Trashionista

November 10, 2009 2:30 AM

Meetup: London's Girly Book Club

I've never attended a book club, but have always rather fancied it. I might be in luck, as I've recently discovered the London Girly Book Club.

Yep, it's a book club for females only, based in (well, you guessed it) London. If you're based in the city and looking to talk about great books (over great wine!) then this is the perfect reading group. If you don't live in or around London, then worry not - meetups are held on a monthly basis, so you have time to arrange something.

How I didn't come across this sooner, I have no idea, but I'm definitely looking into attending the next one! If you'd like to take part, check out the website on meetup.com and register.

From the club's About page: The group meets once a month to discuss that months book. We read a wide variety of book types from auto biographies, fiction, prize winners, memoirs and chick lit. It's not your typical Chick book club. We have intelligent conversation over wine and the book usually gets discussed for about half of the meeting until we switch to other topics.

So, if you fancy a chat about the latest titles with likeinded females, this is the place to go!

Posted by Elle Symonds on November 10, 2009 in Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 5, 2008 10:11 AM

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

Reviewed by Diane Shipley (remember her?!)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 3/5

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

Posted by Aigua Media on June 5, 2008 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 21, 2008 7:30 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Meaning of Sunglasses by Hadley Freeman

Despite having no discernable interest in fashion (I work from home, mostly in pajamas, so there's no real need), I absolutely love Hadley Freeman's Guardian newspaper column. She's so dry, funny and down to earth. I think I gave a little squeal when I heard she'd written a book.

The Meaning of Sunglasses is subtitled "A guide to almost all things fashionable" and it's certainly that. Set out in alphabetical order (which took me a shameful amount of time to work out - I kept wondering how the topics had been organised. D'oh.), the book features everything from Accessories to Yoga.

The thing I love about Ms Freeman is that she often says just what I've been afraid to admit (sometimes even to myself) about fashion (see Coats, stuck at the nexus point between dull and stressful). She's totally straightforward in her criticisms of magazines (the products are featured because the companies have paid for the advertising - I know this and yet I still always fall for those "must-have" or "products of the year" articles) and even certain designers, and she's practical about the ridiculousness of much fashion.

And yet ... I didn't enjoy this book anywhere near as much as her column. Often, either me or my husband (yes, my utterly fashion-ignorant husband loves her too) will read bits out to each other. I didn't feel the need to share any of this book with  him. Her column frequently makes me laugh out loud. The book had me smiling once or twice. Granted, I did read it straight through and it may be a better book to dip in and out of.

If you haven't read any Hadley before, I'm confident you'll enjoy it as a common sense explanation of the madness of modern fashion, but Hadley fans may be disappointed.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones

Posted by Keris on March 21, 2008 in Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 14, 2008 11:52 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Glamorous (Double) Life of Isabel Bookbinder by Holly McQueen

22nd May sees Isabel Bookbinder launched on an unsuspecting public. Being touted as the new Becky Bloomwood, Isabel is a chick lit by numbers character; head in the clouds, heart on her sleeve and just a little bit stupid. The book follows her attempts to secure a publishing deal and become a literary star. The only problem is she's so caught up in dreaming about the lifestyle she associates with being a 'novelist' that she forgets to actually put pen to paper. And thus the problems begin.

The novel is definitely one for Sophie Kinsella fans, as Bookbinder borrows heavily from the Shopaholic series. Not only is the character similarly infuriating at times, the love interest is very Luke Brandon-esque and the novel is broken up with Isabel's fake newspaper and magazine articles (about herself), much like the Shopaholic books were broken up with Becky's letters to her bank manager.

As fun Summer reads go, this is probably the ultimate beach novel. It's fluffy, light and easy to read. McQueen is a good writer who knows her audience and weaves together a tale that'll have you giggling and sighing with frustration in equal doses.

Sadly, I had serious issues with the title character. I loved the idea of her, I thought the faux magazine articles where she imagined herself as rich, beautiful and successful were great (ok, maybe I've done that too...) but she was just a bit too silly for my liking. At one point, I actually threw the book down in disbelief. While there are moments of sheer brilliance and plenty of laugh-out-loud funny lines, I couldn't really feel an affinity for a woman who is so ridiculous she lets herself get carried away to the extent that we see in the novel. It's one thing to daydream, it's another to ignore reality all together.

Rumours suggest that Isabel Bookbinder is set to become a series character, and I must confess, as much as I enjoyed this book for what it was - pure fluff - and could see why people would love it, I'd much rather have more Little Lady instead. Isabel was just a bit too dim and ridiculous for me.

3/5 - So much potential, but Isabel drove me mad!

PS. If you think you can tolerate the silliness, Isabel has a rather lovely website where proof copies are up for grabs. You can also pre-order the novel for £6.99 through Random House.

Posted by Gemma on March 14, 2008 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Rating: 3/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 26, 2008 11:11 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Good Vibrations by Ayn Carrillo

Ayn Carrillo's Good Vibrations has been on my shelf for a little while, but I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. First there's the title. Then the subtitle - "One good girl's hilarious exploration of all things bad..." Funnily enough, I spotted the US version which is titled Pornology and has a much more sophisticated cover (see it over the cut). The US is often accused of dumbing down (the title of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone being changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone springs immediately to mind), but they're certainly winning in the chick lit cover wars!

Anyway, back to Good Vibrations. When Carrillo's boyfriend accused her of being "pornophobic" she made a list - she really loves making lists - a "Porn to do list" in fact. On the list were items like "meet a porn star", "visit a strip club", "test vibrators", "check out a brothel" and more. Here's a tip: if the previous sentence offended you, you're not going to enjoy this book.

I'm not easily offended and I enjoyed this book. Carrillo has a chatty and easy writing style, in particular she's good at writing about pretty full-on stuff in a lighthearted and informative way. Having said that, even though I'm no prude and am pretty open-minded about most things, there was one bit of the book that quite literally turned my stomach. Chapter 8. Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

As is often the case with memoir, I didn't believe bits of the book, usually bits that were meant to be funny. There's also a relationship with a man Carrillo met in a sex shop running through the book and that didn't ring true either (although, judging by the acknowledgments, the man exists, at least!). Mostly Good Vibrations is an entertaining and informative addition to the sex memoirs that have flooded the market lately. (Ew. Now I've reminded myself of Chapter 8.)

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

Posted by Keris on February 26, 2008 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 30, 2008 1:21 PM

Starlight fountain pen

This Valentine's Day I'm not after flowers, bubbly, or even chocolate. No, I've found something so desirable that the man who purchased it for me would find himself very popular indeed...

It's a Century II Starlight Midnight Blue fountain pen, made by Cross and it costs £67 from Pen Shop. Yes, I'm strictly a keyboard gal and my hand-writing, frankly, makes people wince, but still... It sure is purty.

Related posts: Lovely Penguin pencils | Reading is sexy t-shirt

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 30, 2008 in Bookish products, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Beauty Confidential by Nadine Haobsh

I have to admit, I'm not a big beauty junkie, so I wasn't too excited about Nadine Haobsh's book, Beauty Confidential. I was, however, intrigued by the book's backstory - Nadine was a beauty editor about to start her dream job, when she was outed as the anonymous author of tell-all beauty blog, Jolie in NYC. The dream job offer was retracted ... after Nadine had left her current job. Fortunately, Jolie in NYC's popularity was such that Nadine got a book deal, plus the site is still going strong (although it's no longer anonymous).

Still, the backstory was summed up in a couple of pages and I worried the beauty stuff wouldn't hold my attention. Yep, wrong again. The thing about Beauty Confidential that distinguishes it from the generic beauty pages I flick past every month is Nadine's voice.

She's chatty, funny, down-to-earth and honest. She knows that singing the praises of Nars blush (in Orgasm) isn't going to change the world, but she also knows that if your hair looks good, your day goes better and that's not to be underestimated.

Not only did I fly through this book making mental shopping lists (and vows to spend more than one minute doing my "face"), I've actually referred back to it once or twice since finishing.

From thinking it wasn't a book for me to keeping it on my shelf as an indispensable reference book ... not bad for someone with no interest in the beauty industry. What I'm saying is, if Nadine Haobsh can fire my enthusiasm, she can fire anyone's. And if you're already a beauty junkie? Pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink and enjoy!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon

Posted by Keris on January 30, 2008 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 14, 2007 10:34 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Hopscotch & Handbags by Lucy Mangan

I love Lucy Mangan's columns for The Guardian newspaper, so I was keen to read her first book, Hopscotch & Handbags: The Essential Guide to Being a Girl and it was just as good as I expected.

In her typical hilariously dry style, Mangan looks at all aspects of what it means to be female. From early days at preschool, via senior school's obsessive collecting of stickers, keyrings and erasers (called "rubbers" when we were at school, but not any more), to living with a man (and explaining to him - at exhaustive length - why sausages are not actually a health food), motherhood and more.

Like sex, hair and beauty, exercise and health, friendship, working, and dealing with your mother.

Sometimes (and you'll probably already be aware of this if you've read her columns) Mangan has a tendency to be excessively verbose (she says with excessive, er, verbosity) and occasionally I found myself scanning a little to get to the point, but when I finished the book I still longed for more. Plus at least twice I literally laughed until I cried (once was in public and it was rather embarrassing).

Hopscotch & Handbags is one of those books you'll read out over the phone to your friends. Buy it for every woman you know (although, on second thoughts, maybe not your mum...).

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try How to Bring Up Your Parents by Emma Kennedy or My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary by Rae Earl

Posted by Keris on December 14, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 24, 2007 12:07 PM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 3/5

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

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Romance, Self development | Permalink | Comments (3)

August 23, 2007 11:04 AM

TV NEWS: Gossip Girl

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

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

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

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

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

[Via Catwalk Queen].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 23, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 21, 2007 3:11 PM

BOOK NEWS: The Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan

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

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

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

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

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 14, 2007 5:10 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Men! by Isabel Losada

Isabel Losada has written non-fiction books on the inner lives of nuns, finding enlightenment and saving the world. (As well as Reasons to be Glad). Her latest release is a little more down-to-earth: ‘Men!’ she exclaims. ‘Where the **** are they?’

She believes there is a national shortage of interesting, available men over the age of 35. For the purposes of the book, her definition of an interesting man is: ‘One who when you meet them you’d like to have dinner with them and, having had dinner with them you are glad that you had dinner with them and would like to see them again.’ Available means emotionally available as well as single (and married men who tell women they’re separated don’t count!) The interesting, available man should also have travelled, be independent and free from addictions and other emotional problems. Is such a man so elusive? The evidence of her own love life and those of her friends suggests he is, so Losada embarks on a nine-month quest to find out where all the interesting and available men are, and to net one for herself in the process, if she can...

To find out where the eligible men are hiding, Losada visits some all-male environments on our behalf. She attends a Harley Davidson ‘ride out’ and a weekend plumbing course before spending two weeks working as the only woman on a building site. Dispiritingly, she finds that men are often quite literally hiding from women as they prefer to spend leisure time in the company of other men. The motorbike club is mostly a chance for men to drink copiously and tell sexist and homophobic jokes. The plumbing course is not set up for women although Losada copes admirably well and the building site workers treat her as one of them (after some initiation rituals) but their views on life and love are enlightening in all the wrong ways.

So Losada vows to try more new things. She attends lectures all over London, learns to drive a motorbike and goes on a diving holiday in Egypt. She also falls for two men, neither of whom is technically ‘available’…  She’s endearingly open and frank about her romantic missteps, admitting that getting over one of these men is so hard that she wouldn’t be interested in a new relationship anyway – so her experiment is flawed on a personal level. At the end of the quest, Losada confirms her hypothesis: as she suspected, there is a lack of interesting, available men for independent, intelligent women over 35. Our author claims she was hoping to be proved wrong but the words ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’ don’t seem out of place here - throughout the book it’s more apparent that she wants to prove herself right.

However she does have suggestions for changing the situation she says she has uncovered. First, women seeking men should take a new approach: ‘Doing radical and exciting things with our lives is one solution’, and something that is never a bad idea! Losada also encourages us to look at the bigger picture, postulating that the reason so many marriages are unhappy is that people lack the courage to be honest with each other and to leave without fear of recrimination when a relationship is no longer working. If more people were honest when a relationship stops working, this would mean more available men let loose.

The author claims she’s not scared to be a single woman forever if she can’t find Mr Right. But her vision of ageing single women, though (I hope) tongue in cheek, is offensive and lazy: ‘I have so many wonderful female friends… we could all move into a house together that would become a glorious celebration of being old batty females. We’d all have to wear purple. And have lots of cats… pretend to be witches and have big bonfires and make strange sounds to frighten the local schoolchildren.’ If that’s what happens to single women of a certain age it’s no wonder Losada wants a man!

At times I couldn’t help having the un-sisterly thought that perhaps her standards are too high. If a man has different views to her, she’s not interested. If he enjoys spectator sports, she’s not interested. And yet she falls for two unavailable men in the space of nine months. Wouldn’t a football fan have been better?

Also, although she talks repeatedly about not needing a man she frequently presents being alone as the third-rate option. During her research mission, Losada goes on her first dive and absolutely loves it. She comments that it’s a shame she’s on her own as it would be ideal to share the experience with a partner or friend. Is an experience only worth having if you’re with someone else?

Although intelligently-written and well-considered with a spiritual angle not often found in books about love, ‘Men!’ isn’t as new and subversive as it wants to be. It is after all another book about how women can find men (isn’t it time they found us for a change?!) While part of me found it sad that a vibrant, intelligent and (not that it should matter, but it probably does) attractive woman like Isabel Losada finds it so hard to find a lasting relationship, a larger part of me thought, ‘So?’

Still, I found the author charming and frank and her look at love has more depth than other books of its ilk.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Dating Amy by Amy DeZellar.

Read this review in full at The F Word.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 14, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance, Self development | Permalink | Comments (4)

August 13, 2007 6:52 PM

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Dear Holly

A couple of months ago, Keris told us about Holly Shumas's new book debut, Five Things I Can't Live Without. She'll be reviewing it soon, but in the meantime you might like to take a look at the author's excellent web site, which includes an interactive advice section, Dear Holly. Follow that link for questions from readers and answers from Holly herself on all manner of dating dilemmas.

Why don't more authors do this? I'd love Marian Keyes's advice on skincare and Sophie Kinsella's tips on shoe shopping...

Which author would you most like a Q & A with, and on what topic?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Romance, Sophie Kinsella | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 8, 2007 11:20 AM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

It's a while since we've polled your opinions on a particular book rather than a hot topic in publishing, so today it's time to redress the balance.

Today I'm asking what you thought of Sophie Kinsella's latest, Shopaholic and Baby. Did you enjoy it, or have you had enough Becky spin-offs?

And if you haven't read it (yet) - do you want to? Why/why not? Tell us:

Is it a Yay or a Nay, and why?

Yay or Nay archives.

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

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 8, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Romance, Series, Sophie Kinsella | Permalink | Comments (11)

July 27, 2007 4:30 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Rumour Has It

A chick flick based on a film that was based on a novel (are you still with me?) Rumour Has It takes the idea that the events of The Graduate really happened and are based on Sarah (Jennifer Aniston)'s family, something she only discovers shortly before she's due to get married to fiance Jeff (the lovely Mark Ruffalo) and which sends her into a tailspin. Because if the events of that book/film are true, then her dad isn't her real father, and she has to find the man who is...

The savaging this got from some critics lead me to believe this was going to be a total piece of trash, but it was actually a nice surprise. It might not hold up twenty years from now but I found it fun, engaging, a little silly perhaps, but I loved the conceit of the film and especially enjoyed Shirley McClaine's performance. I think Aniston is a great comic actress and this isn't great film, but it's far from a bad one. Enjoy!

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 27, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (1)

Is The Great Big Glorious Book for Girls... an insult to women's intelligence?

In The Guardian books blog, writer Melissa McClements despairs of a new book, The Great Big Glorious Book for Girls, which apparently is (according to the book's website): "... an irresistible celebration of girlhood, exquisitely illustrated, deliciously packaged and packed with exciting things to keep every girl, from eight to 80, entertained throughout the years ... It will take women back to a time when we made cup cakes with our grandmothers and a campfire with our friends, we played hopscotch, and domestic crafts were celebrated."

But are books like this undoing the good work of feminism by encouraging women and men to adopt stereotypical gender roles? Or should the liberated woman bake if she wants to? Is it patronising to have a book for 'girls' rather than 'women' and is it even more patronising to assume we all like the same traditional pursuits?

Also... is it wrong that I became very excited when I saw the website contains instructions on doing a proper french plait? (Finally!)

Related: Gloria Steinem on chick lit.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 27, 2007 in Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 26, 2007 9:05 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Queen of Broken Hearts by Cassandra King

Reviewed by Diane Johnston of Corrieblog...

Dr. Clare Ballenger is a divorce coach, helping women cope with the loss of a crumbled marraige, guiding them to start afresh and let go of the past. The only problem is, she's still recovering from a more tragic loss herself.

And she has a second chance at love with not just one man but two - but will she be able to let go of the past and move on? Can the doctor heal herself?

I've never read any of Cassandra King's work before so I opened Queen of Broken Hearts without any preconceptions. I was pleased to discover that the main character, Dr. Clare Ballenger, her best friend Dory Rogers, and both of Clare's potential lovers are my age (late 40s) or older. It's nice when you can identify with the people you meet in books. I, too, have been divorced so I can relate to that aspect of the story as well.

The book takes place in Alabama and is filled with colourful peripheral characters. The narrative is in the first person present most of the time, except when Clare takes the reader back to fill in some of the blanks that she constantly opens up. Some she fills in straight away and some take a while but be patient, they will get filled in eventually. I did find that a bit disconcerting, being left hanging at times wondering what she meant when she hinted at something that happened the previous summer or even years before.

There is a romance threading its bumpy way through the book, with all the ups and downs you might expect. The ups and downs do not include juicy sex scenes, so if you're looking for that, look the other way. In this case, the story doesn't really need it because it's not about that. It's about women rediscovering themselves as they approach middle age after their lives change completely and often traumatically. It's about women supporting each other and it's about friendship and love in all the best ways. I'm rating it a little less than perfect, though, because I did find the author's style of leaving you wondering about those blanks a bit annoying at times even though all the loose ends were tied up at the end.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try How Will I Know? By Sheila O’Flanagan.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 26, 2007 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 23, 2007 11:12 AM

BOOK REVIEW: An Absolute Scandal by Penny Vincenzi

Reviewed by freelance writer and Trashionista fan Hannah Davies...

Coming in at 768 pages in the hardback edition, and set amidst the complex financial dealings of the City in the Eighties, Penny Vincenzi's latest novel An Absolute Scandal seems a daunting prospect. Potential readers should bear in mind, however, that this is less than half the size of War and Peace. More importantly, An Absolute Scandal is a very good read overall.

All the classic Vincenzi ingredients are here: a glittering backdrop of wealth and privilege, a large and diverse cast, some energetic sex and, well, plenty of scandal. An Absolute Scandal introduces the characters as they enjoy the kind of material success that, for some, typifies the early Eighties. As disaster strikes in the form of increasing debt to Lloyds Bank, the families are drawn together by their mutual monetary woes. This device is extremely well-handled: the explanations of the financial complexities are clear and accessible, and never take precedence over the gripping human drama. The plot skips lightly from Alice bands and Ferraris in London to well-heeled Americans in Boston, the savage beauty of the Welsh coastline and the glitzy world of the celebrity hairdresser, yet never loses its hold on the reader.

The main weakness is the sudden promotion of 'feisty' housewife Debbie to prominence during the second third of the novel. Although she is clearly intended to be an 'everywoman' counterbalance to the assorted wealthy Sloanes, her character fails to convince, and her struggle to balance the duties of family with the demands of career flirts at times with tedium.

In addition, after a long and intense build-up, the ending feels rushed and somehow not entirely satisfying. Nevertheless, with its addictive plot and stylish narrative, I'd recommend this as a great holiday read. Even if you feel that it is not quite up to the standard of Penny Vincenzi's previous books, you can always use this hefty tome for impromptu arm-toning exercises by the pool. However, be prepared to take less sarongs and sandals than usual, or you might end up paying excess baggage charges!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Adored by Tilly Bagshawe.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 23, 2007 in American Authors, Bonkbusters, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 20, 2007 10:01 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

We've talked about Anatomy of a Boyfriend before, when the cover was causing a stir in America. I love the design and was very interested to read the book, which wasn't really anything like I expected: I thought it would be Louise Rennison-esque, instead it's more like Judy Blume...

Daria Snadowsky's debut novel is the story of the relationship between 17-year old Dominique and her new boyfriend Wes. Wes is a shy but sweet athletic/writerly type, while Dominique wants to be a doctor - hence the title of the book, she's obsessed with medical textbooks!

We follow the couple from their first meeting, through to their first semester at university, and all the ups and downs and those major 'firsts' that come with a first love...

This very much reminded me of a modern-day Forever (although with a little less um, description). It's certainly not for younger teenagers but the sexual stuff is realistic and appropriate in the context of the story. Easy to read and with some great emotional depth, I just wondered if the teenager's voices were entirely lifelike: Dom is a little immature at times where her best friend Amy sometimes sounds like SATC's Samantha. Also the relationship between Dom and Wes takes a while to get going, and I was a bit frustrated by that!

I did love the two girls' friendship and found the story very moving and well-crafted. It's quite an easy read, but definitely not a facile one. I was sad when I'd finished it and got quite emotionally involved with the characters so I'm definitely looking forward to more books by this new author. (In other words, thank you Luisa for the loan!)

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Good Girls by Laura Ruby.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 20, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 17, 2007 4:22 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Tuesday Erotica Club by Lisa Beth Kovetz

Four women from very different backgrounds form an unlikely writers' alliance in Lisa Beth Kovetz's debut novel, The Tuesday Erotica Club.

All have different jobs at a New York law firm when newly-pregnant Aimee decides to start a weekly writing group, which quickly becomes a weekly erotic writing group. Her friend Brooke is quick to join, as is older associate Margot, who has a reputation for being a bit scary. Secretary Lux is a latecomer to the group and with her distinct lack of writing skills, wildly coloured clothing and hair and tough attitude, isn't a welcome addition.  But she doesn't care. As the group becomes a regular fixture for all four women, all of their lives begin to change in dramatic ways and Aimee, Brooke, Margot and Lux realise they need each other's support more than they ever could have guessed...

As you might suspect from the title, there's a certain amount of erotic writing in the book, as we are treated to the women's creative efforts. It just stops short of being too much, but probably isn't for the squeamish about sex. However, the real plot of the book is about the importance of female friendship and it's a very good, well-crafted read. Unlike some other books I've read recently (e.g. this one), when the chapters alternated viewpoints, I didn't find it hard to keep them separate at all. And all the women became sympathetic characters by the end of the book, even the ones who didn't start out that way!

I just have two slight reservations: I felt that the character of Lux was maybe a little too naive at times, and I felt that maybe we didn't need to read quite so much erotica (I know, the clue was in the title!) - sex may sell, but this book doesn't need any gimmicks to keep readers hooked.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 17, 2007 in American Authors, Bonkbusters, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (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)

FRIDAY FLICK: I Capture the Castle

Based on Dodie Smith's iconic YA/crossover novel about  a romantic teenager with a poor and eccentric aristocratic family who all live in a run-down castle in the 1930s, I Capture the Castle captures the essence of the book brilliantly. The family are struggling to make the rent when two new landlords (Americans!) roll up at the castle.  At first the family are scared they'll be evicted, but before long they've befriended the twenty-something brothers who own their property and our heroine Cassandra and her sister Rose might even want to be more than friends with these interlopers...

17-year old Cassandra is played really well by Romola Garai and I loved Bill Nighy as her reclusive author father. While the film isn't half as charming as the book it's still a good adaptation. Fun, romance, period drama and a touch of betrayal: this film has it all, and if it's not quite a girly classic it's not that far off.

Like this, in that it's also about another poor family: Little Women.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 13, 2007 in British Authors, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Yorkshire Pudding Club by Milly Johnson

The first thing that attracted me to this book was its cover - attractive and conveying a clear 'women's fiction' message without being a pink shoe/butterfly/egg-covered cliche, it's very nice indeed. The second thing that attracted me was the title because like the heroines of this book, I'm from South Yorkshire, so I just had to read it.

The Yorkshire Pudding Club is made up of three women: Janey, Elizabeth and Helen, who have been best friends since school despite having very different backgrounds. When Helen makes them accompany her to an ancient fertility symbol in the hopes she'll fall pregnant, little do the women realise that before long all three of them will have buns in their metaphorical ovens..

But none of their pregnancies will be smooth sailing...

One of the most frustrating things about this book was how long it took to get going. It took about 100 pages for all the women to cop on about their upcoming bundles of joy ('Hmm, I wonder why I'm so tired, and my breasts are swollen and do you know I haven't had a period...' sort of thing)which was annoying and totally lacking in suspense as it's clear from the cover that all 3 women are going to have babies. I was also annoyed by the self-consciously 'Northern' nature of some of the dialogue - it got bit too "ee by gum" salt-of-the-earth stereotypical at times. More importantly, the story constantly switches perspective and I kept finding it hard to keep Janey and Elizabeth's voices separate - they were very similar.

But it wasn't all bad by any means. I found the last third of the book became more exciting and less predictable, and things ended just as I'd have liked. I also loved the support the women gave each other and think this could be a comforting/consoling read for first-time mums.

A good read but not a great one - losing about 100 pages might have helped.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 13, 2007 in British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 11, 2007 4:21 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Last week, the film and literary worlds were all-a-flutter with the news that Sex and the City is to be made into a movie - after years and years of rumours and speculation it is (apparently) really going to happen. I guess Kim Cattrall decided to just grit her teeth and make nice with SJP... or something. (I'm just speculating, that's not libel!) Anyhoo, what I want to know this week is whether you think it's a good idea.

