February 8, 2010 10:27 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Carol Snow

Carol Snow is the author of upcoming novel Just Like Me, Only Better (and I cant wait to read this!) Here, Carol talks about Just Like Me, her inspiration, and of course, a whole load of lookalikes... (Click here for the book synopsis!)

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.
Struggling single mother gets hired as celebrity double for imploding young Hollywood starlet. That was thirteen words. Do I get extra credit?

What inspired you to write Just Like Me, Only Better?
Inspiration came in pieces. First: Ten years ago, during the heyday of Friends, I was at a housewife-populated Pokeeno party (don't ask) in Scottsdale, Arizona, when Lisa Kudrow walked in the door: there was her face, her hair, her height, her mannerisms. Only it wasn't Lisa Kudrow -obviously -- but if I had seen the same woman walking down the street in L.A., I would have sworn it was. When I asked her if anyone had ever commented on the resemblance, she said oh, sure: all the time. Plus, a kid had just asked for her autograph at an amusement park and didn't believe her when she said she wasn't Kudrow.

Second: A few Halloweens ago, in the midst of her meltdown, I dressed up as Britney Spears. To come up with costume specifics, I Googled her and could not believe just how bizarre her life was. Obviously, she had some, shall we say, "mental health issues." But the poor girl couldn't go anywhere without being mobbed by paparazzi just waiting for her to do something crazy. I thought: what is it like to live with that kind of scrutiny?

And, third: My husband works with a man who's a dead ringer for Jack Nicholson - and whose daughter works as an Angelina Jolie celebrity double at parties and corporate events. I don't know how that happens from a genetic standpoint, but it sparked some ideas!

Do you look like anyone famous?
When I was eleven, people said I looked like Nadia Comenici. Unfortunately, I couldn't do gymnastics like her. Also when was eleven (it was a big year, apparently), my eyebrows were frequently compared to Brooke Shields's. Since then, we have both embraced facial waxing.

Where do you write your books?
I usually write on a couch in my office, with a cat on my lap and a computer on my knees. It's terrible for my posture but quite cozy.

What is your favourite chick-lit book?
Most of my favorite chick-lit books were published before the term was coined. Compromising Positions by Susan Isaacs had a huge impact on me. Not only was it compulsively readable, it gave me the first inkling of the kind of books I hoped to write someday.

Who is your favourite heroine, and why?
Kinsey Millhone, Sue Grafton's private eye, is self-sufficient, tough, crafty, and wry: in other words, not like me at all.

Do you have any tips for readers who would like to become published authors?
Ask yourself: Do I like spending long stretches of time alone? Do have large reserves of self discipline? Can I take criticism? Do I love writing more than anything else? If you answer "yes" to all of those things, great! Now spend the next 10-15 years honing your craft before worrying about publication. If you've already put in that kind of work and have a finished manuscript, you can fast forward to "Find a good agent." I've recommended Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents so many times, the guy should be giving me a cut of his royalties.

What are you currently reading?
I just finish Richard Price's Lush Life. It was dark, violent, and made me question humanity's capacity for altruism and redemption. I really liked it!

Are you working on anything else at the moment, and if so, can you tell us?
Yes. And no.

Thanks, Carol!

Posted by Elle Symonds on February 8, 2010 in Book News, Book related, Irish Authors | Permalink | Comments (2)

November 20, 2008 11:43 AM

BOOK NEWS: Going It Alone

I might be judging a book by it's cover (so to speak), but I've just seen the synopsis for Clare Dowling's new book and couldn't help but feel that a plot concerning a woman and her ticking biological clock is a little tired...

Millie's biological clock has been ticking for some time, and on the eve of her fortieth birthday the alarm bell starts ringing. She needs to have a baby and fast, but after months of fruitless trying, her husband Andrew is feeling like a walking sperm bank and their marriage is in crisis. Matters come to a head when Andrew's job relocates to London and Millie decides that if he won't stick around to get her pregnant, then she'll do it without him.

What do you think? Exciting plot or been there done that?

Posted by Helen Redfern on November 20, 2008 in Irish Authors, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (1)

November 13, 2008 8:09 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Always and Forever by Cathy Kelly

I have read a number of Cathy Kelly books in the past. Some I've liked and others I was frustrated with. She is, because she is Irish and writes about women in Ireland, compared, perhaps unfairly, with Maeve Binchy. However, she's a talented and bestselling author, and if you choose the right book you can really get sucked in. The thing is, was Always and Forever going to do that?

Based in the beautiful town of Carrickwell we have Mel, Daisy and Cleo. Mel is a high flying career woman and mother of two who is busy and stressed trying to keep all the balls in the air. Daisy is in a settled relationship with her boyfriend and longing for a child. Cleo, fresh from her hotel management degree, is frustrated with the way her family is running the family hotel. When Leah opens Clouds Hill spa (which, incidentally, makes me think of wine every time I read it) their lives are eventually thrown together, giving them the courage to find out what really matters.

Or at least that is what the blurb on the back of the book says.

What I found was we had three women, each with separate lives and with their own individual struggles they must battle against. They finally get to know each other well over two thirds into the book and by then two of them have already decided what it is they are going to do. This in no way detracts from the quality of the story, far from it, it just wasn't quite what I was expecting. You know - three women getting together and putting the world to rights sort of thing.

Because of their individual stories we get to know the women really well and I could identify with each character. Leah, I found a little too good to be true, but by then I was well enough into the story not to care.

This is what is described as a feel good story. Warm, engaging, slightly formulaic and stereotypical perhaps, but a good yarn nevertheless.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Heart & Soul by Maeve Binchy

Posted by Helen Redfern on November 13, 2008 in Irish Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 10, 2008 4:18 PM

BOOK NEWS: This Year It Will Be Different

If you have never read any Maeve Binchy before, but would like to, then this selection of short stories is an ideal introduction to her work. The book evokes the lives of wives, husbands, children, friends and lovers, all set during the one holiday when feelings cannot easily be hidden. Christmas.

I have got a copy and will review it soon. I've been warned however, that if you have read some of her short stories before in other collections they may be repeated in here.

Related posts: The Maeve Binchy Writer's Club review | Heart & Soul review

Posted by Helen Redfern on November 10, 2008 in Book News, Irish Authors | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 2, 2008 10:31 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Heart & Soul by Maeve Binchy

I love Maeve Binchy. I know this is a cliche (or two), but her books are like a mug of hot chocolate, a roaring log fire, a favourite jumper, all enfolding you into a comforting embrace. Her last few books though have been a bit of a disappointment to me. Nights of Rain and Stars and Whitethorn Woods didn't have the same Maeve Magic as her earlier ones such as Tara Road, Circle of Friends and Quentins.

So, Heart and Soul. Disappointment, or a return to the Maeve I love?

Heart and Soul contains many characters. The story revolves around a specialist heart clinic in Dublin. Clara Casey is the senior cardiac specialist in charge of the clinic with two grown up daughters and an ex-husband. Declan is the doctor, a quiet unassuming man who still lives with his parents. Then there are the two nurses, Fiona and Barbara, Ania the polish girl, various patients and Father Brian Flynn. All of whom have their own little story that Maeve weaves together with such humour and warmth.

As I am writing this review I am thinking of what to say, but all I want to say is that I loved it and cannot say anything bad at all. The way Maeve brings the characters together, the way she writes as they talk, you feel right in the heart of the story like you are part of it all and not an outsider looking in.

The women are strong, independent types which I love and we are reintroduced to characters from some of her previous novels. Quentins the restaurant, of which there is a novel of the same name, appears. The main character from Evening Class is there. The caterers from Scarlett Feather. It is great to see these characters again, but if you haven't read any of her previous books you won't think you have missed out on anything.

Simply put Heart and Soul is a great story. (Do not be put off by the cover which makes it look a bit fuddy duddy.)

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try It Must Be Love by Sharon Owens

Posted by Helen Redfern on October 2, 2008 in Irish Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 5, 2008 7:50 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Feels Like Maybe by Claire Allan

Normally I wouldn't be thrilled to be stuck on a train for the best part of the day, but that's what happened earlier this week and I was absolutely fine because I had Claire Allan's Feels Like Maybe to read (and plenty of snacks to eat).

Feels Like Maybe is former Trashionista columnist Claire's second novel and, although I loved her first, Rainy Days and Tuesdays, I enjoyed this one even more.

It's the story of two friends - Beth and Aoife - who run an interior design business together. Dumped after telling her on-off rock star wannabe boyfriend, Jake, that she was pregnant, Aoife finds herself giving birth alone and looking forward to a life of single motherhood. Unbeknownst to Aoife, Beth (along with husband, Dan) has been trying for a baby for a while now and, although doctors can find nothing wrong, nothing's happening.

Hoping that Jake might come back and play happy families, Aoife put off telling her family about the impending arrival. But now baby Maggie has arrived and so she's got a bullet to bite. Understandably, they're not best pleased, particularly her mother and it seems like Aoife's family might fall apart.

Feels Like Maybe was a breeze and a joy to read. In fact, it's one of those books where you don't notice you're reading; when I think of it now, I feel like I watched it on TV. It addresses so many different relationships with warmth, wit and wisdom. At times, my heart hurt for both Aoife and Beth and at others I laughed out loud. Loved it.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Watermelon by Marian Keyes

Posted by Keris on September 5, 2008 in Irish Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (4)

September 4, 2008 11:11 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Someone Special by Sheila O'Flanagan

Normally when I start to write a review I've already written it in my head and know exactly what rating to give it. But this one, Someone Special by Sheila O'Flanagan has put me in somewhat of a quandary. She is a great chick lit writer and I loved her previous book Yours, Faithfully but this one has left me shaking my head.

Our heroine is Romy, an Irish archaeologist living in Australia who is suddenly called home by her step brother, Darragh, because their mother is going to have a back operation. She has to leave her best friend Keith behind and then goes and confuses things by kissing him as she says goodbye to him at the airport.

Romy arrives back in Ireland and goes to look after her glamorous mother, Veronica. The two of them don't appear to get on and silences are loaded between them, issues are skirted around  and each one thinks the other doesn't like them.

We also meet Kathryn, Romy's step sister, who has a very successful career and marriage out in New York. Romy is irritated and upset as her family are dismissive of her own career and she always feels like an outsider. Her father is divorced from her mother and is now married again and it feels like it is just her, Romy. There are lots of family issues to be sorted out and many of them centre around the family business, which belonged to Darragh and Kathryn's deceased father, not Romy's.

As ever with a Sheila O'Flanagan novel, the scenes are well written and the characters are well described. I wrote some notes, however, whilst reading the book. The first one simply says "frustrated by Romy". Her step siblings think she has this chip on her shoulder and she does, but she doesn't do anything to help herself. She doesn't say what she feels, just wants to escape back to Australia. Eventually she does say what matters, but by then we are towards the end of the book and my frustration with her has been steadily building all the time to the point of not caring any more. Although the characters, including Romy, are well written, I didn't warm to any of them, except maybe Keith and he was barely in it.

Many of the chapters and paragraphs within the book are used to set the scene. Past history that has happened in the family. Whilst this was useful in order to understand what everyone was feeling, I was just itching to get on with the plot.

Once I had finished the book, I looked at it lying on the floor some ten minutes later and couldn't remember if I had finished it. I'm afraid that's the sort of impact it had.

Rating: 3/5 (I rounded up as I wanted to give it a 2.5)

Like this? Try How Will I Know? by Sheila O'Flanagan - she does write some great books.

Posted by Helen Redfern on September 4, 2008 in Irish Authors, New Releases, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 26, 2008 11:18 AM

HELEN'S HEROINES: Maggie Walsh

I find Maggie Walsh, from the book Angels by Marian Keyes, to be a fascinating character. She is such an excellent example of a person who people believe to be a certain way, but in actual fact has many hidden qualities and thinks completely differently to how they are perceived. Her sister, Helen, cruelly compares Maggie to plain yoghurt at room temperature, whereas Maggie thinks she is more like a trifle with hidden depths. I have to say that Helen, witty as she is, does not look beyond the cover and there is, in fact, more to Maggie than meets the eye.

The example of this is where Maggie, seemingly the most sensible one of the Walsh sisters, leaves her husband, loses her job and jets off to LA leaving her family behind open mouthed in shock.

Compared to her sisters, however, Maggie is the sensible one. She has a pension, she pays off her credit card most months and has a separate savings account for Ladies' Nice Things.  But just because she is sensible in certain ways this doesn't stop her from hurting when her husband talks about the chocolates as though they'd had them before, when really it was with another woman. It doesn't stop her hurting when her sisters treat her as a figure of fun or unfairly treat Garv, her husband, as a tightwad.

But she doesn't get all diva-ish. She doesn't slam doors, have strops or shout a lot as her sisters do and say how this is all unfair. Instead she keeps it inside, turning it over and trying to make sense of it. Something I'm sure a lot of us can relate to.

Believe me, I'm not saying she is perfect and her sisters aren't. I love her sisters (except Helen, at the moment, I can't wait for her story to come out so I can see what is really happening in her head) and Maggie does let many of these assumptions about her go by without contradicting anyone.

Like the other sisters, Maggie is a fighter. She shows no self pity when she leaves for LA and instead, gets on with her new life, throws herself into it and eventually wakes up to herself. Claire Allan, author of Rainy Days & Tuesdays, describes Maggie as one of her favourite heroines in this interview because, she proved that you can find happiness right under your nose. Along with her hidden depths, making Maggie a far more interesting character than what she initially appears, I have to agree with that. She also has the courage, not only to leave a bad situation, but also to come back when she realises what is really important.

