I can scarcely believe my eyes - check this out!
Friday, 18 April 2008
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
The Orange Shortlist for un-crap books (according to Ms Wark)
The judges of the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction announced their shortlist yesterday. In some respects "Hurrah!". I can focus my reading for the next couple of weeks on the 6 books that actually stand a chance.But also "pardon?". At this stage in the game we're all playing catch up with the Judges in terms of reading, I for instance, am only up to my 5th book from the longlist of 20 titles, and without knowing the full context for the judges' decision it can make their choice of shortlist seem somewhat arbitrary. i.e. wrong.
All power to Kirsty Wark though, chairman of judges, who sums up the Orange Prize shortlisting process beautifully, "Once you've whittled the books down and got rid of the obvious crap it becomes a question of taste, and books affect people differently ... there are books on this list that some judges hated."
The lucky titles that have made it through are listed below (with my original rankings in parenthesis). Of these, I have only so far managed to review Rose Tremain's book, the Road Home. I thought it was good, but not exceptional, so I'm blimin' well hoping that "Lottery" will deliver the belly laughs that were promised in Ms Wark's recent interview with the Times. And of course, my friends at Ben Sheddling books (shameless plug) have expressed a keen interest in "Lullabies". Oh which one to read next?
Watch this space dear reader.
The shorty short list.
Heather O’Neill - Lullabies for Little Criminals (7)
Nancy Huston - Fault Lines (9)
Rose Tremain - The Road Home (11)
Patricia Wood - Lottery (12)
Charlotte Mendelson - When We Were Bad (13)
Sadie Jones - The Outcast (17)
Monday, 14 April 2008
Clever viral - stick with it
Ok, so this is a bit right on but you have to admit it's very clever...
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
My Orange Prize Review #3 The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
“The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam” is Lauren Liebenberg’s first novel.
Nyree and Cia O’Callohan live at Modjadhi, a farm in the shadow of the Vumba mountains in the 1970s, the last days of Rhodesia before it became Zimbabwe. The land around was cultivated by the “blood, sweat and tears” of their great grandfather, a heritage that their Grandfather, Oupa reminds them of daily in his sermons about the dereliction of duty and the importance of pride.
The war between Mugabe’s ZANU party and the Ndebele opposition goes on in the background, insignificant compared to the pressures of fitting in with the townies, and games of dare with Dell and the other members of the “Dogs of War”. Whilst their father is away fighting the “Terrs”, Nyree and Cia carry on an everyday life of play and chores with their Mother, Oupa and Jobe, an Ndebele who works in their house.
That is until “the bastard” cousin Ronin arrives like a cuckoo in the nest, damaged, parasitical and treacherous, to undermine the fragile harmony of life on the farm.
From reading the blurb of the book I thought I was going to be captivated by a magical blend of African pagan mysticism and Christian ritual. I didn’t get what I was expecting, but what I got was probably truer to Nyree and Cia. They are children and 4th generation Africans, so the culture and the turmoil of their country is like so much wallpaper. This is a tale set in Africa, not a tale of Africa. The real story is what happens within the small world of the O’Callohan farm.
Liebenberg writes in an easy and evocative style, and the story develops quickly in the second half, making “The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam” a satisfying read.
I have to confess though that I feel mislead by the title and blurb of the novel. Although this story engaged me and moved me, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. With powerful benchmarks like Nadine Gordimer’s “The Conservationist”, Adichie’s “Purple Hibiscus” and Lewis Desoto’s “A Blade of Grass” perhaps it was too much too ask. So I’m moving it from 2nd in my Orange Prize Chart to 4th.
This is Lauren Liebenberg’s first novel, and is available in the UK direct from the publisher Virago.
Updated predictions for the Orange Prize in order of which books I think I'm going to like best
Nyree and Cia O’Callohan live at Modjadhi, a farm in the shadow of the Vumba mountains in the 1970s, the last days of Rhodesia before it became Zimbabwe. The land around was cultivated by the “blood, sweat and tears” of their great grandfather, a heritage that their Grandfather, Oupa reminds them of daily in his sermons about the dereliction of duty and the importance of pride.
