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Sophie Kinsella

New books, but is it a good sign?

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ThinkingNo Comments

The publishing industry have released a few books by some of my faviourate authors. I knew about The Dead by Charlie Higson, which I bought this month. I’m about half way through it, so expect a review soon! I’ve reviewed The Enemy which you can read here. I also bought The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition by Anne Frank and Everyday Moon Magic by Dorothy Morrison.

Two books I didn’t know about till yesterday were Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella and The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern. I’m trying to live frugally (see Living Frugally) so I’ll have to buy these next month. I think I missed the release of these books because publishers usually release them closer to Christmas.

This got me thinking, does the early release of these books signal that publishers are worried that Christmas won’t be a good time for selling? Are they in a way predicting that they think we’ll take our second dip into recession? Maybe I’m reading too much in to this? But I think if I was a publisher, I’d try and release as many publications as I could before we entered recession. What are your thoughts?

Antony

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Book Review: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

By Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
twenties-girl I took this book away when I went to Benidorm (see Adventure 2 – Benidorm Part 1, Adventure 2 – Benidorm Part 2 & Adventure 2 – Benidorm Part 3) and as promised, here’s my review:

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella is her most hilarious book to date. In it we meet Lara Lington who’s life is in a bit of a mess. Her boyfriend’s left her and told her parents of her obsessional texting, which got so bad he changed his number. She set up a business with her best friend as professional head hunters, which her friend is apparently fantastic at. Only her best friend went on holiday to Goa, met a man and hasn’t returned. Worst of all she is being forced by her parents to attend the funeral of her great aunt Sadie, who died at 105 years old and who she barely knew.

She arrives for the funeral with barely any family or friends present. The funeral commences and as the coffin is about to be cremated, Lara see’s this woman only about 25 years old in twenties style clothing. The twenties girl, her great aunt Sadie from her younger years who says,
“Stop! Don’t let them cremate me, I need to find my dragon fly necklace. I simply cant rest with out it.”

Lara begrudgingly agrees to help Sadie in order to get rid of her. The journey is packed with funny experiences as they get in to some sticky situations and start to help each other out; Lara in the search for the dragon fly necklace and Sadie in helping Lara to realise some home truths.

Along the way of course in true Kinsella style Lara meets a man, her best friend comes back in to her life and the mystery unravels as Lara and Sadie follow the clues trying discover who has taken the dragon fly necklace and why.

As the plot thickens the book absorbs you as you simply must find out what situation they are going to get themselves in to next, inevitably giving another clue to who took the dragon fly necklace and why. The ending is obviously been well thought out, researched and means its a typical chick-lit ending, but with a clever ending. It makes you feel satisfied and that all the loose ends have been tied up.

Like one of Sophie Kinsella’s previous books The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic which was made in to a film (Confessions of a Shopaholic [DVD] [2009]), I think this book would transform in to a film beautifully.

Hope you enjoyed my review. Review more books soon,

Antony

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Adventure 2 – Benidorm Part 1

By Adventures, Books & Authors, Happiness & Joy, Love & RelationshipsNo Comments

After deciding I needed Time Out, off I jetted on a plane with plenty of books to read (Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella – review coming soon, promise; The Self-Preservation Society by Kate Harrison; Look Back in Hunger: The Autobiography by Jo Brand; Pagan Visions for a Sustainable Future by Ly De Angeles, et al; I am What I am by John Barrowman; The Rapture by Liz Jensen; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic by John & Caitlin Matthews).

The locals were wearing their coats, hats, scarfs and glovers and looked at me like I was a crazy person or some sort of tourist sun-bathing topless on the beach.

Plenty of good food, drink and good times were had. I went there as a singledom and came back with a boyfriend. The story of Boyfriend-W (as he shall be named for now) will be revealed in Part 2.

Blog soon,

Antony

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Dear Father Christmas…

By ShoppingNo Comments

I am sooo excited about Yule (see Pagan Festivals) this year. I will get to celebrate it with Simon and Chrys, my good friends like last year (see Yule & A Lifetime Gift). I also celebrate Christmas (because the family and majority of my friends do, plus I like love gifts).

In addition to this it’s my first in the new apartment (see The Move), so I’m going to get the biggest, campest christmas tree I can afford! But I thought I’d better let Father Christmas what I want like you used to as a child, addressing the letter to the North Pole. So here goes:

Dear Father Christmas,

This year I’ve been a good boy. I have tried hard at work and tried to help those who need it. Plus I have tried to be more adult-like and responsible by buying apartment (I know you have a super computer system that can find me, so I don’t need to give you my address, mum told me). I am concerned that this place (as far as I’m aware) doesn’t have a chimney. So I have let security know and they said they will let you in.

So now on to the important issue of what I would like this year. Here’s my list (I’ve split it in to Books and DVD’s to make it easier for the elfs to find):

Books
Jo Brand, Look Back in Hunger
John Barrowman, Anything Goes: The Autobiography
Justin Lee Colins, Good Times! (with free T-shirt)
Ant & Dec, Ooh! What a Lovely Pair: Our Story
Cecelia Ahern, The Gift
Cecelia Ahern, The Book of Tomorrow
Sophie Kinsella, Twenties Girl
Various Authors, Pagan Visions for a Sustainable Future
Edian McCoy, Astral Projection for Beginners
Various Authors, Spellcaster: Seven Ways to Effective Magic
Cassandra Eason, Magic Spells for a Happy Life (Essential Series)
Cassandra Eason, Cassandra Eason’s Modern Book of Dream Interpretation

DVD’s
Bill Bailey – Tinselworm [DVD] [2008]
Jo Brand – Barely Live [2003] [DVD]
The Vicar of Dibley – The Ultimate Collection [DVD]
Confessions of a Shopaholic [DVD] [2009]
The Next Best Thing [DVD] [2000]
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (2 Disc Deluxe Edition) [DVD] [2005]
An Evening With John Barrowman [DVD] [2009]
Robbie Williams – Live At The Albert [DVD] [2001]
Kylie Live ‘X’ 2008 [DVD]
Celine Dion – Live In Las Vegas – A New Day [DVD] [2007]
Torchwood: Complete BBC Series 1 Box Set [2006] [DVD]
Torchwood: Complete BBC Series 2 Box Set (2008) [DVD] [2007]
The Colour Of Magic (2-disc edition) [DVD] [2008]

That’s my list. Oh just to add one more thing, right at the top of my list please A joyfilled, happy christmas for all of my family and friends. Hope that’s not too much of a tall order for the 1st November?

My love to the elfs and raindeers and of course Mrs Christmas, hope they are all keeping well,

Antony x x x

Post pictures of the tree when I’ve bought it, decorated and put it up.

Loving the anticipation of Christmas,

Antony

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