The page 99 test

When chosing a book you don't know by reputation you usually use the cover/blurb on the back/first few lines as a guide but apprently this is all entirely redundant and the key to knowing if a book is actually worth committing too is on page 99.

Some guy called Ford Madox Ford (yeh, for once that's not my subbing, his name has "Ford" in it twice) will launch the website page99test.com next month to prove this theory. He's asking authors and would-be authors to upload page 99 of their books and ask for reader feedback.

His theory is that the first few lines or pages of a book are written like a sticky trap to get you hooked but a far better way to judge the strength of the story and the quality of the writing is on exactly page 99.

The book I have beside me now is Lights Out in Wonderland by DBC Pierre and it supports the theory. Page 99 is a spectacular sex scene in an oversized fish tank which is home to a giant octopus. This book might not be the perfect litmus test though. It was as addictive as the cocaine habit of the main character and I think you could open it on any page and want to read through to the end. I'll give the idea more of a thorough work out next time I'm dusting my book shelf. 

Antony and the art works

Next month Antony and the Johnsons will release their new album, Swanlights and as a very special treat there'll be a limited edition version of the album that comes with a magical looking 144-page book featuring paintings, collages, photography, and writing by Antony. 

High fidelity (Folds vs Hornby)

Inside Nick Hornby's book of essays 31 Songs, is a love letter to Ben Folds. Well there's love letters to all 31 of Hornby's biggest musical crushes because that's the theme of the book. 

After reading it Folds got in touch with him and they started a long distance bromance which eventually lead to the release this month of Lonely Avenue, a collaboration between the two; 
Folds on music, Hornby on lyrics.  

It's not out here yet, though you can download the first single, VideoSong (a crazily catchy collaboration with the kids from Pomplamoose) from iTunes now. I really love it.

A thousand words...

Over at Heavy they've created a list of the top 20 worst children's book covers of all time!

Highlights include...

I'm glad my mum stuck to Golden Books and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

What my mum is reading...

My mum retired recently and when she's not creating delicious baked goods, hunting down vintage hi fi with my dad or cataloging his ever-expanding vinyl  collection she's reading. She reads more than any one I know so she's going to be a regular contributor and let you know what she thinks is worth putting on your reading glasses for.

The Veuve (widow) Clicquot by Tilar J Mazzeo

I was given this book as a gift (by my lovely daughter)*.  A fascinating biography which follows the life of the brave young widow Clicquot Ponsardin who ruled over her champagne empire during Napoleonic wars and the French Revolution. In today's terms she would be a highly successful, self made woman figuring high on the BRW rich list. She did however have a little competition from the neighbouring property of Jean-Remy Moet! I wanted to run away to Reims, France after finishing this book, it was luscious.  
Salute (4 Stars)

Anil's Ghost by Michael Oondatje

I read Anil's Ghost for book club, everyone loved it... except me. I really struggled to finish it. I quickly scanned pages moaning and groaning at every turn just wanting it finish. It follows the story of Anil, a forensic anthropologist on a human rights secondment to Sri Lanka to investigate executions. While I did appreciate the narrative, I just didn't enjoy the story or warm to the characters. 2 stars

Feather Man by Rhyll McMaster

Feather Man is the debut novel from acclaimed Australian poet Rhyll McMaster. It follows the story of a young girl growing up in a Brisbane suburb in the 1950's. The girl (her name not revealed till the end of the book) has a promising artistic talent, but its years before she's able to liberate herself from her childhood nightmares at the hands of the neighbour next door (chicken man).  Living in London in the 1970's experiencing deplorable personal setbacks, she finally triumphs, gaining her personal and creative independence, or has she? I've been 'spoilt' reading this beautifully written book, how can I pick up another? I am missing this book already. 5 stars

* I did make some additions to the original copy filed.

Nothing he can't do...

The girl I sit next to at work calls Obama 'Jesus'.  And, you know, he's a pretty versatile and inspiring guy. Just look at this chidlrens book he prepared earlier... 

Thee Big O wrote Of Thee I Sing (inspired by his daughters Sasha and Mailia) before he entered office in 2009 and it will go on sale in November. All the cash raised will be donated to a scholarship fund for the children of fallen and disabled US soldiers.

Models who read good

What really attractive people read when they're back stage at Fashion Week being made even more attractive.

Karlie Kloss likes the Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Alyssa Miller reads Stephen King

Apparently Camila Elves has been working her way through Caligula by Maria Grazia Siliato for two seasons.

