October 8, 2010 10:00 PM
YAY OR NAY: Monster Mashups
With
Halloween swiftly approaching, there's a damn good excuse for some paranormal
tales. (We'll pretend the ongoing vampire hype has nothing to do with it, okay?
Perfect.) Even so, besides the spark of supernatural stories making their way
to our bookshelves, there's been a sudden influx of something that's a little
more...well, ghoulish.
Remember Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? Well, we do. If you didn't (and you may be just a tad confused), the book, written by Seth Grahame-Smith and published by Quirk, is a mash-up of a literary classic and...well, zombies. Basically a 'what if?' novel in which Austen's romantic Regency tale is gatecrashed by a horde of undead. Okay, so such a situation hadn't crossed my mind before. But now that you mention it...
Admittedly,
it was a fun read, and swiftly followed by more hilariously gory offerings
including Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter
and, more recently, Mr Darcy, Vampyre.
Classic tales. With vampires and demons and sea monsters (oh my!) Following these titles is Sherri Browning's Jane Slayre, which is all about...well, you can probably guess what this entails. But it's becoming a whole new genre of its own.
Personally I found these books quirky and amusing (let's face it, the whole zombie thing is a fun concept). It's becoming a whole new genre of its own. They inject a little bit of fun into the well-loved classics. Admittedly I have personally only read Pride, but have skimmed the others anc considered picking them up, only to reconsider. Is it going a bit too far?
Some friends enjoy them. Others? Not so much. Which is why today's Yay or Nay, we ask you: what do you think of these mashups?Have you read them? What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know!
Posted by Elle Symonds on October 8, 2010 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)
February 18, 2010 12:09 AM
YAY OR NAY: Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum?
If you hadn't already heard, the first book in Janet Evanovich's hugely popular Stephanie Plum series is due to be adapted into a movie. One for the Money, which introduces feisty lingerie buyer turned bounty hunter Stephanie, is set to star Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy, The Ugly Truth) as the lead role, accoring to the New York Daily News.What do you think? Is Heigl a good choice for the role of Stephanie Plum? Leave a comment and let us know!
Posted by Elle Symonds on February 18, 2010 in Movie News, Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (41)
December 8, 2009 11:21 PM
YAY OR NAY? Celebrity memoirs
Christmas time is almost upon us; a time of festive cheer, mince pies, hectic rounds of shopping...and of course, celebrity memoirs. Not a year goes by without celebrities pushing forth a plethora of autobiographies, but is it getting tiresome?When Katie Price (aka Jordan, not that you needed reminding!) was caught trying to hide the discount sticker on her new style guide, Standing Out, as soon as it was released, this posed the question - are readers still interested in celebrity memoirs?
Autumn sees an array of books from celebs, all ready to be purchased for the Christmas period. But according to the Independent, literary agents have branded this season 'disastrous' for celebrity memoirs, and UK publisher Hachette will be cutting back on the celeb books it usually takes on. The article also states that 'he total value of hardback celebrity titles in the top 50 this year is, so far, £3.3m a significant decrease on 2008's figure of £4.6m.'
Ouch.
And Curtis Brown's cheif executive Jonathan Lloyd said that such books 'lacked the sensational factor.' He said: 'In the end, you can't fool the public. They expect to have the real book and the majority of offers this autumn are not real books, certainly not 'must-haves.'
Memoirs took over the book charts last year, but now? They're seemingly not so sought-after. Jordan's Standing Out is currently number 50 on Neilson's BookScan. Other celebrity offerings this year include Ant & Dec's Ooh, What a Lovely Pair! Peter Kay's Saturday Night Peter, My Sh*t Life So Far by Frankie Boyle and JLS - Our Story So Far.
What are your thoughts on celeb memoirs? Are you a fan, or fed up? Leave a comment and let us know.
Posted by Elle Symonds on December 8, 2009 in Book News, Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (3)
November 30, 2009 10:21 AM
YAY OR NAY? Self publishing
Internet self-publishing has taken off, and has provided authors with a new way of getting their books out there - without taking the traditional publishing route.