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 26, 2008 in Helen's Heroines, Irish Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 20, 2008 2:06 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The Bright Side by Alex Coleman

Alex Coleman is the pseudonym of author Damien Owens (Dead Cat Bounce). I'm always a teensy bit suspicious when male authors write chick lit (and The Bright Side is definitely chick lit), particularly when they're writing from a female point of view, but if someone hadn't told me Alex Coleman was a man, it never would have occurred to me from the book. (Even as I was reading it, I kept thinking, "Are you sure?")

Anyway, The Bright Side is the story of Jackie, who has been married to Gerry for 22 years, following a teen pregnancy (which resulted in twins). But one day, Jackie comes home from work with a headache only to find Gerry having it away with the neighbour. Jackie is devastated. Sort of. What's more pressing is how the situation can be used to her benefit, to repair some of her other family relationships that have fallen apart in recent years. Of course, there's also the fact that Jackie's not entirely blameless herself...

I really enjoyed The Bright Side. It's a breeze of a read, with some very funny characters and situations. In fact, the scene in which Jackie catches Gerry "in flagrante" is hilarious.

The odd bit didn't entirely ring true - Jackie's best friend is less sympathetic than I would have liked - but I may be being extra strict, simply because I know the author is a man ("Pah. Women don't talk to each other like that!")

I'll be interested to read Alex Coleman's next book and I may even pick up Dead Cat Bounce (I've seen it around, but the title's put me off, unsurprisingly).

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Secrets of Married Women by Carol Mason

Posted by Keris on August 20, 2008 in Debut Novels, Irish Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 13, 2008 12:40 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Sheila O'Flanagan

I didn't know this but (by my reckoning) Sheila O'Flanagan has written thirteen novels and two short story collections. That is impressive.

Sheila turned to writing in her thirties after a successful career in financial services. She has always had a great love for reading and writing, but it wasn't until she was in her thirties that she sat down and wrote a complete book.

She hadn't wasted her years before this either. Born, educated and currently living in Dublin, Sheila began her career in the financial sector and worked her way up to become the first (and only, I believe) female chief dealer in the country. This was on top of playing badminton. She now plays at competition level for the Irish veteran's team.

After writing her first book, she was offered a publishing deal minus the advance, as long as she wrote a different book. So she did. It wasn't until quite a few books later that she was able to give up her day job, leading to the impressive amount of novels she has now written.

Her latest, Someone Special, is out in hardback now. A review will be coming soon.

Bibliography

Someone Special

Bad Behaviour

Yours, Faithfully

Connections (short story collection)

How Will I Know

Anyone But Him

Too Good To Be True

Destinations (short story collection)

He's Got To Go

My Favourite Goodbye

Far From Over

Suddenly Single

Isobel's Wedding

Caroline's Sister

Dreaming of a Stranger

Posted by Helen Redfern on August 13, 2008 in Irish Authors, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 23, 2008 1:59 PM

BOOK NEWS: Someone Special

I found Yours, Faithfully by Sheila O'Flanagan an engaging read (highlighting the subject of bigamy no less), so I am pleased to see that she has another book out at the beginning of August.

Romy Kilkenny loves her life in Australia. She has her dream job, lots of mates, and a best friend in Keith, who understands her better than anyone. Best of all, she couldn't be further from her family. But when her brother rings to say she's needed back in Ireland right away, Romy's world is turned upside down. Flying home to see her mother and her half-siblings, Romy doubts she'll fit in better now than she ever did, and she's still not ready to forgive her mother for her truly disgraceful behaviour a few years earlier. Romy also worries that the accidental half-kiss with Keith at the airport may have brought their easy friendship to a sudden end. Whatever lies ahead, it's not what Romy's expecting. Even the people we grow up with can surprise us, and if love is to be found, it will find a way.

Related posts: How Will I Know | Irish Authors

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 23, 2008 in Book News, Irish Authors, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 22, 2008 2:37 PM

HELEN'S HEROINES: Benny Hogan

Benny Hogan is the central character in Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy. She is big hearted and generous, living with her parents in a village called Knockglen in Ireland. Her family own Hogan's Outfitters a gentleman's clothing shop which is run by Benny's father. A rather naive and unassuming man he hires the dodgy Sean Walsh. Her parents, bless 'em, have high hopes that Benny will marry this Sean, but Benny has no interest in him. He is rather too oily for her tastes.

Benny becomes friends with Eve, the girl from the convent in Knockglen and together they go to college in Dublin and become friends with Nan, a girl with an alcoholic father who is determined to marry well.

So why is Benny this week's heroine? Well, to be honest because I can identify with her so well.  She isn't very confident at all initially even though she is a lovely girl. I think she is what you might call "naturally curvaceous" but for her this spells unattractive. She falls for the good looking Jack Foley, never believing he would be interested in her, but they begin a relationship. He wants more from her, but she sticks to her guns and goes back home to Knockglen every night.

When there is a death in her family we see a strong Benny emerge. A Benny we always knew was there. She handles the missing money in the shop with tact but firmness, then she realises what Jack has been up to and deals with that also.

By the end of this gentle story, Benny has become a confident woman. Confident in her own skin and no longer feeling inferior to others.

More Helen's Heroines

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 22, 2008 in Helen's Heroines, Irish Authors | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 18, 2008 1:46 PM

BOOK NEWS: Second Chances

Irish writer, Martina Reilly, has her ninth book out later this year. In Second Chances Lizzie has moved back to Dublin to start her life again. Happy at work and with her friends and boyfriend, one night she bumps into local boy Joe, who served a sentence after being accused of her sister's murder. Lizzie can't forget the pain he has caused her family, but Joe isn't what she expected. Can she find the strength to let old wounds heal?

As a huge fan of her last two books I can't wait for this one to come out.

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 18, 2008 in Book News, Irish Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 16, 2008 2:02 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Martina Reilly

A qualified drama teacher, Irish author Martina Reilly has also written adult fiction as Tina Reilly and teen fiction as Martina Murphy. As if that doesn't keep her busy enough Martina has also written for the Evening Herald and occasionally writes for the Irish Independent Weekend magazine, along with writing plays, acting in plays and having two children.

Martina's writing day is  from 10am to 1:30pm every day whilst the children are in school. Everything goes into her laptop. She doesn't use notebooks as she believes if the idea is good enough she'll remember it and also edits as she writes so by the time she has finished (her last book took eight months) the book is "clean" and ready to go [via Sarah Webb's website].

Bibliography

*Writing as Martina Murphy

Free Fall

Dirt Tracks

Fast Car

Live Wire

*Writing as Tina Reilly

Flipside

The Onion Girl

Is this Love?

Something Borrowed

Wedded Blitz

Wish Upon a Star

*Writing as Martina Reilly

All I Want is You

The Summer of Secrets

Her ninth adult book, Second Chances, is out in October 2008.

Posted by Helen Redfern on July 16, 2008 in Irish Authors, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 25, 2008 2:02 PM

KERIS & HELEN'S SUMMER READS 2008: The Summer of Secrets by Martina Reilly

When I reviewed The Summer of Secrets by Martina Reilly a month or so ago, I had no hesitation in rating it five out of five. I also said it was my favourite book, so far, this year and it still is (although one more has equalled it). Which is why I thought it perfect as my first choice of recommended summer reads.

After a terrible accident, Hope travels back home to Ireland with her two friends, Adam and Julie. She has counseling for post traumatic stress disorder and discovers in the process that it's not just the recent accident that has had serious repercussions on her life.

This book was initially hard for me to read. I couldn't read through the accident, but once I had summoned up the courage to get though that I found a lovely story.

Anyone that derides your traditional chick lit should give this a go. Yes it has romance (and there is nothing wrong with that), but it also has the  psychological journey Hope has to go on and which comes out through her counseling. The supporting cast of characters provide entertainment, relief and romance. The book itself is emotional, sharp and engrossing, in all a fantastic read for the summer. Just don't read it on the aeroplane.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try  The Half Life of Stars by Louise Wener

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 25, 2008 in Irish Authors, Rating: 5/5, Summer Special | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 23, 2008 11:33 AM

MORE ON MONDAY: Making Babies by Anne Enright

I don't particularly want to read Anne Enright's Booker winning The Gathering - sounds way too bleak for me - but I've had her pregnancy and parenting memoir, Making Babies on the shelf for a while now so I finally read it. And I loved it. (Oh and apologies that both reviews these days are motherhood-y - just a coincidence!)

Enright is brutally honest and very funny as she writes about how pushing a buggy makes you look (um, rough), how much breast-feeding hurts (plenty), how babies are born knowing everything, how she fitted her writing life into her parenting life, how lonely parenting is, basically everything you could want to know about the subtitle, Stumbling into Motherhood.

Enright is utterly aware of how universal these things are, but, at the same time, how specific and personal they are. I marked pages thinking "I thought I was the only one who felt like that!" I laughed, I sympathised, I empathised and I cried (I always, always cry reading parenting memoirs).

And - just as you'd expect from a Booker Prize winner - the writing is gorgeous:

Yesterday, it was warm, and I took off her socks and stood her on the grass. She loved this, but maybe not so much as I did - her first experience of grass. For her, this green stuff was just as different and as delicious as everything else - the 'first' was all mine. Sometimes, I feel as though I am introducing her to my own nostalgia for the world.

Highly recommended if you're considering motherhood or, indeed, stumbling into motherhood yourself (although bear in mind that it's not pretty!).

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Waiting for Birdy by Catherine Newman

Posted by Aigua Media on June 23, 2008 in Irish Authors, Memoirs, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 9, 2008 7:39 AM

BOOK NEWS: Heart and Soul

Maeve Binchy was the subject of our Thursday Trailblazer last week and coincidently I discovered she has a new book coming out this October. After announcing in 2000 that she was no longer going to write novels she has subsequently written Quentins, Night of Rain and Stars and Whitethorn Woods. I wasn't that keen on the latter but I'm hoping that was a blip and Heart and Soul will see a return to Maeve's best.

It is about Clara Casey and her daughters, Adi and Linda, a Polish woman called Anya, a man called Declan and Father Brian Flynn. I love it when she has a group of people come together like this, it is Maeve's specialty. Oh, and by the way, don't be put off by the old fashioned book cover.

Related posts: The Maeve Binchy Writer's Club | Book news archives

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

June 5, 2008 10:20 AM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Maeve Binchy

Since picking up a battered copy of Light a Penny Candle as a teenager, I have been a huge fan of Maeve Binchy. I don't know if it was the gentle way in which she wrote, the fascinating characters or just her ability to write a gripping story that had me hooked, but it wasn't until I started to research her for this post that I realised how phenomenally successful Maeve is.

Described in the Irish Independent as "the mammy of all the best selling chick lit writers", Maeve was 43 when her first novel Light a Penny Candle was published in 1983. Born in Dublin in 1940, she worked as a teacher, then travelled to Israel to work on a kibbutz. Whilst out there she frequently wrote home and it was one of these letters that her Dad managed to sell to the Irish Times. She went on to become an extremely popular columnist for them.

After moving to London to be a journalist, she had several short story collections published including Central Line and Victoria Line. Then in 1983 her hard work (she started writing at 5am in the morning before going on to her full time job) paid off. She sold her first novel for a reported £52,000, the biggest sum at the time for a first time novel.

Maeve has sold around £50m books in nearly 40 countries. An amazing figure. She writes about her own experiences of time and place with her writing style alternating between the story of one woman, a pair of friends or a group of interlocking stories. Her main characters are predominantly female and deal with the changing problems of Irish women.

In 1995 Circle of Friends was made into a film with Minnie Driver and Chris O'Donnell. In 1999, Tara Road was picked up by Oprah's Book Club. Her secret to success? She writes as if she is talking. She insists she doesn't have a style but just chats away on the page.

Bibliography

Along with her numerous short stories the following novels have been published:

Light a Penny Candle

The Lilac Bus

Echoes

Firefly Summer

Silver Wedding

Circle of Friends

The Copper Beach

Glass Lake

Evening Class

Tara Road

Scarlet Feather

Quentins

Nights of Rain and Stars

Whitethorn Woods

The Maeve Binchy Writer's Club (not a novel but an excellent book on writing)

Related posts: Thursday Trailblazer archives

Posted by Helen Redfern on June 5, 2008 in Book related, Irish Authors, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (3)

June 4, 2008 10:43 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Revenge of the Wedding Planner by Sharon Owens

Reviewed by Claire Allan

(Published as The Trouble With Weddings in Ireland)

Sitting down with a Sharon Owens book is like sitting down with a good friend, a bottle of wine and a (kingsize) bar of chocolate and settling in for a good old girly chat.

Her writing oozes warmth, humour, gossip and decadent, gorgeous descriptions of perhaps the nicest homes, gardens, offices and restaurants you could ever choose to visit.

With Revenge of the Wedding Planner you get to add wedding dresses into the equation too - it's almost every woman's dream come true.

But don't be fooled into thing it's all designer shoes and style queens - Owens brings a twist to all her books and Mags - the narrator of this story - is a real gem. An ex-goth, married to an ex-punk, trying to raise four teenagers and keep her flighty boss in line - Mags is one of those strong, beautifully warm yet flawed heroines who you would really like to meet in real life.

When Mags' boss, Julie embarks on a life crisis, running away from her live-in lover and throwing herself in to a hair-raisingly sexy fling with Jay, it is Mag herself who is left to pick up the pieces. And when Julie eventually comes back, Jay in tow, the real trouble starts.

But there is so much more to this book than Julie and her dodgy love life - in fact in many ways I felt that storyline was secondary to Mags' life - which has it's own share of ups and downs.

