't be any more ... it's a hard life, being a booklover...).

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Boy Book by E Lockhart

Posted by Keris on January 29, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (14)

January 28, 2008 3:06 PM

Simon Pulse Blogfest

Simon & Schuster is hosting the Simon Pulse Blogfest from March 14 - 2 7. There will be over 100 YA authors featured during the two week online event, including Lauren Barnholdt, Melvin Burgess, Holly Black, and Susan Cooper.

You are invited to submit questions for the authors in advance and the organisers will choose fourteen; one for each day of the blogfest. You see? We told you YA fiction was hot...

[Via GalleyCat]

Related posts: Chick Lit for little chicks  |  Top ten young adult books

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 28, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 25, 2008 1:22 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Charlie Wilson's War

Charlie Wilson's War is the kind of film that could go terribly, horribly wrong. A story about a Texas congressman's covert dealings with the rebels in Afghanistan (aiding them in combat against the Soviets), a main character with a flawed personality and a war film billed as 'funny'.

Of course, that's without banking on the screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. The man who brought us the West Wing - a series that effortlessly blends quick-witted, dialogue-heavy comedy with political drama.

Sorkin uses the same magic here and the script is every bit as good as I had hoped. It's moving, funny and thoughtful, and manages to cram a whole lot of story into 90 minutes without seeming rushed.

Of course his source material is also excellent. The film is based on George Crile's acclaimed non-fiction book - Charlie Wilson's War: The Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History.

And hats off to Mike Nichols for the direction, too. He navigates the different tones in the story smoothly and uses the A-list cast to great effect.

Amy Adams (Enchanted) is Wilson's personal aide and Julia Roberts plays against type as his socialite friend and confidente. Tom Hanks is fantastic as the playboy politician, but I adored Philip Seymour Hoffman as Gust Avrakotos, the maverick CIA agent who aids Charlie Wilson.  He has such wonderful comic timing combined with a genuine edginess.

If it's still on at your local cinema, do catch it. If not, put the DVD on pre-order now.

Related posts: Friday Flick archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 25, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (7)

BOOK REVIEW: Does This Book Make My Butt Look Big by Sarah Nilsen

Reviewed by Helen Redfern

Ever been in the situation where you’ve been lying down on your side and your tummy spills over, or perhaps you catch an unflattering angle of yourself in a mirror and think ‘Right, that’s it. Enough. Diet starts tomorrow.’ You then feel utterly deprived until you perk up as you realise that you now need to go through the ‘day before ritual’ when you can eat anything and everything on sight because tomorrow (once again) is Day 1.

Sound familiar?

For Sarah Nilsen, author of ‘Does this book make my butt look big (and who cares anyway. Its my butt)’ this is quite a common occurrence for her. And to be honest for me too, because as I was reading this particular chapter I could feel myself thinking ‘oh my God, she does that too!’

‘Does this book…’ is a collection of Sarah’s memoirs of what it is like to be a woman in modern times. The embarrassment (being fitted for a bra), the pain (deciding its time to visit the gym), and the responsibility (of being a Mum and left with the puppy poo) all make for a humorous account of Sarah’s life.

This book is like sitting down and having a natter with your best mate. Talking about all the embarrassing stories you have and finding they are remarkably similar, just a few details have changed. I don’t know if it scares me or reassures me that we all share the same foibles. But it is amusing none the less.

I did have a slight problem with the book though. Sarah is American and I am English. I must stress that this isn’t a problem with other American books I read but with ‘Does this book make my butt look big?’ written as if chatting over a bottle of wine, the language is, well, chatty, with the use of American terminology, slang and brand names. This meant the flow of the writing was interrupted for me whilst I tried to work out what things were. For example she refers to ‘In Touch’ magazine.  I’m not familiar with this one (this was important as a chapter is devoted to her love of magazines). Is it the equivalent to Heat or the Economist in the UK? As I read further on I deduced what it was but for a while it bothered me.

Nevertheless even though it is American in it's tone the issues that worry women cross boundaries. The stories are engaging, honest and real with a hefty dollop of humour and tongue firmly placed in her cheek. It’s designed to show the lighter side of female life, saying what women really think instead of what they should be thinking. Obviously we do have serious thoughts and our life isn’t all shoes, spas and diets but when we do become neurotic and irrational in our behaviour it is nice to know we are not alone.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes

Posted by Keris on January 25, 2008 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (14)

January 24, 2008 9:17 PM

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Lula v Charity

In the last stand-off, Cranky Agnes (and her frying pan) beat Heartburn's Rachel Samstat.

I thought I'd mix it up a little for this week's match. It's true that the heroine's best mate/partner in crime/sister is often as kick-ass as the heroine herself, so I thought I'd put a couple in the ring.

Please put your hands together for Lula (Stephanie Plum's side kick) and Charity (the wise-cracking best friend in Anyone But You).

Lula

The books: The wildly successful Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich

The woman: Ex-ho, 'traditionally-built' woman with a penchant for lime-green spandex and tasers.

Loves: Tank. Works at RangerMan services and is built like one.

Kick ass?: In fairness, Lula does a great deal more falling on her ass than kicking some, but she gets a lot of the best lines. She could probably incapacitate her opponent by making them weak with laughter...

Charity

The book: Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

The woman: Leather-mini-skirt wearing, boutique-owning, dating book-writing, best friend of the heroine, Nina.

Loves: Amaretto milk shakes, high heels, Nina, and getting revenge on rat-fink men.

Kick ass?: I love Charity. She has great lines, great clothes and great attitude. She doesn't do anything action-hero-like in the book (it's a romance) but I get the distinct impression that she would do anything to protect or avenge Nina.

Conclusion: Although Lula is pretty handy with the wrestling moves (in other words, she sits on people), Charity is smart and feisty. What do you think?

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 24, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 23, 2008 11:10 AM

BEST OF 2007 AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Laura Ruby

Laura Ruby's Good Girls wasn't just one of the best young adult books I read in 2007, it was one of the best books overall. I loved it, so I'm happy to introduce Laura to Trashionista readers...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

A mysterious and humiliating digital photo threatens to destroy Audrey’s “good girl” image.

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

I have a perpetually chaotic office where I write surrounded by many, many books and a number of grumpy cats (my trusted advisors).  

Your favourite chick-lit book?

My all-time favorite is the original chick-lit book: Austen's Pride and Prejudice (though I'm also fond of Persuasion). I also loved Melissa Bank's The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing. Though I don't think her books qualify as chick-lit, I've been on a huge Kate Atkinson binge lately.

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

Elizabeth Bennett of P&P. It's her wit and generosity that make her beautiful. After the book was published, Jane Austen herself said, "I must confess that I think her as delightful a character as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know."

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

The typical advice: read everything you can, write whenever you can. Dissect your favorite novels to learn how to plot, block scenes, write dialogue, etc. Read your work out loud as it will help you figure out whether dialogue rings true or not. Gather a group of trusted colleagues and start a writer's group in which you share your work in a supportive environment.

The not-so-typical advice: eavesdrop on the bus, listen in on the neighbors, copy down funny things your friends say and steal them for your work (though it's only polite to tell them you're doing so), put thinly-disguised versions of your worst ex-boyfriends in your stories and give them horrible weeping rashes and erectile dysfunction. To quote Isabel Allende, "Writing is about lying and about stealing." Also, it's about revenge. : )

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm reading The Scented Palace, a biography of Marie Antoinette's perfumer, Jean-Louis Fargeon, as well as McEwan's Atonement.

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

I've got a few things going on right now: a young adult novel about a high school girl who is accused of having an affair with a teacher, another young adult novel with a sci-fi twist, and a book for adults about three sisters dealing with their troubled relationship with their father.

Do you have a theme song?

Oh, I have a theme song for every mood. If I'm feeling angry and misunderstood, Girl Anachronism by the Dresden Dolls. Pensive and misunderstood, 32 Flavors by Ani DiFranco. Misunderstood and sick of it, Why Can't I Be You by The Cure.

Then there's the retro theme song: Rosemary Clooney's Mambo Italiano, the romantic theme song: Jesus, Etc. by Wilco, the goofily-defiant-and-cheerful-about-it theme song: Portions for Foxes by Rilo Kiley.  The list goes on and on.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been?

Q: Laura Ruby, how do you find time to write and lead such a glamorous life?

A: Well, it IS very hard to squeeze writing in between shuffling around in my jammies, talking to the cats, shopping for anti-frizz hair products, and watching endless cooking shows, but somehow I manage.

Thanks, Laura!

Posted by Keris on January 23, 2008 in American Authors, Interviews, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: This Is How It Happened by Jo Barrett

Sarah wrote about Jo Barrett's second novel, This Is How It Happened, earlier this month and featured the UK cover, but I read the US edition and I much prefer the US cover, so that's the one I've used here.

This enormously entertaining book begins with Madeline Piatro baking poisoned brownies, which she plans to give (anonymously) to her ex-fiancee, Carlton. Unfortunately, Maddy can't resist trying the brownies herself (well, who could?) and, rather than delivering them to the intended recipient, spends the rest of the day throwing up.

So why does Maddy want Carlton dead?

For many, many reasons which Barrett releases gradually throughout the book and, believe me, by halfway through you'll want to kill him too.

In fact, that was the only reason this book gets a 4 rather than a 5. Carlton was so awful, that I really felt Maddy - intelligent, independent, confident - should have worked out what an utter sleaze he was much, much sooner than she did. Having said that, his sleaziness is entertaining and frequently made me want to reach into the book and throttle him (and give Maddy a "wake up to yourself!" slap too!).

I haven't yet read Jo Barrett's debut, The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom, but I'll be rushing to read it now. (The movie rights to that book have been bought by Hugh Jackman and I can totally see this book as a film too. Definitely Matthew McConaughey for Carlton and, despite the fact that Maddy's Italian, I think it could be a good one for a repairing with Kate Hudson.)

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

Posted by Keris on January 23, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 21, 2008 4:14 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht

The first Worst-Case scenario handbook was published back in 1999. It had a print run of just 35,000 copies, but went on to become a best-seller and spawn an entire series.

Not only is this edition a lovely strokable square-ish hardback, but it's exceptionally good value, too. It collects more than 100 of the most popular scenarios from the previous handbooks. Plus, the entire contents of all 11 books are included on a fully searchable CD. Bargain!

The advice ranges from the truly useful (like how to drive when the road is icy) to the truly bizarre (how to escape from a sofa bed), while managing to be both funny and informative.

Plus, from a writer's point of view, it makes a handy reference volume.  I will now be able to have my character escape from a sinking car, jump from building to building, and land an aeroplane with accuracy.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Damage Control

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 21, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 18, 2008 3:44 PM

Caprice Crane directs

Okay, you already know we adore Caprice Crane here at Trashionista, but did you know that she may be a robot?*

No? Well, what other explanation is there for a woman who writes such unfeasibly good fiction, is working on book number three, has just written a comedy screenplay (called 'Shorty' according to her website) and has still found time to direct a short film? Hmmm?

Titled Passing The Time, the film can be found on Caprice's MySpace.

* Yes, I am aware she could just be very talented and hard-working and spend less time watching DVDs than I do. Darn it.

Related posts: Guest Blog: Caprice Crane | Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 18, 2008 in American Authors, Movie Magic | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

I've raved about the gorgeous cover of Elizabeth Scott's Bloom before, but just look at it! So pretty! So pretty, in fact, that it made me almost giddy with anticipation to read the contents. Fortunately, the I loved the inside just as much as the outside.

17-year-old Lauren has a perfect boyfriend in Dave, everyone thinks so. But perfect isn't necessarily exciting and Lauren's not sure they're right for each other. Except that Dave is popular and before she was with Dave, Lauren was anonymous, now she's Dave's girlfriend. And she's fine with it. Until Evan Kirkland turns up in one of her classes.

Evan isn't cool or popular, but he is charismatic, sexy and mysterious and Lauren finds she can't stop thinking about him.

While Lauren's trying to understand her feelings for Evan (and lack of feeling for Dave), she's also struggling to cope with her relationship with her father. He works all the time and they barely talk anymore. Plus Lauren's mother walked out when Lauren was six and hasn't been heard from since. And then there's her best friend Katie who has family problems of her own.

I loved everything about this book. Everything. Lauren is sweet, Evan is gorgeous, and the family problems suffered by practically every character were heartbreaking. It's not a sad book, though, in fact it's sweet and rather thrilling (mostly because I developed a huge crush on Evan, despite the fact that I'm 36 and he's 17 ... and fictional).

I can't wait to read Elizabeth Scott's next book.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Posted by Keris on January 18, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)

January 17, 2008 12:57 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Digging To America by Anne Tyler

Nick Hornby is a big fan of Anne Tyler and if you haven't tried her yet, you really are in for a treat.

Tyler is the queen of characterisation and she writes fluently about relationships, families and small town life.

Digging To America follows the lives of two very different couples - one American, one Iranian-American - who have both decided to adopt Korean babies. They meet at the airport on the day their new daughters arrive.

Despite their wildly different personalities, the families stay in touch, and decide to celebrate their girls' 'Arrival Day' every year with a party.

Tyler examines cultural diversity, what it means to belong and what it means to be American with the same gentle humour, sympathy and insight she applies to family relationships.

As usual with Anne Tyler, there is not a huge amount plot. Instead you are treated to characters that live and breathe, and to deceptively simple prose that is so perfect you want to re-read it straight away.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: The Distance Between Us by Maggie O'Farrell

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 17, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: I Heart Bloomberg by Melody Carlson

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Melody Carlson, author of more than 200 books, returns with a new book, I Heart Bloomberg which will be released in April. Set in Portland, Oregon, the book is the first in the 86 Bloomberg Place series. Carlson takes a look into the lives and friendships of four new roommates. As you’ve probably guessed, the girls live at 86 Bloomberg Place. 

Kendall, who received the house as a gift from her grandmother, has decided to take in renters in lieu of getting a job. Who wants to work when you can pay for your shopping sprees by collecting rent?  She sets out to find three roommates, going so far as to ask for resumes in her newspaper ad. 

After Kendall decides upon her new tenants, the fun really begins. Megan, Lelani and Anna each have their own reasons for moving in to Kendall’s house. And once they’ve moved in none of them is sure the arrangement is gong to work. Can they learn to live together or will Kendall’s big plans fall short?

I Heart Bloomberg is a fun read. It focuses on the friendships of the girls and not so much on any romance. I have a feeling the upcoming books will go more into each of the girls’ romantic relationships. Carlson gives a glimpse into each characters life by writing from one girl’s perspective for each chapter. I enjoyed getting the chance to read from each character’s point of view. It was interesting to see the dynamics develop and to see how things affected each girl’s life.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try These Boots Weren't Made for Walking by Melody Carlson (inspirational) or 31 Dream Street by Lisa Jewell (chick lit)

Posted by Keris on January 17, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 16, 2008 2:17 PM

Seeing Me Naked cover

Liza Palmer's Seeing Me Naked has just been published in the US and is out on 17 April in the UK.

This is the US cover and I love it (despite having an aversion to the colour yellow). It's strong, distinctive and witty.

Head on over the cut for the UK cover to see the difference.

I mean, it's not terrible, but it's much weaker, isn't it?

Plus, I'm getting a mightily  sick of coy, bland illustrations: how about you?

Related posts: Conversations With The Fat Girl by Liza Palmer | Musical book covers

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 16, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 15, 2008 6:30 PM

BOOK NEWS: This Is How It Happened

Jo Barrett's first book for Little Black Dress was The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom. We liked it lots, so I'm really pleased to announce that Jo has another book out next month.

This Is How It Happened is all about revenge. Although Maddy didn't actually want to kill her ex-fiance, Carlton, she really wanted to scare him. Maddy is a woman scorned (and stolen from), and she decides to take Carlton down a peg or two. Perhaps hiring a hit man wasn't exactly the best way of doing it, though...

Related posts: Little Black Dress | Movie News: The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 15, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK REVIEW: Through Thick and Thin by Alison Pace

I loved Alison Pace's first two novels - If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend and Pug Hill - and I was excited to read this, her third, particularly because of the beautiful cover! (I'm a sucker for a dog on a cover.)

It's the story of Meredith and Stephanie, two sisters with very different lives, but one thing in common: they both want to lose weight. They decide to do it together, both so they can support each other and also because they've been drifting apart and think it might help their relationship.

Meredith lives in New York and works as a restaurant reviewer (which is obviously pretty incompatible with weightloss - particularly The Zone, which is the first diet they try).

Having moved from the city to the New Jersey suburbs, Stephanie has a young daughter and a husband who has completely withdrawn and spends more time at his computer in the basement than he does with his family.

Both women are lonely, but unable to admit it to each other.

Once the dieting begins, they find that, rather than improving their relationship, it actually highlights their differences and swiftly drives them even further apart.

It sounds a bit dark and depressing, but it's not at all. The writing is beautiful (I actually marked a few passages to copy out) and I identified with both Meredith and Stephanie (not just their struggle with weight, but also their sibling relationship).

If you've ever been lonely, every struggled with your weight or you've got a sister (or a dog!), I think you'll love this book.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Conversations With the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer

Posted by Keris on January 15, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 14, 2008 3:17 PM

BOOK NEWS: Alibi in High Heels

Alibi in High Heels is the fourth book in Gemma Halliday's 'high heels' series of romantic mysteries and it's out in March.

I have to admit I hadn't heard of the books (or of Halliday). Just in case you're in the same boat, here are the first three titles: Spying in High Heels, Killer in High Heels and Undercover in High Heels.

The series stars Maddie Springer: shoe designer, fashionista, and occasional sleuth. The mad-cap characters and plots remind me of Janet Evanovich, but we'll have to do a review to find out if they live up to that comparison.

My eagle-eyes have also noted that on the cover of Alibi, it says 'soon to be a TV series'. Interesting, no?

Related posts: Book news archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 14, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Crime / Mystery, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

MORE ON MONDAY: Shakespeare by Bill Bryson

I must admit I probably wouldn't have bothered reading yet another book about Shakespeare if it hadn't been written by Bill Bryson. Actually, I definitely wouldn't - I had quite enough Shakespeare at university (although I'd still love to see a really great production of my favourite play, Macbeth). But this biography - part of the Eminent Lives series - is written by Bill Bryson and so that made it a must-read.

As with all Shakespeare biographies, Bryson looks at the Bard's early life, the "missing years" when he began writing the greatest plays in history, his family life, and his death.

Of course, this all has to be put into context so Bryson also takes us on a journey to London and Stratford in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (which I never tire of reading about, since it all sounds so disgusting), the theatre scene and the monarchy.

Finally Bryson takes a gander at all those claims that Shakespeare wasn't Shakespeare at all, was, in fact, anyone from Christopher Marlowe to the Countess of Pembroke. (And points out that none of the claims have any basis in fact.)

All of which I have read about before on more than one occasion, but because Bryson is Bryson, I felt like I was reading much of it for the first time. One of the things I liked about this book was how Bryson makes it clear that barely anything we think we know about Shakespeare is fact. Even having studied him, I didn't know that practically everything I learned is actually conjecture and guesswork.

But the thing I loved the most about this book is the thing I love about all of Bill Bryson's books. And that's that infects everything he writes with his own joy and fascination in the topic. Plus, of course, he's funny. This is not the first book about Shakespeare I've read, but it's the first one that made me laugh.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (or, if you're studying Shakespeare, The Genius of Shakespeare by Jonathan Bate, which Bryson quotes, but nowhere near as widely as I remember quoting it in my essays).

Posted by Keris on January 14, 2008 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 11, 2008 11:13 AM

BOOK EXTRACT: Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls

I'm always happy to hear about a new Meg Cabot book (which, you know, happens about once a week) and I'm particularly excited about Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls since it's the first in (yet another!) new series from Meg, but this time it's for younger children (younger than young adult).

The first book - Moving Day - is out in March (make sure you check back then when we'll have five copies to give away), but if you can't wait that long, hop over the cut to read an extract.

Rule #1
Don’t Stick a Spatula Down Your Best Friend’s Throat

I like rules. The reason why is, rules help make our lives easier. For instance, the rule about not killing people. Obviously this is a good rule.

Another good rule is Everything that goes up must come down. This includes helium balloons. People don’t know this, but you shouldn’t let helium balloons loose outside, like at weddings or the Olympics or whatever, because what happens is eventually all the helium comes out and the balloons fall down, possibly in the ocean, and sea turtles eat them.

Then they choke to death.

So really that is two rules: Everything that goes up must come down and Don’t let go of helium balloons outside.

Science has a lot of rules (like the one about gravity). So does math (like that five minus three will always be two. That is a rule).

That’s why I like science and math. You know where you stand with them, rulewise.

What I’m not so crazy about is everything else.

Because there are no rules for everything else.

There are no rules, for instance, for friendship. I mean, besides the one about Treat your friends the way you’d want them to treat you, which I’ve already broken about a million times. Like earlier today when my best friend, Mary Kay Shiner, and I were making the strawberry frosting for her birthday cupcakes.

First of all, who puts strawberry frosting on cupcakes? Especially when Mary Kay knows perfectly well one of my rules is Never eat anything red.

Although in this case the frosting was pinkish, so technically it was OK. But still.

Mary Kay’s babysitter – who is also her family’s housekeeper – Carol, was helping us, and Mary Kay wouldn’t stop crying, on account of Carol letting me lick the spatula. Like Mary Kay didn’t just get to lick the beaters, since it was her birthday. Did anyone hear me complain that all I got was the lousy spatula,
even though truthfully I did most of the work, opening the box and all of that? No.

Also, at nine years old you shouldn’t cry over things like not getting to lick a spatula.

Sometimes I don’t even know why I am friends with Mary Kay. Except that she is the only girl my age who lives on my side of High Street, which I’m not allowed to cross without an adult present since that kid got hit by a car while he was riding his skateboard there.

Which reminds me. Here is another rule: Always wear a helmet when you’re skateboarding, because if a car hits you your brain will splat open and kids like me will spend their time waiting for the cars to go by so they can cross the street looking for bits of your brain the ambulance might have left behind in the bushes.

Anyway, while I was licking the spatula, Mary Kay was all, ‘She’s getting more than me!’ and ‘I want a taste!’

I don’t know what I was thinking. I was just so sick of Mary Kay’s whining. I mean, half the time I don’t think Mary Kay knows how lucky she is, having a babysitter who is also a housekeeper who makes cupcakes for her to take to school on her birthday. We don’t have a babysitter who is also a housekeeper, so no one in my family has time to make cupcakes since both my parents work.

So for my birthday I had to bring store-bought cupcakes from Kroger, and Scott Stamphley said he could taste the chemicals in them.

Plus Mary Kay has parents who will buy her whatever she wants, like a hamster in its own Habitrail, because she is an only child and her parents can Afford It.

Maybe that is what I was thinking about when I said, ‘Here, Mary Kay,’ and held out the spatula. Maybe I was thinking about how Mary Kay has her very own pet, a hamster (Sparky) with a Habitrail, whereas I only have a dog – Marvin – who I have to share with my whole family.

Maybe that is what I was thinking about when Mary Kay put the spatula into her mouth and I was still holding on to the end.

Maybe that is what I was thinking about when I kind of shoved the spatula into her mouth a little.

I meant it as a joke. A birthday joke.

And OK, I know it was mean. But I just wanted to teach her a lesson about not being so greedy. I meant it in a joking way.

But I should have known Mary Kay wouldn’t take it that way. As a joke, I mean.

And I should have known she’d start crying, this time for real, because the spatula went down her throat.

But just a little! Like, it BARELY went down. Maybe it touched her tonsils. But that’s it.

Still. This is not a good example of treating your friends as you would want them to treat you. Also, it was all my fault.

I said I was sorry about a million times. But Mary Kay still wouldn’t stop crying. Finally I had no choice but to go home and sit in the wheelbarrow in the garage and tell myself it was all my fault, I’d broken the only rule of friendship that there is (which I didn’t make up myself).

Although a part of me couldn’t help thinking that Mary Kay had broken an important rule, my own rule, Never eat anything red – but especially don’t choose that colour for your cupcake frosting if your best friend can’t stand strawberry, even though I have to admit that the frosting was pretty good; it tasted more like vanilla with red food colouring in it than it did like strawberries, which I hate.

But still. The rule I broke was the more important one, the Treat your friends the way you’d want them to treat you rule. I certainly wouldn’t want someone to shove a spatula down my throat – even if it was just a little. I pretty much deserved not to be Mary Kay’s best friend any more. Especially since, clearly, I didn’t know the first thing about the rules of friendship.

That is when it became clear to me that I needed to write them down. The rules, I mean. Because there are so many to remember that sometimes even I forget them. And I’m the one who’s making them up.

So I found a spiral notebook in a box near the Christmas ornaments that Mom had marked SCHOOL SUPPLIES. Then, using one of her permanent markers that she saves for writing on her home-improvement tools and told us kids especially not to use (except that this was an emergency, so I knew she would understand), I wrote ALLIE fiNKLE’S RULES FOR GIRLS across the front of it.

Posted by Keris on January 11, 2008 in American Authors | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 10, 2008 6:59 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The River King by Alice Hoffman

Like Diane, I loved The Ice Queen. The River King is an older Alice Hoffman book and it's just as good.

The story centres on an elite private boarding school built on the banks of the Haddan River, Massachusetts. For more than a century, the small town of Haddan has been divided; those born and bred in the town on one side, and those attending the school on the other.

Then, one winter's night, a student of the school is found drowned in the river and the two worlds collide.

Hoffman's prose is spell-binding, and she describes a gothic, haunted world that is like our own, but seems timeless.

Her characters are mesmerising, too. From the ill-fated student and school misfit, August Pierce and his only friend Carlin Leander, to Abel Grey, the police officer who refuses to let Haddan history - and the school's power - maintain silence.

The plot builds into a murder mystery intertwined with a love story. And there's a ghost, too. It is the mark of a truly great writer that these elements seem utterly at home together.

The River King is Hoffman at her very best: atmospheric and lyrical prose, layered with magic and passion and mystery.

Like this? Try: The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 10, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Rachel Samstat v Cranky Agnes

In the last grudge match, two YA heroines battled it out and Isabel (from Sarra Manning's Let's Get Lost) was deemed too tough to lose.

This week, we're putting two food writers head-to-head. It's Rachel Samstat from the wonderful Heartburn and Agnes Crandall from Agnes and the Hitman.

Rachel Samstat

The book: Heartburn by Nora Ephron. A funny semi-autobiographical tale of the break-up of a marriage (well, that doesn't sound very funny, but just trust me).

The loves: Mark. Current husband and two-timing fool. Also featured are a hamster-obsessed ex-husband and Rachel's good friend Richard Finkel (who is also going through a crisis in his marriage). Ultimately, though, this is Rachel's journey.

The food: Rachel is a food writer with her own show on cable. There are recipes throughout the book - and her frozen Key Lime Pie is to die for.

Agnes Crandall

The book: Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer.

The loves: Ex-fiance Troy Paradou. AKA more hair-than-brains celebrity chef. Current fiance Taylor Beaufort. AKA wonderful cook, wonderful liar. And Shane. AKA the hit man. 

The food: Agnes writes a food column under the name Cranky Agnes, and is attempting to write 'The Two Rivers Cookbook' with her ex-husband Taylor.  Agnes is a fabulous creation and the book makes you want to hear more from her. Oh, wait, you can! Crusie has kindly published some of the Cranky Agnes columns here.

Conclusion: It's another tricky one... I adore both of these writers and the heroines are both strong, smart, funny women who care about food. I wouldn't want to get in the way of a bake-off. Rachel throws pies and Agnes is pretty handy with a heavy-gauge frying pan...

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 10, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (5)

Symphony of Secrets by Sharon Hinck

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Sharon Hinck’s upcoming novel, Symphony of Secrets, takes a turn from any of her other writings. It’s filled with Hinck’s funny, charming writing style, but has a bit of mystery added in. 

Symphony of Secrets is set in the Twin Cities of Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul) and features quite a few references to places that locals will recognize. The novel centers around flutist Amy Johnson, a single mother who dreams of playing with the symphony. Currently a music teacher, Amy longs for the stage and yet has chosen the safer, steady income of a teacher.

When an opening becomes available, Amy decides to take a chance and audition. However, things aren’t as they should be with the symphony. Amy finds she’ll need to find more than her courage to hold her new career possibility – and the symphony itself – together.

Symphony of Secrets will be release February 1st. Mom-lit and music lovers everywhere will want to make sure to grab a copy and prepare to be entertained.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Restorer by Sharon Hinck

Posted by Keris on January 10, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 9, 2008 11:22 AM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker's first novel, Violet On the Runway, was highly entertaining and I'm looking forward to the follow-up, Violet By Design (and I'll be featuring its beautiful cover soon). Plus I've got author photo envy - I can't get those bands to stay on my head, they twang off the back! Over to Melissa:

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

A life-long wallflower becomes a runway model--and has to deal with the fall-out.

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

I have a pink-flowered, overstuffed chair in the bay window of my tiny apartment in Brooklyn. It gets mottled sun in the morning and is the perfect spot for writing!

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Milkrun by Sarah Mlynowski. It's fast-paced and witty as hell!

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

In a book, it's probably Cyd Charisse from Gingerbread. She really stays true to who she is and knows herself, even though herself is kinda screwed up.

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

Keep reading. Always make time to read. While you're enjoying leisure time, you're soaking in sentence structure, pacing, character development techniques... it's the best way to learn to write!

What are you reading at the moment?

Grief Girl, by Erin Vincent. It's heartbreakingly raw.

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

The sequel to Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, comes out in March. I just finished copy edits on it! Violet goes international... and she might just fall flat on her face.

Do you have a theme song?

Ooh, yes, many! Right now, it's a rainy day and I'm feeling melancholy, so I've been listening to "Time Won't Let Me Go" by the Bravery. I love it.

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!)

What is your favorite moment from classic television (ie, the stuff you watched as a teenager)?

The absolutely perfect, heart-swooning, social-world encapsulating, Buffalo Tom-soundtracked, high school hallway moment in My So-Called Life when Jordan takes Angela's hand. You can watch it here.

LOVE.

Thanks, Melissa!

Posted by Keris on January 9, 2008 in American Authors, Interviews, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 8, 2008 11:09 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Reincarnationist by MJ Rose

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

The Reincarnationist is about the tenth book by M. J. Rose and is a thriller set in the present and the past thanks to numerous past life flash backs.

After nearly dying in a terrorist bomb, Josh Ryder is haunted by memories of a past life in Rome. The medical profession cannot explain or solve his new memories and flashbacks and so he turns to the Phoenix Foundation who specialise in past life regression.

A trail of present-day murders seem to link up to his past life memories of being a pagan priest whose dangerous congress with Sabina, one of the Vestal Virgins, poses a transgression so serious that the lovers would face certain death if exposed. Scents of jasmine and sandalwood and images of furtive liaisons and violence descend on Josh at will and become more frequent when the Phoenix Foundation leads him to an archaeological dig at an ancient yet strangely familiar Roman burial site.

The discovery of the existence of a collection of ancient gems called memory stones whose origins trace back to ancient Egypt and India put everyone in danger. The stones’ promise to ‘assist the wearer in reaching his next incarnation’ set the ancient and modern worlds on a collision course and tempts someone so badly that they would murder to get their hands on them.

Although this book is long, it’s very well written and kept me interested throughout. It’s a thriller that’s been thoroughly researched and I felt as though as I was learning about the ancient Roman religion while enjoying the story. She even includes an author’s note at the back to tell you what parts of the story she invented and what parts were from her research.

The whole idea of the existence of memory stones was very original and the mixture of tension of the present day murders and ancient memories of a love long lost kept me turning the pages. I know I shouldn’t mention the end, but it was one of those books that have an arty finish that may satisfy the author, but leaves all us poor readers wondering what the hell happened to everyone. For all I know they all died a second after the book finished as they were still in the middle of the drama.

Overall this was an original thriller mixing modern day with historical plot threads that kept you reading and there was just a dash of the supernatural to add a twist. Just don’t expect a satisfying ending.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Posted by Keris on January 8, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 7, 2008 4:24 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Courage to Write by Ralph Keyes

Sub-titled, 'How Writers Transcend Fear', The Courage to Write is not a conventional writing handbook. It doesn't cover point-of-view, grammar, or matters of style. If you are after a nuts-and-bolts guide to plotting or character, you need to look elsewhere.

However, if (like me) you often feel overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, if your hands tremble with the sheer size and scope of the task ahead, if, in short, you want to write, but find yourself resisting the process with all your might, then this book is for you.

In fact, I'll go further. Although specific to writing, I think Keyes' book is helpful  for all creative types. The act of creating something - of putting your ideas, feelings, dreams into something outside of yourself, something tangible, something that can be seen by others, is an act of courage.

The real beauty of this book is that it uses lots of examples and quotes from established (and renowned) writers. The first time I read it, I discovered that every thought and feeling I had about my own writing had been experienced by someone else. And not just any old people, either; gifted, successful writers.

This is both encouraging and depressing. It's great to think that one is normal, but rather distressing  to discover that there is no magic cure.

Still, as I face the coming week of work, I am buoyed by the thought that although writing is a solitary business I am, by no means, alone.

Related posts: The Writing Diet | See Jane Write

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 7, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

I've wanted to read Weetzie Bat for ages. That title. And the subtitle: "Dangerous Angels". Who could resist? Plus it's been recommended to me by more than one person with great taste in books. Of course, this also meant that I was worried I'd be disappointed (because that's how I "roll"), but I wasn't.

Weetzie Bat (yes, that's someone's name) is a really cool girl who meets a really cool boy named Dirk. Dirk's gay, but he and Weetzie have a great relationship, which includes hunting for "Ducks" (which is what they call boys) and visiting Dirk's Grandma Fifi.

Before long, they meet their perfect Ducks and make a life together (yes, all four of them). Other things happen (obviously), but I don't want to say because I don't want to spoil the fast fairytale joy of the book.

I read this book in a couple of hours and in what felt like an altered reality. It really does feel like a modern (very modern) fairytale. It's exciting, sweet, original, joyful and it made me want to live in LA (which, when I went there a few years ago, I hated).

This is the kind of book you could reread and notice something new (or get something new out of it) each time. And the fantastic thing is, it's the first in a series of six. Yay.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Posted by Keris on January 7, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 4, 2008 4:05 PM

BOOK NEWS: A Little Ray of Sunshine

It feels like only yesterday (well, November) that I was telling you about Lani Diane Rich's new book Crazy In Love.

Now it seems she has another one to announce already - fast work, Lani!

A Little Ray of Sunshine is out on 5 February and it features an angel specialising in cosmic relationship mending...and blueberry pancakes. That's all I need to know I want to read it.

Related posts: Lani Diane Rich interview | Time Off For Good Behaviour review

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 4, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (5)

January 3, 2008 10:21 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney

This is my first Patricia Gaffney and (yet another) thing I have tried on Jennifer Crusie's recommendation (yes, I can think for myself, thanks for asking).

The Saving Graces is a book about friendship. Four women have enjoyed more than ten years of shared life and love; helping each other in more ways than can be counted.

Isabel has a broken marriage, a grown-up son she hardly sees and is two years into remission from breast cancer. Lee is well off financially but is struggling to fall pregnant. Rudy is beautiful, damaged and married to a controlling man. Emma is funny and feisty and falls for a man she can't have.

Listed like this, the characters sound fairly ordinary and their trials none-too-original but, as with all fiction, the magic is in the telling.

The story is told with the four distinct voices of the women, giving insights into each of their thoughts and personalities.

I bonded with them all; laughing, crying and cheering them on, and felt truly sad when it was time to leave them at the end.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Beautiful Bodies by Laura Shaine Cunningham

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 3, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Truffles By the Sea by Julie Carobini

Reviewed by Jill Hart

I liked Julie Carobini’s first novel, Chocolate Beach, but her sophomore release, Truffles By The Sea, greatly surpasses it. I thoroughly enjoyed Carobini’s second book and felt her writing was much stronger throughout. The characters are deeper and yet funnier – a great combination.

Readers met Gaby Flores, in Chocolate Beach, but she takes center stage this time around. The story begins as Gaby moves in to a new apartment (by the sea). She’s had a rough year. She’s lost her apartment in a fire, her business in floundering due to a thieving former employee and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Gaby isn’t sure how much more she can take.

The downward spiral that is Gaby’s life continues when Gaby is faced with a lawsuit. Top that with the aging of her mother and her new “helpful” neighbors and Gaby is ready to throw in the towel. Gaby is determined to make the best of what she has left, but how much will she have to lose before things turn around? Can she ever get her life back together or will she call it quits – in business and in love?

Truffles By The Sea will be released in February 2008. It’s a great read for a cold winter day – you can curl up with the book, a nice fire and pretend you’re the one by the sea.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Chocolate Beach!

Posted by Keris on January 3, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (2)

December 28, 2007 1:33 PM

BOOK NEWS: Names My Sisters Call Me

Megan Crane's Frenemies made it onto Keris's top ten of 2007 so I thought I'd highlight her forthcoming book Names My Sisters Call Me.

It's out in April 2008, and although I don't love the title (for some reason I keep getting it mixed up) or the cover (yawn), I do fancy the blurb... Apparently it's about three sisters, old loves and skeletons in the family cupboard. Good stuff.

Related posts: Book Covers: More snowglobes | Megan Crane interview

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 28, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (3)

December 26, 2007 10:10 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Creating a Charmed Life by Victoria Moran

I love inspirational self-development books. I keep them by my bed and try to read a chapter in morning and another at night. I say I try, but I usually fail, which is why it's probably taken me a year to read Victoria Moran's Creating a Charmed Life.

That's not a comment on the book - I've read a couple of Moran's other books and found them to be charming, wise and entertaining, and this one, subtitled "Sensible, Spiritual Secrets Every Busy Woman Should Know", is no exception.

Moran defines a "Charmed Life" as one "in which serendipity is commonplace and things go right an extraordinary percentage of the time" and the book is filled with tips and advice on how this can be achieved. Both by practical methods like boosting your vitality, asking for what you want or keeping a journal, and in more spiritual and emotional ways: accepting things as they are and trusting your instincts.

I'm making it sound a bit wet, I know, but it's not at all. Moran illustrates each (very short) chapter with examples from her own life, which she has transformed, and which certainly sounds charmed. In fact, her authorial voice is so strong that I was shocked to find there's no photograph of her anywhere in this book - I can picture her so perfectly!

Creating a Charmed Life is a great quick introduction to various self-development concepts. If you're not sure what works for you, read this and see what resonates. There's even a Further Reading section in the back if you want to look more deeply into specific ideas.

But even if you just followed the advice contained in this small book, I'm confident you'd notice changes.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Behind on the Laundry and Living off Chocolate by Lynette Allen

Posted by Keris on December 26, 2007 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (4)

December 24, 2007 10:20 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Save Karyn by Karyn Bosnak

I read Save Karyn a couple of years ago and I really loved it. I loved it so much, in fact, that when I realised we hadn't reviewed it for Trashionista, I decided to read it again.

In case you don't know the story (and, if not, where've you been?) Karyn Bosnak was a TV producer who moved to New York to find herself and ended up with $20,000 of debt. Basically, she was trying to support a New York lifestyle, but she wasn't yet earning New York money. She thought she had it all under control, but then she lost her job and it all fell apart. But then - after realising that if four rich people gave her $5000 or if twenty people gave her $1000 ... or if 20,000 people gave her $1, she'd be fine - she had the brilliant idea to set up a website asking people to help. The website was called SaveKaryn.com and it became a worldwide phenomenon, getting, eventually, over two million hits and enabling Karyn to pay off her debt in five months.

The book begins with Karyn's move to New York and how she got into so much debt - buying clothes, bags, shoes, cosmetics and using credit to pay for day to day living expenses like food and transport. (This is easily done - when I moved to London I did the same thing. Luckily because it was 1989 and credit wasn't the terrifying behemoth it is now, my Barclaycard limit was only £400. Still took me about five years to pay it off though...) Each chapter begins with her American Express and, later, other credit card, statements and, perhaps because I've been there, I actually found watching the debt rising quite stressful.

Luckily for me (and other nervous nellies), it's not long before Karyn hits rock bottom and then has her big idea and I got to see the debt coming down instead. Karyn's website was a success partly because of her honesty, but also because of her humour. She's very funny (which you'll know if you've read her blog or her first novel, Twenty Times A Lady) and she's also brutally honest. She's not afraid to reveal her frivolous purchases (which most of them were) and she also includes information about other websites that were set up to slag her off, plus the hate mail she received (and continues to receive).

I didn't enjoy Save Karyn quite as much the second time, but that's probably par for the course. Still, I'm in agreement with Marian Keyes whose cover quote says, "Funny, sweet, downright scary... and ultimately so uplifting." It really is. If you've ever been in debt, read this book and identify and if you've just got your first credit card, read this book as a warning!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella or Twenty Times A Lady by Karyn Bosnak

Posted by Keris on December 24, 2007 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

December 21, 2007 9:09 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Size Doesn't Matter by Meg Cabot

After reading on Meg Cabot's blog that her third Heather Wells mystery, Size Doesn't Matter (or Big Boned if you hail from the States!) was finally out in the UK, I could hardly contain my excitement.

Former pop star Heather Wells has returned - well, kind of. She still works as a residence hall officer in Fischer Hall (nicknamed 'Death Dorm' for its recent spate of grisly murders), dealing with fussy students and her mismatched bunch of colleagues.

But if there's one thing Heather's totally sure of, it's that she loves her job...even if she IS unsure about her relationship with her math professor Tad, her feelings for landlord Cooper, and of course, her latest diet.

Yep, her job is great...even if her boss has just been shot in the head in his office.

Cue another mystery for past teen queen Heather to try and solve. As the media gets involved due to a union strike in the renowned residence hall, Heather quickly gets on the case to try and figure out just who might be behind this one.

Add to that Tad's recent announcement of "I need to ask you something when the timing's right", her ex-boyfriend Jordan Cartwright's (remember the former boyband member?) latest announcement, and a new job proposal from her dad, and Heather's life just might be getting a little bit busy...

Will Heather Wells, former singing sensation and new girl detective, be able to find out just who shot her boss?

And will we get to see Heather walk down the aisle? (Altogether now: "Eeeee!")

This is the third novel in the Heather Wells series, following Size 12 is Not Fat and Size 14 is Not Fat Either. Personally, I think this might just be the best in the series, albeit a seemingly quicker read than the others. But truly? They're all brilliant. Heather, despite being a former pop princess, is a down-to-earth, funny character who's instantly lovable and easy to relate to. I'd advise you to read the other two books in the series first, although it's pretty easy to follow up and Meg's witty writing style is as fabulous as always.

But I have to say, there is one heck of a downside to this book.

It's so addictive, I read it in a day.

Thankfully, all is not lost - Queen of Babble in the Big City, another follow-up offering from the wonderful Meg, will be out in paperback in March.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Ex Factor by Andrea Semple

Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on December 21, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Series | Permalink | Comments (5)

FRIDAY FLICK: It's A Wonderful Life

In 1943, Philip Van Doren Stern wrote a short story about a man who wishes he had never been born and is temporarily given his desire by a guardian angel.

Frank Capra transformed the story (called The Greatest Gift) into the 1946 film It's A Wonderful Life.

Now, I must admit, I only recently saw this classic film (thanks Kathryn!) but boy, was it worth the wait.

I guess, like most people in the western world, you've probably already seen it. In which case, you don't need me to tell you that the script is sublime, that James Stewart excels as George Bailey - the ultimate good guy struggling against the odds, or that Donna Reed is perfect as Mary Hatch, George's love.

You already know that it is a beautiful slice of retro feel-good cinema, and so much more than the sum of its parts.

If you haven't seen it, I'll just say this: It's a Wonderful Life may be the quintessential yuletide film, but it's so good, it's not just for Christmas...

Related posts: Friday Flick archive

 

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 20, 2007 5:01 PM

BOOK REVIEW: it must be love by Rachel Gibson

Gabrielle Breedlove believes in karma and spirituality. She wants a man who is - first and foremost - enlightened. Problem is, her past dates may have had fantastic auras, but she hasn't wanted to get any closer to their physical bodies.

Detective Joe Shanahan is a man's man. Built like a calendar pin-up; he is macho, bull-headed and thinks meditation is for flakes.

He also thinks that Gabrielle and her business partner, Kevin, are using their shop as a fence for stolen goods. Gabrielle, in an effort to prove their innocence, signs up as a police informant. Joe and Gabrielle are stuck with each other until Joe solves the case...

This is my first Rachel Gibson and I found lots to like.The writing style is snappy, with lots of witty dialogue and one-liners. I liked Gabrielle's character and the descriptions of her shop, Anomaly, her home, friends and quirky family.

Gibson does a great line in funny details - like Joe's Jerry Springer-loving parrot - which lift the story and raise a smile.

However, I do have a nitpick with the romance between Joe and Gabrielle.

Bear in mind, this could just be me, but Joe was a very Alpha hero. Maybe a little too Alpha for my tastes... He did a lot of bossing Gabrielle around (and not just when it was for his job). We were inside his head for a lot of the book and he thought mainly about his 'Mr Happy' and finding a wife who was 'normal' and a good cook.

Fine, you may think, Gabrielle brings out the other, more senstitive side to this man. Well. Not so much. Right up to their (very long, very passionate), um, coming together at the end, Joe laughs at Gabrielle's beliefs, runs hot and cold (getting her half-naked at one point before racing off) and, most unforgivably, laughing at her private passion - her artwork.  Ultimately, I didn't believe they truly were twin souls, which rather spoiled the inevitable outcome for me.

Still, this is a funny, engaging read and I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another Rachel Gibson.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 20, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Martha Gellhorn

Martha Gellhorn is considered to be one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century.

Born in 1908, Gellhorn was ahead of her time. While women's rights were being fought, and the idea of a female journalist - let alone a female war reporter - was unusual to say the least, Gellhorn forged an admirable career that spans sixty-years.

In addition to extensive journalism, Gellhorn published novels,novellas, short stories, and collections of her travel writing.

She was the third wife of Ernest Hemingway, although when Hemingway sent her a telegram: 'Are you a war correspondent or my wife in bed?' She cut the ties between them and carried on with her adventures.

Aged 81, Gellhorn travelled to Panama to write about the US invasion. Aged 89, suffering from cancer and almost blind, Martha commited suicide with poison. In death, as in life, she commanded things on her own terms.

For more on Gellhorn's extraordinary life, I recommend Caroline Moorehead's marvellous biography.

Related posts: Thursday Trailblazer archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 20, 2007 in American Authors, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (2)

December 19, 2007 9:41 AM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Sarah Nilsen

We'll be reviewing Sarah Nilsen's memoir - Does This Book Make My Butt Look Big? (and who cares anyway, its my butt) - in the near future, but since I thought I'd introduce you to her first. So here's Sarah!

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Cheerfully neurotic essays celebrating what it means to be a woman trying to find her inner zen in today’s crazy world.

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

I usually find myself writing at the computer in my home office. Interestingly, I write most of my best work late at night (early in the morning). When I have an idea swirling around in my head, I can’t sleep until I get up and get it out on virtual paper. So most of my book was written at 3am!

Your favourite chick-lit book?

The Devil Wears Prada.  I loved that book!!  I love books that I can relate to, or that I wish I could relate to! 

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

This is a great question. Since publishing the book I am surprised by how many people have the inclination to write a book…but for whatever reason haven’t done so. I think that it isn’t so much that the passion exists to put pen to paper, as much as the fact that people want to “be heard” or otherwise get their story out there. So, my advice is to make the commitment to start the project.

Don’t allow the daunting task of the finishing the book, securing publishing and strategizing marketing deter you from the act of ever starting. If you have a story that you want to share, you should do it. As with anything in life, the very first step is equally as important as the last step. Once you have something on paper, you might be surprised what opportunities present themselves!

What are you reading at the moment?

I am reading Hollywood Car Wash by Lori Culwell and The Vixen Diaries by Karrine Steffans.

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

I am excited to report that I am working on my second book right now! It is shaping up to be a series of hilarious rants sandwiched between some rather thought provoking pieces that tackle more sentimental subjects. Laced with my signature sarcasm and written in the stream of consciousness, it will again resonate with a broad audience  looking for a good laugh!

Do you have a theme song?

“Glamorous Life” by Sheila E

I am a closet 80’s hair-band fan. What can I say? But this song still makes me toe-tap like I was 16. And…I love the message of the song!

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 has been the best part of having my memoirs published for the world to read?

A. I love the feedback I get from readers. I love the voicemails, emails and notes from women who have read the book and feel normal! They laugh, cry and email me to let me know that they now realize that they aren’t alone in their feelings about themselves…and as a result they can let some of those feelings of confusion, inadequacy and discontent go.

I love knowing that by throwing myself under the proverbial bus, other women can lift their veils of shame and love themselves the way they are. “If Sarah’s okay the way she is, embracing her imperfections, then I must be okay as well!” I truly believe that’s a gift that the book has given to many, many women and I’ve, in turn, been blessed by that as well.

Thanks, Sarah!

Posted by Keris on December 19, 2007 in American Authors, Interviews, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Amorous Woman by Donna George Storey

I admit I approached Donna Storey's Amorous Woman with trepidation. For one, there's a woman in her underwear on the cover. And then the back cover describes the book as "the erotic secrets of one woman's sexual awakening and her subsequent passions in Japan". Um. Not one to read on the commute then (luckily I work at home).

The book begins with Lydia - the Amorous Woman herself - living in San Francisco and teaching Japanese culture to American businessmen. Following her return to America from Japan, Lydia vowed never to have sex again "with anyone, man or woman" for the rest of her life. Only a few pages in, I got the impression that would be a promise she'd find difficult to keep.

When she goes out for a drink with two of her students, not only does she find herself attracted to them (inevitably), she also learns that she hasn't been able to hide her true self as well as she thought. They have guessed she has secrets and ask her to tell them. So she does. And the reader learns it all at the same time, of course.

If you ignore the fact that, rather than a couple of hours, it would have taken Lydia days to relate her story, the book is compelling and beautifully written. Despite the fact that Lydia behaves fairly appallingly throughout, she is so open and honest about her wants, needs and weaknesses that I couldn't help but like her.

There isn't much of a plot - basically Lydia goes to Japan and has varied sex with varied people - but there is an emotional core to the book, so it doesn't seem gratuitous. But it is erotic fiction, so it is fairly relentless. It's interesting to read about a woman exploring all aspects of her sexuality (almost) without apology.

The Japanese setting is interesting too - I really felt like I'd got an insight into the country's culture - but I've no idea why there's a Japanese woman on the cover. Lydia is American and there are hardly any Japanese women in the novel (plenty of Japanese men though).

Since it's an erotic novel, you probably want to know whether it is indeed "erotic" (that word's never been the same to me since Waynetta Slob). It is. (Ha! Coy enough for you?)

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try White Tigress by Jade Lee

Posted by Keris on December 19, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (3)

December 12, 2007 6:08 PM

BOOK NEWS: Swimming Without A Net by MaryJanice Davidson

We liked Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson lots, and Sleeping With The Fishes (Mermaid Lit!) not quite so much, but one thing is for certain; no one can accuse MaryJanice of dragging her heels.

The undead series - which many credit with launching vampire chick lit - now runs to six books, she has written a couple of YA books, two cyborg books (yes, really) and contributed to various anthologies. Plus, the second mermaid book - Swimming Without A Net - is out in the UK next month. Phew!

Related post:  Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Finding Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

Reviewed by Jill Hart

It’s snowing here in Nebraska, so I decided it was time to find a great Christmas book to help get myself into the Christmas spirit. Robin Jones Gunn’s novella Finding Father Christmas did just that. 

It’s just a few days before Christmas and Miranda Carson has just arrived in England on a spur of the moment trip. She’s in search of a father she isn’t sure exists and her only clues are a few mementos left from her mother’s belongings. Miranda doesn’t have much to go on, but she knows she’ll regret it if she doesn’t at least attempt to uncover the truth.

When Miranda is befriended by a family that may hold the key to her secrets, she has a difficult decision to make. Should she open up and risk the possibility of forever changing this family she’s grown to love or should she leave and risk never finding the truth?

The book started off a bit slow and I was afraid for a few pages that I wasn’t going to enjoy it. I’m glad I kept reading, though, because only a few chapters in I was hooked. The story is intriguing and the setting is enchanting. And the best part is Gunn has a sequel planned entitled Engaging Father Christmas. So, I know I’ll have a great read for next Christmas, too!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Three Day Rule by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

Posted by Keris on December 12, 2007 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 10, 2007 7:09 PM

BOOK NEWS: Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing

Okay, I'm going to help you out with your Christmas shopping, now.*

For the Elmore Leonard fan who has everything...

HarperCollins is publishing a limited edition, leather-spined, cloth-bound hardcover of Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing. It has a signed, numbered first page, making it a collector's piece and is released on 18th December.

Related posts: Out of Sight | Jackie Brown | Get Shorty

*For the sake of my sanity, please don't tell me that you have finished and wrapped all of yours...

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Crime / Mystery | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

Maureen Johnson's second novel, The Bermudez Triangle, was famously banned by a school library in Oklahoma. Why? Lesbian content. I know! In a young adult book! Whatever next? Is it shocking and likely to corrupt our teenagers? Is it heck!

When Nina Bermudez goes attends a college study program during the summer, her best friends and the other two sides of the triangle (I wanted to say "titular triangle" there, but I thought, given the whole banning thing, I'd better not), Avery and Melanie don't know how they're going to manage without her. But before too long, they find that they're interested in being more than friends and soon they're managing just fine.

At Stanford, Nina's coping without them too. She's met a boy, Steve, and fallen madly in love. But, of course, summer doesn't last forever and soon Nina's back home. And not only is she missing Steve terribly, she's also finding her friends don't want her around so much anymore. And soon she finds out why.

The Bermudez Triangle is relentlessly entertaining, sensitive, sweet and wise, with one of the cutest supporting characters in the girls male friend, Parker. All three girls are beautifully drawn and their issues are neither sensationalised nor treated tritely. Of course,  it's not just about young lady love (what?), it's also about growing up and finding your own identity and place in the world. Universal themes, in other words. All teenagers should read this book. Yes, even those in Oklahoma.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares

Posted by Keris on December 10, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)

December 7, 2007 4:43 PM

BOOK NEWS: Tell No Lies by Julie Compton

Tell No Lies is a psychological thriller and lawyer Julie Compton's debut. It's being compared to Jodi Picoult for its mix of intrigue, realtionships and ethical debate.

Jack Hilliard is a 35-year-old assistant DA who appears to have it all, including a great job and a solid marriage with his wife, Claire.

However, a flirtation with his lawyer friend, Jenny, gets rather more serious and Jack realises how easy he finds deception.

Despite his wife's advice that he should stand by his beliefs, Jack misrepresents his position on the death penalty to secure the top spot at the DA's office. Then, Jenny is accused of murder. Only Jack can prove her innocence, but he stands to lose his marriage and promotion by doing so...

Now, publishers have been (understandably) keen to find the 'new Jodi Picoult' and quick to label something as such, but Tell No Lies certainly sounds promising...

Related posts: Jodi Picoult interview | More crime and mystery

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Crime / Mystery | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW - The Second Virginity of Suzy Green by Sara Hantz

Reviewed by Luisa Plaja

When Suzy moves to a new town after the death of her perfect older sister, she decides it's time to create a new identity for herself. She's going to get top grades, stop getting into trouble at school, take out her tongue stud, join the virginity club. Yes, the virginity club.

Apparently, in her new school, it's cool to pledge that you won't be tempted by the opposite sex (and that means no touching at all - and no kissing). But Suzy decides to join as part of her new image, with just one tiny technicality - she's not actually a virgin. But if she follows the VC rules from now on, then who could know the truth, except perhaps her ex? And then he turns up...

I can't think of a single YA title set in Australia that I haven't loved, and this book is no exception. Suzy is a sweet character who means well but never quite manages to adopt her new 'perfection', or at least not in every way. This means we still get to benefit from her brilliantly irreverent 'fringes of Goth' outlook, even as she struggles to be one of the glamorous, rich gang. My favourite moments were when her old voice came through loudly at unexpected moments, and always to great effect.

The characters are wonderful, especially Suzy's friend from home Maddie, who only features on the other end of the phone, but really shows us what the old Suzy was like. I also loved the ex, Ryan. We don't get to meet him directly until relatively late in the book, but it doesn't matter because this is an easy, fast read and one of those books where you're halfway through before you know it, desperately turning the pages to find out what happens next. I was surprised to find that the story doesn't dwell for long on the sadder aspects of Suzy's life, but this is something that fits well with Suzy's character. I should also point out that it's amazingly clean for a book with 'virginity' in the title (er, if that makes any sense).

The Second Virginity of Suzy Green has everything - laugh-out-loud humour, exciting cliffhangers, cringey embarrassing incidents, and also some total lump-in-your-throat moments. Plus a lovely cover, featuring two cherries - nice touch!

If you'd like to win a copy of this book, check out the giveaway on Chicklish!

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Good Girls by Laura Ruby

Posted by Keris on December 7, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 6, 2007 2:29 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott is probably best known for Little Women, her semi-autobiographical novel. Jo March, the heroine of the story, has captured generations of hearts and minds with her feisty, strong personality.

Alcott  was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1832. She and her three sisters, Anna, Elizabeth and May spent their childhood in Boston and in Concord, Massachusetts.

Like Jo March, young Louisa was a tomboy. She also loved reading, writing and putting on plays with her sisters.

The family were poor, and Louisa took a series of different jobs to help out. She continued writing, though, and when she was just 22, her first book Flower Fables was published.

As well as the extremely popular Little Women, with its follow-ups, Good Wives, Good Men and Jo's Boys, Louisa wrote racy 'pot-boilers' under the pseudonym A. M. Barnard. I had no idea!

I also didn't realise that Louisa published over 30 books and collections of stories in her lifetime. Louisa died from mercury-poisoning (she had been exposed during her nursing service in the American Civil War) aged 55.

Did you know? Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist. She supported women's suffrage and was the first woman to register to vote in Concord, Massachusetts.

The Alcott's family home, Orchard House, is open for guided tours. Or you can take a virtual look around.

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 6, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Under the Rose by Diana Peterfreund

Keris loved the first book in this series, Secret Society Girl, so I was excited to read Under the Rose. It's the second book and follows on from Amy Haskell's initiation into the prestigious Rose & Grave society at Eli University.

I like to read books in order, where possible (doesn't everyone?), but I needn't have worried. Peterfreund weaves in the back-story from the first book seamlessly and I never felt lost.

Amy's club is the first in the society's long history to include women and some of the patriarchs aren't too happy about it. The book opens with mysterious threatening emails to each of the female members (the Diggirls) and continues on a rollercoaster ride of intrigue and suspicion.

I loved dipping into a world of Ivy League life and secret society rituals; this book really made a change from my usual reading. I felt exhilarated by Amy's schedule of papers, meetings and romantic liaisons with the delicious George 'Puck' Harrison. In truth, I was compelled to snatch moments with this book until I had devoured the entire thing.

The third book in the series, The Rites of Spring (Break), is scheduled for next summer and I will definitely reach for another slice of this smart, exciting, and very witty world.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 6, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 5, 2007 1:11 PM

BOOK NEWS: Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

The roaringly successful (and Trashionista-favourite) series of Stephanie Plum novels are numbered for easy ordering.

However, Janet Evanovich also treats her fans to the occasional 'between the numbers' novella to keep us going between the main events...  We've had Visions of Sugar Plums and Plum Lovin' and now - Plum Lucky.

In Plum Lucky, Grandma Mazur has high-tailed it to Atlantic City with a winnebago and a bag of stolen money and Stephanie needs to get her back. It's out on 8 January 2008 and looks like a good way to chase away the post-New-Year-blues.

Related posts: One for the Money | Two for the Dough | Twelve Sharp

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 5, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Crime / Mystery, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 4, 2007 3:16 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Forever Summer by Suzanne Macpherson

I know it seems weird me reviewing a book called The Forever Summer in the depths of winter (well, I'm trying to pretend this is the depths and it's not going to get much worse...), but this book isn't really "summery". In fact, it's rather cosy.

When beautiful but bitchy Emily Ruth Griffin drops dead in the produce aisle of the supermarket where Lila works, Lila's immediate worry is that she's poisoned her with the Cheese Whiz and crackers Emily had just sampled.

But when Emily Ruth starts haunting both the produce aisle and Lila herself, Lila's got more to worry about. Like the kid in the Sixth Sense, Lila sees dead people. But not All The Time, just when they've got a beef. But what's Emily Ruth's beef? Lila doesn't know. It's got something to do with lemons and babies, but she's not making herself clear.

Could it be that Lila has started dating Emily Ruth's sexy ex-husband, Lucas? Probably not since Emily Ruth cheated on him with his own brother... And what about the man Emily Ruth was preparing to have dinner with on the day he died? And what's with all the dead wives in this town, anyway?

So many questions... And, actually, not so many answers. I really enjoyed this book, but that's mainly because the characters are so good rather than the plot. I didn't guess what Emily Ruth was after, but I worked out whodunnit very early on. It didn't matter though, because Lila and Lucas (along with the minor characters) are very entertaining and I was happy to join them for the ride.

The other thing I loved about this book was the setting. It's a small town in either Ontario or Washington State (apologies if this is clear in the book; if so, I missed it) and it reminded me a bit of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls and you know how much I love Gilmore Girls.

This is the first of Suzanne Macpherson's books I've read, but I'll definitely look out for more.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try The Fortune Quilt by Lani Diane Rich

Posted by Keris on December 4, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 3/5, Romance, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (2)

More Meg Cabot videos

No, that Little Women video wasn't a dementedly entertaining one-off. Meg's done more. Watch her On Writing below or head over to YouTube for beauty tips and her take on the tabloids .

Related posts: The Crusie/Mayer writing workshop | Will Write for Shoes by Cathy Yardley | See Jane Write by Sarah Mlynowski & Farrin Jacobs

 

Posted by Keris on December 4, 2007 in American Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 30, 2007 6:40 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Get Shorty

We love Elmore Leonard here at Trashionista and the films are often as good (gasp) as the books.

In Get Shorty, John Travolta plays Chili Palmer, a Miami loan shark who's been sent to L.A. to collect on a bad debt from movie producer Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman).

Chili is also a film buff with a script idea, and he decides to become a producer. However, he's not the only mobster who wants a piece of the film action, and double-crossing fun begins.

Stuffed to the gills with Hollywood jokes, celebrity cameos, snappy dialogue and laughs, this is a great film and a very funny satire. I love Rene Russo's turn as a B-movie actress and Chili's love interest, too.