As discussed recently on BBC's Click, self-publishing websites that are readily available have, according to Teresa Pereira from online publisher Blurb, 'democratised the publishing world and allowed anyone to make a book.'
Obviously after National Novel Writing Month and its annual success, many aspiring authors are ready and willing to get their books published, and some are even prepared to self-publish in the belief that they will be successful. Sure, it's worked for some - but with competition, coupled with the fact that the ability to self-publish is available to everyone who owns a PC - is this really a wise idea?
Blurb, which has been running for four years and has so far sold two million books according to the BBC article, allows users to create and market their book online. Teresa Pereira states that many charities use the service for fundraising, as it 'enables them to create a book without any risk at all.'
However, it seems as though many people with the dream of becoming a successful author are also taking this route, using sites such as Blurb and Lulu to simply upload their books - and sell. Author MG Harris told Click: 'It's all too easy to just end up writing whatever you feel like writing and then just say 'it's ready' with a few minor superficial corrections.'
Which is true - many books need to be edited a number of times before they're ready to hit the shelves. Traditional publihsers have the know-how, and also marketing teams that know what will sell. With self-publishing, unless you're very savvy in that department, selling the book is going to be a LOT of work. And whilst it might be tempting to bypass the hard slog of querying numerous agents and having to deal with rejection until it all pays off and have the novel you've spent ages working on up for sale in less than an hour, it's worth considering the downsides to this new, and also very simple, way of publishing.
Having recently finished my first novel, I'm currently in the throes of the querying process. I would love nothing more than to glow with pride at seeing my book available for readers to purchase. My novel, available to the masses. But would I really want to self-publish? In my opinion, it would take a lot of marketing to make readers want to skip the books released by top traditional publishers in favour of my Lulu-based effort. How many people, besides my parents, friends and other half, would simply stumble across it and think, 'aha! That looks brilliant, I think I'll buy that,' as I'm prone to do while browsing on Amazon?
Pardon the negativity, but personally? Not a lot. So for now, I'll stick with working on the submission letters.
So, readers - what are your thoughts on this? Would you self-publish - yay or nay? And why?
Posted by Elle Symonds on November 30, 2009 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)
November 23, 2009 9:09 PM
YAY OR NAY? Sense and Sensibility and...Sea Monsters?!
Okay, I thought I'd heard it all when Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was released. I also found the prospect of an axe-wielding Queen Victoria rather amusing. But then I learned about the latest strange Jane Austen adaptation and couldn't help but wonder...will it ever stop?!If zombies taking over Austen's classic tale of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy wasn't odd enough for you, them maybe this one - Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters - will be.
Yes. Sea Monsters.
Really.
Here's a little more about the book, which was released in September:
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is expanded edition of the beloved regency romance--with thrilling all-new scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed sea serpents, and other biological monstrosities. As our story opens, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster Colonel Brandon. Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome matriarchs and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to the tentacles which are forever snapping at their heels? With many strange and wonderful illustrations throughout, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters invades the prim and proper world of Jane Austen with the outrageous mythology of Jules Verne, H.P. Lovecraft, Lost, Spongebob Squarepants, Red Lobster, and Popeye the Sailor. Let the monster mash-up begin.
Spongebob Squarepants. There are no words.
So...yay or nay? Are you up for this regency tale mixed with...err...undersea nasties, or is the idea a little too silly? Let us know!
Posted by Elle Symonds on November 23, 2009 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (0)
December 5, 2007 12:17 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
So last week I asked you what you thought of the proposed cover for Hester Browne's third Little Lady book, What the Lady Wants, and we were unanimous in our nays. Since then I've heard from Hester's agent, publisher and Hester herself that that's probably not going to be the cover after all. Sadly not because of our nays (the power!), but ... well, just because. Even more sadly, the book's release has been postponed from January 2008 to the end of May. But I have no doubt that it will be worth waiting for.