Mags relationship with her husband is a joy to read - one of fiction's genuinely happy and believable couples. Her relationship with her children - especially her eldest son and daughter - is beautifully written. And her relationship with her parents is funny and extremely moving.

This book is without a doubt one of the funniest, warmest books I've read in many a long year.

It had laugh out loud moments, risque love scenes, a sexy bar man, wedding cake dilemmas and a very funny series of twists and turns. And yet at the heart of it there was a serious message about love, forgiveness, friendship and family.

It was delightful, entirely.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try It Must Be Love by Sharon Owens

Posted by Aigua Media on June 4, 2008 in Irish Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (2)

May 29, 2008 9:26 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Summer of Secrets by Martina Reilly

When I read a book that I'm going to review I don't deliberately look for criticisms. I want to forget that I'm supposed to write a review and just get swept away by the story. If I write no notes at all whilst reading it, I know I'm onto a winner. Whilst reading The Summer of Secrets my notebook page remained blank.

Martina's All I Want is You was one of the first books I reviewed for Trashionista. I remember being impressed with it, calling it a "gem of a book" and giving it 4 out of 5. With this one, she has seriously gone up a gear.

Hope, an Irish girl living in London has constantly drifted from one job to another. When she gets fired from her latest job she plans a trip to Boston in a bid to see the world and take control of her life. Her friends and house mates, Adam and Julie, see her off at the airport, and that is where it all goes wrong... I had to stop reading here. I found it very upsetting and was unprepared for it. Instead I put the book on my bedroom floor and let it sit there for about three weeks.

When I finally picked it up again, I couldn't put it down. After the accident Hope travels to Ireland, back to her home town with Adam and Julie. There she goes for counseling for post traumatic stress disorder and lots of secrets come to the surface. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a gloomy book. It is all about Hope's recovery, what happened to her in the past and what is happening to her in the present, which will affect her future. The plot is great, the dialogue extremely funny and sharp at times and the characters identifiable and likable.

When I had finished the book, about one o clock in the morning, I wrote on the back of a postcard the following notes. "[I had] big, snotty, gulping tears then [once they'd subsided] a few pages later she goes and does it to me again." I can't give a book much higher praise. This may be my favourite book, so far, this year.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Half Life of Stars by Louise Wener

Posted by Helen Redfern on May 29, 2008 in Irish Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 23, 2008 10:33 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes

Rachel's Holiday is consistently voted the favourite chick lit book by the authors we interview for Trashionista and yet - can you believe it? - we hadn't actually reviewed it. Until now...

Reviewed by Helen Redfern

Rachel is one fifth of the Walsh sisters, the middle fifth. She lives in New York with her fellow Irish friend, Brigit, partying hard, working little and going out with Luke Costello, a man who likes his leather trousers tight.

She’s living in a haze of Valium, cocaine and booze until one day she overdoses. Her father insists she return to Ireland and she’s booked into the Cloisters, a treatment centre, or as Helen her sister typically says, ‘That’s nothing but a loony bin by another name’. Rachel, naively, believes it will be full of celebs and saunas, so agrees to go, knowing full well when she gets out she’ll hotfoot it back to New York and take as many drugs as she can. We then follow her on her journey of ‘enlightenment’, shall we say, as she learns more about herself and the full consequences of her actions.

Rachel’s Holiday, along with Watermelon, is my favourite Marian Keyes book. I have to admit though I didn’t get it when I first read it some five years ago (it was published in 1997). I think I must have believed Rachel too much and couldn’t understand why she needed to be in the clinic. When I re-read it recently for the second time I got so much more from it. I understood Rachel, I read between the lines (it’s written in first person so you have to) and subsequently gained much more depth from it.

The flashbacks used are effective and you don’t feel you are inconveniently being dragged away from the main story. They are what makes the story as we start to see what Rachel’s life was really like in New York and not what she thought it was like.

Keyes’ book have been described in a recent newspaper article as “tales of loveable heroines struggling to find Mr Right”. If that’s what you are expecting from this book (or any of her books for that matter) you are in for a surprise (and maybe I was first time round which is why I didn’t get it). It is a dark subject of drugs and addiction but interspersed with humour, warmth and tight leather trousers. Fabulous.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes

Posted by Aigua Media on May 23, 2008 in Irish Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (4)

May 12, 2008 12:18 PM

BOOK REVIEW: This Charming Man by Marian Keyes

Reviewed by Claire Allan

I doubt there has been such an eagerly awaited book as Marian Keyes' This Charming Man - how we have watched eagerly over the past two years as news of her latest book filtered out. There was going to be a character called Lola in it. It was going to deal with domestic violence. It was going to be very, very long (hurrah!).

My excitement reached a peak when I discovered a copy just in time for my holidays and as I stroked the gorgeous purple cover I was dying to dig in - because let's face it, you know what you're getting with Marian Keyes. She does funny. She does serious. She does perfect observation. She makes you want to turn the page. In terms of women's fiction she's like Ronseal - she does what she says on the tin.

This Charming Man has all her trademark qualities, but it is - it has to be said - very different from her previous books.

The action centres around politician Paddy de Courcy and the fall out from the day he announces his engagement. Four women, Lola - his girlfriend but not his fiancee - is devastated, Grace - a journalist - is intrigued, Marnie - his ex - spirals downwards and Alicia - his fiancee - finds herself caught up in a media whirlwind.

There aren't so many laugh out loud moments (in fact I'm not sure I did laugh out loud once) and the portrayal of domestic violence is at times graphic and disturbing.

Keyes' (or should we just call her Marian? We know her so well) portrayal of depression and alcoholism through the eyes of Marnie is keenly observed, deepy moving, at times frustrating and powerful all at once because you know that Keyes is writing from personal experience. There are lines which echo Marian's own story as revealed in Further Under the Duvet.

That's not to say the book doesn't have warmth and humour in it. We all know Keyes can write on a knife edge - bringing you almost to the depths of despair and hauling you back with a quick turn of phrase.

Lola's story - written in a diary style, has bucket loads of humour and intrigue. Okay, by 200,000 words you do start to miss the smaller words (book written in very chatty style. Small words not necessary for Lola. Dialogue sometimes reads clunky because of this - but realise book is huge and small words would have made it longer (ie heavier). Had baggage restrictions on plane - so fair enough).

But that shouldn't put you off (nor should reference to size 14 being fat in the Dublin set). This is Marian's finest book - in terms of content, message and contribution to the argument that chick lit is far from light weight fluffy nonsense. There is nothing - and I mean nothing - lightweight about this novel.

My heart will always belong to Rachel's Holiday (you never forget your first time) but This Charming Man is a triumph of a book of which Marian should be proud. Can't wait for the next one.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try More Than Love Letters by Rosy Thornton

Posted by Aigua Media on May 12, 2008 in Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (15)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club

I have an abundance of how to writing books hidden under my bed. If I'm honest though and I mean really honest, I haven't actually read any of them. The ones I started to read, I didn't get past the first few pages, they just seemed so dull. When Maeve's book plopped onto my doormat however, I was excited. You see, Maeve is somewhat of a heroine of mine. I first discovered her when I was a teenager and I picked a book up on holiday that someone else had left behind. Since then I've been hooked. I have all of her books. Most of them in hardback. This woman can really tell a story. So I was interested in what she would have to say about the process of writing.

The book is composed of twenty letters written by Maeve. These letters were inspired by a course which ran for twenty weeks at the national College of Ireland. Every week Maeve would write the students a letter which included tips and advice for the students on the theme of the week. They also had guest lecturers from other authors, publishers and editors and ten of these also have contributions within the book including one by Marian Keyes.

The chapters cover themes such as how to maintain your motivation to write and deal with procrastination (this chapter really spoke to me), the road to success (hint: one percent inspiration ninety nine percent perspiration) and the writers journey.

The advice is a little obvious if you aren't a beginner, but this book is not giving you a magic formula of how to write. Instead every page of this book seemed to be telling me not to give up. It was telling me that I can do this. Because Maeve also struggled in the beginning, she used to write at 5:30 every morning before work and she used to visualise her first launch party in order to keep herself going, you feel that someone really understands everything you are going through and is willing you to succeed.

Just like her fictional work, this book is reassuring and comforting. But most of all it is encouraging and inspiring, filling me with self belief and enthusiasm for my own work in progress.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Like this? Try: Wannabe a Writer? by Jane Wenham-Jones

Posted by Helen Redfern on May 12, 2008 in Irish Authors, More On Monday, New Releases, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 28, 2008 3:37 PM

BOOK REVIEW: No Strings Attached by Clare Dowling

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

Claire Dowling is a scriptwriter for Ireland’s top soap (I’ll have to take their word for that as I haven’t seen it). This is her fourth venture into the novel writing world, so she’s not exactly a novice in this area either. I was understandably expecting great things from her new book, a romantic comedy called No Strings Attached, after hearing Dowling’s impressive CV.

No Strings Attached is based around Judy who is getting married on Saturday and it’s a military operation: the dress, the three-tiered wedding cake, the uncle that nobody will sit beside at reception. She’s determined it’s going to be the happiest day of her life. That is until her fiancé, Barry, mysteriously disappears wearing nothing but his pyjamas. However, when his credit card shows up two days later in the south of France, Judy has to admit that he’s walked out on her.

Fanning Judy’s fury is Lenny, Barry’s best man, who believes that you shouldn’t let commitment ruin a perfectly good relationship. With the love of her life romping around France, Judy might just be in the mood for a little romance – with no strings attached, of course…

This book started out great. It was fast and funny and showed just how well Dowling can write. Unfortunately, I found the middle of the book just concentrated on everyone’s unhappiness. The plot seemed to falter and all the energy and humour of the book was leeched out to a parallel universe.

It did recover itself for the last quarter and regained its star quality, however, I’m not sure that this was enough to save the book. There were a few subplots, which compounded the gloom, having several couples struggling with their relationships and generally being miserable doesn’t really fall into the genre of romantic comedy for me.

No Strings Attached ended up being a very average book in a genre that is already oversubscribed. If only someone had been brave with the editing then this would have been a great read.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer

Posted by Keris on April 28, 2008 in Irish Authors, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 14, 2008 9:01 AM

BOOK REVIEW: All You Need is Love by Mary Malone

Reviewed by Claire Allan

With so many new faces on the Irish writing scene at the moment, it can be easy to miss a few gems.

All You Need is Love by Mary Malone is a warm-hearted, fast paced and action filled novel that digs a little bit deeper than average women's fiction. In fact the title is misleading - this is a book that could easily be dismissed as light-hearted fluff - but Malone, one known to buck the trend, uses her second novel to look at the growing drugs culture among Ireland's young people.

It centres around Georgina, a young and enthusiastic journalist, who has her share of drama in the newsroom as well as at home. As the eldest of three children, she has taken on the role left behind by her late mother and as the pressure grows in work, something has to give.

The world of work and home collide when her younger brother, Luke, becomes embroiled in a car accident which reveals his dealings with drugs and Georgina has to decided whether to put her family, or her career first.

Of course being women's fiction, the book always tells the story of Georgina's best friend Val - a single mother doing a grand old job of raising her four year. However when the four year old is involved her own drama, the girls' friendship is tested.

I have to applaud Malone for dealing with a subject that wouldn't normally be top of the agenda in women's fiction. Her writing oozes warmth and charm and she isn't afraid to go one step further for a good hook.
Having worked in local journalism myself for 10 years, her portrayal of the newsroom was fairly accurate - but I did find it at times difficult to warm to Georgina. I much preferred the best friend Val, who seemed to have her head on her shoulders.

The book, of course, contains a love interest in the form of news editor Tim - but I did find it a little stretched to see Georgina pursue him so soon into her new job. (But then I have a problem generally with in-house romances in chick lit - it's a little cliched).

But putting this all together, this is a book which makes for perfect reading if you want something with a little more bite. Malone is sure to build herself a larger following with All You Need is Love and it will be interesting to see what she tackles next.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try All I Want Is You by Martina Reilly

Posted by Aigua Media on April 14, 2008 in Irish Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 17, 2008 4:56 PM

BOOK REVIEW: It Must Be Love by Sharon Owens

Reviewed by Claire Allan

Belfast writer Sharon Owen's fifth book It Must Be Love is shamelessly romantic and girlie. Focusing on budding romances, broken hearts and the kind of friendships best formed when people are down on their luck, It Must Be Love is a delightfully upbeat read.

The book tells the story of professional photographer Sarah Quinn who is all set to get married to the eligible Mackenzie Campbell on Christmas Eve. But as the wedding draws nearer she overhears a conversation which leaves her running away from her life to set up a new life for herself in the quaint seaside town of Redstone.

As she rebuilds her life, we are introduced to a host of new characters and their lives. We meet Miriam who is desperate for a baby, at it seems any cost. We also meet writer and journalist Gemma, who's daughter finds herself in a whole heap of trouble in New York. And we meet Aurora, the stylish owner of the local bookshop who is nursing a broken heart, as well as a bruised ego, herself.

What Sharon Owens does wonderfully is create a sense of place. The cottage where Sarah escapes to sounds like a dream place and as for the Miriam's pink kitchen - be still my beating heart!

But it is the warmth of the characters and the strength of their friendships - mixed with a healthy dose of Owens' trademark humour that makes this book a joyful read.

Yes, it touches on many serious issues - bereavement, addiction and infertility - but never in a way that drags the reader down. What comes across most strongly in the book is not the tragedy touching everyone's lives, but their strength of character.

