Going Off Alarmingly- Danny Baker

I've been waiting and waiting for this second instalment of Danny Baker's autobiography to be released.  And it has been a wait.  Originally it was expected to be released back in the spring, and I'd listen to Danny Baker STILL talking about writing his book on 5 Live or VSPO and think 'just hurry up!'.  I'm not sure if it was the notorious 'tricky second album' syndrome, health or work commitments which delayed the release of Going Off Alarmingly, but by the time I got my hands on a copy I was more than ready.

Going to Sea in a Sieve, part one of the Danny Baker story, was charming.  Life in post-war London, larger than life characters and the roguish, cheeky chappy personality of young Danny at the heart of it all.  Going Off Alarmingly is the next step, the 'settling-down-and-Daz-doorstep- challenge' years, if you will. 

If you're already a fan of Danny, a lot of the more entertaining stories in Going Off Alarmingly are ones you might have heard before.  There were a few times I thought 'yep, I know this one' when the familiar opening gambit of a favoured anecdote started up.  I guess what I'm saying is that I hoped for some new tales from his interesting life (the ones with his Dad involved are always, without fail, corkers).  That's the negative out of the way.

The most lovely thing about Going Off Alarmingly is how the love for his family radiates off the page.  From the beautiful, brief and touching preface which talks of his brother Mickey's death in terms anyone who has lost a loved one can relate to ('I am just no good at morbid reportage...my brother died...how do you think it fucking felt?') to the tales of house buying with his beloved Wend and the birth of his first two children- it is a heartfelt love story.  And the best bit?  Danny and Wendy are a couple like every other couple, buying veg for their tea at Asda and asking their parents for advice about house renovation. They just seem normal, not like celebrities.

The obvious name-drop moments (Gazza, Chris Evans, Jonathan Ross) associated with the genre are all there, which will satisfy the nosey blighters looking for gossip.  No scandal though, so rubberneckers can wind it in, but enough titbits to feel you get an insight.

Overall, I didn't enjoy Going Off Alarmingly as much as Going to Sea in a Sieve and there were pages I skimmed over, but there were also parts of this book I loved.  Danny talks about pivotal moments in his life in a relatable way, and this is where the book succeeds.  He'd do a great job writing a book based around key moments in life-first day at work, first buying a house etc- because he infuses enough humour to make it interesting.  'First Times with Danny Baker', I can see it now...if he does that though, I deserve royalties.

Going Off Alarmingly is out now in hardback, published by W and N.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Spotlight by Krista Richmond *BLOG TOUR* Review and Author Feature!

Spotlight 
by 
Krista Richmond

“He’s Hollywood premieres, and I’m small-town newspaper. Where can this possibly go?”

Release Date: 22nd May 2014

Genre: Fiction/ Contemporary Romance

Published by: The Writers Coffee Shop

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

Summary:

As both a fan and a journalist, Lily Richards often wonders what role the media plays in creating the phenomenon that is actor Daniel Brighton. Personally, she prefers to report her favorite celebrity’s latest role rather than his latest dining companion—but she knows others in her profession don’t always agree.

A chance encounter with Daniel at a press junket gives Lily the opportunity to prove she’s not like other journalists. But Nate Brennan—Daniel’s publicist—isn’t convinced of Lily’s altruistic nature. He’s baffled by his client’s sudden preference for the no-name columnist, and when they are forced to work together, their professional battles soon lead to personal sparks.

As Lily becomes more involved in the world of entertainment media, she must balance what she feels is appropriate celebrity coverage with the personal relationships she now holds dear.

 

How much is too much when you’re standing near the glare of the Spotlight?

 

The Review

I was very excited to read Spotlight as it sounded right up my street. I love books about celebrity and the entertainment business and could relate to how starstruck Lily was at meeting Daniel- I am definitely a fangirl myself!  I thought the scenes where Lily waited to meet him at the stage door were very realistic, I loved how the obsessive fans were portrayed.

 

The first half of the book had me spellbound, I literally couldn't put it down.  The characters were easy to relate to, even Daniel who is an A list star, and I admit I fell a little bit in love with him-he is top notch book boyfriend material.  In my mind he was a bit like Daniel Craig (again, I wouldn't say no...)

 

The second half had a slower pace, and centred more around Lily's work and relationship rather than the glitz and excitement.  I still enjoyed it, but I wasn't as hooked as I was by the first half, and the ending was a bit too clichéd for my liking. 

 

Overall I thought this was a fun novel and an opportunity to glimpse into how the life of a celebrity might be.  Krista Richmond has a fresh voice and I would definitely look out for more books by her!  In fact, I'd love some more Daniel....please Krista?!

 

Author Bio: 

Krista Richmond is a journalist, pop culture enthusiast and a true Southern girl at heart. When she isn’t writing, she’s often in her kitchen, attempting to recreate recipes created by her favorite Food Network personalities, or at her local theater, catching the latest blockbuster (or indie flick).

A graduate of Tennessee Tech University and the University of Tennessee with degrees in communications, she worked in print journalism for several years. Now, she works in marketing in southern Louisiana.

Follow her adventures on Twitter at @KristaRichmond.

Connect with Krista Richmond on: 

Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads

Praise:

Ms. Richmond has a very conservative writing style but overlooking the formality came a great storyline complete with great character development, There were surprising little twists and plot shifts that made this book stand out from all the others.

                                                        -Talk Books To Me

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I don't know why but I really like reading about writers, and part of what I really liked about the book and the writing was how the author made the character of Lily a very ethical writer, and in this day in age when tabloid journalism is so rampant, it was kind of refreshing really Lily's point of view on how covering the entertainment industry should be done. 

                                                     -Home. Love. Books

Lily Richards has the kind of fairytale life that 20 years ago I wished I had. Her work - and a little stalking - has resulted in a friendship with the hottest actor on the planet, but it's his publicist she can't stop thinking about. I'm so glad Richmond took Lily in this direction, because having her fall for the actor would have been too much of a Mary Sue move. Nate is great, and I loved their e-mail exchanges. A lovely debut novel.  -Goodreads (Andrea)

I am delighted to welcome Krista onto my blog today, where she mulls over a question related to the subject of Spotlight-  Do you think society is becoming more and more obsessed with celebrities and the celebrity life? If so, why? Do you think the notion of being a celebrity will change in the future, in regards to celebrities have no privacy anymore?

In some ways, I think we are becoming more and more obsessed with celebrity culture. But I think that’s because we’re inundated with it. From paparazzi photos to reality TV to social media, we now have access to (practically!) every part of a celebrity’s life. And, to me, the question is … should we?

It’s an interesting conundrum. Tools such as social media aren’t necessarily a bad thing – it’s all in how they’re used. Using them to share a celebrity’s hotel information or photos of them walking through an airport terminal seems a little much to me. But fans also use these tools, for example, to share signs to hold up at their favorite band’s concert. Social media has brought a unique twist to the idea of “fandoms.” The same tools that are used to track their celebrity’s every move are the same tools used to develop lasting friendships.

I think in the future we may see a return to Old Hollywood standards, where information about celebrities is more carefully controlled and monitored. In those days, everything fans read about celebrities came from official sources, and fans had to wait on it. But, it’s really a case-by-case (or, celebrity-by-celebrity) basis. Some celebrities are willing to jump on Oprah’s couch and answer endless questions about their love life. Others aren’t. And that’s okay. What Lily learns in Spotlight – and what I really wanted to covey – is that media outlets should take the time to really consider what they’re publishing.

 

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