kimbofo's Profile

Thanks for all your lovely comments! If a little fatty like me can pedal all that way, anybody can! :-)

Commented 3 days ago on My cycling challenge: an update and a very warm thank-you to everyone who sponsored me at Reading Matters

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'Jammy Dodger' by Kevin Smith

Fiction - Kindle edition; Sandstone Press; 320 pages; 2012. Review copy courtesy of the publisher. Tomorrow, the shortlist for the 2013 Desmond Elliot Prize — an award for new writers — will be announced, so what better time to review Kevin Smith's Jammy Dodger, which is on the longlist? Black comedy Set in 198os Belfast, this debut novel is a darkly comic tale about an audacious literary hoax that goes awry. The narrator is bohemian slacker Artie Conville, who is joint-editor of a poetry magazine called Lyre — and subtitled "A Supplement for the Imagination" — which is funded by quarterly grants from the government aimed at "normalising life in the province". Most of the money goes on booze and long lunches and it allows the pair to drift along without ever having to worry about the usual 9 to 5 regime of normal adult life. But when the grant... Continue reading

Posted 3 days ago at Reading Matters

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My cycling challenge: an update and a very warm thank-you to everyone who sponsored me

Well, I pretty much did it — and now I have the medal to prove it! I cycled 75 miles (out of a possible 100) on Saturday, camped overnight at Windsor Racecourse, then got up early and cycled 88 miles (out of a possible 88) on Sunday. That's a grand total of 163 miles (262km) and 16 hours in the saddle — no wonder my rear end was sore! I can honestly say it was the hardest — and possibly loneliest — thing I've ever done, but I got there in the end and I'm ever so grateful to everyone's support, especially those who egged me on via Twitter and Instagram over the weekend whenever I tweeted or posted a picture online. Thanks, too, to everyone who made a donation to Arthritis Research UK via my fund-raising page — your generosity really warmed my heart. So far the tally stands... Continue reading

Posted 4 days ago at Reading Matters

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Thanks, Stu. (And apologies — your comments always go into spam for some reason, so thanks for your patience in waiting for me to fish them out of the filter and publish.)

Commented 5 days ago on A special request: help me raise funds for Arthritis Research UK at Reading Matters

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Yes, Lisa, I know what you mean. I'm constantly getting tapped up by these sort of platforms to provide content and/or links to my reviews, but I always say no. Why should I provide my work free of charge for someone to make big bucks further down the line if the venture turns out to be the next big thing. Funnily enough, whenever I've asked about payment — ie. you can have my work if you pay a fair market rate for it — they go away pretty quickly or make up some bollocks about me getting more traffic to my site. *rant over*

Commented May 17, 2013 on Book bits: 10 news links to click at Reading Matters

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A special request: help me raise funds for Arthritis Research UK

This weekend I'm sacrificing all my reading time by taking on a rather big challenge: I'm attempting to cycle 180 miles around London in a two-day event called MITIE London Revolution and will be covering it on my cycling blog, London Cycling Diary. Because I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2008, I have decided to raise funds for Arthritis Research UK by taking part in the event. I know I don't normally talk about other things happening in my life outside of books on Reading Matters, but I'm making an exception this time because I'd really appreciate your help — and encouragement. I've spent most of this week battling a flare up of my arthritis (after being in remission for about two years) and have been nursing a painfully stiff neck and shoulder, but I'm determined to give this weekend's challenge my best shot and would be very grateful... Continue reading

Posted May 17, 2013 at Reading Matters

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Book bits: 10 news links to click

The eight titles for this year's Fiction Uncovered promotion have been unveiled. BBC Radio 4 has revamped its Bookclub newsletter to include more bookish news. You can sign up here. Jenny Colgan has won Romantic Novel of the Year with Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams. Europa Editions has launched a new World Noir series. Regional winners of the Commonwealth Book Prize have been announced. The main Commonwealth Book Prize will be announced on May 31. A new blog platform designed for booklovers has gone live. More information via the official press release. Foyles has been named national bookseller of the year at The Bookseller Industry Awards 2013. Howard Jacobson has won this year's Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for his comic novel Zoo Time. Frisch & Co. Electronic Books, a new ebook-only publisher dedicated to literature in English translation, has been launched. Its first book is Anatomy of a... Continue reading

Posted May 16, 2013 at Reading Matters

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The final countdown to London Revolution — and a call for donations to help Arthritis Research UK

There are just a few days to go and then I'll be attempting to pedal 180 miles around London over two days as part of London Revolution. Admittedly my so-called training has pretty much fallen by the way side and... Continue reading

Posted May 15, 2013 at London Cycling Diary

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Cheers, Stu. It was a wonderfully relaxing trip. I want to go back!

Commented May 14, 2013 on After a week away, it's back to reality at Reading Matters

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Cheers, Kinga, so glad this encouraged you to read some books from your TBR. I loved hosting the month, although I was exhausted afterwards! And there are still so many Aussie books on my shelves that didn't even get a look in. Maybe I should run an Australian Literature YEAR to get through them all! ;-)

Commented May 14, 2013 on Australian Literature Month 2013: Tying up the loose ends at Reading Matters

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Thank you so much for this lovely comment, Lisa. As you know, all your wonderful reviews helped boost the total here — I'm so grateful for your participation. Nine books doesn't sound very much to me — I'd love to give those kids an entire library — but I guess it's a start. And, as you say, if it encourages just one child to develop a love of reading, then that is something very special.

Commented May 14, 2013 on Australian Literature Month 2013: Tying up the loose ends at Reading Matters

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Thanks, Stu. Glad you enjoyed the reviews and hope you get to read a few more Aussie books before the year is out. Delighted you read Stow's To the Islands, which is such a terrific book. I still can't believe he was so young when he wrote it.