Should a good thing be left well enough alone? Or are you chomping at the bit to find out what happened next for Carrie and co.? Do TV series ever make good films - if not, will this be the exception? And if you are keen on the idea, what should happen next? (Hey, you never know who might be reading!)

In other words: SATC - the movie: is it a Yay or a Nay, and why?

Yay or Nay archives.

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

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Television, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (8)

BOOK REVIEW: A Dangerous Dress by Julia Holden

First of all, can I just say how much I love the cover of Julia Holden's debut novel, A Dangerous Dress? It perfectly captures the mood of the book (and of the dress that's the star of the show). We often compare the US and UK covers, and this is one time when (I think) the UK version is definitely superior. (Here's the original US version - what do you think?)

But what is the book like, you're wanting to know! Well, it's about a dress. Yes, really. Jane is a bored bank worker in the town of Bum****, Indiana (not its real name, but that's what everyone calls it 'cos its so boring). One day, she's contacted out of the blue by a film company who read an essay she wrote in university about the glamorous Parisian gown she found among her late grandmother's belongings. In the essay, she speculated about who might have designed it and where her grandma may have worn it, and talked about its wonderful design.

The film's production crew read her passionate essay and think she's just the person to track down a similar dress for their movie, so Jane packs her bags, hurriedly arranges a passport and catches a plane to Paris to work on a film and follow in her grandmother's footsteps... Love, excitement and glamour await her - or do they?

Well, she certainly has an interesting and exciting time, but it's a bit of a bumpy ride and things don't turn out as Jane expects ( wouldn't make a good book if they did!)

When I think about the plot of this book in retrospect, it seems a little silly but it has a fairytale-like quality that means you have to suspend disbelief as it's fairly unlikely the events of the book would take place in real life and a lot of the plot is based on coincidences and chance. But it's all so charming that I was completely absorbed in the story and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I absolutely raced through it and found Jane a charming, if naive, narrator. (A bit YA-ish if I'm honest). I was a little bit disappointed that the end didn't quite tie up all the loose ends, but a sequel would be great and I'll definitely read more by this talented new author.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Venus Envy by Shannon McKelden.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 11, 2007 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

'Blah' books - let's name and shame!

A friend of mine recently read Robyn Hardyn's Journal of Mortifying Moments.

"It's okay," she said. "Very predictable and not what I was expecting."

I said the exact same thing last year, when I bought the book in the hope that it'd deliver the gossip-fest that the cute, pink and downright appealing cover promised. Did it? No. But that's not to say that it's a BAD book - just... well... not as good as it looks.

I figure 'blah' is the ultimate word to describe books like these. Take another potential scandal-fest - Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl. Judging by the blurb, this title was full of wit - yet in reality, it was completely void of laughs. And, seemingly, an ending. Pity really, as the book had SO much potential to be a laugh-a-minute read.

It was one of those dreary chick-lit efforts which make you want to jump up, grab the nearest Bic, and proclaim that your newest life goal is to write a girly masterpiece ten times better than the yawn-inducing disappointment you just read.

So what becomes of the 'blah' books? The books that have so much potential, but just don't live up to their expectations?

Do you throw it out the window? Use it as a doorstop?

Or are you like me? - I sigh heartily, put it back on the shelf and use it as an example of what NOT do to when I'm writing my own stuff. (And bitch about it on Trashionista. Like, duh.) There are some titles as to which readers have questioned publishers' sanity - Citizen Girl, anyone? - and it drives me round the bend at times to see a really good set-up wasted.

Granted, some authors have it. Some can take a small everyday situation and make it hilarious. Others? Well, we can't all be blessed with the gift of humour.But what about you?

Which books do YOU think you could have written better?

Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on July 11, 2007 in Book related, Girly Stuff, Opinion, Rubbish Books | Permalink | Comments (8)

July 9, 2007 10:30 AM

Megan Crane explains... The Concept of the "Frenemy"

Keris loved Megan Crane's new book, Frenemies... but what exactly is a "frenemy"?

The author explains...

The Concept of The Frenemy

I was suspended somewhere at 35,000 feet, on a flight from New York to Los Angeles, when I decided that I wanted to divorce all my friends. I didn't arrive at this decision lightly. The fact was, I loved my friends. I just kind of wanted to kill them all with my bare hands.

The feeling passed (perhaps it was brought on by the in-flight entertainment, or stale pretzels) but I revisited it many times as I set about writing my third book. The concept of the frenemy was something I had thought about quite a lot over the years. While I imagine men must have them too, I'm not so sure they have the kind of frenemy women do. My friends (yes, the ones I occasionally wanted to legally separate from, because I enjoy complicated relationships) and I had so much experience with various versions of this phenomenon that we gave our frenemies a name long before we heard the term "frenemy" on Sex & the City: that girl.

That girl was the one who, when you were young and didn't know any better, you admired ferociously with that specific female-only blend of anger and envy. Because really it wasn't about whether or not you liked her. You hated her. You wanted to be her. Usually all at the same time.

As you grew older, you realized that the very traits that made her that girl were the traits you identified in women you would never be close to the moment you met them. These women, simply, violated the Girl Code. Maybe they were overly-familiar with someone else's partner. Or they seemed unable to perform even the most basic steps of female intimacy rituals. A normal woman might say, "he's a complete loser" or "what are you talking about, you look hipless in those jeans." That girl was more likely to say things like, "he's not your type at all, he's all about the perfect girl, you know, who dresses well and is a size four" or "the thing about style is that not everyone looks good in the trendiest things."

(Just let them sink in. Ouch, right?)

Some other that girl 'tells': They hung out exclusively with men and were conversant on the latest sports statistics and couldn't believe other girls were so annoying about the sports thing. They failed to understand— or worse, refused to understand— about shoes. They maintained that PMS was a fairy tale and said things like it's all in your head or chocolate is such a myth, you should try a three-mile run. Meanwhile, when it suited them, they could become so helpless and afraid and trembling that they could scarcely make it up a flight of three stairs without the assistance of a big, strong, preferably handsome male.

Men, naturally, failed to see the atrocities committed by such women. "That girl is so cool," they would say. "She's just like one of the guys." Or, "I don't know why you can't be nicer to her, she's just lonely and insecure." Yeah, right. About as lonely and insecure as, say, Angelina Jolie.

I thought the very least I could do, as a sort of penance for secretly wishing to divorce my friends, was to write a book that uncovered the perfidy of that girl.

Which I did, only to make a startling realization. We were all that girl to the women who dislike us. And I suspect that many of us have been a frenemy, too. More often than any of us would like to admit.

Copyright (c) 2007 by Megan Crane. Reprinted by permission of Hachette Book Group USA, New York, NY. All rights reserved.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 9, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 3, 2007 12:49 PM

Discover the New You with Kiss and Makeup's book giveaway!

Not content with giving you books for free here on Trashionista, our sister site Kiss and Makeup is in on the action too: they have 3 copies of beauty bible Discover The New You by Ceril Campbell to give away.

Says KAMU editor Charlotte: "Although beauty junkies will probably know about most of the book's product recommendations, everyone can benefit another of her tips: remember to smile! Those who aren't so handy with a make up brush will appreciate the plethora of information on all aspects of beauty - from applying false lashes to choosing a hairstyle for your face shape."

Sounds good! (Chuck me a copy, someone...)

Click here for details on how to enter.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 3, 2007 in American Authors, Announcements, Book related, Competition, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 2, 2007 11:56 AM

YA star Megan McCafferty invites you to create a trailer

Big fan of (famously plagiarised) YA chick lit author Megan McCafferty?

Why not show your love by entering her contest to make a trailer recapping the plots of the first 3 novels in her famous Jessica Darling series (so that's Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, and Charmed Thirds). The trailer should be 3 minutes or less, and Megan will blog about entries as they come in, before picking her favourite - the creator of which will win a bag full of signed books.

So why not give it a go? - You couldn't possibly do worse than this...

More details and how to enter here. [Via Galleycat].

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on July 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 29, 2007 5:34 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Who doesn't love a bit of Marilyn Monroe on a Friday afternoon? (Or anytime, in fact!?) I know our ed-in-chief Gemma is a big fan (if you ask nicely she might show you the pics of her dressed as Lorelei, Marilyn's character in this film... or she might not! Sorry, Gemma...)

Anyway! In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn and Jane Russell (Dorothy, the sensible brunette - of course) go on a cruise to have fun and meet men, and succeed in doing both, though not without the odd scrape along the way, and of course, they have to sing as they go...

It's not the best movie starring either of these iconic actresses, but it is a bit of fun, and based on Anita Loos's cult classic novel. It also features "Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend", a number that's dazzling in more ways than one... (and was the inspiration for Madonna's Material Girl video, of course).

Carry on over the cut for a clip!

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Cult classic week, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fabulous Little Black Dress competition!

Not only is it cult classic week, not only is it a year since Keris and I started at Trashionista, it's a year since the fabulous chick lit publishing imprint Little Black Dress came into existence! Such perfect synchronicity warrants a giveaway don't you think?

We do, too! That's why the lovely kind people at Little Black Dress are offering four Trashionista readers a wonderful prize: four readers will win a selection of five LBD titles.

It's a mystery (ooh!) what you'll receive, but LBD books that we've loved include The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, Singletini , Pick Me Up and The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom, so we're sure there'll be something you'll enjoy.

To enter, simply email us the answer to this question: name one of the Little Black Dress books that we've loved. Put LBD in the subject line, and your name and address in the body of the email. Again, I'm afraid this is UK only. Good luck!

And don't forget our Bridget Jones's Diary giveaway too - she's been around a while, but she's still VERY worth (re)reading!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 29, 2007 in American Authors, British Authors, Competition, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 27, 2007 5:50 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

You may have heard of this one... can anyone reading Trashionista not have read this book (if so, why?)

Although Marian Keyes's Watermelon was technically the first chick-lit book, Bridget Jones's Diary (BJD) started as a column in the Independent a year before Watermelon was published. Helen Fielding's modern (cult) classic captured the zeitgeist of a generation, introducing us to Mark Darcy, Daniel Cleaver, Una Alconbury, the concept of f***wittage and the importance of Chardonnay.

Plus it introduced us to one of the literary heroine of the nineties: Miss Bridget Jones...

In case you don't know the storyline, a quick reminder: Bridget Jones keeps a diary of her year, which starts with her being introduced to a snobbish man she instantly hates, Mark Darcy, progresses via disastrous dinner dates, job humiliations and bad boyfriends like Daniel Cleaver until she ends up with the man who was right for her all along...

I re-read the book for this review, so I could give it a fair rating and check that nostalgia hadn't made me remember it as better than it was. Not only was it at least as good as I'd remembered, it's actually got better with time: the cultural references may not be as relevant, but Bridget's insecurities and observations may be even truer now than back when this was published. (Women seem to go to even greater lengths to try to please men, for a start...) None of us know what classic s will still be in print (if we still have print books) in a hundred years time. But BJD definitely deserves to be one of them. It's a cult and a classic.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 27, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Cult classic week, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

What Bridget Jones taught us...

To whet your appetite for my review of Bridget Jones's Diary and a very special cult classic week competition, I thought I'd share: What I learned from Bridget Jones.

Here's just a few of the lessons the cult heroine shared with us. From her failures, we all can learn...

That mini-breaks are the height of romance/the ultimate test for a relationship.

Never to take fancy dress invitations too literally.

The older generation conducts extra-marital affairs via department store coffee shops.

Never wrap meat in blue string.

Always check for post under the interior doormat.

1471 is not your friend.

Lotto scratch cards, smoothies, cigarettes, mini pizzas and alcohol can all be extremely addictive...

The man called Darcy is always the hero.

Are there any  I've missed?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 27, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Cult classic week, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 22, 2007 12:24 PM

Jen Lancaster launches Mamapop's book club

I know, I can't seem to shut up about Jen Lancaster or Mamapop lately (maybe next week...?) but this I had to share: Jen Lancaster, Mamapop.com's resident author/avid reader, has just launched their book club with the inaugural (little political pun intended!) read: The Washingtonienne, Jessica Cutler's infamous blook.

If I wasn't on a book buying ban (I've got too many!), I'd be tempted to join in myself... Perhaps it's a choice for you if Richard and Judy's picks for this summer don't appeal?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 22, 2007 in American Authors, Bonkbusters, Book Websites, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 15, 2007 2:22 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: The First Wives' Club

An oldie (ish) but a classic (ish). Three great older (ish - OK, I'll stop!) actresses, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn starred in this divorced women's call-to-arms way back in 1996. The three play wives who've all been dumped for younger women (one of whom is played by Sarah Jessica Parker) and vow to take revenge. So they form The First Wives Club.

"Don't get mad, get everything!" is their motto and they set out to do just that. This film is frivoulous and fun as long as you don't take it too seriously or expect too much. The women would probably be better off getting on with their lives and not seeing themselves as victims, but I guess their anger is justified and writing this was probably very cathartic for the sadly now-departed Olivia Goldsmith, who based the book from which this came on her own experiences.

Ouch.

Like this, in more ways than one: Heartburn.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

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)

BOOK REVIEW: The Big Fat Bitch Book For Girls by Kate Figes

This week, I read The Big Fat Bitch Book For Girls... or did I read The Big Fat Bitch Book for Grown-Up Girls? Yes, this is one of those confusing, split-in-half books that you turn upside down halfway through: one side is aimed at teenage girls, the other at women. And that's not the only confusing aspect of this book (but more on that later)...

The Big Fat Bitch Book... is an interesting and worthwhile idea: it's a look at the history of bitching in life and on the big and small screens as well as an exploration of the role of bitching in women's lives. Is it an important bonding experience - or a form of bullying that hurts far more than physical aggression? Kate Figes shows that bitching can be both.

Back to the confusion thing, though - the book is an odd mix of iconic bitchy quotes from stars like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford (those legendary feuders!) and films like Mean Girls and Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf... mixed in with devastating stories of the effect truly bitchy behaviour can have on girls' and women's self esteem. This would have been better as a study of bitchery which asked us all to be a bit nicer or as a book for teenage girls (or their mothers) about how to cope with bullying bitching. OR it could have been devoted to good-natured bitching without delving into the darker side. It's hard to read about a fifteen year-old who self harms because of the bitchy remarks of girls at school and then to laugh about Katharine Hepburn slagging off Shirley Temple, for example. It seems like Kate Figes's argument is enjoy bitching... but not too much. It's a confusing message. If your moral argument is we all need to think more about what we say, don't then glorify hurtful remarks, however iconic.

I also didn't like the two books in one deal - I think it meant some of the material was repeated and while it's a fun gimmick, again, it meant the book wasn't very (my watchword of the week!) cohesive.

While I may seem very criticial, I did for the most part enjoy this book, even as I found its messages more than mixed. (But I mean that in the kindest possible way...)

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Watching the English by Kate Fox

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 14, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Opinion, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Judy Blume

Continuing with both the Judy Blume theme and the kids's writers theme of the last week or so, it's about time we honoured Judy Blume as a true Trailblazer. A revolutionary author for children and teenagers, Blume began tackling subjects no-one wants to talk to their parents about as far back as the early 1970s.

Taking on such taboos as religion, periods, masturbation, sex, bullying and even the Holocaust, Blume had all teenagers' concerns covered and managed to write books which covered serious topics in a reassuring way whilst making the plot and characters more important than the 'message'.

Her iconic book Forever, an honest (somewhat explicit) novel about a couple's first sexual relationship, taught generations of girls and boys what to expect from their 'first time' without either scaring kids off or glorifying sex... quite a feat. Her books are well-written and always go beyond the topics they cover to create realistic people with feelings young adults can relate to. It's that, rather than any sensational reading material, that keeps generations coming back to Blume.

Unfortunately, some adults can't see beyond depictions of subjects they're uncomfortable with, and Blume's books are often banned from school and even public libraries. But her readers appreciate her, as do The National Book award people: in 2004 they gave her Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

Trailblazer archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 14, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Thursday Trailblazer, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 11, 2007 3:58 PM

What's your "Judy Blume moment of truth"?

In honour of the release of the fabby-looking Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, Beth Kendrick of  The Literary Chicks.com is asking the above question. (Your moment might be that "that all the really cute, sporty boys preferred your busty, bubbly best friend to you, just because you were a freakishly flat-chested introvert who preferred Sylvia Plath to Seventeen,"  says Kendrick). Read more here.

Did you grow up with Judy Blume? I loved Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself and Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. Blume created teenage characters with real concerns that girls could relate (and sometimes aspire) to...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 8, 2007 1:58 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Art of Undressing by Stephanie Lehmann

After really enjoying You Could Do Better, I was looking forward to Stephanie Lehmann's new book, The Art of Undressing. Except it's not a new book at all! First released in the UK in March this year, The Art... was actually written in 2005. (Those sneaky publishers!) Anyway, the fact that this is a slightly older book might be why I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I hoped I would.

It's about Ginger, a 25-year-old trainee chef who has always felt overshadowed by her mum Coco, a former stripper who now teaches the art of seduction... with Ginger as her mortified assistant. Ginger has a lot on her plate (ha! no pun intended): her sulky teenage stepsister and cold father are still reeling from the death of Ginger's stepmother, who was more of a maternal figure to Ginger than Coco has ever been. Plus Ginger's boyfriend Ian treats her badly, but when she dumps him and tries to seduce Tom, the hottest man at chef school, she doesn't have much luck there either. Does she need to cast off her sneakers and chef's whites and learn to be sexy just like mommy?

That's what the novel can't seem to decide: whether Ginger should conform more to society's expectations of sexually available young women, or whether she should stay true to herself. Whether she's repressed and uptight, or just her own person, with different morals to her mother. At the end of the book, we're left with the tentative feeling that Ginger is starting to relax and be more true to herself without being all uptight about it, but I think the novel tries to please both those people who think stripping is just a bit of fun, and those who find it exploitative. In the end, it doesn't quite please either. And although Tom had his moments of charm, I didn't think he was good enough for Ginger!

I do like Stephanie Lehman's style of writing, she combines real emotion with a fast-paced story, and had clearly done her research on the stripping 'industry' and the food one. The most realistic moments of the book were those which focused on Ginger's complicated family dynamic. Having a "blended family" myself, I thought she portrayed that particularly well.

But I never felt Ginger really learned to feel good about herself, as her own person, and that was disappointing.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Marsha Mellow and Me by Maria Beaumont.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 7, 2007 7:03 PM

BOOK NEWS: Shoe Addicts Anonymous

Simultaneously playing into every chick lit stereotype (pink cover, shoe-theme, gang of girly mates? check, check check!) and yet at the same time looking like a dang good read, Shoe Addicts Anonymous is a new book by Beth Harbison about well, yes, a group of shoe-loving gals.

But those gals happen to be "the wife of a controlling politician, a debt-ridden eBay addict, an agoraphobic phone sex operator, and a nanny for the family from hell". Which is a bit different, you must admit! More about the book here and read an excerpt here. [Via EarlyInk.com]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 7, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (3)

June 5, 2007 11:40 AM

Follow fashion at GFWlive.com!

We like a fashion-themed read as much as the next girl: from The Devil Wears Prada to Divas Don't Knit - clothes, chick lit and the fashion industry share a special bond, which may be why Trashionista's ed-in-chief Gemma Cartwright is also a fashion maven.

For the rest of this week, you can follow Gemma, Kim and the Catwalk Queen gang's take on Graduate Fashion Week at a specially-dedicated blog, GFWlive.com.

If you want to know what kind of clothes we'll all be wearing (and most likely, reading about) next season then head on over for all the gossip!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on June 5, 2007 in Announcements, Devil Wears Prada, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 31, 2007 2:03 PM

PREVIEW REVIEW: The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer

Out on 21 June, The Sleeping Beauty Proposal is Sarah Strohmeyer's second fairytale-themed fiction, following The Cinderella Pact.

Despite its name, The Sleeping Beauty Proposal is a modern-day story about Genie Michaels, who has been dating university professor and newly successful author Hugh for four years. So when he proposes to her live on TV during a talk show interview, she's amazed but gratified, and can't wait to start planning her wedding. Until... she rings Hugh and he says he's sorry, he was proposing to the love of his life: but not to Genie.

So Genie's best friend  Patty comes up with a plan: as Hugh goes back to his native England to promote his book (with his new fiancee in tow), Genie will just pretend that he did propose to her after all. It's full steam ahead to a wedding that may or may not have a groom...

I love the concept of this novel: although it may sound a bit silly, Strohmeyer pulls it off. She also has lots of interesting points to make about the inferior way single women are treated in modern society and the way an engagement ring can open doors - even if its a cubic zirconia one you bought for yourself! (But then again, her characters seem to still want to get married rather than buck the system and be unconventional).

It was a little obvious how the book would end, but there were enough surprises along the way to keep it interesting. It made me a bit anxious to think what would happen when everyone found out the engagement was fake so I'm not sure how realistic it was that Genie would have been able to keep up the charade, but I guess truth is stranger than fiction and this is a fairytale, albeit a modern one... But why does the villain always have to be an Englishman?!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try London is the Best City in America by Laura Dave.

More wedding related gossip and news over at our sister site Bridalwave.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 31, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 30, 2007 3:30 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Joanna Barrett

Joanna Barrett's The Men's Guide To The Women's Bathroom is a great read, out now in the US and in the UK with Little Black Dress. A witty romp through ladies' bathroom secrets, it has generated a huge amount of buzz, and will be made into a movie by Hugh Jackman's production team. So without further ado, here's what Joanna had to say when we grabbed her for a chat...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

The Men’s Guide to the Women’s Bathroom reveals the secrets behind the door marked “Women.”    

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

I write everywhere!  In fact, I’m answering these questions right now in the waiting room of my dentist’s office!  (Hey, if he’s going to make me wait, I may as well get some work done!) I think Tolstoy wrote War and Peace while waiting for the dentist. 

While in the midst of a novel, I sit in front of my computer in a bathrobe.  I often do not shower nor wash my hair.  I eat takeout and stare into the refrigerator abyss for something sweet.  I tend to ignore the phone and any semblance of a social life.  It’s a lonely time.  When I finish, I like to hear the hum of the printer as it prints out all those pages.  Such a comforting feeling, indeed.  P.S.  Is this too much information? [Not at all! I know the feeling... - Diane] 

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Pride and Prejudice, of course! 

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

I like writing about women with moxie. I loved former Texas Governor Ann Richards. She was a larger than life character. She’s probably the only person in the world who could get away with telling George W. Bush that he was “Born with a silver foot in his mouth.”

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

It helps to heed the old adage “Write what you know.” Why waste time inventing a story when your story is right in front of you? Of course, the most important part of writing is to put it down on paper. It’s only an idea until it becomes words on a page! I think the best book on the subject is On Writing, by Stephen King. [I do too - Diane]

What are you reading at the moment?

I try to read a book per week. This keeps words flowing through my head in order to make my own writing better. One of my favorite books is A Widow for One Year, by John Irving.

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

My second novel [Killing Carlton] is due out on Valentines Day, 2008. Its heroine, Madeline Piatro, is in a relationship with a beautiful and yet very bad man. When this man breaks her heart and steals her business idea, she hires a loveable mob hit man to get revenge. And what woman doesn’t secretly yearn to do this!

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

(I’ve never been asked this question!) That is…I’ve never been asked the question of what I’ve never been asked. Ha! Get it!

Actually, I wish someone would ask me whether I collect real-life stories to use in my novels. I have a good answer for this: yes! While writing The Men’s Guide to the Women’s Bathroom, I used some phenomenal quotes I overheard in women’s bathrooms. Please email me at jobarrett@jobarrettbooks.com if you have a fantastic bathroom story of your own!

And check out Joanna's website at jobarrettbooks.com. Thanks Joanna!

Interview archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 30, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, Movie News, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 28, 2007 8:25 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Girls' Almanac by Emily Franklin

Emily Franklin's The Girls' Almanac covers relationships, fertility problems, betrayals, illness, death and, ultimately, friendships: how they are formed and why they last. Following the intertwining lives of Jenna and Lucy, two women who eventually become best friends, we are taken on a tour of how people’s lives cross and what brings them together. The book is written in an unusual format. It’s not linear, instead we get a snippet here and a snippet there told in a series of short stories. First up is Lucy as she comes to terms with the death of her fiance and her mother’s second marriage. The second story is also about Lucy but this time she is a young girl with a friend called Alex. Next comes Gabrielle and Andrea, both as young girls, then Gabrielle pops up two stories later as a doctor in Bogota.

There are so many stories and time frames the characters are hard to keep up with (there’s a chart at the beginning of the book just in case the reader loses track). No sooner have we met and been given the background of a character than that story ends and we hear no more about them, which gave me the impression that the book was imparting facts rather than telling a story. Some stories were interesting but there were some I just didn’t see the point of. Unfortunately the second was one of them, which didn’t bode well for the rest of the book.

It has been said that some short stories are a slice of life but the detached way in which these stories were told left me unemotional about the characters and not really concerned about how or why their lives intertwined. [Nicola Pedley]

Rating: 2 out of 5

Like this? Try The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 28, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 2/5, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 23, 2007 3:26 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Summer At Tiffany by Marjorie Hart

Honestly, it's some time since I've been as excited about a book as I was about Summer at Tiffany. New York? The forties? That cover? 83-year-old Marjorie Hart's memoir of the 1945 summer she spent working for the famous and glamorous store almost seemed as if it was designed with me in mind.