Dare I say, Owens paints such a nice picture that I almost wish I had a Redstone, and a Rose Cottage, to run away to myself - not to mention the hunky love interest in the form of the delectable Ethan.

Where the book falls down is that you want to know more. It rattles along at a great pace but I would have liked the story to continue on just that little bit - to see how life pans out for all the characters who I got to know so well.

We leave them feeling as if they are on the brink of something great. However, it might just be the mark of a good book that when it is done you are longing to know more.

This book doesn't require a great deal of effort and would be best read in front of a roaring fire with a cup of tea in your hand. It's smart, funny and heartwarming and sure to win Owens an even bigger following.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Fortune Quilt by Lani Diane Rich

Posted by Keris on March 17, 2008 in Irish Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (4)

March 14, 2008 11:03 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Bright Lights & Promises by Pauline McLynn

Reviewed by Fionnuala Kearney

When I realised the author of this book was accomplished actress Pauline McLynn of Father Ted fame (“Go wan, Go wan”), I have to admit I was surprised. Not only is she the author of this book but several others too – some people have all the talent eh?

Bright Lights and Promises is a lovely read introducing sassy main character Susie Vine, a deal making agent with successful London Theatrical agency Arland and Shaw. Susie’s already busy life is further complicated when her mother Valerie, recently separated from her father arrives in London – to stay. Her mother living with her, the demise of her love life, her teenage hormone fuelled son Milo, and the arrival of an old flame all add to a story that’s easy to read and introduces many interesting characters.

These range in age and gender from thirteen to eighty and each one is well drawn and immediately draws the reader in to the glitzy world Pauline McLynn has created. There’s John Forbes, the hunky successful star with a heart, his elderly father Reg, also an actor in his twilight years. I think though that she succeeds particularly with her main character. Just for a while, I thought I was Susie Vine. I lived her life, felt her love and pain, and yeah even cried her tears. No mean feat.

If I had to be picky, I think the book was a little too long and without offering spoilers, could perhaps have got to the love bits a little sooner – but that’s being picky! I really enjoyed the read and will definitely keep an eye out for some of her other books. Red this book – Go wan, go wan!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes

Posted by Keris on March 14, 2008 in Irish Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 27, 2008 4:47 PM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Pauline McLynn

Pauline McLynn is probably still best known as the fabulous Mrs Doyle in the much-missed Father Ted, but she's also a best-selling author. A review of her latest novel, Bright Lights and Promises, is coming soon. In the meantime here's an interview!

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

What happens when you lie for a living, can't control your son and your mother comes to live (18 words and it doesn't BEGIN to cover it!!).

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

I am currently stuck to the kitchen table where I can spread out - we have been having dinner on our laps for months now...

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Anything by Marian Keyes

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

Scarlett O'Hara - indomitable spirit, gorgeous and a great dress sense.

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

Just do it, don't talk about it - there is no substitute for actually writing it down.

What are you reading at the moment?

My copious, scattered and sometimes illegible notes for my next novel - a painful experience.

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

A novel about a woman with Alzheimers and her daughter

Do you have a theme song?

Depends on the day/mood/crisis that's in it

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

There are plenty of questions I could have been asked, I guess, whatever about should have, but I am glad they remain unspoken ... hope this makes me sound a little mysterious (though I am not).

Thanks, Pauline!

Posted by Keris on February 27, 2008 in Interviews, Irish Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 21, 2008 10:53 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Last to Know by Melissa Hill

Reviewed by Claire Allan

The Last to Know is the sixth book from Irish born writer Melissa Hill who has just been scooped from Irish stable Poolbeg by Hodder - who reportedly paid a whopping six figure sum to publish her seventh book.

Hailed the queen of the big plot twist, Melissa Hill's books offer good, warm hearted writing with a trademark twist at the end which inevitably leaves the reader reeling and wondering how on earth they missed it.

The Last to Know delivers this in spades.

The book tells the story of twenty-something Australian Brooke Reynolds who works as commissioning editor for Sydney-based popular fiction publishers Horizon books.

One morning, she stumbles across a manuscript submission from a would-be author entitled "The Last to Know", a contemporary story about the interconnecting lives and loves of three women based in Dublin. At first, the novel reads like a feel-good, light-hearted tale about life, friendship and the problems modern women face; exactly the kind of book Horizon usually publishes. But as Brooke becomes more and more absorbed in the manuscript, she gradually realises that there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye.

Switching from the 'book' Brooke is reading, to her own thoughts on the novel, The Last To Know keeps the reader guessing to the end. The twist is a corker and left this reader open mouthed in shock. Just when you think Hill can't possibly pull another shock out of the bag it appears there before you and it all sinks in.

My only problem with Hill and her books these days is that I know a twist will come, so I second guess everything she tells us as the book goes along. It's like a weird adult version of Cluedo!

This is one of Hill's finest novels, and I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next.

Rating: 4/5

Like this, try The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes

Posted by Keris on January 21, 2008 in Irish Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

December 31, 2007 10:33 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife by Niamh Greene

Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife sits squarely in the Mummy Lit camp. It's chick lit after the heroine has left her job in PR, swopped her city flat for a house in the suburbs and had a couple of children with her dishy but distant hubby.

This is Niamh Greene's debut and I wanted to like it more than I did. Her writing is engaging, funny, and Bridget-Jones style chatty. Plus, the diary format worked very well for a light-hearted look at life as a stay-at-home-mammy.

However, while Greene's panache carried the book along, by about halfway through I had started to play spot the plot. Not an awful lot seemed to be happening and the things that did happen were a little, um, convenient and unbelievable.

Then we come to the cliches. The misunderstandings with the career-girl VBF (Very Best Friend) and her MOM (Man of the Moment), the interfering mother-in-law and cardboard-cut-out school-run mums.

Another problem with writing something so airy-fairy light in this genre is this: self-absorbtion (obsessing over tummy-size and designer bag-envy) is all well and good when you are a single girl about town, but it seems rather, well, whingey and selfish, when it comes from a woman with a kind, hard-working husband, two lovely children and a stable home.

Personally, in a book that focuses on family drama, I like a bit more heart and soul.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try: Rainy Days & Tuesdays by Claire Allan

Posted by Sarah Painter on December 31, 2007 in Irish Authors, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 12, 2007 10:38 AM

BOOK REVIEW: All I Want is You by Martina Reilly

Reviewed by Helen Redfern

As a Martina Reilly newbie I didn't know what to expect of All I Want is You. On first impressions the book didn't really show much promise. I thought both the title and the cover were a bit 'blah'. I t wasn't with great enthusiasm that I started to read.

Poppy Shannon is married to a successful architect in Dublin. She spends her days having facials, expensive haircuts, getting her nails done and shopping for designer clothes. Hmm.  Was I going to enjoy this? I wasn't sure. As I read though I started to enjoy Reilly's fabulously snappy writing style. So I continued.

Poppy's life is turned upside down when her husband's business partner runs off leaving them with massive debts. They have to sell their palatial home and downsize. She has to stop shopping and her hair is to be cut in the local, cheaper salon. In the meantime her son's behaviour causes concern at his new school, her businessman father retires leaving him bored, her mother in law has to come and live with them and her own mother is busy with her charities. Pete, Poppy's husband, withdraws from her, his pride not allowing him to accept financial and emotional help. And he struggles to admit his son's behaviour might be a problem.

Worst still, Poppy has to take a job. In the 'everything's a Euro' shop.

I found Poppy difficult to like initially. Her shallowness, naivety (which almost bordered on stupidity) and her reluctance to stop spending made her somewhat irritating.

But as Poppy started to sort her life out, she blossomed into a strong, independent woman. I found myself rooting for her, admiring the way she dealt with problems and with people.

Yup. I was hooked.

The rich woman losing her money and turning her life around has been done before. You might guess how things will turn out after reading just chapter one. But it doesn't matter. How she gets there is what makes this book so readable and unputdownable.

In an interview with Trashionista earlier this year Martina said that her main aim when writing a book was "to create great memorable characters, emotional, funny, interesting scenes and a cracking page-turner of a plot". She has done this. Exactly. Along with brilliant dialogue, fascinating contemporary issues, and characters that you really care about.

The scenes between Poppy and her mother in law are particularly memorable. The dialogue is quick witted, straight talking, funny and in one particular scene extremely emotional.

It is lovely when you find a fantastic read most unexpectedly. Hidden behind the 'blah' book cover is one gem of a book. Martina – you have a new fan.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Motherland by Maria Beaumont

Posted by Keris on October 12, 2007 in Irish Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 5, 2007 12:24 PM

BOOK NEWS: Do the Write Thing

Do The Write Thing was a popular series of creative writing coaching slots by bestselling author Patricia Scanlan. The winners of the subsequent short story competition are collected in this anthology.

All royalties from Do The Write Thing go to the National Breast Cancer Research Institute. I'm very charitable today, aren't I?

Related posts: No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July | This Is Chick Lit review | The Guy Not Taken review

Posted by Keris on October 5, 2007 in Irish Authors, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 15, 2007 4:57 PM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

Well, we didn't get a huge number of answers to last week's Yay or Nay, but you made up for it in quality - we have some very intelligent readers out there! (Maybe flattery will induce you to be more chatty this week? *Looks pleadingly*)

Today I want to ask you what you thought of another book, by another doyenne of chick lit, Mz Marian Keyes. It's her latest, Anybody Out There? Which you've all had plenty of time to read as it's been out in hardback since last year and paperback for... ooh, a good few months!

Did you like it? (Will anyone dare say no?) - Why/why not? And if you haven't read it, do you want to? (Will anyone dare say no?)

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 15, 2007 in Book related, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Recent Release, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (8)

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 1:56 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Yours, Faithfully by Sheila O'Flanagan

Reviewed by Helen Redfern...

Bigamy. Not the usual subject of a warm, feel good chick lit novel but Sheila O’Flanagan has produced an engaging read with Yours, Faithfully, exploring the bizarre relationship between two women married to the same man. The book also covers mother-daughter relationships and creating relationships with someone you wouldn’t have thought possible.

We are pulled into the lives of Iona and Sally both of whom are married to Frank. Sally has been married to him since they were very young and they have a teenage daughter, Jenna. Iona met and married Frank after a whirlwind romance four years ago. They are now trying for a baby. Neither wife knows about the other until Frank is involved in an accident.

When they learn of each other’s existence and meet in the hospital sparks fly, but then after a period of hatred towards what each calls ‘the other woman’ we see how their relationship develops and grows. As if having a husband in a coma and finding he is a bigamist isn’t enough Sally also has a major life change to deal with, much to Iona’s envy and Jenna, Sally’s teenage daughter’s, disapproval.

It is an unusual subject matter, and I had to slightly suspend my belief in order to read, but as Sally, Iona and Jenna journey through the maze of Frank’s coma and marriages, the reader is allowed a glimpse into his past, which actually makes Frank’s situation more credible. Siobhán, the policewoman investigating the case, brings an alternate perspective to the situation but also has her own problems to contend with.

As the story moves on O’Flanagan ensures you don’t wish to see one wife succeed over another, rather we see, quite refreshingly in fact, two women who in extreme circumstances and with every reason to dislike one another, develop a friendship.
A handful of strong Irish characters combined with a well paced plot make this book as satisfying as a rich, smooth, velvety ice-cream – an ideal poolside read.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Husbands by Adele Parks

Posted by Keris on August 8, 2007 in American Authors, Irish Authors, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 27, 2007 2:49 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Rainy Days & Tuesdays by Claire Allan

For the last few months, debut author Claire Allan has been writing guest blogs for us about the road to publication. Her novel, Rainy Days & Tuesdays, was finally released last week and I got to read it straight away.

Once again, in the interests of full disclosure, Claire was (and is!) another member of the chick lit writing group  I host (happily, we're a pretty successful bunch), so if I hadn't liked Rainy Days, I would've given it to someone else to review (I'm brave like that). Luckily I loved it.

Since having her first child Grace Adams has more than lost her mojo. Now Parenting Editor at the same magazine where she used to be Health & Beauty Editor, and with hair, make-up and fashion no longer a priority, she feels like her glamorous days are far behind her.

But when the new Health & Beauty Editor suggests Grace might like to feature in the magazine's ultimate make-over, something cracks and Grace finds herself having a "wee breakdown". Following rows with both her husband and best friend, Grace realises professional help is needed and after consulting with "Dr Dishy" agrees to the makeover, but on her terms.

Yes, Rainy Days & Tuesdays is another Mummy Lit book, but there's a reason they're so popular: they're true. I identified with Grace from the first page, but even if you've never had any mummy-related loss of identity issues yourself, Claire's writing style is so friendly and accessible that it would still be an incredibly enjoyable and satisfying read.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Motherland by Maria Beaumont

Posted by Keris on June 27, 2007 in Debut Novels, Irish Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

June 26, 2007 5:53 PM

TUESDAY THREE: Future classics

As you know, it's Cult Classics week at Trashionista this week (although it's slightly on hold since poor Diane currently has no electricity thanks to the inclement weather!) So for this week's Tuesday Three, I'm looking at future chick lit classics.

Since Jennifer Weiner is the chick lit author most likely to cross-over, her debut novel, Good In Bed, is destined to be a future classic. It's is the story of Cannie, who finds out her boyfriend Bruce has left her for another woman by reading about it in his new magazine column. Weiner's debut addresses issues of family, self-image and love in a way we hadn't seen in chick-lit before. Cannie isn't a Bridget Jones style diet-obsessive - she has phases where she's unhappy with her body, but generally she likes being a larger lady. And she is, we're assured, very good in bed...

Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper perhaps suffered a bit for being a Richard & Judy bookclub choice. While being picked by the twosome is a huge boost for earnings and profile, it pretty much guarantees you a critical mauling. Jodi Picoult's books, though, are brilliantly written, topical, moving and entertaining and surely this will be recognised at some point in the future.

Thirteen year-old Anna is a human pincushion, who's been through countless invasive surgeries and blood transfusions to help save her sister Kate, who has leukaemia. She was never given a choice in this - in fact she was born for this very purpose. But now she's had enough. She's taking her parents to court to ask that they stop harvesting her body to help her sister. As you can imagine, this tears an already disparate (and desperate) family apart...

We haven't actually reviewed the final book in the three - Rachel's Holiday - but I couldn't possibly leave it out, since, as the chick lit readers' and writers' favourite, it's surely a future classic. Marian Keyes' third book is the story of Rachel Walsh, whose love of a good time lands her in Ireland's answer to the Betty Ford Clinic. Rachel is hopeful, expecting spa treatments and celebrities, instead, she finds a lot of group therapy, which leads her, against her will, to some important self-knowledge and a man who might actually be good for her.

Which books do you think are classics of the future?

Posted by Keris on June 26, 2007 in American Authors, Cult classic week, Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (3)

June 15, 2007 12:39 PM

Marian Keyes wins Melissa Nathan award for Comedy Romance

Marvellous Marian Keyes has won the inaugural Melissa Nathan award for Comedy Romance for her book Anybody Out There. Judges Jo Brand, Joanna Trollope, Jessica Hynes, Gaynor Allen and Sophie Kinsella awarded Keyes the £5000 prize in memory of author Nathan who died from cancer in 2006. [via Booktrade.info]

Posted by Keris on June 15, 2007 in Book News, Book related, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Prize Winners | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 6, 2007 11:18 AM

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Martina Reilly

Martina Reilly's latest book, All I Want Is You, is out tomorrow (and will be reviewed here soon). Can I just say, looking at that photo, does she not just look like the sweetest person ever? When I go to Ireland to force Marian Keyes to be my friend, I might have to call in on Martina Reilly too. (Be afraid, Martina. Be very afraid.)

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

My latest book is about Poppy Shannon - a woman who had it all to lose and did!

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

I write all my books sitting on my bed, propped up with pillows with copious amounts of coffee on standby. It probably explains why my back aches so much.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Sophie Kinsella's - Shopaholic and Sister.

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

My favourite heroine has got to be Alessandra Cecci (The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant) because she was so spirited and determined and managed creatively to live (and die) in the way she wanted.

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

I would tell anyone who wants to write to just go for it - sit down and write. And to remember that nothing you write is set in stone - as a writer you have to be open to suggestion and change. The suggestions will come (hopefully) from others that you trust with your story and the change will come from yourself, when you realise that your characters can and do have a life of their own.

What are you reading at the moment?

Imperium - Robert Harris

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

I'm working on a story about a girl called Hope, who, through a tragic accident ends up suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Her two friends bring her back to her home town to recuperate, little realising that home is the last place Hope wants to be, not with all the secrets she has.

Hope ends up receiving counselling for PTSD which allows me to give the reader glimpses into Hope's past. And what a past it was!!! It's a funny, gentle but serious look at motherhood, daughterhood and friendship.

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 main aim when setting out to write a book?

To create great memorable characters, emotional, funny interesting scenes and a cracking page-turner of a plot.

I feel this question is important, especially as an Irish writer, as in this country (Ireland) there is a very snobby literary tradition. Women writers penning contemporary fiction are not taken seriously at all. In my opinion unless a book (popular fiction or literary fiction) sets out to do the above, it fails as a book. Any book that sacrifices character/plot/scene for beauty of language and purple prose passages is just an incomprehensible poem!  (Whew - got that off my chest!)

Well, you know we agree with that! Thanks, Martina!

Posted by Keris on June 6, 2007 in Book related, Interviews, Irish Authors, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (4)

May 29, 2007 1:57 PM

Get well soon, sick chick litters!

There was no May edition of Marian Keyes' wonderful newsletter, because "She has been working night and day on the next book, and is exhausted and ill."

Jennifer Weiner recently cancelled an appearance due to an "ongoing situation that is equal parts funny and gross (or, actually, now that I reflect, more gross than funny) that I can't talk about yet and maybe won't want to talk about ever."

And self-confessed hypochondriac, Meg Cabot, has "scarring on my lungs from histoplasmosis, a disease caused by inhaling bat dung that I apparently had at one time and never even knew it, a missed opportunity I will go to my grave regretting)" to go with the Lyme disease and migraines...

Who knew writing chick lit was so hazardous to the health?! I'm sure you'll join us in wishing all three of them huge get well wishes.

Posted by Keris on May 29, 2007 in American Authors, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 18, 2007 10:13 AM

The Melissa Nathan award for Comedy Romance

Chick lit fans may know that tragically, popular author Melissa Nathan died in April 2006, aged just 37.

Before she died, she lay out the terms for a prize to be awarded in her name:  The Melissa Nathan award for Comedy Romance shortlist has now been announced.

The finalists include Jill Mansell, Polly Williams, and of course... Marian Keyes.

Carry on over the cut for the full list and more details.

The award ceremony will be held in London on 13th June 2007, and you can read the full list of nominees here.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on May 18, 2007 in Book related, British Authors, Irish Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Prize Winners, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 15, 2007 2:27 PM

TUESDAY THREE: Imaginary friends

I had one named Mr Corbett. Once, I left my grandparents house and, on the way home, said I’d left him behind. My dad said, “That’s okay, he’s running behind the car.” What on earth am I blethering on about? Imaginary friends! This week we look at three books featuring characters that may not exactly be, you know, real.

Lois Winston’s Talk Gertie to Me features Nori, who, in just one day, loses her boyfriend, best friend and her job and gets home to find that her mother has turned up unannounced for an indefinite stay. Before too long her childhood imaginary friend Gertie emerges to dispense straight talking advice. Gertie isn’t a physical presence, but a voice in Nori’s head, and the whole book is great fun.

Shannon McKelden's witty debut, Venus Envy, finds Venus/Aphrodite/goddess of love in the Seattle area, having to matchmake mortals to appease her father (that'd be Zeus). She's horrified to find her latest challenge is Rachel, who is so damaged by previous disastrous relationships that she's sworn off men for life and fills her time with good works instead. Luckily for Rachel, Luke - a hunky local firefighter - has taken a shine to her and isn't willing to take no for an answer. With Luke already interested and Venus there to help, what could possibly go wrong? Ha.

We haven’t actually reviewed Cecelia Ahern’s If You Could See Me Now, but it’s the story of Elizabeth Egan who has everything under control apart from her irresponsible sister Saoirse. Elizabeth has to take care of Saoirse’s six-year-old son Luke. One day, a stranger unexpectedly comes into their lives. Ivan is carefree, spontaneous and always looking for adventure - everything that Elizabeth is not. In no time at all, he has crept under her skin and started to change her life in ways she could never have . She knows barely anything about Ivan - who he is and whether he is everything he seems. But it turns out he might just be a little bit magical...

And don't forget that the movie (a musical!) is currently in “active production” with Hugh Jackman as the star.

Posted by Keris on May 15, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, Cecelia Ahern, Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Supernatural, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (3)

May 8, 2007 11:23 AM

GUEST BLOG: Claire Allan

For the past couple of months, Claire Allan has been sharing her experiences on the road to publication of her debut novel, Rainy Days & Tuesdays. This month's all about mug shots, booze, hookers... oh and second books...

Thankfully the day job as a journalist gives me access to talented photographers who can be bribed with a bottle of wine to take a couple of snaps but unlucky soul who had the task of making me look all sensible and talented had his work cut out for him. I'm not a fan of my smile, so several of the shots look like mug shots.

I also have a habit of closing my eyes when the flash goes off - again this does not make for the finest image. Think Hugh Grant in embarrassing LA Hooker incident.

I contemplated going incognito as a writer and creating a fabulous pen name (think Pixie Pirelli), but Poolbeg assured me that I'm fine as I am. I'm "quirky" apparently. I think that's a complement.

Aside from that however my relationship with Rainy Days and Tuesdays has been a very distant one this month. I've set it free and relaxed into some semblance of a normal life working diligently on Book Two and continuing to plan Book Three. I look at pictures of the cover occasionally and swoon at its beauty

It has taken me a while to fall as utterly in love with my second book as with my first, but now I'm in my addictive phase of writing. I get home, throw the wee man into his bed, beg him to fall asleep (I use bribery if necessary) and sit down at the laptop. It is an amazing feeling to see the words spill onto the screen and even better to read over them later and realise they make sense.

As has been said to me just this week the second book sometimes matters even more than the first (no pressure there then!), but I'll not even think about that for now. I'll just keep writing and living vicariously through a cast characters having their share of troubles and joy in London and Derry.

The second book is more of a challenge in terms of research, as one of the characters has fertility problems. I'm so determined not to do an injustice to every woman who has been affected by this so I'm relying on wonderfully open and honest people to share their experiences with me. Thankfully, although infertility still seems to hold a certain taboo, people have been happy to share with me.

While so much of writing goes on alone, with only a laptop and a glass of Pinot Grigio for company, this research aspect has made me realise that no writer is an island. (Then again, looking at the size of me in the publicity shots...)

Amazon is still giving a release date to the UK market on June 25, so next month I'll probably be incoherent and babbling with nervous tension. I'll keep you posted.

Posted by Keris on May 8, 2007 in Book related, Debut Novels, Irish Authors | Permalink | Comments (2)

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)

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)

March 19, 2007 12:41 PM

Orange Prize longlist announced

My favourite literary award of the year is one step closer to being decided with the announcement of The Orange Prize long list. As we told you before, Marian Keyes is among the women on the judging panel, and she's been chronicling her adventures in reading on her monthly blog/newsletter (in February her reading was broken up by a trip up the Amazon).

Anyway, the long list is rather... long (no!) so I'll post it over the cut:

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Poppy Shakespeare by Clare Allan

Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

Peripheral Vision by Patricia Ferguson

Over by Margaret Forster

The Dissident by Nell Freudenberger

When to Walk  by Rebecca Gowers

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo

The Observations by Jane Harris

Carry Me Down by M J Hyland

The Girls by Lori Lansens

Alligator by Lisa Moore

What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

Careless by Deborah Robertson

Afterwards by Rachel Seiffert

Ten Days in the Hills by Jane Smiley

Digging to America by Anne Tyler

The Housekeeper by Melanie Wallace

Lots there I'd love to read (especially Jane Smiley and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's books) , but only one that I have - Xiaolu Guo's A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers.

How about you?

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 19, 2007 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Prize Winners, Richard and Judy | Permalink | Comments (2)

March 13, 2007 4:20 PM

Galaxy Book Awards shortlist announced

The Galaxy British Book Awards, formerly just The British Book Awards (those ones that Richard and Judy present where they always shout slightly embarrassing 'impromptu' interviews across the stage to the people giving out the books, I'm sure you've seen them on TV) have announced their shortlist. And they're now calling themselves The Oscars of the Book World. Posh!

Carry on over the cut to see the books in the running and for details on how to vote (for Marian Keyes!)...

The full list, with several categories, is very very long (despite the name 'shortlist'!) so it's better viewed via the awards' website. Perhaps of most interest to Trashionistas is that Marian Keyes's latest, the wonderful Anybody Out There? has been nominated for Sainsbury's popular fiction award. To vote for Marian, or any other book, click here. (Go now - hurry!)

Related: Richard and Judy archives | Prizewinners archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on March 13, 2007 in American Authors, Book News, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Prize Winners, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

TUESDAY THREE

Thanks to the new Thursday Trailblazer feature, the Thursday Three has become the Tuesday Three. And I thought I’d celebrate the move with a look at books featuring ... death. (I really don’t know how to celebrate, do I?)

P.S. I Love You, the debut novel from Cecilia Ahern, examines what happens when young love ends too soon. Holly is devastated when her childhood sweethearts Gerry dies of a brain tumour, but soon finds that he has left her a set of envelopes - one labelled to be opened on a specific day each month. Each envelope contains a task to help Holly move on with her life. And each message ends with the words 'P.S. I love you'. A lovely, sad, and funny book.

The reissued version of Marc Levy’s If Only It Were True, Just Like Heaven is about Lauren, a resident in a busy ER department, who crashes her car and ends up in a deep coma. A few weeks later Arthur moves into a fabulous new apartment. Imagine his shock when he finds a girl in his closet ... a girl who is amazed that he can see her and hear her ... a girl who tells him that her body is lying in a coma on the other side of town - yup you've guessed it, it's Lauren. The book’s great and so’s the film.

How Will I Know  by Sheila O’Flanagan explores the relationship between a bereaved mother and her daughter. Following her husband Bill’s tragic death, Claire’s life revolves around her daughter Georgia. While Georgia is getting to grips with a first boyfriend, Claire is rediscovering the world of dating herself.

Posted by Keris on March 13, 2007 in American Authors, Cecelia Ahern, Irish Authors, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 12, 2007 5:31 PM

Marian Keyes in She magazine

The latest issue of She magazine features an interview with Marian Keyes in which she reveals something shocking - she doesn't like Jane Austen.

Asked if there are any books she's never read* Marian says, "I'm not fond of the classics - and especially can't enjoy Jane Austen. Her arch sentences get on my nerves. I would much rather read contemporary work about what people are thinking now." Controversial!

*Um, surely there're loads.

Carry on over the cut for more on Marian's reading habits.