The war between Mugabe’s ZANU party and the Ndebele opposition goes on in the background, insignificant compared to the pressures of fitting in with the townies, and games of dare with Dell and the other members of the “Dogs of War”. Whilst their father is away fighting the “Terrs”, Nyree and Cia carry on an everyday life of play and chores with their Mother, Oupa and Jobe, an Ndebele who works in their house.
That is until “the bastard” cousin Ronin arrives like a cuckoo in the nest, damaged, parasitical and treacherous, to undermine the fragile harmony of life on the farm.
From reading the blurb of the book I thought I was going to be captivated by a magical blend of African pagan mysticism and Christian ritual. I didn’t get what I was expecting, but what I got was probably truer to Nyree and Cia. They are children and 4th generation Africans, so the culture and the turmoil of their country is like so much wallpaper. This is a tale set in Africa, not a tale of Africa. The real story is what happens within the small world of the O’Callohan farm.
Liebenberg writes in an easy and evocative style, and the story develops quickly in the second half, making “The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam” a satisfying read.
I have to confess though that I feel mislead by the title and blurb of the novel. Although this story engaged me and moved me, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. With powerful benchmarks like Nadine Gordimer’s “The Conservationist”, Adichie’s “Purple Hibiscus” and Lewis Desoto’s “A Blade of Grass” perhaps it was too much too ask. So I’m moving it from 2nd in my Orange Prize Chart to 4th.
This is Lauren Liebenberg’s first novel, and is available in the UK direct from the publisher Virago.
Updated predictions for the Orange Prize in order of which books I think I'm going to like best
1. Elif Shafak - The Bastard of Istanbul
2. Dalia Sofer - The Septembers of Shiraz
4. Lauren Liebenberg - The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
5. Gail Jones - Sorry
6. Linda Grant - The Clothes on Their Backs
7. Heather O'Neill - Lullabies for Little Criminals
8. Anita Amirrezvani - The Blood of Flowers
9. Nancy Huston - Fault Lines
10. Deborah Moggach - In The Dark
12. Patricia Wood - Lottery
13. Charlotte Mendelson - When We Were Bad
14. Carol Topolski - Monster Love
15. Anita Nair - Mistress
16. Stella Duffy - The Room of Lost Things
17. Sadie Jones - The Outcast
18. Jennifer Egan - The Keep
19. Scarlett Thomas - The End of Mr. Y
20. Tessa Hadley - The Master Bedroom
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
Is imitation genuinely flattering?
I noticed that there's a new advert on the TV for Berocca which is a pretty close (and I'm afraid pale) imitation of this fabulous you tube video from "Ok Go". Edith Bowman was raving about it on her show last year, so it's old news I guess. But if you've seen it before it still bears repeating.
Love it!
Love it!
Saturday, 5 April 2008
My Orange Prize Review #2 - The Gathering
Anne Enright's "The Gathering", winner of the Man Booker Prize 2007, is the story of Veronica’s unravelling and putting back together again, following the death of her brother Liam.Set in Ireland, this is a story about blame and accountability. Veronica believes she knows what killed Liam, something that happened long ago when they were left behind in the care of their grandparents, by their recklessly procreating parents.
Veronica operates in a mode of constant self-examination and interrogation, trying to establish culpability for Liam’s death and her distress. The narrative is entirely from her perspective, but we never really know if she is a reliable witness. She trips in and out of fact and fancy, generating versions of truth before settling on the story that she is prepared to share with her surviving brothers and sisters.
It is a disarmingly honest account of a woman trying to know her own mind, and as such, I found Veronica easy to relate to. Although the story is supposed to be an explanation of Liam’s demise, I always felt that there was so much Veronica I never really got to know Liam or feel any sadness for his death. In that respect I feel slightly cheated.
The writing style is vivid and evocative without being overly flowery, and the way that Anne Enright incorporates dialogue tickles me in its sassiness.
