Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas

The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas

This Christmas McFly's Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter bring toilet humour to the jolly season. The title tell you exactly what to expect, and my especially favourite part is when Santa, who's eaten along with everything else festive, rides a wave of poop out of the Dinosaur's rear end....

Anyway, I thought I'd have a play around with my copy and camera one evening:

November Covers

November Covers

As Christmas fast approachess we have some beautiful and intriguing covers to tempt the money from our pockets. This month my eyes can't help but be drawn to Laini Taylor's Days Of Blood and Starlight [Hodder & Stoughton, HB]. Although looking back at Aprils top choice of The Wind Through The Keyhole I'm wondering if I just have a thing for covers featuring fire.

In amongst my Top 5 is Pratchett's The Compleat Ankh-Morpork; a guide to the city and its establishments. For any Discworld fan this book is an absolute must. It is beautifully made and designed with maps of the entire city that you can spend hours of your Christmas day pouring over. Perfect present material. Others making the grade are:

  

Top 5:

Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks [Picador, HB]

The Haunted Book by Jeremy Dyson [Canongate, HB]

The Compleat Ankh-Morpork by Terry Pratchett [Doubleday, HB]

Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver [Faber & Faber, HB]

Cruel Britannia by Ian Cobain [Portobello Books, HB]

October Covers

October Covers

This month I was really taken with Thomas Keneally's The Daughters Of Mars cover [Sceptre, HB]. The beautiful red poppies really make this come to life and even if I wasn't partial to some well written historical fiction by a Booker Prize winner, my hands would have still lifted this from a bookstore and taken it home.

My other Top Five:

Red Notice by Andy McNab [Bantam Press, HB]

On The Map by Simon Garfield [Profile Books, HB]

Red Country by Joe Abercrombie [Gollancz, HB]

Back To Blood by Tom Wolfe [Jonathan Cape, HB]

The Twelve by Justin Cronin [Orion, HB]

September Covers

September Covers

Without question my favourite cover this month is Grimm Tales: For young and Old  by Philip Pullman [Penguin, HB] due to the beautiful Red Riding Hood and The Wolf paper sculptures. In my opinion you can't really beat a paper sculpted book cover but here are a few that tried:

Top Five:


The Sacrifice by Charlie Higson [Puffin, HB]


Merivel: A Man of His Time by Rose Tremain [Chato & Windus, HB]


Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division by Peter Hook [Andrews McMeel, HB]


1356 by Bernard Cornwell [HarperCollins, HB]


Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming [Vintage Classics, PB]

Grimm Tales: For Young and Old

Grimm Tales: For Young and Old

 

 

Philip Pullman has chosen 50 of his favourite Brothers Grimm tales and put them in this beautifully designed book. The paper sculptures on the cover are designed by Cheong-ah Hwang and animated into this book trailer by Matthew Young. I love the idea of using paper sculptures to advertise a book. I'd try to re-create something like this myself if I was even remotely talented with a pair of scissors - which I’m not. 

 

 

J.K Day

J.K Day is Coming...

 

On September 27th, J.K Day will hit the UK with a heavyweight blow. Needless to say, The Casual Vacancy is possibly the most anticipated novel of 2012. Since the announcement of the acquisition by Little, Brown all I've been able to hear is the sound of reviewers rubbing their hands together.

Having had a few conversations about it there seems to be one question echoing around; will it actually be a big seller? True, this is a huge departure from Harry Potter, the plot revolves around a small English town at war over a vacant parish council seat. Now to me, 'war' and 'parish council' are not two subjects that naturally go together to make a great read. But more than that, is it a great read her fans will get their money behind? 

A lot of people think it isn't, that it's too different and won't interest the HP readership. A legitimate concern but on the other hand I believe we should factor in time. The first Harry Potter book was published in 1997, for anyone shuddering to do the maths that's 15 years ago, with the concluding book rounding everything up in 2007. The loyal J.K Rowling fans that grew up devouring her writings are now in their mid-twenties. 

Now for those aged fans, *ahem* like me, a bit of general fiction is probably appealing. That it's by one of the most successful childhood authors of all time is an added selling point. So yes, there probably is a money-at-the-ready adult readership.

If this book doesn't succeed then, it comes down to one factor; the novel itself.

Now this is where I begin to feel bad for J.K. For most novels sales can be used to measure the success of a book and success usually means it was a good read. The Casual Vacancy doesn't have this yard stick. People will be picking this book up out of curiosity, for comparison and even out of nostalgia but will they be picking it up because they are actually interested in the novel? To be blunt, I won't. The story holds no great interest for me, the blurb doesn't quite sell it enough and I'm turned off by the cover. But I'll pop to Waterstones and buy it anyway. 