Along with her college friend Marty, Marjorie got a job as a Page at Tiffany, making the two of them the first women to work on the shop floor. Customers included Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich and the job was wonderful, but poorly paid. Marjorie and Marty shared an apartment, which was used as a weekend city base for their other college friends as they enjoyed New York's sights and nightlife.

I loved this book just as much as I thought I would. Adriana Trigiani's comment on the cover, "Charming and delicious..." is spot on (and Trigiani's novel of working in a department store in '50s New York, Lucia Lucia, is equally charming and delicious). I loved all the details: joining two million people in Times Square to read the announcement of Victory in Japan, lunch from the Automat (which you may remember from That Touch of Mink), getting sunburned at the beach...

It seems like another (and despite the war, much more civilised) world. Summer of Tiffany is a book I can see myself rereading when modern life gets to be just too much.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Lucia Lucia by Adriana Trigiani

Posted by Keris on May 23, 2007 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

May 21, 2007 11:38 AM

BOOK NEWS: Courtney Thorne-Smith's 'Outside In'

Yesterday, I caught a few minutes of an old Ally McBeal and was feeling all nostalgic for the time when I watched the show (the early seasons, when it was actually good...)

Anyway!, it reminded me of something I'd read back in November and failed to blog about then (not the first time we've been tardy I'm afraid!): Courtney Thorne-Smith, who played Ally's love-rival Georgia on the show, is the latest actress to turn author, having written a 'comedic' (chick-lit?) novel, Outside In, which will be released (in the US at least) this September.

[Via Galleycat].

Related: Celebrity authors archives | More TV news and gossip over at TV Scoop.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Celebrity Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 18, 2007 10:55 AM

Great books bracelets

If you're book mad (which I imagine you are), how d'you fancy a book charm bracelet?

Each bracelet features the six titles: Pride and Prejudice, Moby Dick, Huckleberry Finn, The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, and War and Peace so you'll look intelligent as well as stylish. Possibly. They cost $54.95 from Signals.

Related posts: Reading Is Sexy T-shirt | Bookish MP3 player cases | Nancy Drew stationery

Posted by Keris on May 18, 2007 in Book related, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (4)

May 16, 2007 11:02 AM

BOOK REVIEW: How To Be A Budget Fashionista by Kathryn Finney

I’m no fashionista, budget or otherwise. I can’t stand most of my clothes, have no idea what suits me and can never find anything to fit, so I wouldn’t have bothered reading this book if I hadn’t been reviewing it ... and that would have been a big mistake.

How to be a Budget Fashionista is full of good, common-sense and practical advice about finding your style, streamlining your wardrobe, shopping for new clothes and getting rid of old. It’s aimed at an American audience and so many of the links to shops, references to discounts and coupons are no good to anyone outside the US, but there is plenty of other information that Brits - or anyone interested in fashion or interested in becoming interested in fashion - can make good use of.

With chapters on budgeting (of course),finding your own personal style (this was a great one for me) and everything from undergarments to accessories, outlet stores to department stores, this book will arm you with everything you need to create both a basic wardrobe and a signature style and build on it as time goes on.

I’ll certainly be using its tips as I scrap the entire contents of my wardrobe (well, I say wardrobe, most of my clothes live in a pile in the corner of the room) and start from scratch, but even if you’re an established fashionista there should still be plenty here for you too.

How to be a Budget Fashionista manages to be practical and personable without being at all patronising. Recommended. (As is Finney's website, The Budget Fashionista.)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon

Posted by Aigua Media on May 16, 2007 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

May 15, 2007 6:47 PM

Chick lit on TV Scoop

We love rambling on about chick lit, as you know, and today I'm rambling providing a useful and insightful summary of the latest chick lit TV projects over on TV Scoop.

So if you've missed any TV news over the last couple of months, this will catch you up!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 11, 2007 12:18 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Based on Truman Capote's legendary novel (which I liked far more than I thought I would having fallen in love with the film years ago), Breakfast at Tiffany's is the story of Holly Golightly, the most iconic of all Audrey Hepburn's film roles. Holly is flighty and mysterious, a naive party girl prone to getting caught up with a bad crowd. When she moves into the apartment building of George Peppard's Paul, he feels himself magnetically drawn to her - so much so that he might even be willing to give up his own questionable lifestyle and fall in love with her... if she'll have him.

If you haven't seen this film yet, why the HECK not? It's a classic, the ultimate chick flick! Audrey is breathtaking.

Just ignore Mickey Rooney's racist portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi (please).

*DID YOU KNOW?* BaT was directed by Blake Edwards, who is married to Julie Andrews.

Like this - 'cos it's another girly classic: Fried Green Tomatoes.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 8, 2007 10:42 AM

See some stylish book reviews over on Catwalk Queen

I say 'see' rather than 'read' because lovely CQ editor Kim and her (and our) ed-in-chief Gemma have made a video in which they review some fashionable releases.

The books include The Goddess Guide and The Cheap Date Guide to Style and you'll have to watch it to see what they think.

I'm just glad no-one's asked me to make a video yet...

Fashion Lit archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 8, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction, Technology | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 2, 2007 6:07 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Marian Keyes *squeal!*

I wish you could have heard the screams of excitement at Trashionista HQ this time last week when we realised we had our MOST EXCITING INTERVIEW EVER! in the bag. Yes, it's really true! We've hinted, we've teased, we've reviewed her books and talked about her on and on... and now, she's really, really here talking exclusively to you, our lovely Trashionista readers:  It's Marian Keyes, the Queen of chick lit.

Enjoy...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Anybody Out There (that’s three words gone already) is a comedy about serious issues and cosmetics (mind you, nothing frivolous about cosmetics!)

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

In bed. I would never, ever get up unless I really have to. My husband comes in every few hours and turns me so that I don’t get bedsores.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

There are so many great books, so I’ll go back to the beginning (for me), and say any of the early Jilly Coopers (not that there’s anything wrong with the later ones, but maybe they’re not chick lit).

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

Robyn Hudson in the books by Sparkle Hayter – she’s intelligent, independent, feisty, sweet – she’s the woman I want to be when I grow up.

Carry on over the cut for more from Marian, including some very useful tips for wannabe writers, and news on her next novel...

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

Firstly, stop talking about it and start writing it – word by word.

Formally set aside time to write – respect your book enough not to try to fit it in, in bitty gaps, around the rest of your life. Better still, try to write at the same time every day – this seems to trigger the subconscious into readiness.

Don’t be surprised if your first efforts are shockingly bad – indeed, expect to marvel at the gap between what you want to say in your head and how it appears on the page. But persevere; chances are it will improve.

Beware of setting yourself up as the ‘new’ Sophie Kinsella or the ‘new’ someone else: it’s always cringingly obvious. Instead write in your own unique voice and be proud of it.

Write what you know – and if you don’t know it, be prepared to research it.

Finally – enjoy it! If you enjoy writing it, chances are that people will enjoy reading it.

What are you reading at the moment?

As a judge on the Orange Prize, I’ve been concentrating on those books for the last few months.

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

It’s provisionally called This Charming Man, and is of course a comedy – this time about domestic violence among other things. I’ve been writing it for eighteen months now, which means, I hope, that it’s near the end. I guess it’ll be published in the first half of next year.

Sounds fantastic! Thank you, Marian!

*And massive thanks to friend of Trashionista Clare Allan, email address passer-alonger extraordinaire! *

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 2, 2007 in Book News, Book related, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (4)

GUEST BLOG: Sandi (Kahn) Shelton

Sandi Shelton is the author of the brilliant A Piece of Normal (look out for a review in a day or two), and is here today as part of her virtual book tour. She's written a guest blog for us on a subject close to many readers' hearts: sisters.

Writes Sandi...

It’s a funny thing about sisters. Doesn’t it seem to you that there’s always one who is oh-so-together and who knows everything about The Right Way to Do Things--eating healthy, making good choices, sending birthday cards to the aunties on time and all of that, and then there’s the other one who’s—well, maybe not so much?

It’s this other sister who’s the hell-raising, spontaneous one, the one with all the cute but dangerous boyfriends. She’s the one for whom the phone rings and the boys’ cars line up outside the house, growling and purring. And she’s always in some kind of trouble.

Full disclosure here: I was the Together sister.

My little sister staked out the reckless territory early on.

When she was three years old, she did a breathtaking thing: she tore up a layered, exquisite organdy dress that our mother had spent 47,348 hours sewing for her. Her reason: “It was scratchy and I didn’t like it.”

High school was just what you might think. The principal had my mother’s number on speed-dial. And if my parents left the house for longer than an hour and a half, forget it. My sister threw parties in which the fun was seeing who could jump off the roof into our swimming pool the most times while holding a beer bottle. Meanwhile, I was the kid with the nerdy boyfriend and the babysitting jobs and the savings fund for college. That’s me, practicing telling a lie to my mother in the mirror: “No, no. I really was at the library. They kept it open until midnight tonight! They did!” She never believed me.

So naturally, I grew up and became a novelist. At last I could make up stuff and have it turn out the way I wanted, instead of the way it usually did. But it wasn’t until I was writing A Piece of Normal, the story of Lily and Dana Brown, two sisters who are locked into their differences, that I realized that I didn’t even know half of my own past. OK, Lily and Dana definitely aren’t my sister and me, but they do have that element of one being stable while the other one is flaky. My sympathies, obviously, were with Lily, who came back home from college to raise Dana after their parents died and who sees herself as the caretaker for the whole world. She’s so conscientious that she won’t even find a lover for herself until she first finds somebody for her ex-husband to go out with. Who wouldn’t love a character who is so selfless and quirky and gently misguided? Who wouldn’t want to reach over and give her an encouraging hug?

But then a funny thing happened. It was while I was writing Dana’s character — Dana, who had run away to be in a punk rock band; Dana, who had broken Lily’s heart and made her feel like a failure — that I started to understand something about what it took to be the daring, flaky sister. She’s the one who sees the need to stir things up, who is willing to sacrifice everybody’s good opinion in order to bring deep, dark family secrets to light, and who isn’t willing to let everybody get away with pushing the past away, pretending things are perfect.

I had always intended to balance out the good and bad in the characters; I didn’t want them to be cardboard, after all. But what I learned was that I actually adored the difficult and out-of-control Dana, and even when she gets herself locked in a betrayal of Lily that it’s going to take an act of supreme forgiveness to get her out of, I was rooting for her even though she was horrible. That’s where writing a novel can be just the best thing ever: your characters tell you things you never noticed about your own life.

And for heaven’s sake, if an organdy dress scratches you, don’t wear it!

Follow the rest of Sandi's book tour via her blog.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 2, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (5)

May 1, 2007 10:20 AM

More on PS I Love You - the film

We've reported on filming of Cecilia Ahern's smash-hit novel PS: I Love You before: remember when Hilary Swank was injured?

But did you know Friends star Lisa Kudrow is in it? - I didn't! James Marsters from Buffy is also co-starring. And so is Kathy Bates, and Harry Connick Jr (last seen as the totally obnoxious Leo in Will and Grace).

News on a release date as soon as we get it!

[Via Imdb.com]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 1, 2007 in Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 27, 2007 6:36 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Miss Potter

Released this week on DVD, Miss Potter (follow that link to see the trailer) is a biopic of Beatrix Potter: showing how she became one of the most successful children's authors of all time, despite the reluctance and disdain of her publishers.

Unconvinced by her rabbit illustrations and anthropomorphic stories, her publishers foisted her off on their young, naive brother, played by Ewan McGregor - who turns out not only to be a marketing maestro, but to be Miss Potter's first suitor...

This is a light period drama that was more involving than I expected: quite a girly film, but an interesting one, that made me want to know more about Beatrix Potter - a woman of hidden depths.

Renee Zellweger seems to have transported the spirit of Bridget Jones back almost a century; not for nothing did some reviewers call this film 'Bridget Potter'! But I enjoyed her interpretation (even if the drawings-occasionally-coming-to-life thing was a bit cheesy...) This would be the perfect  Sunday afternoon film.

Like this, only more modern: Bridget Jones's Diary.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 27, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (4)

April 24, 2007 8:41 AM

BOOK NEWS: 21 Proms

With the popularity of anthologies like This Is Chick Lit (and er, that other one), a teen short story anthology was obviously well overdue. 21 Proms is a collection of stories about... prom nights. (Who'd have thought?!) It features  YA authors like John Green and E Lockhart, as well as chick lit crossovers like Sarah Mlynowski.

Being an anthology, of course it has to have several feet on the cover - but it sounds like a great read!

[Via Galleycat]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 24, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance, Short Story Collections, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 18, 2007 2:15 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale is author of the Austen- (and Colin Firth)- inspired novel Austenland, so she was the prefect pick for our Austen Week interviewee.

Here's what she told us about her book, her writing life, what she's working on next... and what it's like being soooo beautiful (just read it, already!)

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Austenland: Jane obsessed with Mr. Darcy. Goes to Austen-themed resort as therapy. Madness ensues.

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

I write on a laptop wherever and whenever my children permit. At the moment, I’m in a chair in my room while my baby girl naps and my toddler son is at preschool.

Your favourite chick lit book?

I’ve gotta do the safety dance for Bridget Jones’s Diary. She gave us all a place to groove. Go Bridget, go Bridget, it’s your birthday, go go go...

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

Ooh, do I have to play favorites? My first loves were the romantically sassy Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), tragically sassy Emilia (Othello), and snarkily sassy Elizabeth Bennett. Others I adore: Tiffany Aching & Granny Weatherwax, Anne Shirley, Amelia Peabody, Kitty Pride (as written by Joss Whedon), Cassandra (I Capture the Castle)…I know I’m totally cheating.

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

You’re a writer when you write. Stop worrying about how hard it is getting published and how little money you’d make anyway and the rejections and vulnerability and weirdness, and just start telling your stories. You’ll feel so much better once you do. Also, those pants you keep thinking might be cute again so you keep them in the closet? Time to throw them out. Seriously. [Hey, how did you know...? - Diane]

What are you reading at the moment?

Chasing the Jaguar by Michele Greene. I was at a conference with Michele recently and she’s completely delightful.

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

My husband and I co-wrote Rapunzel’s Revenge, a graphic novel about Rapunzel in the Old West (she uses her long braids as whip and lasso and becomes a vigilante hero — she’s so awesome). We’re working on a sequel now while Rapunzel is being illustrated.

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

Q: Is it difficult being so stunningly beautiful? A: Why, thank you! I’m so flattered, I don’t know what to say. It’s not so difficult. I mean, there are the normal challenges that come with any unearthly beauty. I don’t need to remind you about poor Helen of Troy. But I just take it one day at a time. That’s all any of us can do.

Too true, Shannon! Thanks so much!

Interview archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 18, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

April 12, 2007 4:18 PM

Cosmopolitan's Miss Write competition

Are you Miss Write? Cosmopolitan's UK edition is once again running its popular new novelist competition, and you can find all the details on how to enter and exactly what the prize involves, by clicking here.

If you want to enter, you'll need to have a synopsis of your story plus the first 3,000 words ready by the closing date, 31 May 2007. Go on - this could be your big chance! You could even see your book being reviewed on this very site - how cool would that be? (Answer: very).

Related: The Daily Mail's first novel award | Debut novels

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on April 12, 2007 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Competition, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Prize Winners | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 5, 2007 4:29 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones and Anonymous

There's something about seeing 'anonymous' on the cover of a book that makes my spine tingle with excitement... even if, as when I read Primary Colors, the author has already been unveiled. I think Imogen Edwards-Jones's mysterious collaborator will be a bit harder to track down, though: 'anonymous' is a collection of people throughout the fashion industry who provided her with gossip, information and scandal in order to make Fashion Babylon a must-read for anyone with even half an eye for fashion.

Which...um... isn't me.

So what would I make of the book?

Honestly? I thought it was fabulous! You don't have to be at all interested in fashion to find this story of a struggling British designer trying to make it big completely fascinating. In fact, the less you know about the way the fashion world works, the more this book will be a refreshing and often shocking read. I kept having to remind myself that, as the author testifies at the start of the book, everything detailed here really happened (and some of the stuff attributed to rumour probably did, too).  Hotel Babylon is the third in Edwards-Jones's 'Babylon' series (after Hotel Babylon and Air Babylon) and I'd now love to read the other two and find out the goss from those industries, too!

But the book isn't just a dirt-spilling delight, there's a storyline too, and despite the faults of the designer (who admits she likes her models as skinny as possible, to make her clothes look good - couldn't possibly design FOR a woman's figure, could she?! - and her business partner, who's a little on the drug-addled side) I was hoping their collection would do well, and cheering them on to success. My only slight criticism is that it all got a little too shallow at times, but then I was right back to caring about the characters within a few paragraphs. A great read. [DS]

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Fashion Victim by Sam Baker

Fashion Lit archives

Posted by Aigua Media on April 5, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 29, 2007 11:34 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Alligators, Old Mink and New Money: One Woman's Adventures in Vintage Clothing by Alison Houtte and Melissa Houtte

Alligators, Old Mink and New Money: One Woman's Adventures in Vintage Clothing by Alison Houtte and Melissa Houtte is a memoir/fashion advice book based on Alison's experiences as a model and later owner of a vintage clothes shop in Brooklyn, Hooti couture.

Each chapter begins with a recollection of a much-loved vintage clothing item, and its importance in Alison's life. The chapters then progress in a mostly chronological order, detailing Alison's journey from a clothes-obsessed teen to a model in Germany, Paris and New York and her later adventures opening a shop. It's a treat for any fan of vintage clothing (which I am, big time) and I loved reading Alison's memories of customising clothes and finding bargainous second-hand finds. It made me want to take a tour of my local charity shops (or even better, her local charity shops) post-haste. But I did have a little problem with this book...

Perhaps naively, despite the title I hadn't actually realised that Alison had no problem with buying, selling and indeed wearing vintage fur coats and alligator skin bags, which is not something I want to do - or read about. I read these sections of the book thinking "no, no, no" and hoping they'd be over quickly! But that's just a small part of an overall very enjoyable read. I also understand that not everyone shares my views on fur, and some think that vintage fur/skin is acceptable as the animal has already died (but...yuk). So although I give the author 0 out of 5 for her stance on animal products, I didn't let that tarnish my reading expereince too much (as I said, it is a very small part of the book!) - we don't all have to think the same, after all.

Moving on, the appendices at the back of the book, which include what to look out for in vintage shops/markets, and the best internet resources, are packed with detail and very useful (although understandably American-oriented, this being an American book).

All in all a good read (just don't tell PETA I said so).

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try It's Vintage, Darling! By Christa Weil

Fashion lit archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 29, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 23, 2007 12:42 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: A Cinderella Story

Based on Cinderella (yes, really!) A Cinderella Story is the big ball of cheese you might expect from a Hilary Duff (star of Lizzie McGuire) and Chad Michael Murray (star of One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek) collaboration. Aka: tween heaven!

Sam has an evil stepmother, played by the fabulous Jennifer Coolidge (from Legally Blonde and Friends spin-off Joey) who has worked her to the bone ever since the death of Sam's father. Sam has to work all hours (on roller skates) at the family cafe as all the local jerks from school come in and laugh at her over their hamburgers.  And all this while her stepmother and bitchy step-sisters pamper themselves and put their feet up. Thank goodness, then, that Sam has a secret friend she can talk to over IM every night - someone who really understands her, and isn't like all those other guys from school... (you can see where this is going, can't you?)

This film is fun (if a tad annoying) and silly and of course completely predictable. "A harmless girlie rom-com" is one of the comments on the front of the DVD, and that about sums it up - it's harmless and fluffy and tweens will probably love it, but it's the kind of film it's best to suspend all disbelief over - or the ideal watch at 2 am when you're having trouble sleeping, or at 5 pm when you're trying to cook a meal, paint your toenails and talk on the phone and just want something on in the background. (Which to be honest, is probably the best place for Chad Michael Murray and his smarmy expressions - the background...)

Like this, only better: 10 Things I Hate About You

Friday Flick archives

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 23, 2007 in Book related, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 21, 2007 12:29 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Maggie Marr

You might not have heard of Maggie Marr yet, but you will: I have a feeling her new novel, Hollywood Girls Club, is going to be big. If you're stateside, you won't have to wait long to find out: it will be released in the US on April, and in the UK in (sob!) October (although there's always Amazon of course). We're very privileged as Maggie made time to chat to us between moving house and tending to the needs of her young toddler and newborn baby. That's dedication - thanks Maggie!

Here's what she told us...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

HGC is the intertwined tale of four friends in Hollywood trying to get a movie made. (That is 16 words....gosh that IS tough!)

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

I write my books at home. Before recently moving I had a favorite brown chair in which I would sit and write - however, the chair was falling apart and quite unfixable so it didn't make it through the move. Now I have a den with a lovely window overlooking the back yard.

More from Meg over the cut, including her favourite "social climbing realist" and what she's working on next...

Your favourite chick-lit book?

So tough! I really love I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter; a YA/Chick Lit combo. I also still love In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. She is an amazing writer.

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

I have to go with Meg March in Little Women. I still to this day love her character. Little Women still resonates with me. Another character that I continue to love because she is sooo good at being bad... or maybe just a social climbing realist is Becky Sharpe in Vanity Fair.

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

NEVER GIVE UP. If you truly want to be a writer...then write. Write every day, even if it's just to journal. Also find a critique group; they are invaluable for two reasons. First it is an excellent way to hear from others just what you are conveying on the page and second it creates a deadline for you. If your critique group expects 10 pages from you every Thursday night...well then you better come prepared with your 10 pages. Also, READ! Read everything. Read the classics, read what you love, read the paper, read magazines, READ, READ, READ! There is no better way to study your craft than to read...(well and to write; but I already covered that.) 

What are you reading at the moment?

Right now I am reading This Is Chick Lit. 

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

The second Hollywood Girls Club Book. I think it will be called Secrets of The Hollywood Girls Club and much more salacious than the first.

Sounds great! Thanks again!

Interview archives

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 21, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 16, 2007 2:44 PM

BOOK NEWS: Forget Me Not

Okay, this will be my last maternally-themed post of the week, I promise!

Forget Me Not is the new book by Isabel Wolff (her seventh!) and was released on 5th March. It's the story of Anna Temple, a 36 year old City Analyst who, after the sudden and unexpected death of her mother, is forced to re-evaluate her life. Anna decides to get a new job as a garden designer (the title's a pun, geddit?) and embrace some life-changing new developments that happen as a result of an uncharacteristic one night stand... (can you guess what?!)

PS: Is it me or is this another case of a book cover 'snap'? Carry on over the cut to see what I mean...

Isabel Wolff's pretty new covers look a little bit like Jill Mansell's pretty new covers, no?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 16, 2007 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy

Anyone who's read Fiona Neill's Slummy Mummy column in the Times will have been looking forward to the publication of The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy, her novelisation of the column. But newcomers will enjoy it, too. It's narrated by Lucy Sweeney, our eponymous heroine, whose housekeeping and organisation skills are on the lax, not to say slovenly side. Her husband despairs of her, as she turns up at the school gates in her pyjamas, locks herself out of the house, runs out of petrol at inconvenient times and loses her credit card, only to locate it later in the fridge - after it's been cancelled!

With three young sons to look after, Lucy knows she has to pull herself together, especially as the presence of Yummy Mummy and Alpha Mummy at the school gate always make her feel bad about herself. Then Sexy Domesticated Dad joins the PTA, and Lucy starts to enjoy the school run.

But it's just some harmless flirting... isn't it?

I really liked the tone of the book, but I have to say it did put me off having three young children! It very well conveys the stresses this puts on the primary caregiver, and on a marriage. I also couldn't believe one woman could be so disorganised - being a rather anally retentive control freak myself  I was squirming! I couldn't help of course wondering how much all  of Lucy's expereinces were based on the writer's own life - for her own sake, I hope it's exaggerated quite a bit!

The novel ended a bit abruptly, and tied things up in a little too much of a hurry for me, becoming a tad too farcical... but it was still a very good read and I look forward to whatever Fiona Neill writes next.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Hens Dancing by Raffaella Barker; The Only Boy For Me by Gil McNeil.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 16, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 14, 2007 11:17 AM

The Mums' book: perfect for mother's day

With Mother's Day (in the UK and Commonwealth) this coming Sunday, expect us to feature a raft, perhaps even a slew, of books relating to mums. The Mums' Book would be just the thing to show your ma just how much you appreciate her, especially as it's subtitled 'For the mum who's best at everything'.

And I love the vintage-look, kitschy orange cover, too.

Related posts: The Hot Mom's handbook | Read mum lit novel online... as it's written

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 14, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 13, 2007 4:29 PM

BOOK NEWS: Crystal by Katie Price

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 9, 2007 10:32 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The History of Lucy's Love Life in 10.5 Chapters by Deborah Wright

Lucy is dissatisfied with her life. She works in a job that's more about paying the bills than satisfaction and self-worth, she's in a relationship with a lovely bloke but can't tell if he's The One or if she'd be better off playing the field, and she's lonely. Nights are spent awake, fantasising about Lord Byron, and the days encompass endless lectures from her boss, a successful scientist.

One day Lucy arrives at work to find a mysterious parcel sent to her boss by a former suitor. The letter reveals that the suitor has been working on a time machine - included in the package - which he hopes will win the scientist's heart. Out of curiosity they build the time machine, and it does nothing.

But then Lucy loses her job, and is given the time machine as a parting gift. Determined to give it one more try, she assembles it in her flat. As is the way with technology, a swift kick is all it takes to make the time machine operational. All of a sudden, whole new worlds are open to Lucy, and she attacks them with aplomb, making friends with Byron, Ovid, and Casanova, to name but a few.

Through her travels, Lucy learns about poetry and art, and has the opportunity to reassess herself, her life, and her relationship.