Is this book likely to be my favourite from the shortlist? Probably not. But I was transported by it, which is what I look for in a good story. I’m going to move it up to 4th on my list on this basis, and I think it will definitely make the cut for the shortlist.
The Gathering is available in paperback in all good bookshops, including Amazon.
Other novels by Anne Enright include:
The Wig My Father Wore (1995)
What Are You Like? (2000)
The Pleasure of Eliza Lynch (2002)
Updated predictions for the Orange Prize in order of which books I think I'm going to like best
1. Elif Shafak - The Bastard of Istanbul
2. Lauren Liebenberg - The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
3. Dalia Sofer - The Septembers of Shiraz
4. Anne Enright - The Gathering
5. Gail Jones - Sorry
6. Linda Grant - The Clothes on Their Backs
7. Heather O'Neill - Lullabies for Little Criminals
8. Anita Amirrezvani - The Blood of Flowers
9. Nancy Huston - Fault Lines
10. Deborah Moggach - In The Dark
11. Rose Tremain - The Road Home
12. Patricia Wood - Lottery
13. Charlotte Mendelson - When We Were Bad
14. Carol Topolski - Monster Love
15. Anita Nair - Mistress
16. Stella Duffy - The Room of Lost Things
17. Sadie Jones - The Outcast
18. Jennifer Egan - The Keep
19. Scarlett Thomas - The End of Mr. Y
20. Tessa Hadley - The Master Bedroom
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
The world is full of bibliophiles..
I've just started contributing to a new blog called The Orange Prize Project. Apparently there are other people out there who also get kicks from reading the Orange Prize nominees each year.
I just posted my first review there this morning. Last years' winner Chimamande Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun. A cracking read. Check out my review to find out why.
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
The Lord taketh away, and the Lord giveth back what he has nicked
An unholy mystery has been solved. The doughnut that I lost yesterday has just turned up in the compartment inside the door of my car.
How in the name of holy batman did it get there? You may well ask. I'm thinking of petitioning for a redesign of the whole doughnut concept. If it had been less rotund and juicy it probably wouldn't have been able to roll out of the shopping bag and sneak away into a hidey hole. Slippery little sucker.
The question is, what do I do with it now? Day old donut doesn't have the same appeal.
My Orange Prize Review #1 "The Road Home" by Rose Tremain
The first of my Orange Prize parcels has arrived. So here goes…
The Road Home by Rose Tremain is the story of Lev, a polish economic migrant, who leaves behind 100% unemployment in his home town of Auror to come to London. Lev is still coming to terms with the premature death of his wife, and initially it seems that Lev’s quest is purely one of survival in a foreign country, living by the wit and wisdom of Rudi, his Tchevi driving friend from back home.
As the story unfolds, and Lev’s relationships with Christy the Irish alcoholic landlord and Sophie the nymphomaniac love interest evolve, the focus of the book clearly shifts to being about Lev’s journey out of depression and his reawakened feelings of love, lust and purpose.
It would be fair to say that Rose Tremain has employed some stereotypes in her characterisation, but who’s to say they aren’t true to life, and they serve the purpose of making the story and the settings recognisable to anyone who has lived in Britain in the last 10 years.
Lev is basically a good bloke, but flawed. There are occasional cringe-worthy moments which make you want to shake Lev and tell him to get a grip, which I suspect is exactly as the author intended. The character I would have loved to have seen more of is Simone. She turns up in the later chapters and made me guffaw out loud.
Don’t be mislead, this is not a cheery book. It’s largely one of desperate people in dire straits, and consequently is not a book I’m likely to pick up again in a hurry or particularly recommend to others.
It’s a realistic portrayal of the monotony of survival, and our daily struggle to lead our lives towards some sense of purpose. It’s pragmatic, honest and humane, but it’s not gripping, hilarious or emotive. Yes, I’m that shallow.
On the basis that this is the first book I’ve read from the Orange Prize Longlist I’m going to maintain my ranking for “The Road Home” at number 11. Mid-table respectability.
