Two on their way from different sources, both from within the music industry.
Will report back.
Am suitably excited.
« Pen Update | Main | Exciting Pen News »
July 10, 2009
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Coming Soon From The Friday Project
Bob Burke: Third Pig Detective Agency: The Curds and Whey Mystery
The third book in this award-winning series for kids and grown ups alike.Brian Aldiss: Finches of Mars
A brand new SF novel, and one which the author claims will be his last.Brian Aldiss: The Squire Quartet
All four novels in one ebook omnibus for the first time.Michael Alexander: Confessions of a Male Nurse
Confessions of a GP was the UK's best selling ebook last year. Here is the next in the series.Steve Berry & Phil Norman: The Great British Tuck Shop
Nostalgia overload!William Wharton: Shrapnel
A previously unpublished wartime memoir from a great American writer.William Wharton: Birdy
We are also reissuing this classic.
Big Mouth at the Movies
Run Lola Run
Watched this again for the first time since it was on in the cinema all those years ago. Still very good, if a bit dated. (****)Kung Fu Panda 2
It looked stunning but there were zero laughs, no sense of real danger (not even mild peril) or excitement. It was just sort of there, on the screen, playing itself out. On a more interesting note, it is the most successful film ever to have been directed by a woman. (**)Police Story
Frenetic, and hardly the most subtle piece of film making ever, but great fun. (***)Yogi Bear
Quite possibly one of the worst films I have ever seen. (*)Solomon Kane
Enjoyable action adventure but never quite makes it to amazing. (***)Soap
Weird but quite touching Danish drama about a woman who moves into a flat above a transsexual and the relationship that blossoms between them. (***)The Joneses
A great idea. Lacked any real emotional clout so struggles to be anything more than just OK. (***)
Interviews
- Armand Cabasson
- Brad Listi
- Charles Lambert
- Chris Simms
- Deanna Raybourn
- Edward Vallance
- Haruki Murakami
- Helen Rappaport
- Holly Howitt
- Jah Wobble
- Jen Campbell
- Joel Grey
- John Connolly
- Jonathan Lee
- Mark Robson
- Michael Kimball
- Nawal El Saadawi
- Ray Robinson
- Ray Robinson (again)
- Ray Robinson (thrice!)
- Richard Gwyn
- Robert Hudson
- Robert McCrum
- Sade Adeniran
- Sebastian Beaumont
- Simon Armitage
- Sjón
- Stephen Clayton
- Steve Feasey (interviewed by my son, Ethan)
- Stona Fitch
- Sue Cook
- Tom Percival (interviewed by my daughter, Martha)
- Warwick Cairns
- William Horwood & Helen Rappaport
- Zelda Rhiando
Now Playing
Benedicte Maurseth: Alde
Haunting fiddling. (****)The Chemical Brothers: Hanna
Recently watched the film for the second time and had forgotten how good the soundtrack was. Now getting played a lot, especially when doing the dishes. (****)Solo Andata: Solo Andata
Beautiful pieces wrapped in weird electronica. (****)James Iha: Look to the Sky
A new album, 15 years since his last. It appears to have been worth the wait. (****)
Dipping Into
Alan Partridge: I, Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan
Started reading this but then put it to one side and am now just dipping in as and when I feel the urge.Kuhaku & Other Accounts from Japan
A stunning little hardback with amazing essays, stories, illustrations and other work. Really rather beautiful.The Review of Contemporary Fiction Spring 2009: Georges Perec Issue
A cornucopia of Perecosity.
Firestation Book Swap
- CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
Our regular monthly gig in Windsor.Thursday 21st June at 7.45pm
Joining us will be Shelley Harris, author of Jubilee, and Vanessa Gebbie, author of The Coward's Tale.
Click the link above for more details.
