Novelicious.com | The Women's Fiction Blog for Readers and Writers

Five Bookish Bags

Handbags aren't just for dancing around, posing with or for holding the detritus of your life, they can also make a statement about your love of all things literary. I've picked five bookish bags for your delight and delectation... Shall we begin?

1. Rather than using old books (the designer says she couldn’t bear the thought of ripping the pages from a book), these clutch purses use cotton fabric that has been printed with a book design. Handmade in Italy, the bags come in several different varieties including The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Picture of Dorian Gray. The purses have pretty linings, metal corners and a secure zip fastening. The Black Queen Bee book purse is £52.75 from Etsy. 

2. If words like 'luxury' and 'designer' float your boat, then you may prefer Kate Spade's take on the book clutch purse. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens hides 12 credit card slots and a zip-pocket. Also available in a (pale pink) Emma variety, the bag features 14 carat gold hardware and a $325 price tag.

My Book Deal Moment by Victoria Fox

Relief. That was the overriding feeling when my agent called and told me we had an offer for my first book Hollywood Sinners. That makes it sound like I expected the deal, like I thought it should have happened, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. We’d been on submission for months. Eleven publishers had turned the book away. I’d quit my job in the middle of a recession to pursue a dream that was becoming wobblier by the day. I’m a hard person to shake when I set my mind on something, but that was a character-defining moment. Rejection is hard to take. But the relief – ah, the relief… It almost made it worth it.

It’s funny how things work out. Sometimes I wonder if I’d bagged the Holy Grail of an auction, a flurry of publishers battling to buy my book, it would have tasted quite so sweet. My book deal moment was very quiet, very grateful and despite my excitement very grounded. I understood what a tough business it was, and how close I’d come to losing out. I felt incredibly lucky. Not a day passes when I don’t remind myself of that.

Novelicious Goes To...The BBC's Book At Beachtime Recording of Sophie Kinsella's Wedding Night

For many fans of Sophie Kinsella's work, it's hard to imagine what could make her books even more enjoyable. Thanks to one of the lovely teams at the BBC, we may have found one. Kinsella's new book, Wedding Night, has been abridged for radio as part of the Book at Beachtime series for BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Novelicious was fortunate enough to sit in on some of the recording and see how these shows are put together. As fans of the book will already know, there are two perspectives to consider in Wedding Night: sisters Lottie and Fliss. We were there to hear Fliss's side of the story, as read by the multitalented Sarah Alexander (Smack the Pony, Green Wing), who brought both the emotion and hilarity, so often found in Kinsella's books, to the recording.

There's a lot to consider with this kind of recording. How do you make internal monologue sound like internal monologue, not speech, when the listener cannot see the punctuation? How do you add character to an outlandish Greek hotel owner without hamming up the accent to the point of farce? More importantly, how do you pronounce some of the Greek words? For the producer, the issue is often whether or not to correct the actor when mistakes are made (as they inevitably are) or let them continue and go over the mistakes afterwards. Once the actor is in mid-flow, it can be massively counter-productive to cut them off.

Win! A copy of Oh Dear Silvia by Dawn French to give away!

In this week's competition we've got a brand new copy of Dawn French's new book, Oh Dear Silvia, up for grabs.

Everyone knows the real Silvia, don't they?

Review – Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop by Abby Clements

Reviewed by Cressida McLaughlin

Anna is happy to finally be moving into a new flat with her partner Jon, and starting an exciting new promotion. Imogen, Anna’s sister, is blissfully happy in Thailand, putting together an underwater photo project and spending time with her American boyfriend Luca. She doesn’t have any desire to return to Brighton. But then Anna and Imogen’s granny, Vivien, dies, and Imogen returns to England. The sisters have to face up to their grief over losing a family member they were close to, and also the legacy Vivien has left them – her Brighton Arches ice cream shop.

They are thrust into an unfamiliar world of decorating, ordering supplies and making ice cream, and there are inevitably problems along the way: enticing new customers in to the shop during a wet and windy spring, building relationships with the other business owners in the Arches, and dealing with a disgruntled former employee who thought her job at the ice cream parlour would continue after Vivien’s death. They also have their own personal struggles. Jon is increasingly distant, and is reluctant to support Anna’s new passion and, while Imogen enjoys spending time with her family, she is desperate to return to Thailand and finish her underwater photography project.

