Trashionista: Celebrity Authors

July 7, 2010 10:40 PM

YAY OR NAY: Katie Price's new 'Sapphire' cover

Those who are familiar with Katie Price's novels will recognise the colourful book covers. The glamour model, also known as Jordan, has released a series of ghostwritten adult books such as Angel, Crystal and Sapphire. Paradise, the latest in this line of fiction, is due for release in July.

However, it seems that Sapphire has been given a new look. Amazon is now displaying a revamped Sapphire jacket, minus the signature silhouette. The new edition is listed as being released this month.

The new cover is on the left.

Personally I'm no Katie Price fan, but admittedly, I much prefer the classier new cover and think it looks great. What do you think? Leave a comment and let us know!

Here's the synopsis of Sapphire:

Sapphire Jones doesn't believe in relationships anymore - not since she caught her husband in bed with another woman. Now Sapphire only sees men on her terms which is why her current lover is younger than her, good looking, doesn't place any emotional demands on her [so far, fingers crossed] and is great in bed. What more does a girl need? Sapphire puts all her passion into running her own business - a high end lingerie and hen weekend company. She is doing well and life seems pretty good until she meets a very handsome, charming businessman who seems more than a match for Sapphire. Then things go badly wrong at the hen party she has planned for a soap star and tabloid darling. The evening is one that everyone will be talking about for all the wrong reasons and Sapphire faces front page headlines all of her own...Suddenly her business is in jeopardy, her well-controlled private life is falling apart, and in the middle of all this Sapphire realises that she is not immune to love after all, but has she left it too late?

Posted by Elle Symonds on July 7, 2010 in Book covers, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 29, 2010 10:20 PM

BOOK NEWS: Inheritance

The Brits among us will certainly be familiar with Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, the well-known IT-girl who's hardly media shy. And now TPT has a novel that's due for release in October, aptly titled Inheritance. (Love the cover though!) Here's some more info...

Notorious party-loving 'It Girl' Lyric Charlton has it all - the lineage, the looks and the lifestyle. A moneyed upbringing at the heart of one of the upper class's most well-connected families, a finishing school education and an address book bursting with the world's most powerful and high-profile people has crowned her the glamorous poster girl for the aristocratic glitterati.

But when her doomed relationship with suave boy-about-town Ralph Conway means she takes the good times too far, she is packed off to rehab by her worried parents, and the public shame and private humiliation that follow means Lyric's only option seems to be to retreat into sober obscurity.

But what no one can predict is the dramatic chain of events her exile sets in motion. For Lyric's treatment is the start of much more than a life as an ex-addict. It's the catalyst that exposes a complex web of deceit and betrayal - and leads Lyric on an increasingly dangerous quest to find the final missing piece of the jigsaw of her life...

What do you think? Leave a comment and let us know!

Posted by Elle Symonds on June 29, 2010 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 13, 2010 10:10 PM

COVER NEWS: Elixir

We posted back in April about American singer and actress Hilary Duff potentially beginning a new career as a novelist with her debut book, Elixir. Now, the synopsis and cover are available! Read on for the book blurb...

Ever since she was small, Clea Rayner has been haunted by both a gift and curse. When she takes photos, extra pictures appear on the camera - photos she hasn't taken. These photos are a calling; she must find and go to their location, where she always discovers a tragedy that only she can stop. She has seen some harrowing things, and it's made her wary of opening her heart to anyone. Yet what haunts Clea most is not the dire situations she sees, but the mystery of her father, who disappeared two years ago and is now presumed dead. She has only one clue about what happened to him: a photograph that arrived after his disappearance.

No matter how much she studies the picture, Clea can't tell where it is, but she carries it with her everywhere, just waiting for the revelation that will help her. That revelation comes on a trip to Colombia, where she meets Race; a strikingly handsome, magnetic and enigmatic stranger and despite Clea's reticence to open her heart, she feels an instant connection to Race that she can't explain. But whatever has brought them together is also threatening to tear them apart and as the mystery of her father's disappearance unravels, Clea discover that she has powers that are bigger than anything she could have anticipated...

Posted by Elle Symonds on May 13, 2010 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 10, 2010 6:40 PM

IN THE NEWS: Sarah Silverman autobiography

American comic Sarah Silverman delights many and offends an equal amount! And now she's written an autobiography that has 'wowed' the critics, according to the Guardian.

39-year-old Sarah's book, The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee, was released in hardback in April and is already gaining quite a bit of attention. The article states:

"Race and sex have been hot-button topics within the male-dominated comic world for decades. Silverman is cutting-edge because she is one of the few women to be openly offensive and make a name for themselves," said Ashley Dos Santos, a celebrity expert at Crosby Volmer International Communications.

But now Silverman has done, perhaps, the most unexpected and outrageous thing yet: she has written a heart-warming and revealing book that has critics swooning at its portrayal of the real Silverman behind the TV persona. It has also offered an intensely personal look at a comic who has zealously guarded her private life and revealed little about how her true personality differs from her potty-mouthed stage creation.

To read the full article, click here. Below is the synopsis of Silverman's autobiography (via Amazon):

Demonstrating that her penchant for swearing began at an early age, comedian Silverman begins her hilarious memoir by describing how, at age three, she gleefully responded to her grandmother's offer of brownies with shove 'em up your ass. Growing up in New Hampshire (where cows are well done and Jews are rare), Silverman naturally gravitated toward performing and moved to New York, where she attended and eventually dropped out of New York University to pursue a standup comedy career. Mixing show business moments (she wrote for Saturday Night Live for one season, but none of her sketches made it past dress rehearsal) with stories of her childhood and adolescence (punctuated by a persistent bedwetting problem), Silverman never shies away from poking fun at her own expense. Though she's best known for sexually explicit jokes, Silverman is able to address more serious subjects in the book without losing her edge, particularly her teenage struggle with depression and that her often abrasive public persona allowed her to say what I didn't mean, even preach the opposite of what I believed.... It was a funny way of being sincere.

Posted by Elle Symonds on May 10, 2010 in Book News, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Paradise

Katie Price (otherwise known as Jordan) isn't exactly getting the best press at the moment, but that won't stop her releasing her books. Katie's latest novel, Paradise, is due for release in late July. There's no synopsis available yet (watch this space!) but judging by the cover, seems as though it will follow on from Katie's previous novels: Angel, Crystal, and Sapphire.

Katie Price's book credentials (although mostly ghostwritten) include not only the above mentioned chick-lit series, but also a series of autobiographies, a 'style guide', and a children's series about ponies.

Posted by Elle Symonds on May 10, 2010 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 24, 2010 1:06 PM

NEWS: Cheryl and Ashley breakup book to be published (already!)

As if you hadn't heard enough about the recent breakup of stars Cheryl and Ashley Cole (if you haven't heard, simply pick up a tabloid - you can't exactly escape from it at the moment.) In any case, it seems that a book about the split between the pop singer and millionaire footballer is already on the cards.

According to The Bookseller, John Blake plans on publishing a more recent account of the relationship. This news comes straight after the couple announced a divorce (due to Ashley's cheating). The book, written by John McShane, will be entitled 'Love Wars' and is due out on 4th May.

It will cover the public scandals following the pair and will be, according to Blake's head of marketing, "as up to date as we can get it.

"This is the inside story of how the UK's most loved solo artist found herself in the most roller coaster relationship of all time."

Click here to read the full article.

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 24, 2010 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 22, 2010 9:57 PM

NEW RELEASE: Just Dance

Love her or hate her - everyone seems to have an opinion on outrageously-dressed pop sensation Lady Gaga. And it was only a matter of time before a biography was released, and here it is. Just Dance - The Biography was released on the 18th February by Orion. Here's a little more about the book:

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better know as Lady Gaga, was always destined to be different. She was a talented musician as a child, learning piano at age 4, and writing her first ballad at age of 13. But she turned her back on the world of typical teenage girls, instead running off to party hard, make friends with gogo dancers and drag queens, much to the despair of her parents. But she was a born performer, and destined to be on the stage, no matter what. Forget the fake, wannabee starlets who become famous overnight just because some record company exec thinks they can make a ton of money - Gaga earned her success the hard way, working night after night at sleazy bars and clubs, performing at every club in New York, getting booed offstage - and then finding herself - as a singer, a dancer, a performer - as an artist. She's shocked the public with her crazy outfits, individual sense of style and headstrong manner. This is one girl who says what she thinks, and doesn't care if you like it or not. She's sold millions of records, performed to millions of people and won hearts with her brashness and honesty. And now, she's just trying to change the world - one sequin at a time. Here, read the incredible story of the artist that is Lady Gaga. It's Fierce!

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 22, 2010 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 10, 2009 8:03 PM

BOOK NEWS: It's A Fine Life

Jodie Prenger has only been famous for about five or six minutes but she does have a story to tell. If you watched I'd Do Anything in the UK she was the winner of the show and went on to become Nancy in the stage musical of Oliver in London's West End.

She may only have been famous for a short while, but her story is an inspirational one. Touring the working men's clubs, appearing on The Biggest Loser and losing eight stone then going on to do the job of her dreams...If you're stuck in a rut and want to change your life, maybe you should give her story a go. See over the cut for the blurb.

Over 7 million viewers watched as Jodie Prenger was crowned the people's winner of "I'd Do Anything" and achieved her dream of starring in a West End musical. Now you can read Jodie's inspirational life story, as she describes her childhood as a plump little girl, who hid behind her wide smile even as she piled on the pounds, and her early career as a singer touring working men's clubs, appearing in regional theatre and as support for comedians including Ken Dodd, Ricky Tomlinson and Frank Carson.Yet it was Jodie's appearance on "The Biggest Loser" which changed her life forever, as she lost over 8 stone and shrank to a size ten. Feeling like she had a new lease of life and determined to pursue her dream, less than two years later she entered "I'd Do Anything" - and the rest is history. As Jodie stands ready to embark on her sellout West End debut, she tells her story with her trademark down-to-earth charm, and heart-rending honesty, featuring her personal and professional highs and lows alongside delicious back stage gossip. Jodie's life is the stuff of dreams and an inspiration to aspiring singers and dieters alike.

Posted by Helen Redfern on March 10, 2009 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 10, 2009 9:07 PM

Cheryl Cole to be next celebrity author

Thanks to a link on Freya North's blog I see Cheryl Cole has just signed a multi million pound deal for four or five romantic novels. A source says, at the moment Cheryl can do no wrong. Whatever she touches turns to gold.

Apparently she hadn't previously thought of writing, but she's come around to the idea(!) and has been told to emulate the style of Marian Keyes. Hmm. Well. I'd like to see anyone emulate Marian Keyes, never mind Cheryl Cole. [via Bookseller.com]

Posted by Helen Redfern on February 10, 2009 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 21, 2008 2:23 PM

Jo Brand's Memoirs

Jo Brand has signed a two book deal with Headline for her memoirs. The comedian has already written a couple of novels, including It's Different For Girls, and has another novel, The More You Ignore Me, out in May next year.

Her autobiographies will cover her life working as a psychiatric nurse, before hitting the road as a burgeoning stand- up, as well as her marriage and children. The first one will be out in October 2009 with the second released the following year. [via The Bookseller]

Posted by Helen Redfern on November 21, 2008 in Celebrity Authors, Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 17, 2008 10:47 AM

BOOK NEWS: Fourth Jordan autobiography

Well she might be training for an olympic gold, the London Marathon and launching countless branded items, but Katie Price still has time to "write" her fourth autobiography. She is also penning her fourth novel as well as a style guide. [via The Sun]

There really is no stopping her. She even made it onto Meg Cabot's blog (near the bottom if you are looking).

Posted by Helen Redfern on November 17, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 11, 2008 11:15 AM

BOOK NEWS: Fern - My Story

There are so many celeb autobiographies out this Christmas I can feel my eyes glazing over, but I saw Fern Britton on The One Show last night talking about her book and my eyes refocused slightly.

