Always judge a book by its cover

Lunchtime today was spent browsing books in Waterstones.

I've been getting through books like a hot knife through butter having recently enjoyed Louise Wener's The Half Life of Stars (she was the lead singer with Sleeper, now a novellist) and Scarlett Thomas's Seaside. Both of those female writers I highly recommend.

And so I'm browsing and judging books by their covers, as you do. And the ones I put back on the shelves had one of more of these things on the front cover - a champagne bottle, a wine glass, a stiletto, or the cover sparkled or was pink.

To sum up then - if it looks like it might be chick-lit, it goes back on the shelf.

Summer Jollies 2008

Back from a wonderful holiday in Portugal where I devoured the following books and heartily recommend them all.

Bare Faced Lies and Boogie Woogie Boasts by Jools Holland
A great autobiography of one of the nicest men in the music biz. There wasn't enough scandal or gossip, though. 8/10.

Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin
If you were in Portugal and saw a lady of a certain age in tears as she turned the last page of this book, that was me. A fantastic read. 10/10

The Importance of Music to Girls by Lavinia Greenlaw
An autobiography of an ordinary girl written through the music soundtrack to her life. Interesting but not great with a cover that promised more than the book delivered. 7/10

What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn
A fantastic first novel and well deserved winner of the Costa award. Highly recommended even if it did take two days and a nightmare to get over it. 9/10

45 by Bill Drummond
What's not to enjoy in the autobiography of the lead singer of the KLF and the guy who burned a million quid? A wonderful read with more gossip than Jools Holland dished out in his book. 9/10

Spook Country by William Gibson
The godfather of cyberpunk does it again. His female heroines are the best. A cracking story, loved it to bits. "A masterpiece" said the Guardian review. I agree. 9.5/10

Worldwide Adventures in Love by Louise Wener
The author was the lead singer with Sleeper and she's now a cracking novellist. Her finest to date, it had me in bits at the end. 9/10

The Paradise Trail by Duncan Campbell
The author is a Guardian journalist and this is his first novel. I started reading this story about hippies, journalists and murder on the plane journey home and so far, so very good indeed. Looks set to be at least 8.5/10.