On to this week's question. I recently read Shari Low's The Motherhood Walk of Fame and, on the back of the book, discovered some little categorising icons. The choices are Terror, Thrills, Drama, Love, Sex, and Humour, each with their own little illustration (an Oscar for Drama, a pair of pants for Sex, etc.) and then there's a pie chart to let you know what to expect from the book you're holding in your hot little hand.
For example, The Motherhood Walk of Fame is approximately 60% Humour, 20% Love and 20% Drama.
What do you think of this kind of information on a book? Is it
simply a helpful indication of what you might expect or a patronising
insult to the reader's intelligence? In other words...
Book category icons: Yay or Nay and Why?
[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 Keris on December 5, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (6)
November 28, 2007 10:47 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
A very straightforward Yay or Nay this week (since I'm disappointed you obviously didn't share my distaste of the OJ Simpson book).
This is the cover of the third book in Hester Browne's Little Lady series (after The Little Lady Agency and Little Lady, Big Apple). Now, I know lovely Hester reads Trashionista, so I don't want to be unduly harsh, but ... is that supposed to be Melissa Romney-Jones?! It looks more like Sarah Harding from Girls Aloud. I don't like it. At all.
But what do you think? The new Little Lady cover - Yay or Nay and Why?
[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 Keris on November 28, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (11)
November 21, 2007 5:29 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
We've asked your opinion of this book before, but so much has changed since then, I thought I'd ask again.
In case you're unaware, OJ Simpson wrote a book called If I Did It, suggesting how, if he had killed his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, he might have done it. There was, understandably, an outcry and it was dropped by the publisher.
Then, the family of Ron Goldman was awarded the rights to the book, along with 90% of the profits, to partially satisfy an unpaid civil judgment. (The Goldman family were awarded $33.5 million in a civil case against Simpson, but this remains unpaid.)
Waiting in the airport recently, I read the "confession" chapter and Simpson basically says that he was having a row with his wife and Goldman and the next thing he knew Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were dead and he was covered in blood, but he doesn't know how it happened. This chapter is described as fiction.
So what am I asking? Okay. A couple of things. First of all, do you think the book should have been published at all? I must admit, I'm not comfortable with the fact that there was outrage at its publication when Simpson was getting the money from it, but it's okay as long as the profits are going to the family of the victim. I think it would be better all round if this book wasn't out there at all.
The other thing I have a problem with is the covers. Both the UK cover (top) and the US cover (right) have made the "If" of the title considerably less prominent, so at first glance the book's title seems to be "I Did It" (and is subtitled "Confessions of the Killer" in the US). Not only is this misleading to the consumer, it's also unfair to OJ Simpson, surely. (No, I don't have any sympathy towards him, but he was found innocent, so I'm trying to be at least relatively objective!)
So to sum up. If I Did It - Yay or Nay and Why?
[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 Keris on November 21, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (4)
October 31, 2007 5:41 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Just after Anne Enright won this year's Booker prize, I read the following headline: Why Prize-Winning Author 'Dislikes The McCanns'. I didn't read the article, but it immediately made me dislike Anne Enright and not want to read her book. I know it's unreasonable, but that was my knee-jerk reaction.
Happily reading Jen Lancaster's second book, Bright Lights, Big Ass, I was more than a little disconcerted to find her waxing lyrical about Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Fox News.
Earlier this week on the Guardian books blog, Ben Myers wrote a piece entitled "Do writers' filthy opinions soil their books?" with the subtitle "Reading the work of authors whose private opinions are unforgivably extreme is a very uneasy experience."
So are you bothered by the politics or opinions of an author? Would you read the books of someone with wildly opposing politics or would you avoid reading anything by anyone you wouldn't want to sit next to on a plane or at a dinner party (assuming you don't like to instigate food fights at dinner parties)?
Basically: Do you care about authors' personal opinions? Yay or Nay and Why?