The queen of morning television, she is the sort of woman who keeps her private life private. (Not any more!) According to the show last night the book is not laugh a minute but talks about her struggles with post natal depression, a fibriod tumour and the breakdown of her marriage. She battles though all of the setbacks and emerges a contended person. Do you know, this is an autobiography I wouldn't mind reading.

Posted by Helen Redfern on November 11, 2008 in Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Crystal by Katie Price

Reviewed by Amy Sheehan

Crystal is the story of Crystal, Tahlia and Belle, who together make up the band Lost Angels. They’ve almost given up on getting their lucky break when they decide to enter the television contest Band Ambition - basically The X Factor for groups. Of course they win and the girls soon find themselves catapulted into the world of fame and stardom.

Unfortunately, though, the start of this new glittering career brings with it a whole host of problems for Crystal, and soon a secret of hers threatens to cost her everything…

I quite enjoyed Crystal - it’s a easy and relaxing read. My first introduction to Price’s work, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I feared. In actual fact, there’s a heck of a lot going on in Crystal, and one weakness would be that some of the plotlines weren’t nearly as developed as they could have been.

As mentioned, the idea of the TV show talent contest is a shameless rip off, and one of the judges, Dallas, even resembles Simon Cowell. However, this criticism pales in comparison to my main problem with the book: the hero. I couldn’t warm to him at all, he didn’t seem worthy of Crystal, and the final nail in the coffin for me was his treatment of Crystal after they finally got together.

Specifically, I took umbrage at a remark he made, in reference to Crystal’s ex, Max, who raped her. Jake and Crystal are in the kitchen canoodling and she says: “Save it for later, honey.” Jake replies: “I bet you never said that to him, did you? No? I bet you were open for business with him 24/7.” I was outraged, but Crystal, after storming off, is happily back with him within two more pages.

Less annoyingly, Jake is ridiculously blind to the fact that one of his female friends has a huge crush on him and is trying to break up him and Crystal, and he doesn’t support Crystal at all when she calls him out about this. I don’t know. He just wasn’t hero material for me. Also, some of the plotlines were a bit amateurish - Crystal is involved in a car crash that gets about a short paragraph devoted to it, for instance.

There was some good stuff, though. The interaction between the three girls was nicely done and very believable, and the portrayal of Tahlia in particular was very good. The novel also gave a very realistic portrait of media intrusion into the lives of celebrities and gave a good idea of what it must be like to have twisted versions of your personal life splashed all over the tabloids.

Because of the issues mentioned above and the fact that I found the second half of Crystal to be a bit slow, I would rate Crystal 2/5. However, it did have some promise and as I hear that Angel, Price’s first novel, is much better, I’d be very willing to read more of her books in the future.

Rating: 2/5

Like this? Try The Overnight Fame of Steffi McBride by AJ Crofts

Posted by Aigua Media on November 11, 2008 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Rating: 2/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 10, 2008 2:44 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: Sense & Sensibility - The Diaries

With Lost in Austen still fresh in my mind, I was delighted when I found this little gem in the form of Emma Thompson's Sense & Sensibility diaries. Yes the diary was published in 1996 so I am a little behind here, but as Sense & Sensibility, along with Pride & Prejudice, is a timeless classic, then when it was written is irrelevant.

This isn't some huge celebrity tome however. Rather it is a slim one hundred or so pages full of Emma's warmth and honesty, giving you a fly on the wall account of how they put the film together.

It is written in diary form, i.e Little sleep. Left early to watch line up with Tom Wilkinson, which enhances the reading pleasure and Emma's humour is very apparent from the very first page. Lindsay goes around the table and introduces everyone - making it clear that I am present in the capacity of writer rather than actress, therefore no one has to be too nice to me.

I love this book. I found it fascinating and inspiring and if you are into the film or Emma Thompson then this is an absolute must.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Making of Pride & Prejudice by Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin

Posted by Helen Redfern on November 10, 2008 in Celebrity Authors, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

November 3, 2008 12:02 PM

Coleen's style tips - a bestseller?

We reported a while back that Coleen (now wife of footballer Wayne Rooney) had a five book deal with HarperCollins for a reported £2 million. However, even though Welcome to My World went straight to number one, her follow up, Coleen's Real Style, about make up and stuff, has only sold fewer than 10,000 copies. [via Mail Online]

Could it be the trend for celebrity books is slowing down? (Or do we just not want make up tips from a footballer's wife?)

Posted by Helen Redfern on November 3, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 31, 2008 11:22 AM

BOOK NEWS: sTori Telling

I'm only really featuring this book because the title made me laugh (also because she was Donna! In 90210!). Tori Spelling's got the perfect name for a memoir, no? I haven't seen such a perfect title since Keith Chegwin's story of his alcoholism, which he wanted to call Cheggers Can't Be Boozers, but his killjoy publishers wouldn't allow it...

Anyway, in sTori Telling, Tori reveals all about "her decadent childhood birthday parties, her nose job, her fairy-tale wedding to the wrong man, her so-called feud with her mother." Sounds fabulous.

Posted by Keris on October 31, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 27, 2008 8:32 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Crossing by James Cracknell and Ben Fogle

OK. Lets get this straight. I am not into rowing. I am also not a lover of Ben Fogle (though granted there is something about him) or endurance sports. I have no interest in sailing, in fact any water based activity (besides swimming, I love swimming). So why would I read a book about James Cracknell (Olympic Gold medal winner for rowing in 2000 and 2004) and Ben Fogle (from the BBC Castaway programme and now a TV presenter) who, rather madly, decided to row across the Atlantic Ocean in a Rowing Race?

Answer: I don't know. But I'm very glad I did. This is a "celebrity" autobiography with a difference.

The two men (and don't be thinking that this is a men only event, women can, and do, do it too) come to the start of the race completely unprepared. They look like the amateurs they are, and the race officials only just allowed them to take part.

Once they are actually racing through, this amateurishness contrasts starkly with the intense competiveness of James and the dogged determination of Ben. The book is written by both of them and it is fascinating to see both of their personalities. Sometimes they both recount the same event, but in their own way, which serves to mark the differences between them even further.

The race is hard (understatement). It is dangerous. They capsized in the middle of the night for goodness sake. They row in shifts and have blisters in paces you wouldn't believe. They have low points, high points, times when they really don't like each other, Christmas Day in the middle of the ocean, but they pull together, united in their determination to get to the other side.

This dual autobiographical account isn't just about rowing. It is about human drama, endurance, strength (physical and mental), personalities and motivation. Two men's fight against the ocean.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, you will too if you've had your fill of fluffy celebrity memoirs and want something a bit more meaningful. I took a lot from the book but the main message I found was, anything, anything, can be achieved if you put your mind to it. I need to re-read on a regular basis.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try My Take by Gary Barlow. I know it is one of those celebrity memoirs and not an epic sea adventure, but it is a story of one young man determined to succeed.

Posted by Helen Redfern on October 27, 2008 in Celebrity Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 24, 2008 8:38 AM

Martine McCutcheon to publish novel

Martine McCutcheon (star of Love Actually) has finally found a publisher for her debut novel, The Mistress. Pan Books will publish Martine's book at the end of May next year. Said to be the first of a trilogy it is rumoured in The Daily Express to be directly based on her own experiences with a certain chef...

The second title is called The Actress and Martine will be writing the books herself. The book might not be out until half way through next year, but I have found the synopsis on Amazon. It's over the cut.

Mandy is turning 30 and has a lot of love to give, but that special person has so far eluded her. Then, at her birthday party with close friends at the Wolseley, Cupid strikes from across a crowded room. It's love at first sight, but Jake, the man she's fallen for, is happily married. Mandy is determined to stick to her principles and not enter into such dangerous territory, but her resistance is to prove futile. But can she make it as a mistress? Can it work for someone to love two people? A romance with a twist, "The Mistress", has an unusual, modern take on what women want. It's a warm, fun, highly commercial novel by one of Britain's best-loved actresses.

Posted by Helen Redfern on October 24, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 20, 2008 10:16 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: All Balls and Glitter by Craig Revel Horwood

I love Craig Revel Horwood. I know he's meant to be the Mr Nasty of Strictly Come Dancing, but I find him the most consistent judge and the most consistently hilarious.

I'd read a lot about this autobiography before it was published. The papers were full of lurid tales of Craig's time as a rent boy and a drag queen, so I was expecting it to be scandalous, juicy and, since Craig is so honest on Strictly, rather indiscreet too. Yeah. It wasn't.

It was a good read, I'm not saying that, and it was certainly considerably more entertaining than Lorraine Kelly's yawnfest, but there just wasn't actually that much scandal.

Craig wasn't *really* a rent boy (he allowed an older man he wasn't actually interested in to take him travelling), being a drag queen isn't particularly shocking anyway (and judging by the photos, he was a very good one) and apart from that it was mostly about his career. Which has been solid and accomplished.

I had to stop myself skipping to the Strictly section of the book, where I thought his lips might get a little looser, but, no, it was all on-message. Everyone gets on. It's a great show to do. No, the producers don't tell him to be nasty, he just likes to tell it as it is.

Like I said, it was, in the main, an entertaining read, but it wasn't a particularly exciting one. Maybe he should have got the Mr Nasty side of his character to write it...

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try My Booky Wook by Russell Brand (much juicier)

And don't forget about my Strictly Come Dancing reviews over on TV Scoop!

Posted by Keris on October 20, 2008 in Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 13, 2008 10:27 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Boy In The Dress by David Walliams

This book is not, typically, the sort of book we review on Trashionista. After all it is a children's book (age 9+ it informs me on the back) and it is about a boy, so could be seen as a "boy's book". However. This book is written by David Walliams. One half of the comedy duo that is Little Britain and Little Britain USA. We have mentioned so many children's books written by celebrities recently but this one has been the only one I have wanted to read. Why? Well, take a look at the front cover.

Yes, one of the main reasons why I found this book so attractive is because of the illustrations by Quentin Blake. I have always been a fan of his (I myself can't draw for toffee) and in this book he doesn't disappoint. Even when you take the dust jacket off there are pictures on the actual hardback bit and the spine of the book. It is definitely one to treasure for that alone.

So what about the story? Well, it is about a boy called Dennis. He likes his football, in fact he is really good at it, he likes girls, but he also likes to read copies of Vogue to look at the dresses. He meets a girl called Lisa in detention, who is ridiculously into fashion and she encourages him to try one of her creations on, then dares him to wear it at school.

This is definitely a children's book with a difference about difference, but as David says in an interview on Amazon, he wanted to examine this idea to demonstrate that difference is something to be celebrated and embraced. Many people have assumed this book is autobiographical, after all, if you watch Little Britain you will see David does like to dress up as a lay-dee. He doesn't deny it, but also says he can identify with many of the characters in the book, in addition to Dennis.

Maybe because David Walliams is a writer as well as a performer, I found this book well written with the additional quality of hearing David's voice in it throughout. The book is different, endearing, challenging and quite emotional as well (Dennis's Dad is going through a tough time). It has some good jokes - they actually made me laugh out loud, particularly those referring to David's other job. I loved it and think boys and girls will adore it.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try well, um, I'm not so sure. You could always take a look at the other children's book we've reviewed, Allie Finkle's Rules For Girls by Meg Cabot.

Posted by Helen Redfern on October 13, 2008 in Celebrity Authors, More On Monday, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 9, 2008 10:22 AM

CELEBRITY BOOK NEWS: Simon Pegg

I do love comedian and actor Simon Pegg, but I'm not entirely convinced that he's "absolutely the most talented person in the whole wide world," as his publisher has said.

But they must certainly believe it to be true because they (Hodder & Stoughton) have paid him a seven-figure sum for three books: a memoir, a "quicky humour" Christmas gift book, and a "highly illustrated, lavishly produced" title.

