TOP 5 Books for March 2009
- Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
It’s been said that if America had a Jane Austin, then it would be Wharton ‐ which basically comes down to the social hypocrisy Wharton highlights and didactically campaigns against in this classic! In this novel you’re immediately absorbed in early twentieth century Massachusetts where the living is hard and the farm job satisfaction peaks at about zero. Throw in a loveless marriage, a pretty young female cousin (read third wheel in what becomes a devastating love triangle) and you’re all set for a literary boiling pot that rings true in many ways ‐ to this very day. A classic and a stupidly affordable one at that.
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is published by Wordsworth (paperback; £1.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
- England Travel Guide from Lonely Planet
You can make up your own enlightened minds about this one by checking out the massive free chunk of the book in this month’s Travel Extract ‐ courtesy of the lovely people at Lonely Planet. If however you want a thirty second summary then you came to the right place. The two sections that really bounce out of this title are the England introductions and the London overview. In these particular sections of this fifth edition the recent updates include the changing face of England in the current economic climate, the back to the land migration of city workers who now aspire to be organic farmers and the general, overall quirky‐ness of the mish mashed English population. It’s what makes us great. Don’t question it. Just read it and smile.
England Travel Guide from Lonely Planet is published by Lonely Planet (paperback; £15.99). It is also available through lonelyplanet.co.uk and all good booksellers.
- The Rough Guide to Men’s Health by Lloyd Bradley
This is one for the boys ‐ or one for the girls who are worried about the boys and what they put their bodies through. The lead in marketing is, as you’d expect it be, centred around getting the generic Men’s Health cover shot six pack, performing better in the bedroom and losing that beer belly. Sweeping assumptions about the male demographic aside, when you get into this one it’s near impossible not be enthralled. The insight into the hunter‐gatherer male work psyche and the explanation for the Monday morning blues are only snippets of the fascinating facts and explanations contained within these pages. Furthermore did you know that taking a serotonin supplement is an effective remedy against Jet Lag? Great stuff.
The Rough Guide to Men’s Health by Lloyd Bradley is published by Rough Guides (paperback; £13.99). It is also available through roughguides.com and all good booksellers.
- ASBO Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Asbosen
In a time of stress, cut backs and belt tightening, ASBO Fairy Tales is exactly the kind of reality based humour you need to distract you. Hansel is now paired up with Courtney (love), bread crumbs have given way to Wotsits (cheesy puffs) and the Crack Piper of Camden has been charged with sending London’s rats packing. In an international context an ASBO is an Anti Social Behaviour Order ‐ issued to Brits who are guilty of disturbing the peace, but not quite worthy of jail. Hence this makes Jack and the Weed‐stalk, Little Red Riding Hoodie and Bling‐erella all the more hilarious. It’s quick to get through and makes for a great gift too.
ASBO Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Asbosen is published by Michael O'Mara Books (hardback; £10). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
- Random Acts of Kindness by Danny Wallace
Danny Wallace is something of a London institution ‐ a regular columnist, author and a man’s man ‐ marketing dream. He’s also a pretty good writer and the contents of this title might help brighten up your day to day grind, and bring a little joy to those lucky enough to encounter your daily routine too! The random act idea kicked off in the previous book ‐ Join Me, which instructed fans to complete a random act of kindness every Friday. Based on the success of this life brightening phenomenon came this title, offering encouragement and suggestions about how to make someone else’s day shine. Top tips for supporters ‐ now dubbed the good Karma army ‐ include dog patting, donating balloons to police on the beat and dog patting. It truly is random but heart cockle warming too.
Random Acts of Kindness by Danny Wallace is published by Ebury Press (paperback; £4.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
‐ Rob Savage
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