Despite knowing about this book when it first came out, I thought I would dislike it and never got round to picking it up. It was lent to me and now that I’ve read it, not only did I enjoy it, in context, I realise I actually am doing or have done in the last [...]
I’ve been warned about reading too much Bryson. Whereas I found his memoir of growing up in middle America enchanting, this one about arriving in Britain is frustrating, entertaining and funny in almost equal measures. I nearly gave up reading a few times but I’m not quitter; I have to keep reminding myself that he [...]
Help! The very talented Talli Roland’s debut novel THE HATING GAME is out today and we all think it deserves to hit the Kindle bestseller list at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk . Please help by spreading the word today. Even a few sales in a short period of time on Amazon helps push the book up [...]
I read another book, indeed a memoir that I wish I had thought of first. Perhaps I’ll do it in five years when everyone has forgotten this one. Having said that, obviously my books won’t get anywhere near the coverage that Dawn French gets so I can just nick the idea. Dawn French’s memoirs are [...]
Forgot to put this on my Birthday list this year. Not that I desperately need it, I don’t cook and I don’t watch films on DVD, but it’s one of my favourite movies of recent years.
New York Times food critic The more I read of Ruth Reichl’s memoirs as a food critic at the New York Times after being headhunted from the LA Times, the more I compare her work to those of other food critics. AA Gill by no means lavishes praise on all the restaurants he visits for [...]
Generally speaking, if a book appears on the Booker prize list I stay away from it. I find it hard to concentrate on reading (on anything) at the best of times and if a whole paragraph is used to describe how a cup is chipped and why that is significant, my mind wonders off to [...]
Following what I think is excellent advice I’m on a mission to read 10 travel memoirs before writing my own. Not that mine are all travel, but there is fair chunk of voyage talk half way through writing the first draft of the book and it is a memoir. I’m amazed in all the books [...]
Wow, it’s a hard month to be grateful but alas, there is always something: 5 days in Glasgow for book writing & getting to 32000 word target Meeting the lovely & talented Marsha Moore Having a light work month so more time for writing Match of the Day is back!
Sunday I miss breakfast at the hotel. I don’t like eating early, before 9am but it’s there for the taking. I just don’t know where the time goes. I’m looking forward to Sunday afternoon tea today at Cup, scene of gorgeous lunch last time but I’m not hungry enough. I delay until Monday, when it’s [...]
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