[via The Bookseller]

Posted by Keris on October 9, 2008 in Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 1, 2008 11:10 AM

BOOK NEWS: The Boy In The Dress

David Walliams, one half of the little Britain duo, has released a children's book. Before you think, oh *yawn* another celebrity children's book, let me point out the front cover. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake, famous illustrator of the Roald Dahl books, and I think it looks great.

Speaking of the content of the book, where a boy of twelve likes to wear girl's clothes, David said, kids feel different for all manner of reasons and I want them to read the book and see it as a celebration of being different. [ See BBC Newsbeat for the full interview.]

Posted by Helen Redfern on October 1, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 25, 2008 11:24 AM

The ultimate trashy tell-all: Kerry Katona on Katie Price

If you like a trashy celebrity read then brace yourself for this one!

Kerry Katona is considering writing a tell-all book about Katie Price aka Jordan. They became friends on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, but have since had a massive falling out. No further information on the book as yet, but I think we can safely assume it'll come out at some point. Probably followed by Katie's book about Kerry.

[via booktrade.info]

Oh and I did want to illustrate this with a picture of the two women, but doing a google image search for Kerry Katona and Katie Price has traumatised me and singed my retinas...

Posted by Keris on September 25, 2008 in Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 23, 2008 12:02 PM

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

There are an abundance of autobiographies beginning their journey towards Christmas by making an appearance on chat shows. We have already reviewed The Celeb Diaries and Lorraine Kelly and told you about Dear Fatty by Dawn French. So who else might you find in your Christmas stocking?

Julie Walters, Jonny Wilkinson, Alan Carr, Paul O'Grady, Michael Parkinson, both Craig Revel Horwood and Len Goodman from Strictly Come Dancing, My Word is My Bond by Roger Moore (great title!), Fern Britton, Girls Aloud, Christopher Biggins, Richard Madeley and Frank Skinner are just some of the personalities to release books in the next few months.

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 23, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 15, 2008 11:02 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Celeb Diaries by Mark Frith

Like Miranda in Sex and the City I love to read about celebrities and gossip. As she would say "it is my thing." The only celebrity magazine I buy though is Heat. To me it is the original and the best. There are certain things that I became uncomfortable with, and even emailed them about on a few occasions expressing my outrage (though they weren't printed) but now I've read the book by Mark Frith, the ex-editor of Heat and the man responsible for it's huge sales, I can see what the intention of these features were (even if they didn't always work).

For those of you who don't know about Heat, I'll give you some background. Heat was a serious, wordy entertainment magazine that flopped as soon as it was launched. Mark Frith from Smash Hits magazine took over as editor and relaunched the magazine with a focus on celebrities. It was 1999 and that year everyone was talking about Posh and Becks' wedding. People weren't interested in a serious entertainment weekly. They wanted glamour, fashion and gossip. Heat got bigger and so did Joe Public's obsession with celebrities. Big Brother started and soon everyday people were famous just for sitting in a house for a few weeks. Put them on the front of Heat magazine and sales soared.

Mark Frith calls the last ten years the "celebrity decade" and cites its beginnings with Posh and Becks engagement. The Celeb Diaries details the magazine's growth during that time and it describes the decisions he made. In the beginning it was naive, fun, a bit mocking. Nobody took these people too seriously. But then there was a shift which Mark became uncomfortable with. Instead of tabloid photographs of Helen and Paul from Big Brother during their courtship, he was being sent pictures of Amy Whitehouse with slashes all over her arms. The world of celebrity had become darker. So he resigned as the editor of Heat.

Mark also talks about the obsession with being skinny. Whenever they put a headline on the front page saying, for example, "You are too thin" I was bothered. Why this obsession with women and the way they looked? Then from reading the book I see that Mark and his colleagues were genuinely concerned about women in the spotlight making themselves too thin, particularly in the glossy magazines and what impact this had on young girls. They even had a letter from a relieved mum whose daughter had just read the Heat article. This girl had been starving herself.

Mark writes terrifically well (and so he should as a journalist and ex editor). I don't think the world of celebrities is as shocking as we would have found it a few years ago. For "juicy gossip" there isn't really any that you don't already know. Although how celebrities react to their scoops was very insightful.

The Celeb Diaries is one man's take on a world that bemused him. I found the book absolutely fascinating, both in its description of the growth in the magazine and the growth in the celebrity culture. He is engaging but also honest. It was interesting to see that where I was "outraged" with certain features or stunts he admits that mistakes were made.

Then towards the end, we see the man who has played a large part in building up the celebrity culture, actually becoming a little ashamed by this shift to the darker side.

He summarises it all up when he is in the Maldives after the dreadful Boxing Day tsunami. The latest figures show that more than 250,000 people are dead or missing. And now I need to go to work and write about celebrities.

A great read.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Don't You Know Who I Am? by Piers Morgan

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 15, 2008 in Celebrity Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

September 10, 2008 10:35 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Between You and Me by Lorraine Kelly

Everyone loves Lorraine Kelly, don't they. Don't they? I've always thought she seemed like a lovely woman, but, I must admit, when this autobiography came out I did wonder what exciting revelations it may contain. I mean, as far as I was concerned, Lorraine worked as a journalist, got a job on GMTV and then... stayed there.

But the press release promised it would be "mischievous" and the book itself claimed it was "a little bit naughty" so I was expecting, well, some entertainment...

Let's look at the inside cover of the book:

"From growing up in one of Glasgow's toughest areas..."

Well, yes, she did, but she had a lovely, comfortable upbringing and the family wasn't there long.

"To her early career as a journalist during which she covered such heartbreaking tragedies as Lockerbie and Dunblane..."

Well, yes, she did. But she didn't really have anything interesting to add about either situation. In fact, she says that there are no words to describe them. Plus the Dunblane chapter in particular is a good example of something that drove me slightly mad about this book. Much like Lorraine's GMTV show, serious subjects are immediately followed by more frivolous issues. So the Dunblane chapter ends "I hope that the monster who killed them is suffering all the torments of hell" and the following chatper begins "I love radio... you can sit there in your tracksuit, dipping HobNobs into your tea and no one will ever know."

Lorraine also seems to have led a rather lovely life and at times she reminded me of that old Fast Show character, "which was nice". Everyone is lovely and friendly and warm. Even people with a bad reputation like Elton John. Yes, people say he's a diva, but he "couldn't have been nicer" to Lorraine and her family.

So is there any shocking showbiz gossip at all? Well, apparently Anthea Turner and Eamonn Holmes didn't get on (yawn), but they're fine now. And then there's George Clooney and Will Smith. Both lovely and professional.

In fact, the only thing that could be described as "naughty" or "mischievous" in this book is the very last line and that's such a hackneyed joke it actually made me grown in horror.

So, yes, Lorraine does seem like a lovely woman, but why someone has paid her money to write an autobiography - and why that autobiography is currently in the Top 5 of various book charts - is utterly beyond me.

Rating: 2/5

Like this? Try My Take by Gary Barlow

Posted by Keris on September 10, 2008 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 2/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

September 5, 2008 12:19 PM

BOOK NEWS: The Celeb Diaries

Look what has just arrived through my door! The Celeb Diaries by Mark Frith is out now and promises "sensational" insider gossip on celebrities (and behind the scenes of working on the phenomenon that is Heat magazine - which is why I want to read it, obviously). I've had a sneaky peak at the first few pages and this is what he has got to say,

Celebrities. I've been writing about them for eight years solid and I still don't understand them...There is no group of people on God's earth more infuriating, ego-driven, contradictory, pampered, spoilt and downright ridiculous than celebrities.

Quite. This threatens to be a very entertaining book. A review will be coming soon.

Related posts: The Celeb Diaries | Johnny Be Good by Paige Toon

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 5, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 28, 2008 9:23 AM

BOOK NEWS: Sharon Osbourne to become novelist

Apparently Sharon Osbourne is to become a novelist in order to tap into the Katie Price/Jordan market. The novel is believed to be set in the "glitzy world of reality TV competitions". It is to be published next July although there has been no confirmation from Little, Brown Book Group on how involved Sharon will be. She has previously worked with a ghostwriter.

Sharon has published two autobiographies. Her first, Extreme, sold more than one million and her second, Survivor, was the best selling female autobiography of 2007.

[via Guardian.co.uk]

Related posts: Jordan pushed to the limit | Angel by Katie Price

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 28, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 20, 2008 4:19 PM

BOOK NEWS: Dear Fatty

We wrote a while ago about the fact that Dawn French was being paid in the region of £1.5million for her autobiography and now I've seen the title and the cover. (It's out in October.)

I have to say, I'm not wild about the title - Dear Fatty. We all know she's on the large side, no need to flog it. She looks beautiful on the cover though, don't you think?

Posted by Keris on August 20, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (7)

August 14, 2008 8:30 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Secret Diaries of Abigail Titmuss by Abi Titmuss

For those of you who don't know who Abi Titmuss is, well, she shot to fame as the girlfriend of a well known TV presenter in the UK (an ex of Catherine Zeta Jones) when he was arrested over rape and sex allegations. She was a nurse at the time and loyally stood by him whilst the press went mad and he was left a broken man. Because of all this press interest in her boyfriend's story, Abi herself started to get attention. Then, bizarrely, the Richard and Judy Show called her in to screen test as a presenter.

The screen test went well and she was offered a job as a roving reporter. Meanwhile she was still working as a nurse at the hospital. She did a couple of pieces for the show, then disaster struck. Someone sold pictures of her with two men and a woman (you know what I mean). Then there were drug allegations. So she was dropped from The Richard and Judy Show. In our crazy media obsessed world, however, this didn't stop the job offers. She went to work for a fantasy channel for a lot of money, FHM the men's magazine wanted to shoot some pictures of her, the tabloids were printing stories about her all the time, and she sort of *fell* into the world of glamour modeling.

This is not an autobiography. As the title suggests it is actually a diary from the date she met her TV presenter boyfriend and when she had just gone part time as a nurse in order to study acting. Unfortunately for her, with the scandal that followed and the career choices she made, her dreams of being an actress were beginning to look less and less likely. I thought the diary extremely well written, but when I read the first page or so properly I saw it had been written "with" Lucie Cave, the talented features editor from Heat Magazine.

The diary shows the world behind the headlines. What is printed versus what actually happens, staged paparazzi shots, the inordinate amount of money to be made from photographs. To me though, this is actually a sad book. When I finished it I actually felt sorry for Abi. If what is said in the book is true or even remotely true, it is a terrible example of the price of fame and the way women in particular are built up by the media, only to be torn to strips a short while later. The sadder part is, women or girls actually aspire to be like her. As Abi says in her advice, are you insane?

From the headlines and the photographs you would think Abi is having a ball and milking it for all its worth. Whilst she may be doing the latter, the former is achieved through lots of alcohol in order to make her more confident. Most women deal with self esteem, weight issues and fat days. Abi is no different. But then I think, why put yourself out there? Why go on a reality TV show? Why expose yourself in such a way? She complains that she feels violated at times so why keep on milking the cow?

Even if you aren't interested in Abi, but are interested in the celebrity media and the way it works, this gives you a small slice of behind the scenes action. As celebrity books go, it's not bad, and as it's not an autobiography but a diary - it's an easy read.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Jordan: Pushed To The Limit by Katie Price

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 14, 2008 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (3)

August 4, 2008 3:02 PM

BOOK NEWS: The Adventures of Dotty and Bluebell

In this month's Red magazine, Jools Oliver (wife of Jamie) is interviewed and drops into the conversation that she has written a children's book which is out in September. Yup, another celebrity children's book. She says,

Of course I'm lucky. I know that a normal person can't ring up a publisher and say, "I want to write a kids' book." I said to Jamie, "They're only doing it because I'm your wife," but he said, "I know publishing, and they wouldn't accept just anything."