Review – The Story of Before by Susan Stairs

Reviewed by Jennifer Joyce

Rose Lamb has always wanted to move out of the house her husband , Mick, was born in to somewhere more modern and she finally convinces him to move while pregnant with their fourth child. The family – Mick, Rose and their children, Mel, Sandra and Ruth – move to Hillcourt Rise, the seemingly perfect place to raise their children. The estate was built ten years ago around ‘the green’ where the children can play together and still be seen from their houses.

The family have been living at Hillcourt Rise for eighteen months when the older siblings gather by the window to watch the falling snow cover the estate on New Year’s Eve. Ruth has a feeling something bad will happen to the family during the next year and she tells her brother and sister her prediction.

The Story of Before starts off as quite a gentle story, chronicling the move to Hillcourt Rise and the summer they spend on the green with the other children on the estate. Although the book is set in the 1970s, a little before my own childhood, I found it fun and nostalgic and I loved the dynamic between the Lamb family. Mel and Sandra are in a continual battle while Ruth is the ‘good one’ who doesn’t really get involved in the arguments. She can be quite withdrawn and doesn’t make friends as easily as her brother and sister, but she doesn’t seem to mind and is more at home with her own company or sitting in her neighbour’s kitchen having a chat over macaroons. Ruth narrates the book and I found her young observations to be amusing and thought her father, Mick, was very comical without coming across as cartoonish.

Review – Monsoon Memories by Renita D’Silva

Reviewed by Kate Appleton

After being exiled from her family in India for eleven years Shirin is plagued by memories of her past and the darkness that forced her and her husband to London. Meanwhile in Bangalore, Reena, the daughter of Shirin’s brother, discovers an old crumpled photo of her father, aunt and a mystery third girl. With thoughts of Nancy Drew in her head she embarks on a seemingly harmless detective hunt to find out who this woman is and instead unknowingly unravels a dark and disturbing family secret.

The structure of the novel is a dual narrative coming from the view points of both Shirin and Reena. This was a very effective style especially with the transitions between the past and present and the build up to the shocking revelations that are integral to the story. However, some aspects of Reena’s voice is a little irritating, but consistent with the style of being a detective, with a summary coming at the end of each of her chapters. Although, the two stories converge into one, I preferred reading Shirin’s story as her life was the main focus and it was her that as a reader you learn to care a lot about.

I found it extremely interesting to learn more about the Indian culture and the social demands especially in regards to what is expected of women. The theme of pride and status is very important to Shrina’s storyline and, for me, it was at times a shocking insight into different familial relationships. In addition, the details surrounding arranged marriages and the so-called CV, which is sent out to prospective suitors, were as surprising as they were illuminating in particular into the Christian culture in India. Another aspect of the book I loved was the dominant theme of food and the centrality of cooking within the family, to be honest it made me hungry just reading the story.

Review – The Shadow Year by Hannah Richell

Reviewed by Cesca Major

I'm celebrating emerging from review retirement with a whacking great ten out of ten for Hannah Richell's fabulous second novel 'The Shadow Year'. For those who follow me on Twitter this will come as no surprise - I've been banging on about it since I turned the last page. It is simply everything a book should be - it's a fantastic page-turner with dual story lines that impact on each other. The description is rich but doesn't slow the pace, the characters are multi-faceted, flawed and believable.

It is 1980 and a group of students find themselves escaping university on a hot, humid day and heading out to a hidden cottage by a lake. As they enjoy a magical day swimming and exploring an idea emerges, they should live for a year relying only on nature and the bare necessities. The plan develops and a month later the group find themselves moving in, fixing up the house, keeping their presence a secret and watching the changing seasons from their own little hideaway. Then the mood grows darker and the plan doesn't seem quite so idyllic...