Like this? Try: Jackie Brown

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Agnes & The Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer

A new Jennifer Crusie novel is always a treat, but lately, you don't just get Jennifer Crusie - her last three novels have been collaborations. First Don't Look Down, the first "romantic adventure" written with Bob Mayer, then The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, written with Eileen Dreyer and Anne Stuart and now another Bob Mayer partnership: Agnes & The Hitman. I've read so much about Agnes & The Hitman on Crusie's blog that I've been desperate to read it almost from the time they started writing it ... I finally got the chance and I wasn't disappointed.

"Cranky" Agnes Crandall is a food writer, who has just had moderate success with a book called Mob Food. She's also recently bought her dream house, in partnership with her fiance, Taylor, but part of the property agreement was that she host a wedding for the previous owner's granddaughter. Unfortunately, Brenda (the previous owner), will get the house back if the wedding doesn't happen and, since that's what she wants, she's going all out to sabotage the wedding.

When a man with a gun turns up in Agnes's kitchen (ostensibly to kidnap her dog), her friend Joey calls a hitman named Shane to come and protect Agnes. But Shane's got problem's of his own. His boss is retiring and wants Shane to take over ... and it appears before long that someone's trying to kill him too.

My head hurts from trying to explain any aspect of this story without giving something away, but it's not so complicated when you read it, honest (okay, it's a little bit complicated, but, like Janet Evanovich's books, if you don't struggle to place everyone and just let it all wash over you instead, it all becomes clear in the end). Plus - and you'll know this if you read Crusie's blog - there are flamingoes.

I liked Agnes & the Hitman even better than Don't Look Down (and I liked Don't Look Down a lot). Agnes now joins the (long) list of my favourite Crusie characters and Shane is sex on legs. The minor characters are charming, hilarious and completely barmy and it's so skillfully done that you can't see the join between Crusie and Mayer's writing (even though you know that if there's any "YEC - Yucky Emotional Crap", it's unlikely to be Bob). Still, the YEC (which is neither yucky nor crap), the guns, bombs, boats, dogs and flamingoes all come together perfectly to create a gripping, romantic and fun read.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Don't Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer or any of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books, starting with One for the Money

Posted by Keris on November 30, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (4)

November 29, 2007 6:36 PM

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Suze v Isabel

It seems that last week you were ambivalent about the fate of Maggie Walsh (Angels) and Sadie Nelson (The Sweetest Taboo).

Let's see if two YA chick lit heroines can spark a discussion... May I present two seriously cool sixteen year olds; Susannah Simon(Suze) and Isabel (Belle).

Susannah Simon

The books: The Mediator series by Meg Cabot: Love You to Death, High Stakes, Mean Spirits, Young Blood, Grave Doubts  and Heaven Sent.

Loves: Her ancient leather jacket, her friends.

Men: Jesse. Very hot and unfortunately dead. Haunts her bedroom.

hoe Isabel ('Belle')

The book: Let's Get Lost by Sarra Manning.

Loves: Not much. Isabel rules school with an iron fist; even her friends are scared of her.

Men: Atticus Smith. Isabel meets Smith at a party. He is lovely and seems to like her, but he's also older, and she lies to him. Lots.

Conclusion: If this was a contest based on covers, Isabel would win hands down, even though Suze has got more of them... Isabel is quite a hard character - she is not particularly likeable for the first part of the book; personally, I wouldn't like to fight her. However, Suze has lots of practice fighting ghosts (they can touch - and therefore hurt - her).

Or do you all think I should grow up and stop reading so much teenage fiction? (Don't answer that).

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK NEWS: What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes

I know Charlotte Hughes as Janet Evanovich's friend and co-author on the Full series, but apparently she's written over 30 romance books, too.

She's got a shiny new website (Charlotte's Web) and a new book coming out in February 2008. What Looks Like Crazy is the first of a series featuring psychologist Kate Holly.

Kate is divorcing Jay, her firefighter husband, who is perfect except for his tendency to put his life on the line. She is trying to deal with her mother, eccentric secretary and psychiatrist ex-boyfriend. The latter refers clients to her in return for news on the colour of her underwear.

As if things aren't nuts enough, Kate starts getting mysterious threats that could be from just about any lunatic in Atlanta. She's treated them all...

Related posts: Book News archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 28, 2007 11:07 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Coffee At Luke's: An Unauthorized Gilmore Girls Gabfest, edited by Jennifer Crusie

I have mixed feelings about this book since I wanted to have an essay in it and they turned me down - Me! Don't they know who I am? Ahem - but, at the same time, American TV show Gilmore Girls is one of my total obsessions. In fact, I'm watching it in the corner of my screen as I'm writing this ("The Festival of Living Art" from season 4, in case you're interested).

Plus the book is edited by Jennifer Crusie and we do love Ms Crusie here at Trashionista. Like other SmartPop books including This Is Chick Lit, Flirting With Pride & Prejudice and Perfectly Plum (which I do feature in - yay me!), Coffee At Luke's is a collection of essays about Gilmore Girls by a wide range of writers and pop culture experts.

Subjects range from personal relationships (including looks at fabulous secondary characters Kirk and Paris), to parenting (with a spirited defence of Emily Gilmore), to the wonder of Stars Hollow and Gilmore fixations food, books and sex. The last section is on Gilmore Girls and the real world and that, for me, was the least successful. I don't know if I'd just had enough GG at that point (doubtful) or whether I'm just not interested in how the show relates to the real world since I'd rather pretend it's all true.

My favourite essays were Television Without Pity writer Sara Morrison's analysis of how Stars Hollow businesses would fare in the real world. It doesn't sound particularly thrilling, but it's both interesting and really good fun. I was also totally blown away by Gregory Stevenson's Dining With the Gilmores, a jaw-dropping exploration of food as metaphor in the show. I never noticed it before reading this essay, but it makes perfect sense and served to underscore the complete brilliance of Amy Sherman-Palladino's writing.

Clearly only for fans of the show - despite the glossary (Coffee At Luke-isms) at the back, if you hadn't seen Gilmore Girls you would be flummoxed by most of these essays - Coffee At Luke's is interesting, entertaining and made me both want to watch certain episodes again and made me lament the show's cancellation.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Serenity Found edited by Jane Espenson

Posted by Keris on November 28, 2007 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Television | Permalink | Comments (6)

November 27, 2007 7:13 PM

Writers and producers resume talks

Although the WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike continues, there is hope this week that an agreement will be reached.

Yesterday, for the first time since the strike began over three weeks ago, writers and producers resumed talks. They met again today,  but thanks to a media blackout, neither side gave any comment.

[Via Variety]

Related post: Screenwriters on strike

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 27, 2007 in American Authors, Movie News, Television | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Kiss My Book by Jamie Michaels

I was so excited when I read the premise for young adult novel, Kiss My Book. It's the story of Ruby Crane, who sold her first book and got a movie deal at the age of 15, but is then accused of plagiarism.

The clear parallels with the Kaavya Viswanathan scandal appealed to me - in case you missed it, Viswanathan was 19 when her debut novel, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life was published and was subsequently found to contain sections bearing startling similarities to various other books - and to begin with I thought Kiss My Book was going to be great, but it then went off at a tangent and, I felt, lost the plot.

After the plagiarism accusation, Ruby runs away to her aunt's house in a small town in Upstate New York. She calls herself Georgie and decides she's never going to have anything to do with books again. She immediately makes friends with a girl named Rabbit and falls for Rabbit's cousin, Jacob, who is not only a hottie, but a big reader.

After a while, Ruby realises that she misses books and can't live without them after all, and so starts a book club in her aunt's shop. The book then becomes a sort of parable (or maybe a parody of a parable) and I found it both unrealistic and patronising. Despite the fact that the teens are all fully conversant with a range of poetry, the rest of the dimwit residents of this small town appear to have never even heard of books before and get completely overexcited. Rabbit's mother is reading romance novels and so she and Rabbit's dad start having sex again. The Single Moms Club becomes the Reading Moms Club. When Ruby's aunt's store is threatened with closure the town's residents take to the streets in protest.

Yes, Ruby has to admit that she plagiarised, but it's okay because at least, through her time in Whispering Oaks, she's learned to be honest with herself, and brought literature to the unwashed masses. I think you can tell, it irritated me no end.

There's also a subplot about what may be behind the whispering of Whispering Oaks, but this felt like it had been slotted in from an entirely different book. All in all - and despite the fact that Ruby is, most of the time, an entertaining and intelligent heroine and Jacob is a hot hero - Kiss My Book didn't live up to my expectations. A shame.

Rating: 2/5

Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart

Posted by Keris on November 27, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 2/5, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

November 21, 2007 11:56 AM

SPOTLIGHT: Rachel Gibson

Rachel Gibson is a New York Times bestselling author. She writes contemporary romances for Avon Books and Little Black Dress (in the UK).

Four of her novels were named among the Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year by Romance Writers of America and she has won numerous awards, including Border’s Bestselling Romantic Comedy and the RITA Award for the Best Single Title Contemporary of the Year.

When she's not writing, Rachel likes shopping for shoes, boating with her family and - her guilty 'secret' - watching Judge Judy with her cat.

Rachel says she doesn't have a choice about being a writer, it is just something she has to do: "Like a lemming jumping into the sea."

Carry on over the cut for Rachel's bibliography.

Simply Irresistible
Sex, Lies and Online Dating
Secrets of a Perfect Night (anthology with Stephanie Laurens and Victoria Alexander)
I'm in No Mood for Love
See Jane Score
Lola Carlyle Reveals All
The Trouble with valentines Day
Daisy's Back in Town
True Confessions
Truly Madly Yours
It Must Be Love
Tangled up in You

Did you know? Rachel writes a weekly blog here.

Stop Press! Rachel's next book is 100 Bad Dates and it will be out in the Spring of 2008.

Related posts: Spotlight archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 21, 2007 in American Authors, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 16, 2007 11:55 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Star Von Bunny, A Model Tale by Kym Canter

I have absolutely no idea what this book is all about. You can watch a little film about Star Von Bunny here, but don't expect it to help (although it's worth watching for the use of the word "inspirate").

Star is a toy rabbit who wants to be a model. This is her story. From moving to New York, to changing to an all-white diet (including marshmallows and vanilla ice-cream), to working out with Christy Turlington and eventually moving to LA to become a MAW (Model-Actress-Whatever), Star's journey is accompanied by numerous photographs and one illustration that made me laugh out loud. 

The book is written by Kym Canter, a former fashion and style reporter (she was Special Projects Editor at Elle), currently Creative Director for ultra-luxury fashion house J. Mendel. A portion of the profits is going to Doctors Without Borders.

I read it in about 10 minutes. That's not to say I didn't like it because I kind of did. I just don't really know who it's *for*. I guess it's one of those stocking fillers that you read on Christmas Day and then give to the charity shop. If you're in the fashion industry, perhaps you'll find it hilarious. I'm fashion-challenged, so I just found it cute and charming, if a little pointless, but it didn't make me want to punch people like a certain other charity fashion book.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try This Little Piggy Went To Prada by Amy Allen

Posted by Keris on November 16, 2007 in American Authors, Fashion-Lit, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

November 15, 2007 11:53 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Hungry by Allen Zadoff

As you know, I was attracted to this book because of the fabulous cover and, as it turns out, you can't judge a book by the cover, because Hungry isn't at all the book I was expecting. The back cover describes it as "laugh-out-loud funny" as do many of the reviews on Amazon US.

I found it sad, wise, inspiring and interesting, but not funny (I think I might have smiled once or twice...).

Allen Zadoff was overweight from a young age and was, quite literally, killing himself with food. At 350lbs and just before a McDonalds binge, he decided to get some help. Now this is not a diet book - Zadoff explains what worked for him (cutting out trigger foods, sticking rigidly to three meals a day and therapy), but you won't find eating plans or exercises.

What it is is a memoir of an addiction just as damaging as drug addiction or alcoholism, but not yet recognised as such by society. I'm making it sound quite dry, I know - and while it's certainly not hilarious, it is entertaining. Zadoff is a brutally honest and engaging writer and I flew through the book (stopping at one point to eat an Aero ... sigh).

Zadoff also says Hungry isn't a self-help book, but I imagine it could be of enormous help to someone with an eating disorder or even to a self-diagnosed "problem eater" like myself.

Rating: 4/5

Posted by Keris on November 15, 2007 in American Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 13, 2007 4:36 PM

Book News: Sorcery and the Single Girl by Mindy Klasky

Paranormal chick lit is still going from strength to strength - in the US, at any rate - and here's the proof; another witchy-heroine from Red Dress Ink.

Newly-fledged witch, Jane Madison, is struggling to find her feet. She feels like a magical misfit, and her powers aren't much help with her everyday-problems, either.

Then the exclusive Washington Coven invites her to join up. It could be a whole new start for Jane - or the most humiliating experience of her life.

We loved Mindy Klasky's debut, Girl's Guide to Witchcraft, which introduced Jane Madison, so I have high hopes for this one.

Related posts: Book News archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Romance, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 12, 2007 2:20 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen

When I'm in the mood for something smart and satirical and insanely funny, I know just the man to turn to... Florida journalist Carl Hiaasen.

In honour of his latest novel - Nature Girl - being released in paperback, I thought I would revisit one of my old favourites, Sick Puppy.

Eco-warrior Twilly Spree spots someone in a Range Rover dropping litter and decides to teach him a lesson. His target turns out to be none other than Palmer Stoat - one of Florida's most powerful political fixers, and a man who's crimes against nature are far worse than litter-bugging...

Twilly steals Palmer Stoat's dog and hooks up with Skink, an infamous ex-governer who lives in the wild and eats roadkill.

Plotted with crazy ingenuity, Sick Puppy defies summarisation. Safe to say, however, it keeps you laughing while you turn the pages.

It's quintessential Hiaasen; the situation is exagerated and the humour a little twisted, but justice prevails. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen (it's my second favourite).

Related posts: More on Monday

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 12, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, More On Monday, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 9, 2007 9:38 AM

Friday Flick: Out of Sight

Mmm... Delectable. I'm afraid that is the only way to describe Clooney in this film. And, frankly, the scene in the boot of the car is one of the hottest things I have ever seen. Keris agrees with me, too. Look.

Anyway. Hotness-aside, this adaptation of the fabulous Elmore Leonard book just plain works. Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney have fantastic on-screen chemistry (oops, I'm back to the hotness again, aren't I?) and the direction is classic Steven Soderberbergh - clever and slick.

Do yourself a favour this Friday night and snuggle up with George.

Like this? Try: Jackie Brown

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (4)

Book News: Crazy in Love by Lani Diane Rich

Lani Diane Rich has come a long way since she wrote Time Off for Good Behaviour for NaNoWriMo 2002, but that doesn't stop her taking part this year. Gotta love a girl that remembers her roots.

This month sees the UK release of her sixth book, Crazy in Love.

Flynn Daly is turning 30 and she has been guilt-marched into joining the family business. That may not sound so bad, but her first job involves leaving the city to run an inn, left by a deceased aunt, in the middle of the country. On the plus side, there's a sexy bartender called Jake, on the other, her dead aunt is haunting her dreams. 

Look out for a Trashionista review coming soon.

Related Posts: Book news archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 8, 2007 5:30 PM

Book Review: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Gentle reader, I have a spot of advice...

The next time you have one of those days. When you feel uncomfortable so you reach for your 'fat' jeans only to discover you're already wearing them, when you forget bin day for the third week running,  when you have a dentist's appointment and you collect a parking ticket while you're there, when, in short, fate spits in your eye and doesn't offer you a hanky, may I make a suggestion?

Read this book. Bet Me is pure escapist loveliness with typically-wonderful Crusie characters and a hero yummier than ten bars of Galaxy.

Minnerva Dobbs is a no-nonsense woman who believes in risk management over fairy-tale happy-endings. Calvin Morrisey is a gorgeous businessman who never makes a bet he won't win. But Min and Cal are meant for each other and Fate will go to any lengths to make them see it.

Bet Me is an unapologetic traditional romance, but it's also a Crusie. Hence the Krispy Kremes, chaos theory, intelligent cat, off-balance psychologist, snarky-best-friend, and outrageous shoes.

This book is balm for the soul and I love it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've had a rough day...

Like this? Try: Faking It by Jennifer Crusie

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 8, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (6)

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Heather Wells v Kate Klein

In the last grudge match, Elizabeth Bennett effortlessly batted away young contender, Bridget Jones.

This week, it's the turn of amateur sleuths Heather Wells and Kate Klein.

Heather Wells

The books: Size 12 is Not Fat and Size 14 is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot. Heather is an ex-teen-pop-star and current assistant director at a New York college residence hall. When deaths occur in the dorm and the police seem to be dragging their heels, Heather steps in...

Loves: Snacks.

Men: Mmm... Cooper. Housemate, brother of her ex-fiance and PI.

Kate Klein

The book: Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner. Kate Klein has her heart broken and then, while on the rebound, manages to get married and have three children very, very quickly. Before she's caught her breath, Kate finds herself in stultifying Upchurch, Connecticut, wondering what the heck happened to her life. Frankly, a death in the neighbourhood is almost a welcome diversion...

Loves: Comfortable clothes, New York, her best friend Janie Segal and her super-lovely Dad. And her three children, of course, but that goes without saying, right?

Men: Evan McKenna. PI. And the man who broke her heart. Ben. Husband. The man she's not entirely sure she should've married, let alone had three children with. Oops.

Conclusion: Two fabulous heroines from two of my favourite writers. It's a tricky one. Heather is carrying a series (the third book, Size Doesn't Matter, is out in December), but I admire Kate's guts and determination. Plus, she has to be a super-sleuth while being a mummy - that earns points, right?

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery | Permalink | Comments (4)

November 6, 2007 5:34 PM

Screenwriters on strike!

Meg Cabot and Neil Gaiman are among those who have laid down their pens this week for the Writers Guild of America strike.

The action only affects screenwriting and concerns the residual payment made to writers for internet distribution and the sale of DVDs. Knowing how much money the television and film industry makes and how little most writers get paid, I can't see a problem. Can you?

FYI, the last time Hollywood writers went on strike was in 1988. It lasted for 22 weeks and cost the industry $500 million.

[Via AOL]

Related post: A little bit of politics

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 6, 2007 in American Authors, Movie News, Television | Permalink | Comments (6)

BOOK REVIEW: Carpool Confidential by Jessica Benson

From the moment I heard about Carpool Confidential I was dying to read it (for reasons that will become clear...). Also Meg Cabot highly recommended it on her blog recently and we always listen to Meg!

After 11 years of marriage, Cassie and Rick have an apparently idyllic life that includes two gorgeous kids, a Brooklyn apartment with breathtaking views of Manhattan and a holiday home in Nantucket. But then out of the blue, Rick announces that he's unhappy with the way his life has turned out and he's leaving Cassie to go and find himself ... and work on a Barry Manilow retrospective. I love Barry Manilow - and not even ironically - so this was right up my alley.

Cassie is flabbergasted since Rick has always been dependable, even a bit boring, and has never shown the slightest interest in any sort of Easy Listening music. But off Rick goes, without telling Cassie exactly where he's going, how long he'll be away or whether he's coming back. He doesn't even give her a contact number, saying instead that he'll get in touch with her.

At first Cassie's in total denial, but soon she realises she has to take care of herself, which is when she learns not only that Rick has been planning this escapade for quite some time, but also that he's left her and their sons financially insecure and may have been less than honest about a number of other aspects of his life.

Before giving it all up to have kids, Cassie was a journalist, and an old friend and contact suggests she blog about her experiences for a New York magazine. The blog becomes extremely popular very quickly, but while Cassie finds writing about what she's going through cathartic, she also has the additional worry that her fellow PTA moms will work out the real identity of the blog's author.

Cassie is witty and charming and I warmed to her immediately. Rick is an utter sleaze and I wanted to wring his neck. Plus the supporting characters - Cassie's friends, mother-in-law, niece and sons - are great fun and admirably avoid cliche. The other PTA moms *are* rather cliched, but all the more fun for that somehow.

Plus the chapter headings are Barry Manilow song titles. What's not to love?

There was one aspect of the plot that I absolutely didn't buy, but this is Jessica Benson's first chick lit novel* so I'll forgive her. I can't wait to see what she writes next. Highly recommended.

* Benson has previously written historical romances. I've never read any, but when I do I'll start with one of Benson's.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA by Ellen Meister

Posted by Keris on November 6, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 2, 2007 1:33 PM

More book banning madness

Okay, Pat Conroy is not a chick and his books aren't chick lit (although The Prince of Tides was made into a very emotional film with Nick Nolte and Barbra Streisand), but his reaction to book banning at a West Virginia High School was just too good not to reproduce.

I'm sure Maureen Johnson, no stranger to book-banning insanity, will be proud.

In response to the school board that stopped students at Nitro High Schol from discussing The Prince of Tides and Beach Music in class, Conroy said: "Because you banned my books, every kid in that county will read them, every single one of them. Because book banners are invariably idiots, they don't know how the world works - but writers and English teachers do."
Go Pat!

[Via Galleycat]

Related post: The Burmudez Triangle banned

Posted by Sarah Painter on November 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (1)

Laura Zigman blogging on breast cancer

One of the original creators of chick lit, Laura Zigman, is to write a weekly blog for a breast cancer website.

Zigman, a breast cancer survivor, is writing the blog "with the goal of making life with cancer approachable and, at times, even funny". She's also going to appear as a comic strip character, "living out her cancer experience in a bright, visual format".

Since I love Zigman's books and I loved Marisa Acocella Marchetto's graphic novel Cancer Vixen, this sounds like one to add to the (already overloaded) blog reader. [via Earth Times]

Posted by Keris on November 2, 2007 in American Authors | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

I loved the premise of Lisa Lutz's debut novel, The Spellman files: a family of private investigators who just can't resist investigating each other.

Isabel Spellman has been working for the family business since the age of 14, but lately she's started to realise that having your parents tailing you and undertaking surveillance in order to find out who you're dating is, well, not normal.

Isabel's older brother, David, got out while the going was good, but her younger sister, Rae, is not only obsessed with the business, she's got even less sense of personal privacy than their parents.

When Isabel meets Daniel and decides she's going to leave the business, her parents give her one last job - a ancient missing person case that was closed years ago. Her parents see it as a wild goose chase to keep Isabel busy long enough that she decides not to leave after all. But Isabel finds plenty of clues that had been overlooked in the original investigation and the case begins to take over her life. Until, that is, her sister goes missing...

I was hooked by this book from the first page. Isabel's voice is distinctive, dry and very funny. The idea is original and inventive and so are the secondary characters - Rae is great: infuriating and impressive; Isabel's parents are calmly demented and her uncle Ray is believably tragic. The only character that didn't work for me was Daniel, who I never felt I really got to know.

Before writing this novel, Lisa Lutz wrote a screenplay and The Spellman Files is very filmic. I was mentally casting it all the way through and I would love it to be turned into a movie. I do know there's going to be a sequel and, frankly, I can't wait.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Posted by Keris on November 2, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (3)

November 1, 2007 11:21 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling by Neta Jackson

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Neta Jackson and the Yada Yadas are at it again. In The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling, Jodi Baxter and the rest of the gang are back for a whole new batch of adventure. A lot has changed since the Yada Yada Prayer Group was formed after being pushed together during a women’s conference a year and half prior. Each Yada has their own struggles, but they come together for support, encouragement and most importantly, prayer.

When a fire destroys the a building that is near and dear to many of them, the Yada Yada’s and the Uptown-New Morning Church step in to aid the residents. When Avis learns that her daughter has contracted a serious disease, the Yada Yada’s rally around her. As Ruth and Ben struggle with their newborn twins, and as Yo-Yo begins to withdraw from the group, they strive to help out in any way possible.

Still, many questions remain. How will Jodi put together an important performance in less than two weeks time? Will the lottery money change Chanda? Will Florida’s son end up in a juvenile detention center? 

Neta Jackson’s Yada Yada books have sold more than 600,000 copies worldwide.

This sixth book in this award-winning series is one of the best yet. Every reader will relate to one (or more) of the Yadas. The characters have a hard to achieve depth, especially if you’ve read the other books in the series and know each character’s background. The book is an exciting read. Every time you turn a page, something new happens.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Posted by Keris on November 1, 2007 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 31, 2007 12:31 PM

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

Posted by Keris on October 31, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 30, 2007 11:10 AM

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

Posted by Keris on October 30, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 29, 2007 4:08 PM

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

Posted by Keris on October 29, 2007 in American Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Self development | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 25, 2007 2:09 PM

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

Posted by Keris on October 25, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

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

Posted by Keris on October 25, 2007 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 24, 2007 8:56 AM

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

Posted by Keris on October 24, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 22, 2007 12:28 PM

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

Posted by Nicola pedley on October 22, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Fashion-Lit, Rating: 4/5, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 18, 2007 11:43 AM

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

Posted by Keris on October 18, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 17, 2007 11:21 AM

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

Posted by Keris on October 17, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

October 16, 2007 2:35 PM

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?**

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 16, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

Reviewed by Jill Hart

I have a confession: I loved this book. As a Jane Austen addict myself, I'm always nervous about books that "add to" or try to "complete" any of Austen's work. This book, however has a story all its own with some Austen references thrown in to make it all the more enjoyable.

Courtney Stone has just been dumped. She decides the best way to console herself is a stiff drink and an evening with one of her favorite Jane Austen novels. When Courtney wakes up, she's in for the shock of her life - she's in the bed of a woman in England. The England of Jane Austen's time, that is.

Courtney is sure she must be dreaming, so she plays along at first. However, after a couple of days in her "new" body, she comes to the terrifying conclusion that she truly is stuck in this new - make that old - world.

Courtney has a series of hilarious adventures and combined with her neurotic assessment of her situation, it makes for a unique and highly entertaining story. She must live another woman's life and fool everyone around her into believing that she is this woman. There is a suitor to deal with, Mr. Edgeworth, friends to convince and parents to put up with.

This Laurie Viera Rigler's first novel and she's done a wonderful job. Charming characters, matchless plot-lines and a great Austen flavor make this debut a must-read. Fans of Austen will love Rigler's style and Austen newbies will have no trouble following the story even if they aren't familiar with all of Austen's work.

I'll be on the lookout for Rigler's next novel. In the meantime, this is a novel I'll read again.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try

Posted by Keris on October 16, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 15, 2007 8:46 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murders by Joanna Fluke

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murders is Joanna Fluke’s first book in the Hannah Swensen mystery series, and it’s a nice introduction to the queen of the Cookie Jar, Lake Eden’s most popular bakery.

When Ron LaSalle, delivery man for the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with her famous chocolate chip cookies scattered around him, Hannah is determined to help find his killer. After all, she doesn’t want her cookies getting a bad reputation, and Ron was a great guy and good friend.

She soon starts finding clues and helping her policeman brother-in-law with his investigation, and when a love interest comes onto the scene that only shakes things for Hannah, making her even more determined to find LaSalle’s killer.

Although this was an enjoyable book I did find the characters a little clichéd – the annoying mother, the selfish sister and bumbling policeman were all a little two-dimensional, and Hannah was a bit annoying – she could cure the baby with colic, even though it’s own mother couldn’t, and she could, of course, solve the murder that the police were unable to crack. A few more flaws in her character would have been nice.

On the plus side there are lots of lovely recipes in there to get your taste buds going and for that reason alone I might have to read book number two.

Rating: 3/5

Like This? Try Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

Posted by Nicola pedley on October 15, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 3/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 11, 2007 2:53 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Snitch by Rene Gutteridge

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Rene Gutteridge is one of the most amusing writers in the inspiration chick lit genre. Not only are her plot lines comical, her characters are hilarious as well. Her novel, Snitch, is no exception. Ponder this question: What do you get when you put together an “almost-retired” cop, a former clown, and a know-it-all? 

Answer: A police task force, of course.

Ron Yeager has been working a desk job since being injured a few years prior. When he’s asked to train and lead a special task force, he’s not sure he still has what it takes.

Mackenzie “Mack” Hazard is a clown turned cop who is out to prove herself. Will her outspoken faith deter her from making her way through the ranks? No one, including Mack herself, is sure that she’s ready for this task force. Will she learn the ropes in time or will this be more than she can handle?

And then there’s Jesse Lunden, the cop who’s already seen plenty of task force action. Can he swallow his pride and learn from sergeant Yeager or will his hot head get in the way? 

Snitch is the second book in the Occupational Hazard series. The hilarious cast sets the scene for a novel that has it all – mystery, comedy and even a little romance.  Gutteridge is the author of the Boo series and the Storm series of books as well as a number of other inspirational chick-lit mystery novels and has a light-hearted way of writing that endears the characters to the reader.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Posted by Keris on October 11, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Inspirational, Rating: 5/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard

I've been aware of Jacquelyn Mitchard for years - surely everyone's heard of The Deep End of the Ocean, yes? - but I hadn't actually read any of her books until her latest, Still Summer. I'll definitely be reading more.

Still Summer is the story of four women - Tracy, Olivia and Holly, who have been best friends since high school, and Tracy's daughter Cammie - who arrange to take a yachting trip together, following the death of Olivia's rich Italian husband.

At first, of course, it's idyllic - at least the sailing is, Olivia is actually a bit of a pain and the women aren't sure their friendship will last, but then, following a series of more than unfortunate events, the women end up alone on the yacht (I hope it's a yacht; I don't know anything about sailing) and in fear of their lives.

I've read that Mitchard wanted to write a book in which the women have to save themselves (rather than waiting for someone else to save them), and she's certainly done that. It's an exciting and tense read and I didn't want to put it down.

What was less successful, for me, was the character of Olivia (too evil - although I did want to reach into the book and wring her scrawny neck) and some of the dialogue, which was pretty stilted. Having said that, I find it staggering to believe that Tracy, Holly and Cammie don't actually exist. They were utterly real to me as I was reading and remain so even a couple of weeks after finishing the book.

If you haven't read any Jacquelyn Mitchard, you don't know what you've been missing.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

Posted by Keris on October 11, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (3)

October 10, 2007 12:34 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Don't Make a Scene by Valerie Block

Reviewed by Tvor of Corrieblog

Valerie Block's third novel focuses on the world of classic cinema and a love story that's less conventional than usual. I liked the book a lot. It has elements of politics, it has the escapism of the movies, it shows the ups and downs of living in New York, highlights how relationships evolve and change and finally, it's about finding your home. Keris has been looking forward to reading this book. I think she'll like it, too!

Diane Kurasik is nearly 40, never been married, and newly homeless. She runs a successful art theatre in New York City but her life seems to be at a standstill. In the process of renovating the theatre, she meets a good looking but surly architect called Vladimir Padrón, a Cuban expatriate who is still vehemently immersed in the politics of his former country.

Diane spends the next few months struggling to find a new home while camping out on the couches and beds of various friends, family, hotels and grubby sublets. She grapples with her relationship with the volatile Cuban who also happens to have a wife and a 17-year-old son, neither of whom he's seen in 12 years. Over a hot, sticky summer and into the fall we follow Diane's life but also the journey of Vladimir and his son Javier through one setback after another. We also see some scenes from their pasts and get to know a few of the people in their lives as the story weaves them all into the fabric of the book.

The story centres around a cinema that shows classic movies from around the world. Diane's whole world revolves around movies and every situation she finds herself in, every person she meets, every reaction, every observation is peppered with a comparison to a scene from a classic movie or with an anecdote from the life of one of the actors or directors from the silver screen. I kept thinking that this woman might be more successful finding a man or understanding why her life seems to be at a dead end if she stopped comparing everything to the all too perfect stories on screen or the larger than life personalities behind the moving images. We see her in a series of disastrous blind dates, both with men and appalling apartments.

It's clear that Vladimir is not the man for her and that she's "making do". It's clear that Vladimir is obsessed too, with politics of the country he left behind, with his dysfunctional family, particularly a dominating father and grasping wife, with whom he has screaming encounters with over the phone every two weeks. Yet if he were ever to obtain a divorce, or find Castro had died in the night, what would he do with his life without these roadblocks to a way forward?

An unlikely catalyst enters the stalemate that both of their lives has turned into and it  shakes up their lives. Now they have to deal with reality, and reality is a bit scary when you've been jolted out of your comfort zone. Both Diane and Vladimir both discover the old adage "Be careful what you wish for" can bring changes that you never expected. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Neat Vodka by Anna Blundy

Posted by Keris on October 10, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 9, 2007 12:29 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Monkey Star by Brenda Scott Royce

Much as I enjoyed Monkey Love, Brenda Scott Royce's debut novel, there was something about it that didn't quite gel. At times, it felt almost forced, as if the author was trying to hard - but I had no such issue with Monkey Star. With the second in the series, Royce has really hit her stride and created an effortlessly entertaining read.

Holly Heckerling is still in New York, still doing various odd jobs (Holly's Hobbies) for little money, but at least her relationship with Tom is going well ... isn't it? Tom is talking family therapy with his daughter and estranged wife.

So when Holly is summoned to LA to act as her best friend Carter's birthing partner, it's actually a relief. And then when Holly visits the set f the film in which her other best friend (and father of Carter's baby), Danny, has a small role, Holly falls into working as an animal trainer, mostly thanks to the sexy star of the film, Colin Daltry.

Stuffed with hilarious exploits (both those of Holly and her mad family), Monkey Star is an absolute delight. I can't wait for the next one - I even went so far as to email the author to ask if she's working on it (she is!), which is not something I do every day!

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Monkey Love by Brenda Scott Royce

Posted by Keris on October 9, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 4, 2007 11:47 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Restorer's Son by Sharon Hinck

Reviewed by Jill Hart

If you’ve read Hinck’s novel, The Restorer, you’ll know what a powerful, out-of-the-box writer she is.  I’m always on the look out for unique stories and Hinck never lets me down.

Her newest book, the second in the Sword of Lyric series, continues the story of soccer-mom Susan.  In The Restorer, Susan finds herself in an alternate universe.  In The Restorer’s Son, as you might gather from the title, her son, Jake finds himself in the alternate universe his mother has just found her way home from.

The story, however, centers on the newly appointed restorer, Kieran.  Kieran is an outcast who is despised by many on the council.  When Kieran is banished by the council, the hope of the nation hangs in perilous balance. Can Kieran find a way to survive and return to his homeland or has he blown his chance as restorer? And can Susan find her son now that she doesn’t have the powers of a restorer?

Hinck, named the 2007 Writer of the Year at the Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference, has in some ways created a new genre. Her mom-lit fantasy series, The Sword of Lyric, is refreshing and unique. I generally like the first book in a series more than the second, but Hinck, as always, surpassed my expectations. I read the book in a matter of hours and I became so engrossed with the characters that I couldn’t put it down until I knew how it ended. I love the universe she’s created and can’t wait to visit again when the third book in the series becomes available.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Restorer, obviously!

Posted by Keris on October 4, 2007 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 5/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

A few years ago Gretchen Rubin started wondering if she was happy. Fast forward to March 2006 and The Happiness Project was born, Gretchen’s blog about the year she’s spent testing every happiness theory she can find. There are great tips for living a happy life and there’s lots of easy to read dip in, dip out information. Fast forward to yesterday and the announcement that The Happiness Project is going to be published in 2010 - I bet that’s made Gretchen happy.

Posted by Nicola pedley on October 4, 2007 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 2, 2007 8:51 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Queen Geek Social Club by Laura Preble

The back of this book piqued my interest, as it proclaims "I'll be the first to admit it - I'm a geek". I'm a geek too. I think - I'm a dork, at least - so I was intrigued to read a young adult book from a geek's point of view.

Shelby Chapelle hasn't had a close female friend for a while. She gets plenty of dates, but she's missing out on female companionship, particularly since the death of her mother. Yes, her inventor father has created a robot companion - Euphoria - but that's not really the same, is it? But then Becca Gallagher comes to town...

Becca's a self-proclaimed geek too and soon she's convinced Shelby that geeks need to band together if they're going to take over the world. Of course, the first step to taking over the world is taking over the school and so the "Queen Geek Social Club" is formed. Becca has plenty of ideas of what they should do - starting with force-feeding too thin supermodels - but Shelby isn't sure she wants so much attention. Wasn't she happier as a lone geek?

I enjoyed the Queen Geek Social Club. Shelby and Becca are both fun characters (particularly Becca) and I enjoyed the schemes they came up with. The problem for me was that they weren't really geeks - they were just too cool! Plus the suspension of disbelief required by the robot Euphoria was just too much for me. I don't know much about robots, but I'm not sure they can make meals, wash dishes and form romantic attachments for other household products.

Having said that, I would like to read the next book in the series, Queen Geeks in Love (out next month), if only for Becca.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try How to be Popular by Meg Cabot

Posted by Keris on October 2, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

October 1, 2007 12:13 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Innocence by Kathleen Tessaro

I loved Kathleen Tessaro’s first novel, Elegance, and haven’t been disappointed by this, her second, Innocence.

Evie Garlick leaves smalltown Ohio at the age of eighteen to follow her dream. She travels across the Atlantic to London, to study acting and soon finds herself best friends with fellow American actress wannabes Robbie and Imogene.

The three girls live together, study together and get drunk together until a man comes into Evie’s world and pulls her friendships apart.

Jack is the struggling rock musician who captures Evie’s heart, making her forget about her boyfriend and plans back in America, and when Evie’s career threatens to take her away from him he comes up with a radical plan and her lifestyle changes again.

Fast forward 15 years and Evie is a single mother teaching drama and poetry to mature students – a far cry from her childhood dreams of acting.

What has bought her to this? Is it her responsibilities as a single mother, or is she just too scared to grab life and live it as she should?

This is a beautiful story told in real time and flash back of a woman who wasted her 20s and finally finds the true meaning of her life in her 30s.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Pillow Talk by Freya North

Posted by Nicola pedley on October 1, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead by Ariel Gore

I'd never heard of Ariel Gore, but as soon as I saw the title of this book I knew I had to read it and I'm glad I'm did.

Subtitled "Your words in print and your name in lights", Ariel Gore's book is a collection of short essays, interviews with famous authors (including Marc Acito, Haruki Murakami, Ursula K Le Guin and Dave Eggers) and exercises (set by the famous authors), all designed to help you push your writing career to the next level.

It's a very easy read - most chapters are only a couple of pages long - but it packs in tons of information. From giving yourself "Lit Star Makeover" ("Develop a Superhero Alter Ego", "Choose a Good Vice") to mastering your craft, self-publishing and self-promoting ("Learn to Talk", "Stand out on the Corner in a Gorilla Mask and a Pink Tutu") there is something for you whatever stage you're at in the writing-publishing process.

It's going on my reference shelf and, if you're a writer, it should also be on yours.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty

Posted by Keris on October 1, 2007 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 28, 2007 2:16 PM

Another reason to buy Miranda July

Keris mentioned Miranda July's No One Belongs Here More Than You yesterday, but did you know she's already won an award for it? July won the 2007 Frank O'Connor award last weekend for the short story collection, beating off stiff competition.

This is the third year of the award and the previous winners are Yiyun Li for her debut collection, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (2005) and Haruki Marukami for Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (2006)

Funnily enough I almost bought the Haruki Marukami yesterday in Borders but bought Toni Morrison's Beloved instead. I wish I'd bought it now.

[Source]

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 28, 2007 in American Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Switchcraft by Mary Castillo

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Mary Castillo, a hot new Latina novelist, shakes things up with her newest title, Switchcraft. Castillo gives chick-lit a twist as her heroines, Nely and Aggie, end up in each other’s bodies.

Nely and Aggie have been friends for years, but have grown apart since the birth of Nely’s baby. In an effort to reclaim their friendship, and also in hopes of speaking to her dead mother, Aggie signs them up for a weekend getaway at Guru Sauro’s New Age Spa.

Once they arrive at the spa, things go a little haywire. During their session with the guru, they end up “switched.” They confront the guru, who says he can’t switch them back until the next new moon, 28 days later.

There is nothing they can do but try to muddle through living each other’s lives. Aggie (in Nely’s body) must care for 18-month-old Audrey, avoid the advances of Nely’s husband, and fend off her control-freak mother-in-law. Can she manage it without wrecking Nely’s marriage?

Nely (in Aggie’s body) heads to Aggie’s boutique. What she finds is a lack of customers and a store going down the tube. Can she come up with a plan to save Aggie’s business? And how will she handle Kevin, a man she despises, but who Aggie considers a good friend? Can she successfully avoid him without costing Aggie her friendship?

Switchcraft has a unique plot – a little bit Freaky Friday, but way more fun. The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the overuse of curse words. Not my taste, and it broke my concentration when reading. Overall, I loved the plot and the twists in the storyline. A great book for chick-lit fans.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try In Between Men by Mary Castillo or Life Swap by Jane Green

Posted by Keris on September 28, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 27, 2007 4:14 PM

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Sookie Stackhouse v Paige Winterbourne

Last week’s winner was Tilda Goodnight – she was everyone’s favourite Jenny Crusie heroine.

This week we’ve got two supernatural chick lit heroines, both from America, both with a series of books. Give a warm round of applause to Sookie Stackhouse and Paige Winterbourne.

Sookie Stackhouse

The Books: Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead & All Together Dead. Wow. Charlaine Harris has certainly been busy.

Supernatural Ability: She can read minds

Men: Bill, a recently turned vampire (within the past 200 years), Eric, a powerful ancient vampire, Sam, her boss and a shapeshifter and Quinn, a Were-Tiger. For a woman who started the series as a virgin that’s not bad!

Who’s Out To Get Her?: Half the supernatural world, while the other half are try to protect her. Sadly it’s often her own lovers trying finish her off, but if you sleep with vampires and they get hungry what should you expect?

Paige Winterbourne

The Books: Dime Store Magic & Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong

Supernatural Ability: She’s a witch

Men: Lucas Cortez, heir to the Cortez Cabal, the supernatural Mafia. Sadly the Cabal and Paige really don’t like each other.

Who’s Out To Get Her?: The Cabals, other witches who don’t like her ways, demons and half-demons… shall I go on?

Conclusion: Witchcraft is a better supernatural ability than mind reading but Sookie’s got the tastiest men - I never thought I’d fancy a vampire until I read about Eric!

Over to you - who wins the battle of the supernatural chick lit heroines?

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: Five Things I Can't Live Without by Holly Shumas

If you're a regular Trashionista reader, you'll know how excited I was to read Holly Shumas's debut novel, Five Things I Can't Live Without, and I wasn't disappointed.

It's the story of Nora Bishop who is the very definition of a woman who thinks too much. She calls it her "meta-life" but it basically means she can't live in the moment because she's always second-guessing, questioning and analysing everything. Can't think why that appealed to me so much!

Realising her heart's not in her job, Nora quits, but doesn't know what she really wants to do. When a friend asks for her help rewriting her internet dating profile, Nora thinks she may have found her niche.

Each chapter begins with the dating profile of various characters (some more than once and including Nora herself) and it's a surprisingly successful device. I loved seeing how Nora developed through her profile alone, but there's more to the book than that. Holly Shumas is a marriage and family therapist and it shows, Five Things I Can't Do Without is warm, wise and, dare I say it, emotionally intelligent.

Between Nora, her friends and her clients, various relationship issues are raised and examined. Like life, not all are resolved, but they're interesting and thought-provoking.

I think I might be making this book sound more serious than it is. It's a lot more serious than I expected it to be, but it's still a fun read that I didn't want to put down. I can't wait to see what Holly Shumas does next.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Pug Hill by Alison Pace

Posted by Keris on September 27, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 26, 2007 12:41 PM

Peek at Jenny Crusie's office

If you enjoyed the Guardian’s writer’s rooms article then you should pop over to Trashionista favourite Jenny Crusie’s blog, Argh Ink. She’s just had a massive clean up operation in her office and has blogged all about it. That’s two of my favourite things – Jenny Crusie and a tidy office – in one place.

Related Posts: SPOTLIGHT: Jenny Crusie | AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jenny Crusie | The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer & Anne Stuart

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 24, 2007 9:47 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Accidentally Engaged by Mary Carter

Accidentally Engaged is Mary Carter’s second novel, and it stars Clair Ivars, a psychic and talented tarot card reader. Unfortunately her talents don’t go as far as being able to read her own future so it comes as a complete surprise when she finds herself engaged to wealthy vodka manufacturer Jack Heron, especially as she’s attracted to his business partner, Mike.

But who is Mike? And is Jack’s house really haunted? And is the family matriarch really as loopy as she seems?

I’m a big fan of supernatural chick lit and this one rang all the right bells for me. There’s a dreamlike quality to the whole story (which is neatly explained at the end) and all the characters are believable and likeable.

There are secrets galore in the Heron household and Mary Carter handles it all very nicely. This is another winner from Little Black Dress.

Rating: 4/5

Like This? Try Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 24, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 21, 2007 11:41 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Hot Fudge Sundae Blues by Bev Marshall

Reviewed by Melanie Allyn

I’ve never read anything by Bev Marshall, but while browsing in the library I noticed that she has written two other books, Walking Through Shadows and Right As Rain. My slightly embarrassing admission is that I picked Hot Fudge Sundae Blues because I believe in food therapy (sparingly, of course). Especially all things fudge.

Hot Fudge Sundae Blues is the story of 13-year-old Layla Jay Andrews, who falsely seeks salvation from the preacher at church. Her dual motivation was to please her very religious grandma and catch the eye of Jehu Albright (the teenage neighborhood version of Steve McQueen).  Shortly after her pious display, Wallace Ebert, a young, attractive new-to-town preacher walks into her life. He immediately falls in love with Layla Jay’s gorgeous, untamed and borderline alcoholic mama, Frieda. Wallace and Frieda abruptly marry and settle into a small blue house in town.

When she was a toddler, Layla Jay’s dad died in a motorcycle accident. Growing up, she sensed his absence from her life and clung to forged memories of him and imagined what he was like. So when Wallace marries Frieda, Layla Jay is excited to have a substitute father to fill the void in her life. But very quickly, Layla Jay begins to suspect that Wallace is not what he claims to be. She senses something dark behind the kind and gentle preacher façade he puts forth in church. But try explaining that to the comfortably smitten, oft-drunk Frieda...

Soon Layla Jay's world begins to crumble: Her step-father's true nature comes to light, her only friend betrays her, and the unsuspecting love of her life seems further and further from reach. But when tragedy strikes (twice), Layla Jay learns that it takes more than just a large helping of her mother's therapeutic desserts (hot fudge sundaes from Tastee-Freez) to heal and move forward. She eventually finds solace in forgiveness, faith and love.

I really liked this book. Bev Marshall is a great writer so I found it easy to read chapter after chapter (it was like devouring my very own sundae). Layla Jay faces some very hard decisions, but she handles them rather maturely. In fact, she is often more of a parent than her mother. Throughout the book she makes very adult decisions, but manages to preserve a sweet innocence that rings true with the reader (e.g. praying for breasts). Bev Marshall made her little heroine strong and capable of handling the intricacies and hardships of growing up, and even though I didn’t always agree with her decisions, I kept wishing I’d had a friend like Layla Jay when I was 13-years-old.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Posted by Keris on September 21, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 20, 2007 1:54 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Kristin Billerbeck, who has been credited with being one of the first authors to bring chick-lit to the inspirational market, is back with a brand-new title, The Trophy Wives Club. While the title may make it sound like a book for women who want to snag millionaires (or millionaires who want to snag trophy wives), the book has much more depth to it than that.

So, how can a book about trophy wives deliver any type of inspiration? The key is finding out where the title really comes from. Haley Cutler sets out to do just that. Haley is a typical trophy wife – married to a successful Hollywood producer and used to a lifestyle that includes great clothes, great hair and expensive shoes. The problem? Her Prince Charming has just walked out on her.

After seven years of living a pampered, care-free lifestyle Haley must figure out how to make it on her own. She quickly realizes that she doesn't have many marketable job skills and that the $700 Giuseppe Zanotti's she's drooling over will pay for eleven days in the not-so-high-class motel she's staying in. She also has her husband's lawyer, the remarkably handsome, but incredibly self-righteous, Hamilton Lowe to deal with. What's a girl to do?

Then she hears about a group called "The Trophy Wives Club." This sounds like the perfect place to learn how to make her ex-husband squirm and get the type of settlement she deserves. However, when she attends her first meeting, she's surprised by the attitudes of the other women in the group. They've all been through rough divorces and yet there's something peaceful about them. How can that be?

Billerbeck, author of What a Girl Wants, writes another stand-out novel for inspirational chick-lit fans. The book covers the painful topics of separation, divorce, bitterness and forgiveness. Readers of Billerbeck's popular Ashley Stockingdale series will be pleasantly surprised by this very different, yet very poignant novel.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Truth About Ruby Valentine by Alison Bond

Posted by Keris on September 20, 2007 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Tilda Goodnight v Sophie Dempsey

Stephanie Plum won the last grudge match – it seems Becky Bloomwood's love life wasn’t a match for the woman who has Ranger and Joe Morelli

Today we’ve got two Jennifer Crusie heroine’s battling it out in the ring. Connected by Davey Dempsey, both ladies are trying to hold their kooky families together, but which one has got what it takes to win the chick lit heroine grudge match?

Tilda Goodnight

The Book: Faking It, a tale of art forgery, theft and deception where no-one is quite what they seem

Loves: Painting

Men: Davy Dempsey, conman

Family: Her ancestors are forgers, mum is desperately trying to escape reality, sister has two personalities, and don’t even start on her father. Her niece seems normal though

Sophie Dempsey

The Book: Welcome to Temptation, the Dempsey’s are in Temptation, Ohio to make a documentary that quickly becomes a porn movie. Then a dead body turns up

Loves: Film quotes

Men: Phin Tucker, Mayor of Temptation

Family: All her family are conmen, even the one’s trying not to be

Conclusion: Arguably two of the best Jenny Crusie novels, and for me Tilda’s in my top five all time favourite heroines, but what about you? Who wins this week?

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK REVIEW: Sammy's House by Kristen Gore

Reviewed by Jessica Denmark of Jessica, Etcetera

When I read that there was a sequel to one of my faves, Sammy's Hill, I couldn’t get to the library fast enough. Thank goodness for home delivery!  I’m an advocate for the checking out books from the library until I decide if I want to add them to my already-far-too-large collection. This one jumped near the top of the buying list if only to complete the set.

Samantha "Sammy" Joyce, fresh off the campaign trail for her vice-presidential boss RG and fresh in love with Washington Post reporter and boyfriend Charlie, has her work cut out for her in the White House under the presidential rule of President Wye and his enemies, the conniving opposition group called the  Exterminators. When Sammy gets the hint that President Wye has slipped off the wagon, she makes fast frenemies with her fellow staffers, all of whom she suspects to the be the leak for the Exterminators, struggles to come to terms with boyfriend Charlie's quick move to the New York bureau to cover a developing story, and fends off her well-meaning but somewhat meddlesome mother, all in a single bound.

Sammy’s House is heavier in tone and politics than Sammy's Hill so there are a couple, albeit brief, monotone spots, but is nonetheless entertaining with several laugh-out-loud situations including a Say Anything reference (Lloyd Dobbler anyone? How do you NOT love that?).

While it was not quite as entertaining, it’s understood that Sammy has overcome several obstacles,  conquered some new tasks, taken on new adventures and grown up quite a bit - right alongside her readers. And I appreciated the fact that Gore recognizes her readers have aged and does similarly with Sammy. What Sammy might have done in the first book, she thinks twice about in this one; where she would have spoken her mind before, she bites her tongue; and yet remains steadfast in her stances and views to still be a relatable character. I like to think I’ve grown up a little since reading the first book too.

I absorbed the book in an almost stream-of-consciousness way, as if hearing Sammy's internal monologue.  It is definitely chick lit but for the political set that power walks the streets of D.C versus the runways or publishing hallways of NYC.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try The Washingtonienne by Jessica Cutler

Posted by Keris on September 20, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Series | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 19, 2007 10:50 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Following My Toes by Laurel Osterkamp

Following My Toes is Laurel Osterkamp's first novel. The title refers to Faith's psychic powers - when something bad is going to happen her skin hurts, but when it's something good in her future, her toes itch.

Following a bad break-up, Faith's friend suggests she move from Duluth to Minneapolis. The itching in her toes suggests this is just what she needs, but once there she starts to doubt her abilities since everything that could go wrong, does.

In fact, before she's even arrived in town she has a run-in with an obnoxious (but sexy) mechanic, Ethan. Her roommate, Missy, is not only a phone sex worker and stripper, she's a nutcase. Struggling to find a teaching job, Faith begins work as a barista in the local coffee bar where an utterly awful customer treats her like dirt.

That's not all. Before long she's being stalked, her friend Carolyn's apparently perfect relationship is breaking down and her spoilt younger sister comes to stay. Plus she still has to go back to Duluth for her parents' taxidermy convention. Yes, taxidermy convention.

And if you think all of the above sounds farfetched, you'd be right. But the thing that really makes it unbelievable isn't the events, it's that every single character constantly behaves like an idiot. Every last one. You know some books when you can tell a character only behaves a certain way because the plot requires it? Well this book is like that all the way through. I didn't believe a second of it.

It's a shame because I liked the basic premise, but the book itself came close to being thrown across the room on more than one occasion.

Rating: 2/5

Like this? Try Me vs Me by Sarah Mlynowski (it's much better)

Posted by Keris on September 19, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 2/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 18, 2007 10:39 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Golden by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Jennifer Lynn Barnes was 19 when she wrote Golden. 19! Do you know what I was doing when I was 19? Following Matt Goss around London. Shut up. Anyway, Barnes' time was much better spent (obviously) since Golden is a treat.

Like the other women in her family, Felicity "Lissy" James has "the Sight" - she can see people's auras. Her mother, Katie, can find lost children. Or at least she usually can. When she is unable to find 4-year-old Cory Park until after his murder, the James family are hounded out of town and return to Katie's Oklahoma home town.

Lissy is greeted by three bitchy girls who tell her that her new school is split into "Goldens" and "Nons". They make it quite clear that Lissy is likely to be a Non and when, on Lissy's first day, she both throws up and passes out, her position is assured.

But the vomiting and fainting was a reaction to Lissy's first glimpse of her new Maths teacher, Mr Kissler. As a child, Lissy gave the name "Garn" to a really bad aura, an aura that signifies a person has done, or is doing, something really really bad. She's never before seen an entirely Garn aura until Mr Kissler's so, with the help of her younger sister, Lexie and Audra and Dylan (two friendly fellow Nons), Lissy has to work out just what Mr Kissler has done and what she can do about it.

The first three quarters of Golden are entertaining, but not earth-shattering - I wasn't excited to get back to it, but I enjoyed it as I read - but then the last quarter is absolutely fantastic. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but I was so wrong. If Barnes can come up with something as inventive and thrilling as the end of this book aged 19, Lord only knows what she'll do next.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Posted by Keris on September 18, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)

September 14, 2007 7:36 AM

COMPETITION: Win 21 Bloomsbury books

Bloomsbury are celebrating their 21st birthday by offering you a chance to win their top 21 reads (which is a bit more sophisticated than my 21st birthday celebrations).

All you have to do is pop along to the Bloomsbury 21 website and cast your vote to find the top read (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is currently winning) and remember to enter your email address for a chance to win.

Related Posts:  WIN Carole Matthews books  | WIN I Married A Pirate |  Books at Transworld  

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Competition | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 13, 2007 1:28 PM

BOOK NEWS: Math Doesn't Suck by Danica McKellar

Now this book isn't chick lit. Nor is it probably relevant to most Trashionista readers (*are* many of you doing middle school math? No?). So why am I featuring it?

Because it's by Danica McKellar! Winnie from The Wonder Years! The (fabulously named) Elsie Snuffin in The West Wing! In case you didn't know she's also an actual "Math" genius. No, really. She actually has a mathematical physics theorum named after her! How cool is that?

Related posts: Felicity Huffman book | Reading Sex and the City's Samantha

Posted by Keris on September 13, 2007 in American Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Devil Wears Prada - alternative film review

Warning: Movie Spoiler

I finally got round to watching The Devil Wears Prada last weekend (I know I’m a year behind everyone else!) and I was very disappointed. Girl goes to the big city to get her dream job and then jacks it all in because her boyfriend doesn’t like her new lifestyle (and, if you ask me, her best mate seemed jealous as well).

The moral of the story seemed to be that if you want the powerful, glamorous job that Miranda Priestly has you will end up a lonely divorcee, but if you toe the line and get the good little girl job all will be right in your love life. I’m told the book has a different ending so I’ll have to move that up my to be read pile to find out.

Related Posts:  The Devil Wears Prada archives

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 13, 2007 in American Authors, Devil Wears Prada, Fashion-Lit, Friday Flick, Movie Magic, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (11)

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Becky Bloomwood v Stephanie Plum

Welcome to the inaugural chick lit heroine grudge match! We have a UK vs US fight on our hands. Both contestants have the power to carry a whole series of books so please bring your hands together for Becky Bloomwood and Stephanie Plum.

Becky Bloomwood

The Books: Star of the Shopaholic series from the pen of Sophie Kinsella, Becky has starred in five books and along the way has lost love, found love, moved to New York got married and had a baby.

Loves: Shopping!

Men: Luke Brandon (now Mrs Becky Bloomwood)

Films: Plans are afoot, and rumours are that Becky will be played by Isla Fisher and that she will be American

Stephanie Plum

The Books: Janet Evanovich has written an amazing13 novels with number 14 on its way. There have also been two novellas. Stephanie spends most of her time unsuccessfully tracing criminals, blowing up cars and hanging out with Grandma Mazur

Loves: Krispy Kremes, Rex the hamster

Men: Luke Morelli, cop and Ranger, mystery man

Films: Mmm, this is a toughie. IMDB says there was a 2002 TV movie, but the forum thinks otherwise – no-one’s ever seen it. According to Janet Evanovich’s website One for the Money has been in pre-production for ever – TriStar own the rights. I will find out more and keep you posted

Conclusion: Stephanie’s got more novels, but are there too many? She also has the better men, but at least with Becky we get a bit of character progression. Becky’s big minus point has got to be her Americanisation for the film – what are they thinking?

Over to you - who wins the first chick lit heroine grudge match?

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Series, Sophie Kinsella | Permalink | Comments (8)

September 11, 2007 12:17 PM

BOOK NEWS: Blood is the New Black by Valerie Stivers

Billed as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets The Devil Wears Prada, I can’t wait to get my hands on ‘Blood is the New Black’ by Valerie Stivers.

Kate is spending the summer working for ‘Tasty’ and her colleagues are all condescending, black clad and emaciated. Normal for a fashion magazine? Not when those colleagues are vampires. I love supernatural chick lit and hope this one, out on 18th October, won’t disappoint.

Related Posts: Lover Revealed by JR Ward  |  Jinx by Meg Cabot |  Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Devil Wears Prada, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 10, 2007 11:13 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts by Regina Thomashauer

Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts is subtitled Using the Power of Pleasure to Have Your Way With the World. It was recommended to me, otherwise it's probably not a book I would have picked up, since it sounds like a sex manual ... but it's not. No, really, it's not.

Instead it's actually a very well-rounded guide to having more fun and pleasure in all areas of your life (and, yes, while that does include your sex life, the book's got much more to offer). With chapters on flirting, beauty and bitchiness - plus one on "owning and operating men" - Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts is strangely old-fashioned while, at the same time, being distinctly modern.

Mama Gena uses examples from her own life and from those of the "Sister Goddesses" who have taken her course to illustrate how focussing on your own pleasure can bring you everything you want. Plus there are exercises at the end of each chapter that range from examining your lady parts (!) to keeping a scrapbook of all the fabulous things you'd like in your life.

Mae West is quoted more than once and it's that kind of witty yet sensual idea of womanhood that the book espouses. It works for me, but I appreciate that it might offend some women, while others might find it a bit old hat (Mae West's been dead for almost 30 years, after all)!

I enjoyed this book. There exercises are great both for adding pleasure to your life and learning more about yourself ... so that you can add more pleasure to your life. And I'm certainly not going to complain about that.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon

Posted by Keris on September 10, 2007 in American Authors, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (1)

GUEST BLOG: Caprice Crane

I am so happy to have a guest blog from the wonderful Caprice Crane. Read on to learn how the premature death of her best friend informed the writing of Forget About It.

How do you stand up for yourself when you just can't stand yourself? Some people are truly incapable of self-defense. And what's worse, sometimes those unfortunate ones get dealt a really bad hand.

Forget About It is total fiction. I wrote the book as an exploration of a major "What if?" When I first had the idea, I thought it was brilliant. (Not the idea to write the book - I'm not *that* much of an ass - the idea of faking amnesia to totally reinvent yourself.) Of course, it wasn't something I'd ever do in real life but what a great concept, I thought. A do-over.

As I developed Jordan, the main character, I wanted her to be real. And the more I got to know her in the early passages of the book, the more she reminded me of my best friend Melissa who recently passed away at age 31 from cancer. Way too young.

In Melissa's final months, she showed more courage than the bravest soldier and more calm than a Buddhist leader. Despite all her pain, she showed unrelenting strength and tremendous compassion for those she loved. Her forgiveness was inspirational, her will indomitable, her love contagious.

But in the years prior, she had a really rough go. Her family life wasn't always great (to put it exceptionally politely), she struggled with depression and drug/alcohol addiction, and she attempted suicide on more than one occasion.

Yet, throughout a tumultuous young adulthood, she maintained the "I'm okay" façade. She never stood up for herself, though there were more than a few people who deserved to be put in their place and more than a few situations where an aggressive defense would have been justified. She never learned to love herself enough to deem herself worth fighting for. She took a lot of hits, swallowed a lot of pride and smiled through so much hurt that it's almost like the cancer was her escape from a life too painful. Enough was finally enough.

Jordan is not Melissa. Not at all. But Jordan stands up for herself in a way that Melissa never did and never could. Maybe the book is a love-letter to my lost friend. A wink at the heavens. I hope she loves it. And I hope you do too. 

Thanks, Caprice. Your books make me laugh and now your Guest Blog's made me cry!

Posted by Keris on September 10, 2007 in American Authors, Guest blogs | Permalink | Comments (3)

September 7, 2007 12:09 PM

TV NEWS: Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series

Alan Ball, creator of Six Feet Under, will produce the vampire series True Blood, based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire novel series.

The pilot was shot earlier this summer with Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse, along with Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell, Stephen Moyer and Brook Kerr (whoever they are).

"Charlaine has created such a rich environment that's very funny and at the same time very scary," Ball told Daily Variety after first selling the project in 2005. "I bought the book on impulse, and I just couldn't put it down." [via Romantic Times and Variety]

Related posts: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris | Television archives

Posted by Keris on September 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Series, Supernatural, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 6, 2007 12:10 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Mommies Who Drink by Brett Paesel

I had a bit of a confusing time with this book, Mommies Who Drink by Brett Paesel. (This cover pic and that link are to the UK version released on 1 November, but you can buy the US version on Amazon UK now).

Anyway, back to my confusion over this book: I received it for review in unbound format - basically just a sheaf (a big sheaf!) of papers. I thought it was a work of fiction, and was reading it in that frame of mind when a few chapters in I realised it... might actually be real. I checked on Amazon and yep, it was. Oops! So I had to re-adjust my feelings about the book in the light of it being true (I couldn't think "why would the character say that?" anymore...)