Related posts: Freckleface Strawberry | Coleen Style Queen | Ugenia Lavender

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 4, 2008 in Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 1, 2008 11:39 AM

BOOK NEWS: Coming Up Next

For UK readers the name Penny Smith will be familiar. She is the news reader from GMTV every weekday morning. And now she's written a book. I've yet to read it myself, but from first impressions the cover isn't that original is it? A chick lit standard headless woman?

Anyway believe it or not it is about a TV presenter. A morning TV presenter at that. Carry on over the cut for the summary.

A darkly comic novel about the fall and rise of a TV presenter. Written by an insider, it's a page-turning account of life on the sofa and in front of the cameras. When Katie Fisher, morning TV presenter, returns from holiday it's to discover that she's literally yesterday's news. Publicly sacked from her job as anchor of Hello Britain! and replaced by a pert young thing, she does what any self-respecting thirty something would in these circumstances -- she makes a dash for her parents and hits the bottle. But Katie, sooner or later, has to face the world, the photographers, and the backstage intrigue of morning television: the cut-throat, lecherous producers, the ambitious but vacant Keera, and Mike, her co-host, a trustworthy friend or just another one of the many back-stabbers? Humour is Katie's only weapon and, as things hit rock-bottom, it could provide a perfect solution to life after the sofa. Knowing, insightful and darkly comic, Penny Smith's novel is the insider's view of TV.

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 1, 2008 in Book News, British Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 28, 2008 9:27 AM

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 (0)

July 22, 2008 3:01 PM

BOOK NEWS: The Secret Diaries of Abigail Titmuss

I have mentioned a few z-list celebrity's autobiographies in recent months, but I found one that must top the lot. The Secret Diaries of Abigail Titmus, out now, tells all about the behind the scenes secrets of playing the fame game, and if I'm honest, I can't help but being a teeny tiny bit interested. Not so much in her, but in what really happens to grab those headlines...

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 22, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 21, 2008 10:10 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: My Booky Wook by Russell Brand

I'd been hearing such great things about this book for such a long time, that I planned to read it even though I'd never actually seen Russell Brand in action. Of course, I was aware of him - he's impossible to miss - but I'd never actually seen his stand up until a couple of weeks ago... and I thought he was hilarious so bought the book the very next time I was in a bookshop.

I started reading it on the train and was worried I would have to put it down because more than once I did those snorting laughs that cause people to turn around to see what you're reading (or consider moving seats).

In case you're unfamiliar with Mr Brand, he's a TV presenter, stand-up comedian and actor who used to be alcoholic and addicted to both heroin and sex. The book begins actually with his manager sending him to a clinic to recover from his sex addiction, but then we go back to childhood and the rest of the book is fairly chronological.

As you may guess from the title, My Booky Wook is written in an extremely conversational style, which feels as if Brand is talking to you (I generally read it in his voice, which was quite entertaining). It's extremely honest, often disgusting and frequently funny. I also found it inspirational since he originally set out wanting to be a comedian and actor, but kept sabotaging himself (he was sacked from practically every single job he ever got), but once he got clean he's managed to achieve those ambitions in a relatively short time. It just shows that however many mistakes you make, there's always the chance that you can pull your socks up (or, in Brand's case, your pants down) and get another chance.

Once I'd finished it, I searched my email so I could tell one of the people I thought had recommended it to me how much I enjoyed it. I found their email. It said, "Don't read Russell Brand's book, it'll make you feel dirty." And I'd taken that as a recommendation! And it did make me feel a tiny bit dirty, but it also made me happy and I was sorry to finish reading it.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Frank by Frank Skinner (THE best celebrity autobiography ever, in my opinion)

Posted by Keris on July 21, 2008 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

July 17, 2008 4:41 PM

TV NEWS: The Truth About Diamonds

Apparently Nicole Richie's "thinly-veiled memoir", The Truth About Diamonds, is going to be made into a TV show.

She says she will definitely produce and appear in the show, but not necessarily in the lead. [via E! Online]

Has anyone read it? Is it any good?

Posted by Keris on July 17, 2008 in Celebrity Authors, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

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?

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 15, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (6)

June 13, 2008 11:04 AM

BOOK NEWS: Angel Uncovered

So, Katie Price has another book out (is there a factory somewhere...?)

I have read and enjoyed her autobiographies but have never read any of her fictional stuff. Maybe I should. Anyway, Angel Uncovered, is, I believe, her third fiction book, after the success of Crystal and Angel.

After marrying the love of her life, the footballer Cal, and having a baby girl, Angel feels isolated when Cal is transferred to AC Milan. Will Cal and Angel turn to each other or look elsewhere for comfort?

Angel Uncovered is out in July.

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 13, 2008 in Bonkbusters, Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 2, 2008 1:06 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: JORDAN Pushed to the limit by Katie Price

I have a secret. I am a big fan of Katie Price. I don't know why I have to keep it a secret, but it seems to be easier that way. Although...well, obviously I've just outed myself and it isn't a secret now. I really enjoy Katie and Peter's fly on the wall programme on ITV3 on a Thursday night, I've been following the pair of them (her more than him - I haven't read his autobiography) since they were in I'm a Celebrity.

So I have read the first two of her autobiographies and a few weeks ago, struggling with morning sickness and extreme exhaustion, I needed something light and easy to read. Pushed to the Limit was the perfect solution. I was actually quite excited when I opened the book.

Her first book was about her life up until she met Peter, the second her relationship with Peter in the early days and this one is more family orientated. It is all about the emotional challenges of post natal depression, her miscarriage, the safety of her family and the health of her children, particularly Harvey, her eldest. Plus of course some intimate details of her relationship with Peter.

Katie, I find, is refreshingly honest and doesn't actually make out she is the heroine all the time. In fact there are a few times when she doesn't come across that well. She makes mistakes like most of us. I could identify with many of her experiences and it was quite inspiring to know somebody else out there has gone though similar situations. I found her description of family situations to be, in fact, the most interesting bits along with her behind the scenes information on her career. (Not so much about her and Pete's bedroom antics). The chapter about Harvey's accident, again told in a frank and unflinching way, was heartbreaking and I really felt for her and Harvey.

I know that Katie probably didn't write the book herself and for some people that is scandalous. I don't care though. I am naturally a ~~nosy~~ curious person and want to know about other people's lives, particularly someone successful like her in the public eye. (I do draw the line at Kerry Katona and Jade Goody though).

I am now bracing myself for everyone to disagree with me!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Growing Pains by Billie Piper

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 2, 2008 in Celebrity Authors, More On Monday, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

May 19, 2008 10:44 AM

BOOK NEWS: The return of Jade Goody

Oh dear. I am sighing as I write this. Disgraced, former Big Brother contestant, Jade Goody is to release another autobiography. The book is a follow up to her first one, which sold 90,000 copies in hardback before HarperCollins pulled the plug on the paperback after she fell out of favour.

Jade: Living and Learning will be out in October. It promises to be a tell all account of her time in the celebrity Big Brother house, her trip to India to smooth over the situation and her subsequent time in the Priory.

I am a bit of a sucker for celeb autobiographies. But this one? Nah.

[via Bookseller.com]

Related posts: Celebrity authors archives

Posted by Helen Redfern on May 19, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 9, 2008 10:49 AM

BOOK NEWS: Coleen Style Queen

The trend for celebrity children's books is showing no signs of slowing down. Following in the footsteps of Madonna, Kylie is doing it with her Showgirl Princess, Jordan with the Perfect Ponies, Geri with Ugenia and now...Coleen McLoughlin.

Yup, following news of her five book deal, the girlfriend of Wayne Rooney has launched a series of books about a fictional character called Coleen. She is just an average girl who is into boys, her friends and, of course, fashion. Coleen, like her namesake, likes to look stylish and offers style and fashion tips and even how to customise your clothes.

Posted by Helen Redfern on May 9, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 8, 2008 12:04 PM

BOOK NEWS: Ugenia Lavender

We reported on Geri Halliwell and her new incarnation as a children's author last year. The first book simply titled Ugenia Lavender is out now. She is a “brave and sassy” nine year old with “loads of energy, tons of attitude and brainwaves like thunderbolts of lightning”. Each book comes with three stories, Big News, Top Tips and puzzle pages.

Released later this year are Ugenia Lavender and the Burning Pants, Ugenia Lavender Temple of Gloom and Ugenia Lavender The One and Only.

Posted by Helen Redfern on May 8, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 15, 2008 1:58 PM

BOOK NEWS: Voluptuous Delights

Sophie Dahl, the model-turned-writer and granddaughter of Roald Dahl, is to follow her adult fiction debut (Playing With The Grown-ups) with a cookery book.

Dahl was first famous as a 'bigger' model and then slimmed down considerably to loud criticism from the fickle (and, dare I say it, hypocritical) press. Titled Voluptuous Delights, it marries her favourite recipes with personal stories. She says: "It's an anecdotal book about how to be slim but eat."

[Via Entertainment Weekly]

Related posts: Celebrity books and chick lit | Celebrity memoir mania

Posted by Sarah Painter on April 15, 2008 in Book News, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 28, 2008 4:31 PM

The return of the Bonkbuster?

Vintage While I'm not certain they ever went far away, The Times has an article on their triumphant return, citing Kerry Katona, Katie Price and Olivia Darling (Vintage - pictured).

They claim that women are moving back towards utterly escapist, glamorous, sex-filled romps a la Jackie Collins and away from "angst-ridden chick lit."

Interesting note - Olivia Darling is the pen name of Chick Lit staple, Chris Manby!

Related posts: Bonkbusters archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on March 28, 2008 in Bonkbusters, Book News, British Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (4)

February 24, 2008 9:15 AM

BOOK NEWS: Yet another Jordan "autobiography"

Our reality TV sister site, Available For Panto, reminded me of this latest memoir by Katie Price (is she Katie Price? Is she Jordan?). I had seen it in Borders, but I must have blanked it out...

Yep, this is Katie's third autobiography and - guess what? - it's already out of date! See that cover? That's her old nose. And hair. And possibly (there's not enough of them on show that I can be sure) boobs. New, plastic surgery-related, autobiography coming soon. Probably.

Posted by Keris on February 24, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 8, 2008 4:38 PM

Jamelia to write autobiography

It seems publishers still love a celeb autobiography and, as ever, having lived a long and interesting life is not a requirement. Orion has signed 27-year-old pop star Jamelia to write an "inspirational account" of her rise to success.

Okay, perhaps I am being a little harsh... Apparently Jamelia will explain how “others can escape from difficult circumstances to achieve their dreams”. So that's nice.

[Via Bookseller]

Posted by Sarah Painter on February 8, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 21, 2008 10:19 AM

George Michael signs book deal

This one's for Keris...

George Michael has signed an allegedy huge deal (the figure $7 million is being thrown about) with HarperCollins for his memoir. Scheduled for an Autumn 2009 release, Michael has promised a 'no holds barred' account of his life.

[Via Yahoo]

Related posts: Celebrity memoir mania | Top ten non-fiction chick lit

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 21, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (4)

January 2, 2008 11:43 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Growing Pains by Billie Piper

Yes, I know it's ridiculous a 23-year-old writing an autobiography, but Billie Piper has packed more into her 23 years than many people do in a lifetime.

In case you don't know her, Billie became a pop star at age 15. The record company wanted her to be a British Madonna and, while that didn't quite work out, she did have three very successful and, according to this book, gruelling years as a popstar.

I'd be lying if I said that, before picking this book up, I wasn't mostly interested to read about her marriage to Chris Evans (a British TV presenter and DJ who Billie married when she was 18 and he was 34), but I found the whole rise to fame section and even the chapters about her childhood (which can sometimes be a bit tedious *cough*Gary Barlow*cough*) absolutely fascinating. Clearly precocious, Billie was still forced to grow up too fast (once she signed her record deal, she lived alone in a London hotel - aged 15!).