While this may sound unbelievable and twee, it's not. There is some suspension of disbelief to deal with, but no more than can be found in other books, where we are told that women working as editorial assistants can afford flats with views of Hyde Park, and every girl has a best friend with a wardrobe of designer gear to be loaned at the drop of a hat.

What the book is, instead, is  a fresh take on the personal inventories we all do, and a lesson to appreciate what we have when we have it - the plot offers much more than adventures in the past. In fact, the plot offers so much more that the book could really be reviewed as two separate novels. For a bit of escapist fun with extra culture and more excitement than is found in most Boys' Own Adventure books, you couldn't do better than this. [Kate Walker]

Rating: 5 out of 5
Liked this? Try: Under My Spell, by Deborah Wright

Posted by Aigua Media on March 9, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Romance, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 6, 2007 12:12 PM

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Holly's Inbox

Are you ready for the "Bridget Jones's diary of the digital age"?

New website Holly's Inbox is a real time novel set in the reception area of a city investment bank. When you go into the site it is like you are accessing Holly's actual inbox and reading her emails as they come in.

I've just read week one and I can see it could become totally addictive.

Related posts: Horizons Past: free online novel / Read The Mummybiz online ... as it's written / Five Chapters

Posted by Keris on March 6, 2007 in Book Websites, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Trashionista Recommends | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 8, 2007 5:25 PM

BOOK REVIEW: How to Walk in High Heels by Camilla Morton

Subtitled 'The Girl's Guide to Everything' and with a forward by John Galliano, this pink tome was seemingly designed for the Sex in the City crowd, cosmo-drinkers in search of the fashionable way to live life and get it right. And it is, to a certain extent.

Like any good fashionista, Morton name drops like it's going out of style. But like the best sort of fashionista, she doesn't do the name-dropping herself. Sections written by the likes of Kylie Minogue (How to enhance your finer assets), Vivienne Westwood (How to appreciate art and where to start), Gisele (How to look good in a photo), and Christopher Bailey (How to be inspired - gorgeous places to go to) tell you all you need to know about just how chic Morton is. And if advice from her nearest and dearest won't help you attain uber-fabulousness, then there's just no hope for you, dahling.

Or is there?

While the book is undoubtedly an amusing read, it's definitely more loo book than style bible. It's divided into sections which I called 'vaguely useful' and 'duh' in my head - can you guess which fell into which category?

* Greeting Your Public (grooming, walking in high heels, applying makeup, and hat-wearing)

* Being Socially Adept (manners, cooking, art, culture)

* Tackling Your Technophobia (gadgets, gizmos, the workplace)

* Homes and Gardens (house-buying, home economics, gardening, home maintenance)

* Joining the Jet Set (travel, driving)

I won't claim to be the best-groomed, most stylish woman out there. I'm usually quite scruffy, and I hate filing my nails. But there was nothing in the beauty section of the book that you won't have learned from friends, relatives, or [insert style bible of choice]. The more practical advice about home ownership and associated life skills will also have been passed on to you by people you know, and while it may not have been so wittily prettily presented, it's the same advice. Get a mortgage, talk to your bank, buy what you can afford, don't put offers down on 36 places at once. Gee, thanks. I never would've figured that one out for myself. And mummy and the bank manager telling me the same thing never sunk in. But now that someone in the fashion world put it in a pink book, it all makes sense. Hurrah!

But I'm making the book sound more awful than it is. It doesn't take itself remotely seriously, and that's its saving grace. This is light-hearted fluff with a few nuggets of gold (Gisele's photo advice being one), and as long as you don't pick it up expecting anything more, you won't be disappointed. Loo book, no question.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Like this? Try The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon

Posted by Aigua Media on February 8, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 2/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 7, 2007 11:08 AM

Hollywood cupcake competition - the result!

Remember the Hollywood Cupcake Competition author Ellen Meister was running to promote her debut novel, Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA? Well, Ellen kindly let us in on the result.

Here's the question that was put to the women taking the survey:
 
In Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA, a Hollywood studio announces plans to shoot a major motion picture in the local schoolyard. When the women in the town learn that it means they might have a chance to meet George Clooney, decorum crumbles like a cupcake from last week's bake sale. What if this was your home town? If you could choose which Hollywood leading man you'd most like to offer your cupcakes to, who would it be?

Carry on over the cut for the shocking (at least, I think so) outcome.

The top five:
 
1. Matthew McConaughey (39%)

2. George Clooney (21%)

3. Patrick Dempsey (15%)

4. Orlando Bloom (12%)

5. Johnny Depp (9%)

Receiving less than 1% each: Antonio Banderas, Tom Cruise, James Denton, Jamie Foxx, Adrian Grenier, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington

I mean, I wouldn't say no to any of them, but Matthew McConaughey trouncing Gorgeous George? Say it’s not so. Perhaps the respondents misunderstood the question. Maybe they’d offer actual cupcakes to Matthew and something much tastier to George.

Oh, now I’m all a-fluster ...

Related posts: Friday Flick: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days / George Clooney movie news: The Innocent Man / Reading Grey's Anatomy / Johnny Depp buys books

Posted by Keris on February 7, 2007 in Book related, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (4)

February 2, 2007 4:45 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Think Pink by Lisa Clark

How I wish I’d had Lisa Clark’s Think Pink when I was 14.

Subtitled ‘the ultimate “go-for-it” guide for girls!’ Think Pink takes us on ‘a kick-ass road-trip to self discovery’ accompanied by 14-year-old Lola Love and her friends.

It includes advice, anecdotes and quizzes on subjects from increasing your self-esteem to making (and keeping) friends, avoiding toxic boys and making future plans, and is not only entertaining and useful, but looks gorgeous too - Holly Lloyd’s illustrations complementing the text perfectly.

The first in a much-needed series (have you looked at the teen non-fiction shelves lately? There’s nothing there!) Think Pink will show you how to ‘fill your life with sunshine-filled, candy-kissed moments.’ And who wouldn’t want that?

And it’s not just for teens, I found it entertaining and inspiring and I’m *cough* in my thirties.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Being a Girl by Kim Cattrall

Posted by Keris on February 2, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Self development, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)

FRIDAY FLICK: 10 Things I Hate About You

I thought I’d go a bit more highbrow this week. I’ve noticed it’s all gone a bit smutty since Diane’s been away (there was this and this and this! See what I mean?).

So this week’s Friday Flick is based on no less than a Shakespeare play. Set in a modern high school, 10 Things I Hate About You stars Julia Stiles as Kat-the-shrew and Heath Ledger as Patrick, the hunk who tries to tame her (that’ll be The Taming of the Shrew then).

Kat’s father won’t let her younger sister Bianca date until Kat does (which he fully expects to be never). So Bianca’s prospective boyf hires Patrick to date Kat. Even if you’re not familiar with the Shakespeare, I bet you could guess what happens, but it’s such good fun that a bit of predictability doesn’t matter.

I really enjoyed this film. Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger can both actually act, which helps, and the singing scene is one of those that’ll have you grinning your head off and rewinding to watch again (or whatever you do with a DVD). I only have one complaint and that is that The West Wing’s Allison Janney was, as they say, woefully underused! She was the best thing in it for the first twenty minutes and then she was in it no more. Shame.

Friday Flick archives

Posted by Keris on February 2, 2007 in Friday Flick, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (5)

January 31, 2007 6:56 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lisa Clark

Lisa Clark is the author of non-fiction teen book, Think Pink (review coming Friday). You can read all about Lisa, Lola Love, and the other stops on Lisa's Think Pink blog tour on her website. Catch her tomorrow here.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Think Pink is the ultimate go-for-it guide for girls! Did it in 11  - get me!

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

I'd love to be one of those super-cool author types who sit in a coffee shop with their macs or like SJP in Sex and The City who 'couldn't help but wonder' while she tapped away in a cute vest and knicker combo, but instead, I generally sit at the dining room table in my tea-stained PJs!

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Just one? Geez...The Truth About Ruby Valentine by Alison Bond is awesome - in fact, so was her first book How to be Famous...oh, I can't choose - they're both a salacious insight into the movie industry and I love 'em!

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

Besides Lola Love - leading lady of Think Pink who I love, not because I created her but just because I think she's too-cool-for-school, I love Viva in Emma Forrest's 'Namedropper' - she's what I wish being a
16 year-old me was actually like!

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

Persistance and perserverence, a good idea and the ability to toot your own horn, because nobody is going to know more about your book than you, so don't be afraid to big it up to anyone that will listen!

What are you reading at the moment?

Because I'm a multi-taskin' kind of girl I've got a few on the go right now - Cupcake by Rachel Cohn, Fearless by Adrienne Huffington* and the latest editions of Grazia, Bust and O magazine - I love me
some Oprah!

* Review coming soon - Keris

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

As well as being a newbie author type, I'm a journo-girl too so I'm constantly pitchin' and writing features for teen titles here and in the US, book wise though, I've just finished editing Beauty*licious,
the second in the Think Pink series, out June 07, I'm working on books 3 and 4 right now and I'm developing some fiction ideas for Lola and the Pink Ladies too!

What question have you never been asked, but wish you had (you can answer it too if you like)?

Q. Lisa, would you like this super-swanky apartment in New York City, a Marc Jacobs account card and a breakfast of pancakes and syrup?

A. Why, Trashionista, yes I would!

Thanks, Lisa! (Sorry we can't help with the above ...)

Posted by Keris on January 31, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Interviews, New Releases, Non Fiction, Self development, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 30, 2007 1:48 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Surf Wax & Vodka Jelly by Lucy Clarke

With a lot of twenty-something chick-lit fans at (or having already finished) university, it's about time we had some, well, 'student-lit.' Whilst not all students are part of the hall-dwelling, binge drinking stereotype that seems to have encased us, there's still a lot to university that's highly entertaining. Cue Lucy Clarke's fabulous novel, Surf Wax and Vodka Jelly.

What if Bridget Jones chronicled her first year at uni? It'd probably read a bit like this.

Josie Williams is a university fresher. Thrown into the midst of student life after the nervy preparation period, Josie is all geared up for her first year at uni. But will student life meet her expectations? Placed in a flat in South Halls with a group of strangers, Josie is forced to adhere to usual student etiquette and make friends. After all, these are the people she'll be living with for a whole year...

With her bubbly best friend Tam, the overtly chauvinist Matt, the introverted Suniti and dreamboat Ben, it seems that all is going as planned, despite the mysterious absences of Suniti. As Josie battles the deadlines, drama and general misdemeanours of her overexcited, mismatched and often drunken bunch of flatmates, her love life is also coming into play. But it could be a dangerous game, what with her love rivals in the flat upstairs in the form of a glamorous, kitten-heeled, bitchy twosome set on getting their own way.

Despite the scathing comments and embarrassing moments as Josie signs up for the Surf Club in the hope of ensnaring Ben, Josie is managing to fit in rather well. Her life as a fresher is perking up, but will downing bottles of wine before an essay deadline with Tam set her on the right path? Will her great life full of parties and new friends stay that way?

Written by former Cardiff university student Clarke, Surf Wax follows Josie on a journey through her first year as a fresher in diary form. Quite frankly, it’s a hard one to put down, whether you’ve been a student yourself or have never set foot in a university. Okay, so it’s not as funny as it’s made out to be, but there are some amusing moments. Whilst reading this, I couldn’t help but feel it had a lot more potential. Bridget Jones this is not, but many agree that it’s a downright accurate portrayal of student life. And Josie is cute to boot!

So, you all now know what to spend your next loan instalment on…

[Danielle Symonds-Yemm] Rating: 4 out of 5 Like this? Try English as a Second Language by Megan Crane

Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on January 30, 2007 in Girly Stuff, Rating: 4/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 19, 2007 12:31 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Heartburn

Anyone who's so much as blinked at Trashionista over the last few months should have picked up on the fact that Keris and I love Nora Ephron. A lot. So it was only a matter of time before her 1986 adaptation of her classic novel Heartburn became a Friday Flick.

As in the book, it's the story of Rachel Samstat, a Washington, DC-based cookery writer and stay-at-home-mum who discovers her husband is cheating on her whilst she's heavily pregnant with their second child. Key Lime Pie-throwing ensues...

I think there's a real advantage in authors adapting their own work, as this film shows: some material is cut and situations changed a little, but it's very faithful to the book and doesn't lose much in translation. Jack Nicholson isn't quite the traitorous Mark I imagined, looks-wise, but he pulls off the role well, and Meryl Streep is pretty much perfect as the naive Rachel. Plus Stockard Channing's in it, which is never a bad thing!

Heartburn the film is not quite as fast-paced and funny as the book, but it certainly holds its own, and is a good, slightly quirky choice of chick-flick for a cosy Friday night in.

Friday Flick archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK NEWS: Isabel Losada's 'Men!'

Non-fiction author Isabel Losada, who normally concerns herself with global issues, self improvement and reasons to be glad has a new, more romantically-themed book due for release here at the end of April.

Called 'Men!' her working subtitle was 'Where the **** are they?!' but she's now settled on 'Forget the fiction! Where are the interesting and available men?' (Answers on a postcard, please...)

On her blog she discusses the vexed issue of covers, and why she picked red rather than white (less self help-looking, apparently).

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 19, 2007 in Book News, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Romance, Self development | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 16, 2007 3:02 PM

Lovely Penguin pencils and more

New year, new pencils ... and mugs ... and teatowels. Aren't they gorgeous? I've got a few mugs, but I really want the pencils now. There's nothing nicer than a pile of freshly-sharpened pencils, is there?

Related posts: Book bags / The Self Shelf / Reading is Sexy t-shirt / Nancy Drew stationery / MP3 player cases / Moving Sense toolkits

Posted by Keris on January 16, 2007 in Book related, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (1)

Meryl Streep wins Golden Globe for 'Prada' portrayal

Meryl Streep's star turn as boss-from-hell Miranda Priestly in hit chick-lit film adaptation The Devil Wears Prada has earned her a Golden Globe award for best actress in a comedy film, reports the BBC.

Most deserved, I must say - good on ya, Mezza!

Devil Wears Prada archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 16, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Devil Wears Prada, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Prize Winners | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pulpwood Queens go Hollywood book festival

If you're in the Texas area, or can be this weekend, The Pulpwood Queens Go Hollywood! book festival ("where tiaras are mandatory and reading good books is the rule!")is being held in Marshall, Texas from 19-21 January. Excitingly for fans of Galleycat, book blog supremo Ron Hogan will be on one of the panels.

Here's a detailed schedule and more information (in pdf format).

And if you're more British-based, don't forget about Aye Write! in Glasgow this February.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 16, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 12, 2007 3:04 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Clueless

A 1995 rom-com (very) loosely based on Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless is still Alicia Silverstone's best film to date, and even twelve years later makes a great chick flick. (Not that I'm biased or anything - I saw it twice at the cinema and several times on video. And I think maybe once on TV...)

Lead character Cher's mother died in a tragic liposuction accident when Cher was just a little girl, and so she's grown up with just her workaholic dad (he married again, briefly, but things didn't work out - they did however leave her with an ex-stepbrother, Paul Rudd, later Mike in Friends, who she loves to wind up). To fill the void in her life, Cher along with her best friend Dionne, like to 'help' other people - doing makeovers, match-making etc.

But when Cher meddles in the love-life of new friend Tai (Brittany Murphy, again) and gets it drastically wrong, she vows to become a better person - and give herself an inner makeover instead...

Sharp-witted, sweet, funny and only occasionally incomprehensible (the film has its own snappy teen-speak which Silverstone says brilliantly) this film ticks all the chick-lit boxes: fun, romantic, entertaining and it credits the audience with a brain. And if none of that appeals, then you'll still be amazed by Cher's computerised, revolving wardrobe!

The ending is more unexpected however, if you haven't yet read Emma... (The one time you'll hear me advocate not reading Austen!)

*DID YOU KNOW?* Dionne's boyfriend Murray is played by Donald Faison, who now stars in Scrubs.

*DID YOU KNOW?* There was a TV series of the film, which ran for three years from 1996 and featured all of the original cast except Alicia Silverstone (although Rachel Blanchard did a pretty canny impression of her!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 12, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 11, 2007 6:40 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Dating Amy by Amy DeZellar

Amy DeZellar's Dating Amy is a memoir of, as the subtitle says, "50 True Confessions of a serial dater".

Amy went on fifty dates (although not with fifty men!) and chronicled her adventures on her website, datingamy.com. Her goal was to get some paid writing work, maybe publish a book... and perhaps even find love, too.

And we know it worked at least partly, as here's the book of the experience, which she adapted from her dating blog...

Amy goes out with men she meets via internet dating sites, meets at parties or bars, and men her friends set her up with. Sometimes I wasn't clear why she was going on a second date with some of these men, as the first one had gone so horribly! It all makes for interesting reading though. (Could that be why...?)

The book looks at some perennial dating questions: is it nicer for a man to say he doesn't want to date you again after just one date - or better to ignore you forever more? Why are some men so great on paper and a let-down in real life? And are men really all about sex and women all about commitment?

There's nothing hugely original about the concept, we've had a raft of similar books, both fiction and non-fiction, about serial daters. But this book is an enjoyable addition to the genre, and although I sometimes felt frustrated with Amy's choice of man (!) and the fact that she often said she couldn't get any paid writing work (had she sent out freelance ideas? Anything? We never find out) I'm still glad she wrote this book, and even more glad Amy dated all those men... so no-one else has to!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Year of Yes by Maria Headley.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 11, 2007 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

From Trashionistas to fashionistas!

Who would have thought that two women who spend their lives with their heads in books and their bodies in pyjamas (the joys of working from home - although not the same home) would be fashion columnists too?

No, the world hasn't turned on its axis: we're both writing about our fashion flaws! (That sounds more like it...) Keris in Small and imperfectly formed, and me? Fashion misfit, at your service...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 11, 2007 in Announcements, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (2)

THURSDAY THREE: Desperate measures

As I mentioned last week, critics of chick lit think it’s all about finding a man and that’s just not true. Except that sometimes it is. Earlier this week we showed you the trailer for Lorelei Mathias’s Step On It, Cupid, in which the main character, Amelie, decides to try out speed-dating. It made me wonder what other lengths characters had gone to to find that elusive perfect man.

In Chris Manby’s Getting Personal single friends Ruby, Lou and Martin are fed up of failed relationships and decide to place personal ads for each other with mixed results.

The Last Available Man by Cindy Blake features follows step-sisters Georgina and Jessica, who, sick of ending up on dates with no future, decide to put their skills as head hunters - along with their lengthy client list - into action to find themselves some real romantic prospects.

Carry on over the cut for the final - and most impressive - book of the three.

It's a non-fiction book - Maria Headley’s The Year of Yes. In the bravest (or maddest) idea of the three, Maria decided to say yay to everyone who asked her for a date: the homeless, the chronically weird and - despite being straight - women, too. Now that’s dedication.

Posted by Keris on January 11, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Romance, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 10, 2007 7:40 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Take a wander over to brilliant books site bookburger to have a look at this book cover, for YA novel Anatomy of a Boyfriend.

Does it denigrate males? Is it offensive?

Or... do you like it?

Tell us: is it a Yay or Nay - and why!

Related: Judging books by their covers / Musical book covers / Colour in your own covers! / 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 January 10, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (7)

January 9, 2007 4:22 PM

BOOK NEWS: The Adultery Club

The Adultery Club is a new novel by Tess Stimson about... well, I guess adultery might feature! You can get a free preview of the book in this month's Red (the one with Teri Hatcher on the cover).

I haven't read mine yet, but I will as it's perfectly handbag-sized and I love cute little freebies  (more authors, take note!)

Oh, and it sounds interesting too, of course...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 9, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: Beyond Chocolate by Audrey and Sophie Boss

Yes, it's that time of year again - resolution time. And the most popular resolution year after year is apparently to lose weight, which is something sisters Sophie and Audrey Boss hope to help you do with their book Beyond Chocolate.

But it's not a diet book, or even a traditional weight loss book. And no, it's not even one of those 'no diet' diet books that try and convince you the weight will fall off if you don't eat protein or only eat protein or eat porridge for every meal. No, Beyond Chocolate is part of the 'mindful eating' revolution, a similar method to the one promoted by Paul McKenna: eat whatever you want, when you're hungry, pay attention and stop when you're full. Good advice, but does it work?

Well ... I don't know. Beyond Chocolate is an excellent, practical, encouraging and, yes, liberating book, but I haven't lost any weight ... yet. Then again, losing weight isn't the most important thing, changing your attitude to food is and that is something to do in the long-term, not to be undertaken lightly just at the beginning of the year.

Sophie and Audrey write from their own experience and there are numerous examples of behaviours around food that many women will identify with. Plus there are worksheets to complete and numerous tools to help do this on the website to help keep you on the right track.

I absolutely believe that if I stick with the Beyond Chocolate 'method' then I will lose weight and change my feelings about food. Unfortunately, I'm still at the 'eat whatever you want' point and it'll probably take me a while to move on, but if one of your resolutions is to lose weight (or even to have a healthier relationship with food), I'd definitely suggest you start with this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Behind with the Laundry and Living off Chocolate by Lynette Allen

Posted by Keris on January 9, 2007 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 8, 2007 1:15 PM

MOVIE NEWS: Becoming Jane

A new film, Becoming Jane is about a twenty-year old Jane Austen and her romance with a young Irishman, and how he influenced her in the creation of the male characters in Pride and Prejudice. It stars James McAvoy, Dame Maggie Smith, Julie Walters and - gasp! - an American as Jane: Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada star Anne Hathaway.

It should hit British screens on March 9th and I can. not. wait. to see it!

[Via The Sunday Times and Imdb.com]

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 8, 2007 in Book related, Classic Novels, Devil Wears Prada, Girly Stuff, Movie News, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 4, 2007 6:03 PM

Top 5 Beauty Books by our expert beauty book picker!

If you've been burying your head in a book (or reading Trashionista) far too much to even glance over at our sister site Kiss and Makeup, you've really been missing out. But you can make up for it now by heading over there to check out their Top 5 Beauty Books, as picked by beauty expert and KAMU editor Charlotte. I can never get the hang of foundation and am flummoxed by the beauty counters at Boots, so these could be some very useful guides for me!

Related post: Posh is a signing sensation .

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 4, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 3, 2007 10:18 AM

India Knight's diet book and dirty bits!

And if that title doesn't get your attention, nothing will... First, the diet book: Sunday Times journalist and chick-lit author (of My Life on a Plate, which I loved, and How do you Want Me? which I didn't) India Knight has teamed up with her friend and fellow slimmer Neris Thomas for a new book, designed to be a straightforward guide to weight loss - as reflected in the title: Neris and India's Idiot-Proof Diet Book. The Guardian does another fabulous Digested Read of the book (in the style of the original) here.

Secondly, The Dirty Bits for Girls is India's second new release, designed to raise your temperature! It's a compilation of all the memorable mucky bits from literature, for, well - girls. With a bit of commentary too, I think - if you're interested in that...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on January 3, 2007 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Non Fiction, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

December 27, 2006 4:07 PM

Top 10 young adult books

Since we’ve only fairly recently started to include young adult books in our reviews, this, the penultimate Top 10 of our Top 100 Extravaganza, consists of five books we’ve reviewed and five we haven’t ... yet. (Recommendations for numbers 10 to 6 from Luisa Plaja of teen review site, Chicklish of which I’m also a co-editor).

10 The Goddess Society by Kelly McKain

The Goddess Society is about the club that three friends form to lose their virginity 'in a non-tacky way'.

A funny, wonderfully observed account of teen life and love.

9 Let’s Get Lost by Sarra Manning

Isabel's a Queen Bee, tough and mean. She's also recently bereaved, but refuses to show any emotion about this to anyone. No one gets through to her, until she meets Smith and gets 'lost' in him, and then in herself.

I can't recommend this book enough. I found it breathtaking. It swept me away, made me laugh and cry.

8 Becoming Bindy Mackenzie by Jaclyn Moriarty

Bindy Mackenzie is a unique teenager, and you get instantly drawn into her life by Jaclyn Moriarty's unusual and gently amusing storytelling techniques and her use of pages from Bindy's special stationery collection.

An unusual, fun, heart-warming and intriguing book.

7 Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

This unusual novel starts with the death of the main character, fifteen-year-old Liz, and follows her into the afterlife.

Gently funny, occasionally sad, and profoundly moving.

6 A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

Written in verse and paying homage to Judy Blume’s classic, Forever, A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl is high quality, thoughtful and easy to read.

Carry on over the cut for the top 5.

5 The Principles of Love by Emily Franklin

The story of Love Bukowski’s attempts to create a life for herself when her father becomes the Principal of Hadley Hall prep school and she finds herself having to start over and make new friends.

“Beautifully written and Love has an interesting and original voice.”

4 I Was a Teenage Popsicle by Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Floe Ryan died in 2006 but was cyrogenically frozen until a cure for her illness could be found. Now it has, and she's been brought back to life ... but it's 2016 and things are very different ...

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

3 Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

The first in a trilogy, Sloppy Firsts is about Jessica Darling, whose world falls apart when her best friend moves away.

“Sloppy Firsts is a great example of YA chick lit, but is actually shelved in the adult section too - like it says on the back cover “a good read for anyone between the ages of 15 and 99.” Recommended.”

2 The Princess Diaries Seventh Heaven by Meg Cabot

The Princess Diaries series, featuring reluctant princess Mia Thermopolis, is chock-full of Meg Cabot's trademark humour and charm and should be read by young and, um, not-so-young alike.

“For days after I finished reading this book (and I read it in a day) I found myself looking forward to getting back to it and then being disappointed to remember I'd finished it.”

