Guys. I’m SO excited. I’m spending my Saturday at Astley Book Farm! I will report back in due course – why is it called that? do they farm books there? – but just think of me madly shoving books into my bag and living my very best life.
I can’t promise that a weekend miscellany will be quite as good, but it’s better than nothing, right? Here’s a book, a blog post, and a link to help you out if you’re spending your weekend is less of a biblio-heaven.
1.) The book – is one I heard about during an episode of the Chat 10 Looks 3 podcast (essentially two Australian journalists talking about culture, food, books, everything in a very funny way). It’s called The Devil’s Candy by Julie Salamon, and is a non-fiction look at the making of a movie of Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities. Which was a massive flop and a terrible production. It sounds fascinating. (It’s also super long, which is why I haven’t quite bought it yet.) It’s from 1991 – has anybody read it?
2.) The link – Waterstones has been bought by Foyles. Eep. Apparently in a battle against Amazon? Sad to see an independent go to the wall.
3.) The blog post – I enjoyed this review of Memento Mori by Muriel Spark, over at 746 Books. Yay Muriel!
Have fun on the book trail! As for Foyles – I can hardly bear to think about it….
LOVE the look of the book farm!
It’s probably 20 years or so since I read Bonfire of the Vanities, and as I remember it was well worth reading. A rich banker accidentally drives into a rough area of New York, and in his bid to escape people he feared were robbers, he may have hit a young black boy. The issues of inequality, race and the resulting distortions by the media circus anxious for a scapegoat are probably even more relevant today.
Thanks Michelle! Oddly I have no wish to read the original, but hopefully that won’t detract from Salamon’s book. I have a bit of a problem with the 80s, I think!
I can’t claim to have read a great number of books on film, never mind the making of a film, but The Devil’s Candy is my favourite. And yet, I’ve never seen the film, nor have I read the novel. That neither is necessary, speaks to Ms Salamon’s talent. Highly recommended.
Oh thanks Brian, that definitely makes me even keener to read it! *finger inches closer to buy-it-now…*
I am extremely sad that Waterstones is buying Foyles. I love Foyles. I want them to continue as they ever have, I love their selection and how great they are and how many floors and I buy plays there and it’s so hard to find bookstores with sections where you can buy plays. :(
Yeah :( I’m hoping they let them keep the same spirit (and maybe even the same people stocking it).
It is called Astley Book Farm because it is based in redundant farm farm buildings, and it’s my favourite second-hand book shop (apart from the fact that I always get lost on the way there, or the way back, or both, even though it is really close to where I live). It stocks lots of old green-backed Viragos (always the mark of a good book shop) and has a lovely little cafe where you can sit and read the books you’ve bought… I hope you loved it as much as I do!
I didn’t realise you were so close! It did have a nice sprinkling of VMCs – and all the Persephones which was a nice touch.
I second Brian’s opinion. I’ve read a few “making of” books, and this one is standout. The author has a fine eye for detail, and had very good access to the set and crew. I recommend it. (Unrelated, but another very good non-fiction read: The Emperors of Chocolate (or Chocolate Wars), by Joel Brenner. I hope you enjoy the book!
ENM