[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 Keris on October 31, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (7)
October 24, 2007 9:12 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week you were unanimous in a Yay for Princess books and a Nay for author Mary Hoffman's blanket denouncement of them (except for the one *she* wrote, that is).
This week - a story that's been, ooh, everywhere. (A couple of days ago my husband said, "So JK Rowling has said Dumbledore is gay and there's been a furore?" And I said, "Er ... no! I write about books for a living and if she'd said that and if there'd been a furore, I think I'd know about it!" And then I went back to the computer where I found ... a furore. *whistles*)
So, yes, it's true, JK Rowling has announced that Dumbledore was gay all along. No, I'm not asking: Dumbledore gay? Yay or nay? Rather, I'd like to know what you think about authors dropping in extra titbits of information after a book or a series has been released.
Do you think Rowling should have outed Dumbledore before now? Or do you wish she had kept it to herself? Or do you think (like my lecturers at university would) that if he wasn't gay in the book he can't be gay because he doesn't exist?!
In other words: authors' extras - Yay or Nay and Why?
[picture via New York Magazine]
[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 Keris on October 24, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (7)
October 17, 2007 12:01 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week author Mary Hoffman wrote about "pink princess culture" in The Guardian.
"Young girls growing up today are offered an almost exclusive diet of synthetic, commercially exploitative pap," she said and I don't disagree. "Walk into any bookshop and you will find several walls of titles featuring princesses, fairies and other pink, glittery characters." Also true. "The Princess Diaries have made a lot of money for Meg Cabot - sales of five million and rising in 37 countries, plus two Disney films - and are based on the premise embraced by many girls, that they are secretly heirs to a throne." Nope, not arguing with that either.
But then Hoffman writes about her decision to write a princess book herself (Princess Grace). Her justification? "The idea is to beguile little girls into reading what looks like just another princess book - once inside, though, they will find that the central character, Grace, is highly dissatisfied by the conventional princess image."
As is, of course, Meg Cabot's princess heroine, Mia Thermopolis. So, first of all, I take exception to Mary Hoffman using the wonderful Princess Diaries series in her argument against princess books when she clearly hasn't bothered to read them (it also makes me wonder whether she's read the other books she talks about or has simply judged them on their covers).
And second of all, I wonder how you feel about princess books in general. Is Mary Hoffman right? Are they "vacuous and sickening" and do young girls deserve more adventurous heroes or are they just a bit of fun and something all little girls are fascinated by at a certain time in their lives?
So Princess books - Yay or Nay and Why?
[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 Keris on October 17, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (7)
September 26, 2007 7:00 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Journalist Danuta Kean recently spoke at the Publishers Publicity Circle about blogging. She said that publishers should think carefully before encouraging their authors to start blogs, since blogging involves a lot of work and doesn't necessarily attract a lot of readers. But on the other hand a good blog is one of the few places where an author is able to brand their personality and establish a relationship with readers.
I absolutely love author blogs: Meg Cabot's brightens my day, I look forward to Jennifer Weiner's increasingly infrequent - but always worth the wait - posts and have learned a lot from Jennifer Crusie's various blogs.
But are you interested in authors' blogs? Do they make you more (or less!) likely to read their books? Basically, blogging authors - Yay or Nay and Why?
[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 Keris on September 26, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (4)
September 19, 2007 11:47 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
When I'm mooching about with my iPod on, I'm very rarely listening to music - often I'm listening to an audiobook (or book on tape as I seem not to be able to stop calling them!).
But I don't listen to fiction. I've tried, but I just didn't find it as enjoyable as actually reading a book. But it seems that audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular, so I wondered if maybe it was just me.
So it's a simple one this week: Listening to fiction - Yay or Nay and Why?
[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 Keris on September 19, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (11)
September 5, 2007 6:36 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
The Boston Phoenix recently ran an article entitled Aesthetic genius - Why can’t more writers be smart enough to be beautiful, handsome, or at least cute?
