Five Minutes Peace

Book Review: Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart and Lani Diane Rich

Now, as you will no doubt get sick of hearing me say, I am a huge fan of Jennifer Crusie. Huge. I love her characters and her humour. I trust her. Where she writes, I follow. I would read this woman's freaking shopping list.

I also love supernatural stuff. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, paranormal chick lit, boy wizards; the whole freakshow.

But even I was flummoxed by the back cover blurb of this novel. Three women discover they are descended from Mesopotamian priestesses. After attending a dog training class taken by a goddess, they discover they have magic powers and, wait for it, talking dogs.

Mrs Moon bookmarks at Acorn & Will

I'll hold my hands up (when I'm done typing). I'm guilty! Guilty! Of what? Turning over the corner of the page of a book so I don't lose my place. Amongst many book lovers this is sacreligious.

I solemnly vow to not be so entirely rubbish and buy some bookmarks. Probably these vintage fabric Mrs Moon bookmarks from Acorn & Will because not only are they £4.50 but they are also gorgeous.

 

'Where the Wild Things Are' - the Movie!

Unbelievably, I have never read Maurice Sendak's classic, Where the Wild Things Are to Harry. I must remedy that before the film comes out in October.

[via Caroline Smailes - who is *very* excited!]

Pigeon smidgeon*

Harry has a new favourite book character: Mo Willems' pigeon. He found The Pigeon Wants a Puppy in the library and loved it so much that we ended up buying Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. He's keen for me to get The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog, but I haven't ordered it yet. I have, however, ordered Willems' non-pidge books, Knuffle Bunny and Time To Pee (which is a bit young for Harry, but he's very keen to read it... because there's a loo on the cover!).

I really enjoy the pigeon books too, which is lucky, since we've had to read all three every night for about a month now. There's actually a pigeon live show, which I'm just about to book tickets for. We went to see The Tiger Who Came to Tea live a while ago and all really enjoyed it. It's a funny idea, this transferring picture books, to the stage, don't you think? But I'd highly recommend Mo Willems' books.

* My mum used to call me that!

BOOK CLUB: March - Split By A Kiss by Luisa Plaja

It's discussion time again! Don't forget that the author of this month's book, Luisa Plaja, will be popping by the comments to see what you thought and answer your questions.

As well as hearing what you thought of Split By A Kiss, I'm particularly interested in whether you've read any young adult fiction before, how you found this book in relation to books you read when you were a teenager, whether you would give it to a teenage relative to read, what age group you thought it was suitable for, etc.

Find my thoughts on the book over the cut.

Harper's Bazaar Orange Short Story Competition

Wannabe a writer? Fancy trying your hand at a short story? Write a 2000 word story (the subject is 'mother') and submit it here by Tuesday 14 April 2009 and you'll be in with a chance of winning £1000 and publication in Harper's Bazaar.

The two runners-up will receive £500 each and all three finalists will be invited to attend a writers' masterclass and lunch at Random House. What are you waiting for?

Galaxy Book Awards 2009 shortlists announced

The Galaxy British Book Awards (GBBA) shortlists have been announced and there are several different categories including New Writer of the Year Award, Richard & Judy Best Read, and Crime Thriller of the Year.

There's also a Galaxy Book of the Year and the shortlist for that is formed from elected winners from the other categories. Still with me? You can cast your vote here until 28 March and be in with a chance of winning £200 of book tokens, to boot.

BOOK REVIEW: One Thing Led to Another by Katy Regan

When I first saw Katy Regan's One Thing Led to Another, I assumed it was a collection of her columns for Marie Claire magazine. A few years ago, Regan became pregnant by her best friend - they weren't a couple, just friends who occasionally ended up in bed together - and began writing a column about it. I was actually quite keen to read it and then less keen when I learned that it wasn't a collection, but rather a novel based on the same premise.

I shouldn't have worried. It's one of the best chick lit books I've read for ages. 

Pottery Barn's monthly journals

Oh my giddy aunt! How gorgeous is this set of twelve monthly journals from Pottery Barn?

I originally saw it in O At Home magazine (RIP) and was put off by the $100 price tag, but I've just spotted that it's been reduced to $49.99 (£35) *and* Pottery Barn ships to the UK (I think I would have been better off not knowing that!).

BOOK REVIEW: Raising A Reader by Jennie Nash

Jennie Nash's Raising A Reader is subtitled "A mother's tale of desperation and delight" and so I expected it to be a memoir and it kind of is, but it's also more prescriptive than that.

Nash is an obsessive reader and book-lover and wants to ensure that her two daughters are the same. In Raising A Reader, she looks at books and reading from different perspectives, such as "Abundance", "Perseverance" and "Arrogance".