A Random Pick From My Shelves
Kenneth Robeson: Man of Bronze
The first in a cracking, if cheesy and dated, pulp series from the 30s. My dad read these when he was a teenager and I did the same. (****)
New Arrivals
Helene Gremillon: The Confidant
New from Gallic Books.Misha Glenny: DarkMarket: How Hackers Became the New Mafia
From the author of the bestselling McMafia.Peter F. Hamilton: Great North Road
I've never managed to finish any of his books, to be honest.Jon Gower: Too Cold for Snow
This has a quote from Richard Ford on the front. I do hope it isn't as dull as The Sportswriter.Julie Myerson: Then
She appears to have written a sci-fi novel. I had no idea it existed until it was sent to me.Gully Wells: The House in France: A Memoir
I have never heard of her but this memoir features Martin Amis, Mary Quant, Iris Murdoch and Bertrand Russell so it might be quite interesting.
Currently Reading
Jeffrey Eugenides: Middlesex
Our social reading experiment. Feel free to join in.Natalie Haynes: The Ancient Guide to Modern Life
The rumours are true, she'll be joining us for the September Book Swap.
Categories
- 40 x 40
- Advent Calendar
- Blogs
- Book Reviews
- Books
- Books Of The Year
- Digital
- Film
- Firestation Book Swap
- Food and Drink
- Guest Bloggers
- Interviews
- Journalism
- Movies
- Music
- My Kindle Diary
- My Sony Reader Diary
- Pictures
- Ramblings
- Social Reading
- Sports
- Technology
- Television
- The Book World
- The Ethan & Martha Takeover
- The Friday Project
- The Glorious Stereo Reading Experiment
- Travel
- Walter's Journal
- Web
Hidden Gems
Michael Kimball: Dear Everybody
A young man's life told through the fragments and papers he left behind following his death. Inventive and heartbreaking. (****)Easy Virtue
Incredible cast. Based on a Noel Coward play. Directed by the bloke who did Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Very funny indeed and Jessica Biel is a revelation. (****)Mutual Friends
A bit Feist. A bit Seeker Lover Keeper. A bit good. (****)
Bedtime Story
Jon Mayhew: The Bonehill Curse
Our new bedtime story. We have all enjoyed his previous books.
My Books
21st Century Dodos
A guide to the many inanimate objects that are sadly on the verge of extinction. The Guardian called it ‘chummy 1970s and 80s nostalgia’.It Is Just You, Everything's Not Shit
My first book was published way back in 2007 and is an optimist's encyclopedia, of sorts.21st Century Dodos
Also available as an ebook. How very modern.It Is Just You, Everything's Not Shit
The ebook is currently only 99p, so what are you waiting for?
Blogs & Links
- Asylum
The web's best book reviewer. - BookCunt
A refreshing and foul-mouthed change to the usual literary review blogs. - Dovegreyreader Scribbles
The first lady of blogging. - Me And My Short Stories
My other blog where I read and reviewed a different short story for every day of 2011. - meandmybigmouth's Instacanv.as Gallery
You can buy some of my photos as prints here. - on friday
Two writers. One weekly challenge. Every Friday. - Rhian Winslade Ceramics & Art
The wife.
Ones to Watch
Eric Berkowitz: Sex and Punishment: Four Thousand Years of Judging Desire
What on the surface looks like it might be a bit academic and dry is actually most entertaining.Helen Rappaport: Beautiful For Ever: Madame Rachel of Bond Street - Cosmetician, Con-Artist and Blackmailer
Fascinating biography of a forgotten Victorian woman who caused quite the scandal in her day. Seek this out if you like to read your history off the beaten track.
