Trashionista

BOOK COVER: Marian Keyes

What. The hell. Is this?

I'm not even sure. It's on Amazon.com as the paperback of Anybody Out There, but there's a much more attractive - sorry, considerably less eye-stabbingly hideous - paperback on there too. What was this? A dummy? A joke?

Anyway, I had to tear my eyes away and so I pointed them in the direction of Marian's new book, This Charming Man to compare the US and UK covers...

As I'm sure you know, This Charming Man is about domestic violence.

While the US cover on the left is more suggestive of domestic violence, I do find it a little bit 90s.

But the UK cover, while, arguably, more aesthetically pleasing is just a bit random. I mean, I'm not really getting domestic violence from glittery fireworks coming from a toaster (of course, when I read the book, all may become clear) and it reminds me a little of the Meg Cabot Queen of Babble cover I hate so much.

So what do you think? Which do you prefer? (The This Charming Man covers, I mean - surely we can all agree that the Anybody Out There? cover is a travesty?)

BOOK COVER: Pack up your troubles

Remember that Sesame Street song - one of these things is not like the others? Well, now it's time to play my game (it's time to play my game). (Of course, if you don't remember the song, you'll just think I've lost my marbles...

I spotted the Marian Keyes covers while Googling around trying to find the US cover for This Charming Man (more about that another day...).

I like both of them and they reminded me of the Allison Winn Scotch cover, which I also loved. And then I saw the paperback cover of The Department of Lost & Found and, while I haven't read the book so I don't know which is more appropriate, I'm not loving it. Looks like a blatant attempt to grab some Jodi Picoult readers to me.

What do you think?

Related posts: The Other Side of the Story review | The Department of Lost & Found review

More Marian Keyes TV news

Did you catch the wonderful Ms Keyes on Paul O'Grady yesterday?

She's also going to be on Loose Women today, ITV1 at 12.30pm. And if that's not enough to tempt you, their other guest is Chris de Burgh. Woo.

Marian Keyes news and more

Okay, so first of all, Marian is on the promo trail for the forthcoming (and long-awaited), This Charming Man (1 May!). Tomorrow (Tuesday), she'll be appearing on the Paul O'Grady show (in the UK) at 5pm on Channel 4.

What else? Well, there was an interview with The Daily Telegraph in which the writer described Ms Keyes' books as "tales of loveable heroines struggling to find Mr Right". Really? Can you think of any Marian Keyes book that actually fits this description, because I can't.

Fortunately, some excellent commentary on women's fiction (from Marian, not the writer), saves the article.

"I'm proud of what I write and feel endorsed by my  readers," she says. But what does annoy her is the "slagging off in the media" dished out to some of her  fellow bestselling female authors, such as Cecilia Ahern and Cathy Kelly.

"It bothers me because it is just another way of making women  feel s--- about themselves - by making fun of the books they write  and read and the issues in them. If there were a group of men  writing thrillers who had had the same impact around the world,  they'd be celebrated."

I am in total agreement (but you knew that, didn't you?).

Related posts: Why are we embarrassed to read chick lit? | Marian on The Weekender | The Chick Lit debate continues

BOOK REVIEW: Further Under The Duvet by Marian Keyes

We adored Marian's first collection of non-fiction essays, Under The Duvet, and I'm pleased to report that Further Under the Duvet is just as warm and funny.

Whether she is talking about her well-documented alcoholism, charity work, feminism, her love of Prada or the Irish air-guitar-playing championships, Marian is adroit and lovely.

As well as journalism (previously published in places like the Guardian and Marie Claire), Further Under Duvet has a small collection of short stories (two of which are previously unpublished) and Mammy Walsh's Problem Page.

A lovely warm hug of a read.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try: Under The Duvet (of course!) by Marian Keyes

HELEN'S HEROINES: Rachel Walsh

Helen Redfern's weekly look at the fictional females she loves...

I didn’t like Rachel Walsh when I first started to read Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes. To be fair though, I don’t think she liked herself much either.

Rachel is the middle child of five sisters. Claire and Margaret being the eldest two, appearing in Watermelon and Angels, then the youngest two being Anna and Helen. Anna appears in Anybody Out There? Helen’s story is still to be written. Along with their Mammy and Dad they make up the Walsh family.