Frida Gustavsson reads The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Lily Cole and Jack Kerouac

Luca Gadjus with The BFG by Roald Dahl

Myf Sheppard begins Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

I'm not sure who this is but she's reading White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Twelfth Night By William Shakespeare. I'm thinking this might be a prop rather than actual reading material. It just goes too well with that cute all-over braid.

The Reader: Jo Oakes

The first time I met my future sister-in-law, Jo (who was visiting Australia from the UK), I (very drunkenly) insisted she read Candy by Luke Davies.  I'm still not sure what kind of first impression recommending a book about an extremely graphic descent in to heroin addiction leaves. I'll have to ask her one day. Anyway Jo is the ideal sister in law. Not only do we make a brilliant team when it's necessary to gang up on my brother but she shares my deep passion for drinking wine, terrible reality TV programes and women's magazines. Also, over the past few World Cups, she's taught me everything I know about football and lately this has been proving to be one of my most important skills. These are her three favourite books of all time.

Va' dove ti porta il cuore  (Follow Your Heart) - Susanna Tamaro

I actually saw the film first when I was living in Rome and loved it so much I immediately bought the book.  A bit later I found an English version - which makes it much easier to re-read!  It's a beautifully written story, written as a long letter from an elderly grandma to her beloved but absent granddaughter.  As the story unfolds we gradually learn about the family's past and the relationships between the three strong women (grandmother, daughter and granddaughter).  Written like a diary it's a lovely mixture of everyday details in with the gradual revealing of secrets that the three generations of woman have kept from each other and the consequences of these.  It's a happy-sad book but ultimately I find it really uplifting: it's about being true to yourself, and "following your heart", which seems like a pretty good way to live!

The Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Handed to me as I lazed on Bondi (my copy still has grains of sand in it!) I pretty much read it straight through, and then went back to start again, armed with the 'twist'.  Not wanting to give too much away to those that haven't read it but basically Pi is narrating the story of his life - including the ship wreck that resulted in him spending 227 days lost at sea in a lifeboat, with only a zebra, orang-utan, hyena and Richard Parker the tiger for company....I love that whenever I read it there's a different way to interpret the story: is it survival fiction? Are they really just animals? Or actually people? Or religions? And what does that mean when some of the boat's inhabitants eat each other?!! There's a rumour that Ang Lee of Crouching Tiger and Brokeback Mountain fame is directing a version, due for release 2012...can't wait to see what he does with it!

Finally Little Women!  I read it as a kid and it's still a real comfort read - tucked up in bed ill or on a rainy day.  I'd like to say that it's because its a classic example of 19th century American feminist fiction but mostly it's just because the main character is cool and creative and ahead of her time.  And we share the same name!

Books to avoid

Books and bobs

Ha! Over at Huff Post they've compiled a list of books that nobody's read but everyone says they have. They include The Canterbury Tales, Ulysess, The Satanic Verses and Moby Dick. Full list here 

They've also done a spectacular gallery of the worst memoir covers of all time. 
This one is my favourite...

Great story at the New York Times on Obama becoming the new Oprah when it comes to moving copies of books (of course he's reading Jonathan Franzen's Freedom as well)

and in closing...

Beauty and the books

At L’Internaute magazine they've compiled 25 photos of the most beautiful book stores and libraries in the world. Here are some highlights;  

Cook and Book London

 Voltaire and Rousseau, Glasgow

La Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht 

Shakespeare & Co. in the Latin Quarter of Paris

Public Library, New York

The Long Room, Trinity College, Dublin

The reader: Marc Oakes

Though I didn't specifically ask for it my older brother has kindly sent me his all time favourite books about space battles and dragon slaying...

Druss the Legend by David Gemmell 

Can one man make a difference against a demon led horde of barbarian

savages? Yes he can!

Dune by Frank Herbert

Giant space monsters that bend the fabric of time using mind altering

drugs and a desert planet, where the indigenous natives wipe out an army

of invaders, while riding giant worms. This book has everything!

The Many Coloured Land by Julian May

Exiles from the future go back in time to earth's Pliocene era, where

they discover two ancient warring races, which use the power of the mind

to cause death and destruction. A seminal classic!!

Animal crackers

From time to time there are some lovely perks that come with working in publishing like the free bottles of Midori and the time I met Ita Buttrose but the most stand-out-awesome part is when you get to see an amazing movie before it's officially released or you get your hands on an advance copy of a novel of one of your favourite authors.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is a collection of animal-themed stories from David Sedaris. I flicked straight to the one called "Hello Kitty" which was about a group of animals at an AA meeting, in a prison. Argh, everything he writes deserves to be read immediately. So that's what I'm going to go do right now.