The Road Home is available in hardback at all good bookshops including our friends at Amazon. Paperback edition not due until July 2008.
Other books by Rose Tremain include;
Sadler's Birthday (1976), Letter to Sister Benedicta (1978), The Cupboard (1981), Journey to the Volcano (1985), The Swimming Pool Season (1985), Restoration (1989), Sacred Country (1992), The Way I Found Her (1997), Music and Silence (1999), The Colour (2003)
My predictions for the Orange Prize in order of which books I think I'm going to like best
1. Elif Shafak - The Bastard of Istanbul
2. Lauren Liebenberg - The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
3. Dalia Sofer - The Septembers of Shiraz
4. Gail Jones - Sorry
5. Anne Enright - The Gathering
6. Linda Grant - The Clothes on Their Backs
7. Heather O'Neill - Lullabies for Little Criminals
8. Anita Amirrezvani - The Blood of Flowers
9. Nancy Huston - Fault Lines
10. Deborah Moggach - In The Dark
11. Rose Tremain - The Road Home
12. Patricia Wood - Lottery
13. Charlotte Mendelson - When We Were Bad
14. Carol Topolski - Monster Love
15. Anita Nair - Mistress
16. Stella Duffy - The Room of Lost Things
17. Sadie Jones - The Outcast
18. Jennifer Egan - The Keep
19. Scarlett Thomas - The End of Mr. Y
20. Tessa Hadley - The Master Bedroom
The Road Home by Rose Tremain is the story of Lev, a polish economic migrant, who leaves behind 100% unemployment in his home town of Auror to come to London. Lev is still coming to terms with the premature death of his wife, and initially it seems that Lev’s quest is purely one of survival in a foreign country, living by the wit and wisdom of Rudi, his Tchevi driving friend from back home.
As the story unfolds, and Lev’s relationships with Christy the Irish alcoholic landlord and Sophie the nymphomaniac love interest evolve, the focus of the book clearly shifts to being about Lev’s journey out of depression and his reawakened feelings of love, lust and purpose.
It would be fair to say that Rose Tremain has employed some stereotypes in her characterisation, but who’s to say they aren’t true to life, and they serve the purpose of making the story and the settings recognisable to anyone who has lived in Britain in the last 10 years.
Lev is basically a good bloke, but flawed. There are occasional cringe-worthy moments which make you want to shake Lev and tell him to get a grip, which I suspect is exactly as the author intended. The character I would have loved to have seen more of is Simone. She turns up in the later chapters and made me guffaw out loud.
Don’t be mislead, this is not a cheery book. It’s largely one of desperate people in dire straits, and consequently is not a book I’m likely to pick up again in a hurry or particularly recommend to others.
It’s a realistic portrayal of the monotony of survival, and our daily struggle to lead our lives towards some sense of purpose. It’s pragmatic, honest and humane, but it’s not gripping, hilarious or emotive. Yes, I’m that shallow.
On the basis that this is the first book I’ve read from the Orange Prize Longlist I’m going to maintain my ranking for “The Road Home” at number 11. Mid-table respectability.
The Road Home is available in hardback at all good bookshops including our friends at Amazon. Paperback edition not due until July 2008.
Other books by Rose Tremain include;
Sadler's Birthday (1976), Letter to Sister Benedicta (1978), The Cupboard (1981), Journey to the Volcano (1985), The Swimming Pool Season (1985), Restoration (1989), Sacred Country (1992), The Way I Found Her (1997), Music and Silence (1999), The Colour (2003)
My predictions for the Orange Prize in order of which books I think I'm going to like best
1. Elif Shafak - The Bastard of Istanbul
2. Lauren Liebenberg - The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
3. Dalia Sofer - The Septembers of Shiraz
4. Gail Jones - Sorry
5. Anne Enright - The Gathering
6. Linda Grant - The Clothes on Their Backs
7. Heather O'Neill - Lullabies for Little Criminals
8. Anita Amirrezvani - The Blood of Flowers
9. Nancy Huston - Fault Lines
10. Deborah Moggach - In The Dark
11. Rose Tremain - The Road Home
12. Patricia Wood - Lottery
13. Charlotte Mendelson - When We Were Bad
14. Carol Topolski - Monster Love
15. Anita Nair - Mistress
16. Stella Duffy - The Room of Lost Things
17. Sadie Jones - The Outcast
18. Jennifer Egan - The Keep
19. Scarlett Thomas - The End of Mr. Y
20. Tessa Hadley - The Master Bedroom
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Nigel Slater - god of desserts or devil incarnate?