So! Despite the irresponsible, shock-value title, Mommies Who Drink is not about alcoholics who loll in the gutter leaving their children unattended. It's about Brett and her group of gal pals who meet up every Friday for beers/wine/cocktails (sometimes all three) to discuss their lives and give the moms among them the chance to let their hair down after a week of play-doh and nappy changes. And er, that's it.

I know this isn't a novel so I can't really be critical of the lack of story progression, but even the best memoirs usually follow some storytelling conventions. The problem I had with this book is that it jumps about too much - it's a series of anecdotes and stories and observations that aren't really tied together by anything. There's one particular story, where the author is scared to death of flying, which is written up to a dramatic crescendo... and then just stops and we're onto the next thing. The weekly meet-ups are supposed to give some kind of sense of time passing but there really isn't any story progression. I found it a bit disappointing.

But! I did like the authorial voice, most of the time. It's good to hear from a woman making motherhood work whilst also making cynicism work nicely for her! (Even if sometimes there might be a bit too much cynicism...) And the female friendships were very well portrayed.

I just can't help wondering if turning this into a novel after all might have been the best idea...

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Motherland by Maria Beaumont.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on September 6, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Catch A Rising Star by Tracey Bateman

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Tabby Brockman is washed up. Well, that is until she learns that there may be a chance of reviving her daytime soap opera role. The thing is, she’s become a Christian and her friends aren’t sure she can withstand the temptations of the celebrity lifestyle. In the midst of her confusion she encounters an annoying wanna-be boyfriend, crazy co-stars, and even family trauma.

Catch a Rising Star is a fun read that captures the reader's attention and keeps you turning pages. Readers will laugh out loud at some of the characters' antics and yet there is a serious side to the story that tugs at the heartstrings.

It’s not often (maybe even never) that you find a Christian fiction novel about a soap star. Most Christians disdain soap operas and yet they are a long-standing part of our culture. The main character struggles to be a light for Christ in a world that mocks her faith. Readers will find Bateman’s treatment of the topic realistic, hilarious and inspiring.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I personally do not watch soaps, mostly because as a child I was forced to watch them with my grandmother. It was fun to revisit the world of soaps and to see it through the eyes of a Christian struggling to be a light in the darkness.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Hollywood Car Wash by Lori Culwell

Posted by Keris on September 6, 2007 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 5, 2007 11:17 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Perfectly True Tales of a Perfect Size 12 by Robin Gold

Robin Gold's debut, The Perfectly True tales of a Perfect Size 12 isn't perfectly true at all - it's a novel and a very sweet and funny one it is too.

Delilah White is a producer on a Martha Stewart style homemaking show called Domestic Bliss. Her mentor and the show's executive producer, Agnes De Ville is leaving and the coveted executive producer position is going to either Delilah or another producer named Margo Hart.

But just for the weekend Delilah's not going to worry about that, instead she's going upstate to spend the 4th of July weekend with her best friend Sofia (who also works at Domestic Bliss) for Sofia's extremely rich family's Independence Day celebrations.

Delilah's having a wonderful time - she's relaxed, she's happy, she's met a gorgeous man - but then Margo turns up and Delilah learns that the competition for executive producer is much hotter, and meaner, than she'd anticipated...

I really loved this book. It's written in quite an unusual style. I can't really describe it except that there's a lot more "telling" than "showing", but because Robin Gold has such a great voice, it works (it also makes for a shorter, and possibly sweeter, book).

Delilah is a lovely character. She could have been too perfect, but somehow (and, again, I'm not sure how) Gold makes it work and within pages I was mad about her. It made me laugh out loud more than once (it features the best - if not the only - bouncy castle scene I've ever read) and the last page made me cry.

I have only one criticism. The title. Yes, Delilah is a "perfect size 12" (UK 16) but she's happy with that. She doesn't spend the book worrying about her weight or trying to diet, she's comfortable with who she is. So why mention it in the title?

Apart from that, The Perfectly True Tales of a Perfect Size 12 is a charming, old-fashioned and inspiring book. It's also the first book for a long time that I actually read while walking down the street!

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos

Posted by Keris on September 5, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

September 4, 2007 11:57 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Quality of Life Report by Meghan Daum

Reviewed by Jessica Denmark of Jessica, Etcetera

I had never heard of Meghan Daum prior to reading The Quality of Life Report; in fact I found the book at a local book trade store. But after some Google research, it turns out she has a collection of essays (currently on my TBR list) called My Misspent Youth and writes cultural and social commentary for the Los Angeles Times.

Daum and her book are both seemingly more rocker-chick than chick-lit and when most authors take their readers to New York City, Daum takes an unusual route to a very unlikely place.

The Quality of Life Report’s narrator, NYC lifestyle reporter Lucinda Trout, travels to the Midwest to produce a research piece on crystal-meth addicted housewives, leaving behind a minuscule apartment and a DOA love life, both in exasperation and in search of what she deems The Quality of Life Report.

Her series of Little House on the Prairie meets Sex and the City-esque productions prove not only popular to her fellow New Yorkers but surprise Lucinda as well. Never maudlin and ultimately-determined, she finds herself living in a barn with a local river-bathing, bearded, eccentric would-be mountain man and his children and, gasp, liking it.

With impeccable comic timing and incorrigible social criticism, The Quality of Life Report pokes fun without harm and allows every reader to jump in the U-haul with Lucinda, and, in short, convinces both her viewers and the book’s readers to “drink the kool-aid.”

When it comes to light that the town’s unique population has their own set of problems and issues, just like those in the city she left behind, Lucinda is not only able to see them for who they are, but also looks within, and is startled by her discover. The yankee smarty-pants gets a hard and fast lesson in loving, leaving and farm animals and all learn a lesson(s), if anything, about ourselves while having a good laugh as well and cheering for our heroine at the end.

Rating:  4/5

Like this? Try The Fortune Quilt by Lani Diane Rich

Posted by Keris on September 4, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 30, 2007 9:58 AM

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)

Posted by Keris on August 30, 2007 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 5/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 29, 2007 1:08 PM

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!

Posted by Keris on August 29, 2007 in American Authors, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

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?

Posted by Keris on August 29, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (4)

August 28, 2007 5:05 PM

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

Posted by Keris on August 28, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (1)

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...

Posted by Keris on August 28, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Summer Special, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 27, 2007 4:49 PM

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.

Posted by Keris on August 27, 2007 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

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.

Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on August 27, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 24, 2007 2:34 PM

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.

Posted by Keris on August 24, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (9)

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.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Romance, Self development | Permalink | Comments (3)

August 23, 2007 11:31 AM

(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].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

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].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

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.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 22, 2007 12:31 PM

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!]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 22, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (6)

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.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 22, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

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!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 22, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Opinion, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

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!

Posted by Keris on August 22, 2007 in American Authors, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 21, 2007 3:11 PM

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.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

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.

Posted by Keris on August 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

Posted by Keris on August 21, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (8)

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.

Posted by Keris on August 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Summer Special, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 20, 2007 8:56 PM

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!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (7)

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 favourite stories was The Rejection (the pre-school one) , which made me laugh out loud. Lines like, "If Mischa could be denied this, there was no meaning in life or all of existence " effectively puncture the bubble of NYC pre-school hysteria. Strung Out, a contemplation on physics and the laws of the universe was very funny too: "I awoke on Friday, and because the universe is expanding it took me longer than usual to find my robe." But Above The Law, Below the Box Springs really made me howl with laughter - it's about some thieves who cut the tags off mattresses and it's just so silly and funny, a great cheerer-upper. (Yes, that is a word...) I'm just not sure why some of the stronger stories in the collection are towards the end of the book.

Although I read the collection straight through like a novel, as I needed to finish it for MoM, I think it would be better savoured in small morsels - the writing is so rich in wordplay it can be better appreciated in small doses and it's a shame to rush through it.

I don't know either non-Woody Allen fans would enjoy the collection or not - you have to have a certain sense of humour. In fact, I might recommend one of his earlier collections first for 'beginners' (Without Feathers contains my fave ever Allen story, The Whore of Mensa.)

But for anyone with a sense of the silly, a great vocabulary and a penchant for Woody Allen-esque humour, this is a great new book. It's nothing new and exciting, just more of the same after a long break - but that's still saying quite a lot.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Modern Fiction, More On Monday, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Forever In Blue by Ann Brashares

Despite not having read the second or third books in Ann Brashares Summer of the Sisterhood series, I was sad to hear that Forever in Blue would be the last. Between reading the first book and watching the film adaptation, the four girls feel like friends.

For the final book the girls are struggling to find the time to spend together. Tibby is at film school in New York, struggling to cope with the intimacy of first love. Carmen, surprised to find herself at an acting camp with her new friend Julia, is learning that not all friends are as good or kind as the three she's grown up with. Bridget, away on an archeological dig in Turkey, is learning that you don't always get what you want. At art school, Lena is learning as much about life and love as she is about art.

Now their lives are so separate, it's really only the pants that are keeping them together, but are they relying on the pants too much?

The thing I loved the most about this book is that the four girls have all found something they're passionate about. Brashares writes beautifully and enthusiastically about all four subjects. I wish when I was a teen I'd had a book that made art, acting, archeology and film seem both so wonderful and achievable. I also love the strength of the girls' friendships. There's a scene when Lena phones Tibby, worried because she hasn't heard from her, and is so tender and caring it made me cry.

This book is intelligent, wise, funny, inspiring and just gorgeous. I'm so sorry it's the last in the series, but I can't wait to see what Brashares does next.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Dramarama by E Lockhart

Posted by Keris on August 20, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 17, 2007 7:18 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: The Talented Mr Ripley

As Matt Damon is the man of the hour, starring in the just-released Bourne something-or-other (I've lost track, I'll be honest) I thought it might be apt to highlight one of his earlier films, The Talented Mr Ripley. Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law and (briefly) Cate Blanchett, it's based on Patricia Highsmith's psychological thriller of the same name.

Matt Damon is Tom Ripley, a conman who weasels his way into the lives of the rich English folk who holiday on the Riviera. Instead of just tracking down Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) as he was paid to do, Tom takes things a step further: he assumes Dickie's entire identity.

Will he be caught?

And if not, how not?

It's hard for me to gauge how good this film is as I was a big fan of the novel and nothing could really live up to that - but I think this is a respectable adaptation, certainly worth watching (but perhaps more enjoyable if you haven't read the book first!)

The one big issue I had is that Matt Damon doesn't look like Jude Law, and whereas in the book Tom's escapades posing as Dickie could be explained by their looking alike, in the film they can't.

Have you seen it - what did you think?

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 17, 2007 in American Authors, Classic Novels, Crime / Mystery, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (4)

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Magical Musings

At Trashionista, we love us a good group blog. So I was delighted to stumble across (seriously - who knows what I clicked to get there, I'm just glad I did) another one: Magical Musings.

Bearing the tagline "Five writers who believe no story is complete without a little magic", the bloggers write novels ranging from historicals to fantasy to romantic fiction, and you can find out more about them all here.

They have some really interesting book-related blog posts on the main page, such as what happens when one of your must-read authors falls off your must-buy list (Adriana Trigiani, I'm looking at you!) and how much sex is OK in YA? (Read it and see!)

Great. Just what I needed: another must-read bookish blog... pretty soon I'll have no time to write anything myself!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 17, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Opinion, Supernatural, Trashionista Recommends, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: The Pursuit of Alice Thrift by Elinor Lipman

Have I mentioned I'm a big Elinor Lipman fan (just three hundred times or so)?

The Pursuit of Alice Thrift was released before My Latest Grievance, Lipman's most recent novel, and I must admit, I liked it a touch more. The main character, Alice Thrift, is fairly unsympathetic: as a surgeon, she's used to science and cold hard facts, and finds interacting with people when they're not under anesthetic to be quite a challenge. But when Ray Russo waltzes into her consulting room looking for a nose job (and maybe more...) Alice and he fall in love. Or Alice thinks they do...

A reviewer on Amazon described this book as being about the poor decisions people sometimes make to alleviate loneliness, and that's true to some extent: we learn early on in the book that Ray turns out not to be the man of Alice's dreams - if she'd ever do anything so romantic as indulge in daydreams about love, that is. Alice's formerly very boring, flat lifestyle becomes a lot more interesting - but not always in the ways she would have wanted. She does, however, begin to loosen up a little and make some friends.

At first, I wasn't sure I could read a whole book about a lonely, socially inept middle-aged woman. (Doesn't exactly scream 'fun!' does it?) But I loved this book. Where Elinor Lipman is so talented is that she can turn Alice into a sympathetic character that we care about by the end of the book - without actually changing Alice's personality too much! I found this a page-turner of a read, and only wish the author could churn her books out a little bit faster...

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 17, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Miss Invisible by Laura Jensen Walker

Reviewed by Jill Hart

In her newest novel Laura Jensen Walker tackles issues such as self-esteem and plus-size status. Walker is the author of four other novels, including Reconstructing Natalie, Women of Faith’s Novel of the Year for 2006.

Here meet Freddie Heinz: professional baker, wedding cake decorator, overweight and completely invisible. At work she is bullied by her boss. At church, her “crush” can’t seem to remember her name. And her personal life is non-existent.

However, when Freddie makes a new friend, Deborah, her life begins to change. Freddie is inspired by this larger-than-life woman who makes big look beautiful. Deborah encourages Freddie to love herself just as she is.

As Freddie begins to build confidence, a certain veterinarian begins to take notice. Then she meets a cute guy during their singles group. Freddie goes from Miss Invisible to a blossoming flower – and she loves her new life. As she gains confidence, you just never know what might happen.

This book was an inspiration to me. As do most women, I struggle with self-esteem at times and I loved that Freddie learned to love herself just as she is. She didn’t lose 60 pounds and become a supermodel. She didn’t have an Extreme Makeover, at least not on the outside. And yet, at the end of the book you can tell what a different person, a better person, she has become.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Posted by Keris on August 17, 2007 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 15, 2007 4:43 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Holly Shumas

We like to strike while the iron is hot, so no sooner did Holly Shumas get in touch to tell us about her new website, than we grabbed her (in the nicest possible way) for an interview about her book, Five Things I Can't Live Without, and a few other things too...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

A woman approaching thirty needs to get out of her head and into her life.

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

At my desk at home.  I want to be one of those cafe writers, but I'm just too distractible.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

The Big Love by Sarah Dunn.

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

Stargirl, from the book of the same name by Jerry Spinelli.  It's classified as a young adult novel, though if I could write the world a syllabus, it would be required reading for everyone. She shows how magical it can be to completely inhabit your own skin. [Okay, totally adding that to my Amazon wishlist now! - Diane]

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

It's been said a million times, I know, but it's just so true: Read often, and read widely.

Study the genre you want to write in, but read outside of it, too. Figure out what your gifts are as a writer, and cultivate them.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm almost at the end of "Then We Came to the End" by Joshua Ferris, and I'm so sad about it. It's a phenomenal book, especially if you've ever spent significant amounts of time in a cubicle. If you haven't, I think you'll like it anyway because it's so spot-on about human nature (and so funny, too!) but I'm not making any promises.

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

I'm working on a novel about a woman who discovers her seemingly devoted husband has been involved in an emotional affair for the past year. It deals with the question of whether emotional infidelity is better -- or maybe worse -- than sexual infidelity. Grand Central's 5-Spot imprint (which also published Five Things I Can't Live Without) has bought the book; now I've just got to finish writing it...

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. Is the question "What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been?" the hardest question you've ever been asked?

A. Yes!

Ingenious answer, Holly - thanks so much for chatting with us!

Interview archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 14, 2007 11:49 AM

Summer Special Tuesday 3 - Change your life on holiday

Another Summer Special Tuesday Three. This week, rather than picking one place, I've picked three books that will show you how a holiday can change your life.

When her horrendous divorce is followed by a devastating break-up, Elizabeth Gilbert decides to take a year out just for herself. She comes up with a plan to spend the year pursuing three very different things in three very different countries: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India and balance in Indonesia - Eat, Pray, Love. The fact that the countries all being with "I" is coincidental, but, Gilbert thinks, a good sign. Can she recover from her past and find herself and her future all in the space of a year?

If you've ever wanted to take a year off, if you've ever wondered if there's more to life than this, if you've ever had to recover from a bad break-up - surely that covers everyone? - you'll enjoy this book.

We haven't actually reviewed the book of Under the Tuscan Sun, but we've reviewed the film and that's good enough for me. It stars Diane Lane as Frances, who, following a bitter divorce, heads to Italy to try and learn how to be happy again. Frances is only supposed to be there on holiday, but she falls for a run-down house and buys it on the spot. As you do. And you know the rest. She charms the locals, makes friends, walls fall down, things/hearts break, etc. We've seen it many times. But I never stopped wanting it to work out and I never doubted for a moment that it would.

When Felix Huber is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, he and his wife Rina decide to retire and spend however many years they have left sailing around the Mediterranean. Starting in France, they spend the next Nine Summers sailing their yacht Galatea from Italy to Greece to Turkey, even Israel.

On the way, they have numerous, significant problems - Felix suffers a stroke practically before they've set off, Rina contracts breast cancer and also has to have a potentially paralysing back operation, and then Felix has a heart attack - but their positive attitude, lovely natures and deep love for each other carry them through everything. It's a charming and inspiring book.

Has a book ever inspired you to change your life? Let us know.

Posted by Keris on August 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Summer Special, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 13, 2007 6:52 PM

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Dear Holly

A couple of months ago, Keris told us about Holly Shumas's new book debut, Five Things I Can't Live Without. She'll be reviewing it soon, but in the meantime you might like to take a look at the author's excellent web site, which includes an interactive advice section, Dear Holly. Follow that link for questions from readers and answers from Holly herself on all manner of dating dilemmas.

Why don't more authors do this? I'd love Marian Keyes's advice on skincare and Sophie Kinsella's tips on shoe shopping...

Which author would you most like a Q & A with, and on what topic?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Romance, Sophie Kinsella | Permalink | Comments (0)

Blog a Penguin Classic (and get a free book and internet fame in the process...)

Here's something we found out about thanks to the lovely Camilla, editor of our sister (wedding-themed) site, Bridalwave.

Blog a Penguin Classic gives readers the chance to sign up to review one of Penguin's 1400 titles for the website - sign up, and if you're quick enough, you could be chosen to receive a free book which you'll be asked to blog about for the site.

Be warned however - you don't get to choose your title! But it could be a great way to expand your reading horizons (sort of like a bookish lucky dip).

The next batch of books hasn't been released yet but keep checking the site to stay on top of things and read the current batch of reviews here (scroll down).

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels | Permalink | Comments (5)

August 10, 2007 11:40 AM

Women in comics: girlfriends and tag-alongs and also rans - oh my!

Via Bookslut, I came across this excellent piece on the shoddy way women are represented in comic books: whether treated as sex objects, subjected to horrific and humiliating (often sexualised) torture, or portrayed as simpering idiots, it seems the male-dominated history of women and superheroes has not been a very happy one. Perhaps the best answer to this problem is for more women to write about super heroines.

On a closely-related topic, it wasn't until I read a recent letter in the Radio Times that I realised that of the two women (i.e. a minority) in (the otherwise gripping and well-rendered) drama series Heroes, both of them are stereotypical females: one a blonde, pretty cheerleader, the other a blonde, pretty stripper... Sigh.

How about a super heroine for the 21st century? Maybe she could start by wearing clothes that fit...?

What else?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (4)

August 8, 2007 1:56 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Yours, Faithfully by Sheila O'Flanagan

Reviewed by Helen Redfern...

Bigamy. Not the usual subject of a warm, feel good chick lit novel but Sheila O’Flanagan has produced an engaging read with Yours, Faithfully, exploring the bizarre relationship between two women married to the same man. The book also covers mother-daughter relationships and creating relationships with someone you wouldn’t have thought possible.

We are pulled into the lives of Iona and Sally both of whom are married to Frank. Sally has been married to him 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. As if having a husband in a coma and finding he is a bigamist isn’t enough Sally also has a major life change to deal with, much to Iona’s envy and Jenna, Sally’s teenage daughter’s, disapproval.

It is an unusual subject matter, and I had to slightly suspend my belief in order to read, but as Sally, Iona and Jenna journey through the maze of Frank’s coma and marriages, the reader is allowed a glimpse into his past, which actually makes Frank’s situation more credible. Siobhán, the policewoman investigating the case, brings an alternate perspective to the situation but also has her own problems to contend with.

As the story moves on O’Flanagan ensures you don’t wish to see one wife succeed over another, rather we see, quite refreshingly in fact, two women who in extreme circumstances and with every reason to dislike one another, develop a friendship.
A handful of strong Irish characters combined with a well paced plot make this book as satisfying as a rich, smooth, velvety ice-cream – an ideal poolside read.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Husbands by Adele Parks

Posted by Keris on August 8, 2007 in American Authors, Irish Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Myth of You & Me by Leah Stewart

I hadn't heard of The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart before, but while I was browsing Amazon.com I noticed it got fantastic reviews. Also, the cover is purdy. (Reminded me of this). So when I spotted a cheap bargainous copy on sale, I had to take a look!

When the teenage Cameron moves to a new town and meets Sonia, Sonia literally saves her life, and the two quickly become the best of friends, with a close, unshakeable bond they assume will last forever. But then Sonia does something that Cameron can't forgive, and she abandons Sonia and their friendship, never to return.

But then... Cameron's boss, the reclusive elderly author Oliver Doucet, who she lives with and cares for, suddenly dies. With no more ties in the world, and a present that Oliver posthumously asks Cameron to give to Sonia, Cameron sets out on a reluctant road trip...

Flashbacks alternate with the present day storytelling as Cameron goes on a quest to find Sonia and what happened between them years ago (and why) is revealed. I was equally interested in the present day story and the past, and the two blended seamlessly together. I couldn't wait to find out what had happened between Cameron and Sonia, and what would happen next. I wasn't disappointed, although maybe I would have liked the ending to have been a bit more conclusive, but it was realistic, kind-of happy, and in one way, rather surprising.

Anyone who knows what it's like to have an all-consuming friendship, to lose a friend, to be jealous of a friend's boyfriend, to be in love with a friend's boyfriend or to ponder the nature of life (so that's pretty much everyone, then) will find something to relate to in this book. And if you're anything like me, you'll probably shed a tear or two, too.

It's a story of friendship, loss, grief, forgiveness and re-creating your past, and it's terrific.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Girls by Lori Lansens.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 8, 2007 in American Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (4)

August 7, 2007 6:07 PM

Alice Sebold interview

I have in my sweaty (seriously - it's way too humid!) little hands an advance copy of Alice Sebold's new book, The Almost Moon. I've had a little look  at the first page and synopsis and am *very* excited to start reading it soon. Very!

We'll have a review for you nearer the time of release (October) but in the meantime, we have permission to re-print this interview with the author, which I think you'll find interesting. Enjoy!

What was it like to sit down to write a second novel after the success of The Lovely Bones?

I think all novels are a struggle, and after a big success, that still holds true. I think the plus for me was that I could pay my bills, which is huge, and people need to state right off if they've had any level of success. I can get ready-made sandwiches from a good deli instead of eating Goya chickpeas from the can. The other side of it is the increased pressure to follow up your success with another. But my definition of success has always been to write a book I believe in and to stay true to character, so no matter what, I feel very solid going out with Moon. As a writer you are responsible only for what is between hard covers. The rest you can't control. I had a subject that was haunting me, and I waited for the voice of my main character to run clear so I could tell it. As soon as I had Helen, I had my engine. Then it was just the daily unpredictable hell ride from that point forward to get it right.

What do you hope readers will take away from The Almost Moon?

I want readers to enter the reality and experience of my main character, Helen, and to take the ride with her, as it were, even if it takes them into uncomfortable or unimaginable places. To have those unimaginable and dark places more fully queried and understood by the end of the novel. The Almost Moon is asking some pretty intense questions about the relationship between love and duty, what you owe to others versus what you must do to have your own identity in the world. It is a book very much about the dangers of self-erasure.

Helen Knightly is a very different character from Susie Salmon. How was the experience of writing her different from writing Susie? Do you think readers will find it more challenging to embrace her?

Helen is a complex character. Though her actions are, on the face of it, hard to understand, the challenge for me was that, if done right, the reader might be able to see how she had gotten to this place and have compassion for her. I love Helen as I loved Susie, and I see her as I did Susie — someone strong and outside my own creation somehow, even though obviously I wrote the book and I created the character and her world. She is funny, wry, strong, and very broken in what I hope will feel like an utterly human way.

Both of your novels start with a shocking first chapter and a strong voice that hits you right away. Did you write them this way intentionally?

I believe the story should invite a reader in immediately, so my books begin directly. Neither Susie nor Helen has a lot of time to waste, and they let you know right off who they are and how they got there. Maybe this reflects my own hatred of small talk in real life. I've always preferred someone who answers the question "How are you?" with a response like "I feel like hell. My wife left me yesterday." This allows us to get to the heart of the matter, which is what human communication is about. In the book Helen says she hates the phrase "No worries," and every time I find myself using it, I think of how Helen would detest me for it! Who has no worries? It is such a lie!

Both books deal with family — troubled or dysfunctional. Why is family such a concern for you in your writing?

Though modern fiction is full these days of what I think of as high jinks narratives that splice and dice and somehow put family on the back burner, family is who we are. I don't mean this in a reverent or saccharine manner but in the idea that, for good and for bad, we cannot escape our family. They define us even if we work against what they give us or tell us or how they behave. It is a brutal reality: there is no escape, and in encountering that truth, I think writers have endless possibilities to encounter central human truths about identity, love, hate, loneliness, loss, and joy. All of it, every truth we eventually experience, exists within the idea of family first, and how it, or the lack of it, has shaped an individual's mind.

Originally published online here. Reprinted with kind permission.

Author interview archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

The importance of being low: authors obsess over Amazon rankings

Authors: how bothered are you about your ranking on Amazon? It seems some authors can't stop checking how well their new releases are selling, even up to several times a day!

There's an article in the New York Times about how distracting Amazon rankings can be, and just a few weeks ago in The Telegraph's book section I read an excellent piece on the same subject in author Louise Doughty's weekly column about being a writer (which is always the first place I turn btw!)

Author Aaron Shephard has even created a new website, Sales Rank Express so authors can access their ranking instantly.

But maybe that time would be better use disconnecting from the net, and getting on with your next masterpiece...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Diary of a South Beach Party Girl by Gwen Cooper

Diary of a South Beach Party Girl is a bit of an odd duck. It says "a novel" right there on the cover, but the similarities between the main character of Rachel Baum and the author, Gwen Cooper, are so extensive as to make you wonder. I appreciate that often is the case with a firsst novel, but Diary of a South Beach Party Girl seems much more autobiographical than most.

When Rachel moves in with her friend Amy in Miami's South Beach, she finds herself launched into a world more decadent than she ever imagined. With almost constant partying, cocaine use and with a thing for a local career criminal, Rachel's life seems out of control, but it's not, not really. In fact she loves her life, loves the South Beach scene and, following a huge falling out with the treacherous Amy, loves her new "family" of gay best friends. So what's the problem? Well - and this is really the problem with the book - there isn't one.

Diary of a South Beach Party Girl reads much more like memoir than fiction and, as you read on, you find that Rachel and Gwen have so much in common as to make the "a novel" on the cover pretty redundant. Then the acknowledgments include the sentence "Tony also provided an inexhaustible trove of names, dates and descriptions, and it was to him that I turned whenever my own memory was in doubt." But why'd'ya need "memory" to write "a novel"?

I did enjoy Diary of a South Beach Party Girl, I just think I would have enjoyed it more had I not felt misled. There are some great characters - not least the appropriate named John Hood - and the writing is engaging, but I like my novels to have a story, not just be thinly (very thinly) veiled memoir.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Tabloid Love by Bridget Harrison

Posted by Keris on August 7, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (3)

August 3, 2007 12:37 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Lipstick

Also known as Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy, this TV movie is based on Geralyn Lucas's memoir of that same name. At 27, Geralyn was a successful TV producer, married to her perfect man and seemingly living a charmed life. Then she found a lump in her breast and was diagnosed with cancer. As you might expect, it hit her like a thunderbolt. The usually organised Geralyn was sent reeling, as she realised she couldn't make a list to get herself out of this situation...

Sarah Chalke of Scrubs plays Geralyn and Jay Harrington, who was Susan's doctor in Desperate Housewives, plays a doctor again here - Geralyn's husband Tyler, who feels completely left out of her treatment as all her friends and family pile round. I thought the way Geralyn and Tyler's relationship changed was handled really well but some of the dialogue (especially Chalke's stuff to camera) was a bit cheesy and occasionally bought into all those "if you're strong you'll fight it" cancer cliches, which can be a bit offensive... But it's an oddly cheering look at breast cancer in young women and was educational, too. (Who knew they injected silicone into fake boobs - and that it could be so painful?!)

Like this (a little bit) but in book form: Cancer Vixen.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Momzillas

I have to admit to being completely superficial: the thing that grew me to Momzillas by Jill Kargman was... the pretty pink and black cover! It also reminded me a bit of The Nanny Diaries which I *heart* so if the novel itself was awful, I was going to be really disappionted. And at first, I did question the need for this book: semi-autobiographical novels about competititve parenting in Manhattan are not new, but I'd yet to read one I really enjoyed, so I was hoping this would be the one. Luckily, it was! (There must be something in that judging by cover thing after all...)

Momzillas follows San Francisco transplant Hannah Allen's attempts to fit in with the New York society mamas who are married to her husband's new NYC colleagues - and friends with her rich and frosty mother-in-law. Suddenly she's thrust into a world where $350 is a modest amount to spend on a birthday present for the child of someone you hardly know, and staying in the city over the summer (or worse, going on the subway!) just isn't done. Struggling to keep up with the snobbery, but feeling that she has to mingle with women who look down on her in order to get her daughter Violet into the right pre-school and to help her husband's career, Hannah despairs of ever feeling less lonely. So when her old Art Histroy professor from university, the one she had a mega crush on back in the day, asks her to meet up and visit museums with him, that's a perfectly reasonable thing to do, right?

As Hannah's relationship wobbles, so does her certainty that she's done the right thing in moving to New York. She also starts to care a bit less about what the ultra-posh mothers in the posh playground think of her and tries to find a niche for herself and a pre-school for Violet that isn't run by Neo-Nazis...

Can her marriage survive her re-ignited crush on her professor and her husband's crazy hours? And can she break free from all the stupid demands of Momzilla society and enjoy her new situation?

I knew that things would surely work out OK for Hannah in the end, but I enjoyed reading about how she got there. Hannah is a very likeable character (and her daughter Violet couldn't sound cuter!) and Jill Kargman's writing style is snappy and witty. I also liked the fact that Hannah's husband Josh was sympathetic rather than cruel or pathetic, as in other books of this type! I felt the book's ending was a little rushed - too much was summarised rather than shown to the reader - and I was aggravated by the narrator's description of single life as almost a fate worse than death! But I'd definitely recommend this as a great holiday read.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McClaughlin.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

More summer reading recommendations!

Despite the weather for the last two months resembling winter (here in Britain, at least) we've still brought you lots of summer-related goodness, including competitions and summer reading recommendations from Jen Lancaster, Marian Keyes and Jennifer Weiner and er... Philadelphia.

There's still a few weeks of summer left, and as sun to bask in is in short supply, why not bask in another set of reading recommendations, this time from Salon? Here's their suggestions for summer 'chic lit' (<-- I never know if that's a clueless misspelling of chick lit or a play on words... let's assume the latter and give them the benefit of the doubt!)

What are you reading this summer? Have any summer reading guides prompted you to try a book?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 2, 2007 11:52 AM

Sage advice on collaborating from Jenny Crusie and Bob Mayer

Despite the popularity of co-authored novels (especially as some of the collaborations do so brilliantly *coughNannyDiariescough*) and despite being a frequent collaborator herself (see here, here and here...) Jenny Crusie contends that it's not the easy, fun option it may sound.

Something I guess Janet Evanovich has already discovered...

Read Jenny and one of her many collaborators Bob Mayer on the subject at their excellent joint blog/teaching project, He Wrote, She Wrote.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Romance, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

MOVIE NEWS: Dogs of Babel/Lorelei's Secret

I loved Carolyn Pankhurst's novel Lorelei's Secret (called Dogs of Babel in the US) and I've heard (via Huffington Post) that it's being made into a movie with Will Ferrell.

The book is about a man who, following his wife's death to which their dog, Lorelei, was the only witness, tries to teach Lorelei to talk. Ferrell, who showed he has an excellent grasp of both the absurd and, um, acting, in Stranger Than Fiction, could be perfect, but we'll have to wait until 2009 to find out.

Movie News archives

Posted by Keris on August 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 1, 2007 4:56 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Sammy's Hill by Kristen Gore

Reviewed by Jessica Denmark of Jessica, Etcetera.

Easy to relate to, acceptable to laugh at and unavoidable to laugh with, the 20-something political aide on Capital Hill  Sammy Joyce is a reader's "every girl". Seamless between instantaneous thoughts and the immediate situation at hand, Sammy's Hill was the perfect read for me at the precise moment in my life when I read it.

Despite tripping along over life's stumbling blocks, Sammy seems relatively content. She lightheartedly struggles with her career and its effects on her in an all-too-familiar cocktail of passion and politics. Of course, a man in the mix stirs the concoction more so until readers are pleasantly tipsy on her life events and their outcomes.

Sammy's introspections pop and bubble as everyone's do. From her daily battle to keep her Siamese fighting fish alive, to her review of animal attack defense movements while in the shower (a true laugh-out-loud moment), Sammy reassures us that we are not crazy after all when we find ourselves pondering during the weekly budget meeting why we can't keep a plant thriving, milk from spoiling or remember to get an oil change.

With a splash of karma and what-was-she-thinking, Sammy's Hill might be chick-lit in flavor but goes down like a delicious glass of relatively-affordable white wine.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Washingtonienne by Jessica Cutler

Posted by Keris on August 1, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 31, 2007 4:27 PM

EXCLUSIVE 'Be Mine' giveaway!

Be Mine by Laura Kasischke might be a good option for your summer hols if you like a touch of mystery and don't mind being a bit scared on your sun-lounger.

Keris called it "thrilling, thought-provoking, exciting and erotic" (oo-er!) and we have 2 copies to give away to 2 lucky Trashionista readers.

Carry on over the cut to find out how to be in with a chance of winning...

Simply email us your name and address (so we can send you the book if you win), putting "Laura" in the title. We'll pick 2 names at random after the giveaway closes on August 1st.

Posted by Aigua Media on July 31, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Competition, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Sleeping With The Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

MaryJanice Davidson is back - though now her unique brand of paranormal chick-lit has taken a break from Minnesota's vampire circuit.

Yep, this time - it's mermaids. (Gotta give her credit for ori ginality!)

MJD's new novel, Sleeping With The Fishes, has recently made its way onto UK shelves and despite the slightly baffling concept of mermaid chick-lit (whatever next?) it's actually rather good.

Sleeping With the Fishes introduces Dr. Frederika Bimm (Fred for short) - a mermaid working as a marine biologist at the New England Aquarium. Daughter of a mysterious merman and earth-loving hippy Moon Bimm, blue-haired Fred is seemingly content with her life, working at the aquarium alongside her boss Dr Barb and best friend Jonas (the only one who knows that she's really a mermaid.) As her tail only appears when she's swimming, Fred's fishy trait is suspicious only to those with slightly odd mermaid obsessions (enter dreamy new coworker Thomas).

All of a sudden Fred is met by merman Artur, claiming to be the Prince of the Black Sea. Not only is he there in an attempt to sweep Fred off her feet...erm, tail... but he's also appeared to report that deadly toxins have been found in the sea and something must be done to stop it.

With two love interests, an overly-chirpy intern to deal with and poison in the water she loves so much, Fred suddenly finds she has enough on her plate to deal with. Can she find out who's reponsible for the toxins?

Sleeping With the Fishes is a pleasing yet rather short offering from MJD; not as good as the much-loved Undead series, but not as bad as Hello, Gorgeous - the tale of bionic heroine Caitlyn.

Whereas MJD has an obvious knack for writing quick, addictive reads and feisty, kick-ass characters, I can't help but thinbk this is actually part of the problem; the books are far too similar. Sure, the concepts are different but the characters are alike. Reading Fred's shouty, take-no-prisoners attitude felt exactly as though I was reading about the Undead series' Betsy, only as a mermaid this time. Whereas her books, including this one, remain action-packed and unputdownable, the heroines and their sidekicks remain a bit too samey for my liking. (Did Artur remind anyone else of Sinclair?)

MJD may gain a 10 out of 10 for her quirky, original ideas, but the downside to her work is that her characters seem to be cloned. To me, this just seems lazy. (There is only one Betsy. ONE!)

Not only that, but this book feels slightly rushed - quite like the Undead series in fact, which has caused fans to speculate over whether certain books were actually longer and split into two separate titles.

However, despite this book being of the fast-paced, light, read-in-two-hours sort, it's still good. It doesn't quite reach the standards of Betsy and pals, but it's definitely enjoyable and amusing.

After all, who can resist a mermaid?

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Girl Overboard by Aimee Ferris

Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on July 31, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 30, 2007 11:50 AM

Exclusive excerpts on the New York Times books site: Rules for Saying Goodbye and more

Keris has highlighted the difference between the UK and US covers of new book Rules for Saying Goodbye by Katherine Taylor before, and also talked about the fact that the author has taken offence to her book being described as chick lit. (Sigh).

Now you can see for yourself whether it seems like something you want to read (whether chick lit or not...) as The New York Times has an excerpt (the first chapter, in fact) on their website.

You can also read the first chapter of Sammy's House here and the opening of Lisa See's Peony In Love here. What a fantastic resource!

(If they ask you to sign in to read those, I'd do it - they never bug me with emails and offers).

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

Reviewed by Diane Johnston of Corrieblog...

Judging from the blurb, I thought Debbie Macomber's Back on Blossom Street would be right up my alley. A group of women come together for a knitting class and we find out about their lives as they become friends. Well, um...I can't say the book lived up to my expectations. This book is the third novel set on Blossom Street, a little Seattle neighbourhood. Blossom Street is lined with little shops and the main narrator of this book, Lydia, spends a lot of time filling us in on the shop owners' past events, along with a good majority of the lives of the customers of those shops as well.

Lydia herself is the owner of the Yarn shop where the knitting classes take place. This book revolves around the current life crises of knitting students Alix, who's about to be married but whose wedding organizing has been overrun by her future mother-in-law and another friend, and Collette who is widowed but recently pregnant by her ex-employer. Lydia's sister also has a family crisis which affects her whole family. The story follows the three women's events.

I wanted to like this book but I didn't really. I like a bit of spice in my book, a bit of sex and humour. This had none of the first and not a whole lot of the second. Lydia, in particular, drove me to distraction. Even though she purported to be worried about her sister's family's problems, you never really felt that anxiety. It was all told almost off-handedly. She is supportive, understanding, reasonable, a great wife and mother, a great cook, advisor to everyone that knows her, confident, generous, and... well, you get the picture. She's perfect. To the point where I found her sanctimonious and boring. The other two women are flawed, make bad decisions for the right reasons, but it all works out in the end for them too.

The book has an overtone of Christian spirituality and forgiveness which makes me wonder if that was the main target audience. (There are, as well, two knitting patterns included for prayer shawls, which is the project that the students are knitting). That's not a criticism, it's just not my type of book, that's all. If you've already read Debbie Macomber's books and loved them, then you will like this one too. It's more of the same. Amazon.com calls it "saccharine prose" and that hits the nail on the head for me. It's not badly written, it's just too sweet and nice. The characters and the dialogue don't feel "real".

I want sex. I want bitchy repartee. I want to laugh out loud and maybe even sniff back a tear or two. I want to identify with at least one of the characters.

I didn't get any of that with this book, I'm afraid. Your mileage may vary.

Rating: 2/5

Like this? Try The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 2/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

July 27, 2007 4:30 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Rumour Has It

A chick flick based on a film that was based on a novel (are you still with me?) Rumour Has It takes the idea that the events of The Graduate really happened and are based on Sarah (Jennifer Aniston)'s family, something she only discovers shortly before she's due to get married to fiance Jeff (the lovely Mark Ruffalo) and which sends her into a tailspin. Because if the events of that book/film are true, then her dad isn't her real father, and she has to find the man who is...

The savaging this got from some critics lead me to believe this was going to be a total piece of trash, but it was actually a nice surprise. It might not hold up twenty years from now but I found it fun, engaging, a little silly perhaps, but I loved the conceit of the film and especially enjoyed Shirley McClaine's performance. I think Aniston is a great comic actress and this isn't great film, but it's far from a bad one. Enjoy!

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 26, 2007 1:25 PM

E Lockhart and friends on YouTube

In our interview with E Lockhart yesterday, she mentioned that sometimes she likes to write in a coffee shop with novelist friends Maureen Johnson, John Green and Scott Westerfeld. What she didn't say was that some of these writing sessions have been captured on video and posted on YouTube for our enjoyment:

Related posts: YA author Maureen Johnson's book The Burmudez Triangle banned! | Looking for Alaska by John Green

Posted by Keris on July 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Scot on the Rocks by Brenda Janowitz

Brenda Janowitz's debut novel, Scot on the Rocks, is subtitled "How I survived my ex-boyfriend's wedding with my dignity ever-so-slightly intact" and is the tale of lawyer Brooke Miller, whose boyfriend dumps her just before her ex-boyfriend's wedding, which they were supposed to attend together.

Too embarrassed to tell her ex, Trip, that she's now single (he's marrying a Hollywood superstar, after all) she convinces her friend and colleague, Jack, to accompany her and pretend to be her fiance, Douglas. Her Scottish fiance, Douglas. I feel I want to say "with hilarious consequences" here, probably because I bet you can imagine exactly what happens.

Despite its predictability, I really enjoyed Scot on the Rocks, though I did have a few problems with it. Douglas is so, so awful that I couldn't imagine what Brooke ever saw in him, plus her attentions switch to Jack a bit too quickly to be convincing. I would have liked to have got to know both Jack and Brooke's best friend Vanessa a bit better (although I can see Vanessa having her own book in the future).

Despite the above, I enjoyed Scot on the Rocks predominantly because of Brooke's voice. She's sweet and very funny and I really enjoyed her asides to the reader. As a character, she'll stick in my mind, but I'm not sure if the book will. I'll certainly be keen to read Brenda Janowitz's next book though.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Talk Gertie to Me by Lois Winston

Look out for a big Scot on the Rocks giveaway next week

Posted by Keris on July 26, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Truman Capote

Yes, I know he's not a woman! But he's still a Trailblazer, and he created Holly Golightly so even though he was WRONG about Audrey Hepburn (he hated her as Holly and wanted Marilyn Monroe in the part) I forgive him.

The author of Breakfast at Tiffany's of course, he also wrote other novels, short stories, plays and a musical but his best work is probably In Cold Blood, the meticulously-researched (sometimes a bit too closely, perhaps!) work of 'faction', which inspired hundreds of writers to turn their pens to narrative non-fiction. The book is compelling, stark, brutal and perfectly evocative of the horrible murders it describes. It lives with the reader for a long time.

On a lighter note, Capote was a legendarily fabulous party host and gossip, and lifelong friend of Harper Lee, who used him as the basis for the character of Dill Harris in To Kill A Mockingbird. He was also openly gay in an era were being honest about homosexuality was much rarer than it is today.

Unfortunately in his later years, Truman descended into depression and alcoholism, dying at just 59, but his great works live on.

Thursday Trailblazer archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Modern Fiction, Non Fiction, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

Reviewed by Bag Lady extraordinaire Nicola Pedley...

Victoria Laurie is a professional psychic who uses her gift to help police investigations. Her character, Abby Cooper, is a professional psychic who finds herself using her gift to help police investigations. Victoria Laurie lives in Massachusetts with her dachshunds, Lilly and Toby. Abby Cooper lives in Detroit with her dachshund, Eggy… Frustrated by clichéd representations of psychics as kooks and crooks, Ms. Laurie has (clearly!) drawn on her own experiences to create the character of Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye.

Abby Cooper is looking for some excitement because she feels so vanilla – she needs a bit of hot fudge topping. Most people would think that being a P.I., Psychic Intuitive, would be exciting enough but it’s not until a client winds up dead that Abby realises that hot fudge isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Despite helping solve white collar crimes Abby has never offered information to the police, and with good reason. When she inadvertently relates her visions of her clients murder to Detective Dutch Rivers she soon becomes the prime suspect. After all, there are no such things as psychics so how else could she possibly know all the details of the crime???

In most cosy mysteries the heroine solves the crime because she has an amazing run of luck and is privy to all the local gossip and by putting the two together she solves the mystery and saves the day.

Ms Laurie’s neat little twist – giving Abby visions – is, in my opinion, a nicer solution. Of course, her ability isn’t infallible and Abby often ignores her intuitions - she’d go crazy if she listened to them all the time, and the mystery would be solved about half way through the book. But with a nice supporting cast: the potential cop boyfriend, rich businesswoman older sister, and Dave the handyman, not to mention Eggy the dachshund, this is a really enjoyable read and Ms Laurie gives us an insight into being a professional psychic.

And if you really enjoy the book you can contact Ms Laurie via her website to book a reading of your own!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris or One For the Money by Janet Evanovich.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 26, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: Queen of Broken Hearts by Cassandra King

Reviewed by Diane Johnston of Corrieblog...

Dr. Clare Ballenger is a divorce coach, helping women cope with the loss of a crumbled marraige, guiding them to start afresh and let go of the past. The only problem is, she's still recovering from a more tragic loss herself.

And she has a second chance at love with not just one man but two - but will she be able to let go of the past and move on? Can the doctor heal herself?

I've never read any of Cassandra King's work before so I opened Queen of Broken Hearts without any preconceptions. I was pleased to discover that the main character, Dr. Clare Ballenger, her best friend Dory Rogers, and both of Clare's potential lovers are my age (late 40s) or older. It's nice when you can identify with the people you meet in books. I, too, have been divorced so I can relate to that aspect of the story as well.

The book takes place in Alabama and is filled with colourful peripheral characters. The narrative is in the first person present most of the time, except when Clare takes the reader back to fill in some of the blanks that she constantly opens up. Some she fills in straight away and some take a while but be patient, they will get filled in eventually. I did find that a bit disconcerting, being left hanging at times wondering what she meant when she hinted at something that happened the previous summer or even years before.

There is a romance threading its bumpy way through the book, with all the ups and downs you might expect. The ups and downs do not include juicy sex scenes, so if you're looking for that, look the other way. In this case, the story doesn't really need it because it's not about that. It's about women rediscovering themselves as they approach middle age after their lives change completely and often traumatically. It's about women supporting each other and it's about friendship and love in all the best ways. I'm rating it a little less than perfect, though, because I did find the author's style of leaving you wondering about those blanks a bit annoying at times even though all the loose ends were tied up at the end.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try How Will I Know? By Sheila O’Flanagan.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 26, 2007 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 25, 2007 11:00 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Washingtonienne by Jessica Cutler

Jessica Cutler is probably the most notorious of all the people to have been fired for blogging at work. Not only did she work for a senator in Washington, D.C but she wrote about the six different men she was having sex with and all of their sexual peccadilloes... and her own. She blogged anonymously, but was found out through word-of-mouth (and eventually, hard disk evidence) and unceremoniously 'let go' from her job. Instead of hiding in a dark corner, she decided to capitalise on the subsequent media attention she received, and used it to get a book deal (with a 6-figure advance). The Washingtonienne isn't her blog in book form, however; it's novel based on her experiences.

Jackie Turner is a New York transplant in America's capital, working for a senator, having her apartment paid for by two wealthy men she sleeps with, one of whom pays her for the privilege. Then she starts a blog, which causes a huge scandal.

'Semi-autobiographical' doesn't quite seem to cover it!....

I must admit there were times I forgot I wasn't reading a memoir. I always find it hard to get a handle on novels based heavily on the author's experiences - I always want to know exactly which bits are true. If the lawsuit against her is anything to go by, however, Cutler's debut is very close to the truth.

It's witty and readable but the narrator has a very dark world view and it's full of drug-taking and sordid sex (which on one occasion seemed uncomfortably close to rape to me) and the narrator's presumption that most people live like her (those that don't are stupid/boring) and that these things are what constitute 'fun'. Yet puking purple bile into bushes on the way to work and snorting drugs off - well, you'll have to read the book - doesn't sound much fun to me. Although I did feel a bit jealous that she could watch Law & Order all day...

This is definitely a novel in the anti-heroine trend, saved from being appalling by the snappy writing and (finally!) the narrator's insight into her behaviour towards the end of the book. Not everyone will enjoy reading this, some people will find it shameless, I just found it left me with a bit of a nasty taste in my mouth at times. And yet I kind of enjoyed it (she said, in horrified disbelief) and it was certainly entertaining. If anyone else has read it (perhaps for Mamapop's book club) I'd love to know what you thought.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 25, 2007 in American Authors, Bonkbusters, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (9)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: E Lockhart

We're huge fans of E Lockhart here at Trashionista - see reviews here, here and here! - so we're very excited that she's answered our questions.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

The Boy Book - Hyperverbal teenage girl. Rogue ex-boyfriends. Exploitation of hooters. Terrors of school trip. With penguins!

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

I have a tiny tiny office/closet with dark pink walls and built-in bookshelves. There are pictures pinned up  all over and stacks of papers everywhere. I have coffee and diet ginger ale and absolute silence. Although sometimes, for variety, I write in a coffee shop with my novelist friends Maureen Johnson, John Green and Scott Westerfeld.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding. And the sequel, Edge of Reason. Why? Because I laughed out loud. Repeatedly.  Especially at the bit about loaning out the wonderbra in prison. I love stylized prose and outrageous situations. I adore Louise Rennison's books for the same reasons.

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

Bridget Jones makes me laugh, but for a favorite character I prefer more inner steel. Jo March, from Little Women, is probably the character I think of most often in daily life. I think about her charity, her impulse for goodness, and the way it combined with her unconventionality and her love of hilarity and storytelling. She was figuring out how to be a woman, and a writer, and a good person -- all of which are things I still deal with every day.

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

Finish your book. The big difference between me and many  equally (or more) talented but unpublished writers is that I sit down every weekday and write. I finish a project, revise extensively, and begin the next one within a reasonable time frame.  It is the discipline and the finishing that make the difference, not the talent.

What are you reading at the moment?

I have approximately twenty books going at any one time, plus audiobooks. Mainly I read chick lit, literary fiction, food books, mysteries, travel writing, and humor.

Currently in my pile:  Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen), Twelve Sharp (Janet Evanovich), Home to Big Stone Gap (Adriana Trigiani) [hope she likes it better than we did], Size Twelve is Not Fat (Meg Cabot), Laughing Gas (P.G. Wodehouse), The Bookwoman's Last Fling (John Dunning), The Coffee Trader (David Liss).

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

In the UK, the novel coming out after THE BOY BOOK will be FLY ON THE WALL: HOW ONE GIRL SAW EVERYTHING. It's about a teenage girl at a New York City art school who's a collector of odd objects and a Spider-man fan. She's also very freaked by the opposite sex, and one day she wishes she could be a fly on the wall of the boys' locker room in her high school, just to see what guys talk about when girls are not around. And the next thing she knows, she is. A fly. On the wall of the boys' locker room. She sees it all -- and I mean, all. [We've read it. We loved it.]

But truthfully, that book came out in the states in 2006, so I haven't exactly been working on it. I've been finishing The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, which is a novel about a  boarding school girl who infiltrates and eventually dominates her boyfriend's all-male secret society. It was really  hard to write because I had to devise all these complicated pranks and secret society rituals, but in the end I'm quite pleased with it. It comes out in the USA in March 2008. I don't know about the UK yet!

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:  Would you like me to take you to a stylist who will give you the perfect haircut? Because really, you shouldn't be cutting your hair yourself any more, my dear, and I know you keep having bad stylist experiences.
Answer:  Yes please!

Thanks, E!

Posted by Keris on July 25, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Recent Release, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Late Bloomer's Revolution by Amy Cohen

I'd never heard of Amy Cohen, but the title of her memoir - The Late Bloomer's Revolution - appealed to me. Add this to raves from Melissa Bank and O Magazine and I couldn't wait to crack it open.

Not long after her beloved mother dies of cancer, Amy gets both fired and dumped by the man she thought she was going to marry (this wasn't an idle assumption, he told her so just a week earlier), Amy has to accept that she's nowhere near where she wanted to be in her thirties. Once the hideous psychosomatic rash (on her face!) has cleared up, she starts dating again and encounters a catalogue of losers and idiots, with the occasional promising man turning out to be just another loser or idiot. (I've read this type of story in many, many books, so I guess it must be true - but what on earth would possess a man to say, "You know how I feel about you, don't you?", promise to call in ten hours and then never contact her again? What?).

I actually really enjoyed this book, but it wasn't at all as advertised. The back cover says "... the heartwarming story of how so many things came gloriously late for Amy Cohen" but they don't, not really. She learns to cook and ride a bike, she develops (following the loss of her mother) a fantastic relationship with her father, but this book was far, far more about dating than anything else and I found the ending to be a terrible cop-out - you can't spend 287 pages saying one thing and then change your mind completely on the 288th and call it a revolution.

I did love Amy though and the book was like listening to a particularly funny friend, I just wish the ending had been different.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn

Posted by Keris on July 25, 2007 in American Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Marked by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

Reviewed by Trashionista reader Angela Richardson...

This book is the first in the House of Night series, where P.C & Kristin Cast have created a world where vampires have always existed. For all Buffy addicts like me who have been suffering from the void of losing their favourite series… we may have been sent a form of methadone from our American friends.

Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has been Marked, to the disgust of her friends, who watch her become sicker and sicker in daylight hours. She is rushed to the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is if she survives the Change. Not all of those chosen do. It’s tough being away from all that she knows and on top of that Zoey finds that she’s no average fledging. The vampire goddess Nyx has marked her as special. When she discovers the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must find the courage within herself to set things back to the way they should be.

Okay this is probably teen lit but I tell all you parents now, keep it for yourself and only when you finish it wrap it up as the present you intended. Parents will also be pleasantly surprised at Zoey’s moralistic side to her character that, to cut a long story short, tells teens it’s not cool to be a slut or a drunk.

The only annoying thing about this book is the similarities to Harry Potter. Zoey hates her family and gets whisked away from her horrible life to a magical school, okay it’s for vampires and not witches and wizards, but you get the point. Plus she is separated out from the other pupils as special by a different mark on her forehead… now we’re getting a bit too close to Harry’s scar. This is a shame because the plot is much better than Rowling’s over hyped books. [Ooh! - Diane]

Of course this was always going to be compared to Buffy as it is a teen novel that contains vampires, but I see this as a good thing as there are no other similarities in the plot. It’s like Buffy’s arch-enemy vampire has written a book to show the world that they aren’t all nasty blood sucking fiends, but have a gentler side too: awww!

Overall this was fast paced, funny and exciting. It held my attention all the way through and Zoey grows into a feisty heroine who’d I’d definitely want on my side. (That is if I ever got into a fight between vampires… yes I know I’ve been watching way too much sci-fi.)

Go give your self a well-needed mental holiday from all the everyday stresses and strains and read this book. I guarantee you’ll come away refreshed and ready to fight another day.

Rating: 5/5.

Like this? Try Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 25, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Series, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (16)

July 24, 2007 2:28 PM

MOVIE NEWS: The Lovely Bones

Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones is one of the most successful books of recent years (and also top of a list of books you shouldn't bother to read) and now the inevitable movie details have been announced.

Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, King Kong) has co-written the screenplay and will direct and Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) is in negotiations to play killer George Harvey.

 

Susie Salmon will be played by Saoirse Ronan and Ryan Gosling and Rachel Weisz will play her parents.

[via BuzzSugar]

Related posts: New book by Alice Sebold | Books the British public just couldn't finish!

Posted by Keris on July 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

Summer Special Tuesday 3 - Paris

I thought I'd do something a bit different with the Summer Special Tuesday 3s. Each week I'm going to pick a place and feature three books set there, which we may or may not have reviewed. (And there may be more than 3...) Ooh. Controversial!

So first up is Paris, mainly because I'm going there at the end of this week. Yes, I know I said I wasn't going on holiday until September, this isn't a holiday, it's a Bridget Jones style romantic mini-break ... with cycling (we're going to see the end of the Tour de France). But back to the books...

First up is Weekend in Paris by Robyn Sisman. Weekend in Paris is not my favourite of Sisman's books (that would be Perfect Strangers), but it's definitely escapist. Molly is given the opportunity to accompany her boss to Paris, but then learns he plans to seduce her and so runs away to Paris on her own. She then meets a bunch of people and has a life-changingly exciting weekend. In Paris.

Diane has loaned me Kate Muir 's Left Bank to take with me this weekend, so it had better be good. It's the story of a glamorous French philosopher and a gorgeous American actress. In Paris. And it looks gorgeous.

Paris Hangover by Kirsten Lobe features Klein, a New Yorker trying to find the right man. In Paris.

Paulina Porizkova's debut novel, A Model Summer is also set in Paris  as is Julia Holden's new book, One Dance in Paris and Sabine Durrant's YA novel Ooh La La, Connie Pickles (which I loved).

If you've read any of the above, let us know what you think. And feel free to tell us about your favourite Paris novel.

Plus if you've got a pash for Paris, you should check out writer Gabrielle Luthy's site - more Paris links than you could possibly ever need!

Posted by Keris on July 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Summer Special, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK NEWS: Fitness Kills by Helen Barer

Here's another good reason not to go to the gym: you might get murdered...

The first in a new series by Helen Barer, Fitness Kills is a mystery in the same tradition as books like Steamed.

There’s been a murder at an elite spa in Baja, California and no one is safe, especially Nora Franke, a New York food writer who came to the spa to make over its menu. But she didn’t count on murder as the main course.

Carry on over the cut to find out more...

Nora’s life is in desperate need of a change and when the opportunity arises to become a menu consultant at a ritzy fitness spa she jumps at the chance to get out of town. Nursing a broken heart and hoping to drop 30 pounds in the process, Nora heads off full of hope. When a spa guest is found dead, she realizes she got more than she bargained for.

Unless she can solve the mystery of who’s behind the death of two of the guests, Nora might just be the next victim. As Nora digs into the spa, its history, and its curious guests, she finds more than she expected on her plate, including a second guest who dies right in front of her eyes. Then, when her ex-lover comes to her rescue, she knows she needs to solve this mystery – or die trying.

Read an excerpt here.

Related: Book news archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Series | Permalink | Comments (1)

More summer beach read giveaways from Bookreporter.com

Continuing our summer special-theme, "It wouldn't be summer without sun, surf and sizzling reading," says Bookreporter. So they're offering one reader a week the chance to win a beach bag of goodies, including a great summer read each week until August 24th.

The current book choice is Second Choice by Jane Green, and past books include The Manny and Anybody Out There? So you could find some great reading recommendations over the next few weeks, whether you win or not!

And don't forget we'll be giving books away every week for the rest of the summer, too!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Competition, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

The best days to sell books?

You might think that the day the new (last) Harry Potter was released would be a bad day to try and get readers interested in buying any other kind of book, but you would be wrong.

That's according to Elaine Viets of The Lipstick Chronicles blog. In a recent post, she explains why Harry Potter nights can be one of the very best days to sell books.

Find out more here (and don't forget to check out the rest of this excellent blog!

Related: Book websites archive.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Modern Fiction, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 23, 2007 11:12 AM

BOOK REVIEW: An Absolute Scandal by Penny Vincenzi

Reviewed by freelance writer and Trashionista fan Hannah Davies...

Coming in at 768 pages in the hardback edition, and set amidst the complex financial dealings of the City in the Eighties, Penny Vincenzi's latest novel An Absolute Scandal seems a daunting prospect. Potential readers should bear in mind, however, that this is less than half the size of War and Peace. More importantly, An Absolute Scandal is a very good read overall.

All the classic Vincenzi ingredients are here: a glittering backdrop of wealth and privilege, a large and diverse cast, some energetic sex and, well, plenty of scandal. An Absolute Scandal introduces the characters as they enjoy the kind of material success that, for some, typifies the early Eighties. As disaster strikes in the form of increasing debt to Lloyds Bank, the families are drawn together by their mutual monetary woes. This device is extremely well-handled: the explanations of the financial complexities are clear and accessible, and never take precedence over the gripping human drama. The plot skips lightly from Alice bands and Ferraris in London to well-heeled Americans in Boston, the savage beauty of the Welsh coastline and the glitzy world of the celebrity hairdresser, yet never loses its hold on the reader.

The main weakness is the sudden promotion of 'feisty' housewife Debbie to prominence during the second third of the novel. Although she is clearly intended to be an 'everywoman' counterbalance to the assorted wealthy Sloanes, her character fails to convince, and her struggle to balance the duties of family with the demands of career flirts at times with tedium.

In addition, after a long and intense build-up, the ending feels rushed and somehow not entirely satisfying. Nevertheless, with its addictive plot and stylish narrative, I'd recommend this as a great holiday read. Even if you feel that it is not quite up to the standard of Penny Vincenzi's previous books, you can always use this hefty tome for impromptu arm-toning exercises by the pool. However, be prepared to take less sarongs and sandals than usual, or you might end up paying excess baggage charges!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Adored by Tilly Bagshawe.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 23, 2007 in American Authors, Bonkbusters, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 20, 2007 10:04 AM

FRIDAY FLICK: State and Main

Like About Last Night (which Keris has lent me and I must watch soon!), State and Main is based on a play by David Mamet. There's both a Sex and the City and a Desperate Housewives connection, as it stars Sarah Jessica Parker and husband of Felicity Huffman William H. Macy. It's an ensemble piece and the massive cast also includes Julia Stiles, Alec Baldwin and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

The film's about a Hollywood film crew who descend on a small American town and turn the whole place upside down. It's a satire on the silliness involved in filming on location, and therein lies a bit of a problem, as the film's basically an in-joke for anyone who's ever been in that experience (i.e. not most of us!) It's really not as funny as I wanted it to be but has moments of great wit and charm. One to smirk along with rather than laugh out loud at, perhaps.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 20, 2007 in American Authors, Friday Flick, Television | Permalink | Comments (8)

BOOK REVIEW: Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

We've talked about Anatomy of a Boyfriend before, when the cover was causing a stir in America. I love the design and was very interested to read the book, which wasn't really anything like I expected: I thought it would be Louise Rennison-esque, instead it's more like Judy Blume...

Daria Snadowsky's debut novel is the story of the relationship between 17-year old Dominique and her new boyfriend Wes. Wes is a shy but sweet athletic/writerly type, while Dominique wants to be a doctor - hence the title of the book, she's obsessed with medical textbooks!

