Book #12

Wow I have been rubbish at reading recently. I love love love to read, but I just can't seem to find the time. My work is a 5 minute walk from our apartment, so I don't get the commuting time to read. Then, between sewing, writing here and every day living, my books are getting very dusty. How do you find time to squeeze in a few pages?

That being said I think my Weekly Book series is in need of a name change. It's probably going to be more a 'Whenever I get chance to finally finish a book I love I'll share it with my wonderful readers'. Has a ring to it, doesn't it?

I did finally got around to finishing a brand new book this week though. I can't remember far enough back to when I first started it...

Hollywood  by Charles Bukowski

Hollywood is quite different to any Charles Bukowski book I have read before. Bukowski is known for  being a down and out; A heavy drinker with little luck with woman. His other books piece together his alter-egos life as he begins to gain recognition for his poetry and short stories. This recognition doesn't seem to affect him much other than giving him more money to drink away and bet on the races. In Hollywood though, he is writing a screenplay for his film Barfly (which I'll definitely be watching now), has a steady girlfriend who is trying to curb his drinking and regularly rubs shoulders with Hollywood stars.

The writing is still Bukowski, the hatred is still there, even if we do only see it briefly. Maybe he has a little more hope and a little more structure in this book than we have become used to? Its super interesting to hear the struggles behind an independent film though, the uncertainties with funding and the demands of actors/actresses involved. I didn't know until after I'd finished that the characters in the book are actually based on those actually involved in the Barfly film. It made me read back and see how they were/are in real life!

The book was first printed way back in 1989 (the year I was born), but it seems very modern and completely relevant now. Overall, I did like the book, it was very easy to get lost in. But, if you haven't read anything by Bukowski before I would try Ham on Rye or the Post Office.

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Mo' books.

I set myself a reading challenge a short while back, to sweep up the books I am mid-way through so that I could start a-fresh in the new year. I mentioned there that I am one hell of a slow reader. Well, I didn't do very well at tackling them. Actually, I didn't get around to finishing one! I guess I didn't think about Christmas being a pretty busy time of year for me. 

Anyway, I am still going to get those books out of the way. And, when 2013 hits I'm going to get a whole new bunch of books and get back into writing my weekly book posts. I really love sharing my books thoughts with you guys. These are the 5 I want to get first;

// How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautious Tale - Jenna Jameson // The Last Night of the Earth Poems - Bukowski // Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil - Nigel Blundell // Haunted - Chuck Palahniuk // My Time - Bradley Wiggins //

They are a mixture of my interests, loves and it also includes a few kinds of books that I wouldn't usually read; Non-fiction. I first heard of 'How to make love like a porn star' over on Kaylahs blog and man, does she have awesome reading taste, it went straight onto my wish list. This Serial Killer book was recommended to me as a good introduction to true crime books. I am weirdly interested in all things to do with serial killers, I read tonnes about them online but this will be my first book about the subject. I get huge teenage crushes on sport stars all the time, and Bradley Wiggins is way up there. He's my absolute hero and I can't wait to hear more about his life. And finally, the old faithfuls;  Palahniuk and Bukowski, two of my favourite authors so naturally their books made it on here.

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As always, I would love to hear any recommendations from you guys! Whether its similar to things you know I read, or completely different, please let me know. I'm always looking to broaden my reading horizons. 

A Book A Week #11

Canal Dreams By Iain Banks

I know I have mentioned Iain Banks books before on here, but I really think they are great books to open your reading up to a new genre if you haven't read anything by him before. Although Canal Dreams isn't as obviously dark as The Wasp Factory, it is still strange and thought provoking, the main reason I love Banks writing.

Hisako Onoda is terrified of flying, and as a famous cellist has to find alternative routes to get to where she needs to be when touring. The book opens when she is travelling from Japan and through Europe. Down the Panama Canal she travels, her boat eventually arrives in turmoil; civil unrest causes the canal to be closed and the boat is left in limbo. The time the boat is stuck gives us times to explore Onodas past and present, and build her up in great depth. You discover some amazing things about her, and the reason for her, sometimes, cold heart. 

Iain Banks has no problem jilting a story line to keep the reader on their toes, and although I don't think this is the best book he has written, its still a great, quick read that will keep you entertained. 

A Book A Week #10

Lullaby By Chuck Palahniuk

Chuck Palahniuk is one of my all time favourite authors, I love love love how he writes. If you haven't heard of Palahniuk before, he’s the guy that wrote Fight Club, duh! Lullaby was one of the first books I read by him, I can't remember why I choose this one, but I'm glad I did.