Reading the book, I was thrilled when Chris Evans turned up because I knew that Billie's life was about to become considerably better. Suffering from anorexia, exhaustion and, by the sound of it, a bit of a drug issue too (which she, oddly considering the honesty of the rest of the book, glosses over), she met Chris and, before they'd even been on an official date, he turned up at her door with (famously) the keys to a Ferrari filled with roses and a marriage proposal.

From then on, Billie's next few years passed in marital bliss. They (again, famously) travelled the world together (getting drunk, gaining weight and barely bothering even to brush their hair) and then moved into Chris's cottage. At which point, I became quite envious. Their life just sounded gorgeous. Baking cakes, hanging out, travelling whenever they wanted to, and never having to worry about work. But, of course, that couldn't last.

Billie wanted to try acting, which had always been her first love and, once she got the part of Rose Tyler in the newly revived (and now incredibly successful) Dr Who, her marriage broke down and her "third act" - as an actress (first was "singer", second was "wife") began. (If you keep up with celebrity gossip - and you know I do - you'll know that on New Year's Eve Billie married again.)

As you might be able to tell from my slightly over-excited review, reading this book I fell completely in love with Billie. She's funny, honest, sensible, charming and inspiring. And she's still only 23. Good grief. It is a cracking good read though. I read it on a seven hour car journey to London (don't worry, I wasn't driving!) and was extremely put out when it got too dark to read with only a couple of chapters to go. Put your preconceived notions aside and give it a go. Highly recommended!

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try My Take by Gary Barlow

Posted by Keris on January 2, 2008 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 19, 2007 1:32 PM

Britney's mother's parenting guide delayed indefinitely ... guess why

That'd be because her "other" daughter, 16-year-old Jamie-Lynn, is pregnant.

Good grief.

[via PopSugar]

Posted by Keris on December 19, 2007 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 3, 2007 10:56 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: My Take by Gary Barlow

I was recently in the position of having to be on a train for a total of ten hours (it was only a five hour journey, but travelling on the weekend doubled the time!). I wanted to take a guaranteed good read. A book that would see me through both the journey and any additional delays. Along with four other books (I wouldn't want to be caught short, would I?), I decided on Gary Barlow's autobiography.

I was (let's face it, still am) a huge Take That fan and, while Gary wasn't my favourite, his speedy fall from grace following the band's split, along with the feud with Robbie, of course, meant I knew this book would be fascinating. And it was. From his childhood in Frodsham, Cheshire, we're quickly launched into Gary's passion for music and his early years entertaining in working men's clubs. While interesting, this part soon got old, but luckily Gary's Take That audition arrived to liven things up.

Gary took his (self-made) demo tape to Nigel Martin-Smith's management company. Nigel loved Gary's songs (his looks, less so) and decided he'd be perfect for the boy band he was forming to compete with New Kids on the Block. Gary was introduced to Robbie, Mark, Jason and Howard and the rest is pop history.

Gary is brutally honest in his treatment of Nigel Martin-Smith and Martin-Smith himself sounds like a fascinating character, both genius and control freak. Gary is also honest about his own control freak tendencies, but he's not quite as hard on himself as he is on Nigel. Of course, he was young when Take That started and he does admit that he gave Robbie a hard time, but he claims he was clueless about it all, which I'm not sure is true. He does, however, include a telling conversation with Jason following the band's break-up, in which Jason told him what a nightmare he was.

The book's been fully updated since the reunion and towards the end, I started to feel very warm towards Gary (no, not like that; I save that for Jason). Gary loves his family, is mad about his wife and kids, and thrilled to be given a second chance at stardom. No, it's not the way he wanted things to go, but he's more than making the best of it. Plus he's traded in his ridiculous Elton-style mansion for a 3-bed semi, bless him. How could you not love that?

It's a gripping read and Gary's also got an entertainingly dry sense of humour, but it's probably for Take That fans only.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Feel by Chris Heath

Posted by Keris on December 3, 2007 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 29, 2007 4:42 PM

BOOK NEWS: Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore

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

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

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

Posted by Keris on October 29, 2007 in Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 24, 2007 2:10 PM

BOOK NEWS: Coleen McLoughlin gets a five-book deal

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

[Source]

Posted by Nicola pedley on October 24, 2007 in Book News, British Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (3)

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

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

Go on, you know you want to!

Posted by Nicola pedley on October 24, 2007 in Book News, British Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 23, 2007 4:49 PM

BOOK NEWS: Rough Justice by Kerry Katona

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

Posted by Nicola pedley on October 23, 2007 in Book News, British Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (9)

September 28, 2007 12:26 PM

Is there no end to Jordan's talents?

I was browsing Amazon, looking for cover images to accompany the articles I’ve written about Jordan, when I came across Katie Price’s Perfect Ponies series. Eh? Is that the same Katie Price we know and love as Jordan? The photo certainly looks like Jordan (or a big-busted Barbie doll), so I have to ask you, readers, do you know anything about the Perfect Ponies series, and is that really Jordan?

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 28, 2007 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (4)

September 25, 2007 11:40 AM

Jordan outsells the Bookers

She may not be the most discarded book, but the big-breasted beauty that is Jordan is outselling the Booker shortlist. That’s the combined sales of every single book on the Booker shortlist. Crystal has sold 159,407 copies while the Booker books can only manage 120,770. Blimey! I wonder if she’ll be nominated next year…

[Source]

Related Posts: Angel by Katie Price ('Jordan')

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 25, 2007 in Book News, British Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 14, 2007 7:25 AM

Jordan can’t even make it to number one on the most discarded list

According to a survey compiled by Travelodge, Jordan’s ‘A Whole New World’ comes fourth in a list of books most discarded in their hotel rooms.

So if you fancy a copy but don’t want to pay for it why not pop along to your nearest Travelodge and see if they’ve got one handy.

Read the full list over the cut.

1. The Blair Years by Alastair Campbell  
2. Don't You Know Who I Am? by Piers Morgan  
3. A Whole New World by Jordan
4. Wicked by Jilly Cooper  
5. Dr Who Creatures & Demons by Justin Richard  
6. The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown  
7. I Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna  
8. Humble Pie by Gordon Ramsay  
9. The Story Of A Man And His Mouth by Chris Moyles  
10. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

[Source]

Posted by Nicola pedley on September 14, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors | 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?

Posted by Keris on September 13, 2007 in American Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 5, 2007 11:49 AM

PREVIEW REVIEW: Laid Bare by Gail Porter

Gailp Out tomorrow, this book just manages to squeeze in as a Preview Review... (and yes, I am leaving, I just have a few loose ends to tie up first!)

Most people (in the UK at least) know Gail Porter. Or know of her, anyway. Short, bouncy, blonde Scottish TV presenter who married a rock star, had his baby, went through a bitter divorce and lost all her hair from the stress. After all that (not to mention an overdose that nearly killed her, years of self-harm, anorexia and undiagnosed bipolar disease and a difficult relationship with her dad) it was probably inevitable that Gail write a book about her experiences. Laid Bare is that book, and there's the inevitable reference to hair loss in the title, although it could have been a lot worse...

I was fairly interested to read this but really hoping that it wouldn't be a self-indulgent wallow. Because, to be honest, if I'd been through a lot of this stuff, it probably would have been!

Luckily, Gail is a charming and charismatic narrator as she tells the story of her first fascination with the entertainment business (an obsession with the first Star Wars film) right up to... well, I won't give it away, but the book ends on a poignant note.

She writes about her days at school (she was a super-swot, who became a black belt at Karate - and so was never really picked on!) and college (in Watford, which she didn't find very exciting...) and her early jobs in TV, including a lot of time as a runner/general dogsbody. What comes across is a strong work ethic, a lot of determination and the ability to bounce back from any rejection. I was impressed. After getting to know TV production inside and out, Gail realised that her dream job was to be in front of the camera, so she made a show reel dressed as Wonder Woman (of course) and started auditioning. Soon (after a few ups and downs along the way) she was presenting Scottish kids' TV, then national kids' TV in London, then iconic programmes like Top of the Pops, where she met her husband, Dan Hipgrave of (former) band Toploader.

When she writes about her relationship with Dan, it's clear that their marriage was a whirlwind mistake, and that there's no love lost between them! She is however, grateful to him for their daughter Honey (although her post-birth pain, which lasted for months, made me seriously wince). It seems that Gail has never done things the easy way, even when she sometimes could have done. She seems to have barreled her way through life without thinking too much about her actions. When she's diagnosed with bipolar and a thyroid problem, and admits to her anorexia and self-harm, it comes as almost as much of a relief to the reader as it must have to Gail herself. However, contrary to my fears, she doesn't wallow. In fact, she sometimes could do with wallowing a bit more, and with asking for help - as it doesn't come across that she's fully dealt with her problems and I was a bit disappointed with that although maybe that's more about my own control freakery than the book itself! It's also a shame that the book ends on the aforementioned poignant note, but it is also a sweet ending, and a realistic one.

I can't see any mention of a ghostwriter anywhere, so am choosing to believe Gail wrote this herself. In which case, she has talent as a writer, as the reader definitely becomes involved in her experiences. I found this a quick read, but not a dumb one, and I learned a thing or two about someone who's been in the news a lot.

Rating: 4/5

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

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on September 5, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 20, 2007 8:48 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: Mere Anarchy by Woody Allen

Mere 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)

August 16, 2007 2:06 PM

BOOK REVIEW: No! I Don't Want to Join a Bookclub by Virgina Ironside

Better known as an agony aunt, Virginia Ironside is also an experienced journalist and now a novelist, too. No! I Don't Want to Join a Bookclub is about Marie Sharp, who's single and just about to turn sixty and has decided to start a diary, Bridget Jones-style.

Kind of.

Unlike many people of her generation, Marie is not trying to recapture her youth, doesn't want to take evening classes, expand her mind, keep active, or god forbid, join a book club. What she wants to do is cover up her bingo wings, drink a lot of wine and enjoy being old. But being old doesn't mean doing nothing - in fact Marie has a pretty jam-packed time even though she has retired. She becomes a granny (or, as she inexplicably writes it, grannie) for the first time (something she talks about with such joy, I was incredibly moved and almost wanted to be one myself - although at 28 I think I might be a little young...) Her first love also comes back into her life, one of her oldest friends becomes very ill, and Marie has a young French lodger to keep a motherly eye on.

Although sometimes a little too cynical and curmudgeonly for my tastes, Marie is a very well-drawn and likeable character and I found this a fast and enjoyable read. It was refreshing to read about an older heroine and especially one who is both single and happy about it and happy with her age.

However, I'm not sure I'd want to be like Marie when I'm older - I don't see what's so wrong with salsa dancing and bungee jumping post-retirement if you fancy it, and sometimes Marie sounds more like 80 than 60!

But don't be put off if your age is nearer 20 - this is a good read for any age. I'd just love for a book club to pick it...

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Plotting for Beginners by Sue Hepworth and Jane Linfoot.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 16, 2007 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Julian Clary's Murder Most Fab

Julianclary_2 Following the success of his double entendre-stuffed memoir, A Young Man's Passage, Julian Clary is the latest celeb to bring out a novel - Murder Most Fab has a Janet Evanovich-esque cover and according to Janet Street Porter in Marie Claire is, "A very funny novel that charts the progress of a gorgeous boy from drama school, through to working as a rent boy and telly stardom. En route there are several murders, loads of drugs and masses of sex..."

It's out today.

[Via Woman magazine and Amazon.co.uk]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 16, 2007 in Bonkbusters, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Crime / Mystery, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 6, 2007 8:37 PM

BOOK NEWS: Damage Control

This new non-fiction anthology sounds like a book most women will be able to relate to! Unless you've never had a disaster at the hands of a hairdresser, waxer, physiotherapist, plain ol' therapist...? (If so, I just might hate you!)

Damage Control is about all the things that can go wrong when you put your body/mind/life into someone else's hands...