The jist was that authors are now expected to also be sex symbols. Naming (and including photos) of young, good-looking authors including Marisha Pessl ("an Audrey Hepburn in sweet black-and-white tones"), Jonathan Safran Foer ("the definition of nerd-handsome") and Nell Freudenberger ("slender figure, large eyes, and pert nose"), the article included the argument that perhaps some of these authors wouldn't have been published if they weren't so damn foxy.
But is it plain jealously - not only have they been published, but they have the temerity to also be attractive!? Or is there something in it - in this looks-obsessed age, is it a surprise that we'd prefer author photos we can study with a smile, rather than a shriek?
Basically, Hot Young Authors - Yay or Nay and Why?
Also, since - as someone pointed out in the comments to the article - Photoshop means everyone can be made to look good in a photo, we'd love to hear from any authors who may be reading: does your author photo actually look like you?
[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 Keris on September 5, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (4)
March 7, 2007 6:09 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Mixed opinions of The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing last week, but you were pretty confident that it's chick lit. Susan said, "If chick lit is defined as a book written by a woman author about woman's issues for a woman's entertainment then Yes, Hunting and Fishing fits the bill."A bit of a kerfuffle was caused last week when Amanda Ross, who runs the Richard & Judy Book Club, said "We don't like to label anything 'literary', in fact, I really hate that word. For our readers, if we said a book was literary, it might put them off." She went on to say, "To the public, literary means inaccessible, or full of classical references, or with long passages in French."
I know just what she means - "literary" makes me think of school or university, of a difficult (and, dare I say it, boring) read. But having said that I read and enjoy a lot of so-called literary fiction. So this week's question: Is "literary" a dirty word? Yay or Nay and Why?Posted by Keris on March 7, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (6)
February 28, 2007 10:54 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
It's been a long time since Yay or Nay has focussed on a specific book and I struggled to think of one likely to divide opinion, but finally I thought, "A-ha!" - Melissa Bank's The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, a collection of linked stories about life and love centered around a woman named Jane.
This book came out right at the beginning of the chick lit explosion, but - unlike the majority of chick lit - was both a commercial and critical success. By the time Bank released her second book, The Wonder Spot, chick lit had become so ubiquitous and derided that fellow author Curtis Sittenfeld felt comfortable beginning her review of that book with the words, "To suggest that another woman's ostensibly literary novel is chick lit feels catty, not unlike calling another woman a slut - doesn't the term basically bring down all of us? And yet, with The Wonder Spot, it's hard to resist."
So this week's question is in two parts - one easy, one harder. First: The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing - Yay or Nay and why? Second: is it chick lit?
[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 Keris on February 28, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)
February 21, 2007 5:56 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
I, um, forgot Yay or Nay last week *whistles*, but the week before you were pretty evenly split on whether you have to finish every book you start. Former Trashionista editor, Jenni, even admitted there was only one book she couldn't finish, but wouldn't say what it was. Spoilsport!
Loaning my sister Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer's Don't Look Down today got me thinking about collaborations. I loved Don't Look Down and Jenni was a big fan of the Janet Evanovich/Charlotte Hughes series (including The Rocky Road to Romance). Then there's chick lit's star couple, Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees and a new Evanovich collaboration to come.
So how do we feel about books with more than one author? Is it too many cooks spoil the book? Two wrongs don't make a right? Or, er, two heads are better than one?
In other words, book collaborations: Yay or 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 Keris on February 21, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (2)
February 7, 2007 8:00 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week you were unanimous in your disapproval of libraries introducing charges. This week, something a bit gentler.
Journalist Bethanne Patrick recently blogged about books she’s abandoned unfinished. "Rock star librarian" Nancy Pearl recommends you stop reading a book if you’re not enjoying it by page 50 (and a page sooner for every year of your age past 50).
I generally give books 100 pages before throwing in the towel, but I know some people have to finish a book, even if they hate it.