Living in New York with her best friend from Ireland, Brigit, Rachel likes to party. By that I mean she dabbles in recreational drugs and enjoys a drink. That’s how she sees it. Brigit and her boyfriend, Luke, see it differently, as we find out later.

It comes to a head when, one day, she overdoses.

Her family bring her back to Ireland sharpish, putting her into Cloisters (which is like the Betty Ford clinic). Rachel believes it a mistake. She thinks she is nowhere near being a drug addict - for a start she’s not thin enough - but she goes anyway, imaging saunas, a gym and famous people galore. It’s only when she has been in there some time that we find out what Rachel Walsh in New York was really like.

She wasn’t just dabbling in drugs. As Luke explains, "If it’s a drug, Rachel will have taken it." She had done cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, valium…and the list goes on. It is shocking for the reader because at this stage Rachel has convinced us she was just an occasional user of cocaine. Even when heroin is read out and the group gasps Rachel angrily thinks to herself "I’d only smoked it". As if that made it alright.

The funny thing is, as the mess of Rachel’s life is explained and read out, her drug taking, sleeping around, putting herself into unsafe situations, her stealing, we really start to feel for her. Having been in Cloisters for a while already we are seeing glimpses of the real Rachel, not the chemically induced Rachel and she is funny, kind and sensitive.

We discover how in New York she is embarrassed to be with Luke and if one of the women she aspired to be friends with saw them together Rachel would leave. Part of you thinks "poor chap" but the other part thinks "poor Rachel". To have no self belief or self confidence and to have others validate your decisions for you.

It’s not so much Rachel I find inspiring, but her journey. With a little bit of help from others she claws her way back from a pit of self destruction towards a bright future. I can’t help but think, good on her.

Read about more of Helen's Heroines

Remember when we asked if chick lit was bad for your love life...?

Well, it's not just us! Look!

Mr. Right . . . is Stuck in Traffic is a one hour documentary that investigates the impact "chick flicks" and "chick lit" have on real-life love. Using humorous re-enactments, film clips, interviews, animation and social experiments we'll explore whether chick culture is harmless fun or a ruthless relationship saboteur.

Best-selling authors Marian Keyes (Anybody Out There?) and Jane Green (Second Chance), relationship expert Dr. Michelle (The Today Show & Tyra) and many others will share their thoughts on nasty cases of "inflated expectations" and possible cures for this pop culture pandemic.

It's apparently currently in post-production. I'll keep a look out for it and let you know if I ever get to see it (and of course, feel free to tell us all about it if you see it first).

[via Canada.com]

Marian Keyes in Finland

If you read Marian Keyes' monthly newsletter (and if you don't, you really should), you'll know that the Guardian newspaper sent her and "Himself" (her husband) to Finland for a romantic mini-break.

The results were in last Saturday's paper, but they're also online for everyone to read. (I really, really need to go and see the northern lights now ... thanks, Marian!)

Related posts: Marian Keyes interview | Marian Keyes in She magazine

Marian Keyes' Christmas

So how was your Christmas? I hope you had a lovely one and received tons of fabulous books (I only got one, which unfortunately it was one I'd already read and reviewed...).

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago The Times featured a collection of essays about going home for Christmas and, since one of them was by our heroine Marian Keyes, I thought I'd save it until now. Nothing can chase away the post-Christmas blues like Ms Keyes. Enjoy!

Related posts: The Worst Noel | Marian Keyes interview

How much would you pay for a Marian Keyes book?

Lovely Marian (to give her her full name) recently auctioned off the manuscript of her next book, This Charming Man, for the To Russia With Love charity she's supported for a while now.

It went for 3500Euro, which is about £2,500 (US$5000). Now I'm really looking forward to reading Ms Keyes book, but not *that* much...

[via Marian Keyes - if you only do one thing today (apart from reading Trashionista), please read this Marian Keyes newsletter. You will cry with laughter.]

While we're on the subject, you can catch Marian on Strictly Come Dancing's It Takes Two again this very night (BBC2, 6.30pm).

