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Archive
Behind-The-Books Blog
Articles by Lara
What a coup!
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Apparently Jedward’s autobiography has been signed by John Blake. Remember them? The jumpy twins who got their hair styling tips from There’s Something About Mary?
To the top of my must-read list it goes…
Lara Crisp, Managing Editor
How to Survive a Zombie Apolcalypse at the Fringe
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is in full swing at the moment and our very own professional zombologist, Dr Dale, is there with his show (the brand new seminar) How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse RELOADED.
I’ve seen the show and thought it was hilarious! But just so you know I’m not biased, this is what [...]
Did you know…?
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
…when not scribbling away on her latest Miss Dido Kent mystery, our author Anna Dean works as a guide showing visitors around William Wordsworth’s house, Dove Cottage? And it looks like it’s going to be a busy summer in Grasmere: poetry workshops, free talks (focusing on the Lake District as seen through the eyes of [...]
Cathy Lamb and Chocolate-eyed Labs
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
I’ve been chatting on email to our author Cathy Lamb, whose next book Julia’s Chocolates will be available soon. Cathy lives over in the US and was telling me about her recent stay on the Kindness Ranch where her sister is a ranch manager. She described the place so beautifully and sounded like she had [...]
Wedding Fever
Friday, July 16th, 2010
It’s that time of year when there seems to be a wedding every second weekend and I find myself regularly oohing and aahing over pictures weeks later.
But when a friend of mine sent me her wedding photos recently, I was snapped out of white dress ennui. Up and coming photographer, Paul de Vries, is making [...]
A Summer Scoop
Monday, July 5th, 2010
There is never a dull summer evening in London. Living on an otherwise rainy island makes one so appreciative of the rare balmy nights, that there is no chance of spending it cooped up indoors. And there’s no need to spend a fortune either. This past Friday evening saw us taking advantage of a free [...]
Hot Guys Reading Books
Friday, June 25th, 2010
Are brains and beauty mutually exclusive? And are good-looking men who are well read a complete contradiction?
On the search for conclusive evidence to prove this is not the case, this website Hot Guys Reading Books has scaled bookshops, libraries and public transport to get to the bottom of this weighty (and very PC) conundrum…
Enjoy!
Lara Crisp, [...]
Changing Faces
Friday, June 18th, 2010
How people change…
Check this out. Give this familiar-faced darling a guitar and he would have made a respectable frontman for an indie band. Instead, he went into politics.
Lara Crisp, Managing Editor
Kick-ass Literary Girl Power
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
In a world dominated by Katie Price and Amy Winehouse, it’s sometimes difficult to find good role models for young women. Fear not though, because the Brontë sisters are back as you’ve never seen them before!
(For our own gutsy heroines, check out Louise Nightingale in Elizabeth Corley’s books or Charlie Fox in Zoë Sharp’s series)
Lara [...]
Books and Runner Beans
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Proof that you don’t need a sprawling garden or allotment in order to grow your own veg, Foyles bookshop on Charing Cross Road has started its very own ‘Urban Garden’ window. Boasting peas, radishes, lettuce and tomatoes, it’s an inspiration to city dwellers and shows you don’t need acres of space to grow your own. [...]
Die-hard Kubrick fans alert!
Friday, May 28th, 2010
If you’re at a loss about what to do this bank holiday weekend, here’s an idea. The Electric Cinema Theatre on Portobello Road is holding a Stanley Kubrick all-nighter . Starting at 11pm, the event kicks off with Full Metal Jacket, followed by the cult classic A Clockwork Orange. Then there’ll be a break for [...]
Travel tip from me and Muji
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
The summer travel season is coming up and despite the dramas of recent months (recession, strikes, volcanoes, political unrest) no one is cancelling their breaks. If you’re like me and realise just days before you leave that you’re completely unprepared (for the same holiday you booked months beforehand and really did see coming) then Muji [...]
Kings & Rogues at Shakespeare’s Globe
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
With a promising summer on the cards, this may be the year to throw caution to the wind and risk seeing an outdoor performance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. This year’s focus is on Kings and Rogues, kicking off with my favourite, Macbeth, running now until 27th June, and starring Elliot Cowan (pictured).
Click here to view the [...]
Want to read and relax?
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Searching for the perfect gift for someone who has everything? What about a ‘Reading Spa’? At independent publisher Mr B’s Emporium you can be treated to just that - a pampering treatment including:
Coffee/tea & cake
45 minutes book-chat with Mr B discussing your likes and dislikes, being shown the best of what’s new & special gems to [...]
The Fair, Flowers, and Fanahan…
Monday, April 26th, 2010
While hardly reeling from the London Book Fair (half my meetings were with overseas agents and publishers who didn’t make it due to ‘volcanic action’), I’m actually quite glad to be in the office again. I have been sorting through the various catalogues, flyers and whatnot I’d picked up at the fair, when I came [...]
Interactive e-books!
Monday, April 19th, 2010
Interactive e-books here we come! Released just a week ago, the Alice app for iPad by Atomic Antelope has caused quite a stir. See this sneak preview on YouTube:
Using the old artwork from Lewis Carroll’s original, it’s a very attractive looking application. Shaking the screen allows you to interact with the illustrations; my personal favourite [...]
Summer sales begin…
Monday, April 12th, 2010
If your living room needs a new sofa, or you can not live through another summer without an ice-crusher, I have good news for you. There is no need to fight through the crowds and chaos at Ikea, because right now there’s a sale on at Habitat.
My favourite find is this lovely glass jug. Perfect [...]
Henry VIII lives on…
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
I’ve recently watched The Other Boleyn Girl which I absolutely loved. I suspect my enthusiasm may have stemmed from the rather delicious Eric Bana playing the part of Henry VIII. How someone this good looking could possibly have been cast as the king who in actual fact was rather less pleasing to the eye, is [...]
The Jedward craze continues
Monday, March 29th, 2010
It’s coming up to Easter – a time to celebrate new life. Spring time means saying goodbye to the old and embracing the new.
This would be easier if some things weren’t so persistent.
It seems Jedward, the tune-challenged twins from the X Factor, are not only here to stay but they’re branching out into new ventures [...]
Turn your spring cleaning into cash!
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
It’s that time of the year when the daffs are out, the mornings are brighter and the sunshine streaming through the windows convinces you it’s truly spring – and also highlights the need to clean the windows… Yes, it’s Spring Cleaning Time.
Now, I’m a complete hoarder and it takes a lot to convince me that [...]
Currently we are...
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...reading
The Slap , by Christos Tsolkias Lara: An excellent reading group choice as there’s much to discuss. Clever, yes. Would I recommend it? Not so sure. Very interesting subverting of characters but it’s taken me till around the middle of the book to start really getting in to it.
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