1 The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart

The story of Ruby Oliver, a fifteen year-old girl who's been referred to a psychiatrist after suffering a series of panic attacks, it's a funny, moving and realistic portrayal of teenage life.

“Ruby Oliver is a believable and endearing character and The Boyfriend List is compelling, fun, and captures the spirit of teenagerdom brilliantly.”

We really loved the sequel, The Boy Book, too.

We’d love to hear your YA recommendations!

Young Adult archives

Posted by Keris on December 27, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance, Series, Top 100 Extravaganza!, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (9)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jenny Crusie

Jennifer 'Jenny' Crusie (she gets billed as both on her book covers and in interviews) is one of our all-time favourite writers here at Trashionista, so we're honoured to have an exclusive interview with the prolific and talented author...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Hot Toy, a Christmas novella in the Santa, Baby anthology: A woman battles a spy ring and her ex-boyfriend to get her nephew the toy he believes Santa is going to bring him.

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

At my desk, in the window seat in my office, in bed, on the couch in my living room that looks out over the river, wherever it feels right at the time. Usually some place private.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

I love Lani Diane Rich's books.

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

Still Sophy from Georgette Heyer's The Grand Sophy. I named my heroine in Welcome To Temptation after her, although I changed the spelling to Sophie.

More from Jenny Crusie over the cut...

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

Read everything. Not just all kinds of books, but screenplays and play scripts and comic books and non-fiction, read everything you can get your hands on. And watch movies and listen to storytellers of all kinds, including your relatives, ask them about their lives. Get story everywhere, be a story addict, listen for it on the street, in restaurants, people are telling stories all the time, all you have to do is listen and they'll tell you the most amazing things.

What are you reading at the moment?

The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine.

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

I just finished The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, a collaborative novel with Anne Stuart and Eileen Dreyer about three sisters with paranormal powers in which we each wrote the point of view of one of the sisters. [See the collaborative blog, Well Behaved at all Times]. And I'm just this week finished Agnes and the Hitman with Bob Mayer[see the other collaborative blog, He Wrote, She Wrote]; I'm writing Agnes who's a food columnist with anger issues and Bob's writing Shane who's a hitman for the US government. Trouble ensues.

Thanks Jenny!

Related: BOOK REVIEW: Faking It / BOOK REVIEW: Don't Look Down / JennyCrusie.com / Argh Ink (Jenny's blog)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 27, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (5)

BOOK REVIEW: The Bad Mother’s Handbook by Kate Long

Having picked up The Bad Mother's Handbook for the train, I didn’t think I’d enjoy it – I’m not a mother at all, let alone a bad one, and my views on children can be easily summed up by the old joke ‘I love children, but I couldn’t eat a whole one’. The title is deceptive though, and surprisingly I found I couldn’t put down this heart-warming tale of three women, three generations of the same family, living together in chaos.

The story is told from the points of view of Karen, a harried mother, her mixed up seventeen year old daughter Charlotte, and her terminally-confused elderly Nan. Both Nan and Charlotte live with Karen and seem to conspire to make her life hell. Charlotte is going through her own traumas as she discovers sex and the almost inevitable consequences of betrayal and babies, while Nan is living in the past remembering her own childhood.

The different styles of writing used for each viewpoint give the story a very personal feel and makes you feel very involved, even if you don’t necessarily identify with any of the characters. The sections describing Nan’s childhood have a real feel of saga story about them, and you could imagine everyone groaning as an aged aunt started off with ‘when I were young I had to walk 10 miles to school in my bare feet…’ for the tenth time that evening.

There’s an interesting extra level to the story, behind the domesticity and usual love-interest when Karen discovers that Nan isn’t really her mother and goes in search of the woman who is. She finds out some things that makes her belatedly grateful for what she has, and give you hope that things might work out in the end. It’s not always a happy read, and I think it could be a bit close to the bone for anyone involved in a similar situation, but by the end of the book everything has turned out for the best. This is mainly through the arrival of Charlotte’s friend, who is more like a guardian angel than a real teenage boy – and everything is tied up very neatly all of a sudden, through a slightly unlikely intervention. I’m not sure if the end felt a bit rushed because I was keen to find out what happened, or whether it really did wind up a little too quickly but despite a ‘one year later’ style final chapter, I was left with a number of questions.

But all in all a good read, and one that makes you think past the title. [Emma Tazewell].

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Confessions of a Grown Up by Stephanie Calman; Mama Lama Ding Dong by Ayun Halliday.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 27, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 22, 2006 7:33 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Practical Magic

Based on the book by Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic is the story of sisters and witches, Sally (Nicole Kidman) and Gillian (Sandra Bullock) who live in a small town with their aunts (played entertainingly by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing). As is often the case with sisters in fiction, they’re opposites: Sally is the free-spirited one and Gillian the more serious homebody.

A curse on the female members of the family means any man who falls in love with them will die and the curse has already done away with Sally’s husband. When Gillian gets into trouble with an abusive boyfriend (played by ER’s foxy Dr Kovac, Goran Visnjic) it brings a sexy cop (Aidan Quinn) into their lives.

This is a great girly film (and not just because of Visnjic and Quinn). It’s funny, a bit scary, a bit soppy and well-acted throughout. A good film to watch of a cold winter’s night!

Friday Flick archives

Posted by Keris on December 22, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (3)

December 20, 2006 1:26 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon

The title page of The Goddess Guide says ‘Gisele Scanlon, a writer, illustrator and seeker of all things stylish and eclectic, has exhausted her passport and gathered together the best of her findings into one unique collection ... From the practical to the frivolous, the fun to the profound, the stylish to the surprising ... sprinkle a little Goddess magic into you life.’ I couldn’t have put it better myself (which is why I didn’t bother.)

Chapters include Style, Beauty, Travel, Home, Havin’ Fun, Joie de Vivre and Pillow Talk and are illustrated with photographs, drawings, hand-written notes from such style luminaries as Serena and Joe from Agent Provocateur and Tracey Emin (although I can’t read her writing at all.

Absolutely packed with information and tips; it’s practically an encyclopedia of 21st Century style. It looks and feels gorgeous and it has clearly been a labour of love on the part of Ms Scanlon.

Some of the tips and recommendations are beyond me - I won’t be spending $38,000 to get my teeth done by Sarah Michelle Gellar’s New York dentist any time soon - but it’s no more aspirational than most women’s glossies and there is great advice within for everyone, whatever their age, earnings or lifestyle. Indispensible.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try The Shops by India Knight

Posted by Keris on December 20, 2006 in Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 19, 2006 2:20 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Santa, Baby by Jennifer Crusie, Lori Foster and Carly Phillips

Sometimes there's a book I just can't wait to read, and I never learn not to over-hype it to myself, in case I get disappointed... this was the case with Santa, Baby. It's Jennifer Crusie! It's Christmas themed! I'll love it, right?!

Well... maybe. Despite the cover, which gives huge prominence to the big draw that is Jennifer Crusie, this book is actually three novellas with a Christmas theme in one handy holiday volume.

And as I was reading, I couldn't help wishing that the book was another great Crusie novel, instead...

The collection opens with Hot Toy, Crusie's novella, which is light but very entertaining, well-written with an unpredictable storyline. As always, she has great ideas and tight plotting and it's very definitely Christmas-themed. It's not as good as her novels, but as a light seasonal treat, very enjoyable. Then we have Christmas Bonus by Lori Foster and Naughty Under the Mistletoe by Carly Philips and... meh. Firstly, they could have been set at any time of the year with just a few Christmas details thrown in later, unlike Crusie's story which is seeped in a seasonal theme (with a sexy spy thrown in for good measure).

I found the two non-Crusie stories (sorry, novellas- and that's part of the problem- they were more like stories streeeetched out to become mini-novels, without the plot to back it up) very cliched and hard to believe or relate to: this is a world where you know someone intimately and make plans to be with them forever after just one night, and where a man repeatedly calling you "sweetheart" is endearing rather than deeply patronising. Of the two, I slightly preferred Naughty Under the Mistletoe, partly because it didn't have  fifty pages of sex (I'm not exaggerating- call me Prudey McPruderson but I like something left to the imagination, especially as this occasionally missed the mark- "donned a rubber"? Sounds safe, but not sexy... and flickering tongues just remind me of lizards I'm afraid!) but didn't think either of these stories were anything special or managed to capture any real emotion. And there was too much telling and not enough showing ("how could any man get inside her when she'd feared emotional closeness would result in unhealthy dependence?"- who thinks like that?!)

If you like a predictable romance story that you don't need to think about, you might enjoy them, but they weren't my cup of tea, and I'd recommend just reading Hot Toy to get you in the holiday mood- then, as with a box of champagne truffles on Christmas morning (she hinted), exercising some restraint and leaving the rest- for your own good.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Don't look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Meyer.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 19, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 3/5, Romance, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 18, 2006 5:33 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Meg Cabot

My co-ed Keris out-and-out worships (well, pretty much!) the lovely Ms. Cabot, and I think she's a darn fine YA and chick-lit author too, so we were delighted when the Princess Diaries author took part in the famous (hey, it could be!) Trashionista author interview...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Princess Diaries, Seventh Heaven, is the seventh book in the Princess Diaries series.

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

On my 12 inch PowerBook G4, in bed.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

I'm a big fan of Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series, Megan Crane's English as a Second Language, Valerie Frankel's Hex and the Single Girl, Susan Juby's Alice series, and Michele Jaffe's Bad Kitty.

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

Princess Leia Organa from Star Wars. Because she's socially conscious AND a dead shot with a laser gun (and she understands keeping your hair out of your eyes while shooting stormtroopers is important).

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

Write all the time. Never stop sending out your stuff. And remember that the first Princess Diaries got rejected seventeen times before my current publisher finally bought it.

What are you reading at the moment?

Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto.

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

Princess Diaries 9 (there are only going to be 10 full-length books in total, so we're almost at the end), in which everything that occurs in After Eight, Princess Diaries 8 (out in January) finally sinks in. [We'll be reviewing 8, 9 and 10, no doubt!- Diane]

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

There is no question I have never been asked. There are questions I can't believe I've been asked--such as the time a guy asked me if I'm still upset, like my character Princess Mia, that my boobs are so small--but I've been asked them all. By the way, the answer no...my boobs may be small, but they are spectacular.

[That's a Teri-Hatcher's-guest-spot-on Seinfeld reference, fact fans!]

Thanks Meg!

Meg's fabulous site / Interview archives

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 18, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

MORE ON MONDAY: Feel by Chris Heath

A few years ago I read Literally, a biography of The Pet Shop Boys by Chris Heath. It was utterly compelling, brilliantly written and totally transporting. So I was excited to see that Chris Heath had written a biography of Robbie Williams, whom I lurve.

I was a bit worried it wouldn’t meet the high standard set by Literally, but Feel is everything I expected and more. It's not just a biography of a star, it's a meditation on - and expose of - celebrity and modern culture. And it's really very funny.

Chris Heath got to know Robbie extremely well and has captured brilliantly the contradictions that, in my opinion, make Robbie such a fascinating character. For example, if Robbie values his privacy as highly as he claims, why did he agree to a journalist spending a year with him and writing a book which includes intensely private moments and emotions? You don’t get any answers (well, not many), just more questions about why anyone would choose to be famous in this age of total celebrity obsession.

Feel is a brilliantly written, thought-provoking, gripping, funny book. Whether you love, like, hate, or are indifferent to Robbie Williams, I highly recommend you read it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn

More on Monday archives

Posted by Keris on December 18, 2006 in British Authors, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Richard and Judy | Permalink | Comments (4)

December 15, 2006 3:32 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: About Last Night

About Last Night is an eighties film based on a David Mamet play called Sexual Perversity in Chicago. It stars a very young (and quite disturbingly pretty) Rob Lowe along with Demi Moore, Jim Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins. It was my absolute favourite film when I was about 14 and I can still recite chunks of it now, even though - until yesterday - I hadn’t seen it for years.

It’s the story of Debbie (Moore) and Danny (Lowe) who meet, sleep together, fall in love and move in together. And then things start going wrong. It’s funny, sexy and cheesy in the way only an 80s movie can be (there are three of those so-bad-they’re-good musical montages beloved of the films of that decade), but it does actually have some interesting things to say about relationships.

Plus Rob Lowe takes his clothes off rather a lot (there’s a shower scene I can remember wearing out the video’s pause button on) and there's even a very early appearance by an almost-unrecognisable Megan Mullally!

If you didn’t see it at the time (and if not, why not?), watch it now. You won’t be sorry.

Friday Flick archives

Posted by Keris on December 15, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reading "Will and Grace"

One of my favourite shows of all time finished earlier this year: Will and Grace. Yes, it should really have been called Jack and Karen, but this show about a gay man, his best friend and their best friends was consistently funny over eight seasons.

I'm guessing that since it's only just finished, more books may be on the way, but currently there's just a guide called "Will and Grace": Fabulously Uncensored with all the usual guide stuff - interviews, deleted scenes, photos, plus the scoop on the special guests (Matt Damon was my favourite).

And I know it's not book-related, but I was excited to find out that Megan Mullally who played Karen has a CD out called Big As a Berry. Intriguing.

Related posts: Chick Lit Authors' Favourite TV Shows / Reading ... Desperate Housewives / Alias / Friends / Sex and the City / Angel / Dawson's Creek / The O.C. / Gilmore Girls / Veronica Mars / Grey's Anatomy / The West Wing / The Sopranos

Posted by Keris on December 15, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: In Between Men by Mary Castillo

Remember when we told you about Latina Lit (way back in August)? Well, Mary Castillo is the Latina Lit queen. Her second novel, In Between Men, is about Isa who has just been unlucky enough to be voted the un-sexiest woman alive by the students at the high school where she teaches. At first she’s not concerned - she’s got more important things to worry about than her appearance, like her job and her son - but when she meets Alex and starts receiving advice from a hallucination of Joan Collins, she realises it may well be time for a makeover.

Alex isn’t interested in Isa. He’s not interested in a relationship at all, and particularly not with the mother of one of the kids he coaches in soccer, but when Isa gets knocked out by the ball at a game, Alex feels responsible enough to take her out to dinner. And when he sees the post-makeover Isa, he starts to change his mind.

With its reluctant-to-love main characters and far-fetched and hilarious supporting characters, In Between Men reminded me a lot of Jennifer Crusie. There’s a subplot with Isa’s ex-husband which I didn’t entirely enjoy, perhaps because knowing she used to be married to such an unbelievable loser made me lose a little bit of regard for Isa (but I should give her a break because she was only 18) and I occasionally found it a little confusing and had to go back and reread certain scenes, but I think that was because there’s just so much going on.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. Isa is wonderful, Alex is gorgeous and I can’t wait to read more from Mary Castillo.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Posted by Keris on December 15, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 14, 2006 12:54 PM

THURSDAY THREE: You never forget your first love

I married my first love so there’s no chance of me forgetting him (he’s always here!), but many chick lit heroines (and some heroes) aren’t so lucky. They make the mistake of giving up “the one,” but that’s all the more fun for us because we get to read what happens when they bump into them again ...

In Lani Diane Rich's The Comeback Kiss, Finn returns to the town he grew up in and where he left his first love, Tessa, without even saying goodbye. A lot has changed, but Tessa hasn't and as soon as Finn sees her, he knows it's going to be hard to leave again.

My Favourite Mistake by Beth Kendrick is about Faith, who returns to her hometown to help her younger sister and runs into her childhood sweetheart, Flynn. Faith rejected Flynn's marriage proposal ten years earlier, but finds that her feelings for him are as strong as ever. 

Carry on over the cut for more first love ...

Emmy left her fiance while he was asleep in a hotel room. Three years later, she's forced to return home and unsurprisingly afraid of running into her ex. She does, of course ... and you can read all about it in Laura Dave's London is the Best City in America.

Have I forgotten any? Fancy sharing your own first love story with us? (Go on, it's Christmas!)

Thursday Three archives

Posted by Keris on December 14, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

December 13, 2006 3:17 PM

Book-inspired outfits!

If you're struggling for inspiration for what to wear for all the Christmas parties you've got lined up (you're not really planning on staying in with a book, are you?) then look no further than our sister site, Catwalk Queen, who have brilliantly put together some book-inspired outfits.

The Babysitters Club is probably your best bet for a party, but the Nancy Drew and the Enid Blyton would be fabulous for family visits. Genius.

Related posts: Nancy Drew book bags / Reading is sexy T-shirt

Posted by Aigua Media on December 13, 2006 in Book related, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 12, 2006 7:16 PM

The first chick-lit book...

What do you think it was?

Jennifer Weiner has said before (on her blog) that chick lit all started with cult '70s classic Sheila Levine is dead and living in New York by Gail Parent, but it's often said that chick lit didn't begin until the 1990s, with landmark books like Bridget Jones's Diary and Watermelon... On the other hand, some people consider Pride and Prejudice the first chick lit novel! And where does Sex and the City fit in? Or books like Heartburn and Postcards from the Edge?

What do you think- which one would you call the original chick lit, and does it matter? I've got a feeling this debate could run and run...

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 12, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 8, 2006 8:09 PM

Diane's "Top 10 books I reviewed this year"

Trashionista's Top 100 Extravaganza! continues...

I've reviewed A LOT of books since I started writing for Trashionista back in July, and here are my top ten favourites - do you agree that these are some fabulous reads? What are your top reads of 2006? I'm making myself abide by two rules:

As I've already written about the top 10 non-fiction chick lit books, I'm going to stick to my fictional faves and

No re-reads or old favourites allowed - only books I read for the first time this year!

With that in mind, here's my top 10 for 2006, with what I said about each in quotes...

10. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. A classic novel with an engaging heroine and a lot to say. "Based in early twentieth-century Brooklyn, it tells the story of Francie Nolan and her family’s fight to get by in a time without electricity, a welfare system, or even windows in the bedrooms of their tiny apartment.  Francie lives with her hard-working mother, hard-drinking father and younger brother Neely in a slum neighbourhood of the city. If all that sounds depressing, it isn’t... If you want a compelling story that teaches you something, this is a great read, and despite its size, a fast one."

9. Singeltini by Amanda Trimble. Fun, fast-paced, a bit farcical but a very enjoyable read in a fabulous cover! "Singletini is pretty standard, fairytale-ending chick-lit but written in a fast and compelling style, (perhaps as a result of the author's time in advertising?) that never becomes boring... This is Amanda Trimble's debut novel - I'd definitely like to read more."

8. Twenty Times a Lady by Karyn Bosnak. Great premise and a very well-written, fun story! "A fast, funny and very enjoyable love story/road-trip novel. Whilst you may be able to predict how the book will end, you won't predict how Delilah gets there - and that's the mark of a good writer. The book speeds along, and there's a lot of surprises on the way to a happy ending. I loved the fact that the main character is a risk-taker, not afraid to seem stupid- and brave in sharing her feelings. And I frequently found myself snorting with laughter at her remarks!"

7. The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner. Weiner's latest is actually a collection of short stories... and very good it is too. "Despite some stories being stronger than others, the book works as a whole and is very entertaining.  It's a treat for Jennifer Weiner fans who love her previous work, but newbies would get a lot out of it, too.  Although I raced through (er, I mean savoured slowly!) the stories, my favourite part of the book was actually the "Notes on Stories" at the back of the book, sharing some of the gossip behind the writing process."

6. Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane. Okay, so I'm cheating a little with this one, as Keris actually reviewed it - but then she lent it to me quick-smart and I adored it too! The best new chick-lit writer of the year, no doubt. Said Keris, " Full of pop culture references and more than I ever needed to know about the disgusting things wait staff to rude customers, Stupid and Contagious is extremely funny, it made me cry and when I finished it I could happily have turned back to the first page and started it again. One of the best chick lit books I've ever read." I concur.

What will the top 5 be? Carry on over the cut to find out!

5. How I Paid For College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theatre by Marc Acito. I'm allowing a man to infiltrate the sacred top 5, because this book was just so, so good! Original, inventive, fresh and packed full of sex, theft, friendship and musical theatre it perfectly captures the feeling of 80s teen flicks. "How I paid for College… is a fabulous, over-the-top, brilliantly written, laugh-a-minute American lad-lit (is that enough adjectives yet?!) novel that I can’t recommend enough to anyone with a sense of humour and a pulse."

4. The Vanishing Point by Mary Sharratt. Not precisely chick-lit, but with strong heroines and a killer plot, it's not to be missed.  "More than anything, this book is haunting, and stayed with me long after the final heart-wrenchingly unpredictable twist revealed the truth I'd been waiting all novel to find out."

3. A Boy of Good Breeding by Miriam Toews. A warm, funny and poignant story, wonderfully written. Nothing much happens, but it keeps you hooked all the same. "There's occasional silliness and moments of great humour, but written in a wry, observant way that's always intelligent and never carries a joke too far.  It's easy to believe in this quaint little town with its slightly unusual residents... A Boy of Good Breeding is superbly written and the kind of book you want to re-read immediately."

2. Plotting for Beginners by Sue Hepworth and Jane Linfoot. Brilliantly-written and heartfelt hen-lit for the over-50s, I loved this very funny book. "Plotting for Beginners is a wonderfully funny novel about starting again after your children have left home, your husband is AWOL and you want to fulfill your dreams...  found this an enormously satisfying, well-written and perfectly-plotted novel with a main character who's as lovable and funny as Bridget Jones - if a tad more prone to a hot flush..." Look out for an interview with the authors in the new year!

Finally, number 1 in my list, and my heart, for 2006, is...

1. Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson! The book I've been boring all my friends and family about! My read of the year hits the perfect balance between a pacey, exciting storyline and real emotion, and it made me laugh, cry and gape at the quality of the writing. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy it. "Dealing with themes of abandonment, betrayal, family loyalties and nature vs. nurture, this novel is addictive, thought-provoking reading that's practically perfect in every way.  I defy you not to fall in love with it!"

Trashionista Top 100 Extravanganza! archives / Joshilyn Jackson interview.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 8, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Opinion, Recent Release, Romance, Top 100 Extravaganza! | Permalink | Comments (4)

MOVIE NEWS: The Innocent Man

George Clooney has bought the screen rights to John Grisham's recent non-fiction book "The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town."

"The Innocent Man" is the true story of a gross miscarriage of justice that sent Ron Williamson to Oklahoma's death row for 11 years for a murder he did not commit. Clooney will produce the movie, but there’s no news yet on whether he’ll also star and/or direct.

With this purchase, Clooney has sealed himself a place on Trashionista’s list of literature-loving stars, which includes Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst and Scarlett Johanssen. Previously, Clooney’s appeared in The Good German by Joseph Kanon, The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger, Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard and The Thin Red Line by James Jones.

But if you think bringing you this news wasn’t at least partially motivated by the urge to look at a pic of George Clooney looking handsome, you’re kidding yourself.

Movie news archives

Posted by Keris on December 8, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Movie News, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 7, 2006 7:18 PM

BOOK REVIEW: What Would Murphy Brown Do? by Allison Klein

Murphy Brown was a 1990s TV show, hugely successful in the US, but less well-known in the UK. The titular character was a tough female journalist and in What Would Murphy Brown Do? Allison Klein examines not only Murphy, but a number of other strong and influential women TV characters, from Roseanne to Ellen to Rachel in Friends.

Starting with "the first overtly feminist sitcom", The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Klein looks at every aspect of women on TV, from the life of the unmarried sitcom woman to body image and ageing to women behind the scenes, supported by quotes from the shows themselves.

I found the essays "Doing 'It' for Fun: The New TV Sexuality" and "The Wonder of Womanhood: TV Friendship" to be the most interesting, but it's all thought-provoking stuff and it also means I've added Roseanne, The Golden Girls and Kate and Allie to my DVD wishlist.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Welcome to Wisteria Lane ed. by Leah Wilson

Television archives

Posted by Keris on December 7, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

Read mum-lit novel The Mummybiz online... as it's written

Fiction and non-fiction about the trials (and joys, of course!) of motherhood are hugely popular now, allowing women with children to share their feelings / read books they can relate to.

Now, as part of Time for Mum, a motherhood website, novel The Mummybiz is being published online as it's written, allowing readers the chance to influence edits and get a sneak peek at what could be a future classic of the 'overwhelmed mum' genre!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 7, 2006 in Book News, Book Websites, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 5, 2006 8:22 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Laura Zigman

This week we turn the spotlight on Laura Zigman. Laura grew up in Massachusetts, and after graduating from university spent ten years working as a publicist in the New York publishing industry.

She spent five years writing Animal Husbandry (while working full-time) and the film rights were bought before it was even published. On publication in 1998 it became a national bestseller and (along with Bridget Jones's Diary and Marian Keyes's Watermelon) was one of the earliest books to be described as chick lit. The film based on the book, Animal Attraction (also known as Someone Like You and one of our Top 10 chick lit film adaptations) starred Ashley Judd and Hugh Jackman.

Laura’s second novel, Dating Big Bird (which, in contrast to Animal Husbandry, Laura wrote in three months!), came out in 2000, and her third, Her, followed in 2002. Her long-awaited new book, Piece of Work, came out in September this year and has been optioned by Tom Hanks' production company with My Big Fat Greek Wedding's Nia Vardalos set to both write the screenplay and star in the movie.

Laura currently lives outside Boston with her husband and young son.

Carry on over the cut for Laura’s bibliography and look out for our interview with Laura coming up in Super Interview Month!

Animal Husbandry
Dating Big Bird
Her
Piece of Work

Listen to Laura talk about Piece of Work on eyeonbooks.com

Spotlight archives

Posted by Keris on December 5, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

New York panel talks up chick lit

Book insiders Galleycat report today that "Attendees at the Small Press Center's book fair last weekend might have been surprised to see a panel scheduled for Saturday afternoon on chick lit..." 