30 years later Lila is recovering from a terrible accident. When a mysterious parcel arrives containing a large iron key, the deeds to the house and no note she sets about discovering just what the door unlocks. She finds herself in the cottage by the lake and starts a renovation project, focusing all her energies on restoring the cottage and blocking out her troubles. But it seems the house contains many secrets. A faded picture of six people on the bathroom wall, a bullet hole in the ceiling, the feeling that someone is watching. Lila starts to uncover the truth from all those years ago...

Novelicious Chats To... Isabelle Grey

Isabelle Grey is an author and screen writer and her new novel, The Bad Mother, is out now. Here's our review.  Isabelle has answered a few questions for our Novelicious readers.

Can you tell us a little about your average writing day? 

I prefer to sit down at my desk and get started before my brain is fully awake. Maybe it’s to do with ‘left brain/right brain’, but I find that if I pick up where I left off the day before without very much conscious thought about how or where I ‘ought’ to be going next, it all flows much better. On the same principle, if I get stuck, I go and do some ironing while listening to the radio, and it’s astonishing how often I hear some snippet that sparks just the idea I need! If I run out of steam then I do all the other stuff on my desk that needs attention, and eventually go and stir and chop in the kitchen.

When you are writing, do you use any celebrities or people you know as inspiration? 

No, my characters have to be able to run free! However, I do take notes from newspaper and magazine articles or TV documentaries. And I listen in to the conversations of strangers on public transport. As a screenwriter I like to catch the rhythm and humour in how people speak, especially if I’m writing about a specific area of work, when I try to talk to someone who actually does the job. Work jokes are always revealing, especially in the more macabre professions!

What is your favourite Women’s Fiction book of all time and why?

Oh, impossible to answer! Jane Austen, of course. Pride and Prejudice and Emma are peerless, and I love the poignancy of Persuasion. I also love Edith Wharton, Edna O’Brien’s first novels, Daphne du Maurier, and a special, if rather sad, favourite, The Rector’s Daughter by F.M. Mayor.

What is your writing process? Do you plan first or dive in? How many drafts do you do?

I plan quite carefully, but then feel absolutely free to abandon the plan if it isn’t working or a better route presents itself. I stop and take stock about a third of the way in, re-shape the story if necessary, and then keep going. The third draft is usually pretty much there, and it’s my favourite bit of the process, when I begin to feel like I know what I’m dealing with.

What was your journey to being a published author?

I always wanted to write, and became a freelance journalist soon after leaving university. I also wrote several non-fiction books before starting to write television drama nearly thirty years ago. I’ve come to fiction relatively late.

Novelicious Chats To...Kim Izzo

Kim Izzo is the author of The Jane Austen Marriage Manual. Her first novel, My Life in Black and White, is available now.

Can you tell us a little about your average writing day?

I have a full-time job as a magazine editor so my average writing day for my novels is approximately one hour to 90-minutes before work. I’m too exhausted by the time evening rolls around to write, plus I can’t stand looking at a computer by then. Sunday is my all-day writing day. If I could write full-time, or what I’ve done when I’ve taken a short leave of absence, is start writing around 7:30am or and finish around 2pm.

When you are writing, do you use any famous people or people you know as inspiration?

I often think of my books like a film so I will sometimes envision a specific actor in the role so I can “hear” my characters speak.

What is your favourite Women’s Fiction book of all time and why?

Pride & Prejudice. Need I say more? But you probably want me to so here goes: Austen’s prose is simple and beautiful and her characters are infinitely relatable no matter where you’re from and the story is romantic and timeless.

Review – A Night on the Orient Express by Veronica Henry

Reviewed by Kay Brooks

The famous Orient Express offers mystery and romance; it is the trip of a lifetime and it is destined to live up to its reputation for the group of passengers about to board. Each has their own story to tell and a reason for being there. As the train travels from London to Venice, there will be revelations, drama and unforeseen gestures of love in all its forms; a dedication to a deceased friend, a father’s support for his daughter and love that has withstood the test of time.

At first sight I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover that invites the reader to come aboard the Orient Express. The title alone is intriguing but combined with the glorious background, the novel is visually irresistible. The novel promises an exotic setting where anything could happen. The prologue is a wonderfully evocative description that draws the reader in to the exquisitely luxurious and famous train.

