Five Minutes Peace

Grace (Eventually) - Anne Lamott

I love Anne Lamott's books so much. They make me feel joyful and tearful and appreciative. They make me want to move to California (although that is always in the back of my mind anyway). 

Grace (Eventually) is a collection of essays ranging from the time Anne jumped from a too high ski lift, the time she lost (temporarily) her beloved dog while out on a hike, to the time she slapped her 17-year-old son. It also includes an incredibly beautiful essay about how she helped a terminally ill friend to take his own life. Another essay, The Born, expressed my feelings about abortion better than anything else I've ever read. 

That makes it sound sadder and harder work than it actually is. Anne never loses her sense of humour or joy and I found that, once I started reading, I didn't want to stop because I find her voice so comforting. (And yet I wanted to stop reading because the more I read, the sooner the book would end - I hate that!)

The essays are beautifully written, filled with humour and compassion. 

I read this sitting in Northumberland with a cup of coffee and a beautiful view, which was the perfect way to read it. Like Lamott's other books, Grace (Eventually) made me feel glad to be alive. 

BOOK NEWS: The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry

Happy publication day to the multi-talented and charming cultural phenomenon known as Stephen Fry. It's thirteen years since the memoir of his childhood - Moab is my Washpot - hit our shelves, and I'm beyond ready for the next installment.

The Fry Chronicles promises to be just as touching, honest and entertaining as Moab and it's going straight to the top of my to-be-read pile.

BOOK REVIEW: 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I was aware of this book - of course I was - and I'd seen the film many years ago (Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins, delightful). What I'd failed to grasp, however, was that the book wasn't fiction.

84 Charing Cross Road is the true story of a twenty year correspondence between New York writer Helene Hanff and Frank Doel, the chief buyer for an antiquarian book shop in London.

Hanff first contacted the shop in 1949, searching for classic and British literature editions, and a friendship evolved between her and Frank, and many of the other staff members at the shop.

BOOK REVIEW: Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

This memoir has been recommended to me many times but I'd somehow never got around to reading it.

Well, I'm glad I finally did. Glad and a little bit freaked out... It's the tale of Burroughs's childhood and, as it's a real life story, I'm sure I shouldn't have found it so entertaining and funny. His mother (a psychologically-unhinged poet) left his alcoholic father and proceeded to get Augusten adopted by her therapist. Unfortunately, he turns out to be a nutter who may have 'looked like Santa Claus' but was the bizarre patriarch of an incredibly dysfunctional family.

BOOK REVIEW: Paperboy by Christopher Fowler

I've always had a soft spot for Christopher Fowler. I remember seeing his novel Spanky on the shelf in Athena in the Trocadero when I first moved to London (i.e. in olden times). Later, I met my husband and learned that Fowler was one of his favourite authors. We went to see him talk about one of his books (I forget which) and David asked him a question which got a very enthusiastic response and made us all very happy. Having said all that, I haven't read any of his books for years - I've meant to, it's just that he is so prolific and I can't keep up. (Rubbish excuse, I know, but really SO MANY BOOKS!).  

I was about to say that Paperboy represents a change for Fowler, but I can't really since he writes in so many different genres, so I'll say this: it's a memoir. I bought it for my husband, but started reading it and couldn't stop. 

BOOK REVIEW: Mousetrapped by Catherine Ryan Howard

I "met" Catherine Ryan Howard on Twitter (where I spend most of my life) and was lucky enough to win a copy of her debut book, Mousetrapped, on GoodReads. (I totally would have bought one anyway.)

Subtitled 'A Year and A Bit in Orlando, Florida', Mousetrapped is the story of what happened when Catherine decided to "swap the grey clouds of Ireland for the clear skies of the Sunshine State." Just typing that makes me want to emigrate and the sun is actually shining here (for once), but the idea of taking off on an adventure always appeals. 

BOOK REVIEW: Lopsided by Meredith Norton

I first heard of this breast cancer memoir a while ago and thought it sounded interesting, but I didn't *have* to read it until I spotted a different cover, featuring what was presumably its original title on another site. Once I'd seen that, I couldn't read it fast enough. (Check it out over the cut.) 

Meredith Norton is an American woman living in Paris with her French husband and baby son when she finds that what she though - and what a number of French doctors had told her - was an infected milk duct is actually breast cancer. She flies home to California for treatment and to be closer to her own family and friends. 

MOVIE NEWS: Eat, Pray, Love trailer

I loved the book, but I must admit I found the trailer a tiny bit irritating, though I can't quite put my finger on why. What do you think?

[via Galleycat]

BOOK REVIEW: The Idle Parent by Tom Hodgkinson

Hmm. I'm not sure how to write this review since I know a lot of people will really hate this book. And for valid reasons (read this Amazon review for a brief overview). However, I loved it. Mostly. 

If you've read any Tom Hodgkinson before, you'll know that by "idle" he doesn't mean "lazy" - well, not entirely, anyway - rather that the best way to live is doing what you want to do rather than struggling to meet some sort of ideal. At least, I think that's what it is...

Basically, for me Idle Parenting means enjoying your children, but also leaving the alone to get on with, well, whatever they want to get on with. 

CHRISTMAS LIST: Strictly Come Dancing Annual

I actually originally looked at the Strictly teach yourself dancing book, but could anybody ever seriously learn ballroom dancing from a book? And why would they even try since there's such a thing as DVDs and, you know, classes.  

Anyway, I got the Strictly Come Dancing Annual as a present last year and I loved it. I haven't enjoyed the show all that much this year (can't exactly say why, but it's just been a bit meh, in my opinion), but I still hope someone's bought me this book. Gossip, frocks and info on the pro dancers, it's a Chrismas winner for any right-minded Strictly fan. 

£5.83 from Amazon.