Love For Books

Angela Carter’s Fairy Tales with a difference

When I got this book, I wasn’t expected Cinderella, and snow white, and fairies, puppies, children, sweetness and light. Let’s face it, Angela Carter’s name is on the front cover. It’s going to be bizarre.

And she doesn’t disappoint at all. In a wonderful collection of tales from around the globe, from Innuits, Chinese, Mordvin, African American, English Gypsy… the list goes on. They are collated from everywhere. And they are as bizarre as you might hope.

Not for the faint hearted, Carter’s collection is full of old dirty tricks, black arts, abusive fathers, evil stepmothers and old crones. There are stories that are hilarious in their oddity, some that are horrifying, some with strong morals and others that seem to serve no purpose at all.

It is a great book to read from beginning to end or two did in and out of, as there are stories and tales of all lengths: from a paragraph to ten pages.

With titles like ‘ A Pottle O’ Brains’, ‘Aunt Kate’s Goomer-Dust’ and ‘Diirawic and her incestuous brother’ you know there’ll be enough to keep you entertained and enthralled.

The Movie of Dorian Gray

If you didn’t catch Dorian Gray at the cinema, but are going to pick it up from Tesco now it’s out on DVD, here’s my advice:

Don’t.

As many Oscar Wilde lovers will know, one of the best things about his only novel is the subtlety and insinuation; the things that you don’t see, but hear tales of and hints of. The relationship between Basil and Dorian that is artistic, bizarre and ultimately fatal. Basil’s awe and wonderment of Dorian, that he looks to him as a being of perfection, almost as a deity or shrine, but without the obsession.

There is none of that. None.

No subtlety, no suggestions, and Basil and Dorian’s relationship actually made myself and three friends burst out laughing (completely unintentionally) at one point in the cinema. Whoops.

Colin Firth and Ben Barnes were, as always, brilliant – but the characters were not as Mr Wilde intended (or so I believe).

Oh yes, and the painting. Now, unless you pictured the painting to be crawling with maggots, and actually reach out of the canvas to touch Dorian, you probably won’t like it.

And if you have read the novel, and liked the film – shame on you.

God’s Own Country – Ross Raisin

This book is certainly one that’s hard to put down. It’s not that long, so a good one if you want a relatively quick read. I found myself reading it on my way to work, whilst walking to the shops, standing in a queue for my coffee. I just had to find out where the plot was going to go.

The debut novel is a first person narrative, and the Yorkshire dialect comes through strongly. I learnt to use the words ‘gleg’ and ‘goylem’ in normal conversation. Sam is a farmer’s son, who was expelled from school and who always seems to be getting into awkward situations. His voice is fascinating and utterly compelling, and his way of thinking soon becomes the way things are.

The story follows him and his bizarre friendship with a new ‘town’ girl – a city girl moved into the country. What happens is truly a far cry from anything I expected. It’s both haunting and, in some ways, beautiful; creating such a character you are torn as to how reliable a narrator he is and whether you wish you could truly understand him more than you do.

If you have a spare couple of hours, read this book. It shocked me more than I was expecting and taught me a lot about people, relationships, and perceptions.

Frank Warren, the world’s confidant

If you haven’t heard of Frank Warren or PostSecret, I suggest you google it right now.
Frank started an art project by sending out blank postcards with instructions on the back.

- Take a postcard, or two
- Tell your secret anonymously
- Stamp and mail it
- Be brief – the fewer words the better
- Be creative – let the postcard be your canvas
- Be legible – use big clear bold lettering

He invited people to confess a secret which has never been revealed. It could be regret, shame, desire, excitement or betrayal.

There were thousands of responses. Frank started a website with these secrets on and the response has grown and grown and grown. He receives hundreds of thousands of postcards a year, and updates them on his website weekly.

There are now 3 books, with previously unpublished secrets in, the newest Confessions on Life, Death and God released last Autumn. Go into Waterstones and have a look, buy one, and open it every now and again, finding a new secret.

Austen – still relevant, still funny, still Colin Firth

I was pretty horrified with myself when I got sent an email of the 100 books you have to read before you die and I could admit to having read 28. That’s only just over a quarter and I’ve had at least one book on the go since I was about 8. I read Sophie’s World after my 10th birthday (and that’s some pretty heavy philosophy) and pride myself on being a pretty well read person.

Now – most of the books on that list I already owned before reading the list, so at least that’s something. So I started with Austen. I had seen Colin Firth’s white shirt plenty of times, so knew that I’d probably enjoy Pride and Prejudice but I had no idea just how much. Austen’s sense of humour is wicked, and fits in so well in a modern world. And once you’ve got through the first few pages, you’re immersed in the writing style so you don’t even notice it. I can only now really understand why so many women the world over are happily married, but still, secretly, in love with a certain Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.