We follow the couple from their first meeting, through to their first semester at university, and all the ups and downs and those major 'firsts' that come with a first love...

This very much reminded me of a modern-day Forever (although with a little less um, description). It's certainly not for younger teenagers but the sexual stuff is realistic and appropriate in the context of the story. Easy to read and with some great emotional depth, I just wondered if the teenager's voices were entirely lifelike: Dom is a little immature at times where her best friend Amy sometimes sounds like SATC's Samantha. Also the relationship between Dom and Wes takes a while to get going, and I was a bit frustrated by that!

I did love the two girls' friendship and found the story very moving and well-crafted. It's quite an easy read, but definitely not a facile one. I was sad when I'd finished it and got quite emotionally involved with the characters so I'm definitely looking forward to more books by this new author. (In other words, thank you Luisa for the loan!)

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Good Girls by Laura Ruby.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 19, 2007 4:36 PM

Jodi Picoult on BookVideos.tv

One author I might stick in my suitcase each year (well, one of her books) is Jodi Picoult. I find her books compelling, but I also find them too similar in style to read in quick succession, so one per holiday could work out well. I was given her latest, Nineteen Minutes, for my birthday, so that could well be the first book in my holiday pile.

See Jodi talking about it - in Rome, no less - here:

Related posts: My Sister's Keeper review | The Tenth Circle review | Jodi Picoult interview

Posted by Keris on July 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (1)

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is one of the American greats. Her first book of autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings presents a vivid, shocking but also hopeful portrait of life as a black girl in the American deep South of the 1930s. Her five other works of memoir are just as compelling.

The author of many books including some wonderful poetry, Angelou is a distinguished literary professor and was chosen to be Bill Clinton's inauguration poet, only the second poet ever to read at a President's inauguration. She's been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and The National Book Award and is great pals with and mentor to Oprah Winfrey. She's even won a Grammy! (For a spoken-word album of her poetry, but still...)

She has to be one of the best examples of someone overcoming great obstacles to achieve her dreams: abandoned at a young age by her parents, she was later sexually abused and became mute for several years after the man who raped her was beaten to death. She spent time homeless, became a single mother at 16 and worked as a singer, a prostitute and a madam as she tried to support herself and her son. Her life was never straightforward, but her optimism was rewarded with the publication of Caged Bird in 1969.

[Image: Santa Clara University; some addictional info from Wikipedia]

Trailblazer archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (1)

GUEST BLOG: Allison Winn Scotch

I loved Allison Winn Scotch's debut novel, The Department of Lost and Found so much I asked the author to do a guest blog for us, and she very kindly agreed to tell the background to her book, or...

The Story Behind The Story by Allison Winn Scotch

When people ask what my novel is about, I mutter something about a young woman who is diagnosed with cancer and wait for the inevitable reaction:  horror.  It's as if their brains are flashing, “There is no way in freaking hell that I'd read a book about cancer."  I mean, truly, it's painfully and incredibly obvious.

So then I offer up my caveat.  "But it's really funny!  And it's not really about cancer, it's more about a young woman's journey to self-discovery, and the cancer is just the catalyst."

They nod their heads and look at me unconvinced.  You're probably reading this and thinking the same thing.  Yeah, right.

So let me rewind and explain how I got here.  Over two years ago, I lost one of my closest friends to breast cancer.  She was 31, a mother to a three-month old at the time of her diagnosis, and one of the most vibrant and tenacious women I'd known.  Her diagnosis was shocking, swift and brutal, and six months later, she passed away.  It all happened so suddenly that I literally barely had time to register that she was sick, much less gone.  Even today, I still sometimes think that I see her on the street or forget entirely that I can't call her or email her to share some news.

(Ahem, I know.  You're wondering, when does this get funny?  Hang in there.)

After the funeral, I didn't know where to put my grief. I mean, how do you box up the devastation of the most painful experience of your lifetime? Where do you put it? How do you move forward? The answer is, or at least, my answer was, to write.

A month or so after her funeral, I woke up one morning with a vision of a character who would soon become my protagonist, Natalie. She was a ferocious 30-year old whose cancer diagnosis would throw her world on end but ultimately, wouldn’t beat her. And so, I sat down in front of my computer and wrote. And wrote and wrote and wrote. Until three months later, not only did I have a completed manuscript, I'd also wrestled with a good amount of my grief. Which brings me to the funny.

As I was writing, it became clear that I was using the book as a tool for healing, and because of this, never once did it occur to me to drag the prose or the plot down in maudlin, heavy-handed themes. Because, come on, as anyone who has ever been touched by cancer knows, the last thing you need in this situation is something else to remind you of the horror of the experience. So instead, I placed Natalie in humorous situations (her first experiences smoking pot, her increasing obsession with The Price is Right, her top 5 list of celebrities she wants to sleep with), and showed (I hope) that you can keep your sense of humor (and your sense of life) even while battling this insidious disease.

Since The Department of Lost and Found has come out, I've received notes from a variety of people whose lives (for better or worse) have been affected by cancer, and nearly all of them have told me that the book has helped them heal in some way. And most of them delighted in the fact that while I still took the time to highlight the difficulties that cancer can wreak, both physically and emotionally, I also made the point that it doesn't have to break your spirit. And that, in fact, it can even bolster it.

So to cancer I say, screw you. If I can eke a laugh out of the disease, then I'm certain that it's not unbeatable. A cure can't be too far behind.

(c) Allison Winn Scotch 2007

Related: Cancer Vixen

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Guest blogs, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (6)

July 18, 2007 4:38 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich

I've read all of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books as they've each come out, but I'm now re-reading them as part of my big book clear-out. Yes, I'm attempting to get rid of most of my books and, since the Evanovich books are widely available in libraries if I ever got the urge to re-read any of them again (re-re-read?) they're going to be among the first to go.

Two for the Dough, like all of Evanovich's books, has a rather convoluted plot which, if I'm honest, I didn't really bother to follow. I tend to just go along for the ride, enjoy the flirting and the banter and not worry about the crime until it all works out in the end. Is that wrong?

Basically, Stephanie is on the trail of Kenny Mancuso has gone missing following the murder of one of his friends. At the same time, another friend, Spiro Stiva, who is looking after Stiva's Funeral Parlour while his stepfather Constantine is in hospital recovering from a herniated disk, asks Stephanie to try and find 24 coffins that he bought on the cheap and then ... misplaced.

Mancuso is a cousin of Joe Morelli's, so Joe has personal and professional reasons (Joe's a cop) to want to find Mancuso and when he learns that Mancuso has been harassing Stephanie, he starts hanging around. Both to protect her and because Stephanie tends to attract trouble and is likely to lead the police to Mancuso.

The early Plum books are a bit more serious and less slapstick than later books, I think. (Then again, Stephanie does fall off a fire escape and land in dog mess, so I might be wrong about that.) But apart from that everything is in place. The sexual tension with gorgeous Joe Morelli (those of you who'd choose Ranger over Joe are just plain weird - actually, there's barely any Ranger in this book), Grandma Mazur at her crazy best and, of course, Stephanie is funny and charming.

If you've never read any Stephanie Plum books, I envy you. You've got a treat in store.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Posted by Keris on July 18, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 17, 2007 4:22 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Tuesday Erotica Club by Lisa Beth Kovetz

Four women from very different backgrounds form an unlikely writers' alliance in Lisa Beth Kovetz's debut novel, The Tuesday Erotica Club.

All have different jobs at a New York law firm when newly-pregnant Aimee decides to start a weekly writing group, which quickly becomes a weekly erotic writing group. Her friend Brooke is quick to join, as is older associate Margot, who has a reputation for being a bit scary. Secretary Lux is a latecomer to the group and with her distinct lack of writing skills, wildly coloured clothing and hair and tough attitude, isn't a welcome addition.  But she doesn't care. As the group becomes a regular fixture for all four women, all of their lives begin to change in dramatic ways and Aimee, Brooke, Margot and Lux realise they need each other's support more than they ever could have guessed...

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. Unlike some other books I've read recently (e.g. this one), when the chapters alternated viewpoints, I didn't find it hard to keep them separate at all. And all the women became sympathetic characters by the end of the book, even the ones who didn't start out that way!

I just have two slight reservations: I felt that the character of Lux was maybe a little too naive at times, and I felt that maybe we didn't need to read quite so much erotica (I know, the clue was in the title!) - sex may sell, but this book doesn't need any gimmicks to keep readers hooked.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 17, 2007 in American Authors, Bonkbusters, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

BOOK NEWS: You Never Call! You Never Write!

I may not be Jewish or have a Jewish mother (I guess those two things tend to come together) but I still think this book looks like fun.

You Never Call! You Never Write! promises to be "A mixture of stereotypes, culture and fable... told earnestly and humorously by Joyce Antler."

More information here.

Book news archives | Non fiction archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 17, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

TUESDAY THREE: Arty farty

As you can tell from the heading, I’m very cultured, so I thought I’d focus this week on three books set in the art world.

Alison Pace’s debut, If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend, features gallery manager Jane Laine, who is sent on a five-month international art fair tour with British artist, Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons. Unimpressed with his art, Jane thinks Ian's a fraud and isn't impressed with the assignment either. In fact, Ian makes Jane nervous, but, as they travel to London, Rome, Chicago, Santa Fe, she finds that there's much more to Ian - and to his art - than she originally thought. Can you guess what's going to happen?

Jennifer Crusie’s Faking It is the story of struggling artist Tilda Goodnight and her family. She's not struggling in the usual sense of starving in a garret - rather she's struggling to keep her artistic and personal integrity in the face of family pressures. She desperately needs cash to pay the mortgage on the family art gallery so she's selling her soul copying famous paintings onto rich people's walls- but has a basement full of art that she can't sell for mysterious reasons.

When her niece accidentally sells one of the forbidden artworks, things seem to be getting worse and worse. Tilda's bored, tired and put upon, so the last thing she needs is to bump into Davy Dempsey in a darkened cupboard when they're both trying to steal the same painting. Things get even more complicated as Tilda and Davy's paths keep crossing, and she becomes suspicious of his motives- is he trying to discover her dark secrets? Is he hiding something of his own? Are they really attracted to each other- or is one of them faking it?

In Zoe Rice’s Pick Me Up, Izzy works in an art gallery, has a glamorous PR best friend, wonderful clients and a cat named Robbie (after Robbie Williams, no less). She's happy with her life until the gallery's benefactor drops dead, her fabulous boss takes a job on the other side of the country and she's landed with an artist who seems not to be able to stand her .. most of the time.

Posted by Keris on July 17, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 16, 2007 4:40 PM

Hmm... looks like Janet Evanovich collaborative novel is off, for now. Boo!

After telling a rather complicated tale of rumours and suspicions, Galleycat revealed today that the Jenny Crusie/Bob Mayer-esque collaboration between Janet Evanovich and Stephen Cannell has fallen into trouble.

Said Janet to the 'cats, "Steve [Cannell] and I ran into scheduling problems. We still have an active partnership but the project is on hold right now. As of right now we haven't a publishing date."

But not to worry, as a self-proclaimed workaholic, I'm sure she'll bounce back with another book before long!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 16, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel

I was a bit wary about reading Mating in Captivity. For a start, it's called Mating in Captivity. And its subtitle is Sex, Lies and Domestic Bliss (that's in the UK; the US subtitle was Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic). But it's actually a surprisingly readable and insightful look at sex in long-term relationships.

The author, Esther Perel's contention is that we need to look at sex in long-term relationships in a different way. She suggests that everything we've come to prize in relationships - equality, tenderness, honesty - is at odds with what we look for in sex (i.e. passion, eroticism and, you know, muckiness).

The quote on the back from the Sunday Times says, "Enormous fun," which I thought was a bit odd for a book on this subject, but it is very enjoyable and an easy read. Using case studies and anecdotal evidence, Perel looks at a number of different relationships and scenarios and her arguments are entirely convincing.

Whether out of nosiness or just because they were the more entertaining bits, I enjoyed the case studies more than Perel's analysis, but the entire book is entertaining and informative.

Much like John Gray's Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, Mating in Captivity could change the way couples look at each other and relationships. Recommended.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Women Who Think Too Much by Dr Susan Nolen Hoeksema

Posted by Keris on July 16, 2007 in American Authors, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Self development | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 13, 2007 6:03 PM

BOOK NEWS: 'Style from A to Zoe' by a stylist to the stars

I may be a little fashionably-challenged at times, but we do love our fashion lit here at Trashionista, so we were interested to hear that Rachel Zoe, controversial stylist to the stars, is set to put her pen to paper. I say 'controversial' because she's been accused of pushing Nicole Ritchie to lose stupid amounts of weight (which she denied). I also say controversial because the young stars she dresses (including Lindsay Lohan and Misha Barton) tend to have real 'love them or hate them' wardrobes.

Anyway, whether you love her style or aren't really bothered, her book Style from A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour will be out in October.

[Via our fabulous sister site Catwalk Queen].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (4)

Armistead Maupin on Open Book

Earlier this week I was oh so lucky enough to meet one of my favourite authors of all time, Armistead Maupin, when he came to my local Waterstone's to talk about his latest book, Michael Tolliver Lives.

He was charming, funny and all-round delightful and I'd recommend you go and see him if you get the chance (the dates on his site say tonight's his last appearance, but I know he's doing more, so check back if you want to catch him), but just in case he's not coming to a bookshop near you, you can listen to his interview with Radio 4's Open Book show here.

While I'm on the subject, can we just take a moment to bask in the gorgeousness of the new US cover of  Tales of the City (left) and compare it with the new UK cover (right), which I do not like at all.

Posted by Keris on July 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 12, 2007 2:43 PM

And now for "Eco chick lit"

Our ethical consumerism sister site, Hippyshopper, has discovered yet another chick lit subgenre: Eco chick lit.

MaryJanice Davidson's Sleeping With the Fishes features Fred the mermaid, a marine biologist investigating pollution in Boston Bay, aided and abetted by a sexy merman (or as he prefers to be called a "Prince of the Undersea Folk") and an equally attractive fellow marine biologist.

We've already features Aimee Ferris's Girl Overboard, which has a similar marine ecology theme. Anyone know of any others?

Related posts: Undead and Unwed review | Assistant Lit | Model Lit?

Posted by Keris on July 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Serious Kiss by Mary Hogan

The first thing I want to say about Mary Hogan's young adult novel The Serious Kiss is that the cover is so wrong for the book. The cover made me think it was a historical novel, set maybe in the 19th Century, perhaps about a girl who worked in vaudeville. It made me think of (adult) novels like Angela Carter's Wise Children or Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters.

So if it's not a Victorian vaudeville novel, what is it? It's the story of Libby who lives in a rundown house with her rundown family. Her father's alcoholic, her mother's overweight. With her best friend, Nadine, Libby comes up with a plan to have a serious kiss - a "totally real, sincere, meaningful, soulful, poetic, inspiring, knee-buckling, love-filled, journal-worthy, insomnia-producing, appetite-reducing, mind-blowing, life-changing, unforgettable, undeniable, serious kiss". She's just starting to get close to Zack Nash when her parents drop a bombshell - they're moving to a different town.

And that's not all. Not only do they move to Barstow, a one horse town in the middle of the desert (I've been there; I would *not* want to live there), but they're moving into a trailer park, where the grandmother they never knew they had lives. As Libby starts school, humiliation piles on humiliation until something's got to give.

At the start I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book. Libby seems a little too obsessed with not gaining weight and with her mother's obesity and, though I know teenage girls do worry about that, making it such a big part of a book only perpetuates the problem, in my opinion. But as I read on, I started to understand and sympathise with Libby and I ended up really enjoying it.

I do think that once the family arrived in Barstow things changed a little too quickly and the resolutions were just a bit too easy, but it's an interesting read that tackles some interesting issues.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Holes by Louis Sachar

Posted by Keris on July 12, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

MOVIE NEWS: Evening

I must admit I hadn't heard of the book Evening by Susan Minot before I saw adverts for the film. But the ads definitely caught my eye: this new adaptation of Minot's book stars Claire Danes, Toni Colette, Meryl Streep and Glenn Close, among others! According to the film's website, it's about a mother-daughter relationship... which I'm guessing doesn't always go smoothly (or else why make a film about it?!)

No news on a UK release date yet but we'll keep you posted.

Movie news archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 11, 2007 4:21 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Last week, the film and literary worlds were all-a-flutter with the news that Sex and the City is to be made into a movie - after years and years of rumours and speculation it is (apparently) really going to happen. I guess Kim Cattrall decided to just grit her teeth and make nice with SJP... or something. (I'm just speculating, that's not libel!) Anyhoo, what I want to know this week is whether you think it's a good idea.

Should a good thing be left well enough alone? Or are you chomping at the bit to find out what happened next for Carrie and co.? Do TV series ever make good films - if not, will this be the exception? And if you are keen on the idea, what should happen next? (Hey, you never know who might be reading!)

In other words: SATC - the movie: 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!]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Television, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (9)

BOOK REVIEW: A Dangerous Dress by Julia Holden

First of all, can I just say how much I love the cover of Julia Holden's debut novel, A Dangerous Dress? It perfectly captures the mood of the book (and of the dress that's the star of the show). We often compare the US and UK covers, and this is one time when (I think) the UK version is definitely superior. (Here's the original US version - what do you think?)

But what is the book like, you're wanting to know! Well, it's about a dress. Yes, really. Jane is a bored bank worker in the town of Bum****, Indiana (not its real name, but that's what everyone calls it 'cos its so boring). One day, she's contacted out of the blue by a film company who read an essay she wrote in university about the glamorous Parisian gown she found among her late grandmother's belongings. In the essay, she speculated about who might have designed it and where her grandma may have worn it, and talked about its wonderful design.

The film's production crew read her passionate essay and think she's just the person to track down a similar dress for their movie, so Jane packs her bags, hurriedly arranges a passport and catches a plane to Paris to work on a film and follow in her grandmother's footsteps... Love, excitement and glamour await her - or do they?

Well, she certainly has an interesting and exciting time, but it's a bit of a bumpy ride and things don't turn out as Jane expects ( wouldn't make a good book if they did!)

When I think about the plot of this book in retrospect, it seems a little silly but it has a fairytale-like quality that means you have to suspend disbelief as it's fairly unlikely the events of the book would take place in real life and a lot of the plot is based on coincidences and chance. But it's all so charming that I was completely absorbed in the story and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I absolutely raced through it and found Jane a charming, if naive, narrator. (A bit YA-ish if I'm honest). I was a little bit disappointed that the end didn't quite tie up all the loose ends, but a sequel would be great and I'll definitely read more by this talented new author.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Venus Envy by Shannon McKelden.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 11, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (7)

COMPETITION: Emily Giffin's Baby Proof giveaway

Yes, another competition. We're competition mad here at Trashionista! (More about that early next week. I don't want to give anything away, but throughout the summer we're going to be running a weekly competition ... d'oh. I gave it away.)

So we've six copies of the US version of Emily Giffin's Baby Proof (look at the beautiful cover!) for, um, six of you to win.

The question: Emily Giffin's first book, Something Borrowed, was the story of Rachel, who nicks her best friend Darcy's fiance, Dex. Giffin's second book is Darcy's side of the story - name that book!

Just in case that was a bit complicated - the question is: what's the title of Emily Giffin's second book?

Just email us the answer along with your name and address. UK entrants only unfortunately and the closing date is the 31st July (2007). Good luck!

Posted by Keris on July 11, 2007 in American Authors, Competition | Permalink | Comments (7)

July 10, 2007 4:20 PM

Nora Ephron on the six stages of email

The brilliant Ms Ephron has written a great article in the New York Times about the six stages of email, from infatuation to... well, you'll have to read it to find out.

Don't tell me you don't relate! (I know I do).

More tech-related news and gossip for girls (and boys!) at our sister site, Shiny Shiny.

Related posts: Review: Heartburn | Review: I Feel Bad About My Neck

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 10, 2007 in American Authors, Opinion, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gloria Steinem on chick lit

Journalist and feminist icon Gloria Steinem's article for AlterNet entitled "In Defense of the 'Chick Flick'" also included some excellent comments on chick lit:

"... if you think back to your school days, much of what you were assigned as great literature could have been dismissed as "chick lit." Indeed, the books you read probably only survived because they were written by famous guys.

Read the rest of her comments over the cut.

"Think about it: If Anna Karenina had been written by Leah Tolstoy, or The Scarlet Letter by Nancy Hawthorne, or Madame Bovary by Greta Flaubert, or A Doll's House by Henrietta Ibsen, or The Glass Menagerie by (a female) Tennessee Williams, would they have been hailed as universal? Suppose Shakespeare had really been The Dark Lady some people supposed. I bet most of her plays and all of her sonnets would have been dismissed as some Elizabethan version of ye olde "chick lit," only to be resurrected centuries later by stubborn feminist scholars."

And this is my favourite bit:

"Indeed, as long men are taken seriously when they write about the female half of the world -- and women aren't taken seriously when writing about themselves much less about men or male affairs -- the list of Great Authors will be more about power than about talent."

Related posts: Chick lit is a feminist issue | Marian Keyes on The Weekender | In praise of chick lit (at last!)

[via After Ellen]

Posted by Keris on July 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

We've reviewed two Adriana Trigiani books at Trashionista. Lucia, Lucia, I absolutely loved. Queen of the Big Time, Diane didn't enjoy at all. I adored Trigiani's Big Stone Gap trilogy so could hardly wait to read Home to Big Stone Gap, but, sadly, I was terribly disappointed.

Ave Maria and Jack's daughter Etta has married young and settled in Italy. Jack's health is poor and Ave Maria thinks she's seen their son, who died aged 4, walking in the woods behind their house. Plus Ave Maria learns a secret about her best friend Iva Lou that causes a rift between them.

As I started reading Home to Big Stone Gap, I found it quite comforting to return to these much-loved characters, but as I read on... well, I was bored. I recently read and loved Michael Tolliver Lives - a sort of continuation of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series after a break of 20 years - so why didn't I enjoy Home to Big Stone Gap? Perhaps there hasn't been enough of a gap (ha!) since the end of the trilogy for me to be happy just to spend time with the characters. I wanted a story and I didn't really get one.

There were a number of plot lines, but none of them were fleshed out (and they were slight to begin with). We don't really get to the bottom of Ave Maria's disapproval of Etta's marriage. When Ave Maria thinks Jack is dying she finds a list he's written of things he still  has to deal with - there is what appears to be a bombshell on this list and obviously I can't say what it is without spoiling things, but I found it a total cop-out. And manipulative, to boot.

The thing that really surprised me was the bad writing. Not all the way through, but there were a few sentences that involved one of my writing pet hates: exposition as dialogue:

"He wasn't four years old, like when he died, but older. Like twenty." I'd assume Ave's husband knows how old their son was when he died.

"... I'm named for my grandmother, who was a seamstress  - and Grandma Mac was also a good one ..." says Etta to her mother, who, I'd guess, already knows who she was named for!

"... I was trained by the master. Shorty Johnson spent the better part of her life in the kitchen. What with her sons, Roy and Shep, hungry around the clock, she mastered the great Southern dishes, that's for sure." Who talks like that?!

But that's not all. The last few chapters are deathly dull and riddled with factual errors (I could go into more detail, but, again, I don't want to give anything away - although, if you're desperate to know, one of the reviews on Amazon'll help). And there's another massive error in the middle of the book that I can't believe got past the amount of people who've read this book before it got to print!

Honestly, I can't tell you how disappointed I was with this book. When Diane gave Queen of the Big Time 1/5 I was shocked. Diane said, "I think the reason I felt so strongly is I know she can do so much better...I flirted with a 2, but she made me mad!" Home to Big Stone Gap made me mad too. Since I couldn't even finish another of Trigiani's books, Rococo, I'm wondering if she no longer cares enough to do better.

Rating: 1/5

Like this? Well if you like this, you might like Queen of the Big Time! But read Lucia, Lucia, it's so much better.

Posted by Keris on July 10, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 1/5, Recent Release, Rubbish Books, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 9, 2007 10:30 AM

Megan Crane explains... The Concept of the "Frenemy"

Keris loved Megan Crane's new book, Frenemies... but what exactly is a "frenemy"?

The author explains...

The Concept of The Frenemy

I was suspended somewhere at 35,000 feet, on a flight from New York to Los Angeles, when I decided that I wanted to divorce all my friends. I didn't arrive at this decision lightly. The fact was, I loved my friends. I just kind of wanted to kill them all with my bare hands.

The feeling passed (perhaps it was brought on by the in-flight entertainment, or stale pretzels) but I revisited it many times as I set about writing my third book. The concept of the frenemy was something I had thought about quite a lot over the years. While I imagine men must have them too, I'm not so sure they have the kind of frenemy women do. My friends (yes, the ones I occasionally wanted to legally separate from, because I enjoy complicated relationships) and I had so much experience with various versions of this phenomenon that we gave our frenemies a name long before we heard the term "frenemy" on Sex & the City: that girl.

That girl was the one who, when you were young and didn't know any better, you admired ferociously with that specific female-only blend of anger and envy. Because really it wasn't about whether or not you liked her. You hated her. You wanted to be her. Usually all at the same time.

As you grew older, you realized that the very traits that made her that girl were the traits you identified in women you would never be close to the moment you met them. These women, simply, violated the Girl Code. Maybe they were overly-familiar with someone else's partner. Or they seemed unable to perform even the most basic steps of female intimacy rituals. A normal woman might say, "he's a complete loser" or "what are you talking about, you look hipless in those jeans." That girl was more likely to say things like, "he's not your type at all, he's all about the perfect girl, you know, who dresses well and is a size four" or "the thing about style is that not everyone looks good in the trendiest things."

(Just let them sink in. Ouch, right?)

Some other that girl 'tells': They hung out exclusively with men and were conversant on the latest sports statistics and couldn't believe other girls were so annoying about the sports thing. They failed to understand— or worse, refused to understand— about shoes. They maintained that PMS was a fairy tale and said things like it's all in your head or chocolate is such a myth, you should try a three-mile run. Meanwhile, when it suited them, they could become so helpless and afraid and trembling that they could scarcely make it up a flight of three stairs without the assistance of a big, strong, preferably handsome male.

Men, naturally, failed to see the atrocities committed by such women. "That girl is so cool," they would say. "She's just like one of the guys." Or, "I don't know why you can't be nicer to her, she's just lonely and insecure." Yeah, right. About as lonely and insecure as, say, Angelina Jolie.

I thought the very least I could do, as a sort of penance for secretly wishing to divorce my friends, was to write a book that uncovered the perfidy of that girl.

Which I did, only to make a startling realization. We were all that girl to the women who dislike us. And I suspect that many of us have been a frenemy, too. More often than any of us would like to admit.

Copyright (c) 2007 by Megan Crane. Reprinted by permission of Hachette Book Group USA, New York, NY. All rights reserved.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 6, 2007 11:11 AM

MOVIE NEWS: Sex and the City

Woo! And indeed hoo!

According to IMDb, the long-awaited Sex and the City TV movie will start shooting this autumn.

All four of the original women have signed up: Kim Cattrall, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis and the film will be directed by the show's longtime director Michael Patrick King, based on a new script he's written.

Related posts: Reading Sex and the City's Samantha | Thursday Three: Bridget, meet Carrie | Love Walked In review

Posted by Keris on July 6, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News, Television | Permalink | Comments (7)

BOOK REVIEW: Good Girls by Laura Ruby

The back cover of Laura Ruby's Good Girls claims it's a Forever for the 21st Century. What is it with Forever these days? Everyone's Judy Blume obsessed!

The premise of Laura Ruby's teen debut Good Girls is brilliant. At a party, Honours student Audrey decided to break up with her sort-of boyfriend by giving him something to remember her by. Unfortunately, someone takes a picture of her in the act and soon it's emailed around the school and even her parents have seen it.

I was worried that it might be a bit sensationalist. You know, the shocking things teens get up to with their loose morals and modern technology - but it wasn't like that at all. In fact, it was completely brilliant. One of the best books I've read for ages. (I'm constantly thrilled by how great YA books are.)

Following the photo, Audrey learns about friendship, relationships, self-worth and judging people. It made me cry and left me with a daft smile on my face. Yes, it's probably a bit more "adult" than Forever (although it's a long time since I've read Forever, so I couldn't be sure) but teens are a lot more "adult" than they were 20 years ago, aren't they?

When I got to the end, I wanted to go back and start reading it again (and there's only one other book that's made me want to do that).

Like Tanya Lee Stone's A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl, Good Girls is an important book and one that teens should read and pass around (yes, even to their parents).

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try  I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Posted by Keris on July 6, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)

July 5, 2007 3:47 PM

BOOK NEWS: Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books

I've just read that Sarah Wendell and Lay-Ping “Candy” Tan of the very funny and very popular Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books blog, have signed a deal to write a book based on the blog. In other words "a funny, somewhat bitchy and adoring look at the world of romance novels." [via Dear Author.Com]

Sounds great. Diane and I will be cutting and pasting printouts to make our own Trashionista annual. Probably.

Book news archives

Posted by Keris on July 5, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jill Smolinski

Earlier this week I told you just how much I enjoyed Jill Smolinski's second novel, The Next Thing on My List (pretty cover too, don't you think?) and now here's our interview with the lady herself...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

June Parker is trying to complete a life list for a friend who died before she had a chance to finish it herself.

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

I wander around the house writing on my laptop.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes - for that matter, ANYTHING by Marian Keyes.

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

Elizabeth from Pride & Prejudice - which I know isn't typically thought of as chick lit, but since it was the inspiration for Bridget Jones's Diary, I personally consider it the grandmama of the genre.

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

Just sit down and write. On a first draft, don't worry about whether it's any good - it's probably not. That's what second drafts are for. It can be helpful to get feedback as you go, but choose your readers carefully. Giving your precious pages to someone who is frustrated at their own inability to write is like handing them a loaded gun ... pointed right at you. Most of all, don't stress it. Along the way, you'll probably feel doubt. You'll feel like you're writing the worst thing ever written. It's normal. Take a walk around the block, eat a cookie, eat two cookies if necessary, and get back to your writing.

What are you reading at the moment?

Gone with the Wind. Reading it was always on my "things to do before I die" list, but I didn't know it's more than 1,000 pages long. I'd better live a good long time if I hope to finish it.

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

Another novel and also a blog where I chronicle how I'm trying to do one thing every day that I've never done before.

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!)

I've never been asked if it was difficult choosing between being a writer and a supermodel. I don't know why.

Thanks Jill - and good luck with that list of your own!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 5, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (3)

July 4, 2007 4:57 PM

Jenny Crusie on book covers

Remember when I raved about the US cover of the Crusie collaboration, The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes? As it turned out, I was a bit previous and the US cover actually turned out to be pretty similar to the UK cover.

Last week, over on her fabulous blog, Argh Ink, Crusie related the journey that led to that gorgeous final cover. This week she's doing the same for her novel with Bob Mayer, Don't Look Down. It's fascinating (and funny, of course) reading.

Related: Jenny Crusie interview

Posted by Keris on July 4, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Be Mine by Laura Kasischke

Be Mine, the debut novel by poet Laura Kasischke, is a tricky one to review. For the first 150 or so pages I didn't think I'd be able to finish it - not only did it drag, but it was also chock-full of pretentious and rather amateurish symbolism. I lost count of the blood, the rose petals, and the numerous dead animals (seriously, there were rabbits, squirrels, deer, birds and more). But once I got further on in the book, I found that I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day.

"Be Mine" is what's written on a note left in teacher Sherry Seymour's locker on Valentine's Day. She has no idea who it's from, but when the first note is followed by other, more verbose, messages, she starts asking around. She knows it's not her husband of 20 years and he seems as intrigued by the notes as she is. When she bumps into a former friend of her son (who has recently left home to attend college on the other side of the country), she invites him for dinner and he suggests the notes' author may be Bram Smith, the school's sexy auto teacher.

Both Sherry and her husband are excited by this idea and, with her husband's encouragement, Sherry embarks on an affair with Smith. And then, inevitably, things go horribly wrong.

As I said, I was absolutely gripped by Be Mine. I found it well-written (mostly), thrilling, thought-provoking, exciting and erotic, but at the same time there were a number of plot twists that I totally didn't buy at all (the kind of thing that would have had me throwing other books across the room).

Think of it as a film that doesn't really hold together, but is diverting and entertaining all the same.

Rating: 3/5 (2 for the symbolism and plotting + 4 for the excitement and writing = 3!)

Like this? Try Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

Posted by Keris on July 4, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 3, 2007 1:27 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski

As soon as I heard the concept of Jill Smolinski's The Next Thing on my List, I was hooked:

June Parker's life is plodding along nicely (or so she thinks) when she has a car accident on the way home from a Weight Watchers meeting (she just has one or two pounds to shift, you see). Her passenger, Marissa, who she barely knows, tragically dies, and June finds in her possessions a list, entitled “20 Things to Do By My 25th Birthday.”

Full of guilt over her Marissa's death, June decides to take on the challenge of completing the list in her memory...

But it's not easy: some of the things on the list are pretty challenging "Change someone's life", for example. Others, like "make Buddy Fitch pay" are simply puzzling - who is this mysterious Fitch man, and what does he need to pay for, exactly? And how?!

Still, June is committed to her task, and with just a few months to go before Marissa's birthday, she speeds into action to finish the 18 items on the list that Marissa didn't get round to - finding her own life is totally transformed in the process.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a fun, entertaining read with some depth to it, too. And its message, that we should all dare to do the things we want to do (but are scared of) before its too late may not be a new one, but it's presented in a throughly readable, endearing way. I recommend you read it!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Twenty Times a Lady by Karyn Bosnak.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Discover the New You with Kiss and Makeup's book giveaway!

Not content with giving you books for free here on Trashionista, our sister site Kiss and Makeup is in on the action too: they have 3 copies of beauty bible Discover The New You by Ceril Campbell to give away.

Says KAMU editor Charlotte: "Although beauty junkies will probably know about most of the book's product recommendations, everyone can benefit another of her tips: remember to smile! Those who aren't so handy with a make up brush will appreciate the plethora of information on all aspects of beauty - from applying false lashes to choosing a hairstyle for your face shape."

Sounds good! (Chuck me a copy, someone...)

Click here for details on how to enter.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 3, 2007 in American Authors, Announcements, Book related, Competition, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (4)

TUESDAY THREE: Overboard!

When Diane mentioned the other day that we’d recently featured a couple of books with the word “Overboard” in the title, my Tuesday 3 radar went ping! (Tuesday 3 radar, £2.99, Argos. Probably.) So grab your life jacket as I splash out on three very different overboard books!

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.

The story chronicles the week aboard the 'Josiah T Savage' and then the aftermath, as the season draws to a close and everyone moves back onto dry land. Ivan struggles to regain his landlegs, and has to restrain himself as Stephanie refuses to return any of the approaches he makes. And then supernatural things begin to happen... what's haunting the house?

Sarah Smiley’s Going Overboard is subtitled "The misadventures of a military wife." It's a memoir of a year in the life of Sarah, whose husband Dustin is in the navy and, in this perilous political climate, often abroad in rather dangerous situations. Which means that Sarah is home alone with their two young boys, alternately worrying herself sick and cursing her husband for having joined up in the first place.

Aimee Ferris’s debut YA novel Girl Overboard focusses on the aptly-named Marina, whose ambition is to be a Marine Biologist. Leaving her ski-loving boyfriend behind in Vermont, Marina sets out on a six-week study tour of the Caribbean, where she'll be given the opportunity to swim with and learn about sharks, turtles and dolphins. Along with the inevitable teen angst and snogging, there's a message about ecology and endangered species making Girl Overboard as educational as it is entertaining.

Posted by Keris on July 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Non Fiction, Romance, Tuesday Three, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

July 2, 2007 11:56 AM

YA star Megan McCafferty invites you to create a trailer

Big fan of (famously plagiarised) YA chick lit author Megan McCafferty?

Why not show your love by entering her contest to make a trailer recapping the plots of the first 3 novels in her famous Jessica Darling series (so that's Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, and Charmed Thirds). The trailer should be 3 minutes or less, and Megan will blog about entries as they come in, before picking her favourite - the creator of which will win a bag full of signed books.

So why not give it a go? - You couldn't possibly do worse than this...

More details and how to enter here. [Via Galleycat].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine

Yep, I'm judging books by their covers again, but in combination with the title, who could possibly resist Cathleen Schine's latest?

Set on a quiet little city block near Manhattan’s Central Park, The New Yorkers is the story of a music teacher named Jody who falls under the spell of her neighbor’s dazzling smile one fateful day while she is out walking her beloved dog, Beatrice. But the object of Jody’s newfound affection becomes smitten with a younger woman - whose youthful pup wins his heart as well. [via BookReporter]

Dogs and New York? I'm so there. 

Posted by Keris on July 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related | Permalink | Comments (1)

MORE ON MONDAY: Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin

I love Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series more than any other books. Not only are they funny, shocking, entertaining, moving, thrilling, they (along with Barry Manilow albums ... what?) got me through a very difficult time in my life. I reread them periodically and, though I'll never enjoy them as much as the first time, they're still fabulous, brilliantly-written novels.

So when I heard Armistead Maupin had, after 20 years, written another book that, while supposedly not a continuation of the series, featured its main character, Michael "Mouse" Tolliver, I had mixed feelings. While I was desperate to know how things had turned out for Michael (and perhaps pick up some clues about the other characters too), I was worried it might disappoint. I should have known better.

Now in his sixties (how can that be?), Michael works as a gardener and is blissfully happy with his much younger husband (they married at City Hall on the day civil partnerships became legal), Ben. Still living in San Francisco (of course), he remains close friends with Brian and - and this made me blissfully happy - Mrs Madrigal.

Apart from the fact that Michael's mother is dying, leading him to return to his childhood home of Orlando, Florida and discover a shocking family secret, very little happens, but it didn't need to. I was surprised at how emotional I found it meeting these characters again. I know it's a cliche, but it really was like catching up with old friends. I hadn't realised I'd missed these people so much. It was so wonderful spending time with them again.

The only problem I found was that I kept confusing Michael with the author. Perhaps because I know some of the experiences Maupin gave Michael were actually based on his own (as they were in the originally series, but I didn't know that then), but I did keep having to force my brain to picture an older Michael rather than Armistead Maupin. Funnily enough, each time I did it, it gave me a little sigh of pleasure and recognition.

I've read a couple of reviews that claim Michael Tolliver Lives is pointless and I suppose it is ... unless you love the Tales of the City books. I have no idea whether it would stand up as a novel on its own - it's impossible for me to separate it from the series - but I don't care. I loved it. After this, I'll be reading the Tales books again and then I'd like some more please, Mr Maupin. And don't wait 20 years either.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Tales of the City, of course!

Posted by Keris on July 2, 2007 in American Authors, Modern Fiction, More On Monday, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (4)

June 29, 2007 5:34 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Who doesn't love a bit of Marilyn Monroe on a Friday afternoon? (Or anytime, in fact!?) I know our ed-in-chief Gemma is a big fan (if you ask nicely she might show you the pics of her dressed as Lorelei, Marilyn's character in this film... or she might not! Sorry, Gemma...)

Anyway! In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn and Jane Russell (Dorothy, the sensible brunette - of course) go on a cruise to have fun and meet men, and succeed in doing both, though not without the odd scrape along the way, and of course, they have to sing as they go...

It's not the best movie starring either of these iconic actresses, but it is a bit of fun, and based on Anita Loos's cult classic novel. It also features "Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend", a number that's dazzling in more ways than one... (and was the inspiration for Madonna's Material Girl video, of course).

Carry on over the cut for a clip!

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Cult classic week, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York by Gail Parent

I'd wanted to read Gail Parent's 1972 novel Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York for some time, ever since Jennifer Weiner classed it as her favourite chick lit novel on her blog, in fact. It could certainly be called a cult classic: those who know of it seem to love it, but it's out-of-print (though available second-hand on Amazon) and pretty under-appreciated.

Our eponymous heroine Sheila has moved to New York after graduation and is pretty much living the Sex and the City dream: working, partying, young free and single... but she's desperately unhappy. Not only is she a touch chunky, she's - wait for it - she's single. The SHAME. And in fact, never having heard of feminism, she's so depressed by the fact that she has no hubby to take care of her, that she's planning her funeral already. For when she commits suicide. Yeah - that'll show 'em!

You might think that the storyline of the book is entirely satirical, and at first I thought so too - but then I read the quotes from reviews at the start of the book, calling it "real" and "sad but true", as if all single women in their twenties are so desperate for a man and kids that they'll kill themselves rather than get it. I can't imagine reading this book in the early 70s - I imagine the black comedic feel was probably a revelation back then but reading it in 2007 was a strange experience and I found I didn't relate to the novel at all. Sheila is too self-deprecating to be releatable and the only sad thing here is how much she hates herself.

Rather than the chick lit novel I expected, Sheila Levine's sense of humour is re-he-ally dark. There's no denying this book is funny and that Gail Parent is a very talented writer with a quick wit. But I wish she'd put it to another use instead and never even suggested that women of her era felt this way.

I expected a good laugh, an interesting plot and a dash of nostalgia. I was disappointed: I got a character who hated herself for no good reason and a book that left me with a bit of a nasty taste in my mouth.

Mainly for the quality of Parent's writing, I'd give it..

Rating: 3 out of 5

But I'd rather read a Weiner!

Like this? Try Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher or Girl, Interrupted.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Cult classic week, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Fabulous Little Black Dress competition!

Not only is it cult classic week, not only is it a year since Keris and I started at Trashionista, it's a year since the fabulous chick lit publishing imprint Little Black Dress came into existence! Such perfect synchronicity warrants a giveaway don't you think?

We do, too! That's why the lovely kind people at Little Black Dress are offering four Trashionista readers a wonderful prize: four readers will win a selection of five LBD titles.

It's a mystery (ooh!) what you'll receive, but LBD books that we've loved include The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, Singletini , Pick Me Up and The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom, so we're sure there'll be something you'll enjoy.

To enter, simply email us the answer to this question: name one of the Little Black Dress books that we've loved. Put LBD in the subject line, and your name and address in the body of the email. Again, I'm afraid this is UK only. Good luck!

And don't forget our Bridget Jones's Diary giveaway too - she's been around a while, but she's still VERY worth (re)reading!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 29, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Competition, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

Jenny Crusie merchandise

Wow. Jenny Crusie's web presence is increasing every day. She's got numerous sites, forums and blogs and now her own merchandise range!

The range includes items to promote Jenny's next book with Bob Mayer, Agnes & the Hitman (the apron is from the Cranky Agnes Promos), Crusie Mayer Writing Workshop kit and Cherry Gear ("cherries" is the collective name for Jenny Crusie fans).

I love this apron ($16.99), not just because, as we know, Cranky Agnes looks like me, but also because I love the tagline for Agnes's Mob cooking book: "Leave the gun. Make the cannoli." Genius.

Related posts: Don't Look Down review | Jenny Crusie interview

Posted by Keris on June 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 28, 2007 1:47 PM

Underrated cult classics

You know those cult classics that a small band of people love and a lot of others haven't even heard of? Well I'm making it my duty today to share with you some well-loved books that deserve an even wider audience. They could all be described as chick lit, so don't let the fact that none of them were written in the last 50 years hold you back from picking one up and having a darn good read!

Carry on over the cut to see my selection (and suggest your own!)

In Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford. No-one can satirise the upper classes like Nancy Mitford, and this tongue-in-cheek portrayal of an eccentric aristocratic family during World War Two is very witty and unexpectedly moving - a brilliant read.

Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M Delafield. Before Bridget Jones and prior to mum-lit, the Provincial Lady kept a 1930s diary featuring her absent-minded husband, unruly children and her own shoddy housekeeping. Tongue in cheek and very well-written, don't let the perhaps stuffy-sounding title put you off, this is a great book (with lots of sequels if you really like it!)

The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy. This will disabuse you of the fact that the past was a much more innocent era, and fast.  Sally, the American heroine of Dundy's debut novel dies her hair pink, stays out all night drinking and smoking (and avoiding drugs) and generally living the debauched, bohemian lifestyle... in the 1950s. Fab, fun and definitely chick lit-ish, this is a great summer read that a LOT more people should have read.

What do you think?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 28, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Cult classic week | Permalink | Comments (8)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Maggie Leffler

Written during her medical residency, Maggie Leffler's book, The Diagnosis of Love, received a rave from no less than Elinor Lipman! Maggie answers our questions below. (Two author interviews this week - we're spoiling you!)

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

A young woman physician runs away to England to start her life over.

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

I love to write in coffee shops or sitting outside when the weather is nice, a rare thing in Pittsburgh.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank

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

Oh, that's a hard question, because there are so many to choose from! I love Sophie Applebaum, the main character in The Wonder Spot, and I also love Sophie Stanton, the main character in Good Grief [called Sophie's Bakery for the Broken-Hearted in the UK], because both women are strong, wise, hysterically funny and utterly recognizable.

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

Join a writers group if you can.  It's a great way to get feedback. And don't give up!

What are you reading at the moment?

The Whole World Over by Julia Glass.  I loved her first book Three Junes so much that I had to pick this up.

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

Another novel about two women who were in the "supporting cast" of The Diagnosis of Love.

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!)

After rewriting the same novel so many times over the course of seven years, did your family and close friends ever doubt that The Diagnosis of Love would be published? 

They may have doubted it, and I don't blame them!  But for the most part, everyone was supportive of the process, even as they agonized alongside me.

Thanks, Maggie.

Posted by Keris on June 28, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Size 14 is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot

Heather Wells is back! Finally! I would jump for joy - in public - but that'd just look silly. For those of you who don't already know (or those who are not fans of the fabulous Meg Cabot - if so, HOW COULD YOU NOT BE? Gawd!) Heather Wells is the heroine of Meg's Size 12 Is Not Fat and this brilliant sequel: Size 14 Is Not Fat Either.

Heather, former teen pop princess turned investigator, is back where she left off in Size 12..., at New York College, where she works as a dorm - sorry, residence hall - advisor for Fischer Hall. Dealing with irate freshmen with constant room-related problems is irritating at the best of times, but Heather still loves her job. Plus, working at the famed 'Death Dorm' owing to last year's murders (which, of course, Heather solved) will give her the chance to get the college degree she's always wanted.

Still secretly in love with private investigator housemate Cooper - older brother of her ex-finance, boyband star Jordan Cartwright - Heather is trying to the best of her ability to get him to notice her. Because surely it's about time he realised they'd be perfect together?

However, when the head of New York College's most well-loved cheerleader is found in a simmering pot in the school cafeteria, it's obvious that Death Dorm is back and Heather's personal life has to come second in her list of priorities. Nobody's safe in Fischer Hall until the killer is found - and with police not too bothered about working quickly to catch the culprit, there's only one thing that Heather can do.

She has to solve the case.

After all, there's no-one better for the job than someone who's dealt with students' constant whining on a personal level, right?

Unsurprisingly, Meg has blessed us with another must-read. Whereas I enjoyed the first in the Heather Wells series, this one is better. 29-year-old Heather's immature ways and unfortunate trait of talking like a tween (the only thing that annoyed me about the last one) seem to have died down a bit in this. It's fast-paced, funny, and never one to disappoint, Meg gets straight into the action within the first chapter.

For all of those who love a cute murder-mystery with a unique, fatty-food-loving heroine (I do!) then this one should be right at the top of your reading list. Of course, you should really read Size 12 first, but even if you don't, the story so far should be easy to catch up on.

The only downside to this book?

You won't want to put it down until the mystery's solved.

Please, Meg - we want some more!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try After Eight by Meg Cabot.

Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on June 28, 2007 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

June 27, 2007 5:59 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

You'll now no doubt all be aware of Tina Brown's book, The Diana Chronicles, released in time for the ten-year anniversary of Princess Diana's death. (Find out what The Guardian thought of it here).

So my question to you this week is simple: do you want to read it, or not? Is it an honourable tribute, or exploitation?

Do you care?!

Basically: 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!]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, New Releases, Non Fiction, Opinion, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (3)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jen Lancaster

I'm reading Jen Lancaster's first book, Bitter Is the New Black, on Diane's recommendation and I'm loving it. Jen's latest book is Bright Lights, Big Ass.

As this is Cult Classics Week, Jen's choice of favourite chick lit book fits in perfectly. Over to Jen:

Please describe your latest book in  15 words or fewer:

A humorous look at how NOT sexy-in-the-city urban life can be.

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

I used to write in bookstores and coffee shops, but due to our home’s gravity problem, I keep dropping my laptop computers and now it’s easier (and less expensive) to use a desktop.  It’s located in the alcove off my bedroom.  It’s convenient for my dogs so they can comfortably lie on the bed and stare directly into my soul while I try to write.  (Yeah, no pressure there.) 

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Hands-down, it’s Bridget Jones’s Diary.  I’ve read it no less than twenty times and it makes me laugh with each reading.  Helen Fielding was the first author to so neatly capture and immortalize the real life of post-collegiate, but not-yet-suburban women.  In one scene, Bridget works from home in order to be more productive and ends up taking a seven-hour nap, which made me wonder if Fielding had been spying on me. 

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

I love Bridget and also Becky Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series because they’re both so delightfully real with their foibles and imperfections.  (However, when I finally grow up, I want to be Patsy and/or Edina.) 

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

Write for yourself, not an audience.  That way, you know at least one person will be happy and what ever you put down will sound so much more genuine.  Also, writing is a muscle that gets stronger the more you exercise it – so do it as much as you can and I promise you’ll see results.

What are you reading at the moment?

I have three different books going at any one time.  Right now I’m in the middle of Mary Janice Davidson’s Undead and Uneasy, Laurie Notaro’s There’s a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell, and Christopher Buckley’s Boomsday.  Admittedly kind of a schizophrenic mix, but I’m enjoying all of them for their humor and distinctly different writer’s voices.

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

My next book comes out in May 2008 and it’s called Pretty Fat.  It’s a true story about trying to lose 50 pounds by every means possible (and despite rampant laziness and an inflated sense of self-worth.)  I’ve hated the process but am delighted with the results and hope readers are, too!
 
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!)

The question is: “Would you like to meet Vince Vaughn?”  And the answer is yes.  Yes, I would.

Thanks, Jen.

Posted by Keris on June 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Cult classic week, Interviews, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 26, 2007 7:46 PM

Karin Slaughter's knitting contest

We've talked about Knit Lit on Trashionista before, but crime author Karin Slaughter's taken it to a whole new (and creepy) level.

Having commissioned patterns for a Ted Bundy Knit Hat and a Jeffrey Dahmer Boiled Wool Book Bag, she's running a competition on her website for the best versions of each. Great prizes, but I think it's in pretty poor taste.

What do you think?

Related post: Karin Slaughter latest writer to get graphic with her next novel

Posted by Keris on June 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Competition, Crime / Mystery | Permalink | Comments (5)

TUESDAY THREE: Future classics

As you know, it's Cult Classics week at Trashionista this week (although it's slightly on hold since poor Diane currently has no electricity thanks to the inclement weather!) So for this week's Tuesday Three, I'm looking at future chick lit classics.

Since Jennifer Weiner is the chick lit author most likely to cross-over, her debut novel, Good In Bed, is destined to be a future classic. It's is the story of Cannie, who finds out her boyfriend Bruce has left her for another woman by reading about it in his new magazine column. Weiner's debut addresses issues of family, self-image and love in a way we hadn't seen in chick-lit before. Cannie isn't a Bridget Jones style diet-obsessive - she has phases where she's unhappy with her body, but generally she likes being a larger lady. And she is, we're assured, very good in bed...

Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper perhaps suffered a bit for being a Richard & Judy bookclub choice. While being picked by the twosome is a huge boost for earnings and profile, it pretty much guarantees you a critical mauling. Jodi Picoult's books, though, are brilliantly written, topical, moving and entertaining and surely this will be recognised at some point in the future.

Thirteen year-old Anna is a human pincushion, who's been through countless invasive surgeries and blood transfusions to help save her sister Kate, who has leukaemia. She was never given a choice in this - in fact she was born for this very purpose. But now she's had enough. She's taking her parents to court to ask that they stop harvesting her body to help her sister. As you can imagine, this tears an already disparate (and desperate) family apart...

We haven't actually reviewed the final book in the three - Rachel's Holiday - but I couldn't possibly leave it out, since, as the chick lit readers' and writers' favourite, it's surely a future classic. Marian Keyes' third book is the story of Rachel Walsh, whose love of a good time lands her in Ireland's answer to the Betty Ford Clinic. Rachel is hopeful, expecting spa treatments and celebrities, instead, she finds a lot of group therapy, which leads her, against her will, to some important self-knowledge and a man who might actually be good for her.

Which books do you think are classics of the future?

Posted by Keris on June 26, 2007 in American Authors, Cult classic week, Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (5)

June 25, 2007 11:37 AM

BOOK NEWS: Five Things I Can't Live Without by Holly Shumas

Not only do I LOVE the cover of Holly Shumas's debut novel, I love the concept too. (Read the blurb over the cut.)

But more importantly, it alerted me to a trend. Along with Five Things I Can't Live Without, there's Jill Smolinski's The Next Thing on My List and Kris Radish's The Sunday List of Dreams.

I now declare the lastest chick lit sub-genre Life List Lit!

Five Things I Can't Live Without by Holly Shumas

Nora's stuck in what she refers to as "meta-life," the plight of overthinking and second guessing to the point of self-sabotage. One day at work, Nora decides to thwart her meta-life by following her instincts. She quits her job and immediately her meta-life goes into overdrive.

What on earth was she thinking - and what is she going to do now? Fortunately, when a friend asks Nora to rewrite her Internet dating profile, she realizes that not only is she good at it, but she really enjoys it. Billing herself as a Cyrano de Bergerac for the lovelorn, Nora finally begins to find professional success.

But soon, Nora's meta-life has latched onto the question she's asked so many clients: What are the five things she can't live without? Is her flourishing business one of them? Is her boyfriend? With each new client and each step she takes in her own relationship, she must confront her biggest demon - her self-sabotaging "meta-life." But will she be able to slay it forever? [via Amazon]

Posted by Keris on June 25, 2007 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jennifer Crusie's tagline competition

Jennifer Crusie is asking for help from her readers for the sequel to Don't Look Down.

The book within the next Agnes book needs a catchy tagline: can you think one up? (I can't,  slogans fox me - I'd be terrible in advertising!)

If you think you can help the great Ms Crusie with your brilliant word power, click here to find out more. [Via Nicola Pedley]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 25, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 22, 2007 12:24 PM

Jen Lancaster launches Mamapop's book club

I know, I can't seem to shut up about Jen Lancaster or Mamapop lately (maybe next week...?) but this I had to share: Jen Lancaster, Mamapop.com's resident author/avid reader, has just launched their book club with the inaugural (little political pun intended!) read: The Washingtonienne, Jessica Cutler's infamous blook.

If I wasn't on a book buying ban (I've got too many!), I'd be tempted to join in myself... Perhaps it's a choice for you if Richard and Judy's picks for this summer don't appeal?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 22, 2007 in American Authors, Bonkbusters, Book Websites, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (3)

FRIDAY FLICK: Jackie Brown

How I loooove Jackie Brown. Based on Elmore Leonard's book Rum Punch (which is now often re-labeled Jackie Brown), it's the story of... would you believe, Jackie Brown?

She's a stewardess who gets mixed up with a dangerous crowd when she becomes a drug runner for extra cash. Samuel L Jackson plays Ordell, the bad guy out to shut her up while Robert Forster's career got a revival when he was cast as Max Cherry, bail bondsmen and all-round good guy who's fallen hard for our eponymous heroine. But what are Jackie's plans? Is she taking the infatuated Max for a ride and can she outwit Ordell?

Director Quentin Tarantino made this an iconic film of the late '90s, popularising Kangol hats in the process! I may have seen it two or five times, and it's still a great watch - Pam Grier is perfect as Jackie. *DID YOU KNOW?* Jackie Brown is Tarantino's homage to the '70s cinema movement known as Blaxploitation (Shaft etc.) and he changed Jackie's surname from Burke to Brown in honour of Pam Grier's portrayal of Blaxploitation heroine Foxy Brown.

Like this, but with George Clooney: Out of Sight.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 22, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: Fly On The Wall By E Lockhart

Fly On The Wall is one of my favourite YA books, and just about the only one of E Lockhart's novels that we haven't reviewed! The subtitle, How One Girl Saw Everything, gives a clue that the title might actually be literal - and it is. Gretchen is studying Franz Kafka's classic story of alienation, The Metamorphosis, for her English class and thinking that it might not be so bad to be a bug for a while and get a different perspective on her boring (yet typically teenage-angsty) life. Her wish is granted, and she gets the chance to be a LITERAL fly on the wall of the boys' locker room. Where yes, she does see everything... and learns a lot about the opposite sex, and about the things she appreciates about her life in the process.

It takes a great author to carry off such a far-fetched storyline, and E Lockhart is that author. I liked this book even more than her 'earthbound' novels, with its echoes of Kafka, myths and superhero storylines as well as the realistic portrayal of the daughter of separated parents. This is another book that both teenagers and adults will love - and you don't have to be a fly on the wall to see that.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 22, 2007 in American Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

Carnegie Medal winners announced

Meg Rosoff has won Britain's most prestigious children's literature prize with her second novel, Just In Case.

Philip Pullman's Northern Lights has won the vote for the best Carnegie book of all time, the Carnegie of Carnegies.

Related posts: Phillipa Ashley's Decent Exposure wins the Joan Hessayon New Writers' Scheme award | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi scoops the Orange Prize

Posted by Keris on June 22, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Prize Winners, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Girl Overboard by Aimee Ferris

Before reviewing YA novel Girl Overboard, I'd better admit to an interest - Aimee Ferris used to be a member of the online chick lit writing group I host. Reading a book by someone you know (albeit not in person) is always a bit of a worry - reviewing it is even scarier - but luckily Girl Overboard was just as good as I expected it to be.

Part of Penguin's Students Across the Seven Seas (SASS) series, Girl Overboard focusses on the aptly-named Marina, whose ambition is to be a Marine Biologist. Leaving her ski-loving boyfriend behind in Vermont, Marina sets out on a six-week study tour of the Caribbean, where she'll be given the opportunity to swim with and learn about sharks, turtles and dolphins.

Also on the boat are (inevitably) a new best friend (Jeannette), a mean girl (Rhee) and a hot boy (Link). While the characters may be predictable, the situations and settings aren't. Aimee worked with marine life in the Caribbean herself and her knowledge and passion for the subject shines through.

The thing I loved about this book was that while there was teen angst and (yes) snogging, there's also a message about ecology and endangered species that's even more convincing for being woven into the story. It's never heavy-handed or preachy.

Plus it's nice to read about a teen who is honest and acts with maturity and integrity, while still being cool and cute.

Girl Overboard is as educational as it is entertaining and that's a rare blend.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Dramarama by E Lockhart

Posted by Keris on June 22, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)

June 21, 2007 7:03 PM

PREVIEW REVIEW: Dedication by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin

I approached Dedication, the new novel by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin (release date 2 July), with a mixture of excitement and trepidation: excitement, because I loved their first book, The Nanny Diaries. Trepidation, because I hated their second, Citizen Girl.

Dedication features a slightly older heroine than those two novels, and the storyline runs a little deeper this time, too. It's the story of 30-year old Kate, whose high-school boyfriend and love of her life Jake left town without a word just before the prom... and then became one of the biggest recording artists of his generation, with a series of songs about their relationship. When Kate's best friend from home Laura calls to tell her Jake's home filming a TV hometown special, Kate seizes the chance she's been waiting twelve years for, and goes back to confront him.

I loved the premise of this novel, and found Kate very relateable. The book switches between the present day and the past, as we find out about Laura and Kate's high-school experience and how Kate and Jake got together. The depictions of being a teenager in the 90s rings very true, and the re-creation of school days is excellent: just that little bit nicer than school days really are, so it reads as nostalgic and bittersweet. I was gripped, and often a little disappointed to have to come back to the present day, as the parts of the novel set in the past are definitely stronger - up until the end, and the confrontation, when I was gripped again.

Dedication is very different to both of Kraus and McLaughlin's previous books, so whatever your opinion of those, I recommend putting it aside and giving Dedication a whirl.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Department of Lost and Found by Allison Winn Scotch.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 21, 2007 in American Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

If you don't read chick lit, you shouldn't really criticise it

Yep, I'm cross again. One of my biggest pet peeves is people criticising chick lit when they quite clearly haven't read any (or at least not much).

In Rachel Kramer Bussel's Huffington Post interview with Anna David, author of Party Girl, David says,

To me, chick lit describes the kind of book that focuses on a girl with very simple and superficial needs─there doesn't tend to be a great deal of subtext, the characters don't seem very nuanced and the biggest lesson is often that a girl is much happier when she has a guy.

Here I wrote a book about the most important and profound experience I'd ever had─getting and staying sober─and it's being categorized among books about wearing Manolo Blahniks while trying to land a guy?

Do you want to send her a copy of Rachel's Holiday or shall I?

Related posts: If it's good it can't be chick lit | Does chick lit "undermine the women's movement"? | Anyone read any Kris Radish?

Posted by Keris on June 21, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Marian Keyes, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK NEWS: Sammy's House by Kristin Gore

Remember how I complained about the later cover for Kristin Gore's first book, Sammy's Hill?

Well, Gore's written a sequel and, thankfully, the cover is a continuation of the original Sammy's Hill cover and all the better for it.

Look out for a review of Sammy's Hill, coming soon.

Posted by Keris on June 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, New Releases, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 20, 2007 5:30 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Kathryn Finney

I believe Kathryn Finney's first book, How to Be a Budget Fashionista should be on every woman's bookshelf, so I'm delighted she's joined the ranks of our interviewees!

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

How to Be a Budget Fashionista: The ULTIMATE Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less

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

For some strange reason I can't sleep on airplanes, so I do most of my good writing on them. Also, can't forget my mobile office (aka Starbucks). I also like to write while watching Oprah.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Guilty Pleasure:  The Shopaholic series.  When I want to expand my mind: Anything by Amy Tan and Jhumpari Lahri.

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

I don't have a favorite, but I tend to be drawn to characters that challenge our concept of humanity. 

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

Don't talk about it, BE about it. The difference between writers and aspiring writers is that the former writes. You  can't sell a book, if you haven't written anything down.

What are you reading at the moment?

The Barack Obama book (the first one) and Young Broke and Fabulous by Suze Orman

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

My second book which, drum roll please, will be about fashion. I have a fiction book somewhere inside of me that I will start to work on at some point.

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: What did your mom think about the book?

Answer: She loved it.

Thanks, Kathryn!

Posted by Keris on June 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Interviews, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: Late Night Talking by Leslie Schnur

Lesley Schnur's debut novel, The Dog Walker, is one of my favourite chick lit books of all time, so I couldn't wait to read her second book, Late Night Talking. Also because its heroine, Jeannie Sterling, is obsessed with people's rude behaviour. Having ranted about littering and bad drivers many times myself, I knew it would be right up my street.