Marian says that The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf changed her life - "It made me realise that women are manipulated to think that we are worthless unless we look 16, are cellulite-free and hairless. It changed my attitude on how I feel about how I look and triggered my inner feminist!"

She also reveals that her guilty reading pleasures are celebrity autobiographies such as Anthony Kiedis's Scar Tissue, and that the book she most often recommends to people is Feeling Sorry For Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty.

Related posts: Marian Keyes on The Weekender | Emma the best book ever written?

Posted by Keris on March 12, 2007 in Book related, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 14, 2007 2:23 PM

Win a trip to New York

Marian Keyes has a new website for Anybody Out There. Along with a biography, FAQ*s, character profiles (for all the Walshes!), there's also a chance to win a trip to New York: two return flights, four nights accommodation and a discount card for Macy's. Plus 10 runners-up will receive a set each of all Marian's books signed by Marian! The closing date is 4 March 2007.

Oh and don't forget the Funny Side of Love weekend this weekend on E! and Paramount (in the UK).

*Asked what she's reading at the moment, Marian admits she's currently "mildly obsessed with Michael Connolly," as is Megan Crane!

Posted by Keris on February 14, 2007 in Book Websites, Book related, Competition, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 6, 2007 3:49 PM

Irish book awards

Cecelia Ahern and Marian Keyes are going head to head in the Irish Book Awards, the shortlist for which was announced last week. A Place Called Here is up against Anybody Out There in the popular fiction category. Also shortlisted are Maeve Binchy, Ross O'Carroll Kelly and John Banville (writing as Benjamin Black).

The overall winners will be revealed on March 15. [via Irish Independent]

Posted by Keris on February 6, 2007 in Book News, Cecelia Ahern, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 5, 2007 10:46 AM

Kate Thompson's Love Lies Bleeding

Author Kate Thompson is trying something interesting with her latest book, Love Lies Bleeding.

If you email her, she’ll send you the first 25 chapters of the book for free (as a Word document). If you like it and want to continue reading, you can buy the remaining chapters ("The Clandestine Chapters") either directly from Kate or, if you're in Ireland, from Hughes & Hughes stores from this Friday (9th February). [via Marian Keyes]

Posted by Keris on February 5, 2007 in Book News, Irish Authors, New Releases | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 2, 2007 10:59 AM

More Marian Keyes TV news

You all know how much we love Marian Keyes here at Trashionista. I’m hoping every last one of you has already signed up for her monthly newsletter (why wouldn’t you? It’s one of the highlights of my month!), but just in case you haven’t it’s chock-full of info for Feb.

As we’ve already mentioned, the paperback of Anybody Out There will be out in the UK and Ireland in the next few days.

Marian will be appearing on Loose Women on ITV on February 8th and Five News and BBC Radio 2’s The Weekender on February 9th.

If you’re in Brazil (and if you are in Brazil, please leave a comment and let us know), Marian will be interviewed on Almanaque, from Globonews (the news channel of Globo Network) on February 16th.

Related post: Marian Keyes TV weekend / Sushi for Beginners on Oneword Radio

Posted by Keris on February 2, 2007 in Book related, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 30, 2007 2:49 PM

Sushi for Beginners on Oneword Radio

Marian Keyes's novel Sushi for Beginners is being read by actress Niamh Cusack on Oneword Radio. I didn't find out about it in time to let you know about the first episode, but the second (of ten) is broadcast this afternoon at 4.00pm (GMT). Daily broadcasts are 12.00am, 8.00am and 4.00pm and you can listen online (UK only, unfortunately).

Related posts: Marian Keyes TV weekend / Trashionista recommends: Oneword Radio

Posted by Aigua Media on January 30, 2007 in Book Websites, Book related, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 26, 2007 7:19 AM

Cecelia Ahern's television show

Cecelia Ahern’s star just keeps on rising. She has apparently successfully pitched a TV series to the Hollywood producers of Desperate Housewives and Lost.

ABC Television will be making a pilot show of the series, which will be called Carpoolers and revolves around a group of suburban guys who carpool to work together every day.

Cecelia developed the idea with Hollywood screenwriter Don Todd, who has written the script and will be executive producer for the pilot. Ahern will also work as producer of the show, adding Hollywood big wig to her already impressive list of achievements. [via Unison.ie]

But that's not all ...

Cecelia’s pilot Sam I Am (previously The Memory Trace) has been picked up by ABC. Sam I Am is a comedy about a woman who wakes up from a coma with amnesia and has to rediscover her life, her relationships and herself. [via Cecelia's web site]

Related posts: A Place Called Here / Where Rainbows End / P.S. I Love You / P.S. Hilary Swank injured in filming

Posted by Keris on January 26, 2007 in Cecelia Ahern, Irish Authors, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 17, 2007 8:49 AM

Marian Keyes TV weekend

Marian Keyes’ publisher, Penguin, has agreed a deal to sponsor a weekend of programming on the Paramount and E! television channels (neither of which I have - curses!) to coincide with the paperback launch of Anybody Out There (on 8 February).

The weekend of special programming will be called "The Funny Side of Love" and will take place on 17-18 February. Shows to be shown include Ally McBeal and Sex and the City and there will also be a 30-second promotional spot featuring Marian, along with details of the book and a competition to win a trip to New York (woo-hoo!). [via Revolution]

Posted by Keris on January 17, 2007 in Book News, Book related, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, New Releases, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 29, 2006 7:24 PM

Top 10 chick lit books of all time

For the final Top 10 of our Top 100 Extravaganza we had to be strict. We wanted to include our own all-time favourites and the books we think are the best chick lit books, but we thought the most influential and successful - the books that, for whatever reason, define the genre - should be included too. Following a flurry of emails (Diane: “We need a Weiner!”), we have our Top 10 Chick Lit Books of All Time. Let us know what you think.

10 Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell

I didn’t actually manage to finish Sex and the City the book, although of course I love the TV series. We’ve included the book because it’s been highly influential, although perhaps not in a good way. Many of the critics of chick lit who claim that it’s all about shoes, shopping, drinking and searching for a man are actually thinking of Sex and the City, the TV show, and not chick lit at all. Annoying, but what can you do?

Anyway, it gave us Carrie Bradshaw, so we have to love it, don’t we?

9 Thirtynothing by Lisa Jewell

Thirtynothing is probably my second favourite chick lit book of all time. Like all of Lisa Jewell’s books, the setting is perfect, the characters realistic and believable and it also has one of my favourite ever first chapters. Lisa Jewell is a glorious writer and Thirtynothing is a delightful book. If you haven’t read it, you really should.

8 The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin

One of the most successful books in the Top 10, The Nanny Diaries was so popular its two authors scored an incredible $3 million advance for their second book, Citizen Girl, which they had to return when it turned out to be a stinker. Proof that it’s not that easy to write chick lit after all.

The film adaptation of The Nanny Diaries is due out in April in the US.

7 The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

I haven’t actually read this one yet (I must, I know), but clearly it is the most successful chick lit book of the last few years. The title has become a household name, the book sold millions of copies in hardback, stayed on the New York Times Best Seller list for six months and has since been translated into 27 languages and the film’s been both a critical and commercial success. And they say chick lit’s dead. Sheesh.

6 High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

Ooh, a controversial one. Yes, I’m aware that Nick Hornby isn’t a woman and that High Fidelity isn’t chick lit, but it’s close enough and influential enough that it has to be here. Plus it’s the book that inspired Lisa Jewell (amongst others) to start writing and that’s good enough for me.

Fever Pitch is often credited as the book that created Lad Lit, but, as I’ve already mentioned, Fever Pitch is non-fiction. High Fidelity was Nick Hornby’s first novel and is the brilliantly written and hugely entertaining story of Rob Fleming’s relationship history. While it is a great book, Nick Hornby has gone on to be critically acclaimed and accepted as literary, unlike any chick lit author I can think of. Now that can just be because he’s a man ... can it?

Carry on over the cut for the Top 5.

5 Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Welcome to Temptation was Jennifer/Jenny Crusie’s third mass-market (i.e. not romance) novel, but it’s a favourite of anyone who reads Jennifer’s books. Actually, you don’t read Jennifer Crusie’s books, you devour them. Welcome to Temptation has all the essential Crusie ingredients: a feisty heroine, a sexy hero and an arguably even sexier anti-hero in Davy Dempsey. This was the book Diane insisted made it into the Top 10!

4 In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

My favourite chick lit book of all time, In Her Shoes has got everything - the antagonistic sisterly relationship so popular in chick lit, a love story, personal growth, humour (of course), even an evil stepmother. Plus Jennifer Weiner is the woman most likely to emulate Nick Hornby and be accepted by the literary establishment. But don't hold your breath.

3 The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

This, the first book in the enormously popular series, is yet another example of how much skill is involved in writing an apparently simple book. Kinsella came up with the perfect chick lit conceit: if chick lit is all about shopping, then what about a character who is, quite literally, all about shopping? And it worked. Becky Bloomwood is a charming and hilarious heroine, just on the right side of irritating.

(Look out for the latest Shopaholic book, Shopaholic and Baby, due out in February 2007.)

2 Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes

The Marian Keyes connoisseur’s favourite Marian Keyes book and the chick lit connoisseur’s favourite chick lit book*, Rachel’s Holiday is the story of Rachel Walsh - one of the Walsh sisters who also appear in Watermelon, Angels and Anybody Out There? For anyone who thinks chick lit is lightweight, meaningless and obsessed with shoes and shopping, here’s a book about drug addiction, alcoholism and anorexia (although it was still described as “fluffy” by one of the broadsheets!).

* Both Megan Crane and Hester Browne chose it as their favourite in our author interview.

1 Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

Bridget Jones’s Diary may not have been the first chick lit book, but it’s certainly the most famous. Spawning a sequel, two films and introducing “singletons” and “smug marrieds” into the vernacular (not to mention increasing sales of big knickers), Bridget remains the “face” of chick lit. It is also v. v. funny.

Bridget is also the most commonly referenced book and heroine in our weekly author interviews, cited by Laura Zigman, Janet Evanovich, Kelly McClymer, Rebecca Agiewich, Sara Gruen and Deanna Carlyle!

So what do you think? Have we got it right or are we completely wrong? Is your favourite missing or a hated book included? Let us know!

Posted by Aigua Media on December 29, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Devil Wears Prada, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Opinion, Sophie Kinsella, Top 100 Extravaganza! | Permalink | Comments (15)

December 21, 2006 4:12 PM

THURSDAY THREE: Threesomes

The theme of this week’s thursday three is threesomes. No, not like that! Books with three main characters. Sheesh.

Louise Bagshawe’s The Movie features naive, overweight Megan Silver, studio exec Eleanor Marshall (her mentor), and superbitch supermodel Roxana Felix (her rival) in a Jackie Collins-esque sex-fest.

The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes is about Gemma and Lily - best friends turned worst enemies - who are both intent on writing a best-seller. The threesome’s rounded out by Jojo, an agent on the hunt for her next money-spinning novelist. All the humour and emotion we’ve come to expect from lovely Marian.

Carry on over the cut for the final book.

Alison Bond’s How to be Famous follows Lynsey, Melanie and Serena: three women looking to make it in Hollywood. A no holds barred look at the cut-throat world of film, fame and being fabulous

What’s your favourite threebie*?

Thursday Three archives

*made-up word.

Posted by Keris on December 21, 2006 in British Authors, Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern

To some, Cecelia Ahern is a modern weaver of fairytales and her fourth book A Place Called Here certainly has a touch of magic about it.

It tells the tale of Sandy Shortt, a private detective in charge of a missing persons' bureau, who is obsessed with searching for people and possessions which have mysteriously disappeared. While investigating the disappearance of Donal Ruttle she finds herself in a place called 'Here', which just so happens to be the very place lost things go - be it the odd sock from the washing machine, your much needed passport, or any one of the hundreds of people who just vanish each year.

'Here' is where the reader really has to wilfully suspend their disbelief.  To be honest, the concept that everyone and everything that has ever gone missing just happens to exist in a parallel village just didn't quite work for me. But, in the spirit of giving Ms. Ahern the benefit of the doubt, I ploughed on.

While 'Here' Sandy meets up with many of the people she has spent the last 24 years searching for and in turn sets about seeing if she can find herself. While all this is happening Donal's brother Jack is searching for Sandy in the real world and finding out all about her sometimes troubled past.

With this book you keep waiting for it to get great. The potential is there, but it never quite kicks off. Imagine if the Wizard of Oz ended with Dorothy's house landing on the wicked witch and you get an idea of how frustrating this story is.

From a writing point of view, it sometimes smacks of 'trying too hard'. There are moments of wonderfully beautiful prose, but other sections are clumsy and disjointed.

Nonetheless it is unoffensive and if you really can make belief in an alternative universe (or village) then A Place Called Here could be for you.

[Claire Allan]

Rating: 2 out of 5

Like this? Try After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell

Posted by Keris on December 21, 2006 in Cecelia Ahern, Irish Authors, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Rating: 2/5, Rubbish Books | Permalink | Comments (4)

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 4:15 PM

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

Our Top 100 Extravaganza continues with my favourite books of the year (read Diane’s list here). Like Diane, I limited myself to books I read for the first time this year and, because I’m doing a Top 10 Young Adult list, I didn’t include any young adult books here.

Don’t forget to tell us about your favourite books of the year.

10 Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne

The sequel to The Little Lady Agency, Little Lady, Big Apple follows Melissa’s adventures with her etiquette and grooming agency. As you can guess from the title, she’s off to New York.

"It's a testament to the strength and charm of the characters that when I sat down to read I felt I was catching up with old friends (even though I only read the first book last week). It's fun, funny and sweet."