But it sounds like a great and very positive discussion, in which authors including Sarah Mlynowski and (editor of This is Chick Lit) Lauren Baratz Logsted emphasised the wide variety of chick lit available, and the fact that it's not just about mindless bimbos who love shoes. Not that there's anything wrong with loving shoes... or writing for them, for that matter!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 5, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Me vs Me by Sarah Mlynowski

Sarah Mlynowski's Me vs Me has been compared to the Gwyneth Paltrow film Sliding Doors and the premise is similar. Just before Gabby is about to leave Arizona for her dream job in New York, her boyfriend Cam proposes. She loves Cam, but she really wants to move to New York and he won’t even consider it. Frightened of making the wrong decision, Gabby wishes she could do both and suddenly finds herself living two lives: one in New York and the other in Arizona. The difference between Me vs Me and Sliding Doors is that Gabby knows about both her lives: every night after going to bed in one life, she wakes up in the other and lives each day twice. And for a while it works out fine ...

Gabby’s New York life seems to be going swimmingly - if you ignore Heather the psycho roommate and the fact that Gabby misses Cam. She’s great at her news producing job (having only just mentioned the novelty of a chick lit heroine who’s good at her job, here’s another - I hope it’s a trend) even if her boss is getting a little over-familiar. She’s even losing weight and she’s stopped biting her nails.

Meanwhile her Arizona life gets worse and worse thanks to Cam’s beyond-controlling mother taking over the wedding plans. Arizona is a nightmare and her nails are a mess, but at least there she’s got Cam.

Gabby has literally got the best of both worlds, but before too long she realises she has to choose - in other words, she’s back where she started.

I really loved this book. It’s an original and interesting idea, entertainingly executed. I preferred the New York side of the story - I found Arizona-Gabby too irritatingly spineless (even though she’s aware that she is) plus I could happily have battered mother-in-law Alice to death with her own wedding binder (on the plus side, it takes real skill to create a character this infuriating!). The only sour note for me was Cam. In the Arizona half he is such a controlling, patronising mummy’s boy that I didn’t want Gabby to end up with him in either life.

I’ve enjoyed almost all of Sarah Mlynowski’s books, but with Me vs Me and the fab All About Rachel series, she really is at the top of her game.

Rating 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Enchanted Inc by Shanna Swendson

Related posts: See Jane Write review / Chick lit for little chicks / As Seen on TV review / CNN on chick lit

Posted by Keris on December 5, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Supernatural | Permalink | Comments (6)

December 4, 2006 11:51 AM

Marian Keyes on Strictly Come Dancing

Remember Diane told us about Marian Keyes on Strictly Come Dancing last week? Well it's now turned up on YouTube (as everything eventually does) and it seemed remiss not to share it with you.

In her newsletter, Marian also revealed that she'd been asked to be a contestant on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, saying, "I’ve never been so glad that I said no. Kangaroo’s bits. God no."

Marian Keyes archives

Posted by Keris on December 4, 2006 in Book related, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes | Permalink | Comments (3)

December 3, 2006 8:43 PM

Lisa Jewell in Eve magazine

January's Eve magazine includes an advert for a "How to write your own novel" workshop to be held in London on Saturday 3 March 2007. The workshop will not only include advice from an agent, an editor and a marketing director, but also British author Lisa Jewell, who will be on hand to talk about getting started, securing an agent and the highs and lows of being an author. More information here.

And that's not all. The February issue includes a free copy of Lisa's wonderful book, Vince & Joy.

Posted by Keris on December 3, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 1, 2006 12:26 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Welcome to Wisteria Lane ed. by Leah Wilson

As you might guess from the title, Welcome to Wisteria Lane is a Desperate Housewives-themed collection of essays, by the people who brought you Flirting with Pride and Prejudice and This is Chick Lit.

Of the three books, I think this one is actually my favourite! A whole book about the inhabitants of Wisteria Lane, especially in the show's off-season (as it is now in the UK) is a wonderful treat, like curling up in front of a winter's fire with a cup of hot chocolate... which, now that I think about it, is a good way to read this book... Essays by authors including Shanna Swendson, Lani Diane Rich and Deanna Carlyle explore everything from the hazards of suburban living, to the best housewife role model, to a deconstruction of how cultural differences affect the way the show plays in different countries.

I found all of this very entertaining, and a lot of the essays made me think deeper than I expected- I came away from the book thinking that yes, Lynette is more selfish than I thought! And yes! I have been too hard on Edie, and yes! the men of Wisteria Lane are some weak caricatures... My Favourite essays were Lani Diane Rich's, "Why the best nighttime soap ever is not a nighttime soap, dammit" (about the programme's great writing), Beth Kendrick's "Growing up Wisteria" (the kids of Wisteria Lane) and Sarah Zettel's "Something familiar, something peculiar" (about why men love watching the show).

There were a couple of essays I liked a little less- including one that got too silly for my liking,  and one which got too serious- but which other people might enjoy, so it seems unfair to single them out. As a whole, it's a very strong book, providing a great, intelligent and often very fun insight into 'the Lane' that DH fans will love.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Burnt Toast by Teri Hatcher.

*DID YOU KNOW?* You can catch up with any episodes you've missed on the Channel 4 site.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 1, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 30, 2006 8:00 PM

THURSDAY THREE: Marriage and mayhem

Almost everyone I know is getting married lately, and it got me thinking about the number of books devoted to the subject of weddings- especially the ones with madness and mayhem involved! Here are three picks of the bunch- but feel free to read on and suggest your own...

Laura Wolf's Diary of a Mad Bride is a "will there be a wedding disaster or won't there?" classic. Amy vows that when she gets married, she'll be far more level-headed than her taffeta-obsessed engaged girlfriends. But when her boyfriend proposes, she finds she's just as bad as everyone else: "Marriages are made in heaven - but weddings are made in hell...What is it about getting married that can turn a sophisticated, level-headed woman into an obsessed wreck?" A great fast and funny farce- just don't use Amy as your role model...!

Carry on over the cut for more wedding fun...

The next book is about a sister of the bride, rather than a mad bride... If you hated the Debra Messing film The Wedding Date (everyone I know who's seen it does!) then don't be put off by the book it's based on- they're nothing alike! Liz Young's Asking for Trouble is about Sophy, who doesn't have a date for her sister's wedding, so asks an attractive escort to accompany her... of course, things don't go quite to plan!

Finally, Marry Me by Carey Marx is the true-life story of a comedian's quest to find true love and get married... within six months! It's very, very funny- but you'll have to read it to see if he achieves his goal...

What are your favourite marriage/wedding themed books?

Thursday Three archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 30, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Memoirs, Modern Fiction, Non Fiction, Recent Release, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Daughter of the Bride by Francesca Segre

Just managed to sneak another NaNovember author review in! Francesca Segre's Daughter of the Bride features Daniella, a financial reporter on Wall Street who, unlike many chick lit heroines, is actually good at her job. She's intelligent and articulate - no Bridget Jones style snafus for Daniella. But. She's single and she really doesn't want to be, so when her mother announces she's getting married, Daniella's not sure how she feels about it. Basically, she doesn't think it's right that her mother should be getting married before her.

Daniella's family lives in San Francisco and so she finds herself flying back and forth to help her mother choose a dress and a caterer and a florist, etc. Back in New York, Daniella dates various men, always looking for her idealistic IB (Imaginary Boyfriend). At one point, one of her boyfriends tells her that she's holding back in the relationship and that he's not sure she's ready to get settle down and get serious, that she doesn't really want it, she's too busy being herself and "chasing dreams of perfection." I would have preferred to see more of this insight from Daniella instead of her immediately thinking every man she meets could be "the one" and then constantly being disappointed. I was actually quite disappointed that, although Daniella states she doesn't need a man to validate her in her work, in her personal life she definitely seems to feel like she's less valuable because she's single.

The book doesn't really have much in the way of plot and I'm afraid I was bored by all the marriage plans. (I found planning my own wedding tedious, so I was bound to lose interest in planning a fictional wedding.) There are some lovely characters though. I particularly liked Daniella's brothers, Max and Enrico, and would have liked to see more of them. In fact, I enjoyed the book more whenever Daniella was in San Francisco. There was something I found almost claustrophobic about the New York scenes.

The main problem I think I had with Daughter of the Bride was that it was strangely humourless. Searching for a man may not be a comedy topic in reality, but reading about it without the relief of laughter is actually quite hard work and I found myself scanning quite often.

That said, Francesca Segre writes beautifully so I'll definitely check out her next book and if you're planning a wedding - either for yourself or your mother! - you'll probably enjoy Daughter of the Bride more than I did.

Rating 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Why Girls Are Weird by Pamela Ribon

Francesca's guest blog / Francesca's author interview

Posted by Keris on November 30, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, NaNovember, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (4)

November 29, 2006 5:12 PM

BOOK NEWS: I Want Those Shoes

The ladies over on our sister site Shoewawa were very excited to hear about a new shoe-related book that I think Trashionista fans will like, too. Obviously, we like to read about something other than shoes occasionally, but a book about why women love shoes sounds fantastic - and even more so if I can put my feet up whilst reading it, instead of hobbling around in punishingly high heels just to look good... not that I don't do that too, on occasion! Anyway, the book in question is called I Want Those Shoes and it's by Paola Jacobbi...

Visit the Shiny Fashion Forum for more hot shoe chat and buying advice!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 29, 2006 in Book News, Book related, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 28, 2006 12:26 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Sarah Mason

Having just learned that she's got a new book out next year - and because we've loved all of her books so far - I thought I'd shine this week's spotlight on Sarah Mason.

Aged 25, Sarah started an enormously successful company importing gourmet popcorn from America (she was once voted one of the top five British entrepreneurs). She started writing after selling the business.

Her first novel, Playing James, was published in 2002 and Sarah became the first-ever first-time novelist to win the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year award. Playing James was followed by The Party Season and High Society. (All three books got a 5 out of 5 rating from Trashionista!)

Sarah's new novel, Sea Fever, is due out in July 2007 and is described by her publishers as "Sun, sea, sailing, and sex ... [following] the scandal, gossip, drama and fun of an America's Cup regatta."

Sarah lives in Cheltenham with her husband and daughter.

Carry on over the cut for Sarah's bibliography.

Playing James
The Party Season (Party Girl in the US)
High Society (Society Girls in the US)

See Sarah talking about High Society and The Party Season on Meet the Author.

Posted by Keris on November 28, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Prize Winners, Romance, Series, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

Marian Keyes news- she's on Strictly and on film!

Anyone who watched Strictly Come Dancing's sister show It Takes Two yesterday will have seen footage of the lovely Marian Keyes behind the scenes on Saturday's SCD, giving her unique take on the series- inspecting the underwear arrangements inside the girls' dresses (not whilst anyone was wearing them, I hasten to add!) and screaming with such excitement at meeting Lilia - she almost provoked the poor girl to need a restraining order. Then she treated us to a little of her dancing... hmm. All in all, very entertaining. If barmy.

AND! Did you know that there's a film of her novel Last Chance Saloon? If you did, you're more informed than I am! Called ‘Au secours j’ai trente ans’ (which Babelfish translates - I suspect a little too literally - as "With the help I am thirty years old") it's a French film that sadly doesn't have a subtitled version available on English or American Amazon, but you can buy a copy via the French version of the site. A reviewer there only gave it 2/5, but Marian says in Further Under the Duvet that she thinks it's a very good adaptation - and you can't say fairer than that!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 28, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Television | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: BreakupBabe by Rebecca Agiewich

At last, a review of one of NaNovember authors' books!  Rebecca Agiewich's BreakupBabe started out as a blog, which Rebecca then fictionalised both to add a plot and - I'm conjecturing here - to avoid getting sued.  Because I am so incredibly nosey, books like this drive me mad.  I want to know which parts are true and which are made up, dammit!

Rebecca Rachel works for a software company as a technical editor.  She's just had a horrendous break-up with a guy she works with.  She's not handling it well and she starts a blog to try and process her feelings.  And the blog, as blogs are wont to do, starts to really help.  But then it's discovered by her colleagues and things fall apart.  Plus Rachel starts writing a book based on her blog.  This book, in fact.  You can see how this is confusing.   

Along with the story of Rachel's break-up (or "The Great Unpleasantness", as Rachel calls it) and her problems at work, we also hear all about Rachel's dating escapades.  These aren't the kind of so-bad-they're-funny dating stories you sometimes get; they're more real and hopeful and painful.  With each new man I was rooting for Rachel and hated seeing her disappointed over and over again. 

(If anyone has read Jennifer Crusie's Anyone But You, the BreakupBabe story reminds me a lot of the book Nina's friend is writing about her dating experiences.  Remember the publisher suggests she fictionalise it to include a more hopeful ending?)

Although I think Rebecca Agiewich is a really talented writer, I sometimes found her style a bit affected.  I also could have done with less about the medications Rachel was on, but that's probably personal preference. 

As for which parts are true, it doesn't matter, of course.  BreakupBabe feels true, and that's the most important thing. 

Rating 4 out of 5

Like this? Try I'm Celibate, Get Me Out of Here by Jo Elliott

Did you know? Rebecca is still writing the Breakup Babe blog

Don't forget! It's not too late to enter our competition to win a copy of BreakupBabe

Posted by Keris on November 28, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, NaNovember, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Plotting for Beginners by Sue Hepworth and Jane Linfoot

Despite the title, Plotting for Beginners by Sue Hepworth and Jane Linfoot isn't a writing guide, but, as the subtitle says, 'a novel for new beginnings.' Sally Howe and her husband are spending a year apart, as he wants to live in a cabin in the American wilderness and she wants to write a novel and launch a career in journalism. Says Sally, "Women reach fifty and think they're on the verge of liberation and excitement, and their broken-down men just want to stay home and fart. Or in my case, go and live in a cabin in the Rockies and fart."

On dropping Gus off at the airport, however, Sally is shocked that he considers the Rockies just the start of his overseas adventures - the year after, he's thinking of Australia! So instead of happily singing along to Fred Astaire and facing a self-indulgent year ahead, Sally spends the journey home worrying about the possible disintegration of her marriage - and its effect on her writing plans...

She soon finds out she won't be as alone as she thought, when her newly-separated brother comes to stay (and insists on keeping interrupting her writing for her opinion on his DIY), her youngest son keeps coming home for a visit and her brother's attractive single friend keeps calling in to see her...

Plotting for Beginners is a wonderfully funny novel about starting again after your children have left home, your husband is AWOL and you want to fulfill your dreams. I loved Sally's voice, the diary format, the secondary characters and the  book as a whole. Anyone who's interested in writing, or lives in the same are of the country as Sally (or both, like me!) will find it especially entertaining, but they're by no means prerequisites for enjoying the book. Please don't think that the fact Sally is in her 50s means you won't relate to her - she's so likable that anyone will, and you'll be willing her on to literacy success, and laughing out loud at some of the ups and downs of her year alone. You'll also be hoping that she'll find a satisfactory solution to her relationship difficulties...

I found this an enormously satisfying, well-written and perfectly-plotted novel with a main character who's as lovable and funny as Bridget Jones - if a tad more prone to a hot flush...

Read it!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Sue Hepworth has a blog where you can even read a short-lived blog by main character Sally, and see pictures of some of the sites mentioned in the book- very postmodern! You can also find out more about the author...

Like this? Try Having it and Eating it by Sabine Durrant.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 28, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 27, 2006 2:55 PM

A toolkit that looks like a book

Another week, another something that looks like a book, but isn't. This time it's designed by that lovely Kirstie Allsop (presenter of Location, Location, Location). Kirstie has her own range of products, called Moving Sense, which include "Toolboox" - tool kits that look like books. Do you see?

The pic is of the Starter Tool Kit, but you can also get a Picture Hanging Kit and a Sewing Kit. As delightful and old-fashioned as Kirstie herself (as they'd probably say in the Radio Times).

Related: Reading is Sexy T-shirt / Book Bags / Nancy Drew Stationery / The Self Shelf / MP3 Player Cases

Posted by Keris on November 27, 2006 in Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

GUEST BLOG & GIVEAWAY: Jenna Bayley-Burke

Jenna Bayley-Burke is the last of our NaNovember guest bloggers (all together: ahhhh). Her book Just One Spark was written for NaNoWriMo and Jenna's been kind enough to give us a copy to give to a lucky Trashionista reader. Keep reading to find out how to win.

Just One Spark by Jenna Bayley-Burke

A fire fighter fit for a calendar caught me in the grocery store checkout line, two tantrum-prone toddlers ready to bolt. The man was a dream, both because of how he looked and because he stopped his day to talk with my boys, giving them stickers and a distraction so I could pay for seven gallons of milk. These are big toddlers, people.

Carry on over the cut for more from Jenna and to find out how to win a copy of Just One Spark.

Safely securing my beasts into the only thing that can hold them down – a five point harness car seat – I turned the radio up and headed for home, thinking that maybe that fire fighter should play a role in the novel I was starting the next day as part of my first NaNoWriMo, if only he hadn’t had a ring on his finger. No matter, I work in fiction and I had almost twelve hours to come up with a reason for the ring. Quite proud of myself I turned the radio up, Mindy McCready’s Maybe, Maybe Not coming across the front speakers (don’t want to damage the delicate eardrums of the screachers in the back) of my compact sedan.
 
What if … Mr. Hunk-of-the-Month had to explain the ring to a woman sitting on a washing machine in a Laundromat? Instantly, I was dying to write the scene. I stayed up until midnight (unheard of when you have a child who routinely wakes at four-twenty to begin his day) just to get the scene out. I didn't care about what came next, didn't plot a character arc or layer in symbolism. The story unfolded as I imagined what I would want to read if I picked the book up at the store and shelled out the change from my last trip through the Coffee People drive-thru.
 
The way I wrote False Alarm, my NaNo 2004 ‘winner’ that vaguely resembles Just One Spark, the book of the same characters now published by Mills & Boon, defies everything I’ve learned about novel writing since. If I’d known you never sell your first book, character motivation is the driving force of any story, and this is a hard business to break into, I never would have tried. Thank goodness for naivete.

Thanks, Jenna. To win a copy of Just One Spark, email us your name and address and put "Spark" in the subject line by 30th November 2006 (yes, that's the end of this week, so be quick!).

Read our interview with Jenna

Posted by Keris on November 27, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, NaNovember, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Joy Diet by Martha Beck

Martha Beck is not just a life coach, she's "Oprah Winfrey's life coach", and if you need a better recommendation than that, there's probably no helping you!

The Joy Diet isn't a weightloss diet. Martha explains in the introduction that she's using the original meaning of the word diet, "a way of living or thinking," and the book's subtitle is "10 daily practices for a happier life".  The thing I love about Martha Beck is though she's that very new agey thing - a life coach - she's profoundly practical.  She's also extremely funny. 

The ten practices (or "ingredients") of The Joy Diet are "nothing" (i.e. meditation), "truth" - telling the truth about your life and situation (you should also, as Martha puts it, "offer compassion to your inner lying scumbag"), "desire", "creativity", "risk", "treats" (my favourite), "play", "laughter", "connection" and "feasting".  See, Martha is all about being good to yourself and listening to your body (and soul) to work out what's wrong with your life and how you can make it right. 

It is impossible to read anything written by Martha Beck without feeling inspired.  She recommends that you work through the practices in order, making sure each one feels like second nature before moving on to the next.  I've had the book for years and I've never managed it (she flummoxed me by putting "nothing" - which she admits is the hardest one - first) but I will often pick the book up and read whichever chapter feels most meaningful to me at the time. 

I know I sound like an infomercial or something, but I really am evangelical about Ms Beck.  I first discovered her when I read an article she'd written on "seizing the day" in an American magazine.  It's absolutely not too strong to say it changed my life.  Her book, Finding Your Own North Star, is brilliant if you're still looking for your "right life", but if you are doing what you love and yet still feel a bit "bleh" then you need The Joy Diet.  (Even if you're not doing what you love, I'd still recommend The Joy Diet, but I'd suggest you run to a bookshop - or click like you've never clicked before - and buy Finding Your Own North Star first). 

Rating 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Gulp! by Gabriella Goddard

More on Monday archives

Posted by Keris on November 27, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mediabistro's 12-week novelist courses

NaNoWrimo is reaching its end - how are you all doing? Close to hitting 50,000 words, I hope? (My arms ache just thinking about it!) If you haven't quite made it, or you think three months is a much more sensible amount of time to write a novel in, you might be interested in the Media Bistro course, 12 Week Novelist: Chick Lit Edition. Nano specialist and friend of Trashionista Francesca Segre is teaching it, and it runs from January 10 - April 16. The only downside? You have to be living (or staying) in LA... There is a general 12-week novelist course which is available online, though.

Related posts: Introduction to NaNovember / The Three-Day novel / A Novel in a Year  / Novels that take a long time!

NaNovember archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 27, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, NaNovember | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 24, 2006 3:05 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Where the Heart Is

This made for TV movie is based on the best-selling book by Billie Letts. I'd never heard of either the film or the book so I didn't know what to expect. Natalie Portman is Novalee Nation who is abandoned, penniless and pregnant, in the carpark of WalMart by her loser boyfriend Willie Jack. With nowhere else to go she finds herself living in the WalMart for weeks, until her baby is born and she and "the WalMart baby" become local celebrities.

Novalee and her daughter, Americus, are taken in by the local community, including Sister Husband (Stockard Channing), Lexi (Ashley Judd) and Forney (James Frain) and start to build a life, interrupted by a series of tragedies (well it is a TV movie after all!).

Natalie Portman is mesmerising as Novalee. Never less than totally convincing, she's charming, independent, strong and sweet. Don't be fooled by Ashley Judd appearing on the cover of the DVD, this is Portman's movie. That's not to say Ashley Judd isn't great too; in fact there are a number of fabulous female performances : Stockard Channing, Joan Cusack and a sparkling cameo from Sally Field as Novalee's runaway mother.

We are occasionally updated on Novalee's loser boyfriend Willie Jack's whereabouts and misadventures and I actually found this unnecessary (I didn't care what happened to the fool), but that aside this is an enjoyable and intelligent feel-good film.

Posted by Keris on November 24, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

PREVIEW REVIEW: Singletini by Amanda Trimble

Normally on Trashionista, we review books that are available for everyone to buy (works well that way!) but sometimes we're lucky enough to get an advance copy of a lovely new novel, and we can't wait to tell you about it. So although Singletini by Amanda Trimble isn't available to buy in the UK until January 1st, it is available on pre-order at Amazon, so you could still pop a copy in your basket for a post-Xmas treat!

Singletini's main character Victoria Hart feels her life is a mess. At 25, she's disorganised, just lost her hated job in computer sales and is lost as to what to do next. All her friends' lives seem more sorted than hers - they have direction in their careers, and her great friend Gwynn has just got engaged, to Victoria's horror. She wants to be young, free and single - but the rate she's going fears she'll end up with nothing in her life. Then she spots an ad for a new, very well-paid job - as a "wingwoman". Her friends think it's akin to prostitution, but is it really?

Of course it's nothing quite so dramatic, but I loved the inventiveness of the idea - a wingwoman is someone a single man takes out with him to help him get dates or pull women. She breaks the ice with the women he fancies, talks him up (pretending to be a friend, sister or colleague) and when she succeeds in setting him up, gets paid very handsomely for doing so, plus expenses. But Victoria (of course!) discovers that the job isn't exactly easy money...

On top of all her work pressure, her friend Gwynn is expecting her to act as general dogsbody with all her wedding preparations (I actually got very interested in this subplot, which I thought could even have been expanded into a novel on its own, but I liked the fact that Singletini is fast and furious, with lots of storyline). Victoria's also trying to decide between two eligible bachelors - both of whom she met through work and wants for herself - and realising that she's spending most of the money she's making at her new job on upkeep for her glamorous new image.

Singletini is pretty standard, fairytale-ending chick-lit but written in a fast and compelling style, (perhaps as a result of the author's time in advertising?) that never becomes boring. The wingwoman idea is very creative and lends itself to lots of humor and interesting moral questions (none of which are really explored). What frustrated me a little about the book was a slight lack of depth - Victoria doesn't seem to have any realisation that her obsession with weight and shopping is shallow, or that 25 is too young to be worried about being alone forever, or that her friend's wedding planning behaviour (treating Victoria like a doormat) is unacceptable.  But she does make some changes in her life and becomes happier by the end of the book, and it's very entertaining escapism on the way.

This is Amanda Trimble's debut novel - I'd definitely like to read more.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella; Save Karyn by Karyn Bosnak.

Related: PREVIEW REVIEW: The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 24, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 23, 2006 6:22 PM

THURSDAY THREE: Big girls don't cry

The best kind of  weight-ishoos chick lit allows larger ladies in fiction to be empowered human beings with friends, confidence, love lives and careers - instead of sad little victims. As it's traditional stuff-your-face-day (Thanksgiving) in the US, and approaching traditional stuff-your-face-day (Christmas) in the UK, what better time to highlight heroines for whom fat is not a four-letter word... (You know what I mean!)

Classic in this sub-genre is Jennifer Weiner's Good In Bed. Cannie is a sexy, confident, attractive woman who is larger than life in every sense of the word. Sure, she has her confidence off-days (like when her boyfriend simultaneously dumps her and writes about her weightiness in a national magazine, with no prior warning). But her story isn't about weight loss, but finding happiness.

Carry on with me over the cut for more...

Louise Kean's The Perfect 10 is a bit different, as the main character has lost weight and gained a great figure - but she realises that perhaps her weight wasn't the cause of her problems in the first place... she must face up to what's really bothering her.

Conversations With The Fat Girl by Liza Palmer also explores the idea that weight loss might not be the answer to main character Maggie's happiness. Maybe she has to y'know, accept herself... then it won't mater what weight she is.