Related posts: Marian Keyes on It Takes Two | JK Rowling's £40,000 book

BOOK NEWS: The Worst Noel

Yesterday I bought a Christmas tree and I'm very excited, not least because we'll be decorating it tonight with mince pies and Bailey's. I don't mean we're decorating the tree with mince pies, I mean we'll be eating the mince pies while decorating ... oh, never mind.

Anyway, I was also excited when I spotted this Christmas collection, The Worst Noel, which includes an essay by Marian Keyes on preparing dinner for her Irish family of 13, "when she's never cooked a day in her life and only owns four chairs" along with essays from Trashionista faves, Valerie Frankel and Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

Related posts: Marian Keyes interview | Hex and the Single Girl by Valerie Frankel | Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Book Cover: This Charming Man

Yippee! I've just seen the cover for the new Marian Keyes - This Charming Man (out in hardback, May 2008).

Look! Purple! Pretty! With a toaster!

I'm off for a little lie down...

Related posts: Book cover archive

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Maggie Walsh v Sadie Nelson

Last time we agreed that Claire Walsh (with Mammy Walsh in attendance) would kick Madeline Wolfe's behind.

This week, I'm testing the power of Mammy Walsh yet again. Our heroines are both from Chick Lit Big Hitters, and both high-tailed it to LA for a spell of non-fat food, sunshine and Hollywood glamour. Put your hands together for... Maggie Walsh and Sadie Nelson.

Maggie Walsh

The book: Angels by Marian Keyes. Maggie, the only sensible Walsh sister, leaves her husband (shocking her family almost as much as herself). An invitation from her best friend, Emily, leads her to LA where she embarks on a whole new life.

The men: Husband Garv, LA-crush Troy.

Sadie Nelson

The book: The Sweetest Taboo by Carole Matthews. This is a delicious fantasy book in which Sadie gets whisked to LA by a suitor. There she finds her feet - and another man. The only question is; which will she pick?

The men: Gill McGann - the Hollywood producer who flew Sadie from rain-soaked London to LA in order to impress her, and struggling actor Tavis Jones.

Conclusion: Both girls have two men to choose from and both experience emotional growth (man) under the Californian sun. I'm not sure I can call it... Any help, people?

Marian Keyes on It Takes Two (2007)

Remember how I moaned about missing Marian Keyes on Strictly Come Dancing's sister show, It Takes Two? Well I forgot about YouTube! Hurrah! Those of you who get Marian's wonderful newsletter and have been wondering about her haircut (which she said was a "disaster"), you won't be surprised to find ... it's lovely.

Related: Marian on Strictly It Takes Two (2006)!

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Madeline Wolfe v Claire Walsh

The last match saw Kate Klein make an easy win over Heather Wells.

This week I'm putting two wronged women in the ring. I know. I'm all heart. Both of these heroines discover a little too late (ie. after the pregnancy test has turned blue) that their men are schmucks.

Madeline Wolfe

The book: Kathy Lette's Foetal Attraction. Aussie Madeline Wolfe falls hard for Alex. So hard that she leaves her home and her boogie board, and crosses the world to live with him. She even tries to fit in with his stuck-up friends - who make her feel about as welcome as a fart in the bathtub. By the time Madeline realises that "Alex is the kind of man who goes through the Tunnel of Love holding his own hand," she's pregnant.

The cad: Famous zoologist Alexander Drake. He woos her with his spectacular punnilingus (he likes punning and... Well. The other thing.)

Claire Walsh

The book: Watermelon by Marian Keyes. Claire's husband James leaves her on the day that she gives birth to their first child. Shattered, she returns home to Dublin and, with the help of her mad-but-lovely family, puts herself back together again.

The cad: James. Her husband. And no, he doesn't deserve a second chance.

Conclusion: If you're a fan of Pun Lit, Madeline Wolfe is going to win you over - the woman fires out one-liners like a demented stand-up comedian - but, for my money, Claire's got to be the winner. After all,  she's got Mammy Walsh on her side and you don't want to mess with her...