Books Read: 2012
Brian Aldiss: A Rude Awakening
The Horatio Stubbs trilogy ends on a rather grim note. A view of army life in Sumatra shortly after the Second World War. Humid, irritable and dangerous. (***)Leo Benedictus: The Afterparty
Really pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Always slightly put off when something is described as 'post-modern' but this was most decidedly not up its own arse. Intelligent and witty satire of celebrity culture. (****)Richard Cowper: The Custodians
Four long stories, or four short novellas depending on how you look at them, from this 'forgotten' SF author. Three of them were outstanding and the other very good. Out of print but worth hunting down. (****)Sjon: The Whispering Muse
More magical myth and fable from Iceland. Sjon always challenges the reader but he also always delivers. (****)Margaret Atwood: The Blind Assassin
Read this with a few people at the same time and we documented our thoughts on here. Enjoyed it. Could have done without the aliens but otherwise rather splendid. (****)Brian W Aldiss: A Soldier Erect
Starts out as a continuation of Horatio Stubbs' sexual adventures but ends up as quite a dark and grim account of the Battle of Kohima. Some remarkable passages. (****)Jen Campbell: Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops
One of those rare humour books that actually made me laugh out loud. Several times. (****)Patrick Easter: The Watermen
God, this was a much more pleasant read than the Patrick O'Brian I attempted a few weeks back. A most entertaining 18th century adventure caper. (***)Richard Cowper: The Road to Corlay
A wonderful slab of 70s SF/Fantasy. In the year AD 3018, Britain has succumbed to floods and is now split into seven separate island kingdoms. The soldiers of the Church are hunting down member of a peaceful religious sect. Meanwhile, in the early 21st century, a scientist goes into a coma while undergoing a brain experiment. Somehow the two things are linked. Absolutely loved this, got completely wrapped up in it. (****)Faiza Guene: Bar Balto
The story of a murder narrated by the corpse along with all the suspects. Starts off with some real promise but the voices become less convincing as the book progresses and the ending is a terrible let down. (**)Christopher Isherwood: A Single Man
A wonderful short novel. Rather fine. (****)Joseph Conrad: Heart of Darkness
I honestly have no idea why this is considered a classic. A dull and plodding build up to one of the most anti-climactic endings in literature. A waste of time. (*)Brian Aldiss: The Hand-Reared Boy
Hugely controversial novel at the time due to its frank portrayal of young men's view of sex and still quite shocking today. Also, very funny and tragic. (****)Valeria Luiselli: Faces in the Crowd
An excellent translation of a highly promising debut. Expect to read more of Luiselli, hopefully translated by Christina MacSweeney. (****)Chris Priestley: Mister Creecher
A splendid reworking of the Frankenstein story with a remarkable twist at the end. (****)Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games
I crammed this in a little over a day so that I finished it before seeing the movie. A great book, quite thrilling to read. (****)Philip K. Dick: Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?
Not his best work. Not bad, just not great. (***)Miyuki Miyabe: The Devil's Whisper
I liked the insight it gave into ordinary Japanese life but as a mystery novel it was far-fetched and easy to second guess. She has better books. Avoid this one. (***)Chip Kidd: The Learners
Worthy sequel to The Cheese Monkeys. No idea why these two books aren't more widely read. They are wonderful. This one is a lo-fi Mad Men. Oddly delightful. (****)Justin Torres: We the Animals
Started out with great promise but ended up annoying the fuck out of me. (**)Helen Smith: Alison Wonderland
Completely bonkers detective novel cum anti-vivisection thriller cum unrequited love story cum road trip. Loved it. (****)Maxime Chattam: Carnage
99-page crime novel set in Brooklyn but originally published in French. Brevity comes at a price but it cracks along at a decent page and is thoroughly enjoyable. (***)Thomas E. Kennedy: Falling Sideways
A bit Borgen. A bit cold and distanced but I enjoyed it. (***)Andrew Crumey: Sputnik Caledonia
Not quite as successful as Mobius Dick (a book I loved) but still full of more wit and invention than most of the supposedly exciting literary novels I get sent to review. I have no idea why Crumey isn't up there alongside David Mitchell as one of our most acclaimed British novelists. (****)Mordecai Richler: Barney's Version: A Novel
Very different to the film, which shifted time, some locations and conflated characters, but I managed to enjoy this without losing any of my admiration for the movie version. Which is quite something. (****)
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