So this week’s question is: Do you have to finish every book you start? Yay or 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 Keris on February 7, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (11)
January 31, 2007 7:02 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Due to budget cuts, the British Library (which includes a copy of every book published in the UK) is proposing, amongst other things, to charge researchers for admission to the reading rooms. [via Galleycat]
The reaction to the proposals has been outrage, but it made me think - why shouldn’t libraries charge, even for borrowing books*? We pay to rent CDs and DVDs from libraries and elsewhere so why should books be free? Particularly if paying to borrow them could improve resources overall and perhaps lead to increased royalties to authors who are often conflicted about their books being loaned rather than purchased.
Would you pay to borrow books from a library? Yay or nay and why?
* charging for borrowing isn’t one of the proposals, only for access to research materials.
Posted by Keris on January 31, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (13)
January 24, 2007 6:08 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Every few months a book comes along that everyone is talking - or at least blogging - about. Marisha Pessl’s book Special Topics in Calamity Physics was one. The Lovely Bones another. The Corrections. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. The Impressionist. White Teeth. Brick Lane. Need I go on?
Oprah will be announcing a new bookclub choice this Friday and no doubt that will be hyped to the heavens too.
So my question is simple, when a book is lauded here, there and everywhere, does it make you more or less likely to read it?
Basically, do you believe the hype? Yay or 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 Keris on January 24, 2007 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (19)
August 30, 2006 11:37 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
There are some Yay or Nay days when I want nothing more than an easy and harmonious life, so I'm asking a question I suspect I already know the answer to (although feel free to prove me wrong!)
My Sister's Keeper was a huge hit for Jodi Picoult, launching her popularity in the UK after it was picked for the first Richard and Judy Book Club. It's had very, very few detractors (although if you're one, I'd love to hear why). Tell us: is it a Yay or a Nay, and why?
[Don't forget to vote Yay or Nay at Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 30, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)
August 23, 2006 10:36 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
The Ivy Chronicles is an in-depth/somewhat farce-like look at the highly competitive schools application process in New York City. It was also Karen Quinn's debut novel (her second, Wife in the Fast Lane, was released last month).
It was a massive hit last year, especially after being picked for Richard and Judy's Summer Reads 2005, but did it live up to the hype? Get it off your chest- did you love it or hate it?
Is it a Yay or a Nay? And why?
[Don't forget to vote Yay or Nay at Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny, too!]
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 23, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (2)
August 9, 2006 1:48 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
We've polled you on Bridget Jones's Diary (not a single nay- and nor should there be!), and its 
sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (hmm, you clammed up about that one) so today we want to know what you thought about Helen Fielding's attempt to create a new female heroine: Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination. What do you think: a fab and funny 'Jane' Bond for the new millennium- or a sad little spoof?
Call it like you see it: Yay or Nay- and WHY?
[Don't forget to vote at Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny too!]
Posted by DIANE SHIPLEY on August 9, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (7)
August 2, 2006 10:00 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week you were unanimous in voting Nay for books 'written' by celebrities, with most of you feeling very sympathetic toward the ghostwriters who remain in the background after doing all of the hard work. This week I'm reverting to type, and I'm going to ask you about a book. After the news earlier in the week that 'Can You Keep A Secret?' is giong to hit the big screen, I want to know what you think of the book. Did you love Sophie Kinsella's first book away from the 'Shopaholic' series or hate it? You know what to do, just comment Yay or Nay, and Why?
[Don't forget to vote at Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny too!]
Posted by Jenni on August 2, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)
July 26, 2006 2:01 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Well it seems we got your attention last week, the majority of you enjoyed raunchy scenes providing they're well written, and not gratuitous. This week we're going to stick with the idea of a theme, but we're turning our attention to the authors. More specifically to celebrity authors - with the current trend of famous people being given contracts to write books (Katie Price, Nicole Richie, Pamela Anderson for a few examples) I want to know what you think about it.
Do you think its right that these writers get contracts purely because of the fame? You know what do, just comment Yay or Nay, and Why?