People are complex. Fact. No-one is entirely angelic and blemish free, we all have a dark side. A case in point is Nigel Slater.On the one hand Mr Slater is an unequivocal dessert recipe genius. The composition of ingredients, textures and flavours are a day trip to paradise. But, the man has a fatal flaw. He is a consummate liar when it comes to cooking times.
The first time I try a new Nigel Slater pudding it invariably results in burnt offerings. It took me three attempts to crack his chocolate brownies, by reducing the cooking time from the recommended 30 minutes to 20 minutes, (The Kitchen Diaries p.325). It was worth persevering because they are the taste bud equivalent of a trip to Willy Wonkers factory with the oompa loompas. They are amazin.
Last night I finally cracked the Bramley Apple Shortcake (The Kitchen Diaries p.124). I managed to cremate it on Easter Sunday for Janice and John. Tres embarassing because Janice is a culinary goddess of the highest order and I regard every meal I prepare for her in much the same way as the Romans would a ritual offering to the goddess Juno.
So you can imagine how determined I was last night that I was not going to take such paltry offerings to Andy and Jen's for dinner. Last time we went for dinner at their house I took an almond and chocolate cake which can only really be described as an supersized jaffa cake without the orange, the moisture or the flavour - it was in fact a cake frisbee. So I had to get the apple pie right on the money.
And so reader... I did it. But only be reducing the recommended cooking time by half! Nigel Slater what are you playing at?
So to cut a long story long, a heartfelt plea to you all. Please do try Nigel Slaters' Bramley Apple Shortcake - it is pure pie heaven. But don't pay a blind bit of notice to the recommended cooking time, simply pop it in the oven for 20 minutes and then check it to see if it's golden brown.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Friday, 28 March 2008
A test - Can I judge a book by it's cover
Well, can I judge a book by it's blurb to be exact. I thought that whilst I'm busy waiting for my lovely parcels of books to arrive I'd have a go at guessing which books from the Orange Prize Longlist I'm going to like the best. All I have to go on is the blurb on the back of the book.
So I'm going to take a stab at predicting my favourites and will update this list as I get through the books. It'll be a test of my abilities to sniff out a great book, and how effective publishers are at writing decent marketing spiel. Here goes;
1. Elif Shafak - The Bastard of Istanbul
2. Lauren Liebenberg - The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
3. Dalia Sofer - The Septembers of Shiraz
4. Gail Jones - Sorry
5. Anne Enright - The Gathering
6. Linda Grant - The Clothes on Their Backs
7. Heather O'Neill - Lullabies for Little Criminals
8. Anita Amirrezvani - The Blood of Flowers
9. Nancy Huston - Fault Lines
10. Deborah Moggach - In The Dark
11. Rose Tremain - The Road Home
12. Patricia Wood - Lottery
13. Charlotte Mendelson - When We Were Bad
14. Carol Topolski - Monster Love
15. Anita Nair - Mistress
16. Stella Duffy - The Room of Lost Things
17. Sadie Jones - The Outcast
18. Jennifer Egan - The Keep
19. Scarlett Thomas - The End of Mr. Y
20. Tessa Hadley - The Master Bedroom
So what has informed my choices? Basically I'm a sucker for translated novels and stories of far away lands, so African/Australian/Asian authors typically do well with me (just look at my top 4). Plus I can't bear books end up just being about someone having a mid-life crisis and trying to get their leg over (Master Bedroom).
