Happy New Year, Readers! New Year (only last week) seems like an eternity ago. The reason being that we have been snowed in for almost every single one of those days. For me, this has been amazing. I love winter (it's my favourite season) and we managed to build snowmen, go sledging, and have all kinds of wintry fun and games. Because of this, it seems like ages since I drew up a few ideas for new year resolutions. I'm not very good at sticking to my resolutions, but I'm hopeful that I might manage more than a week with this year's! They are not all to do with writing (I'm determined to get better posture, too), and they are more long-term aims and goals than anything I will slog away at all year round, but here are one or two of them... Firstly, I want to finish writing the first draft of The Nobility of Caledon , which is Book 5 in the Caledon series. Book 3, The Strength of Caledon , will be launched in August this year, so I really need to get a move on with co...
For more than a decade, Derek Philpott and his son, Dave, have been writing to pop stars from the 1960s to the 90s to take issue with the lyrics of some of their best-known songs.
But then, to their great surprise, the pop stars started writing back...
Dear Mr Pop Star contains 100 of Derek and Dave's greatest hits, including correspondence with Katrina and the Waves, Tears for Fears, Squeeze, The Housemartins, Suzi Quatro, Devo, Deep Purple, Nik Kershaw, T Pau, Human League, Eurythmics, Wang Chung, EMF, Mott the Hoople, Heaven 17, Jesus Jones, Johnny Hates Jazz, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, Chesney Hawkes and many, many more.
When I agreed to review this book and be part of the blog tour for the launch, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. This book's subject and way of writing is most unusual...but it works!
What a great hobby to write to celebrities, and greater still that some of them would reply, often matching the cheek and wit that was initially sent to them. I found myself thinking, when I was reading through this super book, what some of the celebrities would think if they read it. I feel sure that most would remember such an unusually pedantic piece of mail!
I found it particularly amusing when I knew the song that was being discussed. A connection to the song provides an extra understanding and humour to the already hilarious book.
This isn't a book I could read cover to cover. It lasted me several days, dipping in and out whenever I could between lessons or at lunchtimes.
["You've brought your kindle to lunch!" Cried a colleague of mine. "Am I so boring?"
I wonder if some readers out there will understand me?]
The format of the book is clear, easy-to-read and clever. The pages look like letters which portrays the whole theme and idea of the book.
Well, Christmas is coming up quite soon, and this book would make a fantastic present for that troublesome family member who is difficult to please but has a devilish sense of humour! I will keep this in mind...
You can buy the book from Amazon here.
Oh Crowvus, where to begin??
ReplyDeleteI'm sure celebs get a lot of deranged email, but the distinct advantage that we had was that we primed them first! rough this super book, what some of the celebrities would think if they read it. I feel sure that most would remember such an unusually pedantic piece of mail!
Yes we love that you found it amusing that when you knew the song but we liked making the reader work for it!.
So, yes it's a BIG DIPPER and sorry to have made your lunch unsocialable!. Love too that you appreciate the effort that went into the presentation:)
Thank you, thank you thank you!! It’s been a delight corresponding with you in the weeks and weeks leading to this glorious appraisal and you have been encouraging and supportive throughout. Just massive kudos not just for spending your valuable time and assets, but also for such a sublime critique that delves right to the essence and heart of our insane little world… Best and Highest, Dave and Dad Philpott (shaking off the pseud temporarily)