[Don't forget to vote at Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny too!]
Posted by Jenni on July 26, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (8)
July 19, 2006 1:45 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week you all agreed that whilst you loved 'Watermelon' though some of you thought that Marian Keye's later books are superior. This week I'm changing the tack a little. Instead of asking you about a book, I want to know what you think about a feature that is used in many chicklit books - bedroom scenes.
Do you love a raunchy read or do you wish authors would cut away and leave it out? You know what to do, just comment and tell me Yay or Nay, and Why?
[Don't forget to vote at Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny too!]
Posted by Jenni on July 19, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (13)
July 12, 2006 12:10 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week you were split down the middle about 'Where Rainbows End', even the yays were a little unsure about the book.
This week I want to know what you think about Marian Keye's debut book 'Watermelon'. Was this an early indication of the phenomenon she was to become or did it leave you cold? You know what to do by now, just comment Yay or Nay, and Why?
[Don't forget to vote at Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny too!]
Posted by Jenni on July 12, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (5)
July 5, 2006 10:19 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week's Yay or Nay turned up pretty much what I expected - everyone 'quite' enjoys Candace Bushnell's literary efforts, but love the tv show 'Sex and the City'.
This week the book for you to consider is one that I've heard really mixed opinions on. It's Cecelia Ahern's second novel, "Where Rainbows End" (recently re-released as "Rosie Dunne"). Did you enjoy this story of childhood love or did its slightly unusual format drive you to distraction? You know what to do, just comment Yay or Nay, and Why?
[Don't forget to vote at Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny too!]
Posted by Jenni on July 5, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (7)
June 28, 2006 1:44 PM
YAY OR NAY
Last week's Yay or Nay was a resounding success - you all obviously enjoy your classics!
This week I want to know what you think about an author whose books have spawned one of the most successful tv programmes of recent years. Yes I'm talking about Candace Bushnell, and the tv programme in question is of course 'Sex In The City'. Do you love her books, or always end up heading straight back for the tv remote. You know what to do, just comment Yay or Nay, and Why?
[It's Yay or Nay across the Shiny blogs today, so don't forget to vote at Shiny Shiny, Bridalwave, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Make Up, The Bag Lady and Shoewawa, too!]
Posted by Jenni on June 28, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (8)
June 21, 2006 11:00 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week you almost all voted Yay for "The Undomesticated Godess" by Sophie Kinsella. I wonder what you'll think of this week's?
I've decided to send you back to school this week, and to a book many of us faced at some point on the curriculum - Jane Austen's "Pride and Predjudice". Did this tale of love and society whisk you away to a time long gone, or did it leave you waiting for the bell to ring? You know the drill, just comment below and tell us Yay or Nay, and Why?
[It's Yay or Nay across the Shiny blogs today, so don't forget to vote at Shiny Shiny Bridalwave, Catwalk Queen, The Bag Lady and Shoewawa, too!]
Posted by Jenni on June 21, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (7)
June 14, 2006 4:35 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Apologies for the absence of Yay or Nay last week... unfortunately my inconsiderate university decided to schedule my last Final for Wednesday. However, that's all over, and everything is back to normal this week. we last asked you what you thought about 'Bergdorf Blondes' and you unanimously gave it the thumbs up.
This week we want to know what you think about Sophie Kinsella's "The Undomesticated Goddess". Did you enjoy this, or find yourself wishing that she'd given the time to writing another installment in the "Shopaholic" series? You know the drill; Yay or Nay, and Why?
[It's Yay or Nay across the Shiny blogs today, so don't forget to vote at Bridalwave, Shiny Shiny, Catwalk Queen, The Bag Lady and Shoewawa, too!]
Posted by Jenni on June 14, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (9)
May 31, 2006 10:35 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week's Yay or Nay Wednesday saw a theme of Nay. Not even the fact that Hollywood seems to have given it the thumbs up could secure it a yay.