As a dabbling writer, I can understand that authors want their readers to enjoy their scribblings. What's scary for J.K Rowling is that come Thursday she could have one of the bestselling books in the UK that isn't liked for itself. And that's a sad day.

So it comes down to a question, would you rather people bought a book for its story or to use as a measuring stick? To a publisher maybe it doesn't matter why but to an author, to J.K, maybe people enjoying a new story is all that really matters.

Will you be buying The Casual Vacancy?

 

August Covers

 

August Covers 

There are some great books with covers to match this month, the latest installment from Tess Gerritsen jumped into my hands as soon as I saw it and the wonderful Umbrella has been longlisted for the Booker Prize. The adult version of The Rise of Nine gives a striking new image to the Lorien Legacies, as the series tries to round up those stray, empty handed, Hunger Games readers.

Grabbing my eye the most this month was Toby's Room by Pat Barker [Hamish Hamilton, HB]

My other Top five are:

Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen [Bantam Press, HB]

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire [Simon & Schuster, PB]

The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore [Penguin, HB]

Bones are Forever by Kathy Reichs [William Heinemann, HB]

Umbrella by Will Self [Bloomsbury, HB]

The Return...

So it has been a while since I've posted but my fingers have been a little busy recently, namely the ring one on my left hand.... Yes, i went and got myself hitched! 

The wedding was an absolute amazing experience but one neither myself nor my wife would like to do again. Ever. Seriously, I understand why some people worship wedding planners - the stress is insane. 

So now that I am well and truly 'settled' I think it's time to get on and update this bloggy -

Tube Tracker

April Update

Latest update on Tube Tracker is, of course, completely monopolised by the Hunger Games Series. With the major publicity surrounding the film it really is no surprise to see it in the hands of many a commuter. What is surprising however, is the lack of visibility of readers of the Fifty Shades series. Considering its absolutely epic sales recently I have seen just one loan lady reading the first book. Given its content is this just another case of 'no sex please we're British'? Maybe it's just not something to be read behind closed tube doors.

Very Pink by Impulse

 

 Apparently body sprays are making a come back. Not too sure about developing any immediate plans to stock up, however, I am fine with enjoying it's advetising campaign. Books sell, people.

 

April Covers

This month has literally been showered  with great covers [yeah, it has been raining a lot. Can we stop tweeting about it now?]. So it was a tough choice, but i think the wonderful concept of Free Will was scorched from my mind by the flames of Mr King. I mean come on just look at it...

How could you miss The Wind Through The Keyhole  [Hodder & Stoughton, HB] by Stephen King on a shelf? You just couldn't.

Some other stand out covers are:

- Free Will by Sam Harris [The Free Press, PB]

- Sacrilege by S.J. Parris [HarperCollins, HB]

- Fifty Shades Darker by E L James [Arrow, PB]

- Stonemouth by Iain Banks [Little, Brown, HB]

-The Key by Simon Toyne [HarperCollins, HB]

 

Let's face it, we do judge books by their covers. 

In a market that's now very commercially competitive, book designs do more than just catch our eye in a bookstore (physical or virtual). They tell us about the style, subject and genre of a story but also increasingly they can even point to who the publishers is - yes Penguin i'm talking about you. 

Ebooks outsold Hardback in 2011 and to combat this we can now see a whole range of beautifully designed and produced books that just make you want to hold them, stroke them, put them on your bookshelf and admire them. As books should be.

Here's some of my favourites for this month:

The stand out star for me is this striking cover for The Boy Who Fell to Earth by Kathy Lette. This beautiful hardback by Bantam Press incorporates characters and themes of the story into the type of the title, which is a great design feature.

 Some of my other choice covers are:

- Revenge of the Tide by Elizabeth Haynes [Myriad Editions, PB]

- Good as Dead by Mark Billingham [Sphere, PB]

- Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon [Atom, PB]

- Wonder by R J Palacio [Bodley Head, HB]

- Itch by Simon Mayo [Doubleday Childrens, HB]
 

Resolution-ists

As the last full week of January slowly waddles its enlarged waistline towards the weekend I, like so many of us out there, would happily lasso it and drag it across the pay day line. December now seems like a lifetime ago, thoughts of mince pies now make me gag and there is a horrible echoing sound blowing through my bank account. Suddenly it’s January and we are a nation of guilt and shame. Did I need to drink so much wine, eat quite so much chocolate or spend so much on presents? Nope, but like the rest of us I hide my guilt by saying ‘that’s what Christmas is about though, isn’t it?’ and shrugging like I’m so indifferent I could just float away, filled by my own hot air.