Let these women be a lesson to all of us - enjoy this holiday season, and try not to mentally beat yourself up, whatever your size!

Thursday Three archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 23, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (0)

Romance novel cover comedy

Part of the fun of romance novels is surely the fabulously OTT covers, no? Well a bloke called Longmire has had a bit of fun of his own, replacing the titles with more appropriate/descriptive/hilarious ones.

Click here and prepare to laugh until tea comes out of your nose (even if you haven't been drinking tea). Longmire has also encouraged readers to send in their own covers. (Kangaroo Gangbang is my favourite. Obviously.) [via Meg Cabot]

Posted by Keris on November 23, 2006 in Book related, Girly Stuff, Opinion, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA

Yep, another confession, but a fictional one this time. Applewood is a wealthy community in Long Island and if you're an Applewood mom you're no-one unless you're active in the PTA. When the woman of the PTA discover that a Hollywood studio is considering using the local school as a film location, they're excited about the prospects for the community. When they learn that the star of the film will be George Clooney, well, excitement is an understatement.

But the book isn't about George Clooney (although he does make the odd appearance), it's about the lives and friendships of three women - Maddie, Lisa and Ruth. All members of the PTA, all three women have problems. Maddie thinks her husband is having an affair and is considering some infidelity of her own. Lisa's alcoholic mother comes to live with her, throwing her organised life into disarray. Ruth's had enough of taking care of her husband, incapacitated after a stroke, and embarks on an affair of her own.

But the PTA is a dog eat dog world and other members are only too happy to use the movie project for their own manipulative ends. Can Maddie, Lisa and Ruth save the project and sort their own lives out?

Obviously any book about scandal in the suburbs will be compared to Desperate Housewives, but Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA reminded me more of the classic Peyton Place. Lisa, Maddie and Ruth are all interesting and entertaining characters - I loved Ruth in particular. It's a little predictable in parts, but it's otherwise a funny, compelling and well-written book. This is Ellen Meister's debut. I think her next book might just knock my socks off.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Goodnight, Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

Posted by Keris on November 23, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Will Write for Shoes by Cathy Yardley

In the midst of madness of NaNoWriMo, I'd bet my Versace specs that the chick-lit writers of tomorrow are going at it in their masses.

Writing, that is. What did you think I meant?

Being the not-so-proud owner of a feeble NaNo attempt myself, I'll admit that often, a guide book is required. It's not that the majority of us don't know our stuff (and personally I read and own so much chick-lit that I swear my cheapie Argos bookcase is about to explode and give me massive papercuts courtesy of the Shopaholic series) but hey, what's wrong with a bit of assistance?

Following Trashionista's recommendation of how-to chick-lit book See Jane Write, I must give credit to another title of similar nature: Will Write for Shoes - How to Write a Chick-Lit Novel, by Cathy Yardley.

It's pretty, it's pink, and more importantly, it's chock-full of writing tips for any aspiring chick-lit writer.

So, you want to write a girly masterpiece? Where to begin? Of course, those who read a lot of the genre obviously have a vague idea of where such a book should be heading. But if you're just starting out, Will Write for Shoes is a brilliant resource for your first-time writing needs. Yardley covers the brief history of the chick-lit genre, from its birth in the form of Bridget Jones to the recent bout of novels as the genre has burst forth with so much to offer.

There's also a handy 'Chick-Lit 101' detailing the traditional aspects of the chick-lit novel, along with advice on trends and the numerous cliches which get really old, really fast. So before you even THINK about putting that overly-camp gay hairdresser of a best friend into your novel for 'comic relief' - seriously reconsider. You have been warned.

Aside from the ever-so-handy tips on the genre itself: what it's all about, what to avoid and what can make one's novel prosper, the rest of this book reads quite like any other how-to writing guide, only with a sweet, candy-like covering. It doesn't go into immense detail but does provide some personal insights from the author, who has several published chick-lit books to her credit, and this made fascinating reading.

Topics such as agents, publishers and various steps of novel-writing are covered, each topic being well-written and fun to read. There's also a section covering various publishers, along with a handy contact list, though this is only a bonus if you're based in America. UK chicks will be forced to look elsewhere, I'm afraid! There's also a great FAQ chapter and a variety of samples (query letter, synopsis etc) to help you on your way to published success. (Although British readers beware! UK publishers usually want first three chapters, not a synopsis - so best to do your own research).

In any case, Will Write for Shoes is a fabulous addition to the bookshelf of any upcoming chick-lit writer. It can't guarantee you instant literary fame and a spot on the bestseller list, but it will certainly guide you on your way to creating a decent plot and - hopefully - a well-written first novel.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try See Jane Write by Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs; No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty.

Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on November 23, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, NaNovember, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

November 22, 2006 12:45 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Francesca Segre

Our NaNovember celebrations continue with this week's interview with American author Francesca Segre. Francesca wrote her book Daughter of the Bride for NaNoWriMo and the film rights have been optioned for Goldie Hawn.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

29 year-old Daniella watches her mother get hitched while her own ring finger is bare.

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

I work at libraries or cafes on my laptop. I usually ride my bicycle to The Cow’s End, a café at Venice Beach, a mile from my house. Working at the Cow’s End is good for three reasons: 1) It has no internet access (aka most dangerous procrastination tool.) 2. There are other “regular writers” at The Cow’s End, which can be good for camaraderie. 3. A break from writing means a nap on the sand. Nice! I’d like to work at home, but I get so distracted (read internet.)

Your favourite chick-lit book?

This is not original, but I do think Good in Bed takes the cake. It was so funny, from the first scene of Cannie wolfing down M&Ms to the later scenes where she grows up and moves past the ex-boyfriend. The character was likable and fresh. The story was unpredictable and different from the generic skinny girl goes shopping and looks for boyfriend.

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

While Calliope Helen Stephanides in Middlesex isn’t strictly a heroine because she is also a he, I thought s/he was a fascinating, warm, and genuine character. I wanted her/him to have an okay life and find an end to the torture and confusion of having an unidentifiable sex.

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

Don’t write for fame, glory, or money. Write because you have a story to tell and it will drive you (and everyone else around you) bonkers unless you get it out. Beyond that, stop procrastinating! Sit down, shut up and write.

What are you reading at the moment?

An Anthropologist on Mars, by Oliver Sacks. This is a fascinating collection of true stories about idiot savants.

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

She’s a TV reporter in a small town. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more.

Thanks, Francesca!

If you haven't read Francesca's guest blog - what are you waiting for?

And don't forget that you can win a copy of Daughter of the Bride simply by emailing us your name and address (subject: "Bride") before 30th November 2006.

And as if all that wasn't enough, a review of Daughter of the Bride is coming up next week!

Posted by Keris on November 22, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, NaNovember | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 21, 2006 2:44 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Confessions of a Naughty Mommy by Heidi Raykeil

Before their first child was born Heidi Raykeil and her husband, JB, had a wild marriage (if you know what I mean). But Heidi's shocked to find that following the arrival of daughter Ramona, her libido has completely left the building. At first she's unconcerned. She's tired, she's totally engrossed in her baby, that is all she needs, but as time goes on and she realises her lack of enthusiasm is actually damaging her marriage, she decides to do something about it.

It's not as simple as a trip to that shop with the plastic knickers in the window, Heidi needs to examine every aspect of her marriage, her own attitude to - and history of - intimacy (can you tell I'm trying to write this without using the "S" word?) and what motherhood means to her and to her relationship with her husband.

And she does it with a startling and admirable openness. It's not just that she shares intimate details of her life with her husband (but she does; she really, really does), she shares intimate details of everything, which is so important because this is still an issue that is rarely discussed (although Oprah has featured it!). Heidi also writes beautifully about the all-encompassing nature of parenthood.

I really loved Confessions of a Naught Mommy. Despite the Carry On-style title, it's entertainingly written and incredibly brave. I don't doubt that all parents would find something important in it, even those of us who weren't "bouncing each other off the walls" even before we were parents!

Rating 4 out of 5

Like this? Try .. er .. The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy by Polly Williams

Did you know? Heidi answers readers questions here - not for the fainthearted!

Posted by Keris on November 21, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

SPOTLIGHT: Kate Harrison

This week's spotlight shines on British novelist, Kate Harrison.

Kate was born in Wigan but, due to her father's job, spent much of her childhood travelling around Britain and Europe (she attended more than 13 schools and lived in the Isle of Man, St Helens, Bramhall, Bracknell, Camberley, Newbury and Holland!).

While studying journalism at college in Portsmouth, Kate won the ESSO Young Journalist of the Year competition. She then held various positions at the BBC (including on-screen reporter, producer and director), but after attending an Arvon Foundation writing course, Kate started writing a novel.

At a writing conference, Kate won the ‘opening to a novel competition’ and landed a publishing deal and an agent on the same day a few weeks later!

Old School Ties was published in Autumn 2003 and chosen for WH Smiths Fresh Talent promotion. It was followed by The Starter Marriage and Brown Owl's Guide to Life. Kate's fourth book, The Self-Preservation Society, will be out next year.

Kate has recently left the BBC to write full-time and you can read about how she's getting on here.

Carry on over the cut for Kate's bibliography and more.

Old School Ties
The Starter Marriage
Brown Owl's Guide to Life

See Kate talk about The Starter Marriage at Meet the Author.  

Posted by Keris on November 21, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

Support a Trashionista Part 2

Remember last month we asked you to vote for Trashionista reader Jenny Gardiner's book, Sleeping With Ward Cleaver, in the American Title contest? Well, Jenny's made it through round one and has a message for us Trashionistas!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to vote for me in Round One of Dorchester Publishing American Title fiction contest. With your help, I have moved on to Round Two, and now have a one in eight chance of winning a publishing contract and getting this book published!

Voting for this round has begun and ends on 26 November. The easiest way to vote is via email with SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER in the subject line. Or to follow the contest, go to the Romantic Times site and click on the American Title icon on the right side, halfway down the page.

Congratulations and good luck, Jenny!

Posted by Keris on November 21, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 20, 2006 4:57 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Miss Understanding by Stephanie Lessing

Miss Understanding is about Zoe Rose who is .. odd. She shows signs of having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and possibly even autism, but this isn't referred to openly (at least not that I noticed, but I could have missed it - I'll explain in a bit). She has recently been made deputy editor to Issues magazine (which featured in Stephanie Lessing's first book, She's Got Issues) and since Zoe's apparently a radical feminist and Issues is a typical women's fashion glossy, you can imagine it's not exactly a match made in heaven.

Zoe starts work at Issues and immediately gets on the bad side of a couple of Fashionistas (in a very funny bathroom scene). It has to be said, no-one is convinced by Zoe's journalistic credentials and everyone is more interested in the fact that one of her enormous boobs leaps out of her blouse in the first editorial meeting. Because that's the other thing - Zoe can't dress herself. At all. Basically the rest of the plot is typical bitchy, back-stabbing, sabotage type of stuff you would expect from a book set at a glossy magazine.

For probably the first third of the book I kept putting it down and gasping with frustration. It's predictable and obvious and far-fetched, but it's also really funny and that's what kept me reading. I have a vague idea in the back of my mind that Stephanie Lessing meant Miss Understanding to be a satire on chick lit, but then I kept stopping to ponder whether satire works if you have to be told it's satire and if a satire on chick lit is just another way of saying bad chick lit.

As for Zoe being a radical feminist, she suggests articles like 'Why Your Girl Boss Is Mean to You When You Dress up for Work!' and 'Why Girls Are Mean to Redheads, Fat Girls, Girls with Freakishly Large Breasts and Sluts!' So, um, not so much (then again it is meant to be satire .. I think). There are actually some interesting (though not new) points made about the way women treat other women, but there are also too many examples woven through the book - in general the woman are stereotypes and stereotypically mean to one another - I felt a bit like Stephanie Lessing was beating me over the head with it.

The reason I'm unsure as to whether Zoe's issues are mentioned openly, is that I found myself scanning great chunks of the book - there was just too much waffle - but I kept reading because the character of Zoe fascinated me and there were some damn good jokes in there. Stephanie Lessing can really write so I hope she forgets the satire and writes a "proper" chick lit book next time.

Rating: 3 out of 5

If you like this, try The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Posted by Keris on November 20, 2006 in American Authors, Fashion-Lit, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Kelly McClymer Guest Blog & Giveaway

Kelly McClymer wrote her most recent book, The Salem Witch Tryouts for NaNoWriMo "on a lark". It's Young Adult chick lit, and Kelly was previously published in historical romance so it was a bit of a departure. Kelly is writing the third book in the Salem Witch Tryouts series for NaNo this year. Well, that was the plan anyway, but as you'll see from her guest blog, sometimes life gets in the way.

NANO BLUES by Kelly McClymer

I signed up for NaNoWriMo again this year. I thought I cleared the decks, ready to do nothing but write up a storm all through November. After all, I have a book due on December 15th--I need to finish my draft by the end of November so I can spend the first weeks of December revising and polishing. Unfortunately, I've run into the problem of the perpetually-filling decks.

So far, when I should be halfway through (25,000 words), I'm at a meager 5,000. Sure, I have my story chart filled in, and my collage in a place of prominence. But the actual writing...eke is the work that comes to mind (a close cousin of eek!). What have I done instead? Hmmm.

Carry on over the cut for more from Kelly and to find out how you can win a copy of The Salem Witch Tryouts.

Electricity went out to half the house, so spent a few days panicking and reminding the kids what to do if the smoke alarms sounded in the middle of the night. Worried about thousands of dollars to rewire the house that was creatively wired in the 70s by a previous owner. Status: after one week, electrician found the problem, rewired the house...two hours, under$200, a million gray hairs.

Youngest needed to get college application ready, do campus visit and have daily lectures on not slacking off senior year. Status: campus visit completed, application essay still stuck in craw (after all, there is no one around with writing experience to help him...sigh). Lectures seeming to have some small effect.

Signed up for advanced level course for tutoring students with dyslexia in reading (got my certificate for the initial level this month...yay!). Status: reading, more reading, and then some writing. I also tutor four hours a week (each hour of tutoring takes about two hours of prep).

In short--nothing major, just life. So, I'm recommitting to NaNo today. I can reach my goal (50,000-5,000=45,000; 45,000/16=2,812 words per day). Wait! Make that I'm going to reach my goal. I'll start checking in every night, too (I've been avoiding the NaNo community out of shame).

So what if my decks are never really going to be empty? That's what caffeine is for!

Thanks, Kelly! So if you'd like to win a copy of The Salem Witch Tryouts, just email us with your name and address and "Salem" in the subject line, before 30 November 2006. The winner will be picked at random.

Introduction to NaNovember / Rebecca Agiewich guest blog & giveaway / NaNovember archives

Posted by Keris on November 20, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Competition, Girly Stuff, NaNovember, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

November 17, 2006 1:28 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Must Love Dogs

Based on the novel by American author Claire Cook, Must Love Dogs stars Under a Tuscan Sun's Diane Lane and High Fidelity's John Cusack along with Dermot Mulroney, Elizabeth Perkins, Christopher Plummer and Stockard Channing as Dolly (the most memorable character in the book, in my opinion). So it's got a good pedigree, but did it make my tail wag?

Okay, I've stopped that nonsense. Diane Lane plays primary school teacher Sara, whose family want her to start dating again after her divorce. The title refers to a lonely hearts advert Sara's sister places on her behalf. (In the book it was a newspaper ad, but the film has, unsurprisingly, updated this to internet dating.)

Sara's first date goes disastrously when the man she's arranged to meet turns out to be her widowed father. But eventually she meets Jake (John Cusack) - I'm fairly sure he wasn't called Jake in the book - and things look promising. She also finds herself getting closer to the father of one of her school children (despite the kid telling her his father is "incorrigable"). So who will she end up with? I'm thinking the clue might be on the cover.

I'm sorry to have to say that, about half an hour into the film, the DVD packed up. I read the book last year and didn't particularly enjoy it, but funnily enough it's actually stuck in my memory much more than a lot of books I liked more. What annoyed me about the book - and also in what little I saw of the film - is how pathetic Sara is because she's single. Just because you're not married doesn't mean you eat your meals standing up at the sink, does it?

Would anyone who's seen it all the way through like to comment?

Posted by Keris on November 17, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK REVIEW: I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron

Nora Ephron is one of my heroes. Not only is she a wonderful novelist (read our review of her novel, Heartburn), she also wrote and directed my favourite film of all-time, When Harry Met Sally. So when I sat down to read her latest collection of journalism, I Feel Bad About My Neck, I was excited.

Subtitled 'and other thoughts on being a woman', this is a slim book and I read it in about an hour, but it was a blissful hour. Chapters include 'I Hate My Handbag' and 'Anything you think is wrong with your body at thirty-five you will be nostalgic for at the age of forty-five' and every word is intelligent, insightful and often very funny.

Nora writes about her love affair with an apartment building (it sounds gorgeous), her failure to have an affair with JFK, despite working as a White House intern, and just how much time and money it takes to stay looking good as you get older (she says it's a second job). Plus her chapter on parenting offers some of the best advice I've ever read (and I've read a lot). The 'What I Wish I'd Known' chapter offers more of the kind of life tips I'd like to cut out and stick on my walls or carry around in my purse - 'If the shoe doesn't fit in the shoe store, it's never going to fit', 'The plane is not going to crash'.

It's not all funny - she writes wryly about accepting the inevitability of death and movingly about the death of her best friend - but it is all honest, beautifully written, and so true.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Confessions of a Failed Grown-up by Stephanie Calman

I Feel Bad About My Neck isn't out in the UK until 1 March 2007 (though the US version is available now). The UK version has a different, somewhat softer, cover. Which do you prefer?

Posted by Keris on November 17, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (5)

GUEST BLOG AND GIVEAWAY: Rebecca Agiewich

Written for NaNoWriMo, Rebecca's first novel, BreakupBabe is summed up as "How I got over the worst, most humiliating breakup in web-recorded history – and became stronger, smarter, and better off without the biggest Loser on the face of the earth."

As part of our NaNovember Extravaganza, Rebecca's not only written us a guest blog but has also kindly offered a copy of BreakupBabe for you. Yes, you! If you enter the competition, that is. Read on to find out how to enter.

How to become a rich, famous and fabulous author by Rebecca Agiewich

Hear ye, hear ye, Trashionista fans, I have been asked to write a guest blog about how NaNoWrimo will make you a rich, famous, and fabulous author, just like it has made me! Now if you’ve missed me on Oprah – don’t worry – I haven’t actually been on yet, and if you didn’t see that front page review in the New York Times Review of Books, uh, well, they haven’t done one yet, but my novel BreakupBabe (which came out this past May) is out there and selling slowly but surely!
 
Carry on over the cut for more from Rebecca and how to enter the competition.

Without NaNoWrimo, I don’t think I ever would have gotten it done. That’s because writing a first draft is a painful, horrible process, and unless you get through it as quickly as possible, commando-style, you won’t get it done (or at least I won’t). Before I wrote the first draft of BreakupBabe during the 2003 NaNoWrimo, I’d been working on another book-writing the same four chapters over and over again! That’s because, as founder of NaNoWrimo, Chris Baty points out, a writer’s most important tool is a deadline.

And since most of us don’t have the luxury of a deadline imposed by a fancy publishing house, artificial deadlines must do, and NaNoWrimo provides that, along with the pressure of sixty thousand other people trying to do the same thing.
 
Besides helping me get my first draft done, a miracle in itself, NaNoWrimo also instilled in me one of the most important writing habits I have: writing every single day. In order to keep up your NaNo wordcount, you pretty much have to write every single day. I learned that morning was my best time to write, and now three years later, I still at least five mornings a week – even though I still have a full-time job (grr). It’s gotten to be like a good workout for me; if I don’t do it, I feel off for the entire day.
 
So, while NaNoWrimo is a grueling, demanding, and some might say masochistic to do, take it from this almost-famous, almost-bestselling author – it will be the one of the best thing you can do for your fledgling novelist career. It was for mine.

Thanks, Rebecca. If you'd like to win a copy of BreakupBabe just email us your name and address, put "Babe" in the subject line, and we'll pick a winner at random after 30 November 2006. Easy as that.

Rebecca Agiewich interview / Introduction to NaNovember / Francesca Segre's guest blog / Karen Quintiere's guest blog / Lani Diane Rich guest blog and giveaway / Mary Sharratt guest blog

Posted by Keris on November 17, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, NaNovember | Permalink | Comments (20)

BOOK REVIEW: Something Borrowed

I guess we've kind of reviewed Emily Giffin's books the wrong way round: Something Borrowed was her debut, but we reviewed Something Blue first. That doesn't matter though- these books complement each other and can be read in either order. Something Borrowed is told from the point of view of Rachel, who is about to turn thirty and having a bit of an early mid-life crisis. Her best friend since school Darcy seems to have everything: a wonderful man, a glamorous job in PR and a wedding to plan. Rachel on the other hand, feels lost and overlooked. Especially whenever she's with Darcy.

Life perks up a little when she finally realises she has great chemistry with a man she's known for years... shame he also happens to be Darcy's fiance, Dex....

You would think that a woman lusting after her more beautiful friend's man would come across as desperate and nasty, but Giffin is careful to make sure that doesn't become the case. Although sometimes I felt frustrated with Rachel, most of the time I was sympathetic to her feelings and wanted Dex to pick her!

It helps that Darcy isn't a very sympathetic character, and we want Rachel to step out of her shadow. I thought the exploration of the two women's friendship was excellent, especially the idea that your friends may be more of a habit than people you have true connections with- and the way we stay in close contact with people out of familiarity, even if they're not good for us... But also that the thought of losing a friendship, even an imperfect one, can be devastating. I think most women will relate to that. Plus, I love the New York taxi cab cover!

I better not give away the ending, although if you've read Something Blue (or our review of it, oops!) you'll already know how things turn out. Even so, it's still a great read, highly recommended. And not just by me- according to the cover Marian Keyes, Meg Cabot and Lauren Weisberger couldn't put it down either!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Something Blue by Emily Giffin; Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 17, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (3)

November 16, 2006 2:11 PM

Reading Grey's Anatomy

Yes! I series I actually watch! Or did, until I missed most of the second series ..

Anyway Grey's Anatomy in a hospital drama in the ER vein, it features Patrick Dempsey as the delicious Dr McDreamy (not his real name) and it's one of Alison Pace's favourite TV shows. That's all you need to know really.

There's only one Grey's Anatomy book so far, but it sounds so good I thought I'd go ahead and tell you about it.

Written by Stacy McKee and Chris Van Dusen - both writers for the show - Grey's Anatomy: Notes from the Nurses Station and Overheard at the Emerald City Bar is two books in one. Read it from one side (Notes from the Nurses Station) and get Debbie's hospital gossip; read it from the other (Overheard at the Emerald City Bar) and get Joe the bartender’s take. Cool.

Related posts: Chick Lit Authors' Favourite TV Shows / Reading Desperate Housewives / Reading Alias / Reading Friends / Reading Sex and the City / Reading Angel / Reading Dawson's Creek / Reading The O.C. / Reading Gilmore Girls / Reading Veronica Mars

Posted by Keris on November 16, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Television | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin

As one of the biggest chick-lit books of the last five years, and an upcoming film (starring Scarlett Johanssen, of course) I can't believe we haven't reviewed The Nanny Diaries yet. But I don't mind, I'm more than happy to do the job! I might be a bit biased though- this is one of my favourite chick-lit novels of all time. If you've read the execrable sequel Citizen Girl, don't be put off - The Nanny Diaries is nothing like. Which means it's fresh, fun, fast-paced and highly enjoyable. Nan the Nanny (yes... get over it) is studying for her master's in child education and turns to nannying for rich Manhattan families to pay the bills. Suddenly she has to juggle her studies with the ever-more demanding family she works for whilst also trying to avoid her difficult flatmate (which isn't too hard, as Nan barely has time to eat or sleep anymore!)

Demanding, unreasonable and distant, it's hard to care about Nan's employers, but they do show occasional moments of compassion... VERY occasional! Although a potential love interest enters the story, it's Nan and her little charge Grayer whose relationship is the focal point, and this is told with great love and sweetness. Nan is the only person who really seems to make time for little Grayer, although sadly she has to attempt to undo some of the obnoxious behaviour his parents have inculcated in him. The book really provides a great insight into the emotional issues around caring for children who are not your own. On a lighter note, the book also allows a great deal of "I wonder if someone really did that!" speculating, as Kraus and McLaughlin really were nannies to the rich and famous...

I loved the insight into the rich and snobby New York world of Mr and Mrs X, and I found Nan empathetic, capable and intelligent, even if I was frustrated at times by her lack of assertiveness (but assertive would equal fired in her job, so it's understandable). I raced through this book twice, and now I've been talking about it I'm thinking of reading it a third time- I know I'll enjoy it just as much.

A modern chick-lit classic.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try You'll Never Nanny in this Town Again by Suzanne Hansen.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 16, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (4)

November 15, 2006 7:25 PM

TRASHIONISTA AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jenna Bayley-Burke

Jenna Bayley-Burke is the author of Just One Spark which she wrote as part of NaNoWrimo. Here, she talks to us (and coming soon- a guest blog from Jenna!)

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Mr. Buttoned Uptight needs a girlfriend and a caterer, so decides to multi-task.

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

I like to write at coffee shops with my favorite coffee-of-the-month (maple latte, try it!), however, I do most of my writing in bed with my laptop, and my kidlets sleeping down the hall.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Hmmm. Favourites are overrated. Kristin Lobe's Paris Hangover for the setting and her use of description, Jane Porter's The Frog Prince for the way she layers in emotion, and Saralee Rosenberg's Fate and Ms. Fortune for the humor. You didn't really expect me to pick one? Please, that's like eating one M&M. No one does that!

