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Original poster

What's your favourite random book?

38 replies

BrendasUmbrella · 01/04/2018 20:55

Like an obscure fiction book you love but have never heard anyone mention and maybe it's because it has a really off-putting cover? Or a non fiction book that's to do with a hobby you have zero interest in but the book captures your imagination anyway?

I think my favourite is Jane Asher's Fancy Dress. Jane Asher (ex girlfriend of Paul McCartney, not sure what else she is known for) makes fancy dress costumes for her celeb friends and family to model. My favourite is the jellyfish costumer that is literally an umbrella covered in bubble wrap and trimmed with metallic streamers. Or maybe Terry Jones as a topless girl with papier mache boobs jumping out of a cake... I found it in a charity shop and it has survived several bookcase culls, because I can't part with it!

OP posts:
bookworm14 · 07/04/2018 18:33

The Days of Judy B by Rose Heiney. Published in 2008 and sank without trace, but it deserved to do much better than it did. It’s a brilliant exploration of the gap between our real lives and what we project to others - written before Facebook, Instagram etc really took off, but weirdly prescient of them.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 07/04/2018 13:45

I’ve worn costumes from that book as well Grin

I like recipe books from the same era too.

Wildernesstips · 03/04/2018 20:48

Dreams of Leaving by Rupert Thomson. It was a not-for-sale copy left at the bookshop I worked at as a student. I was utterly entranced by it. I think he is a great author that not many people I know seem to have read.

PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle · 03/04/2018 18:34

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. One of the best sci-fi books ever! Read it 25 years ago and hardly found anyone else who has read it, but it's always in stock in Waterstones. Made into a film 3 years ago which, sadly, didn't do it justice.

MillicentMargaretAmanda · 02/04/2018 14:23

My mum had that book! Used to love looking at it when I was a kid. I also had at least two costumes from there for plays. I can still remember the pins and the swearing!

iklboo · 02/04/2018 10:10

Here it is in all its horror glory.

What's your favourite random book?
JiltedJohnsJulie · 02/04/2018 07:38

I’ve read that too coughing Smile

tobee · 02/04/2018 01:11

Jane Asher is an actress.

thelionthewitchandthebookcase · 01/04/2018 22:38

I remember jane Asher for her cakes and baking. Definitely not fancy dress 😁😁

coughingbean · 01/04/2018 21:12

The reader on the 6:15 (or maybe some other number, I can't quite remember!)
It's a beautiful short novel, quirky and has a good ending.

LanaorAna2 · 01/04/2018 21:11

A book called Random Family by a girl who ran social research projects with Hispanic people in New York. Gripping true-life tales of drug-dealer dads and baby moms with hundreds of children - fascinating view of toxic masculinity.

iklboo · 01/04/2018 21:07

I've actually worn a costume from the Jane Asher Fancy Dress book in a play when I was younger Blush

iklboo · 01/04/2018 21:06

How To Be Dead by Dave Turner. It was originally only online. The premise is a guy who has a near death experience & goes to work for Death (Grim Reaper). Doesn't sound great but it's funny and well written.

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