While we are all pretending not to feel guilty we turn into a country operating on self punishment, ahem sorry, self reinvention... New Year, New You! [Yeahhhhh...Woo!! Let’s do it! ... and other motivating chants] However, since when did the date matter to the size of your arse? Do you really believe because you start something on the first day of the first month of the year that it will help you continue to do something all year round? Disillusioned doesn’t quite cover it.


This brings me to an actual pet peeve of mine: Resolution-ists. Every January they clog up the gym, suddenly set on the idea that ‘This year, is THE year’ or whatever. What they do is take up every machine, mat, and weight and walk around like they are better than everyday people because THEY, not you, have made a resolution.


So for the past few weeks I’ve been enduring this. I’m especially getting fed up of the people who just walk around the gym, like simply being there breathing the air is making them slimmer, or those that say things like ‘Oh my god, after this I’m SO going to enjoy that Mars Bar...’


Anyway, I have found something that amuses me from these Resolution-ists. As many of them do not like, or want to be, exercising they find many ways to avoid thinking about it. Obviously there are those who listen to music, chat to their gym buddy, or watch the screens showing images of extremely fit people – just to add to that guilt and shame. But then there are those that read.


Now I’ve come across a few people in the past reading a magazine while cycling but never in all my days have I ever seen someone read a BOOK while on a TREADMILL. To be honest I don’t even know how this works, and I think if you get car sick you should not attempt it!


What book is so good that you can’t put it down at the gym? Well... most of them! Therefore I did a bit of Googling and who knew it there are all sorts of gym reading accessories!

So on the left we have the FlipKlip Treadmill Book Holder at a bargain $12.99. [Not hugely happy with the use of the K but i'm sure they have good reason...] We then have the practical Amazonman Treadmilll Reading Rack for $11.99 top right, which looks sturdy. Taking that the gym would be no problem... And finally we have The Mighty Bright Fold-n-Stow available at $8.49 from who-knows-where but it's my favourite. [come on, its a glorified coat hanger!]

The only other thing I found was to use a bicycle tyre inner-tube to strap the book down and it can also be used as a place holder.... i'm not joking....sounds like one way to get kicked out of your gym.

Ok so this lack of useful reading materials is a bit pants but it highlights the question: Why have they not invented a treadmill with an in built e-reader? I can just see it from Apple... the iReadMill... Treadmills would never be the same again.

Flip

Flip

Not Just Some Freaky Friday

Author: Martyn Bedford
Format: Hardcover
Pub Date: 03/03/11 Price: £7.99
Publisher: Walker

For me I was never really convinced Flip was a book I wanted to read. The title, I thought, gave away all I needed to make the assumption ‘yeah yeah, two boys swap lives, learn valuable lessons yada yada…’ but the truth of it was better than my stereotype filled mind lead me to believe. Flip is a psychological battle for survival.

Like any average morning Alex wakes up in bed believing it to be like any other day, except it’s not his bed or home and worse, it’s not his life or body. Alex is then plunged into the existence of his new soul-operated-vehicle that is Phillip Garamond, AKA Flip, and all family, friends and girlfriends that come along with it. Alex soon learns there are advantages to being Flip, the good looks, muscles and popularity but all he can think about is getting home. What follows is Alex’s path both physically and mentally to try and return to his body and hopefully his life. Thwarted in many attempts, he is helped by the aid of another ‘psychic evacuee’, Rob, to get to grips with the situation and make a choice; to let go of himself or to fight for a life that could be dead.

This book did what I didn’t expect – it applied reality to the situation. A 14 year old boy finds himself in a body that is better looking and more popular then himself and instead of taking advantage he is actually consumed by wanting his own life back. What this book does is really delve into the topic of the self/soul/essence, or whatever it is that makes a person that person. It highlights the difficulty of not being able to be who you truly are and what teenager can’t identify with that? 

I found Alex a wonderful and insightful character. The way in which he reacted to the situation was the key to hooking the reader into his plight and making them read on.  However, I felt that the writing itself was fairly generic, telling me things rather than showing me them through dialogue or description. For example, from the writing alone I would never had known that it was set in Leeds or that Flip spoke with a thick northern accent. Which was slightly disappointing.

By no means is the concept of this book original but instead it is the reaction that is. It is because Alex freaked out showering in someone else’s body, that he still sucked at sports, that he didn’t want to kiss someone else’s girlfriend and that all that could satisfy him would be to wake up in his own asthmatic, pale, ginger haired body, that this book is so good.

Flip delivers a truly provocative and interesting read, taking the thoughts of a 14 year old boy into territories I didn’t expect it to go. It is a great thriller that builds the tension and develops the plot towards only one possible and terrible climax.

Genre: Fiction/Thriller/YA

Age Range: 12+

Shortlisted: 2011 Costa Children's Book Award

Uffish: Freaky Friday was in fact a book by Mary Rodgers first published in 1972

Rating: 8/10