Commented May 14, 2013 on Australian Literature Month 2013: Tying up the loose ends at Reading Matters

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Triple Choice Tuesday: Courtney Collins

Welcome to Triple Choice Tuesday. This is where I ask some of my favourite bloggers, writers and readers to share the names of three books that mean a lot to them. The idea is that it might raise the profile of certain books and introduce you to new titles, new authors and new bloggers. Today's guest is Australian writer Courtney Collins. Her debut novel, The Burial, which I read and reviewed last month, was shortlisted for the Stella Prize and has been optioned for a feature film by Pure Pictures. Courtney grew up in the Hunter Valley in NSW. She now lives in an old postmaster’s cottage on the Goulburn River in regional Victoria, where she is working on a new novel. You can follow her on Twitter @cc_writer. Without further ado, here are Courtney's Triple Choice Tuesday selections: A favourite book: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson... Continue reading

Posted May 14, 2013 at Reading Matters

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I love sun holidays because it's a rate chance to sit still, which is in complete contrast to my normal day-to-day life which is running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Of course, I do take holidays where I go exploring and do lots of walking etc. but every now and then I like to slob out and do absolutely nothing! Mind you, on this trip I did spend a day exploring — I caught the local bus and headed to Lindos to see the acropolis and wander through the streets and take lots of snaps etc. Love the sound of all the books you're read/are reading.

Commented May 11, 2013 on After a week away, it's back to reality at Reading Matters

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I deliberately chose Greece because I knew it would be lovely and warm at that time of year... temps ranged between 25C and 34C... just perfect for lying by the pool or taking a dip in the ocean! As for the 800 pages, it is whizzing by and because I'm reading it on a Kindle I'm not really aware of its size.

Commented May 11, 2013 on After a week away, it's back to reality at Reading Matters

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I have to admit I was a bit surprised by how readable it is, too. I'm not sure what I expected, but from page one I was suckered right into the story. Hope you're enjoying Carpentaria... I have a copy here I should read at some point. I started it a couple of years ago, read about 60 pages but then got distracted and never went back to it.

Commented May 11, 2013 on After a week away, it's back to reality at Reading Matters

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Australian Literature Month 2013: Tying up the loose ends

I know Australian Literature Month 2013 finished almost a fortnight ago, but there's a few loose ends I need to tie up, which I didn't have time to do before I went on my little holiday to Greece. The Burial winners First, I need to announce the winners of my latest competition. Thanks to the lovely people (hello, Clare and Sam!) at Allen & Unwin UK, I have three copies of Courtney Collins' marvellous debut novel, The Burial, to give away. I used a list randomiser to choose the winners: There were 4 items in your list. Here they are in random order: Victoria (Eve's Alexandria) David Kats Alison P Timestamp: 2013-05-11 11:56:14 UTC Congratulations to Victoria, David and Kats (and sorry, Alison) — I'll be in touch soon to find out your mailing addresses, which I will then pass on to the publisher, who will send out your books... Continue reading

Posted May 11, 2013 at Reading Matters

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After a week away, it's back to reality

Sun, sea and archeaology: Lindos, Greece — click for full view So, if you are wondering why it has been a little quiet around here lately, I didn't fall off the face of the earth — but I did take myself off to the Greek island of Rhodes for a week of much-needed R&R in the sunshine. It was absolute bliss to lie by a pool every day reading books. I took a stash of paperbacks and a fully-loaded Kindle and for seven days straight I devoured book after book. My reading was only broken by the occasional dip in the water, a stroll to the poolside bar for my mid-afternoon G&T and a walk along the beach in the evening. Reading by the pool Afternoon refreshment I read five-and-a-half books: Gabriel Weston's Dirty Work, a rather claustrophobic story about an abortion provider in London under investigation by the General... Continue reading

Posted May 9, 2013 at Reading Matters

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That's an interesting observation, Tony. About time the tables were turned, I suppose, especially as the book industry employees so many women & the main buyers of fiction are women. Whether this is an ongoing trend or just a "blip" remains to be seen. Personally, I'd rather see a balance — an equal mix of men and women — because I don't think it does anyone any favours if one gender dominates the other.

Commented May 8, 2013 on Reading Matters' Hot Picks for May 2013 at Reading Matters

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Thanks for all your lovely comments... so chuffed to hear you all enjoyed the month and found some great Aussie books to read.

Commented May 8, 2013 on Australian Literature Month 2013: Final round-up at Reading Matters

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Wow! You've read so much this month, Sharkell. I'm not familiar with all those titles, so will have to investigate further. And I'm thrilled to hear you've made your own donation to the ILF! That's wonderful news.

Commented May 8, 2013 on Australian Literature Month 2013: Final round-up at Reading Matters

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That African comparison is clearly ludicrous... I do despair of marketing bods/blurb writers at times.

Commented May 8, 2013 on 'The Burial' by Courtney Collins at Reading Matters

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I'm a bit late with the draw, but hope to do it before the week is out...

Commented May 8, 2013 on 'The Burial' by Courtney Collins at Reading Matters

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Thanks so much, Alison, glad to hear you've enjoyed the month.

Commented May 8, 2013 on 'The Burial' by Courtney Collins at Reading Matters

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Please don't feel guilty, Kevin. I find it so difficult to maintain my own blog and respond to comments here, let alone go visit other blogs and take part in other online "events". And yes, this novel is very much in the "frontier" vain and I think you will find a lot in it to like.

Commented May 8, 2013 on 'The Burial' by Courtney Collins at Reading Matters

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