Here's a roundup of some things I've been looking at lately.
1) It's Nice That 3 One of my favourite websites also produce a very nicely designed and printed magazine. Lots of interesting content, too, so it checks all the boxes. I just got distracted from writing this to read an interview with Dan Germain, creative director at Innocent Drinks. Seems that he's the guy responsible for those little conversational messages they always put on the bottles. I've always thought that if our planet were ever to get taken over by aliens, Innocent smoothie bottles might well be the best underground communication system we have (well, here in England, anyway). But that's just me. He says writing is like making furniture or playing darts, the more you do it, the better you'll get, which is encouraging.
It's Nice That 3 / £12 / I bought my copy at the Somerset House gallery bookshop after the Pick Me Up exhibition, where one of my favourite things was the reel of films curated by It's Nice That they showed at the end. Some lovely ones in there, like this. / The magazine came out in April, but it's a keeper, and still around in places like Magma, or you can buy it from them direct.
2) Starburst: Colour Photography in America 1970-1980 Tapping into the general mood for things late-'70s right now, this is a beautiful book. Elegant simple design that's the perfect complement to a compelling selection of images. From the familiar (such as William Eggleston and Stephen Shore), to the unfamiliar (in particular I loved work from Joel Meyerowitz and Neal Slavin). The print quality is superb, which makes a real difference to the atmosphere on the pages. It's the sort of book you leaf through and it takes you someplace, like all the best things do.
Starburst / £45 / I bought mine at Claire de Rouen books on Charing Cross road at lunchtime to cheer myself up on horrible day at work, but it's significantly cheaper on Amazon of course.
3. It's Only A Movie My life as a movie critic memoir from Mark Kermode, whose writing leaps off the page in the same likeably animated way that he reviews films on radio and tv. Fans of wittertainment will take to it for sure. It's also a very interesting insider view of the world of journalism that I enjoyed a lot. Hello to Jason Isaacs.
It's Only A Movie / £11.99 / My copy lent to me by a friend who got Bad Science from me in exchange. But it's here on Amazon or in bookshops.
4. Zeitoun I'm just about halfway through the latest book from Dave Eggers. I'd say the writing is a tad more workmanlike than his last book What Is The What, (the story of Sudanese refugee Valentino Ashak Deng that I liked very much). On the other hand the narrative, following one man's experience of Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact on New Orleans, is so compelling, I already almost missed my stop on the bus.
Zeitoun / £18.99 / My copy purchased at the Oxford Literary Festival with some excitement because, as previously mentioned, it's signed by the author. I'm afraid I think Dave Eggers is so brilliant in general that even tracing my fingers over biro marks that he made is kind of a thrill. In bookshops or online.
5. Magiciens Galactiques Old sci-fi book I picked up last time I was in Paris. I thought it might be a good one to read to improve my French and the cover seems so promising. What is happening on the planet of the seahorse creatures?
My copy purchased for 2 euros at a bookshop right by Jourdain metro station in Paris. As it was published in 1974 I would imagine it's not that easy to get hold of. But if I find it turns out to be a must-read I'll let you know.