9 Pick Me Up by Zoe Rice

Pick Me Up is the story of Izzy who works in an art gallery and loves Robbie Williams. Clearly, I was destined to love her. And I did.

"I really enjoyed this book. Izzy's a charming, down-to-earth character and the supporting cast is great fun too. There are laugh-out-loud moments and an enormously romantic ending."

8 Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

The follow up to the enormously successful Sophie’s Bakery for the Broken-hearted brilliantly chronicles the breakdown of a marriage.

"I've never read a book where wanting more than one person at the same time is portrayed so convincingly. I had no idea who to root for. I wanted everyone to be happy. Winston writes about the minutiae of life beautifully."

7 Ex and the Single Girl by Lani Diane Rich

I hate to compare Lani Diane Rich to Jennifer Crusie - because everyone does - but I have the same confidence in Lani’s books as I do in Jennifer Crusie’s. I just know I’m going to get an entertaining and involving story and Ex and the Single Girl didn’t let me down.

"Portia is funny and real and Ian is sexy. Ex and the Single Girl is a fun and fast read about following your heart and finding your place in the world."

6 Me vs Me by Sarah Mlynowski

Sarah Mlynowski is an author at the top of her game and Me vs Me is her first foray into chick lit paranormal. Unable to decide whether to stay in Arizona and marry her boyfriend or move to New York for a great job opportunity, Gabby wishes (on a star) that she could do both. And she does.

"I really loved this book. It’s an original and interesting idea, entertainingly executed."

Carry on over the cut for the Top 5.

5 Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

Jennifer Crusie is one of our Top 10 chick lit authors and her books are always a cause for celebration. Anyone But You is one of her simpler stories, but it’s full of her usual humour, romance and great sex.

"A lovely, charming, sweet and romantic book. I loved it."

4 Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocello Marchetto

A bit of a departure, Cancer Vixen is a graphic novel and non-fiction so it really shouldn’t be in this list at all, but it’s amazing and inspiring and I couldn’t leave it out.

"The word 'unputdownable' is overused in book reviews. I mean, it's not true, is it? There's no book that you literally can't put down, but there are some books that once you start reading you don't want to stop and, for me, Cancer Vixen was one of those books."

3 Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos

Marisa De Los Santos’s debut novel tells, in alternating chapters, the stories of 30-year-old Cornelia and 11-year-old Clare and what happens when their lives intertwine.

"Love Walked In is a beautiful, magical book. It's old-fashioned, cleverly crafted and constantly surprising. The characters all seem utterly real - they are flawed, intelligent and interesting."

2 Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane

I heard a lot about Stupid and Contagious before reading it - it was probably the most-recommended book of the year. I was worried I’d be disappointed. Far from it.

"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."

1 Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes

Marian is a chick lit goddess and number one in our Top 10 chick lit authors list. Her latest book, Anybody Out There?, is also, in my opinion, her best.

"Anybody Out There? made me laugh out loud. It also often gave me that trying-not-to-cry pain in the throat. And once I gave up and sobbed. It made me think. It made me want to move to New York. It's a wonderful story with brilliant, believable characters and a truly satisfying ending."

Top 100 Extravaganza archives

Posted by Keris on December 19, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Opinion, Romance, Top 100 Extravaganza! | Permalink | Comments (7)

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 11, 2006 2:00 PM

Top 10 chick lit authors

Our Top 100 Extravaganza continues with the Top 10 chick lit authors chosen from our weekly Spotlight feature.

10 Belinda Jones

Belinda Jones has carved herself the best career ever - she travels the world and writes always-entertaining chick lit books based on her adventures.

9 Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell’s Thirtynothing is one of my favourite books of all time and her latest, Vince and Joy is wonderful too.

8 Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin is one of the new breed of chick lit authors, scoring huge sales in an allegedly dying market.

7 Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot may be better-known for her young adult novels, but her adult chick lit books are entertaining and very funny.

6 Jennifer Crusie

Jennifer Crusie (pictured) was writing chick lit before it was called chick lit and she just keeps getting better.

Carry on over the cut for the Top 5 and find out who's number one (it might not be who you think!)

5 Sophie Kinsella

The Shopaholic books are chick lit classics and rightly so. Plus Can You Keep A Secret has one of my favourite ever chick lit heroes. (Look out for the latest Shopaholic book, Shopaholic and Baby due in February 2007.)

4 Lauren Weisberger

Had to be Top 5 due to the enormous success of The Devil Wears Prada (the only book to get its own Trashionista category!). Weisberger’s debut brought the chick lit debate back with a bang.

3 Jennifer Weiner

One author who has apparently begun to transcend her chick lit label. Graduating from an Ivy League school and writing short stories has probably helped.

2 Helen Fielding

Nope. She’s not number one, but she had to be up there. The one who - arguably - started it all with Bridget Jones and still the author still most associated with chick lit.

1 Marian Keyes

Why? Because her first book, Watermelon, came out in 1995 - a year before Bridget Jones’s Diary - making her arguably the originator of chick lit. Plus she’s published a further seven gorgeous novels and two wonderful books of non-fiction. And because she’s a goddess.

Posted by Keris on December 11, 2006 in American Authors, Book related, British Authors, Devil Wears Prada, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Opinion, Top 100 Extravaganza! | Permalink | Comments (5)

December 8, 2006 11:35 AM

Marian Keyes on Orange Prize judging panel

Yep, it's all Marian, all the time here lately - we do like some other authors too, I promise! But this is big news so I had to share. In her monthly newsletter, the lovely Ms Keyes announced that she's been picked as one of the judges for prestigious literary award The Orange Prize, which celebrates women's fiction. Past winners include We Need to Talk about Kevin and Small Island.

Says Marian, "Naturally my joy will be corrupted by snobby types complaining that if a chick-lit author is judging the Orange Prize, then the barbarians are at the gate, my dears. But my response will be a mature and dignified one. Yes. TOUGH *****, SNOBBY AMIGOS! THEY ASKED ME AND THEY DIDN'T ASK YOU!!!!!"

Well put.

More info on the judging panel here.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on December 8, 2006 in Book related, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, New Releases, Prize Winners | Permalink | Comments (0)

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)

November 28, 2006 11:32 AM

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)

November 14, 2006 11:39 AM

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 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)

November 6, 2006 12:21 PM

P.S. Hilary Swank injured in filming

Back in July we told you that Hilary Swank was to star in the movie version of Cecelia Ahern's P.S. I Love You. Well, filming has already started, but it seems things aren't quite going to plan.

While filming a striptease scene, Swank needed stitches in her forehead after she "became snagged on co-star Gerald Butler's suspenders". Suspenders is American for braces. I hope. If not, this film is sounding very different to the book ...

The film also stars Lisa Kudrow, Kathy Bates and Gina Gershon and is due for release in 2008. [via Playfuls]

Posted by Keris on November 6, 2006 in Book related, Cecelia Ahern, Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Woman who walked into Doors by Roddy Doyle

The Woman who walked into Doors by Roddy Doyle is not the most enjoyable or pleasant book you'll ever read, but it is probably one of the very best.

It's the story of Paula Spencer, a working-class Irish woman whose husband and father of her children Charlo subjects her to appalling physical abuse throughout their marriage until finally, and violently, he dies. (I'm not spoiling the plot here- that's made clear in the first few pages).

It's also emotional, incredibly real and often gut-wrenching.

It's hard to believe this book is written by a man as the first-person narrator, Paula, is so real and vivid and the narration is always believable, even as it becomes more horrifying. We learn the history of her relationship with Charlo- how he made her knees go weak when she first met him, to the horrific abuse he dealt out. We also learn about Paula's childhood and upbringing and her family background and there are moments of wonderful although dark humour, too.

Doyle has a particular gift for capturing cruelty and realism, and it's used to great effect here. The scenes of abuse are genuinely disturbing and frightening and although it's not a true story, obviously (unfortunately) it's a story that will ring true with many people and that makes the emotional impact stronger.

It's a dark book, not a read to cherish or 'enjoy' as such, but one that's so addictively well-written you can't help devouring it to the very end. And when you do, the reward is that things are starting to look up after Charlo's death; finally Paula has the chance to move forward. We have to believe she'll take it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

*DID YOU KNOW?* Ten years on from the publication of this book, Roddy Doyle has brought out a sequel, Paula Spencer, which is getting very good reviews.

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

More on Monday archives.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on November 6, 2006 in Book related, Irish Authors, Modern Fiction, More On Monday, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 18, 2006 5:19 PM

BOOK REVIEW: How Will I Know? by Sheila O’Flanagan

Prolific chick lit author O’Flanagan pulls another fantastic read out of the bag with How Will I Know? an occasionally thought-provoking story of the relationship between a bereaved mother and her daughter. Covering all the big ‘no-no’s’ of our age – death, divorce and drinking – this book provides a light look at how people deal with all three. The central character, Claire, met her husband Bill when they were very young and discovered her soulmate.

Following his tragic death on a family holiday, her life revolves around her daughter Georgia. Now Georgia has become a teenager, Claire’s concerned about how to give her advice on dating and the dreaded boys. This sets off an amusing and surprisingly up-to-date tale of her attempts to get back into the dating ‘scene’ whilst dealing with the deeper issues of how she feels about moving on from her feelings about the death of her husband. At the same time, her parents are divorcing after many years of marriage, and her best friend is dealing with her husband’s drink problem.

Claire has a hard time rediscovering the world of dating – and online matchmaking services – with some bittersweet experiences. But however sad the story, there’s a funny side to almost everything, particularly the experiences of her daughter getting to grips with a first boyfriend. By making sure she includes a strong storyline for the grandmother, mother and daughter, O’Flanagan has made sure that this book will appeal to a wide range age range of readers.

Of course there are the usual comforting chick lit plot elements – set in Ireland, a convenient working from home job, all tradesmen are attractive and animals are cute and fluffy. There’s a small plot twist as well, but nothing to trouble the brain cells, so all in all a very easy read. I really enjoyed this as a chill-out on the commute to work read, and found myself with tears in my eyes at some moments - perfect beach material for a late summer break. [Emma Tazewell].

Rating: 4 out of 5

Like this? Try P.S I Love You by Cecilia Ahern.

Posted by Aigua Media on October 18, 2006 in Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release, Romance | Permalink | Comments (1)

October 12, 2006 5:36 PM

THURSDAY THREE: From book to blog

Last week's Thursday Three looked at bloggers who became published authors, and this time: the reverse! That's authors who set up blogs after becoming successful writers (to the glee of their readers!)...

First up has to be Jennifer Weiner, whose Snarkspot site is hugely popular and has been name-checked once or twice (or 500 times) on this here site. She not only discusses latest events in her life (and keeps you up to date with all her tour dates, book readings etc) but she takes a healthy interest in book news and issues- defending women's right to write whatever kind of fiction they want.

What will the other two sites be? Carry on over the cut to find out...

Faster than Kudzu is Joshilyn Jackson's fantastically funny and entertaining web log, where she discusses her writing, random pop culture events and bizarre twists of fate. Always witty, unpredictable and a guaranteed cheerer-upper.

Finally, we couldn't leave out the lovely Marian Keyes! Hers is not a blog as much as a monthly newsletter which you read via her site, but it's like reading several lovely blog entries all at once, as she shares her writing news and personal news in her eminently likable, chatty way. Fans can sign up for the newsletter by email, too.

What are your favourite author blogs? (Yes, any published authors reading - you can share your own!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on October 12, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Tuesday Three | Permalink | Comments (2)

September 26, 2006 12:06 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Never Say Never by Melissa Hill

Never Say Never by Melissa Hill is a fantastic read for anyone who has ever thought ‘I wonder what we’ll all be doing in 5 years time?’. Telling the story of group of friends who met at college, and are still more-or-less friends many years later, this book is set mainly in Ireland, (as about 98% of chick lit seems to be these days!) and will have you thinking in an Irish accent long before the end.

The group of friends provides all the traditional characters; the single mum, the all-work-and-no-play entrepreneur, the new mother who neglects her friends combined with childless and proud, the ‘living abroad so too good for the old town’, and explores how the experiences they’ve had over the years change their relationships for better or worse.

The three main characters, Leah, Robin and Olivia, show how fate has played a part in changing their lives. With a fantastic twist to the plot that I don’t think even the most suspicious reader would guess, nothing is ever quite what it seems until the very end. To get you there, there’s something for everyone with some very fanciable male characters and some inspiring and irritating women!

What I particularly enjoyed was understanding how the characters react to the events that shape their lives – some people can take everything in their stride and some let things wear away at them until they define who they are. It’s a good reminder that not everyone sees the world in the same way – and that it’s important to keep talking…

There are parts of the book that feel a little like the author kept her options open for as long as possible when deciding how the book should end – but as long as you don’t mind occasionally wanting to shake at least one of the characters to tell them to ‘snap out of it’, it’s a good read. [Emma Tazewell].

Rating: 4 out of 5 – another few chapters on the end and it would have been full marks.

Like this? Try Why Not? by Shari Low; Angels by Marian Keyes.

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on September 26, 2006 in Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Times gears up for an all-male Christmas

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

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

Update: The ever-insightful Galleycat sees my point!