Contributors include British author Emma Forrest and UK-to-LA transplant Minnie Driver. The success of Driver's essay has lead to talk of her being offered her own book deal, apparently... [Via Galleycat]

Related: BOOK NEWS: 21 Proms.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 6, 2007 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction | 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 (1)

July 2, 2007 11:38 AM

Jordan/Katie Price gives birth

Jordankatie Call her what you will (glamour model, TV 'star', 'author'), but Jordan/Katie Price has given birth to her first daughter by Caesarian section at London's famous Portland Hospital. [Via Star Trip].

And! her second novel, Crystal has just been released, too: good timing!

Reports that her baby girl would be named after her new book were pooh-poohed by Jordan/Katie and her husband Peter Andre. (Anyone know what name they did go with?)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 2, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (3)

June 14, 2007 5:50 PM

Is Kerry Katona the new Jordan?

It seems like she's trying to be, according to Galleycat: she's releasing a ghost-written novel about a "glamour" model whose life takes a downward turn... called Tough Love, it's out in October this year and er... sounds just the tiniest bit familiar.

I'm sure Iceland shoppers will be queuing in the aisles for a copy... maybe.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 14, 2007 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (4)

May 21, 2007 12:50 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda

Alanlda_2 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].

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)

April 16, 2007 1:18 PM

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)

April 13, 2007 1:59 PM

Model Lit?

We've had Latina Lit, Assistant Lit, even Ivy League Lit, but is the world really ready for Model Lit?

Former Supermodel turned actress Paulina Porizkova's debut novel A Model Summer is about, a 15-year-old Czechoslovakian model trying to make it in Paris in 1980. Would it shock you to learn that Czechoslovakian Porizkova was 15 in 1980 and began her career in Paris?

Secrets of the Model Dorm by Amanda Kerlin and Phil Oh features aspiring model Heather who, after leaving Miami for New York, finds herself housed in a dorm with several other models and forced to sleep in bunks that are too short for the tall girls and to contend with a messy place no-one bothers to clean.

Robin Hazelwood's Model Student: A Tale of Co-eds and Cover Girls features Emily, an aspiring model who also attends Columbia University (extra points for combining Model Lit with Ivy League Lit!). Hazelwood is a former model and a Yale graduate.

Well, they do say write what you know...

[via Southern Comfort]

Posted by Keris on April 13, 2007 in Book related, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (3)

Geri Halliwell writes children's book

Following in the footsteps of Madonna, Kylie and many more, it seems that former Spice Girl and yoga guru Geri Halliwell's next incarnation will be as a children's author.

Geri's books will chronicle the adventures of nine-year-old Ugenia Lavender, "a spunky, bright English girl who goes to school just like any normal kid but at the same time harbors a talent for solving mysteries and working her way out of sticky situations".

Geri apparently started writing the stories during her pregnancy, which makes you wonder if her daughter Bluebell Madonna got off lightly with that name (wouldn't you rather be Bluebell Madonna than Ugenia Lavender?). Geri will also be providing the narration and voicing several characters for the audio-book editions. [via E! - thanks, Lisa!]

Posted by Keris on April 13, 2007 in Book News, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 12, 2007 4:53 PM

Sophie Dahl devotes herself to writing (again)

The lovely Kim, editor of our sister site Catwalk Queen, informs me that Sophie Dahl, model-turned-author-turned-model... is to turn author again, with two new books on the horizon - a novel and a food memoir. (Of the latter, Kim adds: 'I'm curious; will it be a book on how to avoid eating food? Miaow!')

Well, someone had to say it...

Celebrity authors archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 12, 2007 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 11, 2007 4:15 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Last week, we talked about acknowledgements - and acknowledged that most of us love reading them, although not everyone agreed... click over there to find out more! Sad confession: I love to mentally draft and re-draft mine - for that book I haven't written. (Yet). Moving on...

Last week we were talking about the HUGE advance likely to be paid British funny woman Dawn French for her memoirs. This week, it turns out all predictions were under the mark: her story is actually apparently worth £2 million. But what do you think: is anyone's life worth that much? Do you dream of a big advance one day (most authors won't get near it) or do you begrudge the fact that big-name authors get huge amounts of money thrown at them, while most writers toil in garrets? Should publishers be investing that cash in a wide range of authors, instead? Or do the famous people make it all back (some of the time) so it shouldn't matter? Is a huge advance more justifiable if (as in Dawn's case, I think) there's no ghostwriter?

So many questions! But it all boils down to one: big advances (especially for famous people) - is it a Yay or a Nay, and why?

Yay or Nay archives.

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

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 11, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Opinion, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (10)

April 3, 2007 4:18 PM

£1.5 million for Dawn French's memoirs

Yes, apparently that's what the life story of the famous funny lady is worth. Despite celeb memoirs in general not selling as well as expected, Peter Kay's book, The Sound of Laughter sold brilliantly over Christmas and has clearly inspired publishers to fight over Ms French: she's apparently being paid £1.25m just to discuss her book proposal. [Via The Times]

Interesting side note: did you know that Kirstie Alley is lined up to play Dawn's role in the US version of The Vicar of Dibley? (Although it won't actually be set in Dibley, of course...) [More TV news over at TV Scoop].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 3, 2007 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (4)

March 21, 2007 5:57 PM

Win a book on Corrieblog!

Yep, news of another competition! Celeb autobiography and Corrie fans should be interested in this one: a chance to win a copy of Julie Goodyear's (apparently rather sensational) life story, newly released in paperback.

Simply click on this link to find out how to enter.

Good luck!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 21, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Competition, Memoirs, New Releases, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 16, 2007 11:29 AM

FRIDAY FLICK: Postcards From The Edge

Apfilm 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 (0)

March 13, 2007 4:29 PM

BOOK NEWS: Crystal by Katie Price

Crystal_1 Yep, Jordan's at it again - or rather Katie Price is (doesn't she get confused?!)

Described as "a glittering and sexy story of passion and betrayal and one woman’s search for true love" Crystal is the dual-named glamour model's second attempt at fiction after the success of Angel last year. (Which we quite liked, by the way). Clearly designed to be another beach read, Crystal will be released on 7th June.

[Via randomhouse.co.uk ]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 13, 2007 in Bonkbusters, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 12, 2007 3:54 PM

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)

January 24, 2007 2:27 PM

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)

January 5, 2007 6:21 PM

Richard & Judy bookclub 2007

Yes, they've been announced! The titles of the books that are going to be flying off the shelves for the rest of this year:

The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This Book Will Save Your Life by A M Homes
Restless by William Boyd
Love in the Present Tense by Catherine Ryan Hyde
The Girls by Lori Lansens
Semi-Detached by Griff Rhys Jones

They'll be officially announced on Richard & Judy's UK TV show on 31 January and you'll be able to buy them from the website. [via Galleycat]

I've only heard of two of the books and three of the authors, so I have to disagree with Mark Lawson's assertion that the couple choose books that would have done well without their help.

So what do you think? Is it a good list? Have you read any of them? Do you want to read any of them?

[Richard and Judy archives]

Posted by Keris on January 5, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Non Fiction, Recent Release, Richard and Judy, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 14, 2006 5:03 PM

Top 10 chick lit precursors

Can you remember a time before chick lit?

We’ve sort of established that chick lit began in 1995 (with Marian Keyes's Watermelon), but there have always been books about strong women trying to come to terms with their place in the world, haven’t there? They just weren’t called chick lit before. We’re calling them chick lit precursors and here’s our Top 10 (along with a recommendation of their more recent chick lit "cousins").

(The following list is, of course, entirely subjective; my only rule was that the books had to have been originally published before 1995.)

10 Postcards From the Edge by Carrie Fisher (1987)

Suzanne Vale is an actress trying to recover from drug addiction, resume her career and get on with her life, while dealing with her difficult relationship with her mother. Like a lot of good chick lit, Postcards From the Edge is written in the first person, it’s also stuffed with Carrie Fisher’s trademark humour.

Chick lit cousin: Why Moms Are Weird by Pamela Ribon

9 Heartburn by Nora Ephron (1983)

The story of Rachel Samstat, a food writer whose husband has an affair with the wife of a prominent politician ... during month seven of Rachel's second pregnancy, it’s as hilarious and insightful as you’d expect from the writer of When Harry Met Sally.

Chick lit cousin: Watermelon by Marian Keyes

8 Sheila Levine is dead and living in New York by Gail Parent (1975)

As Diane reported, Jennifer Weiner reckons this was the first chick lit book, so who am I to argue? Sadly out of print, it’s the story of Sheila Levine, a Jewish girl living in Manhattan, her search for Mr. Right, and her struggles with her weight. Certainly sounds like chick lit!

Chick lit cousin: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

7 Jilly Cooper

Yes, an author rather than a book, but I’m specifically thinking of her "girls' name" books: Emily (1975), Bella (1976), Harriet (1976), Octavia (1977), Imogen (1978), Prudence (1978), Lisa and Co. (1981). More romances than the bonkbusters Cooper has become known for, these books are funny and romantic and have been reissued more than once with more chick lit style covers (most recently last year).

Chick lit cousin: Jill Mansell or Katie Fforde

6 Fear of Flying by Erica Jong (1973)

Fear of Flying created a sensation in the seventies with is frank descriptions of women's sexual appetites. The author Henry Miller said of it, "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." [via Erica Jong’s website]

Yep, that’s a chick lit precursor alright!

Chick lit cousin: Freya North (for the sex)

Carry on over the cut for the Top 5 (once again, number one might not be what you think!)

5 Forever by Judy Blume (1970)

The author Sarah Mlynowski says, “People always call Helen Fielding the mother of chick lit, but I think it’s Judy Blume. She’s who we all (chick lit writers) grew up reading, and she’s the one who helped shaped our consciousness.” [via Deanna Carlyle]

As if to prove Sarah's point, next June sees the publication of Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume , a collection of essays from authors including Trashionista faves Meg Cabot, Megan Crane, Diana Peterfreund and Alison Pace and Sarah herself.

I’ve picked Forever because it’s the Judy Blume book that had the most impact on me (stop sniggering) and it’s still causing a stir today, being one of the most challenged books in schools and libraries (it wasn’t shelved in my library growing up; you had to ask for it “under the counter”).

Chick lit cousin: The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart

4 Nancy Drew (from 1930)

We’ve mentioned the influence of the Nancy Drew books a few times, and the “girl detective” remains as popular today as ever. Nancy has gone through a few incarnations over the years, but has always been intelligent, brave, talented and independent. An excellent chick lit heroine!

Chick lit cousin: Stephanie Plum

3 Dorothy Parker (from 1926)

A commonly quoted important chick lit characteristic is “snark” and they don’t come much snarkier than Dorothy Parker.

In her review of the Parker biography What Fresh Hell is This, Diane wrote, “One of the founder members of the Algonquin round table - an influential group of writers in 1920s and 30s New York - Dorothy Parker was a gossipy journalist, well-known short story writer, clinical depressive with a tendency to suicide attempts - and a famous wit.”

Chick lit cousin: Wendy Holden

2 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

Ha! Bet you thought this would be number 1, didn’t you? As I'm sure you know, Pride and Prejudice is the story of the Bennet family, particularly Lizzie - who would make a perfect chick lit heroine even today - and Mr Darcy (on whom the best chick lit heroes are inevitably based).

In my review of Flirting with Pride and Prejudice, I wrote, "It is a truth universally acknowledged that if Jane Austen were writing today, she would be considered a chick lit author" and Austen’s influence on chick lit (not least Bridget Jones’s Diary) is well-known. She wasn’t first though. Oh no.

Chick lit cousin: Bridget Jones’s Diary, of course!

1 Evelina by Frances Burney (1778)

Beating Pride and Prejudice by 35 years is Frances Burney’s Evelina.

