Memoirs of a Fruitcake - Chris Evans

As I've said before I'm not really one for biographies, but Liz lent me the first part of Chris Evans' story and it was brilliant.  By the end I was left wanting to know what happened next - and this is from someone who REALLY doesn't give a stuff about celebrities!

This book, subtitled 'The wilderness years 2000 - 2010' and takes us from the end of the first book when Chris bought Virgin radio, up to recently when his first son, Noah, was born.  In between he doesn't spare his embarrassment much but telling of all the stupid things he has done and the multi-millions of pounds he has gained, spent and lost!

As I think I said in my review of his first book, I didn't like Chris Evans at all during this period of his life, and he fully admits that he was a complete idiot 'lost in showbiz'.   It wasn't until he started to pick his life back up, got back on the radio (Radio 2) and met his new wife, Tash, that things started to get better and I certainly rediscovered what a fantastically entertaining DJ he actually is.

I will never be pleased that he moved from the Drivetime show to the Morning (not because I wanted Terry Wogan to stay, but because I listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and therefore can't listen to Radio 2) - but the book has gone a long way to explaining why and how this happened.

I'd suggest that it's not necessary to know anything about Chris Evans to read this book, but it would certainly help (and reading the first book would help too but isn't necessary), it's an interesting 10 years, I look forward to the next chapter of his life - I think with Tash and Noah it will be a lot quieter and perhaps a bit more sensible (but then again......this is Chris Evans the 'fruitcake').

Lent to be by Liz Jones
19-22nd November 2010

A Book of Silence - Sara Maitland

I'm not sure why I wanted to read this book, I think I must have read a review somewhere... it seems an unlikely choice for me as it's a memoir by a religious feminist!  But when I came up on Green Met I decided to buy it - a bargin as I got the hard back edition.

The other weird thing about this book is the feeling I have that somewhere, sometime I've met the author - or maybe I just think I have... very strange.

Sara Maitland is a novelist who over the last few years seem to have been slowly withdrawing from society in search of silence - silence in which to immerse herself for prayer amongst other things.  This books tells of her journey, including trips to places associated with silence (deserts, woods, hermitages, hillsides and mountains), her reading of books and poetry which discuss silence,  and her gradual realisation that she needs to withdraw from the noise and pace of modern life.

There are many different silences, and ways of being silenced.  Some enforced (solitary confinement, exile, etc), but many others chosen (retreats, withdrawal, etc).

She describes her different experiments with silence; sitting in the desert, walking in the mountains, living in a remote cottage on Skye for 40 days.  She explores other people who have written about and experienced silence - mainly nuns, monks and religious followers (not just Christian like herself).

All in all I'm not sure I enjoyed the book, although for some reason I kept reading.  It's made me think about silence and the noise we are continuously surrounded by, but it's also made me realise that although I enjoy my own company I'm rarely 'silent' in the way that Sara means.

She ends by telling how she partly manages to find the silence she needs, but how even then it won't (and can't) be total.

Green Metropolis

28th March - 17th April 2010

Postscript: as I finished reading this book a strange silence of the skies had occurred across most of Europe. A volcano in Iceland was erupting and the resulting dust cloud had forced the grounding of all flights - therefore the skies were clear of contrails, and those below free from the constant rush of aircraft noise.

A million little pieces - James Frey

Is this book a work of fiction? Or is it a true account of the recovery of a drug and alcohol addict?  Does it matter if it's true or not?

When Tamsin lent me this book I was vaguely aware of it, but didn't know that the writer had upset rather a lot of people - not least Oprah Winfrey.  It seems that the book was published as a 'memoir', but the author has subsequently admitted that whilst the majority of the content is true life, much of it was elaborated on for dramatic effect.

But does this matter? and does it take away from the quality of the writing and the story - NOT FOR ME.  

I really enjoyed this book, it was heart breaking in parts, brutal, and eye opening, the writing style is great and really suits the subject matter.  It follows the author through rehabilitation in a clinic; at the age of 23 he is, in his words, 'completely fucked up' - one more drink, or drug episode will probably kill him - his only option is to get clean.

What follows are some very graphic descriptions of detox, a retelling of some of the parts of his life that led him to where he found himself, and some stories of those he finds with him in treatment.

For me I think it quite possible that actually the backlash against this book might have been fuelled by the fact that it's uncomfortable reading for those who are trying to help those with addictions.  Frey completely rejects the 12 step program of Alcoholics Anonymous - but still manages to get clean.

If it's true it's an amazing story; if it's fiction it's still an amazing story - one that made me laugh, wince at the descriptions of pain and astounded me with moments of tenderness, it even made me cry at one point.

I've ordered the follow-up, I hope it's as good - and I don't care if it's true or not!

Given to me by Tamsin

14 - 27 March 2010