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

September 14, 2006 10:54 AM

TV News: Reader, I Married Him

Make a note in your diaries for 9pm this coming Monday (18th September) because no self-respecting Trashionista will want to miss a new three-part series, Reader, I Married Him, on BBC4. Presented by Daisy Goodwin, it focuses on the continuing popularity of romantic fiction and traces its origins. Goodwin will be speaking to Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella and Jilly Cooper about why their books are so popular, as well as looking at heroes and heroines in classic romantic fiction (that'll be Mr Darcy and Jane Eyre then...) You can watch a trailer via the website and you'll also find a quiz to test your knowledge of romantic fiction (I got a respectable 8/10 but  my ignorance of Barbara Cartland's oeuvre let me down!) and a competition to win a full set of Jane Austen's novels.

And here's a piece from the Woman's Hour archives about whether men will read romantic fiction.

Enjoy! (And let us know what you think).

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on September 14, 2006 in Book related, British Authors, Classic Novels, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Romance, Sophie Kinsella, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 13, 2006 11:50 AM

YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY

I think it's time for another Marian Keyes Yay or Nay, don't you? This time we're turning our attention to her non-fiction works, Under The Duvet and Further Under the Duvet (largely inspired by the fact that I bought the latter last week!)

SO... How do you feel about one of Trashionista's firm fiction faves moonlighting as a journalist? Do you enjoy her non-fiction or should she stick to the stories- Going under Marian's duvet (so to speak!): is it a Yay or a Nay, and why?

[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 September 13, 2006 in Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)

August 30, 2006 11:00 AM

The Sunday Night Book Club

I always love books that help a good cause, but The Sunday Night Book Club sounds like it would be a great short story collection even if it wasn't raising money for Breast Cancer Care.

Featuring stories by Wendy Holden, Cathy Kelly, Adriana Trigiani and lone man Alexander McCall Smith, the book is sponsored by Woman and Home magazine and promises to be a popular addition to Christmas stockings this year.

(Sorry- when I see September on the horizon I become obsessed with Xmas, I'll try to rein myself in now until November at least!)

Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 30, 2006 in American Authors, Book News, British Authors, Irish Authors, Short Story Collections | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 22, 2006 11:28 AM

Chick Lit Roundtable

I've just discovered this excellent chick lit discussion on the Authors on the Web site.

It's a "Chick Lit Author Roundtable" featuring such Trashionista faves as Meg Cabot, Marian Keyes and Jennifer Weiner.

It's a bit out of date (check out the Meg Cabot author photo), but includes plenty of insights into excellent questions like 'What makes a book chick lit?' and 'Is there a value to Chick Lit other than escapism or entertainment?'

Posted by Keris on August 22, 2006 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related, British Authors, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction | Permalink | Comments (2)

May 3, 2006 11:00 AM

Poison Arrows - Book Review

I picked this up because of its shocking pink cover. When I turned it over and read the blurb on the back I wasn't so sure about the book - starring cupids receiving missives from above and a small Irish town named Gorrib it didn't sound like such a great read. The fact it was written by Morag Prunty however swayed me - I loved her previous two books so maybe this would be better than I expected...

Christian is an angel. More specifically he's a cupid who gets sent down to Earth to help the loveless find love. He's a little apprehensive when he receives his new assignment - to Gorrib, a small town in Ireland with more people looking for love than he'd care to have to cope with. The work isn't the problem, that comes from the idiosyncracies that make angels angelic - little things like being unable to ingest food or drink... a major problem when everyone you meet invites you for yet another cup of tea.

Christian's targets are all desperate for success in love in their own way. Mary has been in love with the same man for years and years, she's waited this long for him but is starting to wonder how much longer she must wait. Sandra left the small town lifestlye years ago for the bright lights of the city, plus there's more call for lap dancers there. She's had enough now and heads back to the small town she holds firmly in her heart. And then there's Moses and Rose, former childhood sweethearts. He has never gotten over her jilting him for her future husband, and she feels trapped in a suffocating marriage to Gorrib's answer to Enoch Powell. It certainly seems like Christian has his work cut out for him.

The book follows the progression of the major characters lives set against an archetypal backdrop of Irish life. Unfortunately Prunty throws in twists and turns through the angelic side of things - the culmination of which left me feeling utterly bemused. This is a shame however as the rest of the story, including the presence of Christian ticks along nicely. I think its another case of an author tryng too hard to be clever - if she had left out some of the extra bits then this would have been a far better book. This in itself leads me to recommend this as worth a try, though you'd probably be best getting it from your local library!

Like this? Try 'Dancing With Mules' by Morag Prunty

Posted by Aigua Media on May 3, 2006 in Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

March 31, 2006 11:00 AM

Marian On Tour

Marian Keyes has just returned to the shores of Britain after a hugely successful tour of Australia.

Never fear that the Aussies are getting all the fun (Marian Keyes and the Queen all in a matter of weeks?) Marian will be making a series of appearances in England next week. Here at Trashionista we don't want you to miss the chance of meeting the lady herself so these are the venues you can find her at:

4th April, 6.30pm: Waterstone's, 20-21 St Margarets Street, Canterbury, CT1 2XH

6th April, 1.00pm: Waterstone's, 40 Bridge Street, Peterborough, PE1 1DT

6th April, 6.30pm: Waterstones Piccadilly, The Simpson Room, 203 Piccadilly, London W1V 9LE

Posted by Aigua Media on March 31, 2006 in Announcements, Irish Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 20, 2006 1:22 PM

Angels

Marian Keyes has slowly but surely become, to most, the Queen of chick lit. Not only does she churn out incredibly readable novels every couple of years, but she has a much-coveted column in ‘Marie Claire’. So where to start if you haven’t read any Keyes before? ‘Angels’ is an excellent introduction...

‘Angels’ opens with quiet, unassuming Maggie (the only sensible sister out of five) leaving her husband. This completely out-of-character decision shocks her outrageously brilliant family as much as it does Maggie herself. When her contract at work isn’t renewed, nothing is keeping her in Dublin, and the sights and sun of Los Angeles and lifelong best friend Emily come a-calling.

One of Keyes best skills is observational fiction. Somewhere in this book, you will find a character you identify with. Be it Maggie’s instant LA crush – the commitment phobic Troy – or Emily’s sweet-yet-annoying New Age neighbours, there’s something for everyone in this book.

The book follows Maggie as she embarks on a less sensible way of living for the first time in her life. Immediately accepted by Emily’s friends, she finds herself living the high life in LA, her marriage and Ireland well behind her.

However, this isn’t a fun and quirky all-fluff novel. Keyes deals with sensitive subjects (like trying to have a child) with the greatest of care. We learn more and more about Maggie’s past as she enjoys her present in LA. We soon find out why the ever-reliable Walsh sister lost her job and why her marriage fell apart.

Maggie spends a lot of time experimenting with a different way of life, but when her family make the trip across the Atlantic to visit her, real life comes crashing down. Will she continue on her new, exciting-but-unstable life or will the reappearance of husband Garv take her back to the life she left behind?

This book is truly one of the best books I have ever read. Buy it then set aside a day or two so you can devour it in all of it’s glory. Simply brilliant! [Toni Kelly]

Liked this? Try Watermelon by Marian Keyes!

Posted by Gemma on January 20, 2006 in Irish Authors, Modern Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 9, 2006 2:21 PM

Watermelon

Marian Keyes first book has all the hallmarks that have continued through her later novels; close family ties, troubled marriages and strong female characters. Our heroine here is Claire, happily married to the wonderful James, with a London flat she has lovingly designed and a great job. Then hours after she gives birth to their baby girl, James announces he is leaving her for their frumpy, older neighbour leaving Claire utterly devastated.

With her life shattered and a baby she doesn't even know what to call, Claire does the only thing that makes sense at a time like this: she goes home to Dublin and her noisy, eccentric family replete with Irish mammy, mad-as-hatter sisters and slightly bewildered Dad. Gradually Claire realises life goes on and starts to recover. Then James reappears and wants her back... but does she want him? Does she really want to go back to her old life?

The prose reads as though you are inside Claire's head. She's genuine and funny and her emotions wholly believable but it was really drawn out. And I do mean really drawn out. The book could have been a 100 pages shorter. In fact, I skipped a 100 pages in the middle because I got a tad bored and the plot didn't even suffer as a result. But I'm glad to say the book redeemed itself with an upbeat ending so if you want a tale of perfection goes wrong with your heroine triumphing over a prize eejit (as Keyes would no doubt say) this is one for you. [Camilla Chafer]

Posted by Gemma on January 9, 2006 in Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

November 9, 2005 3:54 PM

Where Rainbows End

Readers of the best selling 'P.S. I Love You' will not be disappointed by this book. Cecelia Ahern's second novel tells the story of Rosie and Alex, childhood friends who - through a variety of twists - miss actually getting together, yet stay friends despite everything that life throws at them.

Now, ten pages or so into this book, I did have a 'yikes!' moment. This is not a conventionally written story with nice neat paragraphs. Instead we follow Rosie and Alex via their letters, texts and emails from the age of five and well into adulthood. I feared I would get really ticked off reading this style, but bear with it, because it's really rather good.

During their teens, the young couple are separated when Alex leaves Ireland for the US, never to return for more than a few days. Just as Rosie is going to join him, her life is irreversibly changed and she is forced to stay in Ireland.

Much of the novel is a charming 'what if' story. The strength of Rosie and Alex's friendship is mingled with a catalogue of lost opportunities and misunderstandings as each wonders if they have made the wrong life choices. The prose is funny, the events funnier still, as we read the emails that take us through Rosie's accidental teenage pregnancy to Alex graduating medical school and the birth of his own children, before they are presented with an opportunity that may be their last chance of happiness…

Will they take it? You'll have to read it and see. [Camilla Chafer]

Where Rainbows End - Cecelia Ahern (£3.99)

If you liked this, you might like P.S I Love You by Cecelia Ahern or Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot.

Posted by Gemma on November 9, 2005 in Irish Authors, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 25, 2005 3:14 PM

P.S I Love You

What happens when young love ends too soon? That is the fundamental theme of this stunning debut novel from Cecilia Ahern. Holly and Gerry had the type of love many of us can only ever dream of; childhood sweethearts who grew up together and became best friends, lovers and soulmates. So you can imagine Holly's grief when at the age of 30 Gerry is tragically taken from her, the victim of a brain tumour. Ahern carefully chronicles the time after Gerry dies, and Holly has to learn to live again, with a guiding hand from above...

In the years Holly and Gerry were together, they often joked that if he went first Holly would not be able to cope. The solution was 'the list' - Gerry decided he'd better leave a list of instructions and guidance for Holly. Of course when they were joking about this they never dreamed that they were be parted so prematurely.

At the time the story begins, Holly is starting to face life without Gerry. This seems to her to be an insurmountable task - how is she supposed to live without him? Then her mother reminds her that there is a letter waiting for her at her parents house...when she mentions it has the words 'The List' on it, Holly finally decides to have a look. Inside the envelope she finds a letter from Gerry and a set of envelopes - one labelled to be opened on a specific day each month. Each message ends with the line 'P.S. I love you'.

The story centres around these envelopes, and the tasks they contain. They range from the simple to the extravagant, from the touching to the downright hilarious. Supported by a range of well written characters and events, this original plot creates a fantastic book. It is one of those books you can not help but enjoy - at the moments it makes you laugh out loud, and the moments you have to reach for the tissues you realise its been a long time since you've read a book this good. Whether you want a beach read, something to travel with, or just a good book to kill some time with, this book should be top of anybodys' 'to read' list. [Jenni Nock]

P.S I Love You - Cecilia Ahern (£3.99 or from 75p used)

If you like this, you might like Under My Spell by Deborah Wright.

Posted by Gemma on October 25, 2005 in Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (8)

October 4, 2005 4:50 PM

Dancing With Mules

'Dancing With Mules' is the debut novel by Morag Prunty, and with it she firmly positions herself in the company of other great Irish chick lit writers. This is a cleverly written book, combining a varied cast of rich, likeable characters with a classic plot turned on its head. It's fluffy fun with an unexpected ending that helps seal the deal!

Early in the book we are introduced to Xavier Big, an Irish American billionaire who is looking for an Irish wife. Cue a selection of the ladies hoping he will sweep them off their feet. Each of the major players in the running are endearing, and no matter how different they initially seem to yourself, you quickly begin to identify with them. The means and ends they seem prepared to reach, to win his hand in marriage, range from the honest to the underhand to the downright dirty and provide opportunity after opportunity to laugh out loud.

One of my favourite things about this book was that whilst the ending was perhaps not the one I was expecting, it was one I agreed with. The change in writing style for the concluding pages was perhaps a bit of a gamble, but one that paid off. It was a refreshing change of pace that left me feeling happy and content as I closed the book. Definitely one to add to the collection. (Jenni Nock)

Dancing With Mules - Morag Prunty

Posted by Gemma on October 4, 2005 in Debut Novels, Irish Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 25, 2005 5:43 PM

The Other Side of The Story

Marian Keyes latest book tells a tale via three narrators with very different perspectives. Gemma and Lily are best friends turned worst enemies, both intent on writing a best-seller. Jojo is the agent who's looking for her next money-spinning novelist in order to get that promotion...and you can guess the rest. If you've ever thought of writing a novel, you'll enjoy this as much for the tales from the industry (snarky reviews, inside workings of agencies and publishing houses, the curse of 'chick lit') as you will for the plot itself. Despite the new style of narration, it sticks fairly firmly in Keyes usual territory - troubled relationships, high-strung heroines and the token Irish Mammy - so if you're a fan you won't be disappointed. It's fairly bulky, Amazon's latest paperback version is 496 pages long but ours was 650, but despite that the pages fly by with a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. The ending is predictably neat, tidy and just a little bit mushy, but what else would you expect?

The Other Side Of The Story - Marian Keyes

Posted by Aigua Media on August 25, 2005 in Irish Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)