' A Guide to the Birds of East Africa' by Nicholas Drayson

The story... Mr Malik is an honourable and reserved widower - middle aged with a combover that isn't fooling anyone. Nobody knows that for three years he has been in love with Rose, the leader of the East African Ornithological Society Tuesday morning bird walk.

Mr Malik is working up the courage to invite the object of his affections to the annual Nairobi Hunt Ball. The untimely arrival of the wealthy Harry Kahn sees a competition ensuing to see who can identify the most species of birds within a week - for the privilege of asking Rose to the ball.


With disposable wealth on his side, Harry Khan has no trouble hiring boats, light aircraft and guides to take him to Kenya's choicest bird watching spots. And yet Mr Malik isn't so easily defeated - despite having his car and wallet stolen - he had a few unorthodox methods of his own!

My verdict... I absolutely tore through this book in one day. I loved it! So light and amusing, with spectacular knowledge on birds. It made me want to visit Nairobi one day - especially to see Kakamega Forest!! Parts of the story reminded me of the Owen Wilson/ Jack Black movie 'The Big Year.'

HOLLYWOOD BLONDES - Golden Girls of the Silver Screen

After going to see the Grace Kelly exhibition in Bendigo, I was inspired to find out more about Hollywood's silver screen era.


Hollywood Blondes: Golden Girls of the Silver Screen explores the lives and careers of Tinseltown's most memorable blonde bombshells. It was a heartfelt eye opener into the lives of these stars which are now immortalised in the silver screen. Many of them led tragic lives, which had they been movie stars today, would have turned out totally different.


Twenty-two classic actresses are profiled including
* Marilyn Monroe
* Jean Harlow
* Carole Landis
* Betty Grable
* Marie McDonald,
* Thelma Todd
* Lana Turner
* Jayne Mansfield
* Barbara Payton
* Veronica Lake
* Grace Kelly
* Alice Faye
* Mae West
* Carole Lombard




There are more than one hundred rare photographs featured throughout the book, lending it a real-life feel, as opposed to just posed photographs. One of the things I loved most about this book was the snippets of each actresses life - given in 5-10 pages. There were no boring bits!

Overall, an amazing insight into the lives and careers of some of women's pioneers in screen acting!

'The Second Wife,' by Elizabeth

Sequel to 'Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman.'

ABOUT THE BOOK: Minty used to be the irresistable mistress. She even managed to achieve the elusive title of second wife! Having finally found the comfort and stability that she once craved, Minty finds that the grass isn't greener on her new side of the fence. Her family life has brought her more disappointment than she cares to admit, and she is constantly fighting the ghost of the 'first wife,' her ex-best friend Rosemary.

Despite Minty's best efforts at avoiding Rosemary, her husband Nathan isn't doing the same. When Minty finds out that Nathan has a friendship with Rosemary behind her back, things take a turn for the worse.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Elizabeth spent her childhood moving home every three years - including living for brief periods in Egypt and Nigeria before moving to Guildford, York and Edinburgh. Elizabeth Buchan obtained a double degree in English and History at the University of Kent at Canterbury. She began her career as a blurb writer for Penguin Books

OTHER NOVELS BY AUTHOR:

 Daughters of the Storm Light of the Moon Consider the Lily

Perfect Love

Against Her Nature

Secrets of the Heart

The Good Wife

That Certain Age

Separate Beds

Daughters

On the road frequently? Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time! View the clip below for a sneak preview of the audiobook 'Separate Beds.'

RECOMMENDATION:Admittedly, I didn't read the prequel 'Revenge of the Middle-aged Woman,' which I think was the storyline I was expecting when I first picked up the book. Being an empathetic person, I took the storyline a little to heart and found it depressing. It didn't follow the path I thought it would take at all, which, being a chick-lit lover, was a little disappointing. However, if you don't like the stereotypical story and don't mind a bit of a twist to your chick-lit, then this would be a great book for you!

'Valley of the Dolls,' Jacqueline Susann

In a nutshell, 'Valley of the Dolls' is a cult classic that follows the lives and intertwining friendships of three women living in old Hollywood from 1945-1965.

• Anne, the pretty New England lady, who works as a secretary for a theatrical lawyer and becomes the famous face for a cosmetic line - and whose love life has many letdowns.

• Jennifer is the busty showgirl, who starts her career in films, albeit nudie films!

• vaudeville star Neely O'Hara becomes a famous singing sensation, only to fall into a downward spiral of drinking and drugs. She thinks nothing of popping 6 'dolls' a day - in other words, pills. And Neely certainly isn't the only character who falls under the spell of the 'dolls....'

Abortion, cancer, drug addiction, lesbian affairs, suicide and cosmetic surgery - the book is riddled with scandal and gossip. Over the course of twenty years, the story tells of the three women reaching their height of fame, and of their ultimate self destruction.

A MUST READ for any lovers of Hollywood's Broadway and silver screen era, for those who love a trashy gossip read - yet one that is poignant and all too real at times. 

A year after the novel was released, an American film based on the book was released... see below:

'Game Over' by Adele Parks

My favourite chick lit author!


The book - heroine Cas has shut her heart to the idea of love, ever since her father walked out on her and her mother when Cas was young. Instead, Cas enjoys a string of meaningless flings, and as soon as it looks like a guy is getting serious, he's out on the curb. The iron-hearted tv producer is quite content to manipulate the love lives of others, especially if it means making a hit of her new TV show - Sex With An Ex.
Problems arise when Cas falls for one of the potential show candidates, and he is unwilling to co-operate with her - a problem that Cas is unfamiliar with when it comes to men!

THE VERDICT? - Not my favourite Adele Parks novel, but that said, definitely still a fun read with a bit of depth. I know the show Cas produced was called Sex With An Ex, but at times I felt her descriptive writing was crass and a tad too erotica/Mills&Boon. Not the type of writing I have previously come to associate with Parks. Overlooking that however, I found an easy and entertaining read, if somewhat predictable.


Hear Adele Parks talk about her book Game Over and where she got her inspiration for the novel:

Booky Wook 2 - Russell Brand

'So it was that I entered the hallowed portals of A-list celebrity stardom. And yes, at first it was a delight to find myself surrounded by every little soap star minx who was happy to push her inflatable bosoms into my face in exchange for a kiss and tell in the tabloids. But then it became a chore, finding my life reduced to a cartoon narrative by a mindless media. Especially after I had gone to such lengths to backcomb my hair, pour myself into tight leather trousers and smear on my mascara before I went out each day!' - R Brand, Booky Wook 2.

So I have blogged already about 'My Booky Wook' - and acknowledge that by no means is it chick lit! And yet I was so compelled by the first book that I simply had to read its' follow-up novel. I was NOT disappointed!

While 'My Booky Wook' followed Brand's spiral downward courtesy of drugs, alcohol and sex addiction - and his journey to recovery - 'Booky Wook 2' follows his rise to fame. Already having some level of fame due to his stand up comedy, hosting a 'Big Brother' show, and various other gigs, this book tells of the escalation of Russell Brand's star.


You wouldn't think someone whose system used to be riddled with drugs and alcohol could have such a way with words - but Brand does. The way that Brand goes into detail about events such as his time filming 'Arthur' with Helen Mirren makes you realise his humanity, and you really feel as if you know him.

I found it sad how the book is dedicated to Brands' now ex-wife Katy Perry with the words 'you are my future.' The final chapter tells the gorgeous story of how they first really met and connected, and leaves the book on a sunny, romantic note. If only I didn't know, whilst reading it, that they are now getting a divorce.