Jeannie presents a late night radio talk show, Sterling Behaviour, about all those thoughtless little things people do that drive other people mad: from leaving wet towels on the benches at the gym, to adults riding bikes on the pavement. With her producer and best friend, Luce, Jeannie takes calls from people reporting rudeness and discusses what should be done.

Meanwhile Jeannie's friend Thomas comes back from his journalist adventures in dangerous destinations. Jeannie's long harboured a fantasy that they might get together and when it turns out that Thomas has had the same idea, it finally seems like Jeannie's personal life might be as successful as her professional life.

When one night she calls a man she sees talking on his cellphone while also driving a Hummer of all things, she yells at him and he gets out of the car, resulting in a discussion that's as much flirtation as it is confrontation. The man turns out to be multi-millionaire businessman Nicholas Moss who, hearing Jeannie criticising him on the radio decides to get his revenge by buying the radio station...

Add a visit from Jeannie's unreliable father - along with his untrainable dog - and things might not be quite as ordered as they originally seemed.

Late Night Talking is an extremely entertaining and thought-provoking book. Jeannie is wonderful and her spats with Moss made me think of old Cary Grant movies (okay, they weren't quite that good - how about George Clooney and Catherine Zeta Jones in Intolerable Cruelty?). In fact, the entire book has a very filmic quality. I found myself obsessing over who I would cast in the movie (Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham as Jeannie, George Clooney as Moss (natch), Matthew McConaughey for Thomas, Kristin Davies as Luce...).

The book has genuinely interesting things to say about personal and moral responsibility without being preachy or po-faced. Also, Lesley Schnur writes about New York beautifully (but I said that last time).

I didn't enjoy it quite as much as The Dog Walker, but it's still a wonderful book.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

Incidentally, the cover above is the US cover and it reminds me a lot of the covers of Karen Quinn's first two books, particularly The Ivy Chronicles, see:

The UK cover of Late Night Talking is completely different. Which do you prefer?

Posted by Keris on June 20, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Manny's trailer generates a lot of buzz...

That's according to Galleycat, who have all the news on the trailer of Holly Peterson's debut novel, The Manny.

It may just be one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen...

Carry on over the cut to see it! Let us know what you think.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Debut Novels, Technology | Permalink | Comments (7)

Jen Lancaster's summer read recommendations

Hot on the heels of The Philadelphia Inquirer's recommending beach reading, the very funny and fab Jen Lancaster gives her selection of great summer reads, and hints at what she'll be talking about next. (Here's one clue).

You can find out more from this post at great pop culture blog Mamapop.com (You don't have to be a mama to love it, I'm a biiiiig fan.)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 19, 2007 1:25 PM

TUESDAY THREE: Grandmothers

We’ve looked at sisters and mothers and daughters, so surely it must be time for grandmothers... Why, yes, it is!

When the nameless first-person narrator of Alice Hoffman’s The Ice Queen is eight she is upset with her mother one day, so when her mum goes out for the evening, she wishes for her never to return. She doesn't: she dies in a car crash and she and her brother Ned go to live with their grandmother. From then onwards, our narrator is convinced she has a gift: when she wishes for something bad, it always happens - but she can't seem to stop herself from wishing.

In adulthood, she half-heartedly wishes to be hit by lightning, and then she is. It has strange and devastating  physical consequences including colorblindness, limping and pain. But in other ways, it begins a new and exciting chapter in her life - especially when she meets mysterious fellow lightning strike survivor Lazarus Jones - a man who is literally too hot to touch...

Kate Jacobs' The Friday Night Knitting Club is the charming story of Georgia Walker - single mother to a mixed-race daughter, Dakota, and proprietor of a knitting shop in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Encouraged by Georgia’s mentor, Anita, and assistant, Peri, local women begin to gather in the shop on a Friday evening to chat, knit and eat treats cooked by 12-year-old Dakota ... and The Friday Night Knitting Club is born.

But then Dakota’s father James reappears on the scene wanting a relationship not only with Dakota, but with Georgia too. Georgia’s former best friend, Cat, also turns up, unsatisfied with her glamorous life. Everything seems to be changing and Georgia’s not sure she’s ready so she takes a trip to the UK to visit her grandmother and educate Dakota about her background.

More knitting in Gil McNeil’s Divas Don’t Knit, which features Jo Mackenzie, a widow with two young sons, and she's had enough of London. Needing a change to get over the shock of losing her husband (even though he was about to leave her), she takes up her grandmother's invitation to move to the country and take over the running of the family's wool shop...

Posted by Keris on June 19, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Debut Novels, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (4)

A Taste of Italy wins New York Book Festival prize

Friend-of-Trashionista Lucie Simone's e-book A Taste of Italy has won the New York Book Festival Competition for best e-book. You can find the full list of winners here.

The 2007 New York Book Festival will take place this Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. near the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. The event is free and open to the public and includes author readings, live music, children’s storytelling, clowns performing children’s face-painting and twisting balloon animals, book signings, vendor demonstrations and food.

Related posts: The Hay-on-Wye Festival's relay story | Word for Word series at New York's Bryant Park

Posted by Keris on June 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Prize Winners | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: The Department of Lost and Found by Allison Winn Scotch

Ever since I heard about Allison Winn Scotch's debut novel, The Department of Lost and Found, I've been looking forward to reading it. It's about Natalie Miller, political assistant to the senator of New York (shades of Hillary Clinton!) who's a total workaholic. Then one day her boyfriend Ned discovers a lump in her breast and... I'm trying not to use a cliche like 'her whole world turns upside down' but honestly, her whole world does go A over T.

Not only does Ned pick the time immediately post-diagnosis to confess he's been planning on leaving her for another woman, but coping with chemo knocks Natalie for six, and her relationships with those closest to her start to change, too. It's scary stuff.

But that doesn't mean this book is downbeat: it's thoughtful, it's informative about breast cancer treatment, and I often read it with a lump in my throat. But it's also funny and silly at times, and Natalie is endearingly flawed. Sometimes she's more worried about getting the answers on The Price is Right, or why her big love Jake left her than the fact she has cancer. But other times she stares death head on, and wonders what she's given to the world and if she's ready to die.

Allison Winn Scotch wrote this book after her best friend died of cancer, in the hope that writing a slightly happier ending would be cathartic. I hope for her sake that it was, but she certainly did her friend justice with this very entertaining and yes (another cliche) heartwarming read.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Lady Luck's Map of Vegas by Barbara Samuel

*Allison Winn Scotch's late friend, Elizabeth Anne Prostic, has a foundation in her name - visit www.metacancer.org to find out more.*

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 15, 2007 2:22 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: The First Wives' Club

An oldie (ish) but a classic (ish). Three great older (ish - OK, I'll stop!) actresses, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn starred in this divorced women's call-to-arms way back in 1996. The three play wives who've all been dumped for younger women (one of whom is played by Sarah Jessica Parker) and vow to take revenge. So they form The First Wives Club.

"Don't get mad, get everything!" is their motto and they set out to do just that. This film is frivoulous and fun as long as you don't take it too seriously or expect too much. The women would probably be better off getting on with their lives and not seeing themselves as victims, but I guess their anger is justified and writing this was probably very cathartic for the sadly now-departed Olivia Goldsmith, who based the book from which this came on her own experiences.

Ouch.

Like this, in more ways than one: Heartburn.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why It Often Sucks in The City, or Who Are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me? by Jen Lancaster

Wow, who could resist a subtitle like that? Not me, so I didn't.

Bright Lights, Big Ass is Jen Lancaster's follow-up memoir* to Bitter is the New Black, the story of her descent from rich dot-commer to almost-starving author, and the life lessons she learned along the way. In the new book, Jen's new favourite shops are Target and Ikea, she uses the library and public transport instead of bookshops and cabs and she even faces up to her phobia of gynae exams (in a hilarious chapter inolving a cautionary tale about hospital paper gowns). Lancaster is such an engaging and entertaining author with a bubbly personality that you can't help but warm to her and enjoy spending time absorbing her life.

But I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as Bitter is the New Black...

I wanted to know what happened between the time Jen decided to work on her book and the start of the new book, I wanted to know about the book stuff like meetings with Jen's editors and agent and what the marketing strategy was and... OK, I'm a book geek. But other readers might be curious too. I also felt (hey, let's make it three in a row) - it could have been a bit more... (say it with me, people:) cohesive! There isn't a definite trajectory in this book as there was in the first: Jen focuses on her more minor ups and downs (awful neighbours, having to temp for a while, transportation 'issues')and does so very well, but there isn't the tension of the first book. Which is good, as I don't want Lancaster to go through anything awful... but it makes slightly less interesting reading and is a collection of funny and random events more than a narrative.

It's still fun, fab and very worth reading, though and I can't wait for the next one!

Rating: 4 out of 5

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

*Huh - I haven't reviewed one work of fiction this week! Next week I will, promise...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids

I don't know what would tempt me to read this memoir/advice book more: the refreshingly honest and funny title...

...or the gorgeously yummy-looking front cover. (Go see).

And I don't even have kids!

Watch a video from the authors if you'd like to know more.

Related posts: The Hot Moms Handbook | Confessions of a Failed Grown-up by Stephanie Calman

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Self development, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

Anyone read any Kris Radish?

I must admit I bristled when I read the following in an interview with American author, Kris Radish:

Michael: You bristle at the term ‘chick-lit,’ don’t you?

Kris: Oh slap yourself! (laugh) Here’s what I have to say about that. They can say anything they want about what I write, put me in any category they want, but I like to think I’ve created a new genre called “babes who have been there.”

I think my characters are more defined, more elegant, and have more depth than the writing you read in so-called “chick-lit.” Now that’s not to say there’s anything wrong with “chick-lit.” it’s just that the women I write about have already had their mini-vans, have taken motorcycle driving lessons and have been down a few roads – that’s how I categorize myself.

But then as I read on I really love the sound of her books. Even the titles: The Sunday List of Dreams, Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn, Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral...

Radish apparently has around half a million books in print and Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral has been optioned for a movie, and yet I've never heard of her! Have any of you?

Posted by Keris on June 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (5)

June 14, 2007 5:30 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Judy Blume

Continuing with both the Judy Blume theme and the kids's writers theme of the last week or so, it's about time we honoured Judy Blume as a true Trailblazer. A revolutionary author for children and teenagers, Blume began tackling subjects no-one wants to talk to their parents about as far back as the early 1970s.

Taking on such taboos as religion, periods, masturbation, sex, bullying and even the Holocaust, Blume had all teenagers' concerns covered and managed to write books which covered serious topics in a reassuring way whilst making the plot and characters more important than the 'message'.

Her iconic book Forever, an honest (somewhat explicit) novel about a couple's first sexual relationship, taught generations of girls and boys what to expect from their 'first time' without either scaring kids off or glorifying sex... quite a feat. Her books are well-written and always go beyond the topics they cover to create realistic people with feelings young adults can relate to. It's that, rather than any sensational reading material, that keeps generations coming back to Blume.

Unfortunately, some adults can't see beyond depictions of subjects they're uncomfortable with, and Blume's books are often banned from school and even public libraries. But her readers appreciate her, as do The National Book award people: in 2004 they gave her Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

Trailblazer archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Thursday Trailblazer, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: Sleeping Around by Catherine Townsend

Yesterday when we featured the book trailer for Sleeping Around, Sheila asked incredulously, "This is a book?!!"

Why yes, it certainly is. In fact, it's released today. Like "Sex and the City meets Girl With A One Track Mind", it's sprung from Catherine Townsend's column in the Independent, but the book contains "all new content".

You can read more here.

Posted by Keris on June 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 13, 2007 11:37 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Hollywood Car Wash by Lori Culwell

From the minute I heard about Lori Culwell's novel Hollywood Car Wash I couldn't wait to read it (I admit it even jumped my massive queue of books to be reviewed). I'm celebrity-obsessed (yes, I know it's shallow, but I don't care) and Culwell's book, about an actress who is systematically turned into a "starlet," is based on true events.

Amy Spencer is a college student in Michigan with ambitions to be an actress in independent films, but when she gets the part of a regular girl from Michigan in a TV pilot she puts her ideals on hold and heads for Hollywood. The part is good, the money even better (particularly since Amy's family have been struggling since her father's death), but soon the show becomes incredibly popular and Amy's under increasing pressure to change, well, everything. Her name (to Star), her hair, her teeth, her nose and, of course, her body.

I didn't want to put this book down and I wouldn't have done if I hadn't had other responsibilities (I kept thinking what a perfect book it would be for the beach... if I didn't have a 3-year-old). It's entertaining, shocking and completely compelling. Because Star - sorry, Amy - is ordinary at the start of the book, she's easy to identify with, and though I found her a little weak at times, I really felt for her (I even cried a couple of times).

The back cover blurb includes the line: "...this shockingly accurate novel about the ins and outs of the Hollywood gave will leave the reader wondering - who is Star?" I don't know who she is (and she's not who I thought she was - the "megastar boyfriend with a big secret" was a red herring!), but I am desperate to know.

Despite the fact that I've read plenty of celebrity magazines and biographies and watched the odd E! True Hollywood Story or ten, there was still plenty in this book to shock me (unless I'm just gormlessly naive) and it made me appreciate just what a truly awful place Hollywood must be! Plus it's interesting from a feminist point of view - showing just how much work goes into making actresses "picture perfect" these days.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try How To Sleep With a Movie Star by Kristin Harmel

Posted by Keris on June 13, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (7)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant

We've had a mother-son interview before, but this is the first mother-daughter writing combo to talk exclusively to us at Trashionista! And I'm excited they did, as I loved their books - Steamed and Simmer Down - and can't wait for the next in the series (Turn up the Heat, out March '08). In the meantime, we have this great interview...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Jessica: Humorous and romantic culinary chick lit mystery set in the Boston restaurant scene. Recipes included!

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

Jessica: I write in my office surrounded sticky notes with book ideas scrawled across the yellows squares. I have visions of becoming totally organized and working in a neurotically neat space, but I suspect that will never happen. For reasons I don’t understand, there is no overhead light in my office, but I do have a grow light for my plants which casts a bizarre pink glow throughout the room, so that makes for an interesting atmosphere. (The neighbors must wonder if aliens have landed their ship in our house.)

Susan:  Outdoors, often on the back steps.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

J:  simply adore The Hazards of Sleeping Alone by Elise Juska. (By the way, this is one of those books where the cover doesn’t match the story.)

S:  Pride and Prejudice. Or maybe Emma. Yes, is Jane Austen the true mother of chick-lit?

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

J: Charlotte from Elise’s book is such an interesting and endearing character and her faults make her progress all the more meaningful. I love flawed characters; I mean, who wants to read about somebody completely perfect?

S: Elizabeth Bennet, who married the eternally irresistible Mr. Darcy.

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

J: Start writing! It sounds obvious enough, but I know many “writers” who have yet to put anything down on paper. Don’t hem and haw over everything you write because you can always go back later and edit, delete, or expand on whatever you’ve written. I hate writing the first few paragraphs of a book so I often just skip ahead and write the opening lines later, otherwise I might sit poised over the keyboard for days waiting for some brilliant line to come to me... Do not try to copy another author’s style or your writing will be disastrous. I love Elinor Lipman’s books [me too! - Diane], but never in a million years could I write the way she does - I can only imagine how hideous my attempts would be. Show your work to someone. Anyone. As terrifying as this is to new writers, you must have someone else read what you’ve written. Be open to feedback and constructive criticism because that is how you improve!

S: If writing does not come naturally to you, quit trying. Read instead!

What are you reading at the moment?

J: Pick Your Poison by Leann Sweeney.

S: Anne Tyler’s Digging to America.

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

J: I’ve been busy gathering materials for our website and am itching to get writing again. My mother and I are getting ready to sign a contract for two more books in the Gourmet Girl series so we will start plotting the fourth mystery very soon.

S: I was outlining my second cat lover’s mystery, but Holly Winter’s malamutes leapt in and shoved the cats aside, so I am writing my nineteenth dog lover’s mystery.

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!)

Jessica: Your husband is a chef so you must eat like a queen all the time, right? A: Yes, it’s foie gras and fancy chocolate cakes for dinner every night. Okay, not exactly, be we do eat well. My husband, Bill, works most nights so I’m often left to fend for myself. When he is home and cooking, his food is always spectacular.

Susan: What is a Harvard-Radicliffe summa doing writing dog mysteries, cat mysteries, and chick-lit? Answer: Having fun.

Thanks so much, Jessica and Susan!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Interviews, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Romance, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Forty Camel Girl: Letters from Turkey by E. Grace Beyler

Shiny Shiny's deputy ed, the lovely Alex Roumbas, reviews a recent read she thinks Trashionista readers will enjoy: Forty Camel Girl is available to buy from the website (above), and Alex highly recommends that you do so - read on to find out why...

In 1969, at the age of twenty six, E. Grace Beyler found herself bound for Turkey with her fiance, Hakan, ready to live with his family while he completed mandatory army service. Not yet speaking a word of the language and full of the independence of her American upbringing, she faithfully wrote home to her parents in the United States chronicling her experiences. Beyler has now drawn on these letters to create a funny, moving diary of this pivotal period in her life in Forty Camel Girl: Letters from Turkey.

Beyler's letters describe not only a turning point in her own life, but that of the nation she adopts as her temporary home. Describing the westernisation of Turkey and the enduring legacy of Ataturk, Grace is also forced to examine international attitudes to US foreign policy which remain strikingly relevant nearly forty years later. Beyler's alternately moving and hilarious accounts of learning to love and communicate with her new extended family take place against the backdrop of the shifting place of Turkish women in society and news from home such as the imminent deployment of her brother, Bill, to Vietnam. Written with passion and humour, Forty Camel Girl: Letters from Turkey is a highly readable personal memoir definitely worth missing your tube stop for.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Dork Whore by Iris Bahr.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 12, 2007 7:36 PM

BOOK REVIEW: What The Dog Did by Emily Yoffe

Temporarily taking over Keris's mantle as animal-themed book reviewer (pigs, dogs, monkeys, birds, she reads about them all), I decided to read What The Dog Did. The book is Slate agony aunt/writer Emily Yoffe's memoir about her beagle Sasha, and how she turned Emily's family life upside down.

A "formerly reluctant dog owner", Yoffe had always been more of a 'cat person', but when her young daughter became desperate for a dog, and her husband wanted one too, she caved in. What she didn't expect was to become a lifelong convert to the canine cause - not only becoming Sasha's main carer, but a doggie foster carer too.

I really enjoyed this book although some of the pieces have formerly been published as essays in Slate and I think it didn't have a cohesive feel as a result. It's well-written, entertaining and very informative, though - and has given me a soft spot for beagles for life.

Although it's definitely made me realise that it's important to think once, twice, three hundred times before you take on the responsibility of a dog. If you get one like Sasha, your life will no longer be your own! Thank goodness, for Yoffe, it's worth it.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Marley and Me by John Grogan.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 12, 2007 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

Karin Slaughter latest writer to get graphic with her next novel

Crime writer Karin Slaughter is the latest female author to sign up to produce a graphic novel. The number one bestselling author will produce The Recidivists for Arrow.  [Via Book2Book]

Should be interesting (and perhaps gory...?)

Related posts: Jodi Picoult, Wonder Woman? | Wuthering Heights gets graphic!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rachel Kramer Bussel interviews Lynn Harris

Huffington Post has an excellent interview with Death By Chick Lit author Lynn Harris along with an extract of the novel.

Of particular interest (to me, at least, since it's my hobby horse!) are Harris's thoughts on chick lit itself..

It's entertainment. Women understand that. And much of it is really good. Well-written, witty, warm-hearted. To me, Bridget Jones -- patient zero of this wave of chick lit -- isn't dippy and empty, she's a skillfully-drawn screwball heroine. That's old-school in a new package, not some new scourge. In my opinion, the real feminist issue is not the existence of chick lit -- in its many iterations and levels of distinction─it's the way it's come to be regarded.

A review of Death By Chick Lit is on the way.

Related posts: Chick lit is a feminist issue | Old timey chick lit bashing | Marian Keyes on The Weekender

Posted by Keris on June 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Crime / Mystery, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

TUESDAY THREE: Working in TV

We've looked at chick lit heroines who work for newspapers, magazines and in PR - how about television?

Stephanie Lehmann's You could do better was described as '... an irresistible new novel about a woman trying to choose between the man of her dreams - and her fiance ...' and if you can resist a line like that, you're a better woman than me.

Daphne works as a curator at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York, so obsession with TV is part of her job. But she also uses TV as a way to avoid engaging in real life (who doesn't?!) - her parents are dead, her former supermodel sister Billie is a mess and sex with her boyfriend Charlie is only average. But when Charlie proposes Daphne almost misses it because she's too busy watching a fictional proposal on TV. Luckily she catches on and accepts but then when Charlie starts to lose patience with her television habit and she meets a sexy and available TV producer, Daphne starts to wonder if maybe she's settling for Charlie .. if perhaps she could do better...

When TV producer Carly McKay - heroine of Lani Diane Rich's The Fortune Quilt - goes to interview a psychic quiltmaker, Brandywine Seaver, she has no idea that her life is about to change completely ... until, that is, Brandy gives her a reading on a quilt she's made for Carly. Carly doesn’t believe in psychics, but when her TV show closes down, her runaway mother returns after 17 years and her best (male) friend tells her he’s been in love with her for years, she returns to the arty town of Bilby to ask Brandy what the hell’s going on.

Partly due to the town's charms (not least sexy neighbour, Will) and partly because she's afraid to go home, Carly finds herself making a life in Bilby, but when the quilt inspires her to make things right and get back what she’s lost, Carly's forced to risk everything she’s found.

Apparently the latest, hottest trend in Manhattan - more popular than the Birkin bag, better than Jimmy Choos - is The Manny, or male nanny, and this is the subject of Holly Peterson's debut novel. Jamie Whitfield is at the end of her tether with her husband Philip, an overgrown spoiled rich kid who can never have enough money and who spends all his time at work, away from Jamie and their three children.

Jamie's also trying to break a huge national story in her job as producer at a major news network and it's not going smoothly. More importantly, the problems in her marriage are brought into stark relief by her growing attraction to Peter, the Manny...

Posted by Keris on June 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

June 11, 2007 3:58 PM

What's your "Judy Blume moment of truth"?

In honour of the release of the fabby-looking Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, Beth Kendrick of  The Literary Chicks.com is asking the above question. (Your moment might be that "that all the really cute, sporty boys preferred your busty, bubbly best friend to you, just because you were a freakishly flat-chested introvert who preferred Sylvia Plath to Seventeen,"  says Kendrick). Read more here.

Did you grow up with Judy Blume? I loved Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself and Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. Blume created teenage characters with real concerns that girls could relate (and sometimes aspire) to...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

I loved Bitter is the New Black and will be reviewing her latest, Bright Lights, Big Ass soon, so I was excited to hear about Jen Lancaster's next book, which she's currently both writing and losing weight for:

Called Pretty Fat, the book has another of Lancaster's trademark subtitles: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big; Or, Why Pie Is Not the Answer, and is "the story of the heretofore-unabashedly-plus-sized Jen's quest to lose fifty pounds in six months by any means possible", according to her website.

Book news archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 8, 2007 6:04 PM

Oprah's book news - a new book club pick and a traitorous relative

After much speculation, Oprah has picked the not-exactly-new (but critically acclaimed) Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides as her next book club pick. Anyone read it? I hear great things...

Also, you may have heard this already but it bears repeating: Oprah's Dad is writing a book. About Oprah. That he "forgot" to tell her about. Nice man. [Via Galleycat].

Related: Oprah chooses The Road.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Modern Fiction, Non Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (7)

FRIDAY FLICK: Riding in Cars with Boys

Based on Beverly Donofrio's first memoir of the same name, Riding in Cars with Boys stars Drew Barrymore as Beverly, following her journey from rebellious 1960s teen to... well, I'm not going to spoil the plot but suffice it to say she has a few ups and downs along the way to becoming a successful author, not least of which is falling pregnant while still in high school and agreeing to marry the father, an unreliable stoner (played well by Steve Zahn). The excellent Brittany Murphy plays Beverly's best friend Fay who is in the same situation, and the two girls struggle to get used to marriage and motherhood while Beverly, independent and unconventional, wonders if there'll ever be more to life.

Drew Barrymore is always heartfelt and emotionally honest, and this is at times a heartbreaking film. She portrays Beverly very honestly as flawed but well-meaning and helps this rise above the standard teenage-mum movie. This is a good film with a happy ending that might make you (me) shed a tear or two along the way.

Like this: (well, a teeny bit): Girl, Interrupted.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Art of Undressing by Stephanie Lehmann

After really enjoying You Could Do Better, I was looking forward to Stephanie Lehmann's new book, The Art of Undressing. Except it's not a new book at all! First released in the UK in March this year, The Art... was actually written in 2005. (Those sneaky publishers!) Anyway, the fact that this is a slightly older book might be why I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I hoped I would.

It's about Ginger, a 25-year-old trainee chef who has always felt overshadowed by her mum Coco, a former stripper who now teaches the art of seduction... with Ginger as her mortified assistant. Ginger has a lot on her plate (ha! no pun intended): her sulky teenage stepsister and cold father are still reeling from the death of Ginger's stepmother, who was more of a maternal figure to Ginger than Coco has ever been. Plus Ginger's boyfriend Ian treats her badly, but when she dumps him and tries to seduce Tom, the hottest man at chef school, she doesn't have much luck there either. Does she need to cast off her sneakers and chef's whites and learn to be sexy just like mommy?

That's what the novel can't seem to decide: whether Ginger should conform more to society's expectations of sexually available young women, or whether she should stay true to herself. Whether she's repressed and uptight, or just her own person, with different morals to her mother. At the end of the book, we're left with the tentative feeling that Ginger is starting to relax and be more true to herself without being all uptight about it, but I think the novel tries to please both those people who think stripping is just a bit of fun, and those who find it exploitative. In the end, it doesn't quite please either. And although Tom had his moments of charm, I didn't think he was good enough for Ginger!

I do like Stephanie Lehman's style of writing, she combines real emotion with a fast-paced story, and had clearly done her research on the stripping 'industry' and the food one. The most realistic moments of the book were those which focused on Ginger's complicated family dynamic. Having a "blended family" myself, I thought she portrayed that particularly well.

But I never felt Ginger really learned to feel good about herself, as her own person, and that was disappointing.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Marsha Mellow and Me by Maria Beaumont.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

"My book deal ruined my life" article

Get out the tiny violins before you read this article in The New York Observer.

Learn how a $100,000 advance isn't that much after all and why Jessica "Washingtonienne" Cutler can't pay her AmEx bill.

Turns out writing's just like any other job - some people don't enjoy it.

Related posts: From blog to book | £1.5million for Dawn French's memoirs | The curse of the second novel

Posted by Keris on June 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: Holly Would Dream by Karen Quinn

Karen Quinn's first two books,The Ivy Chronicles and Wife in the Fast Lane were both big hits. Her next novel won't be out until next year, but I thought I'd share the cover and title with y'all.

It's called Holly Would Dream. I generally don't like punning titles, but this one might be so bad it's good.

What do you think?

Posted by Keris on June 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 7, 2007 7:03 PM

BOOK NEWS: Shoe Addicts Anonymous

Simultaneously playing into every chick lit stereotype (pink cover, shoe-theme, gang of girly mates? check, check check!) and yet at the same time looking like a dang good read, Shoe Addicts Anonymous is a new book by Beth Harbison about well, yes, a group of shoe-loving gals.

But those gals happen to be "the wife of a controlling politician, a debt-ridden eBay addict, an agoraphobic phone sex operator, and a nanny for the family from hell". Which is a bit different, you must admit! More about the book here and read an excerpt here. [Via EarlyInk.com]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (3)

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Nora Ephron

Back in the early '80s, before anyone else thought to put together food-themed semi-fictional novels, Nora Ephron brought out the irresistible Heartburn, about a betrayed pregnant wife who cooks to stay sane. It's very funny, even over twenty years later.

Nora was always something of a pioneer: she was an early feminist and wrote on this and other hard-hitting topics for Esquire magazine as well as writing lighter articles on a range of subjects, which later were turned into essay collections including Crazy Salad and Scribble, Scribble.

She's also fiercely funny and clever, the screenwriter of my favourite film When Harry Met Sally, mother of two boys, an excellent non-fiction writer and blogger and a big player in Hollywood. What more could you ask for in a Trailblazer?

Read this: Heartburn.

Watch this: When Harry Met Sally.

Don't mention this: Bewitched.

Trailblazer archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Non Fiction, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Dramarama by E. Lockhart

When Sarah and Demi meet, they become instant firm friends. They recognise each other as kindred spirits, as they possess an internal 'bigness' that makes them want to be performers. Demi changes Sarah's name to Sadye to suit her aspirations, and the pair are sure that nothing can ever affect their friendship or their dreams.

They both pass the audition for theatre camp and are set to spend the summer of a lifetime. But Demi clearly thrives from the very start, throwing himself into the lifestyle, whereas Sadye is more hesitant. Then Demi finds himself a serious boyfriend and the rift between the friends deepens. Sadye feels intimidated by the talent of her friend and her roommates, and she starts to question whether this is really her destiny after all. But at the same time as her insecurities increase, the spotlight seems to shine on Demi more and more. Can their friendship survive?

Fans of E. Lockhart's previous books will not be disappointed with Dramarama. The characters and relationships are realistic and you feel like you're right there with Sadye, experiencing the highs and lows of her summer. Demi is also a wonderfully drawn character, and all the people Sadye meets at the camp are completely believable. I particularly loved Sadye's constant questioning and challenging of the status quo - she really was a wonderful character.

Dramarama is filled with references which will be a delight to anyone with a love of musicals and theatre. This isn't necessary to enjoy the book, though, as everything is explained and brought to life for all readers. The plot and narration are sometimes poignant, often hilarious, and always utterly engaging.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Boyfriend List and/or The Boy Book by E. Lockhart

[Luisa Plaja]

Posted by Keris on June 7, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 6, 2007 12:03 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Last week, I asked if you were excited about the swathe of upcoming Hillary Clinton biographies. Most of you said NAY, but my co-ed Keris admitted she'd be intrigued if they raked up new dirt. (Me too!)

This week: from one betrayed woman to several more - The Other Woman is a new collection of real-life stories from women about love and betrayal. Authors include Mary Jo Eustace, whose husband Dean McDermott left her (and their children) for 90210 star Tori Spelling. She spills all the details of her husband's betrayal - but should she? Is it a great form of revenge, or a little undignified perhaps?  [Via Mamapop]

And would you want to read this book?

Tell it to us straight: Yay or 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!]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 6, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Television, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer & Anne Stuart

You all know how much we love Jennifer Crusie here at Trashionista, so a collaborative novel (Crusie is joined by Eileen Dreyer and Anne Stuart) was bound to be a treat. Plus, it's about three magical sisters. I was almost afraid to read it in case I was disappointed (I'm pessimistic like that). Was I?

Of course not. The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes is the story of Dee, Lizzie and Mare: three sisters who have been on the run from their Aunt Xan since their parents' death. Living in the small town of Salem's Fork, they're happy, but unfulfilled. Dee works in a bank and is desperate for Mare to go to college. Mare works at Value Video!! and Lizzie is obsessed with trying to turn straw into gold, believing that if their money problems were solved, all their problems would be solved.

But then three - no, four - gorgeous men arrive. Danny is researching the Fortune family for a book and wants Dee's help. Elric (a wizard) has come to help Lizzie control her powers. Mare's former boyfriend, Crash, has come back to win Mare back, but he's got competition in Jude, Value Video!! head honcho, who wants Mare for himself.

Odd that all the men have turned up at the same time? Not really. Turns out it's Xan's doing - she's arranged for the girls' true loves to come to town, but why?

Well, I'm not going to say, obviously. What I will say is that The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes is enormous fun. I was expecting three novellas, but it's not - it's a novel written by three women and it's impossible to see the joins (if I hadn't known Mare was Crusie's character, I wouldn't have been able to pick even that out). The women are strong and entertaining. The men are (almost) all gorgeous. It's (of course) very funny. And there's loads of sex. I hesitate to say that there might be too much (I thought they were never going to stop!) but that might just be me.

A book to snuggle up with and lose yourself in.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Enchanted Inc by Shanna Swendson

Posted by Keris on June 6, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (2)

June 5, 2007 5:11 PM

TUESDAY THREE: Working in PR

The cliched idea of chick lit often touted by the snooty press is a PR girl in the city, looking for a man... Well, you know, all cliches have an element of truth, and this week's three books all feature heroines working in PR.

Heaven Albright, heroine of Caprice Crane’s Stupid and Contagious has a brilliant PR career until she's unfairly dismissed. Procrastinating about starting her own agency, she takes a waitressing job in a trendy restaurant. Independent (and unsuccessful) record company owner Brady Gilbert leaves his psycho girlfriend and moves into the apartment next door to Heaven's. Of course they don't get on at all to begin with. Heaven doesn't think Brady's all there and Brady thinks she's crazy, but from the very beginning the reader knows they're made for each other. Stupid and Contagious is extremely funny, it made me cry and when I finished it I could happily have turned back to the first page and started it again.

Piece of Work is Laura Zigman's fourth novel after a four year absence. It's the story of Julia Einstein, who gave up a stressful but stimulating job in PR to have and raise her baby boy Leo. But now Leo is three and about to start pre-school, and Julia's husband Peter has been "downsized" from his job and seems in no hurry to get back to work. So Julia reluctantly dips her toe back into the world of work...

Jane Green’s Mr Maybe tells the story of Libby. She's a 27 year old working in PR, desperate to find a suitable man. She's not fussy, just as long as he's drop dead gorgeous, filthy rich, owns a large house in one of the most desirable areas of London, drives a flashy car, and dresses like he's just stepped off the catwalk at the latest Armani fashion show. The story centres around Libby's relationships with  two men - one of whom fits her ideal and another who really, really doesn’t - and her struggle to decide on what actually matters in making a successful relationship.

Posted by Keris on June 5, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

I've been hearing great things about I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You for ages now (I even picked it up in New York two years ago, but then had to put it back when my sister reminded me there wasn't any more room in my suitcase). Ally Carter has written adult novels, but I'd Tell You... is her first book for Young Adults.

Cammy attends the exclusive and prestigious Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. The residents of Roseville believe Gallagher Girls to be spoiled and privileged, having no idea they're actually spies-in-training. Cammy's mother is the headmistress and Cammy's spy skills are prodigious, but while she excels at Covert Ops, she's clueless where boys are concerned. So when she meets Josh she treats dating as a mission, with its own invented identity.

At the same time as trying to crack the boy code, Cammy's dealing with gorgeous new teacher Joe Solomon, new student Macey, a secret she can't tell her best friend, Bex, and, you know, schoolwork and studying.

I adored I'd Tell You... For some reason, quite a lot of YA books seem to be part of a series and so you finish the book knowing that you're going to have to read another to learn everything you want to know. That wasn't the case with this book; it was one of the most satisfying books I've read for ages. But I'd really love to read more about the Gallagher Girls and I'm in luck: Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy is out in October.

Like this? Try After Eight by Meg Cabot

Rating: 5 out of 5

Posted by Keris on June 5, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 4, 2007 4:15 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

When Joan Didion's writer husband John Gregory Dunne dropped dead at their dining room table on December 30, 2003, she went into shock. Their daughter was seriously ill in hospital and although her friends rallied round, Didion didn't know how she'd cope. To record her feelings and try to make sense of them, she began keeping a diary of the year that followed: The Year of Magical Thinking.

Didion is one of America's most-respected modern novelists, even if she may not exactly be a household name over here. This book is the memoir of one year of her life, and how she coped with the loss of her husband and the perilous health situation of her daughter. Emotional and moving, the book is sentimental without being mawkish and dares you not to cry.

Although very emotionally raw, I think it could be very useful to anyone going through a similar loss, and even comforting to those who haven't: it shows that grief isn't easy, but it is possible to start to heal.

However, I can't help thinking that Calvin Trillin's book about the loss of his wife has ruined other grief memoirs for me forever. Short, sweet, restrained and totally lacking in self-pity whilst at the same time one of the most moving things I've ever read, that book was pitch-perfect. Joan Didion's book has a more literary tone which occasionally veers into self-indulgence (not that I blame her, I'm sure I'd be ten times worse!) and a lack of understanding that she's in a position of high privilege: able to afford to stay in expensive Hollywood hotels and have only the best doctors for her daughter, for example. At one point she says she doesn't know when she'll be able to work again, which will sound incredible to all the millions of people who have no choice but to return to work after the loss of a loved one, and try to manage the best they can. This aspect of the book can be a tad difficult to relate to, although I certainly don't begrudge Didion her time off.

I still found this a very good read, and a book that's extremely difficult to put down.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try About Alice by Calvin Trillin or My Life So Far by Jane Fonda

PS:  I said I would read this book, and I did! (Eventually).

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 4, 2007 in American Authors, Memoirs, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Beach read recommendations from Philadelphia

I've been saving this 'til June as I thought any earlier might be too soon for us Brits! Jennifer Weiner's old stomping ground The Philadelphia Inquirer gives its summer reading recommendations, with some great-sounding books by women, including The Department of Lost and Found by Allison Winn Scotch, whose novel turns cancer into a fun topic to read about (I don't know how, either, but we will be reviewing it later in the season).

What do you want to read this summer?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 4, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK NEWS: Death By Chick Lit

How could I fail to be intrigued by that title? And the blurb of Lynn Harris's debut sounds great too:

After Mimi McKee, author of Gay Best Friend, has her throat slit with a shard from a broken martini glass, Lola Somerville, a 32-year-old freelance writer living in Brooklyn, determines to unmask the murderer. The investigation could help land Lola a new book deal and boost flat sales of her debut novel, Pink Slip.

Is the fiendish killer "Reading Guy," a 40-something dweeb who stalks chick lit author signings? Or could it be Mimi's boyfriend, Quentin, a crossword puzzle composer? Then there's Wilma, the militant leader of the Jane Austen Liberation Front, who has no love for authors of low-brow literature.

Both a send-up of chick lit novels and a, um, chick lit novel, I can't wait to read it.

Posted by Keris on June 4, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Debut Novels | Permalink | Comments (3)

June 1, 2007 6:10 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Monkey Love by Brenda Scott Royce

Brenda Scott Royce has got an intriguing job: she's Director of Publications for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and editor of the Zoo's magazine, Zoo View, so she was surely the perfect person to write a book the star of which is a ... helper monkey.

Yes, stand-up comedienne and odd-job woman Holly is the heroine of Monkey Love, but Tallulah the capuchin monkey (like Ross's monkey, Marcel, on Friends) is the star. Holly's got a great New York life, free Starbucks from her best friend and barista Carter, a stand up double act with her other best friend (and Carter's other half, Danny) and an apartment featuring a cat named Grouch and a snake called Rocky (Rocky the Boa, get it?).

The snake belongs to Holly's cousin Gerry's girlfriend who won't take it back. After stealing a pair of Robert de Niro's socks, Gerry himself is more interested in his burgeoning celebrity sock empire than intervening between his girlfriend and his cousin, until he needs Holly's help that is.

The rest of Holly's family is equally eccentric, from her Aunty Betty who shows affection by biting, to her Aunt Kuki who raised Holly after her mother's death and father's desertion and isn't impressed with the life she's chosen. There's more - including a cute man and his daughter, a mysterious writer, a soap star upstairs neighbour, frozen rats and a rabbit, but I'm running out of space!

What I will say is that I really enjoyed Monkey Love - it packs an awful lot into 300 pages. It's charming, funny, original and there's a twist that actually made me gasp (I thought I had it all figured out, you see). It's not quite as funny as it thinks it is (during Holly's stand-up routine, the audience was howling/bent double with laughter while I didn't even smile) but it's a really fun book and well worth a read.

The sequel, Monkey Star, is out in August.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Comeback Kiss by Lani Diane Rich

Posted by Keris on June 1, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Series | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK NEWS: Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin

Yes, I know it's not chick lit (although it would be if Michael was a woman, wouldn't it?), but the Tales of the City series is my favourite series of all time (and, individually, some of the books in the series are my favourite books of all time!) and Michael Tolliver Lives is out this month!

According to Armistead Maupin, it's not actually part of the series, but Michael's in it (and apparently Brian too) and that's good enough for me.

But (why is there always a but?), the cover on the left is the US cover. I absolutely love it and think it's perfect for the series, but the UK cover... well, hop over the cut and tell me what you think?

Posted by Keris on June 1, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Modern Fiction, Series | Permalink | Comments (8)

BOOK REVIEW: Give It Up! by Mary Carlomagno

I first heard of Mary Carlomagno's book when the lovely Keris told me about her plans to emulate the concept of Give It Up! Which is: to give up one thing you love, per month, for a year.

It's an interesting prospect although (as with so many things) I decided I'd rather read about it than actually try it myself, so that's what I did.

Mary has an epiphany when she's looking  for something in her wardrobe one day, and is hit on the head by a barrage of shoe boxes. Her life is getting out of control: she's spending too much, accumulating too much, going on drunken nights out too much. So why not try a month without alcohol, then one without shopping, then one without elevators, newspapers... and so on.

I enjoyed reading about Mary's challenge and the things she learned but was disappointed this book didn't dig a little deeper: unlike Not Buying It , the author doesn't question or really look into the consumerist values of western society. And it didn't tell me enough about Mary's feelings and insights to qualify as a memoir, either.

Give It Up! is really more of a guide to streamlining your life than anything else, with suggestions on how and why to give things up. (Which is appropriate as that's now Mary's job - she's founded a company to help people streamline their lives, based on her own experience).

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Not Buying It by Judith Levine or The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 1, 2007 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two takes on call-girl lit - is it sexy or squalid?

Tracy Quan, author of the (fictional) Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl which has been optioned by Sony Pictures and Darren Star, talks exclusively to Bookslut. Quan admits she's been accused of glamorising prostitution. On her fabulously insightful publishing ishoos blog, Danuta Kean talks about 'The Squalid Truth About Call-Girl Lit'.

We'd love to hear your thoughts: do you love it or hate it?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 1, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (2)

May 31, 2007 2:03 PM

PREVIEW REVIEW: The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer

Out on 21 June, The Sleeping Beauty Proposal is Sarah Strohmeyer's second fairytale-themed fiction, following The Cinderella Pact.

Despite its name, The Sleeping Beauty Proposal is a modern-day story about Genie Michaels, who has been dating university professor and newly successful author Hugh for four years. So when he proposes to her live on TV during a talk show interview, she's amazed but gratified, and can't wait to start planning her wedding. Until... she rings Hugh and he says he's sorry, he was proposing to the love of his life: but not to Genie.

So Genie's best friend  Patty comes up with a plan: as Hugh goes back to his native England to promote his book (with his new fiancee in tow), Genie will just pretend that he did propose to her after all. It's full steam ahead to a wedding that may or may not have a groom...

I love the concept of this novel: although it may sound a bit silly, Strohmeyer pulls it off. She also has lots of interesting points to make about the inferior way single women are treated in modern society and the way an engagement ring can open doors - even if its a cubic zirconia one you bought for yourself! (But then again, her characters seem to still want to get married rather than buck the system and be unconventional).

It was a little obvious how the book would end, but there were enough surprises along the way to keep it interesting. It made me a bit anxious to think what would happen when everyone found out the engagement was fake so I'm not sure how realistic it was that Genie would have been able to keep up the charade, but I guess truth is stranger than fiction and this is a fairytale, albeit a modern one... But why does the villain always have to be an Englishman?!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try London is the Best City in America by Laura Dave.

More wedding related gossip and news over at our sister site Bridalwave.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 31, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: 'Abduction' (book tour cancelled)

After the sad case of missing four-year old Madeline McCann hit the news, the UK book tour for Barbara Gowdy's novel Helpless, which is about the abduction of a nine-year old girl, has been cancelled.

The book has been out in hardback since March in the US and is released on 7th June in the UK, where it might hit a bit too close to home for some readers. [Via Galleycat].

Book news | Book related.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 31, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (10)

Jennifer Weiner takes on Erica Jong

Jennifer Weiner can always be relied on for the most insightful take on any literary discussion and, following veteran author Erica Jong's negative comments about chick lit, she doesn't disappoint. My favourite part:

Jong faults my peers' diminished expectations. I give them credit for healthy pragmatism. She sees a bunch of meek, weak sisters, too cowed to make a fuss over what our books get called and where they get shelved. I see something sly and subversive -- a genre that's going to profit in the long run by being beneath the notice of the critics, where women's work always seems to land, and where it almost always seems to flourish.

Related posts: Does chick lit "undermine the women's movement"? | Tolstoy Lied: Putting the "lit" in "chick lit" | This is (not?) chick lit

Posted by Keris on May 31, 2007 in American Authors, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 30, 2007 5:47 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

As election fever hots up in the US, a lot of attention has turned to the most famous prospective Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton. Galleycat reports that at least three H. Clinton biographies will be rushed out this summer (does that mean publishers don't think she'll get the democratic nomination?) so what I want to know is this: after her own (admittedly tepid) memoir, Bill's autobiography, and eight years of seeing and hearing from her as First Lady...

Do you want to read any more about Hillary? Is there more to learn, anything you specifically want to know? Or aren't you that bothered?

Tell us Yay or 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!]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Joanna Barrett

Joanna Barrett's The Men's Guide To The Women's Bathroom is a great read, out now in the US and in the UK with Little Black Dress. A witty romp through ladies' bathroom secrets, it has generated a huge amount of buzz, and will be made into a movie by Hugh Jackman's production team. So without further ado, here's what Joanna had to say when we grabbed her for a chat...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

The Men’s Guide to the Women’s Bathroom reveals the secrets behind the door marked “Women.”    

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

I write everywhere!  In fact, I’m answering these questions right now in the waiting room of my dentist’s office!  (Hey, if he’s going to make me wait, I may as well get some work done!) I think Tolstoy wrote War and Peace while waiting for the dentist. 

While in the midst of a novel, I sit in front of my computer in a bathrobe.  I often do not shower nor wash my hair.  I eat takeout and stare into the refrigerator abyss for something sweet.  I tend to ignore the phone and any semblance of a social life.  It’s a lonely time.  When I finish, I like to hear the hum of the printer as it prints out all those pages.  Such a comforting feeling, indeed.  P.S.  Is this too much information? [Not at all! I know the feeling... - Diane] 

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Pride and Prejudice, of course! 

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

I like writing about women with moxie. I loved former Texas Governor Ann Richards. She was a larger than life character. She’s probably the only person in the world who could get away with telling George W. Bush that he was “Born with a silver foot in his mouth.”

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

It helps to heed the old adage “Write what you know.” Why waste time inventing a story when your story is right in front of you? Of course, the most important part of writing is to put it down on paper. It’s only an idea until it becomes words on a page! I think the best book on the subject is On Writing, by Stephen King. [I do too - Diane]

What are you reading at the moment?

I try to read a book per week. This keeps words flowing through my head in order to make my own writing better. One of my favorite books is A Widow for One Year, by John Irving.

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

My second novel [Killing Carlton] is due out on Valentines Day, 2008. Its heroine, Madeline Piatro, is in a relationship with a beautiful and yet very bad man. When this man breaks her heart and steals her business idea, she hires a loveable mob hit man to get revenge. And what woman doesn’t secretly yearn to do this!

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!)

(I’ve never been asked this question!) That is…I’ve never been asked the question of what I’ve never been asked. Ha! Get it!

Actually, I wish someone would ask me whether I collect real-life stories to use in my novels. I have a good answer for this: yes! While writing The Men’s Guide to the Women’s Bathroom, I used some phenomenal quotes I overheard in women’s bathrooms. Please email me at jobarrett@jobarrettbooks.com if you have a fantastic bathroom story of your own!

And check out Joanna's website at jobarrettbooks.com. Thanks Joanna!

Interview archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, Movie News, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Read 'Cancer Vixen' online at The First Post

I was surprised (in a happy way) to learn that daily news website The First Post is featuring Marisa Acochella Marchetto's Cancer Vixen online, for everyone to read (yay!) 

I'd still recommend buying the book but you can now see why it's so good by clicking here.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 29, 2007 3:30 PM

BOOK REVIEW: My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman

Frederica Hatch is the happy but precocious daughter of two university lecturers, brought up on campus at the small (although not very well-respected) Dewing College. She's always been doted upon by her loving parents, and treated as an equal rather than a child - so she's surprised to find her father's been hiding the secret that he was once married once before.

When Frederica turns 16, she finds out the truth as her dad's ex wife, the glamourous and incorrigible Laura Lee French gets a job at Dewing and proceeds to manipulate everyone around her...

This is the eighth of Elinor Lipman's novels, and definitely one of her best. As ever, Lipman is witty, stylish and unpredictable and I loved the turns this book unexpectedly took. It even made me  cry towards the end! Lipman is simply a great writer, so despite the name, My Latest Grievance was nothing but a pleasure to read. (Boom boom!)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

Does chick lit "undermine the women's movement"?

In an interview with The Oregonian newspaper to promote her latest novel Little Stalker, author Jennifer Belle reveals she's not a fan of the term "chick lit":

"It's beyond condescending! It's an incredibly detrimental term for women. A generation ago we were coming up with terms like 'Ms.' and having a movement to help women and raise our pay, and now we're coining these demeaning phrases."

When the interviewer suggests that it's women who buy chick lit, Belle adds, "I just think it's sad that women are undermining the women's movement. I want to write things that are important and last, not something with a pair of legs upside-down on the cover."

A lot of criticism of chick lit seems to focus on the covers rather than the content and I'm surprised Jennifer Belle has done the same. "I want to write things that are important and last" is a perfectly reasonable goal that has nothing to do with "a pair of legs upside-down on the cover."

And I'm sure Belle would be the first to admit that she sold a lot more copies of her first novel, Going Down, by being marketed as chick lit rather than literary fiction. (Whether you can complain about the feminist implications of the term "chick lit" when your first novel was called "Going Down" is a whole other topic...)

What do you think?

Related posts: Review: High Maintenance by Jennifer Belle | Chick lit is a feminist issue | Marian Keyes on The Weekender

Posted by Keris on May 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get well soon, sick chick litters!

There was no May edition of Marian Keyes' wonderful newsletter, because "She has been working night and day on the next book, and is exhausted and ill."

Jennifer Weiner recently cancelled an appearance due to an "ongoing situation that is equal parts funny and gross (or, actually, now that I reflect, more gross than funny) that I can't talk about yet and maybe won't want to talk about ever."

And self-confessed hypochondriac, Meg Cabot, has "scarring on my lungs from histoplasmosis, a disease caused by inhaling bat dung that I apparently had at one time and never even knew it, a missed opportunity I will go to my grave regretting)" to go with the Lyme disease and migraines...

Who knew writing chick lit was so hazardous to the health?! I'm sure you'll join us in wishing all three of them huge get well wishes.

Posted by Keris on May 29, 2007 in American Authors, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 28, 2007 5:11 PM

BOOK NEWS: Non-fiction from Lisa Alther

Our fabulous Guest Blog by Levi Asher on 1970s chick lit highlighted the importance of Lisa Alther's iconic novel Kinflicks to the genre.

Alther hasn't had a novel out since 1995's Five Minutes in Heaven, but her first nonfiction work, Kinfolks: Falling Off the Family Tree - The Search for My Melungeon Ancestors, is out now and getting great reviews.

Related posts: Top 10 chick lit precursors | Best women authors of all time

Posted by Keris on May 28, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: Marley & Me by John Grogan

I'm not sure whether it's because of the cute pup on the cover, but Marley & Me has the dubious honour of being the book I've most frequently picked up and put down again without buying of the past year (do you think they should make that a category in the next British Book Awards?). So when my sister-in-law offered me her copy, I almost bit her hand off.

John and Jenny are young and in love and decide to get a dog. Partly because they both have fond memories of their own dogs growing up and partly because they think it will be good practice for the children they hope to have. They pick Marley from a litter after meeting his sweet and placid mother. Apparently it's important to check out a dog's parentage before buying and the Grogans realise why when Marley's father rounds the house like a demented wild animal.

Reading up on the subject later, they discover that labrador retrievers are a particularly  demented breed and Marley's a good example. He eats everything - all and any food, paychecks, a gold necklace - later, horribly, cat poo. He escapes one day and returns with a pair of knickers in his mouth. He's neurotic too - terrified of thunderstorms to the point of trying to dig his way through the wood and concrete of the garage (and succeeding to a point). Despite all his faults the Grogans love him. Until the babies come along and his destructive behaviour threatens their marriage.

Marley & Me isn't just about the dog or the family's relationship with a dog, it's also the story of the Grogans themselves. Babies, jobs, miscarriages, depression, loving and living. It's beautifully written, sometimes very funny and it even made me cry. Well worth waiting for.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this, try The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery

Posted by Keris on May 28, 2007 in American Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (10)

GUEST BLOG: Laura Kasischke

Laura Kasischke is the author of  Be Mine, an erotic thriller that has been compared to American Beauty (we'll have a review coming soon). Here, she guest blogs excluisvely for Trashionista on:

What lies beneath...

It seems too much of a cliche to be true - that beneath the glossiest facades, you'll nearly always find grit. Surely there are women who present to the world a picture perfect surface, and, beneath it, there's precisely the kind of competence and content you would have imagined. Why, then, does it seem so often that it's the happy-seeming couples who shock us with their bitter divorces? The shining pillars of the community whose private lives, revealed by some scandal, turn out to have been full of sordid secrets all along? Is this just in fiction and film, or is that in itself art imitating reality?

There was a sign at the edge of the town I grew up proudly proclaiming us to be "America's Home Town." I assume this was supposed to be a good thing. Our streets were kept dazzlingly clean. Our stores were closed on Sundays so that we'd have nothing to tempt us away from our churches. I was always a bit ashamed of my family. There had been some years without a lot of money, and let's just say the house was not always kept clean, and my father could be found in the back yard, shirtless, with a beer rather often in a neighborhood where neither of those things was condoned.

But we were, basically, pretty happy, I think. If you drove by our house, pretty much what you thought was going on behind the curtains was what was going on. We threw dishes on occasion. We threw our arms around each other, too. I thought everyone was as dull as we were, but that some people kept things looking nice at the same time.

Across town, I had a friend with a much nicer house, and a mother who wore high heels and pearls and stockings to do yard work. She seemed so happy, that mother. There were freshly-baked cookies set out on the kitchen counter every day at 3pm, just when my own mother was settling down with a cigarette to watch a soap opera, saying, wearily, "Can't you go find something to do?" One day, after a few of those cookies, my friend took me to the immaculate upstairs bathroom and showed me, in the back of the toilet tank, where her mother kept two floating bottles of vodka. "My dad said he'd kill her if she didn't quit drinking." She took me into the bedroom then, and showed me where her father kept his gun.

It might have been around then that I started to wonder if maybe one of the things that was happening in the dichotomy between the outward perfection and the secret shame was that the reason for so much emphasis on appearances in the first place was that there was something to hide. Was that why that couple-friend of ours used to spend so much time kissing passionately on our couch when we'd invite them over for a simple dinner? I always looked at my own husband with a bit of deflated confusion after those two left, until the wife moved out of their house one day while the husband was at work, taking everything down to the last spoon in the drawer.

Rumour was that he tried, after that, to burn the house down, "to get her back," but the neighbors smelled smoke and called the fire department. You could have knocked me over with a straw when I heard that news. Despite what I feel I've learned, I walk around just like everybody else, with my jaw hanging open half the time, saying, "Who would ever have expected that?"

What do you think - is truth stranger than fiction? Does art imitate life, or vice versa? (Thanks for a very thought-provoking blog that gave me a shiver, Laura!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 28, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Guest blogs, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (3)

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Early Ink website

This site sounds like an exciting idea: Early Ink's aim is to help publicise new books so it features all the news on books about to hit the shops, and even excerpts that you can print out, PLUS audio and video promos. [Via CrusieMayer.com]

"Help build buzz for your favorite author's next book by leaving comments or by linking its preview to your choice of social bookmarking Web sites," says the site.

Sounds good for authors and readers alike - just the sort of site we like!

Related: Trashionista recommends | Book websites

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 28, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, New Releases, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Girls' Almanac by Emily Franklin

Emily Franklin's The Girls' Almanac covers relationships, fertility problems, betrayals, illness, death and, ultimately, friendships: how they are formed and why they last. Following the intertwining lives of Jenna and Lucy, two women who eventually become best friends, we are taken on a tour of how people’s lives cross and what brings them together. The book is written in an unusual format. It’s not linear, instead we get a snippet here and a snippet there told in a series of short stories. First up is Lucy as she comes to terms with the death of her fiance and her mother’s second marriage. The second story is also about Lucy but this time she is a young girl with a friend called Alex. Next comes Gabrielle and Andrea, both as young girls, then Gabrielle pops up two stories later as a doctor in Bogota.

There are so many stories and time frames the characters are hard to keep up with (there’s a chart at the beginning of the book just in case the reader loses track). No sooner have we met and been given the background of a character than that story ends and we hear no more about them, which gave me the impression that the book was imparting facts rather than telling a story. Some stories were interesting but there were some I just didn’t see the point of. Unfortunately the second was one of them, which didn’t bode well for the rest of the book.

It has been said that some short stories are a slice of life but the detached way in which these stories were told left me unemotional about the characters and not really concerned about how or why their lives intertwined. [Nicola Pedley]

Rating: 2 out of 5

Like this? Try The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 28, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 2/5, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 25, 2007 1:17 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Steamed by Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant

Yes, I did read these the wrong way around! I enjoyed Simmer Down so much I wanted to go back and read the first in the culinary-mystery series by by Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant, Steamed.

Steamed takes place a little earlier in the same year as Simmer Down. Chloe Carter has just started at Social Work Graduate school and is having trouble getting to grips with the right social worker mentality especially as Naomi Campbell (not that one!), her boss at her work placement, is a bit too touchy-feely.

Chloe wouldn't mind finding a man to do a bit of touchy feely (snarf) with, but she's having no luck in the boyfriend department: first her fling with her downstairs neighbour ends badly, then she goes on a blind date with a pompous bore called Eric who takes her to a restaurant he's thinking of investing in... until he gets murdered halfway through their date, that is.

Having found the body, Chloe is both terribly shaken and desperate to know who the murderer was. Especially as the prime suspect is a rather tasty chef she wouldn't mind getting to know better... providing he's innocent, that is. However, for some reason Eric's parents have her down as his serious girlfriend, so there's that little mess to sort out too...

I thoroughly enjoyed Steamed, and just wish there were more in this series for me to read - they're addictive, fantastically escapist and well-written with a witty main character. And delicious recipes, too! What more could you want? (An interview with the authors, perhaps? Watch this space... we'll have one with you soon).

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Simmer Down by the same authors, or The Food of Love by Anthony Capella.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 25, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 24, 2007 4:11 PM

BOOK NEWS: Laurie Notaro novel

Laurie Notaro is one of those authors who's been on my radar for years, but whose books I've inexplicably yet to read. So far she's written non-fiction books: I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies): True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl and We Thought You Would Be Prettier: True Tales of the Dorkiest Girl Alive. I can't think why I've wanted to read them, can you? Sigh.

Anyway, she's written a novel and it's called There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble. It sounds great and I'll read it ... one day.

Posted by Keris on May 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Debut Novels | Permalink | Comments (23)

BOOK REVIEW: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

The cover of Sara Shepard's first novel, Pretty Little Liars, compares it to The O.C. It didn't remind me of that show, but it was reminiscent of a few other things: the Traveling Pants series, the Gossip Girls series, Donna Tartt's The Secret History, even the Twilight Zone. And it left me ... entertained but confused.

Aria, Emily, Spencer, Hanna and Ali are the best of friends in the same way many teenage girls are friends, i.e. they know each other's secrets and have a tendency to use them against each other. Particularly Ali, the leader of the pack. So when Ali disappears the girls are of course horrified, but also a little bit relieved. Understandably, they drift apart. Three years later they've all changed a lot and then they start getting messages signed by 'A'. Not only does the mysterious 'A' know their past secrets, he or she knows exactly what they're up to now too...

All the girls are horrified, but don't feel like they can tell anyone, least of all each other, because, well, Ali's dead, isn't she, and ghosts can't send texts, can they?

Pretty Little Liars is the kind of book I would have loved to have read in one sitting. It's utterly compelling and entertaining. The girls' problems aren't particularly original (one's bulimic, one's struggling with her sexuality, etc.), but it's very well-written and I did actually like most of the girls, despite their misdeeds.

My problem with it was the ending. I can't say much about it, obviously, but it's either hugely disappointing or brilliantly ballsy. I don't know. What I do know is that there will be a sequel and I will absolutely be reading it.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund

Posted by Keris on May 24, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (34)

TV News: David Duchovny's 'novel' (ha ha) new series, Californication

Those crazy US TV stars just keep on recycling themselves! First Dharma and Greg's Jenna Elfman is lined up to play a literary agent, then Will and Grace's Debra Messing is a Starter Wife, now The X-Files's David Duchovny is starring in Californication (steal a title from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, much?) a series about a troubled novelist. Not that troubled though - it's a comedy. Five has snapped it up, so we'll keep you posted about when they'll be showing it...  [Via TV Scoop].

More TV news.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 23, 2007 3:26 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Summer At Tiffany by Marjorie Hart

Honestly, it's some time since I've been as excited about a book as I was about Summer at Tiffany. New York? The forties? That cover? 83-year-old Marjorie Hart's memoir of the 1945 summer she spent working for the famous and glamorous store almost seemed as if it was designed with me in mind.

Along with her college friend Marty, Marjorie got a job as a Page at Tiffany, making the two of them the first women to work on the shop floor. Customers included Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich and the job was wonderful, but poorly paid. Marjorie and Marty shared an apartment, which was used as a weekend city base for their other college friends as they enjoyed New York's sights and nightlife.

I loved this book just as much as I thought I would. Adriana Trigiani's comment on the cover, "Charming and delicious..." is spot on (and Trigiani's novel of working in a department store in '50s New York, Lucia Lucia, is equally charming and delicious). I loved all the details: joining two million people in Times Square to read the announcement of Victory in Japan, lunch from the Automat (which you may remember from That Touch of Mink), getting sunburned at the beach...

It seems like another (and despite the war, much more civilised) world. Summer of Tiffany is a book I can see myself rereading when modern life gets to be just too much.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Lucia Lucia by Adriana Trigiani

Posted by Keris on May 23, 2007 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jenny Colgan

I don't think Jenny Colgan needs much introduction. She's one of the biggest names in chick lit and has been for, ooh, years. Her latest book is West End Girls, which I'll let Jenny tell you about.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Two poor girls move to the big city to try and make it big!

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

I don't mind, anywhere. Sometimes home, sometimes a coffee shop, sometimes a local library. Trains are good too. Not bed though, I'd get too many crumbs in it.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Uhm, difficult question. I Don't Know How She Does It, maybe, that's great.

