Marian Keyes The Woman who stole my life.....come discuss with me...

[HRHQueenMe]

Having been quite dissaponted with the lovely Marian lately, I quite liked this! Marian is always better when she writes about what she knows and like "The other side of the story", this one rings true and I actually think it was a good read. Not quite Rachels Holiday (which I have to re read every year) but still good. Thoughts?

I read it recently. It was okay but for whatever reason, I was more gripped when I had just read the preview. The idea of the little thoughts book taking off was not unrealistic, the idea of a sequel for such a novelty book was, as it turned out to be. The fact that she was indignant about the PA having 'her' deal was a bit tagged on, seeing as it definitely was a case that her book was a one-off style over substance and this one actually about style would not need little life mottos on top as being equal to a fifty-fifty split.
I assume Marian knows from experience that book tours are hardcore even if the rest of us see it with eyes, rather like a film junket. I would have swapped roles personally and supported her on tour but what do I know? The ex sounded like an artist that did actually do a concept where he destroyed all his stuff rather than give it away. Demolition I think it was called. Statement about Capitalism.
My favourite of hers is still Watermelon.

It was called Break Down by Michael Landy.

Consumerism not capitalism, am just rereading about him now. He destroyed his birth certificate, passport, the lot.

Thank you SBK, thats interessting to read! Agree it was quite haphazardly with Gilda awooping in and taking over, but its all fiction. Did like Mannix though and loved his ex wife, she would have made a great movie Charachter! A Cameron Diazeque performance all round!
I still find Marians writing comforting, its always a good read even though the last two books have been dissapointing!

Bobbing head in to let you know that Marian has agreed to do a webchat with us on 10 June on publication (1pm) on publication of paperback of TWWSML. Put date in your diary to come and chat to her if you fancy

Ooh thanks for that. I might ask her whether she was inspired by Landy. He got rid of over 7000 items including car and cds. But then did not do any art for a year. His owning nothing lasted ten minutes apparently before a well-wisher gave him a Paul Weller record.
And he had to get a toothbrush.
I don't want to get too personal but know Marian has suffered from depression, I wonder if she is strong enough now to talk about how she gets through it. I respect her work output immensely for that fact alone. Looking forward to the webchat.
The teenage son was well written, given the fact that I have a teenage mutant hermit crabby lodger dd in my house not wanting to talk to me because I am me sadly not because I am shagging a good looking doctor

Or maybe I could ask whether she buys into that thought for the day, chicken soup for the soul industry.
It doesn't work for me, too pithy, but maybe getting through the black dog inspired it.

I have a Mutual friend with Michael Landy and I went to see him shred his stuff. It was quite extraordinary, all these things going along a conveyor belt to be destroyed...

It's the car! He had such a lovely car.
Tell mutual friend to tell him his decluttering beats Flylady/marie Kondo hands down!!!
Seriously, his work resonated because I find it sooooo hard getting rid of stuff and just doing all that, let alone the three years of catalogueing of it, blows my mind. He and another who tried and failed to sell all his belongings both said it felt like being at their own funeral. I saw the documentary/film footage on youtube, surreal.

I went to a reading at Waterstones for this last year. I was a bit disappointed with the book, but can forgive Marian most things as she is so upfront about her difficulties. I wasn't keen on Mannix either, but he is supposed to look like Jose Mourinho so not all bad.

Stupidbloodykindle Marian talked, at length, about her depression at the reading so I've no doubt she would be just as open on the webchat.