This week we turn our attention to Plum Syke's debut novel 'Bergdorf Blondes'. Was this tale of the social elite from one of fashion's leading ladies right up your street, or did she drop just one too many designer names in for your tastes? You know the drill, Yay or Nay, and Why?
Don't forget to check out our other Yay or Nays at Shoewawa, The Bag Lady, CatwalkQueen and Bridalwave.
Posted by Jenni on May 31, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (9)
May 24, 2006 12:02 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week everyone who commented was unanimous in their approval of Janet Evanovich's Plum series, though some felt that as the series continued it had started to lose its way a little. I think we'll all be waiting to read the new one and see where that one goes.
This week we turn our attention to Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin's debut novel 'The Nanny Diaries'. This book currently being made into a film, is the story of Nanny and her experiences working as a nanny for Mr and Mrs X. So all we want to know is Yay or Nay, and Why?
Don't forget to check out our other Yay or Nays at Shoewawa, The Bag Lady, CatwalkQueen and Bridalwave.
Posted by Jenni on May 24, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (6)
May 17, 2006 10:53 AM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week you unanimously said Yay to Sophie Kinsella's 'Shopaholic and Sister' - though a couple of you did think that it was the weakest of the four books. Kinsella is currently writing the fifth installment - lets see whether that is a return to the standard of the earlier efforts.
This week as a follow up to yesterday's Spotlight on Janet Evanovich, we want to know what you think about the first installment in the series about Stephanie Plum, 'One for the Money'. Did you enjoy this madcap tale or did it leave you wanting more? Just tell us Yay or Nay, and Why?
Don't forget to check out our other Yay or Nays at Shoewawa, The Bag Lady, CatwalkQueen and Bridalwave.
Posted by Aigua Media on May 17, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (7)
May 10, 2006 2:00 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
This week's Yay or Nay features a book that I myself can not make my mind up about. The book in question in Sophie Kinsella's 'Shopaholic and Sister'. This is the fourth book about the irrepresible Becky, not content with having been a tv money guru, jetted across the world to live in New York, and organised the flashiest wedding seen in a long time she now discovers that she has a long lost sister. This book chronicles their meeting and discovering how different blood can be.
So did you enjoy it? Was it a welcome return to Becky's life or was it a step too far? Just tell us Yay or Nay, and Why?
Don't forget to check out our other Yay or Nays at Shoewawa, The Bag Lady, CatwalkQueen and Bridalwave.
Posted by Aigua Media on May 10, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (8)
May 3, 2006 5:43 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Last week we asked what you thought of Jane Green's "Jemima J. You almost unanimously voted Yay for this choice.
This week's book is "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason". Did you like Helen Fielding's follow up novel or did you think Bridget should have been left alone. Its up to you, just tell us Yay or Nay, and Why?
Don't forget to check out our other Yay or Nays at Shoewawa, The Bag Lady, CatwalkQueen and Bridalwave.
Posted by Aigua Media on May 3, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (0)
April 26, 2006 1:20 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Well last week's Yay or Nay? prompted a unanimous Yay from all of you who commented - seems like Bridget has still got a place in everyone's heart (and quite right to I think!)
This week I've chosen a slightly more controversial book. Everyone I've ever spoken to about Jane Green's "Jemima J" has a strong opinion about it - so lets hear yours! Yay or Nay, and Why??
Posted by Aigua Media on April 26, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (9)
April 19, 2006 6:13 PM
YAY OR NAY WEDNESDAY
Wednesday at Shiny Media is Yay or Nay day, so we here at Trashionista have decided to join in on the fun. Each Wednesday we will pick a classic piece of chick lit and let you make the decision. Do you love it or hate it? And tell us why!
This week we've chosen one of the original and most-read chick lit novels in existence, Helen Fielding's "Bridget Jones's Diary". Yay or Nay, and why?
Posted by Aigua Media on April 19, 2006 in Yay or Nay, Yay or Nay? | Permalink | Comments (7)