At the beginning of the novel there are many different characters that are introduced and this was confusing for a while – there were times when I needed to flick back to make sure that I was imagining the correct character. After a while though, each one takes up their own unique space in the storyline. My favourite characters were Adele Russell and Jack Molloy whose turbulent relationship was so fascinating and intoxicating that I could feel the heat of their passion in the words on the page. Their story, like others featured in the novel, flicks back and forth in time, revealing more about their histories and futures gradually.

Review – Grace Grows by Shelle Sumners

Reviewed by Kelly Allen

Grace is a very sensible young woman. Her life is meticulously organised with no room for error. She lives with Steven, a responsible and dependable guy who fits into her life plan accordingly. Her job as an editor, working on educational text books, is driving her to breaking point. Then she meets Tyler Wilkie.

From this point onwards, her life is no longer the systematic routine she is used to; he is utter chaos and she likes it. As Tyler works his way up to stardom using his amazing voice and musical skills, Grace is torn between her impending marriage to Steven and her growing love for Tyler. Who will she choose, and more importantly why?

This book is really easy to read; the characters are all likeable and the story builds to an unexpected conclusion. I really love Tyler Wilkie as the main male character – he is such a laid back yet deceptively deep character and it is easy to imagine him thanks to the clear and crisp descriptions in the book. Grace is interestingly uptight with regards to her life but I began to find her a tad bland part way through the book. I gathered she was tiny, yet I felt no other strong sense of image or appearance. Also, her ‘quirky’ need for order, timing and ‘big green’ (her all-round-reliable-bag) annoyed me slightly, but luckily she began to lighten up later on in the book and this gave her new appeal.

Lucy Diamond’s Top Five Writing Tips

1. Write for yourself. Don’t get hung up on current publishing trends or what you feel you should be writing. Just tell the story that appeals most to you, the one you’ve always wanted to read.

2. Read your characters’ dialogue out loud. Does it sound realistic? Would anyone actually say that? Muttering to yourself at your desk is definitely part of the job.

3. Don’t let anyone else see your work until a) it’s as good as you can possibly make it, and b) you’re ready. Getting feedback is terrifying so make sure you choose wisely who you ask to read it and try not to flounce off in a huff if someone dares criticise your brilliant art. Sadly, taking it on the chin is also part of the job.

4. Cut out distractions, turn off the internet, use a timer if you have to and force yourself to write: it’s the only way you’ll finish anything. The ‘Pomodoro’ app works well at really focussing you for short bursts of time – very useful if you’d rather be gossiping on Twitter.

5. Be kind to yourself. It’s hard work and you deserve a treat now and then. Promise yourself a reward when you’ve finished the first draft (or the next chapter if you’re struggling). Above all, don’t give up. You can do it!

Novelicious Chats To...Wendy Wax

Wendy Wax's newest book, While We Were Watching Downton Abbey, was released last month. She is the author of nine novels, and has been published in ten countries.

Can you tell us a little about your average writing day?

I first began writing fiction while at home with a two year old and a newborn – a decision I chalk up to lack of sleep and post-pregnancy hormones. I had no idea what I was doing and the little writing time I had took place while they were napping.

As they got older I learned to sit down as soon as they left for school and I would write until they came home because the afternoons were filled with afterschool activities, homework, dinner, etc. By the time I got them in bed I was far too brain dead to write a word.

Nine novels later my sons are in college and I’m writing full time. As Claire Walker, a writer who’s one of the characters drawn into weekly Downton Abbey viewing parties in her building discovers, writing time is like closet space – the more you have the less efficiently you use it.  I can and do spend most of every day writing, but when things aren’t flowing I’m online checking email, Facebook and/or Twitter and make far more trips to the refrigerator than I should.  I’m fairly certain that if I lived in a stately home like Highclere Castle / Downton Abbey I’d be thinner because the kitchen would be so much farther from my office.

As Claire Walker observes as she battles writer’s block, “You could force a writer’s butt into a chair, but you couldn’t make her think.”