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

I love Thursday Next, in the Jasper Fforde books. She's this incredibly cool literary detective who can walk into the pages of fiction at will.

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

I would just say, write every day, and write what's true to you. And don't let your boyfriend read it, you'll only fall out.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm reading A Curious Earth by Gerard Woodward, which is good. I just finished What Was Lost by Catherine Flynn, which is absolutely brilliant, about a little girl who gets lost in a shopping centre. Highly highly recommended. And I just finished Arthur and George by Julian Barnes which I didn't think I'd like at all, but was actually great. Ooh, and Shopaholic & Baby. Brill stuff.

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

I'm writing a series of school stories, kind of like modern day Malory Towers. Great 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!)

Hmm. How about, would you like James McAvoy's phone number? He wants to take you out for an incredibly romantic meal somewhere fabulous and he says to tell you he's a lot taller than he looks on screen.

Me: Yes please.

Thanks, Jenny!

Posted by Keris on May 23, 2007 in American Authors, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Going Overboard by Sarah Smiley

Subtitled "The misadventures of a military wife" Going Overboard sounded very intriguing...

It's a memoir of a year in the life of Sarah Smiley, whose husband Dustin is in the navy and, in this perilous political climate, often abroad in rather dangerous situations. Which means that Sarah is home alone with their two young boys, alternately worrying herself sick and cursing her husband for having joined up in the first place.

I read a review of this which suggested that the U.S Navy and Secretary of Defence would be quaking in their boots at the revelations herein, so was looking forward to some real insider intrigue from the front lines of war... but that wasn't what this book was like at all. It's about how hard it can be to be a military dependant, something Smiley has been all her life, as her Dad was in the Navy too.

I found the insights into military life interesting, and have to admire the strength of wives (and husbands, of course) in Sarah's position. But most of the book is about the ups and downs of her time alone, and these would be true of any long-distance relationship. (I know, I've been there - never again!) Sarah struggles with her attraction to another man, long-distance arguments with Dustin, and feelings of loneliness and overwhelm. She writes about all of this very honestly, and is very open about her own flaws and frustrations, which makes her a very likeable narrator. She's also very funny, if at times frustratingly helpless! I raced through this book and enjoyed every minute, but I think I would have liked to have read something to make the Secretary of Defence quake at least a little bit!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Job Hopper by Ayun Holliday.

Related: TV NEWS: Going Overboard | More memoirs.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

May 22, 2007 2:10 PM

TUESDAY THREE: Sex swap

I've just read an interview with Jennifer Weiner in which she says she's changed the sex of one of the characters in her new novel, Certain Girls (the sequel to Good in Bed):  "One character is getting a sex change; there’s a girl we think is going to work better as a boy. I’m sure writing it is easier than doing it in real life.”

So today I'm looking at men writing as women and women writing as men!

Jay McInerney’s Story of My Life features Alison Poole, a 20-year old aspiring actress living in New York City. Her rich father is supposed to be funding her education, but keeps flaking on her, so she has to survive on her wits (which she does brilliantly, if not always morally). She's quick-witted, clever, promiscuous and a regular drug-user who has seen and done too much, too young. Ye somehow McInerney also makes her sweet, charming and a wonderful narrator for this slice-of-life story, which is also brilliantly sharply written and very, very funny.

Jodi Picoult’s Salem Falls tells the story of Jack McBride. Accused of indecently assaulting a female pupil at the school he taught at, Jack’s reputation is destroyed overnight. Despite his continued protestations of innocence, Jack spends 8 months in jail. Upon leaving he decides to pick up the pieces, and start over. When he arrives in Salem Falls, and manages to pick up a job washing dishes at the local diner, he begins to think his life may be starting to pick up. That is until he meets Gilly, Meg, Chelsea and Whitney – a group of friends bonded closer than the outside world realises. When they target him with spiteful accusations, Jack begins to wonder if he is doomed to relive the past over and over. Once more he must fight to prove his innocence, and risk losing the woman he loves.

I thought I’d finish with a classic. Arthur Golden inhabits his heroine’s voice so brilliantly that many people actually believe Memoirs of a Geisha is a true story. The story begins in Japan in 1929. When Chiyo's mother becomes progressively ill her elderly father arranges for Chiyo and her sister Satsu to be taken away to Kyoto where they will be trained as geisha girls. Upon arrival in Kyoto the girls are separated and sold to different okiya where they will be trained. Chiyo quickly realises that the life she has been sold into is one of labour and hardship. The book follows Chiyo through her training until she becomes Sayuri, a geisha. It continues then through her experiences as a geisha, and the ways in which world events affect her. Reading it you get a real sense of what it was like to live as a geisha, but also to live in Japan during the 1930s and 40s.

Posted by Keris on May 22, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Frenemies by Megan Crane

I didn't like Megan Crane's first book as much as I'd hoped to (because she's friend of Trashionista, you see), but I absolutely loved her second, so I approached Frenemies with trepidation - which would it be, yay or nay? Well...

Augusta "Gus" Curtis is actually looking forward to the big 3-0. She's on track to having everything she wants: a great job, a gorgeous boyfriend, wonderful friends. That is, until, she walks in on her boyfriend, Nate, kissing her friend, Helen. Gus can't believe Nate would do that to her, but she's actually more upset about Helen's betrayal, especially since Helen won't leave her alone and seems to be doing everything in her power to drive Gus round the twist.

Realising that she's not quite as grown up as she would like to think, Gus decides to take action and drag herself into adulthood.

I loved Frenemies. Lots of the cover reviews (including a fabulous one from Marian Keyes) claimed it was unputdownable and, while no book is literally unputdownable (sorry, but it's one of my bugbears) I really didn't want to leave Frenemies until I got to the end.

Gus is great: the perfect combination of clueless and clued-in. Her friends Georgia and Amy Lee are fabulous too (particularly Georgia). Helen is just so painfully infuriating I wanted to leap into the book and slap her smug face. Even minor characters like Gus's boss and her next-door neighbour are brilliantly realised and entertaining. And I haven't even mentioned the gorgeous Henry (swoon).

I also loved the fact that the book was arranged almost entirely around parties. It reminded me a bit of St Elmo's Fire, which is one of my favourite films, so that's no bad thing at all.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

 

Posted by Keris on May 22, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (4)

The Daily Mail book club features Julie Myerson (and more!)

It may not be my favourite newspaper (no offence to its readers!) but the book coverage at the Daily Mail keeps getting better. Their book club choice for May is The Story of You by Julie Myerson, and you can read more about the book and its author here.

If you want to get ahead, their June pick is The Vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell and upcoming authors include More on Monday favourites Bill Bryson and Marina Lewycka (with her new novel, Two Caravans).

Don't forget you still have until July 2nd to enter their first novel competition, too.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 22, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 21, 2007 12:59 PM

MOVIE NEWS: A Mighty Heart

Based on the Marianne Pearl's memoir about her husband Daniel's abduction and murder by Pakistani militants in 2002 (while she was pregnant with their first child), A Mighty Heart is sure to be a heartbreaking adaptation. Angelina Jolie stars along with (weirdly) two of the former cast of Judging Amy: Jillian Armenante co-stars and and Dan Futterman (who also co-wrote the Oscar-nominated biopic Capote) plays Daniel.

It will be released in the UK on 28 September.

Update: Gratutitous link to some gorgeous pics of Jolie and her partner Brad Pitt, who produced the film, in Cannes this weekend.

More Movie News.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed is one of veteran actor Alan Alda's life philosophies. When he was young, his favourite dog died and he was devastated. So his dad had the dog stuffed, as a kind of consolation. But the expression on the dog's face was all wrong, and instead of comforting, he was just scary. It taught Alda an important lesson: you can't go back and change the past, and if you try to, you'll just create a horrifying, upsetting mess.

In this book, Alda shares his other life philosophies, and tells the story of his life - from his childhood growing up among the stars of vaudeville (one of whom was his father) to his marriage, his acting roles, and his near-death experience whilst filming in a very remote part of the world...

I hadn't realised that as well as being an actor, Alan Alda is an acclaimed writer, director and producer - and a highly intelligent and reflective person, too. He hasn't had an easy life: his mother was severely mentally ill and he had a difficult, competitive relationship with his father. Although Alda desperately wanted to be an actor, and started acting at a young age, his success was by no means guaranteed until he was lucky enough to be offered his iconic role as Hawkeye in M*A*S*H.

Books by celebrities are a dime (or rather £1.25 million) a dozen, but this one is a bit different, and digs a bit deeper. It's a chronological history of Alda's life,  but it's also a reflection on what he's learned. And he's learned a lot. NHYDS is an entertaining, heart-breaking and very intelligent read. I loved it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try My Life So Far by Jane Fonda

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK NEWS: Courtney Thorne-Smith's 'Outside In'

Yesterday, I caught a few minutes of an old Ally McBeal and was feeling all nostalgic for the time when I watched the show (the early seasons, when it was actually good...)

Anyway!, it reminded me of something I'd read back in November and failed to blog about then (not the first time we've been tardy I'm afraid!): Courtney Thorne-Smith, who played Ally's love-rival Georgia on the show, is the latest actress to turn author, having written a 'comedic' (chick-lit?) novel, Outside In, which will be released (in the US at least) this September.

[Via Galleycat].

Related: Celebrity authors archives | More TV news and gossip over at TV Scoop.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 18, 2007 11:01 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom by Jo Barrett

In Jo Barrett's debut novel, 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. After all, the bathroom (by which she means public toilets - thank goodness for American euphemisms as that wouldn't make a snappy title!) is where Claire has received all the best (sometimes drunken) advice and where women mull over some of their biggest decisions, from 'shall I keep this baby?' to 'do I want to sleep with him tonight?' (Yes I know, those should be the other way around...)

As well as re-adjusting to life in Austin, ignoring her mother's dietary advice and running up and down the road in a bikini (don't ask), Claire is also falling for Jake Armstrong, a sexy food entrepreneur. But should she? A few discussions in front of the mirrors under harsh florescent bathroom lighting should help her decide...

In a similar way to A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, there's a book within a book here as we read both the novel and the book our heroine is creating. I enjoyed this book-within-book much more than the tractors one, though! Not only is Jo Barrett a smart, witty and talented author, but her heroine is too. The novel is full of great banter and memorable characters, and I'm sure it will translate brilliantly to the big screen.

Click here to read a sample chapter.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Time Off for Good Behavior by Lani Diane Rich.

PS: Do you prefer the American cover? I think it suits the book better.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 18, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: Cathy Yardley's Turning Japanese

We've talked before about the popularity of manga, what with Meg Cabot's Avalon High sequel coming out as a three-part manga series, Avril Lavigne's manga series (still scratching my head over that one) and Harlequin's manga romances. What we haven't seen yet is manga chick lit ... until now!

Will Write for Shoes author Cathy Yardley's Turning Japanese is about a Japanese-American manga artist who moves to Tokyo for an internship with a Japanese publisher. No idea when it'll be out yet, but we'll certainly keep an eye out for it. [via MangaBlog]

Posted by Keris on May 18, 2007 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

FRIDAY FLICK: Adaptation

Adaptation has to be the weirdest Friday Flick yet. It's both an adaptation of Susan Orlean's non-fiction book The Orchid Thief (a fascinating study of a not-always-legal orchid collector's world) and a fictional film about... adapting Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief for the big screen.

Confused yet? You will be... Nicholas Cage plays writer twins Donald (who doesn't exist in real life) and Charlie Kaufman (who actually did write the Adaptation script). In the film, Charlie is trying to do justice to Orlean's book and struggling, whilst  his brother, who has far less writing talent but boundless enthusiasm, is racking up huge success with a pulpy thriller. So Charlie decides that the only thing to do is ratchet up the tension in his script, even if it means deviating from the truth of the book...

As this is happening, we see the events he writes about with Orlean and her subject John Laroche portrayed brilliantly by Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper, who throughly deserved his Oscar win for supporting actor.

I really enjoyed this film, although I think it might an acquired taste as it's definitely very odd. And it's important to remember that the ridiculous escalation of events at the end of the movie is satirical, and not meant to be taken seriously - but it's lucky Susan Orlean has a sense of humour!

Like this (kind of): Stranger Than Fiction.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 18, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Non Fiction, Prize Winners | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: Lady Luck's Map of Vegas by Barbara Samuel

A good friend of mine has been telling me to read Barbara Samuel for ages. She insisted I’d love her books and, if Lady Luck’s Map of Vegas is anything to go by, she was right.

India is 40 with a well-established career, a boyfriend she sees only once a month, a bombshell of a mother and a schizophrenic twin sister who went off her meds and on the run when their father died a few months earlier. When her mother, Eldora, suggests a road trip both to try and find India’s sister, Gypsy, and because she’d like to return to Las Vegas where she lived for a time in the ‘60s, India flat out refuses. Her mother annoys the hell out of her and she can’t bear to spend that much time cooped up with her. Plus, she’s just discovered thiat she’s pregnant and she needs to work out how she fees and what she wants to do about that situation.

But eventually her mother wears her down and they set off together. India finds herself both enjoying the trip more than she expected and missing her boyfriend Jack more than she imagined. But he didn’t seem interested when she told him about the baby and she hasn’t managed to get hold of him since she’s been on the road. Plus her mother seems to be using the trip as a chance to tell India all sorts of secrets that India would really rather not know.

Lady Luck’s Map of Las Vegas is a book to wallow in. The women are gorgeous, sexy, confident and the men are (generally) gorgeous, sexy and powerful, but it’s no Jackie Collins-style bonkbuster. Samuel beautifully captures the emotions and conflict inherent in mother-daughter-sister relationships, along with writing evocatively about both New Mexico and Las Vegas. I never questioned a single moment of the book. It’s entirely believable and emotionally satisfying. Plus Jack is really hot.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Why Moms Are Weird by Pamela Ribon

Posted by Keris on May 18, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

May 17, 2007 4:37 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Lorrie Moore

This week's Trailblazer is a real personal favourite. J'adore Lorrie Moore.

Lorrie Moore was writing intelligent, witty, poignant and insightful short stories (and one novel) about life, love and relationships as far back as the early '80s She satirised things like America's self-help culture before most of us even knew it existed. She's smart, savvy, always ahead of the curve - and a brilliant writer, too. If I could write like anyone, it would be Lorrie Moore. (She's one of Nick Hornby's favourites too, so I'm in good company).

Moore's first book, the story collection Self-Help, was published when she was twenty-six. As well as her books, she has been published in The New Yorker, The Paris Review and in the anthology The Best American Short Stories. She now teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which may be why she hasn't published a book for nine years (since Birds of America) - a situation I hope is remedied soon. 

Read this: Self-Help, or Who Will Run The Frog Hospital?

What do you think - and who's your favourite trailblazer?

Trailblazer archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 17, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Short Story Collections, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 16, 2007 5:00 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

If you're a long-time Trashionista reader, you'll know by now what a 'blook' is, but if you're new (hello and welcome!) you might not, so I'll explain: it's just a blog turned into a book.

The annual Blooker Prize for the best blook of the year has just been announced, and the winner (netting himself a nice wad with the $10,000 prize) is Colby Buzzell, whose memoir My War: Killing Time in Iraq most impressed the judging panel. But should it have?

From now on, US soldiers will not be allowed to write 'mili-blogs' about their time in Iraq or any other part of the world. Do you agree this is for the best? Is it okay if their time in the military is over, or is it always too dangerous a compromise to national security? Will more soldiers be traumatised if they can't set down their thoughts? Is it okay to write it all down as long as it's not published, or is it always too risky? Is freedom of expression too important to be censored in this way - or is the military right? That's a lot of questions, but it all boils down to just one:

Should soldiers be allowed to write blogs, books or blooks about their experiences? Tell us: Yay or 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!]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 16, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Memoirs, Opinion, Recent Release, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (4)

MOVIE NEWS: The Time Traveler's Wife

Yes, again. But with good reason. Finally, we've got cast members!

Eric Bana will play Henry, while, as predicted, Rachel Mean Girls McAdams is to be Clare. They're no Brad and Jen, but I can actually see them both in the roles. [via Writer Unboxed]

What do you think?

Posted by Aigua Media on May 16, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: How To Be A Budget Fashionista by Kathryn Finney

I’m no fashionista, budget or otherwise. I can’t stand most of my clothes, have no idea what suits me and can never find anything to fit, so I wouldn’t have bothered reading this book if I hadn’t been reviewing it ... and that would have been a big mistake.

How to be a Budget Fashionista is full of good, common-sense and practical advice about finding your style, streamlining your wardrobe, shopping for new clothes and getting rid of old. It’s aimed at an American audience and so many of the links to shops, references to discounts and coupons are no good to anyone outside the US, but there is plenty of other information that Brits - or anyone interested in fashion or interested in becoming interested in fashion - can make good use of.

With chapters on budgeting (of course),finding your own personal style (this was a great one for me) and everything from undergarments to accessories, outlet stores to department stores, this book will arm you with everything you need to create both a basic wardrobe and a signature style and build on it as time goes on.

I’ll certainly be using its tips as I scrap the entire contents of my wardrobe (well, I say wardrobe, most of my clothes live in a pile in the corner of the room) and start from scratch, but even if you’re an established fashionista there should still be plenty here for you too.

How to be a Budget Fashionista manages to be practical and personable without being at all patronising. Recommended. (As is Finney's website, The Budget Fashionista.)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon

Posted by Aigua Media on May 16, 2007 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

May 15, 2007 6:47 PM

Chick lit on TV Scoop

We love rambling on about chick lit, as you know, and today I'm rambling providing a useful and insightful summary of the latest chick lit TV projects over on TV Scoop.

So if you've missed any TV news over the last couple of months, this will catch you up!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin is a great writer. We loved her previous books, Something Borrowed and Something Blue, which took the same story from two different angles. Baby Proof takes on a new story, with older protagonists (ooh) and a more weighty subject matter. Would I still enjoy it as much?

Baby Proof is about Claudia and Ben, a couple in their mid-thirties who are happily married and perfectly matched: they both want the same things out of life, which includes not having children. But then one day, Ben drops a bombshell - he wants a baby. Badly.

Within months, they're divorced and both have new people in their lives. But Claudia can't help wondering if she was right to let Ben go so easily. Was she just being stubborn, or is she really Baby Proof?

I really like Emily Giffin's writing style: it's intelligent and thoughtful without losing the reader's interest. I enjoyed the exploration of the issues surrounding having children and the fact that Claudia is a sympathetic character, even thought she doesn't want kids (not always the case in fiction!) However, I'm not sure if it really hit upon the main reason some women choose not to have children, which is simply that they don't want them (and that's okay). Maybe Giffin wanted to leave the story a bit more ambiguous - it's certainly very balanced.

What I really want to talk about is how the book ends, but I can't or I'd give too much away. Let's just say that I would have liked to have known a little more. I felt it was a *tad* of a cop out... But still a great read.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try A Piece of Normal by Sandi Kahn Shelton.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

Jacqueline Mitchard on chick lit

Check out this wonderful guest blog by Jacquelyn Mitchard on group blog, Writers Plot. My favourite part:

Tom Perrotta wrote a very good and wry and funny and poignant book about suburban life, about a stay-home dad and various mothers both over-ambitious and predatory. Critics wrote, "What is Tom Perrotta but an American Chekhov, whose characters even at their most ridiculous seem blessed and ennobled by a luminous human aura?" and ""Suburban comedies don't come any sharper."

But they do; and women write them.

Mitchard's first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, was the first Oprah's book club pick back in 1996. Her new book, Now You See Her, is her first novel for young adults.

Related posts: Chick lit is a feminist issue | Tolstoy Lied: Putting the "lit" in "chick lit" 

Posted by Keris on May 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

TUESDAY THREE: Imaginary friends

I had one named Mr Corbett. Once, I left my grandparents house and, on the way home, said I’d left him behind. My dad said, “That’s okay, he’s running behind the car.” What on earth am I blethering on about? Imaginary friends! This week we look at three books featuring characters that may not exactly be, you know, real.

Lois Winston’s Talk Gertie to Me features Nori, who, in just one day, loses her boyfriend, best friend and her job and gets home to find that her mother has turned up unannounced for an indefinite stay. Before too long her childhood imaginary friend Gertie emerges to dispense straight talking advice. Gertie isn’t a physical presence, but a voice in Nori’s head, and the whole book is great fun.

Shannon McKelden's witty debut, Venus Envy, finds Venus/Aphrodite/goddess of love in the Seattle area, having to matchmake mortals to appease her father (that'd be Zeus). She's horrified to find her latest challenge is Rachel, who is so damaged by previous disastrous relationships that she's sworn off men for life and fills her time with good works instead. Luckily for Rachel, Luke - a hunky local firefighter - has taken a shine to her and isn't willing to take no for an answer. With Luke already interested and Venus there to help, what could possibly go wrong? Ha.

We haven’t actually reviewed Cecelia Ahern’s If You Could See Me Now, but it’s the story of Elizabeth Egan who has everything under control apart from her irresponsible sister Saoirse. Elizabeth has to take care of Saoirse’s six-year-old son Luke. One day, a stranger unexpectedly comes into their lives. Ivan is carefree, spontaneous and always looking for adventure - everything that Elizabeth is not. In no time at all, he has crept under her skin and started to change her life in ways she could never have . She knows barely anything about Ivan - who he is and whether he is everything he seems. But it turns out he might just be a little bit magical...

And don't forget that the movie (a musical!) is currently in “active production” with Hugh Jackman as the star.

Posted by Keris on May 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Cecelia Ahern, Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Supernatural, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (3)

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Snowbooks

We don't usually recommend particular publishers, but Snowbooks is definitely worthy of a special mention. They're a small press, so turn out just a handful of books each year - but they're all of very good quality. So far we've reviewed Taking The Plunge, Drugs are Nice, Mama Lama Ding Dong and one of my favourite books of last year, Plotting for Beginners.

Not only that, but Snowbooks have a beautifully designed website, with a very interesting blog.

And you can catch up with them on Myspace and Twitter, too!

Related: Literature... on Twitter? | Trashionista Recommends.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Trashionista Recommends | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 14, 2007 12:45 PM

Upcoming bloggy book from Fussy and Finslippy

Two of the wittiest women in the blogosphere, Eden Kennedy of Fussy and Alice Bradley of Finslippy are currently at work on a new joint book about... well, they're not saying. But I can't wait to find out!

And uber-blogger Dooce is now at work on her (court-ordered) book too.

If you're a blook fan like me, this is the mother lode.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

I read The Yellow Wallpaper at university six or so years ago and it has stayed with me as one of the most disturbing stories I've ever read.

A short story, written in 1891 by feminist author Charlotte Perkins Gilman (she also wrote a book about a female utopia called Herland) it's the first person account of the descent into insanity of a nameless woman who's physician husband claims she's suffering from nervous exhaustion.

Renting a house for three months, the husband chooses the highest room in the house as their bedroom believing its lightness will do his wife good. And she does like the room, apart from the yellow wallpaper which she finds unpleasant and creepy. As the story goes on, the wallpaper disturbs the narrator more and more until she's seeing figures sneaking behind it and eyes and tongues lolling out. Ugh, it gives me the willies just to think about it. I won't say anymore because you can read it online, but if the ending doesn't make you shiver you're a braver woman than me.

It's an amazing piece of work, a genuine horror story that also highlights the issues facing woman in the none-too-distant past. The narrator is most likely suffering from post-natal depression, but her husband believes writing and any sort of society is likely to overexcite her and make it worse, and so makes her a prisoner in her own home.

It's actually based on Gilman's own experiences (with depression, rather than interior decoration) and its publication was delayed when a doctor (not Gilman's own) took exception to it, claiming that it would drive anyone mad to read it. I highly recommend you test his theory here (and make sure you let us know what you think).

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try The Woman Who Walked Into Doors by Roddy Doyle

Posted by Keris on May 14, 2007 in American Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (5)

Nora Roberts one of Time's 100 most influential people

Nora Roberts, the prolific American romance and suspense author, was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2007. The author of more than 175 novels, she was one of only two writers on the list (the other was David Mitchell). [via Meg Cabot]

(I was surprised to see that Time's profile of Roberts was written by Andrea Sachs, since I thought she was fictional, but it turns out she's real.)

Related post: Nora Roberts' Lifetime movies

Posted by Keris on May 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 11, 2007 12:18 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Based on Truman Capote's legendary novel (which I liked far more than I thought I would having fallen in love with the film years ago), Breakfast at Tiffany's is the story of Holly Golightly, the most iconic of all Audrey Hepburn's film roles. Holly is flighty and mysterious, a naive party girl prone to getting caught up with a bad crowd. When she moves into the apartment building of George Peppard's Paul, he feels himself magnetically drawn to her - so much so that he might even be willing to give up his own questionable lifestyle and fall in love with her... if she'll have him.

If you haven't seen this film yet, why the HECK not? It's a classic, the ultimate chick flick! Audrey is breathtaking.

Just ignore Mickey Rooney's racist portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi (please).

*DID YOU KNOW?* BaT was directed by Blake Edwards, who is married to Julie Andrews.

Like this - 'cos it's another girly classic: Fried Green Tomatoes.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (2)

Karyn Bosnak on Radio Scotland

Yes, Trashionista favourite Karyn Bosnak was interviewed not in Scotland, but by BBC Radio Scotland - almost as good!

You can listen to it here via their archives. (It's the one called Fortune Tellers and should start playing straight away...)  [Via Pretty* in The City]

Related: Karyn Bosnak's favourite bookshop | Karyn Bosnak, internet superstar

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Memoirs, Technology | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon

Kalisha Buckhanon's Upstate is an epistolary novel (and I was twenty-seven before I knew what that meant, so for my fellow duh-brains, it means it's told in letter form) telling the love story of twentieth-century Brooklyn-based Romeo and Juliets Antonio and Natasha.

The couple, aged 16 and 17 at the start of the novel, are at high school and in love and planning for the future.

Then one night Antonio is arrested for the murder of his father, found guilty and sent to jail.

The young lovers's world is turned upside down, but they vow to write to each other and to never let their love die...

At first, I worried that some of the Brooklyn teenage dialect would get on my nerves, but it seemed authentic and didn't disturb my enjoyment of the story.

I found this book incredibly moving and gripping - I read it in less than a day, almost forgetting to breathe at times! It's definitely one of the best books I've read so far this year and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

I loved it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

PS: Upstate also has butterflies on the cover! BUT they are relevant to the story... Whatever next?!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK NEWS: The Straight Road to Kylie by Nico Medina

After I wrote about the singer Kylie Minogue on Shiny's new women's blog, DollyMix, Chicklish ed Luisa Plaja alerted me to this forthcoming book and it sounds fantastic.

Life is fabulous for Jonathan Parish. He's seventeen, out and proud, and ready to party through senior year with his posse of best girlfriends. But the year starts off with the wrong kind of bang when Jonathan -- in an inebriated lapse of judgment -- sleeps with a friend of his...a girl friend!

When word gets around that hot-but-previously-unavailable Jonathan might be on the market, the school's It girl approaches him with a proposal: pretend to be her boyfriend, and achieve popularity like he's never known. But popularity isn't what Jonathan wants. And suddenly, going back into the closet becomes Jonathan's only way to get what he's after -- a trip to see Kylie Minogue. [via Amazon]

Related posts: Kylie joins celebrity authors | Book news archives

Posted by Keris on May 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Debut Novels | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: Khaled Hosseini's new novel

If you loved The Kite Runner as much as our former Trashionista ed Jenni, you'll be equally as excited to know about Khaled Hosseini's new book: A Thousand Splendid Suns.

It's an Afghanistan-set story of betrayal, redemption and love. [Via Glamour] So, like The Kite Runner then! It's getting some great reviews and it's out on May 22nd...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 10, 2007 2:50 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Mary McCarthy

Mary McCarthy survived a tough early life to become a successful writer: she was orphaned age six and raised by her paternal grandparents, who were abusive. She was later taken in by her mother's parents, and had a happier time with them, crediting her grandfather with the shaping of her liberal political beliefs. Highly educated (at Vassar) and an atheist (after casting off her Catholic heritage) she had a sharp mind, and a lot of opinions: so becoming a critic was her ideal job and she wrote for a range of publications including Partisan Review.

But she is best known for her books, especially her ground-breaking novel The Group, which follows the lives of eight Vassar graduates and which Cosmo called "Juicy, shocking, witty, and almost continually brilliant."  (A chick lit precursor, perhaps?)

Like Dorothy Parker, McCarthy's fiction often had an autobiographical slant, and she indeed wrote a book of memoir: Memories of a Catholic Girlhood.

Fascinated by McCarthy's legendary literary feud with her rival writer Lillian Hellman (said McCarthy once, "Every word that woman writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the'."), Nora Ephron wrote a play, Imaginary Friends about the pair.

Like Ephron, McCarthy married multiple times: four, in fact. She died in 1989. [Some additional info via Wikipedia.org and Amazon.com]

Read this: The Group

Trailblazer archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Hex and the Single Girl by Valerie Frankel

Valerie Frankel is a well-known name on the US chick lit scene, but isn't quite so well known over here. Her two latest books (Hex and the City and I Take This Man) coming out on the Little Black Dress label should change all that (plus this book was recommended to us by no less than Meg Cabot, so who are we to argue?).

Hex and the Single Girl's Emma Hutch is a good witch. Her skill is telegraphopathy - transporting a picture from her head into someone else's. She uses her powers for good (cos she's a Good Witch), being hired by women to put pictures of them into the minds of the men they're after. Sort of magic matchmaking. Things haven't been going incredibly well, though, and she's in danger of losing the West Village apartment she loves, so when Daphne Wittfield offers her a giant cheque to snare eligible bachelor and computer-whizz William Dearborn, Emma can't resist. Even though she suspects Daphne's interests aren't exactly pure...

But then Emma meets William and, inevitably, falls for him herself. Not only is it an ethical nightmare, it also helps Emma realise it's about time she started dealing with her own romantic life instead of everyone else's. When a friend and former client comes to Emma and asks her to help get her obnoxious boyfriend, Jeff, back, Emma finds that Jeff is mixed up with an embezzlement scandal and will do anything to get Emma off his back.

This is really a quite peculiar book, but I enjoyed it. It's so tongue-in-cheek that's it's almost a parody of a chick lit book, but it's genuinely funny and quite gripping. It's very well-written - as you'd expect from a veteran like Frankel - and the characters are great. Emma's wonderful - funny, sexy and charming - and her best friend Victor's lovely too. Sometimes the humour was a bit broad for me and it was also a bit too farcical in places, but if you don't take your chick lit too seriously, you'll love Hex and the Single Girl.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try My Lucky Star by Joe Keenan

Posted by Keris on May 10, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Romance, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (4)

Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty's quick and dirty audiobook!

As a podcast fan, I've been aware of the Grammar Girl phenomenon for some time. If you're not, here's the scoop: it's a hugely popular website and podcast where grammar expert Mignon Fogarty (yes) gives her "quick and dirty tips for better writing". There's actually nothing dirty about it, it's just good grammar sense, delivered in a fun and intelligent way.

Which is probably why Oprah recently had Mignon on her show to explain the accept/except and lie/lay distinctions, among other points of English. According to Galleycat, the Oprah experience has created huge demand for the book Fogarty will release next year. To take advantage, she's mixed an audio version herself in super-fast time and it's available now via her site.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, New Releases, Non Fiction, Podcasts, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 9, 2007 5:11 PM

BOOK REVIEW: A Taste of Italy by Lucie Simone

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Lucie Simone’s short story A Taste of Italy. I knew it would be raunchy* since it was published by erotica publisher Freya’s Bower, but Carly, the heroine, seemed so sweet and charming that I just couldn’t see it getting too saucy ... boy, was I wrong.

Carly’s in Italy on holiday, but she’d also like to find a man. She’s not looking for anything permanent, but it’s a long time since she’s been with anyone and Italy certainly has a reputation for romance. But Florence is disappointing Carly at every turn, crummy hotel rooms, disappointing breakfasts, dodgy men and bad weather has Carly at the end of her tether, but then she meets fellow American, David and things quickly look up.

A Taste of Italy is a quick and entertaining read. There’s not much of a plot, but it reads as a sort of extended sexual fantasy, so it doesn’t really need one. There were a few cliches that made me wince, one line that made me laugh out loud (it was intended to, I hope) and the sex was actually sexy (if a little full-on). I was hoping for a little more Italian atmosphere, but that might just be me.

I definitely look forward to reading more from Lucie Simone (I was disappointed to learn that’s a pseudonym - it’s such a gorgeous name).

* Freya's Bower rates it as "tangy" -  how fabulous is that?!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Just One Spark by Jenna Bayley-Burke

Posted by Keris on May 9, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (7)

BOOK REVIEW: Accidental It Girl by Libby Street

I read the beginning of Libby Street's Accidental It Girl, and was hooked:

People hate me.

Some of them openly despise me.

I'd bet a couple dozen would cheer if I were maimed.

People. Hate. Me.

And why do people disapprove of our narrator/heroine Sadie Price so much?

Because she's a member of the paparazzi, of course.

When she's involved in a chase in which she totals her car and gets on the wrong side of Hollywood bad boy Ethan Wyatt, she thinks the damage is only physical. Wyatt decides to try to turn the tables on Sadie, and give her a taste of her own medicine...

I loved the theme of this book - it was interesting to read about a woman paparrazo for a start, and even more interesting to imagine what it would be like to be followed by the paps, and to learn about the tactics they use. I certainly think I'll be more sympathetic when I see grumpy-looking celeb shots in future (the photographer's probably just called them a bitch and insulted their loved ones, not to mention followed them for miles).

The outcome of the story was easy to predict, but I still enjoyed it a lot. (My one small complaint about the book is Sadie kept saying she was 'a paparazzi, when the word for one person is 'paparazzo'... but I'm a bit anal like that so don't let me put you off!)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones and Anonymous.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

Simon & Schuster to launch author videos site

Publishers Simon & Schuster are to launch a new video website with news and insight from some of their best-loved authors (Jennifer Weiner, perhaps?)

Called BookVideos.tv, it will launch in June. [Via Galleycat]

Technology archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 8, 2007 11:20 AM

WIN 'A Piece of Normal' in our Sandi Kahn Shelton giveaway!

Yes, I said we'd do this yesterday, but I forgot it was a UK bank holiday! I bet you were all out sunning yourselves stocking up at B&Q, weren't you?

So! you read Sandi Shelton's guest blog and my review of her book A Piece of Normal last week (didn't you?)

This week, you have the chance to win a copy of this great read! Simply answer this question: Name the sisters in Sandi's book (clue here).

Email us your answer, with "Sandi comp" in the subject line and your name and address in the body of the email, so we can have the book sent to you if you win.

Good luck!

PS: Shiny Media employees may not apply. Sorry gang.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 8, 2007 in American Authors, Announcements, Book related, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (2)

TUESDAY THREE: Lists

I do love a good list and this week's three books use lists in different, but equally entertaining, ways.

E Lockhart’s The Boyfriend List is the story of Ruby Oliver, a 15-year-old girl who's been referred to a psychiatrist after suffering a series of panic attacks. Ruby's psychiatrist notices that she's talking about boys quite a lot, so asks her to make a "boyfriend list", listing every boy she's ever had any kind of romantic liaison with, however insignificant. Most of the chapters of this wonderful book are named after one of the boys on the list, and Ruby narrates the story of what happens with each boy within each chapter, allowing the narrative to switch around, and also feeding in information about her family, her rift with her best friend and the causes of her anxiety.

Karen Bosnak’s Twenty Times a Lady is a novel about that most sensitive of sexual subjects: your "number".  You know, THAT number. Delilah Darling has just been made redundant. Even worse (in her eyes): she wakes up after a particularly  regrettable one-night stand and realizes she's now slept with 20 men. She's shocked, especially as she's just read that the average girl's number is half that... so she vows that she won't sleep with another man. Ever.

This leaves her with a bit of a problem really, as she's hoping to get married and have children eventually. So she takes her redundancy payment, her hire car and her Blackberry and sets off on a journey across America to track down her lost loves. After all, she reasons, surely one of her ex-lovers must be the right guy for her... her romantic instincts can't be that bad. Can they?

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life is Amy Krouse Rosenthal's autobiography - kind of. It's an alphabetised account of her experiences and thoughts on life, large and small, interspersed with a chronology of her life experiences, from how she came up with the idea of the book to why she could never concentrate during Laverne and Shirley. Although it's a very funny book it's not a superficial or silly one - Amy shares some very personal facts and difficult experiences, including unexpected deaths of loved ones. It's a completely absorbing read.

Posted by Keris on May 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Non Fiction, Tuesday Three, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

YA author Maureen Johnson's book The Burmudez Triangle banned!

We seem to hear a lot about American school libraries banning books - Harry Potter has come under fire a lot. And Judy Blume was never very popular with parents, was she?!

But YA chick lit author Maureen Johnson was surprised to find out that her book The Bermudez Triangle was tossed from a school library in Oklahoma. One mother complained that lesbian content and underage sex and drinking were not suitable topics for her (get this) 15 year old daughter to be reading about. Fellow YA author John Green has apparently called for a letter-writing protest campaign, while Meg Cabot teases she's just jealous that her books never get banned!

Read more about it here.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Opinion, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)

See some stylish book reviews over on Catwalk Queen

I say 'see' rather than 'read' because lovely CQ editor Kim and her (and our) ed-in-chief Gemma have made a video in which they review some fashionable releases.

The books include The Goddess Guide and The Cheap Date Guide to Style and you'll have to watch it to see what they think.

I'm just glad no-one's asked me to make a video yet...

Fashion Lit archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction, Technology | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 7, 2007 2:00 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: Not Buying It by Judith Levine

Could you go a whole year without buying anything? No clothes, no books (argh!), no cinema tickets or meals out?

What would you do if you weren't part of the consumer economy and only bought the barest of essentials?

And how would other people react?

To answer all those questions and more, Judith Levine (along with her partner, Paul) took on a mammoth challenge: a year of Not Buying It.

Told in chronological order, I found it really interesting reading about Judith's fluctuating attitude to the project, her occasion slips and loopholes and the conclusions she and Paul drew by the end of the year. I find it hard to go a week without buying a book, so I particularly applaud her efforts in that respect, especially when she was trying to navigate the impoverished New York library system. Also interesting was the different issues the experiment brought up in the two areas of the country the author lives: Vermont and New York.

This book was more wide-ranging than I expected: I thought it would be a personal journey, but it looks at issues of world economics, environmental concerns and social responsibility and in this sense is enlightening, if a bit depressing at times! It's a very thought-provoking read, and I can't imagine that anyone who reads it will ever forget some of the lessons of the book.  There really is something for every consumer here...

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Sweet and Low by Rich Cohen, or my co-ed Keris's Dollymix column Giving Up...

More on Monday archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Self development | Permalink | Comments (1)

Shanna Swendson's new book: Damsel Under Stress

Lovely author Shanna Swendson, a long-time friend of Trashionista, has a new book out now called Damsel Under Stress, the third in the series which began with Enchanted, Inc and continued with Once Upon Stilettos.

In honour of the release of her new book, she's featured on Joshilyn Jackson's fabulous blog this month: read what she has to say here.

Related: Valerie Frankel talks to Joshilyn Jackson.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 4, 2007 11:24 AM

BOOK REVIEW: A Piece of Normal by Sandi Kahn Shelton

I promised you I'd be reviewing this week's guest blogger's book, and now: I am! (Stay tuned on Monday for a chance to win a copy).

A Piece of Normal by Sandi Kahn Shelton is the story of Lily Brown, who's happy with her life. (She thinks). She works as an advice columnist for the local paper, lives alone with her four year old son Simon and is still on great terms with her eccentric ex-husband Teddy.

Then her sister Dana, who's been missing for the last ten years, turns up out of the blue, and her sudden appearance shakes up Lily's cosy existence more than either of them could have imagined...

I really enjoyed this book. It's well-written, the characters felt real to me, and I found it very witty (especially at the start of the book, before the emotional trauma begins!) I also found myself really identifying with Lily and getting incredibly angry with Dana, which has to be the sign of a good story. I couldn't believe some of the things Dana did! I wasn't sure how Shelton could make her even half-way sympathetic by the end of the book, but somehow she managed it.

I still cried at the end, though. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 (although it's a 4.5 in my heart)

Like this? Try In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 4, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 3, 2007 2:10 PM

MOVIE NEWS: Bergdorf Blondes

Plum Sykes has apparently been approached by HBO to create a screenplay of her debut novel, Bergdorf Blondes. [via Styledash]

Since we're still waiting *taps foot* for HBO's adaptation of Jennifer Weiner's Good In Bed, I'm not holding my breath.

Movie news archives

Posted by Keris on May 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: How Sassy Changed My Life

Being British, I never read Sassy magazine, but I did have a love affair with Just Seventeen, and later adored Seventeen, its glossier American equivalent. In fact, I've been addicted to buying and reading all sorts of magazines for as long as I can remember, so if you're anything like me, you'll know how great this book sounds...

How Sassy Changed My Life: A Love Letter to the Greatest Teen Magazine of All Time is by by Kara Jesella and Marisa Meltzer and out now in the US.

Non-fiction archives | More book news.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 2, 2007 3:19 PM

MOVIE NEWS: Suburban Girl...

... is the new title of the movie version of Melissa Bank's novel The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, due out (in the US) in August. I'm not happy with that title change at all - Suburban Girl? How boring is that?!

And, following his recent troubles, I'm not buying Alec Baldwin as a romantic hero either, I'm afraid. It's a good job it's got Buffy, that's all I can say.

Posted by Keris on May 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

GUEST BLOG: Sandi (Kahn) Shelton

Sandi Shelton is the author of the brilliant A Piece of Normal (look out for a review in a day or two), and is here today as part of her virtual book tour. She's written a guest blog for us on a subject close to many readers' hearts: sisters.

Writes Sandi...

It’s a funny thing about sisters. Doesn’t it seem to you that there’s always one who is oh-so-together and who knows everything about The Right Way to Do Things--eating healthy, making good choices, sending birthday cards to the aunties on time and all of that, and then there’s the other one who’s—well, maybe not so much?

It’s this other sister who’s the hell-raising, spontaneous one, the one with all the cute but dangerous boyfriends. She’s the one for whom the phone rings and the boys’ cars line up outside the house, growling and purring. And she’s always in some kind of trouble.

Full disclosure here: I was the Together sister.

My little sister staked out the reckless territory early on.

When she was three years old, she did a breathtaking thing: she tore up a layered, exquisite organdy dress that our mother had spent 47,348 hours sewing for her. Her reason: “It was scratchy and I didn’t like it.”

High school was just what you might think. The principal had my mother’s number on speed-dial. And if my parents left the house for longer than an hour and a half, forget it. My sister threw parties in which the fun was seeing who could jump off the roof into our swimming pool the most times while holding a beer bottle. Meanwhile, I was the kid with the nerdy boyfriend and the babysitting jobs and the savings fund for college. That’s me, practicing telling a lie to my mother in the mirror: “No, no. I really was at the library. They kept it open until midnight tonight! They did!” She never believed me.

So naturally, I grew up and became a novelist. At last I could make up stuff and have it turn out the way I wanted, instead of the way it usually did. But it wasn’t until I was writing A Piece of Normal, the story of Lily and Dana Brown, two sisters who are locked into their differences, that I realized that I didn’t even know half of my own past. OK, Lily and Dana definitely aren’t my sister and me, but they do have that element of one being stable while the other one is flaky. My sympathies, obviously, were with Lily, who came back home from college to raise Dana after their parents died and who sees herself as the caretaker for the whole world. She’s so conscientious that she won’t even find a lover for herself until she first finds somebody for her ex-husband to go out with. Who wouldn’t love a character who is so selfless and quirky and gently misguided? Who wouldn’t want to reach over and give her an encouraging hug?

But then a funny thing happened. It was while I was writing Dana’s character — Dana, who had run away to be in a punk rock band; Dana, who had broken Lily’s heart and made her feel like a failure — that I started to understand something about what it took to be the daring, flaky sister. She’s the one who sees the need to stir things up, who is willing to sacrifice everybody’s good opinion in order to bring deep, dark family secrets to light, and who isn’t willing to let everybody get away with pushing the past away, pretending things are perfect.

I had always intended to balance out the good and bad in the characters; I didn’t want them to be cardboard, after all. But what I learned was that I actually adored the difficult and out-of-control Dana, and even when she gets herself locked in a betrayal of Lily that it’s going to take an act of supreme forgiveness to get her out of, I was rooting for her even though she was horrible. That’s where writing a novel can be just the best thing ever: your characters tell you things you never noticed about your own life.

And for heaven’s sake, if an organdy dress scratches you, don’t wear it!

Follow the rest of Sandi's book tour via her blog.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: Simmer Down by Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, never having read a culinary-themed mystery before. Would it be a delicious blend of genres, or a recipe for disaster? And would I stop thinking in culinary metaphors? Time would tell...

Simmer Down is the story of social work grad student Chloe Carter, who's happily loved up with chef boyfriend Josh and looking forward to the opening night of Simmer, the new restaurant where Josh is about to start work.

But on New Year's Eve, at a local gallery's benefit to support the anti-harassment group Chloe works for, at which Josh is cooking, things spiral out of control. Not only does Chloe's ex, Sean turn up out of the blue, but so does Josh's less than pleasant previous girlfriend Hannah, who'd working for a rival restaurant chain. And when Oliver, one of the bosses of that rival group is later found murdered (bludgeoned to death by Josh's supersized food processor), the suspects start piling up...

Could it be the bitchy Hannah? Oliver's wife Dora? Or even his business partner Barry? Or maybe even an unknown business rival? No-one knows, but Chloe thinks that for the sake of Josh's future career, she should be the one to find out...

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I'm not generally a fan of genre fiction, and worried that this book's kitschy cover (like a modern-day Nancy Drew) could be an attempt to hide less-than-quality writing. But I read the first page, and loved it, and then the second... and before I knew it I'd devoured the whole book. This would be the perfect summer read, and was interesting, witty and unpredictable (with mouthwatering descriptions of food and even recipes for said food at the back of the book). I'll definitely look out for the next delicious novel by this mother-daughter writing team.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this?  Try Faking It by Jennifer Crusie.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 1, 2007 8:24 PM

Something exciting: Wednesday on Trashionista!

And not just one exciting thing either - it's going to be a brilliant day tomorrow!

First, Sandi Kahn Shelton is going to be stopping by on her blog tour with a special blog post related to her book, A Piece of Normal, which we'll review later in the week.

As if that wasn't enough, we have OUR MOST EXCITING AND SPECIAL interview yet lined up for tomorrow afternoon - who could it be...??

Carry on over the cut for a clue.

She's Irish.

:)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 1, 2007 in American Authors, Announcements, Book Websites, Book related, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (8)

BOOK REVIEW: The First Assistant by Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare

I loved The Second Assistant, so when I heard that the authors of that book had written a sequel, catching us up with Lizzie Miller one year on from the end of that book... well, I snapped up a copy quicker than a very snappy thing indeed.

So how is Lizzie's life looking twelve months later? Well, she's been dating producer Luke Lloyd for most of that year, has been promoted to first assistant and is great friends with her predecessor Lara, who also happens to be her boss's wife. Heck, she's even made up with Jason Blum, the screenwriter friend who screwed her over.

But there are a few things stopping Lizzie from being truly happy...

First, there's evil Amber, the new second assistant, who's snotty, underhanded and - of course - British. Is she out to sabotage Lizzie, and if so, how? Then there's a new client at the agency, LiLo-esque actress Emerald, who Lizzie's being sent to Thailand to babysit. AND on top of all that, Lizzie isn't sure if she's ready to settle down with Luke without establishing a career and cash flow of her own first. It's going to be an interesting few months...

I don't know if it's ever possible to enjoy the sequel to a successful first novel as much as the original, and I didn't like this book quite as much as The Second Assistant. But the authors haven't had a sophomore slump, either - this is a perfectly entertaining book, and definitely kept my interest. I was pleased that it ended in a more Hollywood fairy-tale way, which was lacking from the previous novel. That makes the ending a bit unrealistic, but in a novel about Hollywood, who wants gritty realism?

It seems like the last we've seen of Lizzie - I hope we've left her to enjoy her happy ending - so I am interested to see where Naylor and Hare turn their attentions next.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try The Second Assistant by Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 1, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

Jenny Gardiner wins American Title-III contest!

Remember how we nagged and nagged and nagged you to vote for Jenny Gardiner's novel Sleeping With Ward Cleaver in the American Title-III contest? Well all that nagging paid off because she won! And she sent us a message:

I would love to thank the Trashionistas for their wonderful support during the contest. The book will be published by Dorchester Publishing and the pub date is 28 January 2008! So thank you all so very much for your help--I am ever so grateful!

You're welcome, Jenny! Carry on over the cut to read the back cover blurb.

CLEAVERED

Wham, bam, no-thank-you, ma'am. That about sums up the sex life of Claire Doolittle. Not-so-happily married to Jack—once the man of her dreams but now a modern-day version of the bossy, dull Ward Cleaver of '50s sitcom fame—Claire is at the end of her rope. Gone are the glorious days of flings in elevators and broom closets. Jack? All he needs is a cardigan and a billowing pipe to become the domineering father figure Claire never wanted. And looking at her body in the mirror, Claire would cast herself as Lumpy. They’d once had a world of color, of wanton frivolity. Now, life’s black and white: a sitcom in reruns. A not-very-funny sitcom.  Cue an old boyfriend—the "one that got away"—throw in a predatory hottie who's set her sights on our leading man, and watch Claire's world spiral out of control.

In the old TV show, the Beaver always got a happy ending. Claire wants one, too.

Posted by Keris on May 1, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Prize Winners | Permalink | Comments (1)

TUESDAY THREE: Money worries

This week’s Tuesday Three takes a look at something common to most, if not all, of us - money worries.

Raising the Roof, Jane Wenham-Jones' first novel, is about Cari Carrington, the daughter of slightly crazy parents and ex-wife of Martin, the man who cut up her Barclaycard. Cari has three problems: she’s single, she’s jobless and she’s fat. At least that’s what Martin told her during their last blazing row. But don’t worry; Cari has a solution to at least two of those problems. Nigel her horny friend soon becomes her Nigel her horny business partner when they buy a run down property to do up for a profit. Unfortunately Nigel fails to tell Cari exactly how much work needs to be done and she soon sees her investment running away from her so she has to take a more hands on approach than she’d intended...

I couldn’t write about money worries without featuring The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic now, could I. The ultimate in girlie escapism, the first of the super-successful Shopaholic series from Sophie Kinsella is a laugh-out loud cautionary tale of what happens when you lose track of your spending. From the hilarious letters to her bank manager that start each chapter to the tales of her burgeoning romance with the lovely Luke Brandon and her warts-and-all friendship with Sloaney Suze, the pages fly by. Luckily, there's four more where this came from.

Not strictly chick lit - being that it’s both about and written by a man - is Marc Acito’s How I Paid For College. A fabulous, over-the-top, brilliantly written, laugh-a-minute novel about Edward, a high-school senior in 1980s New Jersey, who is desperate to study acting at the prestigious Julliard in New York City but his overbearing father has refused to pay and his flaky mother is incommunicado on her latest hippy retreat. So Edward comes up with an outrageous scheme to enable him to fund his college education himself. Not that paying for college is Edward’s only problem: he has a permanently stoned sister, wicked stepmother and his own confused sexuality to contend with. A brilliant read.

Posted by Keris on May 1, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Sophie Kinsella, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 30, 2007 3:29 PM

Book covers: are eggs the new butterflies (which are the new feet)?

Phew, are you still with me?!

Author Justine Larbalestier was interested in our feature on Butterflies being the new book cover trend for women's fiction (taking over from feet, of course). Her new book, Magic's Child also has a butterfly-themed cover. She says that she'd rather see butterflies than dismembered women with heads or feet 'chopped off' but scroll down and she reveals...

That the next book cover trend seems to be: eggs!

A reference to ovaries, or just a nice symmetrical image - who knows?!

What do you think to these cover trends - and what would you like to see next? (Or do you *cough* not really care?)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (6)

MOVIE NEWS: The Jane Austen Book Club

I seem to be the only Trashionista writer who loved The Jane Austen Book Club , but obviously people somewhere agree with me, as Hollywood quickly snapped up the rights for a big screen version of the novel.

Emily Blunt, who played the English first assistant (based on Plum Sykes?) in The Devil Wears Prada, stars, along with Amy Brenneman from (one of my faves) Judging Amy. Hugh Dancy, who will also star in Bronte (it's in 'pre-production' now) is in it too - but there's no news on a release date yet.

We'll keep you posted.

[Via Imdb.com]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Devil Wears Prada, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Recent Release, Richard and Judy, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 27, 2007 6:32 PM

MOVIE NEWS: Heart-Shaped Box

It might not surprise you to hear that Stephen King's son, Joe Hill, is apparently a super-talented thriller writer, just like daddy. And he's following in his dad's footsteps by having his first novel, Heart Shaped Box, turned into a film, reports Variety.

Veteran Irish filmmaker Neil 'The Crying Game' Jordan will direct.

Movie news archives | Friday Flick archives

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Movie News, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (1)

Melanie Lynn Hauser free e-book

As Diane mentioned earlier this week, Melanie Lynn Hauser has made her novel, Jumble Pie, available for free on her website.

Melanie writes: "Jumble Pie is the story of the elusive nature of friendship, sometimes clinging, other times liberating; a story for any woman who has ever lied to her best friend just to make her feel better - and who has been brave enough to tell the truth, even when it hurts.  And of course, it's a story about the remarkable healing power of pie."

[via Karin Gillespie]

Related posts: Confessions of Supermom by Melanie Lynn Hauser | Melanie Lynn Hauser on YouTube | Holly's Inbox

Posted by Keris on April 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 26, 2007 8:49 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Janet Evanovich

Yes, the great lady said it herself: she probably did, to a large extent, inspire the invention of chick lit: in the US, at least. So Janet Evanovich is the first living author to be featured in our Thursday Trailblazer series!

She started out writing romance novels, which  were moderately successful. But she really found her voice (and a million-selling career) when she invented Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter extraordinaire. Her first foray into smart, snarky, first-person narration, Stephanie is strong, kicks ass and is never afraid to speak her mind. She also looks fabulous (I'm sure). In short, she's an inspiration: and Janet is too, turning her career into a family business (her daughter, son and husband all work for/with her!) - although she has admitted she barely gets time to breathe...

Her novels are obviously inspired by great authors like Elmore Leonard, but Evanovich's own influence is clear in writers like Jenny Crusie and Lani Diane Rich.

Read this: One For The Money.

What do you think?

And who's your favourite trailblazer? Let us know!

Thursday Trailblazer archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (1)

US date for The Starter Wife

We mentioned the TV version of Gigi Levangie's The Starter Wife (starring Will & Grace's Debra Messing) back in January and we've just learned it will begin airing on the USA Network on 31 May. More info here. [via Romantic Times]

Still no news on a UK screening, but we'll let you know as soon as we know and in the meantime, here's a special sneak peek:

Posted by Keris on April 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: A Nameless Witch by A Lee Martinez

A Nameless Witch isn't the kind of book I'd usually read. It's compared on the back cover to Terry Pratchett and (although Jenny Crusie raves about him) I've never read any of his books (I started one, but couldn't finish it). But something about A Nameless Witch appealed to me...

Cursed at birth, a girl is bought by a witch and raised as a witch herself. When her mentor is murdered she undertakes a quest to avenge her death. Assisted (mostly) by her familiar - a duck called Newt - a troll, a broom and, eventually, a fox and Wyst of the West, a White Night, she travels across lands to her destiny. (Part of the curse means she is ageless and also carnivorous. When she meets Wyst she doesn’t know whether she wants to sleep with him, eat him, or both. I hate it when that happens.)

This book started well, but then became so slow and saggy in the middle that I found myself scanning page after page (I think that's perhaps what happened with Pratchett too, but because I wasn't reviewing it I could just stop reading). Having said that the ending was completely brilliant - exciting and moving - and almost made up for the middle.

Plus the witch is certainly an interesting and original character and there are some fun touches and imaginative set pieces, but I found that the jokes just weren’t good enough and more suited to a children's book.

A Nameless Witch is, in parts, entertaining, original, interesting and amusing, but unfortunately it's too patchy to be really great.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Coven of One by Kate Bousfield

Posted by Keris on April 26, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 3/5, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (1)

Another cover 'snap'!

Trashionista writer Danielle thoroughly enjoyed Sara Manning's Let's Get Lost, a book that's won almost as many plaudits for the coolness of the cover as the fabness of the story...

Here's the coolness in action:

Pretty, no? And unusual looking, too... So imagine my surprise when I found another young adult author has almost exactly the same cover:

Carry on over the cut to see...

...the cover of Sarah Dessen's new book Just Listen:

Don't even try to tell me that's not "inspired by"! I know it's the publishers fault, never the author's, and Sarah Dessen's book, a newcomer to my toppling review pile, looks very interesting. But really!

At least Puffin have time to pull their socks up and change the cover: it's not released until July...

Related: Are Butterflies the new feet? | Musical book covers | Judging books by their covers

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Opinion, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK NEWS: The Next Thing On My List

Jill Smolinksi's new novel The Next Thing on My List sounds like a great concept: June Parker's life is plodding along nicely when she has a car accident. Her passenger, Marissa, who she barely knows, tragically dies, and June finds in her possessions a list, entitled “20 Things to Do By My 25th Birthday.” June decides to take on the challenge of completing Marissa's list in her memory...

According to Random House's website:

"Funny, engaging, and heartwarming, The Next Thing on My List features a lovable, relatable heroine and a story with plenty of humor and heart." Of course, they would say that, but I must admit, I'd love to read it. Personal quests like that always inspire me! (Plus reading about someone else's means I don't have to start my own...)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (3)

April 25, 2007 8:45 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Last week, we talked about whether a new Sense and Sensibility was a good thing and scored a big fat yay from my co-ed Keris and a slightly more reluctant yay from our editor-in-chief Gemma.

This week, I'm getting controversial. Waterstones recently published its top 100 books of the last twenty-five years as decided by 5000 of the book chain's staff ... and only TWENTY-SEVEN of them are by women! Whaaa...?

Is it possible that they're right: do men write better books than women?

Tell us what you think: is it a Yay or a Nay - and WHY?

Yay or Nay archives.

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

[Picture courtesy of Getty Images].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 25, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, Opinion, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: Women Who Think Too Much by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema

A while ago I asked my husband how he copes with the constant chatter in his head. He looked at me blankly. I gave him some examples of the arguing I do with myself, going round and round on the same topic and ended saying, “You know?” He didn’t know. He had no idea what I was talking about. It was only then that I realised it might not be normal, that perhaps it wasn’t something everyone does. And that’s when I discovered Dr Susan Nolen-Hoeksema’s Women Who Think Too Much.

Subtitled, "How to break free of over-thinking and reclaim your life", Women Who Think Too Much explains, with examples, exactly what overthinking is, why we do it (and it’s much more likely to be women than men who do) and how we can stop it. Chapters then focus on some specific circumstances that are likely to cause us to overthink - marriage, parenting, work, family, weight - using real life case studies.

This book was an absolute revelation to me. I suspected I wasn’t alone in overthinking, but seeing people’s spiralling thought processes written down was so comforting - I’m not barmy after all! I realise now that, though common, overthinking is not normal, healthy or useful and I’m taking steps to stop it (and it hasn’t even been that hard).

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Behind on the Laundry and Living off Chocolate by Lynette Allen

Posted by Keris on April 25, 2007 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (5)

Melanie Lynne Hauser news: Supermom sequel and new e-book

According to the ever-informing-me Galleycat, Melanie Lynne Hauser, author of Confessions of Supermom not only only has a sequel to that book out now: Supermom Saves the World...

But she is going to release an older novel, Jumble Pie, as an e-book.

Find out more here.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 25, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Manny by Holly Peterson

It's apparently the latest, hottest trend in Manhattan: more popular than the Birkin bag, better than Jimmy Choos: it's The Manny, or male nanny...

Jamie Whitfield is at the end of her tether with her husband Philip, an overgrown spoiled rich kid who can never have enough money and who spends all his time at work, away from Jamie and their three children. Oldest son Dylan has begun to resent the lack of attention from his father, and has started to act strangely as a result - sitting down in the middle of a school basketball game and bursting into tears, for example...

His mother decides something must be done: so she hires Peter, a specialist in child' education, who'll hang out with Dylan and be something of a father figure for him. The only problem is, Jamie doesn't want Philip to know...

Actually that's not her only problem, just one of many : Jamie's trying to break a huge national story in her job as producer at a major news network and it's not going smoothly. More importantly, the problems in her marriage are brought into stark relief by her growing attraction to Peter...

I liked this book, although I think it would have benefited from one final round of edits: it was a bit too long. Also, although Peter started out quite charismatic, he became rather arrogant and the way he talked to Jamie often seemed rude although was supposed to be just cheeky. Jamie keeps telling us how charming Peter is, but this wasn't shown very often! Compared to Philip however, he's wonderful: The author doesn't seem to realise that having Jamie complain so much about her husband makes her look like a bit of a weak character. And having Jamie say she hates the upper-class snobbery of The Grid, the exclusive area of Manhattan she lives in seemed a bit hollow: she is also very taken in by it - and Peterson lives there herself so she can't hold it in that much contempt!

I also felt the story was needlessly slow at times - but as Jamie's work storyline hotted up, I was gripped (this was probably the most exciting part of the novel, and Holly Peterson's own experience as a producer was clear - although for her sake I hope she had a better time in that job than Jamie does in hers...) The book ended a little suddenly, but I was pleased with the denouement.

I think I would have just liked Peter to have been more Mary Poppins-ish...

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try The Nanny Diaries by The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 25, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 24, 2007 1:44 PM

TUESDAY THREE: Adultery

It’s not big or clever, but in fiction it’s always good fun. What am I talking about? Adultery. This week’s three books focus on cheaters and cheating, but possibly in ways you wouldn’t expect...

Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed is the wonderful story 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...

Jane Fallon’s first novel Getting Rid of Matthew has a great premise: Helen has been Matthew’s mistress for four years, but when he finally leaves his wife and two daughters and moves in with her, Helen finds it’s not what she wanted after all. But Matthew has given up a lot to be with Helen and he’s not about to give her up. Unless she gives him some very good reasons to, that is. So Helen sets about a campaign to drive Matthew away: amongst other things, she stops shaving her legs, slums about the house in her scruff, stops having sex with him and befriends his ex-wife (under a pseudonym).

In Husbands Adele Parks takes it to the next level with bigamist Bella. Bella’s friend Laura, still hurt from a nasty break up, falls head over heels with a busker she meets on the tube. Unfortunately he happens to be married to Bella who is also married to Philip... are you keeping up? The book charts some fairly major coincidences as the lives of Bella, her two husbands, and Laura become rather too entwined for comfort.

