Top 5 Books for October 2008
- Do Worms Have Willies by Sarah Herman and Lucy York
The title just about sums up the overall inquisitiveness and appeal of this book. It’s a collection of answers to the bizarre questions that you may feel to embarrassed to ask. Case in point is the subject of worm genitals, but there are some other top notch subjects addressed in a completely unadulterated way. These include the population of a city (well town) that actually never sleeps and the rather gory origins of popcorn. Did you know that this cinema snack actually dates back to the days when films were shown in barns and an accidental fire that set off the grain store below, trapping the doomed film goers in an inferno. Some actually tried to eat their way out and at the funeral the snack served up, rather insensitively, was popcorn. It’s a tough one to put down.
Do Worms Have Willies by Sarah Herman and Lucy York is published by Summersdale (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.. - The Lonely Planet Story – Once While Travelling by Tony and Maureen Wheeler
Are you sitting comfortably? Then we shall begin. Lonely Planet was born in 1973 when Mr and Mrs Wheeler travelled through Asia on the cheap and published a book about their experience for the benefit of others. Said book was entitled Across Asia on the Cheap and its literary debut set into motion a publishing success story of astronomical proportions. I was lucky enough to see Mr Wheeler promote this book from the Monkey enclosure at London Zoo. From this encounter it was easy to see the part that his personal, hands on, try anything approach – played in the past thirty five years of travel writing success. A big highlight of this reflection includes Tony’s point of view in Chapter 14 – The BBC and Beyond. He has faith in the future of the humble guide book – refreshing in comparison to the cynicism of a certain Mr Theroux.
The Lonely Planet Story – Once While Travelling by Tony and Maureen Wheeler is published by Crimson (paperback; £9.99). It is also available through crimsonpublishing.co.uk and all good booksellers. - A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
This is Hosseini’s follow up to a book that you might have heard of called The Kite Runner. A Thousand Splendid Suns however is differentiated from its predecessor by an altogether different family focus - two generations trying to exist and prosper in a climate of constant change. This is Afghanistan’s turbulent history – from the Soviet occupation, to the mess left behind when they withdrew and the Taliban took over. Also included are the huge, ineludable repercussions of September 11. The tragedy of this tale centres around how there is simply no way to extricate everyday life from everyday misery. Family bonds are pushed beyond all normal limits - making this a read that you won’t want to put down.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is published by Crimson (paperback; £9.99). It is also available through crimsonpublishing.co.uk and all good booksellers. - Flightless by Lonely Planet
This new title from Lonely Planet just happens to feature a couple of contributions from an author already mentioned in slot number two. Here’s a clue – Lonely Planet was his brain child. Another contributor to this anthology of aeroplane deprived journeys is former E-zine interview-ee, Peter Moore who condenses his Vespa adventures across Italy into eight rather entertaining pages. In total it’s twenty six short stories, publicised as an exploration of the old adage - that getting there is really half the fun. Of course it is. The best tale by far is James Morrison’s Zanzibar recollection on page 229. It’s a good book for short bursts – ideal for a daily, metro hopping commute.
Flightless by Lonely Planet is published by Lonely Planet (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through lonelyplanet.co.uk and all good booksellers. - A Push and a Shove by Christopher Kelly
This writing style and the style full stop - reminded me a lot of Nick Alexander’s efforts in 50 Reasons to Say Goodbye. The storyline was also reminiscent of Augusten Boroughs Running With Scissors, but this is the part where I stop comparing and emphasise individual merits. It’s a non awkward exploration of confused identities that too often descends from literary promise into sleazy novel trash. Thankfully A Push and a Shove dodges this fate. Ben is your central attachment to the storyline and he’s the type - content to simply exist in life, living the lie of contentment and not challenging anything when he’s challenged. It all however kicks off when his teaching career veers dangerously close to his own school life of bullying and this time around, Ben is no push over. The confrontation of his former tormentor develops into the clarification of confused destinies. Good stuff.
A Push and a Shove by Christopher Kelly is published by Alyson Publications Inc (paperback; £8.99). It is also available through crimsonpublishing.co.uk and all good booksellers.
- Rob Savage
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