Lullaby is the story of Carl Streator who is given the responsibility to write about a sudden bout of deaths, of which his own child and wife had been a victim of. We find out that the reason behind their, and the other peoples, deaths is a 'culling song' Carl found in an old poetry book. The song has the power to instantly kill anyone who hears it. Carl is walking down the street, and starts to think about killing anyone that annoys him in the slightest and, resigning the lullaby in his head unintentionally does, he becomes racked with guilt. So, in an attempt to put it right, and stop the song forever begins to track down every book in whilst it’s printed. He teams up with a bazaar realtor and together they begin tracking down these books.

Along their way they discover the source of the lullaby, a spell book, and fight over what to do with it. Carl wants to destroy it, but the rest of the group want to learn what other spells it hold, specifically they want to resurrect the dead. The spell book is inevitably misused a lot, and results in some reaalllly messed up things.

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I am really enjoying writing these little reviews every week, its reminding me of all the great books I've read, and whilst doing a bit of internet reserach, I'm finding some amazing things I never knew! I found this snippit about Chuck on Wikipeadia (have a look under the Lullaby heading), I sort of which I knew this before I read the book, it'd compeltely change the way I thought of it!!

Book a Week #9

Ham on Rye By Charles Bukowski

I'm quite surprised that I haven't mentioned Bukowski yet, he's definitely close to being my favourite writer ever and Ham on Rye was one of the first books of his I read.

If you haven't read anything by Bukowski, the majority of his novels are focused on his alter-ego, Henry Chinaski. In Ham on Rye Chinanski is in his high school years plagued by horrendous acne, rejection and violence, into college and his first jobs, which he cannot (doesn't want to) keep. We're there when he first begins to  write. And drink. Again, if you don't know Bukowski, drinking plays a major part in his life, through out his entire life. 

Even though this wasn't his first novel, it's a great introduction to Bukowski. Writing through an alter-ego allows him to be a bit more honest than he maybe would have been if this was a full blown biography. Ham on Rye is funny and sad, and completely engrossing. Out of all the books that I've written about, if you choose to read one, read this one. (and then everything else Bukowski has written)

ps. I really hate the word novel.

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Don't forget to let me know your favourite book, or if you know something I might enjoy, and. if you're struggeling to think of what you're going to read next, every book that has been recommended to me so far is on my Amazon Wish List, I'll be writing about some soon.

Book a Week #8

Jaws by Peter Benchley

Am I really going to write a review about a book that everyone not only knows the full story line to, but 99.9% of the population also knows the theme tune too? Am I actually wearing a Jaws t-shirt as I type...? Well, yes I am, okay! Give the book a chance.

Just in case you haven't heard the tale of Jaws, the whole story is based in a little seaside down, Amity, Long Island, New York, whos main source of income is wealthy beach goers (or their student children) returning to their beach houses during the summer months. The opening of the book sees a young visitor decide to go for a late night swim (after a few drinks), and ends up washed up on the beach the next morning. With clear shark attack wounds, police Chief Brody orders the beaches to be closed, but the major and local media refuses to let the story leak and insists that the beaches are kept open so as not to harm business. I mean, how likely is it that two shark attacks will happen in the same place? Classic horror story mistake.

Over the course of the next few days, more people are attacked, and Brody blames himself. With the beaches still open, and visitors going wild to try and catch a glimpse of the fish. The town is forced to bring in help, in the form of Hooper (swooon, completely in love) a ichthyologist who promises to help them understand the fish a little more, and eventually, Quint, a rough shark hunter who promises to bring the fish back to shore, dead. The team of three set out track and kill the fish. Amazing adventure follows.

I admit, I do completely love all 4 Jaws movies, but I am not being bias with this. Its genuinely a really decent book, and as with all book to movie, the story does differ in stages. If you read up a little on the background it's even more interesting. Benchley got his inspiration from a few real life events, the Jersey Shore Shark attacks that happened in 1916, and Quint is based on a real shark hunter, Frank Mundus, who eventually turned his life from killing to preserving the amazing fish.

It's a perfect quick, light read. Probably not something to read on the beach, unless you like being terrified.

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Remember to recommend me your favourite books, If you're struggeling to think of what you're going to read next, every book that has been recommended to me so far I've either bought, or its on my Amazon Wish List.

Book a Week #7

Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis

I'm sure you all know this one, or at least know Bret Easton Ellis. I love the guys writting style, and this is definitely the book that has influenced my taste in novels the most. It was the first Easton Ellis book I read, I had seen a lot of people reading American Psycho, and heard a lot about if, I'd obviously seen the film too, and decided I was way too cool to read what everyone else was reading so went for the next one along on the book shop shelf. I only just realised now that Lunar Park must have been pretty new when I first read it and I had no idea.