Posted by Keris on April 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: How To Sleep With a Movie Star by Kristin Harmel

I’ve had a bit of a bad run of books lately: boring characters, lifeless plots, unsatisfying endings, so I picked up How to Sleep With a Movie Star hoping it would be a nice chunk of escapism that would leave me with a smile on my face. I wasn't disappointed.

Claire Reilly, celebrity editor at Mod magazine (which is pretty similar to Ugly Betty’s Mode magazine), can’t understand why her layabout boyfriend Tom has lost interest in her. And writing an article singing the praises of one night stands doesn’t help her work it out. Sent to interview Hollywood megastar, Cole Brannon, Claire expects him to be a typical egomaniac, but he's not - he's down to earth, sweet and even more gorgeous in real life. And he seems interested in her, but he couldn’t be, could he?

When a backstabbing colleague finds out about Claire’s friendship with Cole, Claire's worried her boss will question her professionalism, despite the fact that she hasn’t actually done anything wrong. That doesn’t matter, of course, if someone’s got it in for you and soon - thanks to the evil colleague and not helped by Claire's own low self-esteem - Claire’s life is falling apart.

How to Sleep With a Movie is great fun. Cole Brannon is gorgeous (if a little too good to be true, but this is fantasy, so that’s okay). Claire is sweet (if a little wet, but that just makes the story even more Cinderella-ish) and the baddies are really, really bad (in a good way). I really enjoyed it - it would be perfect for the beach - and I’m looking forward to Kristin Harmel’s next book.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Year of Living Famously by Laura Caldwell

Posted by Keris on April 24, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: 21 Proms

With the popularity of anthologies like This Is Chick Lit (and er, that other one), a teen short story anthology was obviously well overdue. 21 Proms is a collection of stories about... prom nights. (Who'd have thought?!) It features  YA authors like John Green and E Lockhart, as well as chick lit crossovers like Sarah Mlynowski.

Being an anthology, of course it has to have several feet on the cover - but it sounds like a great read!

[Via Galleycat]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance, Short Story Collections, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

Interview with Aury Wellington...

No, not on here (unfortunately): editor of controversial anthology This Is Not Chick Lit, Elizabeth Merrick launched a new series of author interviews on Bookslut this week. Her inaugural interviewee is Aury Wellington, author of controversial YA book Pop!

Find out how she writes, what her big break was (clue here) and why her mum always wanted her to join the army... all by reading the interview.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Debut Novels, Interviews, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

April 23, 2007 1:07 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: Television Without Pity by Tara Ariano and Sarah D Bunting

Anyone who reads (and like me, LOVES) the website Television Without Pity will understand what to expect from this book: the same snarky, madly observant tone of that brilliant site, delivered in encyclopaedia format. Subtitled ‘752 things we love to hate (and hate to love) about TV’,  Television Without Pity is an A-Z about everything televisual: from Acting, Wooden to Zeiring, Iain... (I swear that juxtaposition was unintentional!)

I got this for my birthday (thanks, Mum!) and spent a whole weekend totally absorbed, often screeching with laughter and recognition at Ariano and Bunting’s brilliant insights.

Often the section headers were enough to set me off: Weakest Link, British-Lady Edition or Fashion, Hilarious Attempts of TV Guys in the 90s at. Their take on watching a whole show on DVD over a weekend is exaggerated, yet familiar: "We try to ration the 24 episodes, one at a time, but we can't... the next thing we know it's Sunday night and we're sitting in adult diapers on the couch, surrounded by forty-eight hours' worth of snack bags and Diet Coke cans, heads pounding, cracked out on Keifer..." Fellow TV addicts will relate. Except maybe about the 'diapers'...

As you might have guessed, this book is American, and the one drawback for UK readers is that a lot of the cultural references will be unfamiliar (I’m an American-TV junkie from way back and there was a lot I didn’t understand). But that didn’t stop me laughing at and loving this book. It’s not all fun and games though: there’s also a lot of intelligent, thought-provoking analysis about the way pop culture functions.

In fact, it’s pretty much the perfect book.

Rating: 5 out of 5

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

Television archives | TV Scoop: Blogging the Gogglebox

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 18, 2007 2:15 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale is author of the Austen- (and Colin Firth)- inspired novel Austenland, so she was the prefect pick for our Austen Week interviewee.

Here's what she told us about her book, her writing life, what she's working on next... and what it's like being soooo beautiful (just read it, already!)

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Austenland: Jane obsessed with Mr. Darcy. Goes to Austen-themed resort as therapy. Madness ensues.

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

I write on a laptop wherever and whenever my children permit. At the moment, I’m in a chair in my room while my baby girl naps and my toddler son is at preschool.

Your favourite chick lit book?

I’ve gotta do the safety dance for Bridget Jones’s Diary. She gave us all a place to groove. Go Bridget, go Bridget, it’s your birthday, go go go...

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

Ooh, do I have to play favorites? My first loves were the romantically sassy Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), tragically sassy Emilia (Othello), and snarkily sassy Elizabeth Bennett. Others I adore: Tiffany Aching & Granny Weatherwax, Anne Shirley, Amelia Peabody, Kitty Pride (as written by Joss Whedon), Cassandra (I Capture the Castle)…I know I’m totally cheating.

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

You’re a writer when you write. Stop worrying about how hard it is getting published and how little money you’d make anyway and the rejections and vulnerability and weirdness, and just start telling your stories. You’ll feel so much better once you do. Also, those pants you keep thinking might be cute again so you keep them in the closet? Time to throw them out. Seriously. [Hey, how did you know...? - Diane]

What are you reading at the moment?

Chasing the Jaguar by Michele Greene. I was at a conference with Michele recently and she’s completely delightful.

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

My husband and I co-wrote Rapunzel’s Revenge, a graphic novel about Rapunzel in the Old West (she uses her long braids as whip and lasso and becomes a vigilante hero — she’s so awesome). We’re working on a sequel now while Rapunzel is being illustrated.

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: Is it difficult being so stunningly beautiful? A: Why, thank you! I’m so flattered, I don’t know what to say. It’s not so difficult. I mean, there are the normal challenges that come with any unearthly beauty. I don’t need to remind you about poor Helen of Troy. But I just take it one day at a time. That’s all any of us can do.

Too true, Shannon! Thanks so much!

Interview archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 18, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

We actually included Tanya Lee Stone’s A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl in our Top 10 Young Adult Books last year, but we hadn’t actually reviewed it ... until now.

The first thing I must say about this book is that it’s written in verse. But don’t let that put you off. It’s the stories of three high school girls - Josie, Nicolette and Aviva - who all date the same unnamed bad boy, though not at the same time. All three think they can change him and I don’t think I’m giving too much away when I say that none manages it and the girls get hurt instead.

I flew through this book, in fact I read it in one sitting. It’s clever, funny, though-provoking, inspiring, in fact, I think it should be compulsory reading for all teenage girls (and probably boys too).

I didn’t notice while I was actually reading the book, but once I’d finished and I started reading it again, I realised that each poem could easily stand up on its own. It’s an incredible achievement. Plus it features an inspired use of a copy of Judy Blume’s Forever. What more could you possibly want.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart

Posted by Keris on April 18, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)

BOOK NEWS: It's A Wonderful Lie

Yes, more book news! Unfortunately, my twenties are but a dim and distant memory, but I still like the sound of this new anthology. It's a Wonderful Lie: 26 Truths About Life in Your Twenties features essays from writers including Anna Maxted, Megan Crane, Pamela Ribon and Megan McCafferty and is edited by Emily Franklin.

Posted by Keris on April 18, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, British Authors, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Drugs Are Nice by Lisa Crystal Carver

Moving right away from Austen for a while, let's look at a lifestyle Jane could never have imagined in a million years...

I have to be honest, I'm not sure how to describe this book - but I'll try. Drugs Are Nice is a memoir, but a very unconventional one because Lisa Crystal Carver has had a very unconventional life. The book begins when Lisa's father tells her, age six, that he's going to prison. She describes the next few years as uneventful, but she lives alone with her mother, who has major health problems which entail regular surgeries. Lisa is home alone during her mother's hospital stays, and often the sole carer as her mother recovers. Understandably, this puts a strain on their relationship, and as a teenager Lisa moves across the country to live with her now-released dad for a while. But his violent and verbally abusive style of communication means she moves back home with her still-ailing mum after about a year, and finds sanctuary in her intense friendship with best friend Rachel, with whom Lisa forms the band Suckdog. Touring with Suckdog seems to entail meeting some very disturbed people and having very little vocal talent, but the girls persevere...

The next few years involve Lisa getting into more and more weird forms of performance art (pretending to poo on people, actually urinating on people, writing and performing plays on all manner of disturbing subjects) and forming relationships (both platonic and sexual) with some very weird people - including her much older French husband, who she admits looks like a weasel and acts very oddly, with whom she has an open relationship.

At times, this book is a really uncomfortable read, and I couldn't understand why Lisa, clearly intelligent and talented (more at writing than singing/performing, perhaps) was choosing to live in this way. Finally, at the end of the book, Lisa shows some insight into her behaviour, looking into her past and talking about her need to live outside of the constraints of 'civilised' society. This part of the book is the most interesting and thought-provoking bit but doesn't last as long as I would have liked! It's a very well-written read, and a book that makes a huge impression, but it's not a book you 'enjoy' as such, and it's definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Rating: 3 out of 5

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

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 18, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 17, 2007 11:08 AM

Orange Prize shortlist announced

Yep, Marian Keyes and co.'s hard work is nearly over! The Orange Prize for the best book by a woman in the last year... is nearly here.

In the meantime, the shortlist has just been announced - carry on over the cut to read it!

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun

Novel Rachel Cusk - Arlington Park

Kiran Desai - The Inheritance of Loss

Xiaolu Guo - A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers

Jane Harris - The Observations

Anne Tyler - Digging to America

[Via Booktrade info]

Opinions, anyone? I'd bet on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 17, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Prize Winners | Permalink | Comments (1)

Jane Austen and Stephanie Laurens

The next essay in our special Austen Week series comes courtesy of Stephanie Laurens: why does she think so highly of Jane?

The potent magic of Regency-era romances transcends time. To this day there is no more compelling hero than a Regency gentleman, no feistier heroine than a Regency miss - the continuing popularity of Regency romances testifies to this. (There are few women in the world who would turn down a waltz with Mr. Darcy, regardless of whether they can waltz or not. )

Austen invented the subgenre, and countless storytellers, myself included, have followed in her wake. Jane created the stage on which I, a modern-day storyteller, walk – and If Jane Austen hadn't written her books, I can't imagine I would have written mine.

Stephanie Laurens's new novel 'The Truth About Love' is out now.

Jane Austen and Julia Quinn

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 17, 2007 in American Authors, Austen Week, Book related, Classic Novels, Modern Fiction, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

April 16, 2007 5:20 PM

Jane Austen and Julia Quinn

All week, we'll be asking chick lit writers to talk about their own Austen obsessions, and how Jane has influenced them…

Julia Quinn got started as a romance author by asking herself: What Would Jane Do?

I was holding a scalpel, dissecting the unfriendly end of a human cadaver, when it occurred to me: I don't want to be Madame Curie.  I want to be Lizzie Bennet.  I want to be Elinor Dashwood.  I want to be Jane Austen.

So I did it.  I ditched medical school.  I threw out my science textbooks.

I glued myself to my computer.  (Surely Jane - practical Jane - would choose a computer.)  And I wrote...

Eleven years later, I'm still writing. I still want to be Lizzie Bennet (I blame Matthew MacFadyen for that), and yes, I still want to be Jane.

But when I sit down at my keyboard and plunk my characters down in a regency ballroom, I get to be a little bit Janeish, and that's good enough for me....

Julia Quinn is the author of the New York Times bestseller ‘On The Way To The Wedding’, and has been compared to Helen Fielding by Time magazine.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 16, 2007 in American Authors, Austen Week, Book related, Classic Novels, Romance | Permalink | Comments (5)

Blogger's quest to read only celebrity biographies for a whole YEAR

Now this is an interesting proposition: we've all read a celebrity autobiography or two, haven't we? (And some of us - even I! - may have read a ghostwritten one...)

But Mark Farley, blogger at Bookseller to the Stars has taken things one further, by challenging himself to read nothing but  celebrity memoirs for one whole year, from March 1 2007 onwards... Why? Well, read more about it here and find out!

Have you ever attempted any type of year-long reading quest? Are you tempted to?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 16, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK NEWS: New book by Alice Sebold

The Almost Moon, the long-awaited follow-up to Alice Sebold's enormously successful The Lovely Bones, will be published in the US and UK in October.

Not much information is available yet, but publishing industry blog Galleycat reveals it "tells the story of a woman who 'crosses a terrible boundary,' and a big clue is likely the book's opening line: 'When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily.'" They're right - that is a pretty big clue.

Related posts: Lovely Bones and Jane Austen on publishing insider's list of books NOT to read | Dear Zoe by Philip Beard

Posted by Keris on April 16, 2007 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner

I’ve wanted to read Mark Bittner’s The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill for years. The parrots appeared in one of my favourite novels of all time, Tales of the City, and I became fascinated with Telegraph Hill on a visit to San Francisco (but I didn’t see any parrots, sadly).

Subtitled “A love story ... with wings”, it’s the true story of Mark Bittner who, homeless, disillusioned and working a series of odd-jobs for a pittance, becomes interested in the flock of parrots he sees around his Telegraph Hill neighbourhood. Thinking that some connection with nature might add some meaning to his life, he starts feeding the birds and begins a relationship that both lasts for years and changes his life entirely.

The flock becomes so comfortable with Bittner that he is able to hand-feed them and even catch injured and sick birds and nurse them back to health. Like many of these kinds of books, his relationship with the birds also helps Mark come to terms with his own place in the world and aid him in the spiritual journey he’s been struggling with for 30-odd years.

I really enjoyed this book. Bittner conveys the distinct personalities of each bird entertainingly and movingly and it’s interesting learning about parrots in general. I didn’t think it was quite as successful in showing Bittner’s own feelings towards the birds. Often he’s a little dispassionate - possibly intentionally, he’s certainly uncomfortable with exposing himself so personally - and my favourite parts of the book were those in which his love of the birds (particularly Tupelo and Dogen) shone through.

That said, it is an enchanting book and now I really want to see the accompanying movie.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery

Posted by Keris on April 16, 2007 in American Authors, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 13, 2007 12:28 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

I'd been wanting to read something by Alice Hoffman for quite some time and just never got around to it. So when she released her latest book The Ice Queen and it started getting great reviews, I quickly snapped up my local library's copy!

When the nameless first-person narrator (catchy name, eh?!) of this book is eight she is upset with her mother one day, so when her mum goes out for the evening, she wishes for her never to return. She doesn't: she dies in a car crash and TNFPN and her brother Ned go to live with their grandmother. From then onwards, our narrator is convinced she has a gift: when she wishes for something bad, it always happens - but she can't seem to stop herself from wishing. In adulthood, she half-heartedly wishes to be hit by lightning, and then she is. It has strange and devastating  physical consequences including colorblindness, limping and pain. But in other ways, it begins a new and exciting chapter in her life - especially when she meets mysterious fellow lightning strike survivor Lazarus Jones - a man who is literally too hot to touch...

Although this book has an ethereal, ghost-story quality to it, it's told in simple, easy to read language rather than being all airy-fairy! The events are sometimes strange and there's elements of fairytale and magical realism here, but it's all kept tethered to the ground by great writing and a strong and constantly unpredictable (but believable) storyline.

Simply put, it's a wonderful read that made me realise that by missing out on Alice Hoffman all these years, I've really been missing out.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Read the opening of the book here.

Like this?

Try A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (5)

April 11, 2007 10:31 AM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Rhonda Stapleton

We're delighted to welcome American author Rhonda Stapleton, who's the first of our author interviewees to talk about bodily functions (I think)!

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Stripped: A web designer finds out the stripper at her party got the promotion SHE wanted.

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

Have laptop, will travel.  I write wherever I can--living room, perched on the bed, even at the kitchen table.  And when the weather is nice, I love writing outside!

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella.  I about tinkled on myself when I read it the first time. It's hilarious.

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

This one is hard.  I'd have to go with a classic--Jane Eyre.  She's tough, but still vulnerable, and she has no problem standing up to the dashing, aggressive Mr. Rochester!

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

Figure out what you like to write and run with it!  Voice is VERY important in this industry. If you're gonna make 'em laugh, cry, or sigh with pent-up emotions, do it all the way.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm reading The Winter Prince by Cheryl Sawyer.  I love historical fiction, and this novel is great so far!!

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

Absolutely!  I just finished the first draft of my young adult novel, Stupid Cupid (I write YA, as well as adult chick lit).  It's about a teen who becomes a cupid and has to matchmake her school, producing disastrous results.  LOL

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!)

Wow, this is a unique question.  Here's the question I'd love to be asked: "If you were going to write a book in a completely different genre, what would it be?"  My answer would have to be one set in Tudor England.  I absolutely LOVE that era!!  Maybe someday, right?  :D

Thanks, Rhonda. And look out for a review of Rhonda's book, Stripped, soon!

Posted by Keris on April 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (10)

BOOK REVIEW: Bitter Is The New Black by Jen Lancaster

Jen Lancaster fully admits that at the height of the dot-com boom (heck, in the years leading up to it, too) she was rather a demanding beyotch.

But after the American economy took a nose dive in the early '00s she and her husband Fletch both lost their well-paid jobs and had to downsize their life until they were living almost at the breadline, not knowing how they would pay their rent. Jen decided to blog about their troubles (yes, she's a blooker) and eventually this book was born...

Bitter Is The New Black describes their riches to rags story, and has to have the best subtitle of all time... (Are you ready? Take a breath):  Confessions of a condescending, egomaniacal, self-centred smart-ass, or why you should never carry a Prada bag to the unemployment office.

OK, I admit it: I didn't exactly warm to Jen at first - her sense of entitlement coupled with her arrogance wasn't exactly a winning combination. (Plus, y'know, she's a staunch Republican...) But over the course of the book she shows both her human side and her inner strength and I really came to enjoy her story, and to hope her situation would turn around. Most of all, this book is full of cynical humour (is there any better kind?) that often had me in stitches, and I really admire the way Lancaster is so open about her flaws and sometimes skewy motivations.

If you're anything like me, you'll start off hating her, and end up loving her. Roll on her next book: Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why It Often Sucks in The City, or Who Are These Idiots and Why Do They Live Next Door To Me?

Hee.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Queen of the Oddballs by Hillary Carlip

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

From Starbucks to Starbooks: buy a book with your cappuccino

Starbucks, the fave coffee chain of, ooh - Keris and I (among many others!) is to begin selling books in its UK shops  starting on 21st May, after a successful scheme in the US. The first book on sale will be Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone. [Via Galleycat]

And with Costa Coffee taking over sponsorship of the formerly-Whitbread Book Awards, coffee and books is clearly a winning combination. As is chocolate and books, of course...

'Book related' archives

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 10, 2007 7:00 PM

More on Jodi Picoult and Wonder Woman

If you're a regular Trashionista reader you'll know that bestselling author Jodi Picoult is to write a five-issue run of iconic comic Wonder Woman.

Here's an interview with the author, and a bit more information about the whole project...

enjoy!

[Via Bookslut]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lionel Shriver loves Nora Ephron, too

First we brought you the breaking news that Lionel Shriver likes snooker (ha! 'breaking' - geddit?!) Now we bring you the news that she loved Nora Ephron's latest - just like us.

Although I still think the US cover is far nicer...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

Faber's book club guides

Here's something useful, whether you're in a book club or not: publishers Faber have produced a series of online guides (in PDF format) to some of their most popular books, including A Complicated Kindness and The Bell Jar.

Just clicky here to peruse them...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Classic Novels, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Fortune Quilt by Lani Diane Rich

I’ve loved every one of Lani Diane Rich’s books and her latest, The Fortune Quilt, is no exception.

When TV producer Carly McKay goes to interview a psychic quiltmaker, Brandywine Seaver, she has no idea that her life is about to change completely ... until, that is, Brandy gives her a reading on a quilt she's made for Carly.

Carly doesn’t believe in psychics, but when her TV show closes down, her runaway mother returns after 17 years and her best (male) friend tells her he’s been in love with her for years, she returns to the arty town of Bilby to ask Brandy what the hell’s going on.

Partly due to the town's charms (not least sexy neighbour, Will) and partly because she's afraid to go home, Carly finds herself making a life in Bilby, but when the quilt inspires her to make things right and get back what she’s lost, Carly's forced to risk everything she’s found.

This is the type of book I would have bunked off work to read (when reading books wasn’t my job). Carly’s a lovely, funny, charming and flawed character and Will is incredibly sweet and sexy. I love the town of Bilby with its cast of eccentrics (I really hope Rich will return there in future books) and Carly’s family - father, sisters, repentant mother - are perfect too.

A lovely, sweet, funny book that I read with a great dopey smile on my face. Oh and if you’re a fan of Lani Diane Rich’s books, you might find a clue as to what one of her previous characters is up to. Brilliant.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try A Boy of Good Breeding by Miriam Toews

Posted by Keris on April 10, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (7)

April 9, 2007 8:34 AM

BOOK NEWS: Dedication

I'm half-excited and half scared to read this new book: it's the latest (third) offering from Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. Will it be as fabulous as The Nanny Diaries, or a total stinkeroo like Citizen Girl?

I guess there's only one way to find out... it's out in hardcover in the UK and US on 5 June .

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

April 6, 2007 4:30 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Dork Whore by Iris Bahr

Iris Bahr's memoir Dork Whore (yup) is about, as the subtitle has it: "My travels through Asia as a twenty-year old pseudo-virgin".

Hmm. Now to describe a "pseudo-virgin"... well, you're probably better off reading the book for a full explanation as I'm far too nice to tell you in any detail! Let's just say Iris was very sexually inexperienced and hoping/desperately looking to improve her sex life. So at the age of twenty and after three years in the Israeli army, she decided to travel around Asia with her friend Boaz. Unfortunately, Boaz hated Bangkok and hopped on the next flight to Paris after just one day, leaving Iris alone and desperate (in more ways than one...)

Okay, so we all know that sex sells, but in this book it really wasn't necessary. Bahr is a witty talented writer and comes across as flawed and insecure but essentially very likeable. I would have much rather read a straightforward account of her travels, or perhaps of her childhood and what it's like to be transplanted from Brooklyn to Israel at the age of twelve. We get a bit of that, but not enough - and it would have been far more interesting than learning about just how many times a week Iris likes to... um.. "pleasure herself". The sex stuff is on the lewd side and seems like the author's trying too hard to give the book an interesting angle.

When she writes about other aspects of her trip however, the book's a really good read. And I love the cover! [DS]

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler.

Posted by Aigua Media on April 6, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner

Have you ever wondered what Buffy will be doing in twenty or so years? Married, with kids? A soccer mom perhaps? Well, that’s the basic premise of Julie Kenner's Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom.

Kate Connor thought she’d put all things supernatural behind her when she retired from her position as a Hunter, but when a demon crashes a dinner party Kate’s throwing, she realises her demon-hunting days aren’t over. Despite having to take care of her two kids, run her household and help further her husband’s political career aspirations, Kate has to find whatever it is that’s attracted the demonic hordes to San Diablo.

With the assistance of her “alimentatore” (like a watcher) sent by the Vatican, Kate learns that there is some sort of relic held at the town’s cathedral and she has to reorganise her already-stuffed schedule to allow for relic research.

I’ve wanted to read this book for ages and it didn’t disappoint. Who wouldn't love a book with lines like:

The appetizers were in the oven, the table was set, the wine was breathing, and I was dragging a demon carcass across the kitchen floor...

Although I'm a Buffy fan and it’s entertaining to imagine this could be how the Buffster will end up, Kate’s a convincing character in her own right. Yes, I guessed the twist, but there were also a few entertaining red herrings. It’s exciting, funny, and well-written. I loved it.

You can read Kate's continuing adventures in California Demon and Demons are Forever.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Confessions of Supermom by Melanie Lynn Hauser

Posted by Keris on April 6, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Series, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (9)

April 5, 2007 4:36 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston isn't as well known as iconic black authors Alice Walker, Toni Morrison or Maya Angelou but it's more than likely her writing influenced all three, among countless others.

After studying a degree in Anthropology (perhaps the ideal area of study for a novelist?!) Hurston used her training to write a study of secret societies in Haiti. She also wrote about African-American folklore and worked as a journalist. But her breakthrough and best known work came in 1937 with her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Perhaps surprisingly, Zora Neale Hurston was a Republican who believed black people living among white people was not necessarily the ideal social model. While I can't really see her point, I do admire the way she forged her own beliefs and her own path through life.

And of course, the fact that her work lives on, with everyone from Zadie Smith to Oprah Winfrey being a fan of her writing.

Read this: Their Eyes Were Watching God (There's also an Oprah-produced film, starring Halle Berry). [DS]

What do you think - and who's your favourite trailblazer?

Trailblazer archives

Posted by Aigua Media on April 5, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (0)

More on the Madonna nanny book

Despite the Madonna's nanny tell-all being canned, it's still the story that refuses to die. Legendary American gossip blog Gawker has got its sticky little hands on the book proposal (all 75 pages of it) and has posted sections of it on the site. So if you want the teensiest of gossip, you may still find something to sate your interest, or at least laugh at (Mary Poppins clip art?!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 5, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 4, 2007 9:06 PM

New Jennifer Crusie collaborations

You know how much we love Jennifer Crusie so you can imagine how excited we are about the two (collaborative) novels she has coming out this year.

First up is The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, written with Eileen Dreyer and Anne Stuart and out 26 June. And how gorgeous is that cover?

No cover yet for Crusie's second book written with Bob Mayer, Agnes and the Hitman, for which you'll have to wait until 21 August. Can't wait that long? Well Crusie has edited a collection of essays about the fabulous US TV show, Gilmore Girls. Called Coffee At Luke's, it's out 28 May.

Related posts: Don't Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer | Jenny Crusie on being a "quote whore" | Interview with Jenny Crusie 

Posted by Keris on April 4, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Libby Street

This week, we have a fabulous two-for-the price of one deal! Author Libby Street is (shock, horror!) actually two different women, working as one. And here Sarah and Emily aka: Libby Street, talk exclusively to Trashionista.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Accidental It Girl: A female paparazzi and Hollywood's hottest bachelor get a lesson in how opposites attract.

Where do you like to write your books?

EMILY: I do a lot of the preliminary, story development stuff with a spiral notebook on the couch. (Usually with Murder, She Wrote or The Golden Girls playing quietly on the TV. Embarrassing, but true.) The actual writing goes down at a desk - just me and my laptop.

SARAH: I don’t know. In my old apartment, I sat at my kitchen table which was in my living room. Manhattan apartments are fun that way. I have recently moved into an apartment with so much more space, I’m not sure what to do. We’ll see where I end up working the best! Right now, that same kitchen table (which I have turned into a desk) is the front runner...

More from Libby Street over the cut!

Your favourite chick-lit book?

EMILY: It's not original but… Bridget Jones's Diary. The first, the best.

SARAH: I agree with Emily. I just reread it recently and, MAN!, it’s really great.

Your favourite female heroine? And why?

EMILY: Fanny Price from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. She never wavers in her beliefs, no matter the cost. Of all Jane's heroines, I think Fanny is the least mutable. I admire her enormously, probably because I can be such a flake sometimes.

SARAH: Elizabeth Bennett from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. She is confident and smart, but willing to recognize that she has faults. I want to be just like her.

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

EMILY: Write the story you've always wanted to read. And, most importantly, never give up.

SARAH: Don’t be discouraged when things aren’t going well. Just keep on plugging away.

What are you reading at the moment?

EMILY: Nothing terribly fun, I'm afraid. I'm currently reading Robert McKee's Story for about the thousandth time. I find that whenever I begin a new project I like to go back to basics and remind myself of the essential elements of a rock-solid, compelling story.

SARAH: I’m reading Traveler’s Tales: India. I am going there in November and I can't stop reading about the place! Traveler’s Tales is a series of books composed of excerpts or essays written by (obviously) writers and/or travelers. If you are going to a new place, I would highly recommend these books. They offer a much more in depth perspective on the character of a place than many of the guide books I’ve read. In fact, I wouldn’t classify it as a guide book, but I am using it to plan my whole trip.

What are you working on now?

We're working on several concepts for new novels. We haven't quite decided which one to pursue yet, but we're leaning toward a story that would be a new direction for us - an older young adult. (The characters would be just starting at university.) We think it'll be a lot of fun to write, which is almost as important as it being really fun to read.

Sounds good to me - thanks ladies!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 4, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Interviews, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK NEWS: Girl with Glasses: My Optic History by Marissa Walsh

Here's a book I first read about in a very sneering post on books blog Bookslut a few weeks ago - but to me it sounds interesting, fun and a bit quirky - and there's nothing wrong with that!

You may not know this but your two Trashionista eds (Keris and myself, for the uninitiated) are a pair of astigmatic glasses-wearers with nary a decent eye between us, so obviously we weren't going to let the publication of Girl with Glasses: My Optic History slip past without a mention! It's more memoir than 'history of a glasses wearer' though, I think - and those with 20/20 vision (show offs) can read it too...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 4, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Memoirs, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini

I’ve heard quite a lot about Christian (sometimes called “inspirational”) chick lit, so when I heard about Julie Carobini’s Chocolate Beach (and saw the fantastic cover) I had to snap it up.

Free-spirited Bri Stone has an idyllic life, living at a California beach, working as a tour guide and taking care of her beloved husband and son. But when Bri begins to worry that her hard-working lawyer husband Douglas may be bored with her -  and 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.

I had high hopes for Chocolate Beach, but I was disappointed. I’m not at all religious and was concerned the religious aspects would bug me, but they didn’t, they fitted seamlessly into the story, informing and aiding Bri’s choices. What I did have a problem with was the plot and the characters. I liked Bri, but the supporting characters, from Douglas to his mother to Bri’s former and new bosses, the characters behaviour seemed unrealistic and just a way of furthering the pretty weak plot. Often, events came out of nowhere and left me unsatisfied.

Carobini does have a lovely turn of phrase, but between little happening and the unconvincing nature of that which does happen, I was sadly disappointed.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Like this? Try Everyone Else’s Girl by Megan Crane

Posted by Keris on April 4, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 2/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 3, 2007 4:31 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Job Hopper by Ayun Holliday

Job Hopper is the third of Ayun Holliday's books we've reviewed (check out what we said about her others here and here).

As the title would suggest, it's about her inability to hold down employment for long, a history of her time flitting from one low-paid job to another in the time before she became a mum (and a writer). The subtitle says it all: The checkered career of a down-market dilettante.

I always enjoy Ayun's books. She comes across as such a fun, likeable and quirky character and her love of life is obvious. If I wrote about my stints working in a high-street shop and an Essex cafe, they wouldn't make half as enjoyable a read - the fact that she finds joy in, and even misses this type of low-paid work is testament to her ability to make the most of every experience. Which isn't to say I understand why anyone would miss waitressing (I know I don't!) Describing her time working as a museum security guard, a masseuse without the necessary paperwork and what has to be the world's worst temp, among other jobs, this book held my interest and made me laugh.

However... I didn't like it as much as Mama Lama Ding Dong. The stories here were clearly written separately and then made into a book later, making it a little disconnected, with no real narrative tension. And seeing as the book is all about how (as a busy stay-at-home mother) she can no longer do that kind of work, learning more about how her 'career' ended would have been appropriate.

Still, it's a good read, and I'd especially recommend it to anyone in low-paid work in need of tips to make life more interesting!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try You'll Never Nanny in this Town Again by Suzanne Hansen

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

TUESDAY THREE: British boyfriends

American authors do love a British love interest. We're often told that Americans love our cute "British" accents (there's no such thing as a British accent!), but it's probably also something to do with Darcy/Colin Firth. Whatever the reasoning behind it, this week we're looking at British boyfriends.

Lani Diane Rich has admitted that the hero of Ex and the Single Girl was totally based on Colin Firth (and you can read all about Lani's crush in Flirting with Pride & Prejudice). The book is about Portia Fallon who, after being dumped by her boyfriend via a note, is too weak to refuse when her mother phones and begs her to come home to Georgia and help with the family bookstore. But when Portia gets there she finds that she's not really needed - her mother and aunts have a plan to fix her up with Ian, a British novelist in town working on his latest book. Ex and the Single Girl is a fun and fast read about following your heart and finding your place in the world.

Alison Pace's If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend features another British Ian. Gallery manager Jane Laine is sent on a five-month international art fair tour with British artist, Ian Rhys-Fitzsimmons. Unimpressed with his art, Jane thinks Ian's a fraud and isn't too keen on the assignment either. In fact, Ian makes Jane nervous, but, as they travel to London, Rome, Chicago, Santa Fe, she finds that there's much more to Ian - and to his art - than she originally thought. Can you guess what happens?

Meg Cabot's Queen of Babble features Lizzie Nichols who, following graduation, heads to England to stay with her appalling boyfriend (who she's actually only previously spent one night with). It doesn't turn out well and she gets the train to Paris to visit a friend who's working at a French chateau. During the journey she spills all her secrets to the handsome hunk in the next seat and, yes, he's the son of the owner of the chateau. This is a sweet book - and you know we love Meg Cabot - but this type of story was done a lot more successfully by Sophie Kinsella in Can You Keep A Secret? I had to include it though to show that not all British men are sexy and sophisticated, as our British readers no doubt know!

Posted by Keris on April 3, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 2, 2007 5:12 PM

Valerie Frankel talks to Joshilyn Jackson

Joshilyn Jackson can always be relied upon for interesting reading material - from gods in Alabama to Between, Georgia to her fantastic blog.

Each month she hosts a different member of The Girlfriends Cyber Circuit, a group of authors who arrange virtual tours around each other's sites to help promote each other. This month, she's asking Valerie Frankel about her new book, about a woman who's jilted (almost) at the altar and as ever, it's a fun read.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: Looking for Alaska by John Green

John Green’s Looking for Alaska is probably the book I’ve heard most consistent raves about over the last couple of years (Green’s second book, An Abundance of Katherines, would be in the top 5 too) so part of me was excited about reading it, but equally I expected to be disappointed. I wasn’t.

When Miles Hunter goes away to school he is looking for something to happen. Obsessed with the last words of historical figures, Miles wants to find the Great Perhaps (Francois Rabelais' last words were, "I go to seek a Great Perhaps".) At Culver Creek Boarding School Miles's roommate, nicknamed the Colonel, introduces him to the gorgeous and enigmatic (aren’t they always?) Alaska Young and Miles’s life takes an exiting turn.

The students of Culver Creek are into pranks, sneaking out to smoke and drink, and basically getting away with as much as they can without risk of expulsion. But, of course, when you live on the edge someone’s bound to fall off ...

John Green writes beautifully and I found that once I started reading Looking for Alaska I didn’t want to stop. The book is separated into “Before” (beginning “one hundred thirty six days before”) and “After”, which was a clever device - I found myself reading faster and faster as I got closer to whatever was going to happen  (which you don’t expect me to tell you, do you?).

The characters aren’t exactly original - Miles is the self-conscious, friendless nerdy type, taken in hand by the strong and confident Colonel. As for Alaska - do all teenage boys want a narcissistic depressive who will tease them constantly and never let them know where they stand? Fiction suggests they do. Having said that, I was kind of fascinated by Alaska too, so maybe everyone loves a tragic heroine.

What really stood out for me - apart from the excellent writing - were the teachers (who appeared to be typical cliched authority figures, but were really no such thing), the abrasive but witty dialogue throughout and an inspired scene towards the end that had me laughing out loud.

Looking for Alaska certainly deserves all the accolades that have been heaped upon it and the included preview chapter of An Abundance of Katherines suggests that book does too.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Holes by Louis Sachar

Posted by Keris on April 2, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, More On Monday, Prize Winners, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)

MOVIE NEWS: Sammy's Hill by Kristin Gore

Kristin Gore's debut novel, Sammy's Hill, is to be turned into a movie. Controversial director David O. Russell (Three Kings and I (Heart) Huckabees) is adapting and will direct.

Kristin is the daughter of former vice president turned environmental evangelist Al Gore and Sammy's Hill centres on a young woman who tries to balance a job as a congressional aide on Capitol Hill while trying to find a man. I started reading it when it came out (during a painful bout of West Wing-withdrawal) but only got as far as (*checks book*) page 29 before losing interest. Following this news, I'll move it up my queue for another go.

And, yes, my book cover obsession continues. One of the things that attracted me to Sammy's Hill was this cover:

Cute, eyecatching, funny, right?

But I just spotted this later cover:

Boring, generic and it looks very eighties to me. At least they kept the fishbowl, even though you'd barely notice it. How disappointing.

What do you think?

Posted by Keris on April 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 30, 2007 4:35 PM

BOOK NEWS: Austenland by Shannon Hale

You know we're Austen fans here at Trashionista and the prospect of Shannon Hale's novel Austenland is enough to bring on an attack of the vapours (sorry).

It's the story of Jane Hayes, a single thirty-something whose prospects of romance have been ruined by the BBC's version of Pride & Prejudice. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. [via Bookshelves of Doom]

But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Shannon Hale has previously written Young Adult books and Austenland is her first for, um, grown-ups (saying adult book gives an entirely different impression). I'm sure you'll agree, it sounds fantastic.

Related posts: ITV's Jane Austen season | Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen | The Jane Austen Book Club

Posted by Keris on March 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

FRIDAY FLICK: White Oleander

Based on the wonderful novel by Janet Fitch (which I LOVED - and I'll be reviewing her latest, Paint it Black, soon) White Oleander is the story of Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) a beautiful but manipulative single mother who is sent to jail for murdering her ex-lover, leaving her teenage daughter Astrid (Alison Lohman) to shuttle from foster home to foster home with often disastrous consequences.

Astrid finally finds a happy home with Renee Zellweger, who she really clicks with - but soon her jealous mother has found a way to destroy that, too...

The story of a mother too selfish to let her daughter (or anyone else) be happy is moving and convincingly acted (nice to see Pfeiffer being coolly evil for a change, she does it well!) But there's no way this could match up to the brilliance and subtlety of the book, and it's not a particularly great film, although it's not a bad one, either. The choice of Billy Connolly to play Ingrid's ex struck me as odd - not what I was expecting from that character, and hard for British viewers not to see him as a comedy figure! Alison Lohman is very talented though, and hopefully destined for bigger things.

Like this, but with Angelina Jolie (and no murder): Girl, Interrupted

Friday Flick archives

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Friday Flick, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK REVIEW: Taking The Plunge by Stacie Lewis

Taking The Plunge is an antidote to those happy, fluffy, "isn't planning a wedding a wonderful dream" type books that so often grace chick lit shelves. Not that there's anything wrong with those books per se, but they are escapism, aren't they? As anyone planning a wedding (and about five people I know currently are) will tell you, it's a stressful experience at the best of times.

And Stacie Lewis's debut novel certainly does not describe the best of times...

A touching and jaw-dropping account of one woman's pre-wedding calamities (that makes a great case for elopement!) this is the story of Bernie, an American in London who gets engaged to her British boyfriend and is deliriously happy about it - until she tells all four (yes) of her parents, and they start to make her life a misery...

And I really mean a misery: because both her parents are divorced and re-married, arguments and power struggles ensue about everything from who pays for what to the wording of the invitations. And because Bernie is in London, she doesn't have as much control over her big day as she'd like - is the venue really okay? Surely she doesn't have to have the cheapest dress available? And she can choose her own rabbi to perform the service, right? Everything becomes a struggle, and more than once Bernie and Sam think about eloping.

At times, all this tension is funny but as it becomes more dramatic it's just horribly sad that something supposed to be a happy event is hijacked by the selfish attitudes of the bride's parents, who are old enough to know better. What's really sad is that this is based heavily on Stacie Lewis's own experience (how she managed to forgive her mother for something that happens later on in the book, I don't know, although I do admire her for it).

The structure of the book is a little odd, as "Wedding Truths" are included at the beginning of each chapter. These good, although very cynical observations are made by the author (and this is where it's made clear that the events of the book really happened). I think I'd have preferred the whole book to have kept one narrative voice - or it would also have worked brilliantly (better?) as a memoir.

Saying that, I found this a compulsive and enjoyable read - a fast, easy read made even more intriguing by the fact that a lot of it is based on the author's real experiences, although if I wanted to get married, I'd think two or three (hundred) times about having a big wedding after reading Taking the Plunge. And I won't be passing it on to my stepsister or my engaged friends until after they've tied the knot!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Wedding Belles by Zoe Barnes. [-- That comp, though, is now closed - sorry!]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 29, 2007 6:20 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Dorothy Parker

To some extent, Dorothy Parker is better known for being a witty raconteur than a great writer - but there's no reason a woman can't be both! (I know I am, ha ha).

She was a notorious gossip columnist for The New Yorker and then a theatre critic, writer of short stories, poet and member of the  infamous Algonquin round table (a group of artistes and witty people who met regularly to gossip around a round table at The Algonquin hotel in New York).

Parker quotes include:

"A little bad taste is like a nice dash of paprika."

"Brevity is the soul of lingerie"

and, of Katharine Hepburn: "She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B"...

Parker didn't really have a very happy life, marrying a gay man and an alcoholic and spending much of her life trying (not very successfully) to fight off depression. Perhaps that's what made her so bitchy, even to her friends. She had a good heart though and tried to help others: campaigning against the death penalty and Communist witch hunts, among other human rights issues, and helping victims of the Spanish Civil War. She went to Hollywood to be a screenwriter, but hated it, although she penned several films including classic A Star Is Born. her fighting spirit, her wit, and most of all her writing have inspired many women writers of today, including the inimitable Nora Ephron (who was lucky enough to meet her).

Read this: The Portable Dorothy Parker

What do you think? Who's your favourite trailblazer?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Short Story Collections, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (6)

Marian Keyes wins popular fiction award at the 'Nibbies'

We've told you before about the Nibbies (or the Galaxy British Book Awards as they're more properly known) and now we're delighted to bring you the news that much-loved Queen of Chick Lit Marian Keyes won the award for popular fiction - way to go, Mazza! (As she'd probably loathe me to call her...)

It was also great chick lit news for Lauren Weisberger, who won Television and film book of the year for The Devil Wears Prada (of course).

Find out the other winners  and who called Ricky Gervais names (!) over the cut...

But if you'd rather not know the goss and find out the winners when the awards are on TV, then you don't have long to wait - they're on tomorrow night at 8pm on Channel 4 .

List of winners:

Book of the year: Conn & Hal Iggulden, The Dangerous Book for Boys

Popular fiction award: Marian Keyes, Anybody Out There

Decibel writer of the year: Jackie Kay, Wish I Was Here

Television and film book of the year: Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada

Biography of the year: Peter Kay, The Sound of Laughter

Children's book of the year: Ricky Gervais, Flanimals of the Deep [Gervais's video-linked acceptance speech apparently provoked a "foul-mouthed rant" from Richard Madeley, co-host of the event (with wife Judy, obv.) Is it me or is Mr Madeley losing the plot a little bit? *Allegedly*]

Crime thriller of the year: Ian Rankin, The Naming of the Dead

Sports book of the year: Steven Gerrard, Gerrard: My Autobiography

Newcomer of the year: Victoria Hislop, The Island

Reader's Digest Author of the year: Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

The Richard & Judy best read of the year: Jed Benfeld, The Interpretation of Murder 

Lifetime achievement award: John Grisham

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, Prize Winners, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Alligators, Old Mink and New Money: One Woman's Adventures in Vintage Clothing by Alison Houtte and Melissa Houtte

Alligators, Old Mink and New Money: One Woman's Adventures in Vintage Clothing by Alison Houtte and Melissa Houtte is a memoir/fashion advice book based on Alison's experiences as a model and later owner of a vintage clothes shop in Brooklyn, Hooti couture.

Each chapter begins with a recollection of a much-loved vintage clothing item, and its importance in Alison's life. The chapters then progress in a mostly chronological order, detailing Alison's journey from a clothes-obsessed teen to a model in Germany, Paris and New York and her later adventures opening a shop. It's a treat for any fan of vintage clothing (which I am, big time) and I loved reading Alison's memories of customising clothes and finding bargainous second-hand finds. It made me want to take a tour of my local charity shops (or even better, her local charity shops) post-haste. But I did have a little problem with this book...

Perhaps naively, despite the title I hadn't actually realised that Alison had no problem with buying, selling and indeed wearing vintage fur coats and alligator skin bags, which is not something I want to do - or read about. I read these sections of the book thinking "no, no, no" and hoping they'd be over quickly! But that's just a small part of an overall very enjoyable read. I also understand that not everyone shares my views on fur, and some think that vintage fur/skin is acceptable as the animal has already died (but...yuk). So although I give the author 0 out of 5 for her stance on animal products, I didn't let that tarnish my reading expereince too much (as I said, it is a very small part of the book!) - we don't all have to think the same, after all.

Moving on, the appendices at the back of the book, which include what to look out for in vintage shops/markets, and the best internet resources, are packed with detail and very useful (although understandably American-oriented, this being an American book).

All in all a good read (just don't tell PETA I said so).

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try It's Vintage, Darling! By Christa Weil

Fashion lit archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 28, 2007 6:48 PM

BOOK NEWS: To My Dearest Friends

Patricia Volk's Stuffed has to be one of my favourite memoirs of all time, about her adventures growing up with a food obsessed family (they ran a restaurant). So I'm delighted that she's releasing a new book soon: To My Dearest Friends is a novel which sounds deliciously Elinor Lipman-esque, and it's out in hardback here on 17 April.

Not long to wait!

[Via O magazine]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 28, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Modern Fiction, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Year of Living Famously by Laura Caldwell

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Laura Caldwell so I was really excited to read this … but I was slightly disappointed. I really enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong, but it was missing a spark.

It’s the story of unsuccessful fashion designer Kyra who falls in love with and marries a relatively unknown Irish actor who then becomes incredibly famous. The celebrity lifestyle - stalkers, paparazzi, staff - completely freaks her out and I think that was partly my problem. Kyra complains about everything. When they move to a big house she complains that it’s too big. When she starts selling her designs she whinges that she’s only successful because of who her husband is. I kept wanting to tell her to get over herself.

All that aside, it’s very well-written with some lovely characters (although Declan, the husband, wasn’t sexy enough for my liking) and towards the end it was gripping enough that I actually missed a train while reading it! I’ll definitely be reading more of Laura Caldwell’s books.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Posted by Keris on March 28, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 27, 2007 4:24 PM

Karyn Bosnak, 'internet superstar' number 30

Readers in the States may have already seen this on TV last Friday, but Karyn Bosnak, author of the infamous Save Karyn and the fabulous Twenty Times a Lady reached the dizzy heights of number 30 in a recent VH1 poll. She was chosen as one of the "Greatest Internet Superstars" for her Save Karyn blog, which she set up to - successfully - pay off her 20K credit card debt (starting an internet begging trend in the process!)

You can watch her segment here.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Non Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

Love in the book signing queue

Maybe it's just the crowd I run with, but whenever I've been to book signings or author readings, it's usually been women of all ages and the odd (sometimes very odd) older man - not exactly the ideal breeding ground for romance. The lucky couple in this picture met in the queue at a signing of bestselling American crime author Lisa Scottoline's book Dirty Blonde, and by the time they'd reached the signing table, had arranged to meet for coffee. A year later, they're still together!

So next time you're at a book event, you might want to take a good look around for any viable prospects, ladies...

[Via Galleycat].

Related posts: Posh is a signing sensation | In defence of romantic novels

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

TUESDAY THREE: Adoption

Thanks to Angelina Jolie’s “rainbow family”, adoption is in the news again, and it has, of course, turned up in chick lit too (what hasn’t?).

Maeve Haran’s Baby Come Back actually features a celebrity parent, albeit one who has given up rather than adopted a child. Joe Meredith’s wife Molly has always known how much being adopted bothers her husband so she sets out to find Joe’s birth mother. She turns out to be Stella Milton, the actress plastered across the walls of every teenage boy in the country for the last 20 years.

Stella would like to reconnect with her son... if only she could have him without the baggage of his wife and child. Following the power struggle that ensues between Molly and Stella, Baby Come Back light-hearted, but does not shy away from the issues it is dealing with.

One of the most popular of Richard and Judy’s book club choices, Dorothy Koomson’s My Best Friend’s Girl tells the story of Kamryn who unexpectedly receives a letter from her former best friend Adele asking her to visit her in hospital. Adele is dying and wants Kamryn to adopt Tegan, Adele’s daughter from the one night stand with Kamryn’s fiance that (unsurprisingly) ended their friendship. She does, of course, and the result is a bit of a tearjerker.

Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson is the story of Nonny Frett, adopted into the Frett family when her 15-year-old mother abandoned her shortly after delivering her on the Frett's living room floor. Unfortunately, her adoption by her birth family's most hated rivals inevitably worsened the resentments that festered between the two clans, and it was only a matter of time before the tiny town of Between was taken to the brink of disaster by the burgeoning intra-family feud. Dealing with themes of abandonment, betrayal, family loyalties and nature vs. nurture, this novel is addictive, thought-provoking reading that's practically perfect in every way.

Posted by Keris on March 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Richard and Judy, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: White Tigress by Jade Lee

I have to admit, I opened Jade Lee’s White Tigress - the first book in Lee’s Tigress series - with a fair amount of trepidation. Set in 1897, an English woman is kidnapped and subsquently purchased by a Chinese man who wants to use her yin to help him achieve immortality? Well, it’s just not the kind of thing I read. But I kept an open mind and I’m so glad I did.

Lydia Smith arrives early in Shangai with the intention of surprising her fiance Maxwell. Instead she is kidnapped and drugged and wakes up shackled to the bed in a brothel. Purchased by Ru Shan, she has no idea what he wants with her, but he promises it’s not her virginity. Instead he needs her yin - and in case you don’t know what that is (I didn’t) it’s her, um, feminine essence. He needs it because he has too much yang (I bet you can guess what that is) and he needs to be balanced in order to reach immortality. Yes, I know.

White Tigress is an entertaining, exciting and erotic book. I was worried it was going to be about a white woman being corrupted by a foreign “other”, but it’s much more interesting than that. Yes, you do need to suspend disbelief, but Lee writes so compellingly that it’s not as difficult as you might think. Even when faced with lines like, “Let the yin come, Li Dee. Open your plum flower!” “But the river flows through your cinnabar cave. I must have access to that.” And that’s without even mentioning his “jade dragon”. But the world Lee has created is so convincing that I didn’t laugh (much).

Having said that, the ending was a little far-fetched even for me, but it was also the only way it really could have ended. White Tigress reminded me of a lot of other books (Mills & Boon, Shogun, Danielle Steel, The Celestine Prophesy) while, at the same time, being like nothing I’ve ever read before. Recommended.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Taming the Beast by Emily Maguire

Posted by Keris on March 27, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Romance, Series | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 26, 2007 5:21 PM

MOVIE NEWS: Revolutionary Road

Mega books blog Galleycat reported on Friday that Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are apparently to be reunited on screen for the first time since a little film called Titanic (maybe you've heard of it?)

The film, Revolutionary Road, is an adaptation of Richard Yates' 1961 novel about a young married couple. Winslet's husband Sam Mendes is set to direct and the film will apparently be made in association with the BBC. Filming will start this summer, so hopefully we can Friday Flick it before too long!

Movie News archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: About Alice by Calvin Trillin

"I wrote this for Alice. Actually, I wrote everything for Alice."

That was the poignant dedication at the front of Tepper Isn't Going Out - the last book Calvin Trillin wrote before the death of his wife Alice in 2001. Alice had been the star of many of Trillin's autobiographical stories and articles, his muse and mentor, as well as the mother of his two children and a brilliant writer and teacher in her own right.

About Alice is his tribute to his much-loved and much-missed wife, friend and partner, and it's just as poignant and heartbreaking as that dedication.

Which isn't to say that it's sentimental; it isn't. Everything about this book is understated, from the plain cover to the emotional tone to the length (it's just over 77 pages). Trillin chooses not to dwell on the details of Alice's death, which was caused by heart problems brought on by chemotherapy from lung cancer - although she was never a smoker - many years earlier.

Instead he writes with great humour, love and restraint about their life together, Alice's tenacity and intelligence, the support she gave him and their life together. It's wonderful to read this account of a truly happy marriage, and sad to realise it's over. Thankfully, this book made me laugh, but it also made me cry, not least at the end. I won't spoil it by quoting any more of Trillin's words for you now, but read them yourself - you won't be sorry.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

*DID YOU KNOW?* Calvin Trillin is one of Sara Nelson's most favourite authors, although the book of his she loves best, Floater, is sadly out of print.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's hard out there for a critic

Finally! Some recognition... Author Meg Rosoff recently wrote about how hard it can be to be a book reviewer - very true! It's a hard, hard life...

But she also talks about how, after finding writing a bad review an unpleasant experience, she now only reviews books she enjoys. Which is good for her, I guess - but it wouldn't be  very democratic if everyone did that, surely? We need good and bad reviews, don't we?

Well, here at Trashionista, we review whatever we read, and always tell you honestly what we think. And we think you like us for it - don't you?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 23, 2007 12:59 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Dear Zoe by Philip Beard

Dear Zoe has been compared to The Lovely Bones (which unlike some people, I found a brilliant read) but I'm going to state this right now: it's much, much better.

It's narrated by Tess, in the form of one long letter (divided into chapters) to her three-year old sister Zoe who died in a car crash almost a year earlier - on September 11, 2001.

It includes her recollections of the past and details of where her life is now, leading up to her attempts to get down on paper what happened the fateful day that Zoe died - and her own part in what went wrong.

It's intended to be a young adult novel, I think, but anyone could read and enjoy it. It's the best YA I've ever read, totally unputdownable. It's subtle and poignant and heart-rending, but doesn't layer the sentimentality on with a trowel, which The Lovely Bones (much as I loved it) did. I also thought the exploration of private grief on a day associated with public grief was compelling and heartbreaking. It made me think of all the people whose loved ones died on that day, both in the Twin Towers attack and for unrelated reasons. I'm not ashamed to say I cried. A lot.

But this is by no means a depressing book - it concentrates a lot on normal teenage life. At times, I found myself thinking it really was written by a 15-year old girl, rather than a grown man! Philip Beard has perfectly captured the life of a teen girl and the inner workings of a teenager's mind. He must have done some research into the grooming rituals of an image-obsessed teenager, as he has this down pat.

He's created a flawed but intensely likeable character in Tess. He's also created a very vivid and true-seeming depiction of a family's loss and I highly (highly!) recommend it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Prize Winners, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 22, 2007 12:08 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Sylvia Plath

Yes, she was a depressive who killed herself, and I'm not suggesting that action should pave the way for other female authors, but it's a shame the way Sylvia Plath died has come to overshadow her wonderful writing.

I'm sure you'll have heard of her first and only novel, The Bell Jar, the story of one young woman's summer in New York, working as an intern at a magazine, and the mental breakdown that follows... It's not a happy story, but it's well-written and evocative and sadly, many young women can relate to that kind of depression - reading this book they'll know they've not alone. Plath was also a very talented (if often bleak) poet, with her collection Ariel probably her best-known and most-respected work. Her diaries are also published and show more of the inner workings of her mind. Perhaps most surprising is that Plath also wrote a children's book, Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams. Let's try to remember her for her writing, and not for how she died...

Read this: The Bell Jar

Who's your favourite trailblazer?

Thursday Trailblazer archives

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 22, 2007 in American Authors, Classic Novels, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (7)

BOOK REVIEW: The Sweetheart Season by Karen Joy Fowler

Unlike some people (okay, a lot of people), I found Karen Joy Fowler's The Jane Austen Book Club a throughly enjoyable read, so I was really looking forward to her next book, The Sweetheart Season.

It's the story of Irini Doyle and her colleagues at a small-town cereal factory, who form a baseball team after World War Two, when all of the men of Magrit (their small town) have died or, having seen a bit of the world, decided to stay away. The team will give them the chance to travel the country and meet some eligible bachelors... or at least, they think it will.

That's ostensibly the storyline, although actually the baseball theme take a while to get going. We learn about the history of Magrit, the cereal factory and its founder, Henry Collins and many other things too! Fowler has certainly created a very believable small town from her imagination, but perhaps she's created it in a little too much detail - although her writing is always wry and often funny, there's just to much of it, and the book could have been made much snappier and more enjoyable with a less rambling plot. I was disappointed that the baseball storyline took a while to get going, but when it did I was reminded how boring (and to a Brit, incomprehensible) baseball is. I also didn't understand why the narrator of the story was Irini's daughter, who admits at the start of the book that she might be embellishing... it's already fiction, I see no reason to pile an unreliable narrator on top! (And the afterword spoiled the ending, too - pure self-indulgence.)

My discrepancies made sense, however, when I found out that this book was actually written in 1996, but not published until last year. I'm sure Karen Joy Fowler's next book will be as crisply edited as The Jane Austen Book Club, and all the better for it.

Here's an enjoyable but slow read in the meantime!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Ya-Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 22, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 21, 2007 12:42 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Last week, we decided that accuracy and great writing were more important than having been to the place you're writing about - thanks for all your great responses!

This week, Muriel Grey, chairwoman of the Orange Prize judging panel has really been stirring things up by claiming that women's fiction is dull, concentrating on trivial concerns and lacking in grand literary ambitions. (Read more of her opinions here - and an excellent rejoinder here).

Do you agree - should women be attempting more epic literary works, or is that not what women want to read? Are books about political coups inherently more worthwhile than ones about single motherhood? Should men and women be writing the same kind of books? Does it matter what a book's about, as long as it's good? And finally...

Is Muriel right? - Tell us what you think: Yay or Nay, and why?

Yay or Nay archives.

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

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Opinion, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (7)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Maggie Marr

You might not have heard of Maggie Marr yet, but you will: I have a feeling her new novel, Hollywood Girls Club, is going to be big. If you're stateside, you won't have to wait long to find out: it will be released in the US on April, and in the UK in (sob!) October (although there's always Amazon of course). We're very privileged as Maggie made time to chat to us between moving house and tending to the needs of her young toddler and newborn baby. That's dedication - thanks Maggie!

Here's what she told us...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

HGC is the intertwined tale of four friends in Hollywood trying to get a movie made. (That is 16 words....gosh that IS tough!)

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

I write my books at home. Before recently moving I had a favorite brown chair in which I would sit and write - however, the chair was falling apart and quite unfixable so it didn't make it through the move. Now I have a den with a lovely window overlooking the back yard.

More from Meg over the cut, including her favourite "social climbing realist" and what she's working on next...

Your favourite chick-lit book?

So tough! I really love I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter; a YA/Chick Lit combo. I also still love In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. She is an amazing writer.

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

I have to go with Meg March in Little Women. I still to this day love her character. Little Women still resonates with me. Another character that I continue to love because she is sooo good at being bad... or maybe just a social climbing realist is Becky Sharpe in Vanity Fair.

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

NEVER GIVE UP. If you truly want to be a writer...then write. Write every day, even if it's just to journal. Also find a critique group; they are invaluable for two reasons. First it is an excellent way to hear from others just what you are conveying on the page and second it creates a deadline for you. If your critique group expects 10 pages from you every Thursday night...well then you better come prepared with your 10 pages. Also, READ! Read everything. Read the classics, read what you love, read the paper, read magazines, READ, READ, READ! There is no better way to study your craft than to read...(well and to write; but I already covered that.) 

What are you reading at the moment?

Right now I am reading This Is Chick Lit. 

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

The second Hollywood Girls Club Book. I think it will be called Secrets of The Hollywood Girls Club and much more salacious than the first.

Sounds great! Thanks again!

Interview archives

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

Notes from the Underbelly on TV

Coming soon to ABC in the US, Notes from the Underbelly is based on Risa Green's novel of the same name.  The TV show was been created by Barry Sonnenfeld (Two and a Half Men) and is a "whimsical look at the sweeping changes that come with new parenthood".

If you're in the US, let us know if it's any good. Thanks!

Posted by Keris on March 21, 2007 in American Authors, Television | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: How To Be Popular by Meg Cabot

Gracious, Meg Cabot's prolific, isn't she? We can barely keep up with all her releases. How To Be Popular is her latest stand-alone young adult book and it's a good one.

Subtitled 'when you're a social reject like me, Steph L.' it's the story of Steph Landry who became a household name in her town after spilling a drink on a classmate's skirt. No, really. Expressions like "Don't pull a Steph Landry" caught the imagination of the town's population and Steph's afraid she'll never live it down.

That is until she finds a book that she hopes will teach her how to be popular and starts putting its tips into action. Of course, the popular kids in her school wonder what's going on with her, as do her (unpopular) friends, Jason and Becca. And when you consider that Steph's grandfather is marrying Jason's grandmother and her mother is no longer speaking to either the bride or groom and the family business may fail and Steph can't seem to stop spying on Jason doing press-ups in the nude ... well ... Steph's in danger of "pulling a Steph Landry" herself.

As we've come to expect (if not demand!) from Meg Cabot, How To Be Popular is a very sweet and funny book. It's set in a small town, which Cabot manages to convey as brilliantly as she does New York in the Princess Diaries books. Some lovely characters, an entertaining plot and a totally satisfying ending - what more could you ask for? Fabulous.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart

Posted by Keris on March 21, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 20, 2007 12:10 PM

Adaptation: tricky, but worth it?

Did you see Mansfield Park at the weekend? (I recorded it but have heard mixed reviews!)

What did you think?

An interesting article in The Guardian looks at ethics of adaptation for the small and silver screens and the difficulty of doing justice to the original text - but points out that when it works, it works. 

Which is why we devote a regular feature to it every Friday, of course!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Opinion, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

TUESDAY THREE: Mothers and daughters

I was inspired by Mothers’ Day last Sunday (in the UK and Commonwealth) to have a look at some fictional mothers and daughters for this week’s Tuesday Three. Let's face it, apart from sisters, there are few relationships likely to provide better fodder for humorous fiction!

Jane Sigaloff’s Like Mother, Like Daughter features Alice, whose mother , Suzie, is approaching sixty but is acting like her coming birthday is her sixteenth instead. When she comes up with a hare-brained scheme to find love for herself and her daughter, Alice begins to despair - why can't she have a mother like other girls?

When her mother and sister have a car accident, Belinda “Benny” Bernstein flies home and is horrified by what she finds, in Pamela Ribon's Why Moms Are Weird. Not only is her mother dating three men at once, her house is filthy and filled with trash. Her sister is in an(other) abusive relationship and has started a collection of stray dogs. And what's even more galling is that neither of them have commented on Benny's weightloss.

Benny takes it upon herself to fix everything, but what she doesn't realise is that just because something's broke, doesn't mean she has to be the one to fix it. Anyone who has suffered guilt pangs at moving far from home - or who has a mother who is too close for comfort - will enjoy this book.