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

Oh! I just read the Santa, Baby anthology, and loved Toni Larson from Carly Phillips' Naughty Under The Mistletoe. I'm always a big fan of heroines who know what they want, and take it. 

[Expect a Trashionista review of Santa, Baby, which also features a Jennifer Crusie novella, in December].

Carry on over the cut for the rest of our interview with Jenna...

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

Read your favorite authors as you would textbooks. Look to see from whom you can learn emotion, setting, humor, sensuality, action, etc. And write. That's the main thing.

What are you reading at the moment?

Well... Raising a Reader, YOU on a Diet and Off Her Rocker by Jennifer Archer. Just finished an advance reader's copy of Vicki Lewis Thompson's My Nerdy Valentine last night. Fantastic!

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

My NaNoWriMo, Sure Thing. It's difficult because it uses the characters and time line of Just One Spark. It's hard, but Kate & Derek needed their own story.

Thanks Jenna! Jenna's new novel Cooking Up a Storm is released on December 1st.

Jenna's blog / Interview Archives / Nanovember archives

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 15, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, NaNovember, New Releases, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Why Moms Are Weird by Pamela Ribon

Belinda Bernstein has the unfortunate nickname of "Benny" and, despite moving to the opposite side of the country, an incredibly co-dependent mother. Benny likes her life in Los Angeles and has just entered into a new relationship (with the gorgeous Mickey), but when her mother and sister have a car accident, Benny flies home and is horrified by what she finds.

Not only is her mother dating three men at once, her house is filthy and filled with trash. Her sister is in an(other) abusive relationship and has started a collection of stray dogs. And what's even more galling is that neither of them have commented on Benny's weightloss.

With the help of a handyman to whom Benny finds herself incredibly attracted, despite the fact he tells her he's unavailable and despite not knowing where things stand with Mickey, Benny takes it upon herself to fix everything. But what Benny doesn't realise is that just because something's broke, doesn't mean she has to be the one to fix it.

I really enjoyed this book, despite becoming frustrated with Benny's inability to see that her help isn't wanted. Benny's an entertaining and intelligent (if frequently unreliable) narrator and her mother is hilarious. Plus Mickey is one of the most original chick lit heroes I've read for a long time (the scenes between them crackle off the page).

Anyone who has suffered guilt pangs at moving far from home - or who has a mother who is too close for comfort - will enjoy this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

Pamela Ribon has an enormously successful blog at Pamie.com

Posted by Keris on November 15, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 14, 2006 12:11 PM

The play's the thing (apparently)

We often feature book-to-movie adaptations, but what about books-to-plays? The London theatres seem to be full of them at the moment.

From the end of this month, Nina Bawden's classic, Carrie's War - about a former evacuee returning to her wartime home and telling her story to her children - is on at Sadler's Wells. The book has been adapted by Emma Reeves and the show is directed by Andrew Loudon (creators of Little Women and Anne Of Green Gables at Sadler’s Wells).

Coram Boy, Jamila Gavin's Whitbread award-winning children's book about growing-up, struggle, tradition and corruption, returns to the National Theatre from 29 November. Its previous run was a sell-out.

The smash-hit musical, Wicked, is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel - about the witches from The Wizard of Oz and how the wicked witch perhaps wasn't so wicked after all - is currently showing at the Apollo (not to mention New York, Chicago, LA and more!).

Susan Hill's ghost story The Woman in Black is in its 15th year in the West End at the Fortune Theatre. (A friend of mine went to see this and was so terrified she literally wouldn't go to bed afterwards - she was about 35 at the time!)

My personal favourite - Lauren Child's That Pesky Rat - opens at the Soho Theatre at the beginning of December. (The pesky rat even has a rat blog!)

Posted by Keris on November 14, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Crime / Mystery, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Opinion, Prize Winners, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Under The Duvet by Marian Keyes

Show me a chick-lit fan, and I'll show you a woman who loves Marian Keyes (at least 99% of the time). Her book Under The Duvet was a bit of a departure for Marian though. It's a collection of pieces of journalism, opinion pieces and slices of autobiography- some previously published, some published only in Ireland and some that had never before seen the light of day. First published in 2001 (and with a sequel, Further Under the Duvet released in paperback this autumn) it seems about time we reviewed it. We 'Yay or Nay'-ed you on whether you wanted La Keyes to just stick to fiction, and the answer was a unanimous no, even from those who hadn't read about any of her Under The Duvet experiences (um, so to speak!)

So can she be as successful in non-fiction as she is in fiction? Carry on over the cut to find out.

Course she can, silly! This is Marian Keyes we're talking about! The signature humour, warmth and poignancy that we love in her novels is all here as she talks about her real life. She sets the record straight about what life as a writer is like, letting fans into her daily routine (lots of typing and banana-eating in bed, apparently!) talks about her research trips and travel experiences and why she can never get enough shoes. But this isn't just a cosy romp through chick-lit subjects. Marian comes across as intelligent and astute, very kind and very appreciative of her good fortune. She also handles more serious subjects than those I've just described, telling the story of her alcoholism, her recovery, and how she came to be a writer as a result- which is extremely moving.

If you want a book to curl up with, laugh at and just generally cherish (particularly if you're having a 'duvet day' yourself) then you can't go far wrong with this. And if you've only ever read Marian Keyes's fiction, then you're missing a treat! When I told my co-ed Keris I was reviewing this she said, "LOVE it. Doesn't it make you just want to move to Ireland, hunt her down and force her to be your best friend?" Much as that makes us sound like stalkers, it's true.

(My one complaint is that more women writers don't try this type of non-fiction collection!)

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes.

Marian Keyes archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 14, 2006 in Book related, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Opinion, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

November 13, 2006 11:13 AM

Guides to modern manners

Yes, following the popularity of programmes like Ladette to Lady, and perhaps in some part prompted by a resurgence of interest in old-fashioned romance novelists, guides to etiquette are all the rage just now.

New releases include Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners by Henrietta Webb and Josephine Ross and "Mr & Mrs Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen"'s A Pinch of Posh: A Beginner's Guide to Being Civilised. For lads, there's Mr Jones' Rules for the Modern Man, by GQ editor Dylan Jones.

But are these guides actually any good?  Lucy Mangan spent a week trying to live by their rules for The Guardian and it makes great reading!

Related: Jane Austen's Guide to Dating / Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne / It's Vintage, Darling!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 13, 2006 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, New Releases, Non Fiction, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 10, 2006 4:30 PM

FRIDAY FLICK: Chocolat

The news that Joanne Harris's next book - The Lollipop Shoes - will be a sequel to the enormously successful Chocolat inspired me to make it this week's flick.

Juliette Binoche plays Vianne Rocher who, along with her daughter, arrives in a quaint French town and opens a chocolate shop. You wouldn't think that would be a problem, would you? But the religious and political attitudes of the town - and the sensual effects of Vianne's chocolates - soon serve to stir up trouble.

Juliette Binoche is perfect as Vianne and Johnny Depp is of course gorgeous as Roux, but his Irish accent's a bit hit and miss. The film looks beautiful too - the costumes, the chocolates, the village. It's romantic, dramatic, sensual, thought-provoking and intelligent (and was nominated for five Academy Awards). A perfect Sunday afternoon film (and if you haven't read the book - what are you waiting for?)

Posted by Keris on November 10, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 9, 2006 5:18 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy

Anyone who has ever looked in the mirror six months after becoming a mother and not recognised the shell of a woman looking back will relate to the gloriously funny, warm and poignant Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy by new chick on the block Polly Williams.

Amy Crane may have become a mother, but in all other respects she has lost her identity and she struggles to reconcile her love for her gorgeous baby girl Evie with old life as a career girl, lover and friend. She bounces between two groups of friends - the NCT mothers who don't feel fulfilled without a baby strapped to their boobs, and the yummy mummies with the designer prams and designer children.

Ultimately she falls under the spell of the super glamorous Alice who sets about co-ordinating 'Project Amy' - a makeover to ensure the new mum gets her groove back. At the same time she struggles to keep her relationship together with Joe, who she suspects cheated on her while she was heavily pregnant.

Will Project Amy be a success? Will  her relationship with survive? Will her eye-brows ever grow back?

Polly Williams adds enough twists and turns to keep even the most seasoned chick-lit fanatic guessing - and laughing - to the end. The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy is recommended for anyone who ever wanted a change.

Rating: 4 out of 5

[Claire Allan]

Like this? Try Watermelon by Marian Keyes

Posted by Keris on November 9, 2006 in British Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 8, 2006 2:41 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Piece of Work by Laura Zigman

Piece of Work is Laura Zigman's fourth novel after a four year absence (which, reading this book and between the lines, I'm going to assume might be something to do with her having a baby...)

It's the story of Julia Einstein (no relation!), who gave up a stressful but stimulating job in PR to have and raise her baby boy Leo. But now Leo is three and about to start pre-school, and Julia's husband Peter has been "downsized" from his job and seems in no hurry to get back to work.

So Julia reluctantly dips her toe back into the world of work...

Laura Zigman is an intelligent writer whose characters are empathetic and relate-able. I suspect many women will understand and relate to Julia's difficulty in leaving her son after three years of being his primary carer- not to mention her jealousy at the good times Leo and Peter seem to have without her. But even women who haven't been in that situation will still feel empathy for Julia as her feelings are so well conveyed.

Peter takes to house husbandry like a duck to water and has soon streamlined the family's routine and is cooking delicious nutritious meals every day and making friends with all the mothers at school. Meanwhile, Julia is struggling with a self-sabotaging boss and a badly behaved old film star client, who she has to travel the country with. She thinks maybe returning to work wasn't such a good idea, but Peter's in no hurry to return... so they're a bit stuck.

I really enjoyed this book, finding the episodes with Julia's client especially entertaining- the woman is awful, and yet somehow very real and not a caricature. Knowing that Zigman used to work in publicity made that aspect of the book all the more juicy! It's well written, snappily-paced and moving. My only slight criticism is that the assumption that one day Peter will return to work (for the sake of his self-esteem? Do men 'have' to work full time?) is never questioned- it's always just an implicit assumption. I would have liked to have seen that turned on its head a little more. But I love the way the author portrayed a man competent at looking after the house and his son (there are too many useless men in fiction!) and the  struggles the couple went through seemed realistic. There was also an added sadness in a back story about Julia's childhood, which added a little more depth to the novel but never became depressing.

Her characters and subject matter are maturing, but Laura Zigman can still be relied upon to write great stories- however long we have to wait!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Dating Big Bird by Laura Zigman; The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner.

AND! Look out for an exclusive Trashionista interview with the author coming soon!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 8, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Rebecca Agiewich

Rebecca is yet another NaNoWriMo success story, so we couldn't let NaNovember go by without talking to her. We'll have a guest blog from Rebecca and a giveaway of her book Breakupbabe coming soon!

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Breakupbabe is a comic novel about a struggling 30-something writer who goes through a horrible breakup, begins dating like mad, and starts a blog about it all.

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

A variety of Seattle coffee shops.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

The first Bridget Jones.

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

Get in the habit of writing every single day. Take writing classes. And ignore that voice telling you you can't do it or that you suck. Even the best writers hear that voice - they've just learned to fight by - by writing anyway.

What are you reading at the moment?

The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud.

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

I'm working on another novel that takes place partly at a summer camp. I'm obsessed with summer camp since I had my best childhood moments there, and also because, as an adult and a counselor, I fell madly in love with another counselor who I've never quite gotten over.

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

What is your favourite part about being a published author? I absolutely love hearing from people who've read the book and telling me how it has touched them or changed their lives or made them feel better. Every time I hear from a reader it makes my day, and makes me feel like all the struggle to write a book was worth it.

Introduction to NaNovember / NaNovember archives / Sara Gruen interview / Interview archives

Posted by Keris on November 8, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Interviews, Modern Fiction, NaNovember | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 7, 2006 2:50 PM

Marian Keyes's favourite dancer/ girl crush talks to TV Scoop

Over on TV Scoop right now you can read an interview with Marian Keyes's favourite Strictly Come Dancing dancer and the subject of her "girl crush", Lilia Kopylova. Just click here!

On her monthly blog the author said: "This year: The return of SCD means that I've moved from my Summer crush on Davina McCall to my Autumn crushes on Claudia Winkleman and Lilia Kopylova." On Strictly's sister show It Takes Two last Friday she added that she loves Lilia because she likes to think that if life had turned out differently, she could have been her. Turns out Lilia is hugely flattered as she's a huge Keyes fan and wants to meet her. (Don't we all!) Surely the BBC can make it happen?!

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 7, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

SPOTLIGHT: Lani Diane Rich

Since this is NaNovember, I thought I'd shine the spotlight on my original NaNo inspiration, Lani Diane Rich.

After leaving Syracuse University, Lani moved to Alaska and had various jobs including theater reviewer and freelance marketing consultant - also something to do with fish, which we won't go into!

In 2002 she decided to take part in NaNoWriMo (which we'll hear more about in Lani's forthcoming guest blog). The result was Time Off for Good Behavior. After returning to Syracuse with husband, cat and two young daughters in tow, she took part in NaNoWriMo again and produced the first rough draft of the book that would become Maybe Baby.

Along with writing more than a book a year, Lani teaches beginning television production part-time at Syracuse University. Her next book, The Fortune Quilt, is out next year.

Carry on over the cut for Lani's bibliography.

Time Off for Good Behavior
Maybe Baby
Ex and the Single Girl
The Comeback Kiss

Lani has also contributed to the following essay collections:

Flirting with Pride and Prejudice
Getting Lost
Welcome to Wisteria Lane

Read our interview with Lani and stay tuned for a Time Off for Good Behavior giveaway.

NaNovember archives / Spotlight archives

Posted by Keris on November 7, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Girly Stuff, NaNovember, Romance, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane

I'd heard a lot about Caprice Crane's debut novel - not least that Courtney Love shoplifted a copy - so my expectations were high.

Like many chick lit heroines, Heaven Albright has a brilliant PR career until that is she's unfairly dismissed. Procrastinating about starting her own agency, she takes a waitressing job in a trendy restaurant. Independent (and unsuccessful) record company owner Brady Gilbert leaves his psycho girlfriend and moves into the apartment next door to Heaven's. Of course they don't get on at all to begin with. Heaven doesn't think Brady's all there and Brady thinks she's crazy, but from the very beginning the reader knows they're made for each other (reminding me a little of When Harry Met Sally - and I imagine Heaven's surname is a nod in that direction).

Their friendship develops when Heaven invites herself along on Brady's trip to Seattle to try and sign a Next Big Thing band and also wangle a meeting with the head of Starbucks to interest them in his invention, Cinnamilk. Plus Heaven wants to go to a vigil for the anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death.

Things, of course, don't go according to plan, but one of the things I loved the most about this book was that it was all believable. Heaven and Brady have a couple of the misunderstandings required to sustain the plot - and they both make mistakes - but they're never stupid or far-fetched and you always feel that they care for each other. Like Harry and Sally, they may not be perfect, but they're perfect for each other.

Full of pop culture references and more than I ever needed to know about the disgusting things wait staff to rude customers, Stupid and Contagious is extremely funny, it made me cry and when I finished it I could happily have turned back to the first page and started it again. One of the best chick lit books I've ever read.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try Time Off for Good Behavior by Lani Diane Rich

Like Megan Crane, Caprice Crane is another member of The5Spot blog

Posted by Keris on November 7, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (4)

November 6, 2006 12:11 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Woman's Best Friend edited by Megan McMorris

Woman's Best Friend is a collection essays about women and their dogs. I know, it doesn't sound like the most fascinating read, does it? But it really is, and I'm not even a dog person (I thought I was until I read this book, but now I realise I'm more of a dog dilettante).

Edited by Megan McMorris and with a foreword by the wonderful Pam Houston, Woman's Best Friend includes essays on subjects as varied as a disturbed Pug in need of "behavioral modification", dogs that talk, falling in love with a dachshund named Cutie, and being unable to fall in love with your dog at all. Of course, the essays aren't just about dogs. They are how dogs fit into lives, inform relationships and choices, teach us how to live and love.

I enjoyed every single one of these essays (actually, that's not strictly true - Rebecca Skloot's The Truth About Cops and Dogs, while brilliantly written, important and heart-breaking, really shouldn't be read by anyone not interested in serious dog attacks. I could not stop thinking about it and it continues to upset me.) Deadwood vs Dogwood by Margaret Littman describes how she fell in love both with her dog and her garden. Gail Hulnick's Sixth Sense is about Casey the keeshond, who always knew she was pregnant before even she did. Marion Winik's Seven Reasons Not to Get a Dog is funny and true (and more than convinced me).

If you love dogs, you'll love this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It made me reconsider my plan to get a dog (I don't want to have to get up at 5am to let it out!). Even if you don't love dogs, you'll love the writing. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try Pug Hill by Alison Pace

Posted by Keris on November 6, 2006 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 3, 2006 6:17 PM

BOOK REVIEW: English as a Second Language by Megan Crane

Megan Crane's debut features Alex Brennan who, bored with her life in New York - and offended when an ex claims she couldn't get into graduate school in England - heads to an unnamed UK university to get her master's in literature. There she befriends Spanish Cristina and good-time Brit boys Toby and Jason, makes an almost instant enemy in fellow American Suzanne and gets an immense crush on her tutor, Sean.

According to the bio at the back of the book, Megan Crane spent the last 5 years at university in England working on her master's and PhD in literature so I don't think it's too unreasonable to assume that English As A Second Language is at least a little autobiographical. And as exciting as I'm sure it was to live, I didn't find it particularly exciting to read about. Carry on over the cut to find out why not.

Crane is an intelligent and engaging author and recreates the atmosphere of an English university perfectly. Of all the books by American authors featuring English characters, this is the only one I've read that rings completely true. The speech patterns, habits and behaviours are all conveyed brilliantly (Alex even comments that women up North dress tartier than those down south, to which I exclaimed 'Hey!' in indignation, but - yeah - it's a fair point). Plus there's a great scene featuring Robbie Williams's Angels (even if no-one else in the US is catching on to the Robster's charm, at least a couple of chick lit authors are!) and some interesting and entertaining characters.

The problem for me was that the book has no plot. The only conflict is between Alex and Suzanne and Suzanne is such a nutcase that I just wanted Alex to tell her where to get off and not bother with her again. There's a little romantic tension between Alex and Toby (and Suzanne) but it blows hot and cold so often (and Alex seems so distanced from any possible feelings for him) that I lost interest in whether they would get together or not.

Having said all that, I did enjoy the book as a slice of student life and a reminder of my own experiences as a mature student (I didn't get up to half of what Alex gets up to though. Oh, let's face it, I didn't get up to a tenth of what Alex gets up to!) and I think Megan Crane is a talented writer. She just needs a plot.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Like this? Try Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot

Related posts: Trashionista Recommends: The5Spot / Whatever next?

Posted by Keris on November 3, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

FRIDAY FLICK: American Dreamer

I'm cheating again with this week's Friday Flick (gimme a break - it's a while since I last cheated). American Dreamer isn't based on a novel, but it is about a romance novelist. Released in 1984 (as you can probably tell from the hairdo on the cover) I'd never heard of this movie until I saw it on Jenny Crusie's list of the greatest romantic comedies. Jenny says, "Every romance writer I know loves this movie" and it's not hard to see why.

Housewife Cathy Palmer (JoBeth Williams) wins a competition to write a "Rebecca Ryan" story and the prize is a trip to Paris to meet the author of the real Rebecca Ryan books (which are sort of a female James Bond). Cathy's appalling husband (who really is so awful I couldn't imagine she ever would have married him) won't go with her so she goes alone and has only been there a day when she's hit by a car and wakes up believing herself to be ... Rebecca Ryan.

I got this far into the film and thought about emailing Jenny Crusie to ask her if she was having me on. Dated, far-fetched, ridiculous, I couldn't believe it was on her list! But I persevered (the things I do for Trashionista) and things soon start to look up when Cathy/Rebecca meets Alan McMann, the son and assistant of the author of the Rebecca Ryan novels. He's played by Tom Conti whose bewilderment and amusement at Cathy/Rebecca's behavior is perfectly pitched. Soon they're involved in a Rebecca Ryan style adventure, involving international espionage, drug-smuggling and attempts on their lives.

It is dated, far-fetched and ridiculous, but it's also great fun and that's thanks entirely to the comic brilliance both of Tom Conti and JoBeth Williams (who actually had me convinced she really was Rebecca Ryan). It reminded me in parts of Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination - by which I mean it's not quite right - but if you suspend disbelief I don't think you can help but enjoy it.

Posted by Keris on November 3, 2006 in Book related, Crime / Mystery, Friday Flick, Girly Stuff, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 2, 2006 8:31 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Heartburn by Nora Ephron

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.

Related: Thursday Three: Cooking Good! / Thursday Three: In The Club / Book Review: Hanging Up by Delia Ephron / Movie News: Julie and Julia

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)

THURSDAY THREE: Bitch Lit

Is it me, or is the book world getting a little bit... bitchier this year? With anthologies created purely to rail against chick-lit, and chick-lit anthologies created to show them who's boss, women writers are sparring like never before. Today's Thursday Three is about saying damn it to nice cutesy heroines, and celebrating the inner bitch in all of us...

Bitch Lit, edited by by Maya Chowdhry and friend of Trashionista Mary Sharratt, is a collection of stories about bad girls and anti-heroines, "women who take the law into their own hands, who defy society's expectations, put their own needs first and don't feel guilty," according to the blurb on Amazon.  It's a book that celebrates the fact that sometimes being powerful means being a bitch- or at least, being thought of as one.

What bitchy books will we find over the cut? Be nice to me and I'll tell you...

The title of memoirist Elizabeth Wurtzel's book Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women (follow that link to read an extract) is pretty self-explanatory. She considers why women are called bitches by the media and society, and why victim-hood is too often celebrated, rather than bolshiness! In five essays, she writes about women as diverse as Hillary Clinton, Sylvia Plath and Nicole Brown-Simpson (O.J's unfortunate ex). She draws few conclusions but asks some worthwhile questions- although she was criticized for her choice of women (!)

Back to fiction, Martha O' Connor's debut novel The Bitch Goddess Notebook [The Bitch Posse in the U.S]caused quite a stir when it was published earlier this year. The story of three friends whose lives are ripped apart by a violent crime, it also has a main character who celebrates female sexuality quite er, actively.

So what do you think- is 'bitch' a huge insult, or a word women need to reclaim? Does it mean we're seen as ambitious and powerful- or unpleasant and overbearing?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 2, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Non Fiction, Recent Release, Short Story Collections, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (1)

Lisa Clark's NaNoWriMo

Author of the forthcoming Think Pink (the ultimate go-for-it guide for girls!) and all-round Pink World goddess Lisa Clark is taking part in NaNoWriMo so I dragged her away from the computer (and America's Next Top Model) long enough to ask her what she's working on.

I don't really know what my book is going to be about yet, I'm not a plot outline kinda girl. The very, very basic premise is based on an angsty English teen girl called Flo who finds herself in a hot New York City for the summer. Why she's there I don't know yet, but I do know that it will be a summer of re-invention and transformation ...

Sounds fabulous! If you want to let the world know what you're working on for NaNoWriMo (you never know, an agent or publisher could be reading!) then either leave a comment or email us.

Posted by Keris on November 2, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Girly Stuff, NaNovember, Non Fiction, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (1)

Anne of Green Gables anniversary

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original publication of the classic novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, novelist Budge Wilson has been commissioned to write a prequel, to be called Before Green Gables.

Along with the prequel, there will also be a special collectible 100th anniversary edition of Anne of Green Gables featuring the original cover art, and Imagining Anne: the Scrapbooks of L. M. Montgomery will also be published. [via Galleycat]

Posted by Keris on November 2, 2006 in Book News, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reading Veronica Mars

Veronica Mars is another show I've never seen, but fully plan to catch up with on DVD (one day, when I've finished Buffy, Alias, Charmed and all the others I've been instructed to watch!). Diane mentioned a novel by a Veronica Mars writer, but what else is there for the discerning VM fan?

Well the first one I found isn't just about Veronica Mars, but it sounds great. Teen Dreams: Reading Teen Film and Television from Heathers to Veronica Mars is by Roz Kaveney. Along with VM ("Watching the Teen Detective"), she also looks at how Jane Austen's Emma became Clueless and, of course, Buffy.

And that's pretty much it, I'm afraid. There are two novelisations due out in June next year - The Case Files of Veronica Mars Book One and Book Two, but apart from that you'll just have to comfort yourself with a calendar (except it appears to cost almost £50 on Amazon UK; that can't be right ..).

Related posts: Chick Lit Authors' Favourite TV Shows / Reading Desperate Housewives / Reading Alias / Reading Friends / Reading Sex and the City / Reading Angel / Reading Dawson's Creek / Reading The O.C. / Reading Gilmore Girls / Reading Beverly Hills 90210

Posted by Keris on November 2, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Series, Television, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 1, 2006 2:26 PM

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!)

Related posts: Reading Sex and the City / Reading Desperate Housewives

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 31, 2006 5:34 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Adriana Trigiani

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

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

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

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

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

Carry on over the cut for Adriana's bibliography.

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

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

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

Pop! author causes controversy

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

Related: Chick lit for little chicks ; Trashionista Young Adult archives.

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

October 27, 2006 5:43 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani

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

And yet she doesn't do it very well.

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

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

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

Rating: 1 out of 5

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

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

FRIDAY FLICK: Bend It Like Beckham

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

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

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

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

Book stuff on Handbag.com

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

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

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

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 27, 2006 in Book Websites, Book related,