Written as a series of letters, this is the story of innocent Evelina's entrance into London society. “Evelina, comic and shrewd, is at once a guide to fashionable London, a satirical attack on the new consumerism, an investigation of women's position in the late eighteenth century, and a love story.” [via Amazon]

That’ll be the earliest chick lit book then!

Chick lit cousin: Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot

So what do you think? Do you agree? Have I missed any? We’d love to hear from you.

Top 100 Extravaganza archives

Posted by Keris on December 14, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Classic Novels, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, Modern Fiction, Opinion, Romance, Series, Top 100 Extravaganza!, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)

December 1, 2006 12:10 PM

December is Super Interview Month!

Superbig_8 Because we have some super interviews for you this month, and lots of them!

You want exclusive Trashionista interviews with Jenny Crusie, Janet Evanovich, Meg Cabot and more? You got 'em!

Stay tuned throughout the whole of December to make sure you don't miss out! (Can you tell I'm excited?!)

It all starts on Wednesday, December 6th, with an exclusive interview with Jodi Picoult (*squeal!*)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 1, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Recent Release, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 30, 2006 11:45 AM

Watch Madonna talk books

Well, it makes a nice change from hearing her talk about adoption, Africa, etc etc etc! She talks about her hugely popular The English Roses book, and its new sequel The English Roses: Too Good To Be True. And she makes some great feminist points about books for young girls!

The interview is in four parts, all on YouTube.

[Via Book Trailer Park].

Related: Kylie joins celebrity authors.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 30, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Series, Technology, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 29, 2006 5:28 PM

Poor show from celebrity memoirs

Remember how we told you this Christmas we'd be facing Celebrity Memoir Mania in our bookshops with an estimated 60 books to choose from? Well it looks like the bubble may have burst.

An article in The Independent focusses on the high-profile celebrity books that failed to earn back the advances. The worst example is that of former Home Secretary David Blunkett, whose book, for which he was paid £400,000, has sold around 1,000 copies! Rupert Everett (£1million; 15,000 copies), Ashley Cole (£250,000; 4,000 copies) and Chantelle's (£300,000; 4,000 copies) books haven't done too well either.

The frenzy was apparently started by Jordan (yep, blame Jordan) who was paid £10,000 for her book, Being Jordan, after a number of publishers turned it down. It went on to sell 900,000 copies. [via Galleycat]

Posted by Keris on November 29, 2006 in Book related, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (4)

November 28, 2006 10:50 AM

Trashionista Recommends: Book Reporter

Book Reporter is a site with author interviews and book info that's a great read any time of the year, but especially at Christmas! (Can you tell I'm in the seasonal mood? I love me some Xmas, and it's December this week so there's no excuse not to join me!)

Check out Book Reporter's "What to Give/What to Get" (I like the way that's phrased!) guide to Christmas new releases/old favourites for all the family... and look at the homepage, too.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 28, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Classic Novels, Debut Novels, Trashionista Recommends | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 9, 2006 5:19 PM

That Extra Half an Inch by Victoria Beckham digested by The Guardian

If you've never read The Digested Read in The Guardian, you're missing out. It's a hilarious (and very biting) feature that summarises new releases in the style of the original. The latest victim is Victoria Beckham's new book, That Extra Half an Inch, and it's hilarious!

The digested read begins: I have no qualifications to write this book; that's why I've got someone else to do it for me. But let me share my insights anyway. First I'd like to knock something on the head. The idea that, once you have a bit of money, you start wearing couture and stilettos all day and live on caviar and champagne is just nonsense. They've both got far too many calories...

Read it in full here.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 9, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related, Celebrity Authors, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 2, 2006 8:31 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Nora1 We've talked before about how we're big fans of Nora Ephron (expect a review of her latest before too long!) and for me, Heartburn was her finest hour. (Okay, joint finest hour with When Harry Met Sally!) The story of Rachel Samstat, a food writer whose husband has an affair with the wife of a prominent politician... during month seven of Rachel's second pregnancy. It's heavily based on Nora's own life (her husband was Pulitzer prizewinning journalist Carl Bernstein). It's also fast, funny and furious.

It's a slim volume, but it's sharp, very moving and we feel Rachel's pain. The fact that it's based on real life also adds a gossipy quality that I (being nosy!) loved. Some readers can take or leave the recipes which are dotted throughout the text (I really liked them, although I might give the sorrel soup a miss). The characterisations are deft, the humour stands up well, even twenty-three years later, and the anger never becomes bitter. And we finally get a sense at the end of the book that things are going to turn out well for Rachel, thank goodness.

Fans of When Harry Met Sally will spot some of the events and lines from the movie, which were used here first (but still made me laugh). Probably the best compliment I can give it is that I've read it at least three times- and can't wait 'til the next three! A classic of the genre, and as the quote on the cover says, "proof that writing well is the best revenge"!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 2, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 1, 2006 6:01 PM

Win books on Corrieblog!

We're a little late mentioning it but yesterday our wonderful sister site Corrieblog turned one- Happy Birthday Corrieblog! I can't imagine the blogging world without you- what a sad place it must have been...

Anyway, to celebrate, they have three signed copies of Julie Goodyear's autobiography to give away on the site- click here to find out more about the book and how to enter!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 1, 2006 in Announcements, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Competition, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

Posh is a signing sensation*

While we're on the subject of celebrity authors, Victoria Beckham broke store records on Monday when 3,000 fans turned up to Selfridges in London for a signed copy of her style guide, That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between.

Some fans queued for over 12 hours to make sure they got their book (described by the publishers as a “revealing and practical” guide to “fashion, beauty and style”) and Victoria stayed at the store until they had all been signed. [via book2book]

It's a bit different from Paul Burrell's recent experience, isn't it? (By the way, if anyone's starved for Paul Burrell/Diana news, you can read all about his "last Christmas with Diana" in the latest issue of Eve magazine. No, really.)

* No, not a singing sensation - obviously.

Posted by Keris on November 1, 2006 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Felicity Huffman

Not long ago, we wrote about Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall's books, including her latest - for teens this time - Being A Girl.

Now it seems - not to be outdone - Desperate Housewives' Felicity Huffman has her own book coming out. Published next January, it's snappily titled A Practical Handbook for the Boyfriend: For Every Guy Who Wants to Be One/For Every Girl Who Wants to Build One and is described as a blithe, bold, and bawdy guide to building a better boyfriend (filled with humor, ribaldry, common sense, and assorted outdoor skills). Sounds, er, interesting. (But she is married to the wonderful William H Macy, so I'm happy to take her advice!)

Posted by Keris on November 1, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 30, 2006 11:03 AM

More Richard and Judy book news

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

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

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

October 27, 2006 6:05 PM

Ghost writers are in the money

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

[Via Galleycat].

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

October 23, 2006 11:53 AM

Remember Meg Tilly?

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

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

[via Galleycat]

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

October 18, 2006 6:18 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

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

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

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

October 16, 2006 7:24 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Man of the Month Club by Jackie Clune

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 13, 2006 11:41 AM

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

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

This is Chick Lit is the result.

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

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

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

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

Rating: 4 out of 5

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

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

October 9, 2006 3:40 PM

Kylie joins celebrity authors

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

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

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

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

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

October 3, 2006 7:18 PM

GUEST BLOG: Shanna Swendson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 2, 2006 10:00 AM

Hello and Welcome to Bafab!

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

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

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

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

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

September 26, 2006 11:10 AM

The Times gears up for an all-male Christmas

Two days ago, The Sunday Times previewed the books they think will be big this Christmas. As we told you yesterday, celeb memoirs are especially big this year- something the newspaper acknowledges, mentioning Stephen Gerrard, David Hasselhoff, Rupert Everett, Peter Andre (!) and Gary Barlow. As for fiction, although there's a token mention of Janet Fitch and Margaret Atwood releasing books for the American market, it turns out that the big names to look out for in Britain this autumn are: "Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton, Charles Frazier, John Grisham, Robert Harris, Stephen King, John le Carré and Thomas Pynchon."

I can't work out if the blokes at The Times are sexist or just a bunch of old fogies, but I don't for one minute believe that literary quirk Thomas Pynchon or Charles "Cold Mountain" Frazier will outsell Marian Keyes or Lauren Weisberger this Christmas! Come on Sunday Times writers- How about you do another article highlighting all the great books by women that have been released this year?

Update: The ever-insightful Galleycat sees my point!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on September 26, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Devil Wears Prada, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 25, 2006 1:53 PM

Celebrity Memoir Mania

Celebrity memoirs are worth big bucks to celebrities - Big Brother winner Pete got a reported £1million advance for his - and publishers alike, and with Christmas approaching, get ready for a celeb book frenzy.

Don't worry if you haven't started your Christmas shopping there will be an estimated 60 to choose from - Michael Palin (for dad), Terry Wogan (for mum), Gary Barlow (for me, please), Kerry Katona, Peter Kay, Rupert Everett, Billie Piper, even Corrie's Julie Goodyear.

It's hard to know who (if any) have actually written the books themselves and who's had a ghostwriter, but as long as there's plenty of gossip and bitching (probably less of this from Michael Palin, admittedly) then who cares?

What we thought of Teri Hatcher's Burnt Toast

Posted by Keris on September 25, 2006 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (6)

The Neverending Story- collaborative storytelling for all!

How do you fancy writing a story with a celebrity? (All right, it may be more of a 'celebrity'...)

The Neverending Story is a literary project with a difference. Yes, it never ends! But also, it's a chance to see your literary efforts on the internet and in print (in the books of stories the site plans to make) and to participate in a potentially huge story-writing community. Anyone can start a story, and anyone can add to an existing story until it reaches the desired word length set by the site (between 65,000 and 100,000 words). Act now, and you could add to Kajagoogoo star Limahl's story! (Well, he sang Neverending Story, they had to ask him to join in, didn't they?)

The site also features poetry and reviews and is entirely free to join, but you have to become a member before you add to or submit work.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on September 25, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 22, 2006 1:23 PM

Books that get left behind?

As holiday season draws to a close for another year, what happens to the books you've read by the pool? Most of us have read books that are great trashy beach reads, but one read is enough, so what to do with it then? Well, you could use BookCrossing to send it on a journey around the world, or you could plead heatstroke and just...dump it. Galleycat reports that the most-commonly abandoned books are celebrity autobiographies, with Paris Hilton's in top place, and Jordan's "autobiography" A Whole New World in third place (Jose Morinho was second, FYI).

What have you abandoned far from home? (And I'm just asking about books here!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on September 22, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related, Celebrity Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 19, 2006 9:53 AM

Keira Knightley as Jordan?

Apparently if her life story Being Jordan is ever made into a film, Jordan would like Keira Knightley to play her. [via Socialite Life]

Sounds great. I'd like to suggest Leonardo diCaprio as Gareth Gates, Chris Rock as Dwight Yorke and The Rock as Peter Andre!

Now you see, I was joking to begin with, but now I really want to see it.

See what we thought of Angel, Jordan's first foray into fiction.

Posted by Keris on September 19, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Debut Novels, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 13, 2006 4:44 PM

Jenny Colgan's wedding cake and more!

Over on our sister site Bridalwave today, you can find out where chick-lit stalwart Jenny Colgan got her wedding cake (and order one of your own, if you're so inclined!) Plus, a couple of weeks ago, they featured news of Trinny and Susannah's latest book: a guide to dressing for weddings. With five of my friends having got engaged in the last year, I think I might need to take a look at that...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on September 13, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 8, 2006 12:09 PM

Paul Burrell, Give it a Rest!

I generally ignore/avoid/am oblivious to any and all news about book serialisations, Princess Diana's untimely death conspiracy theories etc.

But even I in my ignorance can not fail to notice the biggest publishing news of the season: Paul Burrell's written a book (yes, another one!) about Diana. Called The Way We Were (he keeps getting camper, that man!) I'm sure it tells you much more than you ever wanted to know about his close friendship with the princess... Hmm, I hope all my friends sell stories on me after I've gone!