Lunar Park is partly a 'faux autobiography', early on Ellis describe his own sudden rise to fame, wild partying, his drug taking etc, the story does blur into fiction in some obvious aspects, particularly that he he marries a beautiful movie star. They move out of New York City, after a number of terrorist attacks makes them feel unsafe in a big city, and they end up in a quiet, rich suburb.

Halloween comes, and Ellis begins noticing strange things happening around the house they have moved into. Particularly surrounding the death of his farther. He isn't taken very seriously when he shares his concerns that the house in haunted, and that his step daughters doll is alive, and vicious! (I don't there is anything that can creep me out more than demonic toys). The line between reality and fiction distort even more when Patrick Bateman appears, along with other characters from American Psycho.

If you aren't really into this genre of book, or haven't read anything by Ellis before, I think this, and Less Than Zero, are great places to start. Completely disturbing, amazing books.

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 Remember to recommend me your favourite books, everyone that has been recommended to me so far I've either bought, or its on my Amazon Wish List.

A Book A Week #6

I planned to write about a Palahniuk book today, well, I actually did write about it, went to take a photo of the cover and realised it wasn't in my collection! I hardly ever lend out books, so thats pretty frustrating it's gone.

Soooo, change of plan. Here is my book of the week;

Marabou Stork Nightmares By Irvine Welsh

You should know Irvine Welsh as the author of Trainspotting, which was made into a pretty notible British film. I haven't actually read Trainspotting, but I have a couple of his other novels.

Roy Strang ends up in court for being involved in an awful awful crime, and the remorse he feels lands him in hospital, in a koma, unwilling to fight anymore after a life of being abused, and being the abusor- physically, mentally and sexually. The story fades in and out of his koma induced dream world, Strangs past leading up to his hospitalisation and the world he hears from his hospital bed. In his dream world, he's in South Africa, on the hunt of the Marabou Stork which he describes as the ugliest savage creature there is. In Strangs real life, you hear him growing up on a housing scheme in Scotland, the mundane job he hates, but excels in and the football hooligan gang (I mean real football hooligan gang) he loves, which all leads him to the awful crime.

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Its a hugely gritty book, and one thats definitely in my top 5. I highly recommend this to anyone that loves Bret Easton Ellis. Remember to recommend me your favourite books, everyone that has been recommended to me so far I've either bought, or its on my Amazon Wish List.

Book a Week #5

An Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead the story of Frank Meeink.

You need to know, I love watching prison documentaries I can't get enough of Lockup, Werner Herzog documentaries on the death penalty, anything to do with gangs or prison and anything relating to the Aryan brotherhood (I know, I'm weird, it just really interests me, definitely the only reason I have Netflix). Sooo when I heart about this book, I had to get it.


The book is autobiographical by Frankie Meeink, it starts when he is a young teenager in Philadelphia which is where he first becomes exposed to the skinhead culture. Its beyond weird hearing how someone thinks when they're in the state of mind, a completely clouded, misinformed, almost insane way of thinking, but you start to sort of understanding (not agree, just understand). You hear about the beatings, killings, the children he fathers and abandons, the kidnappings and awful torturing he participates in and goes to prison for. Whilst in prison Frank starts to realise his way of thinking could be wrong when he befriends 2 black inmates and comes out questioning things again, obviously it isn't easy to get out of a gang, especially when you're respected as a founder.

It's an unbelievable story, truly inspiring, and my heart completely broke when he starts hiding his drug addiction from his girlfriend, who is the only worthwhile person he's had in his life. Frank Meeink is an amazing man, and still does loads of fantastic work for equality all over America, I'd love to go see one of his talks.

I have never really read any autobiographies, so pleaaase recommend me some!

A Book a Week #4

Oh, the places you'll go! by Dr. Seuss 

This week I decided to sway away from the serious, and share with you guys a different kind of favourite book with you all.

This was bought for me by a friend on my 18th (I think?) birthday, so it doesn’t even have any childhood memories stuck with it, and although you wont catch me on train or in a café reading any of Dr. Seuss’ books, I am holding on to this in the hope that one day I can read it with my own children.

You’re all probably very away of who Dr. Seuss is, and I’m sure I don’t need to introduce you to him, or his style of writing and illustration but what I wanted to tell you was why I love him. Apparently over in America (Hi guys!) this book is a popular gift to give to high school graduates, and people off to college, I had no idea! What a great idea! Anyway, the reason I love this little book so much is the realism, even though this is clearly a children’s book with huge monsters, and strange lands (and made up words!) it isn't a super happy everything-goes-right-all-the-time story. Okay, not that I want my children to be jaded, but I want them to know that they have the power to make things good again, and they shouldn't just wait for life, or someone else, to change its course and sort everything out for them. It’s pretty empowering when you think about, maybe I'm reading too much into it?

"Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed. (98¾% guaranteed.)"

I haven’t read very many of his other things actually, I’d love to get my hands on some of the original printings.Whats your favourite Sesuss book?


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Ps. Did you know his surname is actually pronounced ‘Soice’! He realised that Americans (and English speakers) would naturally pounce it ‘Soose’, and stuck with it for its liking to ‘Mother Goose’ (I found that out here.)

Pps. I put together a list of all the books you have recommended me along with the ones I' m planning to read, have a look, and don't forget to recommend me your favourites so I can add them on!


Ppps. No photo of me today, I am sick and awful.

A Book a Week #3

The Catcher In The Rye by J.D.Salinger

I thought I would write a little about a more classic book, that I'm sure a lot of you will have read. It just so happens that its 61 years next week since it was first published! Perfect timing for a quick review. The Catcher in the Rye is another book I picked from my Dads book shelves when I was about 14-15 and never gave him back. From what I can gather it was printed about 1967 too, pretty old. Its quite battered, as you can see.

It's quite a memorable book for me as I bought a copy for my ex whilst we were still together when I was 18, thinking he would relate to the character of Holden and realise that he over reacts dramatically to the slightest things, and that he is distancing himself from everyone who cared about him. I don't think he ever read it, or at least he didn't whilst we were still talking, and that's what made me realise I was better without.

The majority of the novel is set in December of 1949, it is narrated, and surrounds, Holden Caulfield. Holden is an overly cynical, angsty teen, trying his hardest not to grow up and hating almost everyone he encounters. At the start of the book Caulfield is expelled from prep school, and from then on you read through his often childlike ramblings leading back to his family, and little sister. The whole thing is quite ironic as many of these characteristics he is so quick to judge are mirrored in his own manorisms. I really fell in love with Holdens innocence and wished he would stop being so destructive.

I'm really really struggling to describe this to you without going into major depth and writing you a high school essay. The whole thing is only 220 pages, for such a short book there is so much that happens, and it really leaves you thinking, so just go read it, okay!

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I put together a list of all the books you have all recommended me along with the ones I' m planning to read, have a look, and don't forget to recommend me your favourites so I can add them on.

A Book a Week #2

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

I have to admit I haven't read this book in a long time. My Dad used to work at a college when I was younger, and would bring home books all the time. The Wasp Factory is one I picked out from a pile he brought home one day, and was probably the first 'adult' book I read cover to cover and really enjoyed. (I have to admit too, the only reason I picked it up is it had the words 'gothic horror' on the front)

I partly love this book because of the memories it reminds me of from when I was in high school, and partly because the story is SO bizaar. The book is written from the point of view of Frank, a twisted seventeen year old. As the story unfolds you're exposed to glimpses of his traumatic childhood where, on separate occasions, he has murdered three children. You're also introduced to Eric, Franks older brother who has escaped from the an insane asylum and is on the run, but slowly making his way back to the island Frank shares with his father. Its a short book and very easy to get in to, you have no idea whats going to happen next.

Iain Banks has some other amazing books too, and was all I read for a while. You should look them up.

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To everyone that commented on A Book a Week #1, thank you!! I'm impressed how many books you guys listed that I haven't even heard of, I've added them all onto my wish list, and also ordered one or two (I love you Amazon). I'm currently half way through two books (Hollywood- Bukowski, and We need to talk about Kevin- Shriver), but as soon as I'm done I can start on your recommendations, so please keep them coming!


What are you reading at the moment?

A book a week #1

I am trying to put together a list of things I want to achieve before I turn 25. One that quickly made it onto my rough list was 'Read more' and just as quickly as I wrote it down I scribbled it out again, because its something I want to do, always.

The problem is I'm quite narrow-genred when it comes to books, if it isn't about a alcoholic misogynistic, or contain multiple vivid brutal murders, I'm generally not interested...

Sooooooo I thought it would be a good idea do to a weekly book for you guys, where I recommend something I have read in the past, or I am reading, with the idea being you guys leave me a comment and recommend me your favourites too!

So here is my first one, one of my all time favourites;

The Beach by Alex Garland

The Beach is the story of Richard, a traveler looking for adventure, and stumbling across a map that promises to lead him to a utopian eden. The book is a captivating read, where you end up there living on the beach, you become involved in the insanity. It's so fast pace you'll find it difficult to put down, and by the end you'll be wishing it went on forever.


The film probably means the majority of you know the basic story line, but don't let it put you off getting a copy. As with all book based movies major parts of the story line are left out and replaced with soppy romantic ...well, crap! The ending is one part that is completely different to the film, and the ending WOWA!

Whats your favourite book?