We couldn’t choose focus on mother/daugher relationships without including Postcards from the Edge now, could we? Former Hollywood actress, recovering alcoholic and drug addict with a famous mother Carrie Fisher’s novel about a Hollywood actress who's a recovering alcoholic and drug addict with a famous ... well, you get the idea!  Postcards is a cult classic - a book to be read and re-read, gawped at and laughed over. And the film's pretty great too.

Posted by Keris on March 20, 2007 in American Authors, Modern Fiction, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 19, 2007 12:41 PM

Orange Prize longlist announced

My favourite literary award of the year is one step closer to being decided with the announcement of The Orange Prize long list. As we told you before, Marian Keyes is among the women on the judging panel, and she's been chronicling her adventures in reading on her monthly blog/newsletter (in February her reading was broken up by a trip up the Amazon).

Anyway, the long list is rather... long (no!) so I'll post it over the cut:

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allan

Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

Peripheral Vision by Patricia Ferguson

Over by Margaret Forster

The Dissident by Nell Freudenberger

When to Walk  by Rebecca Gowers

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo

The Observations by Jane Harris

Carry Me Down by M J Hyland

The Girls by Lori Lansens

Alligator by Lisa Moore

What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

Careless by Deborah Robertson

Afterwards by Rachel Seiffert

Ten Days in the Hills by Jane Smiley

Digging to America by Anne Tyler

The Housekeeper by Melanie Wallace

Lots there I'd love to read (especially Jane Smiley and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's books) , but only one that I have - Xiaolu Guo's A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers.

How about you?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Prize Winners, Richard and Judy | Permalink | Comments (2)

MOVIE NEWS: The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom

JoAnna Barrett's new novel, The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom has been generating a huge amount of buzz before its release on 27th March - not least because the lovely Hugh Jackman has already optioned the book for his very selective production company (they only choose three projects a year; this is their comedy) so it must be worth a read! Of course we'll bring you our review asap...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Movie News, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

Buffy is back!

Yes, ten years after she first appeared on the scene (in her TV incarnation), the Buffster's back. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: #1 is out as a comic.

Written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, the first episode kicks off with the Slayers "kicking some serious undead butt." No change there then.

Related posts: Reading Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Jodi Picoult, Wonder Woman? | Manga romance

Posted by Keris on March 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, New Releases, Series, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

MORE ON MONDAY: Heat by Bill Buford

Heat is, according to the subtitle, 'an amateur's adventures as a kitchen slave, line cook, pasta-maker, and apprentice to a Dante-quoting butcher in Tuscany'. And for a quick precis of the book, you couldn't really ask for a better description. What the subtitle leaves out, however, is that the book also covers the author's disenchantment with his day job, his love affair with most things edible, and pedantic obsessions with points of food history.

The first 50 pages of Heat were dull, dull, dull. Buford makes friends with and begins to work for Manhattan celebrity chef Mario Batali, hero of the Food Network and the man behind a restaurant empire headed up by the legendary Babbo's. The problem is, the beginning of the book is in essence a potted history of Batali's relationship with food, and while the relevance of this is made evident later, at first I was left wondering why I was reading the biography of a chef instead of the memoirs of the author.

Once Buford takes over the narration of the book, however, things improve rapidly. We follow him as he learns to hear and smell the kitchen, and cook by instinct. We watch his progress through the kitchen, see him falling in love with food as a professional, not an amateur, and travel with him as his growing passion for Italian food takes him on several trips to the country, making tortelli in Emilia-Romagna, and butchering in Chianti.

Buford is a likeable narrator, and the descriptions of the food he eats and learns to cook border on the erotic. Erotic, not pornographic. This is food writing by a sensualist who considers the textures, colours, and smells of food to be as important as the flavour, and whose total immersion in the food he's cooking becomes a love affair in itself.

But Heat is not just a book about food. It's a book about consistency, and history, about the relationship between where people live and the food they eat, the way they choose to cook it, and the importance it has in their lives. In amongst the sentiment - which comes across as natural, not forced - there are a number of academic asides about the history and progress of Italian food, making Heat a book that makes you hungry, feeds your brain, and fills you with a sense of continuity and history. Brilliant, once the Batali biography is out of the way.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try:  The Nasty Bits, by Anthony Bourdain

Posted by Aigua Media on March 19, 2007 in American Authors, Memoirs, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 16, 2007 11:29 AM

FRIDAY FLICK: Postcards From The Edge

What could be better for Mother's Day weekend than a Friday Flick which celebrates a dysfunctional/realistic mother-daughter relationship?! Based on the cult novel by Carrie Fisher, which we LOVED, Postcards From The Edge (the film) takes this relationship front and centre.

It tells the story of Hollywood actress Suzanne Vale, who has to move in with her mother after an accidental drug overdose, as she tries to get her life and career back on track...

Meryl Streep plays Suzanne, and does a great job at capturing her bewildered post-rehab state, although at times she's a little more subdued than I would have expected. But the show is really stolen by Shirley McClaine, playing Doris - surely a very thinly-veiled version of Carrie Fisher's own mum, Debbie Reynolds - the similarity is very striking (apparently Reynolds was incensed to audition for the role and be turned down!)

It's not quite as good as the book, but it's a quality film and one of my favourite adaptations ever. And the tag line is fabulous:

"Having a wonderful time. Wish I were here."

*DID YOU KNOW?* If you get the DVD, one of the highlights is Carrie Fisher's rambling (in a good way) and deliciously indiscreet ("I was having an affair with him") commentary. She also points out which parts of the story really happened to her... unmissable.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 16, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Friday Flick, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 15, 2007 4:17 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Patricia Highsmith

The Talented Mr Ripley. Ripley's Game. Strangers on a Train. All came from the talented and slightly disturbed mind of Ms Patricia Highsmith, award-winning author of a ream of bestselling crime books which transcended 'genre fiction' (Not that genre fiction is a bad thing!)

I had a Patricia Highsmith-filled summer a few years ago (I like a touch of darkness in my summer reading - too much sun is bad for you) and read all her Ripley books, some short stories and a couple of her other novels. It was a wonderful time! Highsmith was such a great writer with a brilliant talent for creating suspense from thin air, and making the reader care about eminently detestable characters (I found myself hoping Tom Ripley would get away with his crimes!)  Her books are much more that whodunits and don't go in for any autopsy description or gore, she's much more interested in psychology and has surely influenced every female (and male) crime writer who followed her.

Highsmith's own life was sometimes the inspiration for her fiction: she wrote a lesbian stalker story, Carol in 1953 (very controversial at the time, so she used a pseudonym) based to some extent on her own experience. It's thought to be the first openly gay novel with a happy ending!

Macabre and dark, Highsmith certainly wasn't a girly girl, but her books aren't heavy or a struggle to read: they capture you and don't let you go.

Read this: The Talented Mr Ripley.

Thursday Trailblazer archives | Crime/mystery archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Crime / Mystery, Opinion, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (2)

Elinor Lipman's ode to her mother (and her mother's condiment phobia... yep)

Yes, I know that sounds bizarre!

I was browsing Elinor Lipman's beautifully-designed website the other day, and came across one of the rare essays of hers I haven't read: about her mother, and her mother's phobia of condiments: mayonnaise, ketchup, you name it! It's very funny, and of course, is as much about her relationship with her mum as food phobia. Read it here.

And expect a review of Lipman's latest book, called My Latest Grievance, soon.

Related post: The Mums' Book

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now Lionel Shriver's writing chick lit

We Need to Talk About Kevin author Lionel Shriver's new novel, The Post-Birthday World, has apparently been described as "the next step after chick lit." Funny that, because it sounds to me very much like a chick lit book that came out last year. See what you think.

The Post-Birthday World is about children's book illustrator Irina McGovern, who enjoys a quiet and settled life in London with her partner Lawrence. To their small circle of friends, their relationship is rock solid. Until the night Irina unaccountably finds herself dying to kiss another man: their old friend from South London, the stylish, extravagant, passionate top-ranking snooker player Ramsey Acton. With which true love is Irina better off? Should she stay or should she go? In two alternating, parallel stories, The Post-Birthday World follows Irina's life as it unfolds under the influence of these two drastically different yet equally honorable men.

Carry on over the cut for the chick lit version (can you guess what it is?).

Sarah Mlynowski's latest novel Me vs Me is a clever look at what happens to one woman when her wish comes true and she's able to choose both paths that open in front of her. Gabby Wolf isn't sure what she wants most: to marry her devoted boyfriend, Cam, and stay in Arizona or move to New York for her dream job, producing a popular news show. She wishes she could have it both ways and the next thing she knows, she's living two lives, going back and forth between planning her wedding to Cam in Arizona and working at the fast-paced, exciting job in New York. Neither life is perfect.

Aside from the fact that I don't think the words "stylish, extravagant and passionate" have ever before been followed by "snooker player", the similarities are startling, don't you think? And it's interesting that in the apparently "literary" novel, the heroine is choosing between two men, whereas in the chick lit novel she's choosing between a man and her dream job.

[Blurbs via Amazon.com]

Posted by Keris on March 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (5)

March 14, 2007 5:12 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Hot and Bothered by Annie Downey

Annie Downey is an intelligent, funny writer with a healthy dose of quirk. She regularly contributes to alternative parenting magazine Hip Mama and Hot and Bothered is her first novel.

Her heroine is a single mother of a young girl and teenage boy and she's dealing with looking after them plus the fallout of a messy divorce and her own lack of motivation and enthusiasm for life. She's cynical, funny, rather ditsy and somewhat lacking in self-belief...

and very charming.

The book has a chronological narrative but is divided into chapters with different themes, all of which begin "A week..." ("...from hell" and "...of merriment" are two headers). Each chapter is then divided into short (ranging from one sentence to a page and a half) paragraphs, making this a snappy, focused read with very little waffle. It's also an often unpredictable read, and I found many moments in the book hilarious - such as when the main character goes for a walk, meets a woman outside her house, invents that she's a professional dog walker and lands herself a new job walking the woman's dog and cleaning her house...! It's such a funny scene, and by no means the only thing I laughed out loud at - but the book is very warm and contains real emotion, too.

It was also just a tad odd - the main character (whose name we don't learn 'til the end of the book, so I'm afraid it hasn't stuck in my brain! I know, I'm getting old) is obsessed with pink clogs, but aren't clogs the least comfortable footwear ever? And she makes frequent references to being small and midget-like, but it turns out she's the same height as the lovely Keris... who as we know is in perfect proportion - ish. Maybe the author feels a little height disadvantaged, I don't know... Also, the main character's best friend Kip is more than a bit mean, but I came to like her by the end of the book!

Definitely not your usual mummy/mommy lit - this story's a good bit more complicated, and a little bit more quirky but it's a very fun read I found hard to put down.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Only Boy for Me by Gil McNeil.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ellen Meister's "I Want A Freaking Character Named After Me!" Competition

Remember author Ellen Meister's Hollywood Cupcake competition (when readers inexplicably voted to "offer their cupcakes" to Matthew McConaughey rather than George Clooney)? Well, Ellen's running a new, equally fun, competition on her website.

Called the "I Want A Freaking Character Named After Me!" Drawing, it offers readers the chance to have a character named after them in Ellen's next book. All you have to know is know the multi-syllable curse phrase used by one of my characters throughout Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA. Enter here.

Related posts: Author Interview: Ellen Meister

Posted by Keris on March 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Competition | Permalink | Comments (3)

March 13, 2007 4:20 PM

Galaxy Book Awards shortlist announced

The Galaxy British Book Awards, formerly just The British Book Awards (those ones that Richard and Judy present where they always shout slightly embarrassing 'impromptu' interviews across the stage to the people giving out the books, I'm sure you've seen them on TV) have announced their shortlist. And they're now calling themselves The Oscars of the Book World. Posh!

Carry on over the cut to see the books in the running and for details on how to vote (for Marian Keyes!)...

The full list, with several categories, is very very long (despite the name 'shortlist'!) so it's better viewed via the awards' website. Perhaps of most interest to Trashionistas is that Marian Keyes's latest, the wonderful Anybody Out There? has been nominated for Sainsbury's popular fiction award. To vote for Marian, or any other book, click here. (Go now - hurry!)

Related: Richard and Judy archives | Prizewinners archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Prize Winners, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

TUESDAY THREE

Thanks to the new Thursday Trailblazer feature, the Thursday Three has become the Tuesday Three. And I thought I’d celebrate the move with a look at books featuring ... death. (I really don’t know how to celebrate, do I?)

P.S. I Love You, the debut novel from Cecilia Ahern, examines what happens when young love ends too soon. Holly is devastated when her childhood sweethearts Gerry dies of a brain tumour, but soon finds that he has left her a set of envelopes - one labelled to be opened on a specific day each month. Each envelope contains a task to help Holly move on with her life. And each message ends with the words 'P.S. I love you'. A lovely, sad, and funny book.

The reissued version of Marc Levy’s If Only It Were True, Just Like Heaven is about Lauren, a resident in a busy ER department, who crashes her car and ends up in a deep coma. A few weeks later Arthur moves into a fabulous new apartment. Imagine his shock when he finds a girl in his closet ... a girl who is amazed that he can see her and hear her ... a girl who tells him that her body is lying in a coma on the other side of town - yup you've guessed it, it's Lauren. The book’s great and so’s the film.

How Will I Know  by Sheila O’Flanagan explores the relationship between a bereaved mother and her daughter. Following her husband Bill’s tragic death, Claire’s life revolves around her daughter Georgia. While Georgia is getting to grips with a first boyfriend, Claire is rediscovering the world of dating herself.

Posted by Keris on March 13, 2007 in American Authors, Cecelia Ahern, Irish Authors, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 12, 2007 7:01 PM

Beth Kendrick's gorgeous new cover

First watching Crufts got me all hepped up on cute little dogs and then I spotted this, the gorgeous cover of Beth Kendrick's latest, Nearlyweds, and it sent me even soppier.

You can read an excerpt here. It sounds great.

Related posts: Judging books by their covers | More book cover snap | Romance novel cover comedy

Posted by Keris on March 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

Read Sisterwife for free

Acclaimed suspense author Natalie R Collins is giving away a free download of her book, Sisterwife, on her website. Here's the blurb:

Prophesied to be the catalyst in a modern-day Armageddon, Kelsey Waite flees a life in Utah, freeing herself from a polygamous lifestyle and abusive father. She is forced to return to the state, and face her demons - and the charismatic cult leader who believes she is destined to be his second wife - when her daughter is kidnapped.

Sounds intriguing.

Related posts: Free online novel | Kate Thompson's Love Lies Bleeding

Posted by Keris on March 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Live to Tell by... Madonna's ex-Nanny

Madonna's former nanny Melissa Dumas has obviously been influenced by the success of The Nanny Diaries (now being made into a film) and You'll Never Nanny in this Town Again (which she might find to be true) - she's got a book deal for the September '07 release of her memoir, Live to Tell. No exact details of the contract are available yet but according to Galleycat, she'll get at least a $500, 000 advance.

But should nannies be allowed to tell all? And can't employees prevent it? On one hand, I don't really agree with dishing the dirt on your past employer (if they treated you well, anyway - which begs some questions...), but on the other, I'm as intrigued as anyone else to find out all about the inner workings of the Ritchie household! Should be interesting...

What do you think?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (4)

MORE ON MONDAY: Sweet and Low by Rich Cohen

Rich Cohen's maternal grandfather was Ben Eisenstadt. That name might not ring a bell, but his most popular invention certainly will: Sweet n' Low, those popular pink packets of sugar substitute sent everywhere from England to Israel from a packing plant on a small Brooklyn street. The story of an artificial sweetener isn't necessarily the makings of a great story, but the clue to Sweet and Low's appeal is the subtitle: A Family Story. Taking in disinherited relatives (Cohen's side of the family), mafia connections, strange relatives (a lot of them!) and young Ben's abandonment in the big city as a young teenager, this book is a personal look at how big business affects a family - and tears it apart.

This book wasn't really what I expected, though. I thought it would be, frankly, a slimmer volume, all about Rich Cohen's family and nothing else. It's actually more in-depth and far less lightweight than I would have guessed (don't you hate it when you have to concentrate?!) I learned about everything from accountancy practices (kosher and dodgy - I'm ready to launder money now... not really, FBI!) as well as the history of Brooklyn since its early settlement. Oh yes, and the history of sugar and its alternatives is covered in some detail too. The book is well-researched, very thorough and very well-written.

However, at times I would have preferred a more family-centric chronicle of events, with some of Cohen's research weaved in and worn a little more lightly, rather than entire chapters of history. But I guess that would be a completely different book. I was hooked nonetheless, and there's no doubt it's an interesting, informative and personal (if not always personal enough) read. And if it doesn't make you want to run out and do your own taste test of different alternatives to sugar... well, maybe that's just me!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 12, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Memoirs, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 9, 2007 5:12 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Cold Mountain

Based on the critically acclaimed novel, by Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain stars Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger (who won an Oscar for this role).

Law plays a confederate soldier who, disillusioned with the Civil War, sets off on foot to return to Cold Mountain and Ada, the woman he loves. Of course, things haven't exactly been a picnic for Ada while he's been away ...

I must admit, I haven't seen the film because, despite being beautifully written, the book was far too slow-going for me. Anyone seen it?

Friday Flick archives

Posted by Keris on March 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Friday Flick, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 8, 2007 2:59 PM

Jennifer Weiner takes on the National Book Critics Circle

More "literary" v "popular" fiction debate over on Jennifer Weiner's blog.

Regarding the National Book Critics Circle’s forthcoming panel discussion on genre fiction and critic Deborah McAfee's outraged response, Jennifer writes:

I urge the critics to rise up in righteous indignation and cancel this panel immediately if not sooner. Then, I urge them to institute a system of public shaming, whereby the "less educated basic readers" will wear dark-red letters to identify their secret shame. "M" for "mystery lover," "T" for "thriller addict," "R" for "romance fan" (with a special car decal for anyone who’s read those Harlequin/NASCAR crosscovers), and maybe a Cosmo with a slash through it for chick-lit aficionados.

Brilliant.

Related posts: Jennifer Weiner and Jane Green on Martha Stewart / In praise of chick lit (at last!) / Harlequin/NASCAR romances

Posted by Aigua Media on March 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

Best women authors of all time

As a way both of celebrating International Women's Day today and introducing our new Thursday Trailblazer regular feature in which we will look in detail at some of the female authors who have paved the way, we look at twenty women authors we believe to be the best of all time.

Putting then in order would be both impossible and pointless since - as yesterday's Yay or Nay made clear - one woman's Helen Fielding is another's Iris Murdoch. (And, as The Guardian newspaper found recently after describing Martin Amis as Britain's greatest living author, "best" is entirely subjective.)

So you'll find them in alphabetical order after the cut.

Maya Angelou
American poet, memoirist and actress, probably best known for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Margaret Attwood
Booker Prize-winning Canadian author and poet.

Jane Austen
You don't really need me to tell you about Jane Austen, do you?

Pat Barker
Booker Prize-winning author of the fabulous Regeneration Trilogy.

Enid Blyton
Hugely prolific British children's author.

Charlotte Brontë
Eldest of the Brontë sisters and author of Jane Eyre.

Emily Bronte
Author of Wuthering Heights and sister of Charlotte.

Angela Carter
English novelist and feminist.

Helen Fielding
The Mother of Chick Lit. Probably.

Harper Lee
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Doris Lessing
British author of, amongst other books, the feminist classic The Golden Notebook.

Nancy Mitford
British comic writer and biographer.

Lorrie Moore
American author of short stories.

Alice Munro
Widely considered to be the world's best short story writer.

Iris Murdoch
British author whose novel Under the Net was chosen as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.

Dorothy Parker
American writer, poet and humourist.

JK Rowling
You may not have heard of her, but she's written a fairly successful series of children's books.

Dodie Smith
Probably best known as the author of The Hundred and One Dalmations, but also the author of the wonderful I Capture the Castle.

Alice Walker
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for The Color Purple.

Virginia Woolf
English novelist, considered one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century.

Let us know if you agree or disagree, who you think we've missed or who you don't think should be included.

Posted by Aigua Media on March 8, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Classic Novels, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (13)

March 6, 2007 12:33 PM

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Will Write for Wine

I am very excited. Very, very excited. Because Lani Diane Rich has a new podcast! Starting this Saturday (10th March), Will Write for Wine features Lani and her fellow author and friend, Samantha Graves, talking about "Wine, writing and song. But mostly wine and writing".

Not only that, but they're looking for questions to answer. So if you've ever wondered "how writers plot or how books get to the shelves or what the heck a print run is" then drop them an email and not only might you get your question answered on the podcast, you could win a fabulous prize.

Related posts: Lani Diane Rich interview / Amazon.com launches a podcast

Posted by Keris on March 6, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Podcasts, Trashionista Recommends | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 5, 2007 9:45 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery

I must admit, when a publisher sent me Sy Montgomery’s The Good, Good Pig, I laughed. A memoir about raising a pig? Not exactly my kind of thing. How wrong I was.

When Sy and her husband Howard’s friends asked them to adopt the “runt of runts” of one of their pigs’ litters, they had no idea how much they would come to love him or what he’d mean to them. Tiny and sickly and cute, they named him Christopher Hogwood and built him a makeshift pen. Almost immediately they noticed he was special. Everyone who saw him loved him and, as he got healthier, he began to show signs of prodigious intelligence (pigs are very intellligent animals - who knew?).

Christopher loved his food and, with the assistance of slops and leftovers provided by practically everyone in the neighbourhood, got bigger and bigger, finally topping out at 750 pounds (that’s over 50 stone!). Local children came to feed him and bathe him. He was photographed for national newspapers and “interviewed” for TV and his loving, accepting and joyful personality profoundly affected those who got to know him.

Despite my originaly misgivings, after hearing Sy Montgomery interviewed on To the Best of Our Knowledge I knew I’d love this book and I was right. Montgomery writes delightfully about the joys of Christopher’s life and the joy he brought to her life. As an award-winning naturalist, Montgomery enthusiastically conveys inforrmation about the lives of pigs and other animals in such a manner as to make me think about the place of animals in our world in a completely different way.

This book made me cry, laugh out loud, look at the world in a different way and want a pig of my own. And there are not many books you can say that about.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Woman's Best Friend edited by Megan McMorris

Posted by Keris on March 5, 2007 in American Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 2, 2007 10:33 AM

FRIDAY FLICK: Brokeback Mountain

I think I put off watching Brokeback Mountain because I'd heard so much about it that I thought I was bound to be disappointed. Based on a short story by Annie Proulx, it stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as cowboys who, as you may have heard, fall in love.

And, yes, I did spend the first half hour or so waiting in anticipation for some hot cowboy-on-cowboy action, but once that was out of the way I relaxed into the story and was completely transported.

Brokeback Mountain also stars Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams (who, funnily enough, are soon to be seen playing Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte respectively). The acting is brilliant, the scenery gorgeous and the storyline engrossing and moving.

A lovely film.

Related posts: Movie News: Bronte / Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen / Friday Flick: 10 Things I Hate About You

Posted by Keris on March 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (3)

March 1, 2007 1:04 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Girls by Lori Lansens

"I have never looked into my sister's eyes. I have never bathed alone. I have never stood in the grass at night and raised my arms to a beguiling moon. I've never used an aeroplane bathroom. Or worn a hat. Or been kissed like that...So many things I've never done, but oh, how I've been loved. And, if such things were to be, I'd live a thousand times as me, to be loved so exponentially."

So begins Lori Lansens' The Girls, one of the books chosen for Richard and Judy's 2007 bookclub. Who could fail to be moved by such a tender and evocative beginning? And it just gets better and better.

Rose and Ruby Darlen are as close as sisters can be. Born joined at the head, they have lived a life full of spectacle, ridicule, love and wonderment. Now approaching 30, the girls are telling their own story in two contrasting styles, capturing all the hopes, fears, crashing disappointments and ordinary yet tender moments in two extraordinary lives.

I found Lori Lansens' evocative tale deeply affecting. It’s a long time for me since any fictional characters leapt from the page like Rose and Ruby, remembering their beloved Aunt Lovey and Uncle Stash.

As a mum of two eight-year-olds, I'm no fan of stereotypical portrayals of twins in fiction (and there are a few about – they’re not all pairs of good or evil you know) so the warm and subtle storytelling in this for me, unforgettable book, comes like a breeze of fresh air over a sea of mediocrity. I've savoured every page - reading passages aloud to my mum or partner, as I go. At turns laugh out loud funny, heartbreaking and shocking, The Girls is an absolute gem – a book I could read and re-read.

I even found myself nodding in agreement when it came to Aunt Lovey’s musings about three different types of people in this world - those who love children, those who love their own children and those who hate children but call their pets "Baby." Oh that sounds familiar. I think I’ve met a few of that last lot. [Linda Jones]

Rating: 5 out of 5

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

Posted by Aigua Media on March 1, 2007 in American Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Richard and Judy | Permalink | Comments (4)

THURSDAY THREE: Nannies

The life of a nanny is ripe with possibilities for entertaining stories - I know cos I used to be one - so this week we're going to look at three very different books about what can happen when you move in with not just complete strangers, but children too.

First up had to be the most famous book about a nanny since Mary Poppins - The Nanny Diaries. Described as 'a modern chick lit classic' by our own Diane, Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin's debut novel features Nan who, while studying for her master's in child education, turns to nannying for rich Manhattan families to pay the bills.

Suddenly she has to juggle her studies with the ever-more demanding, unreasonable and distant family she works for whilst also trying to avoid her difficult flatmate (which isn't too hard, as Nan barely has time to eat or sleep anymore!). The real focal point of the book is Nan's relationship with her little charge, Grayer, and it provides a great insight into the emotional issues around caring for children who are not your own.

In Under My Spell, Deborah Wright's modern magical fairy tale, Cara, a 25 year old witch, is so desperate to escape the clutches of her batty mother that she applies for a live-in nannying position with the Wilkins family. She’s delighted to get the position, and even more sure that this is the right move for her when she meets her gorgeous next door neighbour Sean, but Cara must remember all day, ever day, to act normal. If anyone finds out about her secret double life she’ll lose everything.

Carry on over the cut for the third - non-fiction this time - choice.

Aged just 19 Suzanne Hansen moved to L.A and accepted a post looking after three children whose father just happened to be one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, super-agent Michael Ovitz. You’ll Never Nanny in this Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny describes how what had at first seemed like a dream job quickly became a nightmare: too shy to negotiate a fair contract, Suzanne found herself on call at all hours of the day and night. She also found her employers had very little respect for her, the work she did, or even their own children. But when she thought about quitting, the family turned nasty (or nastier), with Michael uttering the words that make up the book's title. Was he right? Would she ever nanny in Hollywood again? Well, there's only one way to find out!

Posted by Keris on March 1, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Debut Novels, Non Fiction, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 28, 2007 10:16 AM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Ruth Graham

Diane will be reviewing Ruth Graham’s book The Break-up Bible: 101 True Stories to Make You Glad You’re Single when she gets back (which is soon, Diane fans!), and before she went away, she got Ruth to answer our questions.

How would you summarise your book?

It's like a big girly night in with lots of laughs.
 
What do you enjoy about writing non-fiction?

It's easier for a start! No plotlines and sub-plots to worry about. And life is so bizarre (well mine is) that the stories suggest themselves. I mean, how many times have you heard someone utter 'you couldn't make it up'?
 
What's an average writing day like? (briefly!)

I do lots of other things too (belly dance, mentor a refugee, work for a magazine), so that provides me with ideas, contacts and inspiration. When I do write it's graft - either at the computer, writing, surfing the net, visiting the library or trying to get ideas for the next thing.
 
What's your favourite novel by a woman?

Bridget Jones’s Diary. Not because I'd love it if I read it now, but it was very of its time. It made me scream with laughter back then.

Who is your favourite female character (fictional or real), and why?  

I was enthralled by the story of Ingrid Betancourt - a Columbian politician in her 30s who was, until she was kidnapped a few years ago, trying to stamp out corruption. A true heroine.
 
What are you working on next? (If you can give us a hint!)

The 'Bible' concept has turned into a series, so it's the next one in the ever-expanding chain. Visit my blog for information on the next ones etc. You can also contribute stories via the comments there too.

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!)

Well, it's not a question that I should have been asked, but I'd like to have been. 'Why are your legs so long? (lol!)

Thanks, Ruth!

Posted by Keris on February 28, 2007 in American Authors, Interviews, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 27, 2007 4:55 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Off the Record by Allison Samuels

Off the Record, by ‘award-winning’ US journalist Allison Samuels, is subtitled ‘A reporter unveils the celebrity world of Hollywood, Hip-hop & Sports’ and includes background on her interviews with and articles about various black celebrities including Denzel Washington, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Kobe Bryant.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. At first I thought it might be a sort of in-depth look at the history and influence of black entertainment, but once I read Samuels’ charming introduction I thought I was perhaps in for a sort of memoir with gossip along the lines of Jancee Dunn’s But Enough About Me. It turned out to be neither.

Samuels writes about how and why she got each interview, where they took place and what the interviewees were like, but very little of the actual interviews is included and, from what Samuels says of her published interviews and how they were received, I would have liked to actually read at least some of them.

It’s kind of like sitting next to a reporter at a party, repeatedly trying to get her to dish about celebrities and instead hearing about how lovely everyone is and how much she enjoys her job. Fair enough as it goes, but it’s not really an attention-grabber.

There were a few revealing stories - the chapters about Eddie Murphy’s bewilderment with what happened to his career, Bill Cosby’s grief and anger over the death of his son and Whoopi Goldberg’s bitterness at being missed out of Halle Berry’s Oscar acceptance speech were excellent. The Aretha, Whitney and Janet chapter was good too, but mainly because there was actually a bit of dish on Whitney.

The author mentioned more than once her reluctance to reinforce black stereotypes (a comment Angela Bassett made about turning down the film Monster’s Ball caused huge problems for both Bassett and Samuels) and so rather than writing about Death Row Records founder Suge Knight as ‘a menace to the entertainment industry’ she tells us how delightful his parents were and how his mother named him Sugar ‘because he was such a sweet baby.’

Often an interview looks to be on the brink of disaster (and therefore a little more entertaining for the reader) but everything turns out fine. For example, during a photoshoot, Snoop Doggy Dogg does a ‘gangbanger dance’:

With as stern a voice as I could muster, I calmly informed Snoop that this photo shoot was not for a hip-hop magazine, where there probably wouldn’t be a backlash. Also, I told him that in all likelihood his fellow Crip members would not see his shout-out, however thoughtful. He seemed to get the message, that is, until he began blowing marijuana rings into the camera, requiring another sideline meeting. Fortunately, he complied the second time as well, and the rest of the shoot went off without a hitch.

Do you remember the character on The Fast Show who ended every story with the words “... which was nice”? I found myself muttering them as I finished a lot of the anecdotes in this book.

Despite the above, I was enjoying this book, but the last line blew it for me. The book’s Epilogue is a tribute to Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr and an activist in her own right. The book ends "As the one-year anniversary of the death of this great woman approaches, I felt it was only fair and fitting to dedicate this book to her and her lifelong struggle to see that equality wasn’t just a dream but a reality."

Unfortunately, the majority of the book before this only serves to disprove that point. From Denzel Washington’s disillusionment with the racism of the film industry, to a chapter about Atlanta pole dancers, which includes this quote from a former stripper named Daisy, “I think black women are seen as the lowest of the low in society. We don’t count, so why not violate us? ... I’d be cool when I left the stage, unless a white man was up-front and center looking at me in a way that sent chills up my spine.”

Off the Record is an interesting book, but it’s certainly no proof of equality.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn

Posted by Keris on February 27, 2007 in American Authors, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

SPOTLIGHT: Alison Pace

I loved Alison Pace's first two books and I'm really excited about her new book, Through Thick and Thin, due out in August.

Alison holds a degree in Art History from American University in Washington, D.C. and received a graduate certificate in American Art from Sotheby's Institute in New York. She has worked at Sotheby's and has also been an independent fine art researcher.

Never having taken her writing seriously before, when Alison finished If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend she decided to look for an agent. Her debut was followed by Pug Hill and her writing has also appeared in The Bark magazine where she is a contributing editor.

Alison lives in New York City with her cute dog (disappointingly not a pug).

Carry on over the cut for Alison's bibliography.

If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend
Pug Hill

Related posts: Alison Pace's books of the year / Chick lit authors' favourite TV shows

Posted by Keris on February 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jennifer Weiner and Jane Green on Martha Stewart

You can watch Jennifer Weiner and Jane Green's Martha Stewart interview here. But because we're a full service blog, I transcribed the bit about the chick lit label.

Jane: It was more problematic for me in the beginning. What is a bigger problem for me is the misconception about chick lit. I think when people hear chick lit they think it's a fluffy novel about a single girl in her 20s looking for Mr Right with designer handbags ...

Jennifer: Not that there's anything wrong with that! I do think it's sad to say that there are still some very silly people who like to judge books by their covers and they see a little pink and they see a sassy handbag and they think stupid, brainless, candyfloss, who cares? There's more going on that that--

Martha: Who cares? Only millions and millions and millions of readers ...

You're not wrong, Martha!

Related post: Marian Keyes on The Weekender

Posted by Keris on February 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Jane Green, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 26, 2007 10:32 AM

Jane Eyre reimagined

I was intrigued to read that Elizabeth Malin has written a novel inspired by Jane Eyre. Through Nightmare "tells a fresh story of forgiveness and redemption while still providing the pathos and joy of its inspiration". While looking for a publisher, Elizabeth is posting chapters on her website.

I was also amused to find that two authors I'd heard good things about were one and the same person! Elizabeth writes young adult books under the name Libby Sternberg and chick lit as Libby Malin, saving Elizabeth Malin for historical fiction.

Related posts: Wuthering Heights gets graphic / Taming the Beast by Emily Maguire / Movie news: Bronte

Posted by Keris on February 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Cooking Up a Storm by Jenna Bayley-Burke

I enjoyed Jenna Bayley-Burke’s debut Just One Spark and I enjoyed her second book, Cooking Up a Storm, even more. Another Mills & Boon Modern Romance Extra, it’s not quite as graphic as Just One Spark - at least, I don’t think so, I might just have recovered from the surprise of sex in a M&B book.

Lauren Brody runs her own catering business and doesn’t have time for a relationship. Plus she’s been badly hurt in the past. Having moved from New York to Seattle following a promotion, Cameron Price isn’t in a relationship place either. Plus he can’t get past his finding his former fiance in bed with his best friend. When Lauren is hired to cater Cameron’s launch party and Cameron’s boss assumes they’re in a relationship, they soon realise a fake relationship could be a real business boost for both of them. But of course, they’re incredibly attracted to each other so the relationship doesn’t stay fake for long.

Yes, it’s a well-worn plot, but what lifts this book is the characterisation. Like Jennifer Crusie’s Anyone But You, you know what’s going to happen (and very little does) but you’re happy to go along with it.

Lauren’s a great character - strong, independent, intelligent and sexy, while still remaining human and funny, and Cameron’s a lovely hero too. There weren’t any forced/contrived plot points and for the most part everyone behaved just as I would like them to.

An undemanding, but a rewarding (and, yes ... stimulating) read.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

Posted by Keris on February 26, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (4)

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Reader Girlz

Created by Young Adult authors Justina Chen Headley, Janet Lee Carey, Lori Ann Grover and Dia Calhoun, Reader Girlz is a new online book community "celebrating gutsy girls in life & lit".

Each month, they will showcase a YA novel "featuring a strong female character (or two!)". The first book is Justina Chen Headley's Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies). Join the club by friending them at MySpace or read the current issue here.

Find out more over the cut.

But that's not all. They also want to encourage readers to become active in their communities. "We want to connect you with stories that will change the way you and your friends see yourselves, and inspire you to have the guts to make history of your own. So you'll see lots of great community service ideas that tie in with our featured books."

A fabulous idea and an entertaining and intriguing site, I'm sure you'll agree.

Trashionista recommends archive

Posted by Keris on February 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

February 23, 2007 2:27 PM

BOOK NEWS: Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume

Judy Blume featured in our chick lit precursors list and this June sees the publication of Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume.

Edited by Jennifer O'Connell, the book features essays from authors including Trashionista faves Meg Cabot, Megan Crane, Diana Peterfreund, Alison Pace, Sarah Mylnowski and Shanna Swendson.

With a line-up like that (along with such a scrumptious cover), I don't think I can wait til June ...

Posted by Keris on February 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

February 22, 2007 12:11 PM

Harlequin/NASCAR romances

Fans of Janet Evanovich's Metro Girl series may be interested in Harlequin's partnership with NASCAR, the stock-car racing association.

Three titles have been published so far (Thunderstruck, Speed Dating and Danger Zone) and the company is now embarking on a 16-book series of NASCAR-set romances. [via Galleycat]

I don't really "get" NASCAR, but I know it's huge in the US, so no doubt this series will be another speedy success. Ha. I make myself laugh.

Related post: Manga romance

Posted by Keris on February 22, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Romance | Permalink | Comments (5)

THURSDAY THREE: Must Love Dogs

We really didn't enjoy the film, but we do love our four-legged fictional friends ...

Alison Pace's Pug Hill has the most gorgeous dog-decorated cover and features Hope McNeill who copes with stress, by hanging out at Pug Hill - an area of New York's Central Park where pug owners gather to walk cute pot-bellied pups. I found Hope a little bit on the wet side, but Pace writes about both pugs and New York beautifully.

Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie features Fred, an aged, depressed half-beagle, half-basset hound. Oh and Nina, recently turned 40 and divorced, and ER doctor Alex, about to turn 30 with no interest in growing up or settling down. But when Fred climbs through his window and leads him to Nina ... well, you can imagine. It's a lovely, charming, sweet and romantic book.

Our final book is The Dog Walker by Leslie Schnur. Nina Shepard is a dog walker by day and a sculptor of found objects by night. She is also in love with Daniel before she even meets him. He's the owner of one of her canine charges and each day when she lets herself in to his apartment to collect his dog, she lingers. And snoops. When they do meet she's not disappointed, but Daniel isn't quite who (or what) he appears, but then neither's Nina - she's only covering the dog-walking for a friend after being sacked from her much flashier job in publishing. So how can Nina and Daniel really fall in love when neither is who they seem? The kind of book that makes you feel warm inside.

Posted by Keris on February 22, 2007 in American Authors, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 21, 2007 4:32 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Ellen Meister

I loved Ellen Meister's debut, Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA, so I'm happy to welcome her as the latest Trashionista author interviewee! (I really need to find a new way to introduce these interviews ...)

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:
 
My title alone practically goes over the limit, so we won't count that, right? Here goes.  In Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA, three  women conspire to get a George Clooney movie filmed in their children's schoolyard. 

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

I used to sit at my kitchen table with my laptop, but now I have a tiny home office upstairs. It's almost always a mess, but it has a door, which comes in handy when you have three kids.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson is as good as they get. It's poignant and smart and hilarious. A treasure.

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

I have so many it's hard to answer.  I can tell you that the one who's stayed with me the longest is Isadora Wing from Erica Jong's Fear of Flying. 

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

Tell the emotional truth. Always.

What are you reading at the moment?

A wonderful short story collection called Things Kept, Things Left Behind by Jim Tomlinson.

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

Sure! I just turned in the revised manuscript for my second novel, The Smart One.  Here's the story: After she and her sisters discover that the man next door was a murderer, Bev Bloomrosen tries to reconcile her passion for his comedy writer son ... while struggling with being the family loser.
 
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!)
 
George Clooney is waiting backstage; shall I bring him out?

Thanks, Ellen!

Posted by Keris on February 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (6)

February 19, 2007 12:27 PM

The Camel Bookmobile

Masha Hamilton’s new novel The Camel Bookmobile is the story of an American librarian who leaves Brooklyn to work for a relief organization in Africa that sends books on the backs of camels to forgotten villages.

Though the book is fiction, the Camel Bookmobile itself actually exists in Kenya. The library brings books to a semi-nomadic people who live with drought, famine and chronic poverty.

Details of how you can support the library, along with a list of authors who have already sent boxes of books, can be found here.

Posted by Keris on February 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 13, 2007 8:37 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Talk Gertie to Me by Lois Winston

I love the premise of Lois Winston’s Talk Gertie to Me. When, in just one day, Nori loses her boyfriend, best friend and her job and gets home to find that her mother has turned up unnanouced for an indefinite stay, her childhood imaginary friend Gertie emerges to dispense straight talking advice.

It turns out that Nori’s mother, Connie, has come to New York as part of an elaborate plan (cooked up with her best friend) to get her overworked husband to take more notice of her and to hook Nori up with Eugene from back home (said best friend’s son).

But, of course, things don’t quite go according to plan. Both Nori and her mother find their lives speeding off in unexpected and exciting directions and, when Nori’s father turns up to talk sense into his errant wife (bringing Eugene along for the ride) things get even more out of hand.

Talk Gertie to Me is great fun. I was hoping Gertie would be a physical presence (like my own imaginary friend, Mr Corbett - what?) but she was just a voice in Nori’s head. Also, the book is written in the first person, with some chapters given over to Nori’s mother, Connie. I wasn’t sure about them at first, but I ended up enjoying Connie’s journey just as much as Nori’s, even if there wasn’t any, um, hooking up in her side of the story. Nori’s love interest, Mac, is sweet and sexy, if a little over-keen and under-developed (as a character, I mean, not physically), but the book has a satisfying ending, even including a sort of ‘where are they now’ update, which I guess rules out a sequel. Shame.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Venus Envy by Shannon McKelden

Posted by Keris on February 13, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 9, 2007 1:38 PM

Avril Lavigne manga

This is one of the strangest things I've heard for a while ... in April Random House books will put out the first in a series of manga books "starring" singer Avril Lavigne.

The first, Make 5 Wishes, features an introverted teenager who has a series of wishes granted by a demon. When things don't turn out as planned, she meets her hero - Avril Lavigne - who "helps her find the courage to conquer her own personal demons."

It's not just me, is it?

Related posts: Manga Romance / DC Comics launches Minx / Wuthering Heights gets graphic

Posted by Keris on February 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (10)

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

We’ve had a few books about book clubs and now knitting clubs are popping up on chick lit shelves everywhere, as Diane mentioned a while ago. Kate Jacobs’ The Friday Night Knitting Club has already secured a movie deal (with Julia Roberts, no less).

It’s the charming story of Georgia Walker - single mother to a mixed-race daughter, Dakota, and proprietor of a knitting shop in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Encouraged by Georgia’s mentor, Anita, and assistant, Peri, local women begin to gather in the shop on a Friday evening to chat, knit and eat treats cooked by 12-year-old Dakota ... and The Friday Night Knitting Club is born.

But then Dakota’s father James reappears on the scene wanting a relationship not only with Dakota, but with Georgia too. Georgia’s former best friend, Cat, also turns up, unsatisfied with her glamorous life. Everything seems to be changing and Georgia’s not sure she’s ready.

Woven in (or should I say knitted in?) with Georgia’s story are the stories of the other members of the group: Anita is embarking on her first romance since the death of her beloved husband; pompous academic Darwin is struggling to complete a dissertation while her husband works on the other side of the country; filmmaker Lucie is undertaking single motherhood.

The women are not given equal time - this is certainly Georgia’s book - but they are all interesting and it might be fun for at least a couple of the women to get their own books in the future. The author’s habit of using description in place of names - "the white haired woman said," "The TV producer left the office door open" - drove me to distraction, but that might bother anyone else.

The Friday Night Knitting Club is a lovely, warm, evocative, book that also made me cry. It was perhaps all a bit too perfect and neat (I wasn’t entirely convinced by James’s reasons for staying away, but, at the same time, it was certainly possible and, if true,* believably painful). And, yes, it did make me want to try knitting (again).

* Yes, I know it’s not true, it’s a novel, but you know what I mean. Don’t you?

Rating: 4 out of 5 (I’d like to give it 4.5, but since I can’t it’ll have to be 4)

Like this? Try Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

Posted by Keris on February 9, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 7, 2007 3:41 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Amy DeZellar

I'm sure you remember how much Diane enjoyed Amy DeZellar's memoir, Dating Amy (you do study Trashionista in great depth, don't you?) and now Amy kindly answers our questions:

How would you summarise your book?

It's a funny memoir about going on 50 dates and also learning how to date. You can see my choices (and tactics!) about men evolving as I discover more about myself.
 
What do you enjoy about writing non-fiction?

That it's so easy. Really, it's just like taking notes on life and then having them published.
 
What's an average writing day like?

I'm proud to say that I now have a full-time staff writing job after five years of unemployment (during which I wrote Dating Amy). I ride the bus to work and pray that someone thin sits next to me. I write about vibrators, lip venom and yogurt-based hand cream once I get to work. I email with my work girlfriends about Jared Leto or similar. I take the bus home, which sometimes takes three hours even though it's about 14 miles. I'm streamlining by writing my next book while on the bus, though, so I'm excited.

What's your favourite novel by a woman?

I like some of the funny British authors. My secret favorite book is Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married by Marian Keyes, even though I'm not marriage-hungry, I swear. [The lovely Marian's Irish actually! - Keris]
 
Who is your favourite female character (fictional or real), and why?

Scarlett O'Hara, she gets away with everything.
   
What are you working on next? (If you can give us a hint!)

Fiction. I think thinly veiled people will cause far fewer problems than real ones.  
 
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!)

No one's every asked me if I've regretted writing about men without them knowing. The answer is: yes.

Thanks, Amy!

Posted by Keris on February 7, 2007 in American Authors, Interviews, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

Meg Cabot's new Scholastic series

I know full well how insanely prolific Meg Cabot is - just check out her bibliography* - but even I was shocked by her new deal. Meg announced on her blog that she has signed with Scholastic to produce a tween series and two new teen trilogies.

The tween (ages 8-12) series - Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls - will launch in 2008. The teen trilogies, Airhead and Abandon, will be published in 2008 and 2009.

From Scholastic’s press release (which you can read in full here): "Airhead is daring, highly entertaining and a new direction for Meg Cabot, and Abandon is a dramatic modern retelling of the myth of Persephone."

I love her books, but I just don’t know how she does it.

* which doesn’t even include two further Queen of Babble books, two further Heather Wells (Size 12 is Not Fat) books, Pants on Fire, and Jinx.

Related posts: Our interview with Meg / Princess Diaries: Seventh Heaven / Princess Diaries: After Eight / Queen of Babble / Meg Cabot reads Trashionista (probably)

Posted by Keris on February 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: The Salem Witch Tryouts by Kelly McClymer

Another of the books I’d hoped to review during NaNovember - Kelly McClymer wrote The Salem Witch Tryouts for National Novel Writing Month. A young adult paranormal, it's a departure from Kelly’s usual style (she’s previously written historical romance).

Prudence is half witch (on her mother’s side) and half mortal (on her father’s side). Growing up in Beverly Hills and encouraged by her mother, she has lived as a mortal and neglected her magical side, concentrating instead of becoming captain of the cheerleading squal as well as, of course, being popular and “kewl”.

But then Pru’s parents decide to move the family to Salem, Massachusetts, where Pru will begin her magical education at Agatha’s Day School for Witches. Pru is desperate to retain her popular status at her new school, but finds that her magic just isn’t up to scratch. She’s just not cool either, lunching with the “fringies” - the kids that don’t belong to any one particular group - and being tormented by the school’s bad boy.

Plus she’s just not getting enough time and attention from her best friend back in California, who’s grounded so she can only text and doesn’t seem to have that much time for Pru anymore anyway.

I enjoyed The Salem Witch Tryouts to a point. I liked the premise and Pru is a fun character, but basically this book reads almost entirely as set-up for the series. There’s very little plot or action and the ending - a summary of what’s gone before, which literally begins with the words, "So, to recap ..." - is anti-climactic. A disappointment (but I’ll probably read the next book in the hope that things really get going).

Rating: 2 out of 5

Like this? Try I Was a Teenage Popsicle by Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Posted by Keris on February 7, 2007 in American Authors, NaNovember, Rating: 2/5, Series, Supernatural, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

February 1, 2007 12:30 PM

THURSDAY THREE: Working at magazines

Last week I looked at books set in newspaper offices. This week I’m looking at the much more glamorous world of magazines.

Andrea Semple’s The Ex-Factor features agony aunt for Gloss magazine, Martha Seymore, whose own relationship comes apart, leading Martha to piece together her relationship history and realise that she might not be that different to her readers after all.

Zoe Rose, heroine of Stephanie Lessing’s Miss Understanding, has recently been made deputy editor to Issues magazine, despite being a radical feminist. She immediately gets on the bad side of a couple of fashionistas and the rest of the plot is typical bitchy, back-stabbing, sabotage type of stuff you would expect from a book set at a glossy magazine.

Carry on over the cut for our third book - ooh, what could it be? - and a special request ...

Arguably the most successful chick lit book of the last few years, Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada is about Andrea Sachs, who goes to work for Miranda Priestly, the scary editor of Runway magazine. Can you believe we haven’t actually reviewed The Devil Wears Prada here at Trashionista? So would any of you like to review it for us? The book, not the film. If you're feeling generous, please email us. Thanks!

Posted by Keris on February 1, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Debut Novels, Devil Wears Prada, Fashion-Lit, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 30, 2007 4:48 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Just One Spark by Jenna Bayley-Burke

We featured Jenna Bayley-Burke’s Just One Spark as part of our NaNovember Extravaganza, as Jenna wrote it for National Novel Writing Month. It sounded great, so I was thrilled to finally get to read it - particularly as it’s a Mills & Boon book. It’s a long time since I’ve read a Mills & Boon. I used to sneakily read my grandma’s medical romances and we studied two as part of a Popular Fiction module during my English degree (and they were great), but it turns out they’ve changed. Just One Spark is a “Modern Romance Extra” book and ... well, let me just say this, it’s not like your grandma’s Mills & Boon.

Hannah has been burned by men one time too many, so when firefighter Mason approaches her and she spots his wedding ring, she wastes no time in telling him where to go. But she can’t get him out of her mind. Mason, who isn’t actually married, can’t stop thinking about Hannah either, and when they finally meet up again and Mason convinces Hannah that the wedding ring was part of an experiment his psychologist brother was conducting, things hot up between them. And then they really hot up. Made-me-blush kind of hot.

Let’s make no mistake, the plot of Just One Spark is secondary to the, ahem, action.  And despite the fact that I really liked Hannah and Mason, particularly Mason, as characters, I wasn’t entirely convinced by the plot. Hannah’s family believe on very flimsy evidence that Mason is stalking Hannah; Hannah herself believes - in spite of compelling evidence to the contrary - that Mason is only seeing her for sex. There actually is a stalking sub-plot which I didn’t think was satisfactorily resolved. That's not to say it's not an enjoyable story, because it is, but I did feel that some of the plot was there because the book needed more plot and less sex, rather than the way the characters would really act.

But the action ... well, that was convincing. This book must have been great fun to write. The sex scenes are genuinely erotic and entertaining, yet they never seemed gratuitous, which is some feat.

My grandma, though, would be turning in her grave.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Adored by Tilly Bagshawe

Related posts: Jenna Bayley-Burke guest blog / Mills & Boon on Oneword radio

Posted by Keris on January 30, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

Nora Roberts' Lifetime movies

American romance author Nora Roberts is nowhere near as popular here as she is in the US (though her inclusion in the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year longlist shows she's gaining strides). Assisting Roberts' domination in the States is the women's television network Lifetime, which has turned four of her novels - Angels Fall, Blue Smoke, Montana Sky and Carolina Moon - into Lifetime Original Movies.

You can find tons of information on the movies, the books, the cast and Nora Roberts herself (along with a 'spot Nora' competition and blog) on the Lifetime website. [via Publishers Weekly]

Posted by Aigua Media on January 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Movie News, Romance, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 29, 2007 2:04 PM

Romantic Novel of the Year Award longlist announced

The longlist has been announced for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award for 2007. The only Trashionista fave to make it is Katie Fforde's Practically Perfect and the list seems focussed more towards women's fiction than chick lit. You can see the full list here.

The shortlist will be announced on 13th February, and the winner (who receives £5,000) on 27th April.

Posted by Keris on January 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Bitch Lit edited by Maya Chowdhry & Mary Sharratt

Maya Chowdhry and Mary Sharratt have edited this collection of short stories all having the general theme of women anti-heroes. Bitch Lit is apparently an antidote for all the Dick Lit we’ve had to endure in the past.
 
The blurb claims that all these stories are tales of women and power, the opposite of cautionary tales. Bitch Lit is a celebration of women who take the law into their own hands, who defy society’s expectations, put their own needs first and don’t feel guilty.

Unfortunately when they say ‘take the law into their own hands’ what they actually mean is break it. The characters in these stories serially murder, steal, commit adultery and fraud or, if you’re lucky, are just extremely selfish or mean spirited. They’ve attempted to describe this book as feminist, but that’s like saying Hitler was male so if the world was a fair and righteous place we should have a female dictator who commits genocide and tries to take over the world. It’s just wrong!

As with any book of short stories there will be a mixed bunch. Some are better than others, but all of these left a sour taste in my mouth and stole some of the faith I had that human nature was basically good and kind. Ironically the authors who wrote the shortest stories were the most successful in fitting in a complete tale. Some of the longest ended leaving me confused and wondering what happened. It seemed they’d reached their maximum word count and just stopped. They might as well have stopped mid sentence for all the sense some of the endings made.

One thing this book does achieve is in provoking a reaction. I can imagine people who enjoy looking at a rubbish bag or an unmade bed as a new form of modern art would find this book extremely interesting.
 
If you’re like me and prefer to recycle your rubbish, do yourself a favour don’t buy this book and save a tree. [Angela Richardson]
 
Rating: 1 out of 5

Like this? Try This Is Chick Lit edited by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Posted by Keris on January 29, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 1/5, Recent Release, Rubbish Books, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free online novel

Author and journalist Bill Stephens is publishing his novel, Horizons Past, online for free. Along with a new chapter each week, the website also features a forum where you can "comment, critique, offer plot revisions, or just chat."

Stephens calls his style "Nicholas Sparks with a sense of humor" and the book’s premise sounds entertaining:

Take "Notting Hill" (1999 movie with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant - Hollywood actress falls for the owner of a small travel book store in London's Knotting Hill area) and set it on the Texas Coast, add substance, a sand poet, intrigue, a hurricane, and a pinch of Anna Karinina (sic), and you have the story line. Cultures collide and humor abounds when the movie star (think Sandra Bullock) encounters the reclusive Texas beach sand poet (think Harrison Ford).

[via Publishers Lunch]

Related post: Read mum-lit novel The Mummybiz online... as it's written

Posted by Keris on January 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: My Lucky Star by Joe Keenan

Joe Keenan was a scriptwriter for Frasier, which might give you an idea of his kind of humour. My Lucky Star is his third book featuring Gilbert, Philip and Claire, a trio of screenwriters (well, Philip and Claire are, at least) who manage to get themselves into the most unlikely of scrapes (generally thanks to Gilbert). I enjoyed the first (Blue Heaven) and haven’t yet read the second (Putting on the Ritz), but it didn’t hinder me from enjoying My Lucky Star to the fullest.

Gilbert (the loose-cannon of the three) has been out in LA and has, against all expectations, managed to drum up interest in his screenplay. He invites Claire and Philip out to LA to assist him in adapting a novel for a major producer. They’re understandably suspicious, but assume Gilbert has passed off one of their scripts as his own. They’re wrong, it’s not one of their scripts Gilbert has appropriated, but the script of ... Casablanca (with a few identifying details changed).

Claire and Philip are horrified by the prospect of exposure as unwilling plagiarists, but for various reasons too convoluted to explain here, they stay to help out and find themselves embroiled in ever more outrageous, disastrous and hilarious scenarios.

Like a demented cross between early Jackie Collins, Tales of the City and Will & Grace, My Lucky Star is enormous fun. I laughed out loud loads of times and actually went back a few times to re-read the funniest jokes (and laughed again). It’s intricate and clever and must have been incredibly difficult to write (it took Keenan ten years, fitting it around his all-consuming day job).

There are some fabulous characters (Monty was my favourite, but I love Gilbert too), brilliantly amusing situations, even a bit of Hollywood satire. Plus - and this may put some of you off - if it was a film it would be a 15 (R or even NC17 in the US, I think) due to a number of gay sex scenes, and though they are fairly graphic, Keenan’s dry humour imbues every scene. Plus they’re essential to the plot. No, really.

I loved this book and never picked it up without smiling (and, frequently, saying “I love this book” to the consternation of my ignored husband). If you like dry humour and Hollywood farce, you’ll love it too.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try How I Paid for College by Marc Acito

Posted by Keris on January 29, 2007 in American Authors, Modern Fiction, More On Monday, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 26, 2007 5:13 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Secretary

Adapted from a short story by Mary Gaitskill, Secretary is a very peculiar film and not exactly chick lit, as I’m sure you can tell from the cover. If I tell you that when me and my husband saw it at the cinema (we got free tickets) there was just the two of us and two single men watching it alone, you might get more of an idea ...

It stars the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lee Holloway who gets her first job as a secretary to a lawyer, Mr Grey (James Spader) after being released from a clinic for self-harming. Impressed by his masterful behaviour, she begins a dominant/submissive affair with him, but when he loses interest she realises she’s going to have to go further to get him back. Luckily she’s a bit barmy so it’s not much of a problem.

The lasting impression I had of this film was that it wasn’t as mucky as it pretends to be and that Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader are both brilliantly weird and weirdly brilliant. I watched it again recently and it was actually both a bit more graphic and funnier than I remembered, but it’s still worth watching for their performances and to see a woman find herself in a way you may never have imagined.

Friday Flick archives

Posted by Keris on January 26, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 25, 2007 4:03 PM

New Little House on the Prairie covers

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie series of novels celebrates its 75th anniversary this month with the first eight stories being published with photographic rather than illustrated covers.

Tara Weikum, executive editor for the "Little House" series, thought the illustrated covers might be perceived as old-fashioned. "We wanted to convey the fact that these are action-packed. There were dust storms and locusts. And they had to build a cabin from scratch." [via Galleycat]

I like them and I must admit, I do love the new tag line: "Little House, Big Adventure." What do you think?

Related posts: Jane Austen new cover design / Judging Danielle Steel books by their covers / Musical book covers

Posted by Keris on January 25, 2007 in American Authors, Classic Novels, Opinion, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

THURSDAY THREE: Working at newspapers

Chick lit often (though by no means always) features a glamorous working environment, like PR or publishing. This week’s Thursday Three looks at three books based in and around newspaper offices. What do you mean, they're not glamorous?

Sarah Mason’s Playing James features Holly, who is unimpressed with a transfer to the crime  desk and horrified when she’s assigned a detective to shadow and write a daily diary about, particularly one she doesn’t get on with. Can you guess what happens?

The staff of fictional newspaper the New York Journal are the focus of Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot, sequel to The Boy Next Door. The convoluted plot features the firing of the woman responsible for the dessert trolley, and the book is made up of letters, emails, transcripts of instant message conversations, minutes from meetings, diary entries and just about anything else that can be put down on paper.

Carry on over the cut for the third and final book (which may offer a clue to next week’s Thursday Three too!)

Sam Baker’s Fashion Victim features Annie Anderson, an investigative reporter at The Post, whose friends are shocked when she swaps her newspaper job for one on a glossy magazine. Little do they know that Annie is going undercover for a scoop on the fashion world. When her first interviewee, top designer Mark Mailer, is murdered, Annie sets off on a dangerous course to uncover the truth.

Posted by Keris on January 25, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 24, 2007 6:01 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Cooking for Mr Latte by Amanda Hesser

Amanda Hesser is a trained chef and food writer for the New York Times. For her, food - preparation, appreciation, contemplation, and consumption - is more than a passion, more than a way of life, it is who she is and what she does. So when she meets a man who is happy eating in restaurants that have more in common with frat houses than haut cuisine, and who unashamedly orders lattes after dinner (the Italian rule is no milky drinks after 11am), she's not convinced they're well suited.

Fortunately for her, and us, time and Mr Latte prove her wrong. Cooking for Mr Latte is the history of their courtship as told through food. Food eaten in restaurants, glamourous and neighbourhood stalwart; food cooked for each other, and each others' parents; food cooked with friends, for parties, for solitude, comfort, or nostalgia.

While the book is technically a memoir, that makes it sound drier than it is. Latte is rather a touching tribute to a developing relationship, and an imaginative take on the traditional love story. Although not fiction, it bears many of the hallmarks of successful chick-lit - there are celebrity encounters, New York apartments, glamourous cast members who are the cream of the Manhattan media elite, cocktails, and chance encounters in the places to be seen. The fact that all these things happen to a real person would be enough to have me screaming with jealousy were Hesser not so obviously likeable.

Like all good chick lit heroines she is flawed, and admits her mistakes. She obsesses, and nitpicks, and starts fights over nothing. She has kitchen disasters, gets food poisoning in front of gods of the food world, and is in hiding from one half of the Merchant Ivory film-making duo. Best of all, however, she cooks.

Hesser ends each chapter with a selection of recipes based on meals described on the preceding pages. Although she's been trained to professional standards, each recipe is accessible, and I've cooked four in the two weeks since finishing the book. None have gone wrong.

While this is a book tailored to foodies, anyone with a sense of romance will enjoy watching their relationship develop. It may be as predictable as many works in the chick-lit oeuvre, but I defy anyone to put it down without a renewed enthusiasm for food, for cooking, and for eating, and to read the recipes without doing a mental kitchen inventory. Fabulous as she is, how often can you say that about Marian Keyes?

Rating: 5 out of 5

Liked this? Try Heartburn, by Nora Ephron

Posted by Aigua Media on January 24, 2007 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

A book by Jenna Bush

Jenna Bush, daughter of President Bush, is apparently looking for a publisher for a young adult book she has written, based on her experiences working with charities in Latin America. [via The Book Standard]

Posted by Keris on January 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Celebrity Authors, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Stephanie Lehmann

We loved Stephanie Lehmann's most recent novel, You Could Do Better, so we were delighted she agreed to answer our questions.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer: 

15 words! Have sex? Or watch TV. Hmmm....

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

I have various undisclosed locations in the neighborhood where my family can't find me. Coffee and some form of sugar and starch are available. I have also been known to write at the kitchen table, in front of the TV, and even, most not-excitedly, at my desk.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Am I bad if I say The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe? This came out in the early 50s, and some people have called it the "first" chicklit. Not counting Jane Austen of course. [Curses! We missed that one off our Top 10 chick lit precursors list! - Keris]

I am so into nostalgia right now - I can't help but pick this one, which is one of those books I read (the first time) when I was young. It put all sorts of fantasies in my head about the publishing world and New York City and ambition vs. marriage... There's a subplot about a struggling actress who has an affair with her director who dumps her (I love this stuff) and