Marian Keyes on It Takes Two

It's a source of great happiness to me that each year I get to enjoy two of my favourite things - Marian Keyes and Strictly Come Dancing at the same time. This year, Marian is appearing on Strictly's sister show, It Takes Two (presented by the marvellous Claudia Winkleman), on Thursday 8th November (i.e. this Thursday).

Of course, I won't get to see it because I'll be on a plane, but I hope you all enjoy it (no, I'm not bitter).

Related posts: Marian Keyes news - she's on Strictly and on film! | Marian Keyes interview

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!]

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?

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?

If you don't read chick lit, you shouldn't really criticise it

Yep, I'm cross again. One of my biggest pet peeves is people criticising chick lit when they quite clearly haven't read any (or at least not much).

In Rachel Kramer Bussel's Huffington Post interview with Anna David, author of Party Girl, David says,

To me, chick lit describes the kind of book that focuses on a girl with very simple and superficial needs─there doesn't tend to be a great deal of subtext, the characters don't seem very nuanced and the biggest lesson is often that a girl is much happier when she has a guy.

Here I wrote a book about the most important and profound experience I'd ever had─getting and staying sober─and it's being categorized among books about wearing Manolo Blahniks while trying to land a guy?

Do you want to send her a copy of Rachel's Holiday or shall I?

Related posts: If it's good it can't be chick lit | Does chick lit "undermine the women's movement"? | Anyone read any Kris Radish?

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]

Free chick lit from Wilkinson Sword

Reading a very funny interview with Marian Keyes (is there any other kind) in the Metro newspaper online, I discovered she's part of a promotion with razor company Wilkinson Sword.

Buy any promotional razor during May (you'd better be quick!) and June (oh, that's okay then) and you can send off for a free book.

Carry on over the cut for details.

Along with Marian's Further Under the Duvet, there's Maggie Alderson's Cents and Sensibility, Jane Austen's Emma. Life Swap by Jane Green, Catch Me If You Can by Nicci French and The Weekend Weight-Loss Plan (er...).

Plus the Wilkinson Sword site features a short (but entertaining, of course) interview with Marian and an excerpt from Anybody Out There. It's almost enough to make me shave my legs...

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.

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! *

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?

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.

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?

Marian Keyes on The Weekender

Remember we mentioned Marian Keyes' appearances to promote the paperback release of Anybody Out There? Well I finally managed to listen to her interview on Radio 2's The Weekender and it's well worth a listen. You can hear it here until Saturday (25th February). Scroll along to about 1 hour 30 mins.

Just in case you don't get a chance to listen, you can read Marian's insightful comments about the chick lit label over the cut.

It's meant to be pejorative, it is meant to make women feel embarrassed to read it and to write it. I am proud to be a chick lit writer because I believe chick lit is the literature of post-feminism and it's a very important genre. It completely articulates and explores the confusion of what it is like to be a contemporary woman.

You know the way that we were told that the battle of the sexes was won and we could have any job we wanted, but we know that's not the case. And the way that we're all at war with our bodies and we know we shouldn't be. And the way we're asked to play so many roles like perfect mother, perfect friend, perfect girlfriend, perfect colleague, perfect boss and it's very very tricky.

I accept it's meant to be pejorative, but I'm reclaiming it.

And that's why we love Marian Keyes.

Related posts: Chick lit is a feminist issue / In praise of chick lit (at last!)

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!

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]

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

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

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]

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 Shiny 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 (13)

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

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 Stainton 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)

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)

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 Stainton 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)

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)

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

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 related, Book Websites, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Modern Fiction, Movie News, Television | Permalink | Comments (2)

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)

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 related, Book Websites, Girly Stuff, Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Marie Claire

This month's Marie Claire magazine is a veritable smorgasboard of delights for the discerning Trashionista!

Not only is there an interview with Devil Wears Prada and Princess Diaries star Anne Hathaway (looking like a young Liza Minnelli on the cover, in my opinion), there's a short feature about Janet Evanovich's favourite books (she thinks the fictional hero she most resembles is Bridget Jones) and the scoop on Lauren Weisberger's favourite music (Broadway soundtracks), films (Dirty Dancing), Books (Love Story) and fashion (jeans!).

Shockingly though, Marian Keyes's column seems to have ended. Boo.

Posted by Keris Stainton on October 20,