Time will tell whether I have been shrewd or just a snob.
So I'm going to take a stab at predicting my favourites and will update this list as I get through the books. It'll be a test of my abilities to sniff out a great book, and how effective publishers are at writing decent marketing spiel. Here goes;
1. Elif Shafak - The Bastard of Istanbul
2. Lauren Liebenberg - The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam
3. Dalia Sofer - The Septembers of Shiraz
4. Gail Jones - Sorry
5. Anne Enright - The Gathering
6. Linda Grant - The Clothes on Their Backs
7. Heather O'Neill - Lullabies for Little Criminals
8. Anita Amirrezvani - The Blood of Flowers
9. Nancy Huston - Fault Lines
10. Deborah Moggach - In The Dark
11. Rose Tremain - The Road Home
12. Patricia Wood - Lottery
13. Charlotte Mendelson - When We Were Bad
14. Carol Topolski - Monster Love
15. Anita Nair - Mistress
16. Stella Duffy - The Room of Lost Things
17. Sadie Jones - The Outcast
18. Jennifer Egan - The Keep
19. Scarlett Thomas - The End of Mr. Y
20. Tessa Hadley - The Master Bedroom
So what has informed my choices? Basically I'm a sucker for translated novels and stories of far away lands, so African/Australian/Asian authors typically do well with me (just look at my top 4). Plus I can't bear books end up just being about someone having a mid-life crisis and trying to get their leg over (Master Bedroom).
Time will tell whether I have been shrewd or just a snob.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Lovely song... weird video
Lightspeed Champion - Galaxy of the Lost (Recommended by Colin Murray BBC Radio 1)
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Orange Prize for Fiction - beat the judges
The Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction longlist was announced last week http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/. No surprises that Booker winner Anne Enright is on there with her book "The Gathering". I guess this means I really must get my finger out and read it.
Of all the book prizes it's my opinion the Orange Prize is the one to watch as it invariably results in a winning novel that you will a) actually read and b) enjoy reading. And it makes me feel slightly more high brow than Richard and Judy's book club. Last years' winner Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "Half of a Yellow Sun", although disturbing was without doubt one of my highlights of 2007.
Of course, it's not always the case that the best book wins, Nicole Krauss "The History of Love" being a case in point, but at least the shortlist isn't typically made up of airy fairy poncey prose...
I attempt to read the longlist every year before the winner is announced which this year will be 4th June. My main motivation being that it's nice to be able to have an opinion about something that is apparently cultural and intellectual. So when am I going to start reading?
In between Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury's book "Gardens in Time and Space" and Beth Chatto's "Dry Garden" I've been dipping in and out of Charlotte Mosleys book, "Letters Between Six Sisters", which records the private correspondence between the Mitford sisters. Unity has just croaked it and the dynamics in the family have shifted, so it would feel wrong to put it aside just now.
Perhaps an Orange start to the weekend?
Of all the book prizes it's my opinion the Orange Prize is the one to watch as it invariably results in a winning novel that you will a) actually read and b) enjoy reading. And it makes me feel slightly more high brow than Richard and Judy's book club. Last years' winner Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "Half of a Yellow Sun", although disturbing was without doubt one of my highlights of 2007.
Of course, it's not always the case that the best book wins, Nicole Krauss "The History of Love" being a case in point, but at least the shortlist isn't typically made up of airy fairy poncey prose...
I attempt to read the longlist every year before the winner is announced which this year will be 4th June. My main motivation being that it's nice to be able to have an opinion about something that is apparently cultural and intellectual. So when am I going to start reading?
In between Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury's book "Gardens in Time and Space" and Beth Chatto's "Dry Garden" I've been dipping in and out of Charlotte Mosleys book, "Letters Between Six Sisters", which records the private correspondence between the Mitford sisters. Unity has just croaked it and the dynamics in the family have shifted, so it would feel wrong to put it aside just now.
Perhaps an Orange start to the weekend?
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