Apparently he fled to his home in Florida (I guess dishing on Di is profitable) to escape the media furore this week... wise move. A family friend of Diana is unimpressed with his actions: "To say that he is addicted to the spotlight is an understatement, it is as if he cannot help himself." [Via Galleycat.]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on September 8, 2006 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (6)

September 7, 2006 7:47 PM

More book cover snap

I heard that lovely, "national treasure", British comedy actress Julie Walters has a novel coming out, so of course I looked it up on Amazon.

The book sounds good (she's going to be talking about it on Jonathan Ross tomorrow night, if you're in the UK) and the cover's gorgeous, but - as often happens to me - it reminded me of another cover.

Carry on across the cut to see which one.

The long-awaited new novel by Amy & Isabelle author, Elizabeth Strout.

The snow, the tree, the black coat, the red text and umbrella.

But then that one put me in mind of another book. Harriet Evans's Going Home (review coming soon!).

No red or umbrella this time, but the tree, the faded colours, the typeface and yet another back view.

They're all gorgeous covers, but it's curious, don't you think?

Posted by Keris on September 7, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 18, 2006 4:27 PM

The curse of the second novel

Citizen_girl What do Citizen Girl, Everyone Worth Knowing and The Debutante Divorcee have in common? All are second novels that were considerably less successful/popular than the authors' debut books.

This great Newsday article examines the "sophomore slump" - just how hard is it to write a second book? Read on to find out more.

The piece includes insights from Carolyn Parkhurst (whose book, The Dogs of Babel, was called Lorelei's Secret in the UK), Janet Fitch and Sue Monk Kidd - who laments the woman who told her 'I don't see how you can ever write another novel that good' causing her to throw out everything she wrote for the next two weeks - as well as revealing that Amy Tan gave up on six novels before finally publishing The Kitchen God's Wife.

It's a really interesting article, but it's worth a read just to learn that there's a "support group for second novelists" in Los Angeles (where else?).

Posted by Keris on August 18, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Debut Novels, Devil Wears Prada | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 16, 2006 12:36 PM

Reading Sex and the City's Samantha

When I ran through the books for Sex and the City fans, I completely forgot about the fabulous Kim Cattrall's own oeuvre!

Written with her then-husband, Mark Levinson (and containing what you may consider to be too much information about their intimate relationship), Kim's first book bears the Samantha-esque title of Satisfaction: The Art of the Female Orgasm (when I worked in Waterstone's only one customer ever asked for this and I don't know which of us blushed harder).

After splitting with her husband, Kim followed Satisfaction up with Sexual Intelligence, a sort of historical and cultural study of sexuality.

She's now bringing her not inconsiderable expertise to teens with Being a Girl: Navigating the Ups and Downs of Teen Life out at the end of September.

Posted by Keris on August 16, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Celebrity Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 15, 2006 1:52 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Postcards From The Edge by Carrie Fisher

Carriefisher Carrie Fisher is a former Hollywood actress and former alcoholic and drug addict with a famous (and famously pushy) mother. Postcards From The Edge is her novel about a Hollywood actress who's a recovering alcoholic and drug addict with a famous... well, you get the idea! Suzanne Vale has accidentally overdosed on drugs and realises that this might be a good time to reassess her life- but starting out clean and sober takes some getting used to: working on small-time films where she has to take a drugs test every day and listen to everyone's opinions of her work is almost as little fun as dating without the help of alcohol...

The book begins with a fast paced, black-humoured first-person tense rehab diary ("maybe I shouldn't have given the guy who pumped my stomach my phone number, but who cares?") then switches to third person narrative as Suzanne gets out of rehab and starts over. I admire writers who play about with form, it keeps me guessing, and in this case, it isn't hard to keep track of. The scholar in me (who knew?!) thinks it also serves a literary purpose and shows how disconnected Suzanne feels from those around her and even her own body, now there's nothing more toxic than diet coke in her system.

Postcards is a cult classic- a book to be read and re-read, gawped at and laughed over. It's also full of eminently quotable conversations such as Suzanne and her friend Lucy discussing their lethargy:

"...Maybe it is food allergies, maybe my mom's right. Maybe this is all tuna"...

"Could we be having a nervous breakdown- a controlled nervous breakdown?"

"I don't know... I'm not that nervous, and it's not really a breakdown. It's more of a backdown, or a backing off. A pit stop... that's what we're having, a not-so-nervous pit stop."

Clearly a lot of material here is based on Carrie's own experiences, and if you've seen Ms Fisher interviewed you'll know the voice of Suzanne- so sharp and clever- is a thinly veiled version of the author. But they say "write what you know" for a reason: this is a fantastic look at addiction that (as Tom Robbins says on the back of the book) "shows us what despair is like when it refuse to take itself seriously."

James Frey could take more than a few lessons...

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Hanging Up by Nora Ephron, Delusions of Grandma by Carrie Fisher.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 15, 2006 in American Authors, Celebrity Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (20)

August 14, 2006 1:43 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: My Life So Far by Jane Fonda

I was more familiar with Jane Fonda as workout queen than anything else so I probably wouldn't have picked this book up, but I read a preview and was hooked. Fonda has had an incredible life (so far). From enormously successful actress to (enormously successful) exercise instructor to (enormously successful) activist, she is an inspiration.

Much more than a movie star memoir, My Life So Far covers everything from Fonda's mother's suicide and her lonely childhood to her three marriages, two children, and the scandal surrounding her anti-Vietnam War campaigning. Of course, her painful relationship with her father is threaded throughout as is her own growth and development as a person (and a woman). Occasionally a bit of ego creeps through - I wonder if the guests at her 60th birthday party were as delighted with the gift of a 20 minute video of her life as she imagined - but with someone as famous Jane Fonda you can't really complain.

Not only is this book enthralling and inspiring, it's also brilliantly written (I don't know if it's ghostwritten, but from what I've just read I wouldn't put it past her to have written the whole thing herself). This is a wonderful book everyone should read.

Posted by Keris on August 14, 2006 in American Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 5, 2006 6:03 PM

BOOK REVIEW- Burnt Toast by Teri Hatcher

I spent a lot of time in the '90s wanting to be Teri Hatcher- or rather, wanting to be her incarnation of Lois Lane- plus I've never missed a Desperate Housewives, so I was interested to read her new book, Burnt Toast. Part memoir, part self-help guide, Teri uses the ups and downs of her own life to illustrate the importance of being good to yourself. She thinks that too many women "eat the burnt toast"- that is, don't value themselves enough to make a new slice of toast when they burn some, always putting their needs last in every area of life, however big or small. It's a good message, and is delivered with lots of warmth and humour. But for me, there was a little something missing...

Teri's clearly an intelligent and witty woman, and I liked the ethos of this book, but I couldn't help wondering why she'd chosen to write a book that's only half-memoir... She actually doesn't reveal very much of herself, and maybe that was the idea. What she chooses to reveal is very selective, and at times, where she draws the line is mystifying: we learn (several times!) that she just loves her nipples (yep!) that she had no sex on her honeymoon, and that she's very insecure, especially around men... But she doesn't share why her marriage fell apart, or what her Housewives audition involved, or more seriously, make any mention of the child abuse she suffered for several years. I can understand her not wanting to go into any detail about the latter, but it seems strange not to mention it, or even allude to it, in a book purporting to share yourself and your most intimate feelings.

Maybe the paradox in the book illustrates a paradox about Teri: she has a lot to share, but seems to think we'd only be interested if she dressed it up with humour and self-help lessons so it's not all about her. At root, she comes across someone with very low self-esteem, and at times I couldn't work out if she was lying to herself or simply being disingenuous: she talks about her love of coupons and the free stuff actresses are given- doesn't she realise that comes across as spoilt and a little obscene when you're already a millionaire? (I think she genuinely doesn't see herself as a rich and powerful woman, but we all do!) Also, she insists she hasn't lost weight since her New Adventures of Superman days, but anyone can see she has- maybe her scales are broken...

Having said that, I admire Teri Hatcher's bravery in sharing the feelings she does write about, and I certainly found her book enjoyable and entertaining, heartfelt and (mostly) honest. But maybe she could have cared a little bit less about what people thought, and really dared to bare her soul.

(Oh and be warned- you'll be constantly craving hot, buttered toast throughout the book!)

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Tabloid Love by Bridget Harrison.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 5, 2006 in American Authors, Celebrity Authors, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (3)

July 10, 2006 3:42 PM

BOOK REVIEW : Angel by Katie Price ('Jordan')

Angel_2 I have to admit that when I saw Katie Price was writing her first novel I was a bit dubious. Okay, incredibly dubious. When I saw the promotions for it, and realised it was a story about a young girl who turns to glamour modelling to try to earn the money she desperately needs if she is to follow her dreams my fears for the book deepened. Was this going to be yet another version of Katie's life, or would she surprise me? I have to admit I was curious as I began to read.

'Angel' tells the story of Angel, a girl who is just on the brink of finishing college with dreams of a career in fashion design. The only problem is that she doesn't have enough money to fund the art course she desperately wants to take, and her parents won't fund such an uncertain future. On top of that its been less than a year since her parents revealed that she was adopted - she's still not really sure of who she is or whether she really belongs.

Angel is tempted by a model scout to have some photos taken. When the photographer suggests doing some glamour shots she feels a little reluctant. Once she agrees though she quickly realises that this could be the shortcut to the money she wants. Angel's rise to fame as a glamour model is rapid, and all of a sudden everybody wants a piece of her. Surely something's got to bring her down again, but will she survive?

This is a reasonably written debut novel, particularly when you consider that the author has no experience of writing beyond her own memoirs. The subject matter is so familiar when you think about Katie Price that you wonder whether some of it may actually be autobiographical. Then again they say write what you know, and this is certainly what Price knows. This does make me think that we will only truly see whether Price has promise as a novelist

The characters and plot were believable, you could easily see some of them gracing the pages of the tabloid gossip pages. The ending was relatively accomplished, whereas this is an area some first time novelists appear to struggle with Price tied up all the ends neatly but without it feeling forced.

This would be perfect as an easy read for the beach this summer.

Rating : 3 out of 5

Like this? Try 'Adored' by Tilly Bagshawe.

Posted by Jenni on July 10, 2006 in Bonkbusters, British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Debut Novels, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (50)

July 5, 2006 10:07 AM

BOOK REVIEW - An English Psychic In Hollywood by Lucinda Clare

Englishpsychic I was intrigued when I first picked up this copy of Lucinda Clare's memoirs. She makes it very clear that whilst she may have changed some identifying features all of the incidents in the book happened to her. Despite heading to the starry lights of Hollywood with the hopes of fulfilling her dreams of being an actress, Lucinda quickly finds out that her talents as a psychic are going to take her far further...

When Lucinda Clare is offered the chance to read for a role in a H0llywood movie she jumps onto the next available plane. Being an actress has been her lifelong dream and with nothing left in Blighty for her (save her best friend) the bright lights seem to be calling her name. Upon arrival however she quickly realises that it isn't her acting that's going to help her find her way. Lucinda, you see, is a psychic. For years she has trained with the full range of indivudiuals who can access 'spirit' and she is now well accomplished. What could be more appealing to a place full of insecure people than someone who can see their past, present and future?

Clare's memoirs follow her rise to fame within Hollywood circles. Invites begin to appear to parties and film sets, all conditional of course on her giving readings to all and sundry. This is where the book really comes into its own - Clare's descriptions both of events and of the people are rich, and really show you how the other half lives. All the while she is looking for the man of her dreams. Spirit has shown her the man who is her soulmate, she just needs to find him.

This is a well written and fascinating book. I found myself swept away by it, definitely not one I could put down! I would recommend this to anyone who fancies a slight change from the norm.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try "I'm Celibate - Get Me Out Of Here" by Jo Elliott

Posted by Jenni on July 5, 2006 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Debut Novels, Memoirs, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)