A Novel Departure

What of the novel in the digital age?

Is the future Tim Burton’s twitternovel, where anyone can contribute a line in the creation of a story that has the potential to involve millions of writers around the world? Is it the mobile phone novel, which has become a craze in Japan? Penguin has had a go at interactive storytelling, but the excitement surrounding that project was more to do with interactive novelty, than radical content.

At present, we play with our technological tools in search of a new literary art, but find ourselves lost somewhere between form and content. We know there is no sense in carving a longbow in the age of the sub-machine gun, unless we want it for quaint decorative purpose.

Is it time for the novel, as a form, to acknowledge the virtues of brevity? War and Peace was produced in a time when the only distractions were sex and alcohol. Our attention is now so fragmented that even the idea of producing a novel of 300 pages in length seems a little absurd. So how to go on? Twitter proves that you can be a philosopher, a wit and a journalist in 140 characters or fewer. Can you also be a novelist?

The Good Web Cast Show Eight: I Never Promised You A Walled Garden

In 1990 the World Wide Web went live at the CERN particle physics laboratory in Geneva. Sir Tim-Berners-Lee’s hypertext application, which he made freely available, transformed the internet, helping to take it out of the universities and the laboratories, and into all our lives.

This week Berners-Lee warned of threats to the web’s principles of universality and neutrality, claiming that gated communities on Facebook and proprietary spaces such as iTunes undermine the free flow of information online.

This week’s Good Webcast examines Berners-Lee’s claims, and asks, in the battle to control the web, who will win?

The Good Webcast Show Seven: The Website of the Year Award

The second annual Good Web Guide Website of the Year award ceremony took place on Tuesday 16th November. At the Royal Institution in Mayfair, where Faraday helped make the modern world, a large crowd of web entrepreneurs gathered to hear erstwhile Dragon Doug Richard read out the winners.

The big prize went to ANYVAN.com, while the People's Choice award went to Netmums, whose co-founder Siobhan Freegard described it as being "like X-Factor for websites."

Arabella Dymoke, the MD of the Good Web Guide, spoke to the Good Webcast about why the awards were set up and what they seek to recognise.

The See Through Coalition

It's been a big week for Mr. Cameron. No, no, no, not the visit to China, where our noble premier is pretending to be interested in that country's human rights record to please the Liberals in his Coalition, but the launch of the Transparency section of the Number 10 website, which gives humble voters the chance to check up on the government, a review of which you can read here.

On an extremely similar theme, Seren Lloyd, who occasionally pens casual frippery for The Good Web Guide on matters pertaining to the internet, has come up with a few suggestions for ways the government can make itself even more open to the public.

As they say in Whitehall, if you can't see through it, it ain't transparent.

The Good Webcast Show Six: Fry's Last Tweet

A specially reduced length podcast this week in honour of the subject matter: Twitter and how best to leave it.

With Stephen Fry having departed the microblogging website in what appears to be a considerable huff following the controversy over his views on women and sex, we take a brief look at how to say goodbye to your followers and what impact Fry's leaving might have on the popularity of Twitter.

Look who's Talking Now: Read the latest interviews

Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet tells us what she thinks of the coalition's child benefit cuts and why she always has time for a biscuit. Read the interview.


Catherine Gazzoli, CEO of Slow Food UK talks about why we have lost touch with food, how we can restore this relationship and what her happiest food memories are. Read the interview.

Edna Fry, the devoted and long-suffering wife of Stephen, muses over her   favourite sites. Read more.

The Good Webcast launches!

We've just launched the first of our podcasts as part of The Good Webcast, a new feature on The Good Web Guide. The Good Webcasts will cover topical news and issues relating to the internet in discussions led by GWG Contributing Editor, Garan Holcombe. Joining him are Arabella Dymoke, MD of The Good Web Guide; Emily Jenkinson, its Editor; and Nick Wills, The Good Web Guide's resident tech guru.

Show One discusses the Great Paywall of Rupert Murdoch on The Times and whether it's doomed to failure.

Show Two discusses SEO: what it is and how you crack it.

Listen to the first two shows here and watch this space for the next show, broadcasting in September.

New Designers: the graduate designers who are set to impress

On Wednesday, The Good Web Guide went along to the showcase for graduate designers at The Business Design Centre in Islington and found much to excite.

Graduate designs such as the Cuppa Luck - a stainless steel look tea-set, which can be scratched to reveal a pattern underneath - by Jo Westrop (www.jowestrop.com); magnetic tableware from Oliver Boulton; and a wealth of stunning furniture designs by designer/makers including Jórun Høgnesen (www.jorunhognesen.blogspot.com), Keith Gibbons (www.keithgibbons.co.uk) and Philip Clay of Zealous Furniture Design (www.wix.com/zealousfurniture/design) impressed with their ingenuity and attention to detail.

A new area of the show this year was One Year On, featuring a hand-picked group of designers who have done well in their first year out of college. Beautiful wallpaper from Kate Usher Surfaces (kateusher.wordpress.com), furniture from Robin Grasby (www.robingrasby.com) and mixed media illustrations from Hannah Davies (www.hannah-designs.com) are proof, that despite a tough financial year, with dedication and bundles of talent, new designers can find success.

To find out more, visit www.newdesigners.com

Fashion to follow at the Bright Light PR Press Day

I - Emily (The Good Web Guide's editor) - popped along to the Bright Light PR press day yesterday where I was greeted by Kerri. She showed me around the display room, where a number of Bright Light's fashion clients were showcasing between them a choice selection of clothes, boots, jewellery and lingerie. I found loads that I would have happily taken home myself, including:

These hand-crafted Tall Eskimo boots from Mou. Sarah Jessica Parker has been papped in a pair of these apparently and styles include the antelope cowboy boot, calfskin slipper, eskimo, blizzard and goatskin nanuk.

A dragonfly pendant necklace from Annie Haak. Other designs include charm bracelets that jingle with hearts, tassels, butterflies and dazzling silver charms; long necklaces with angels, birds and other silver pendants; and rings with charms attached.

A colourful scarf from Dominique Mosley, whose collection of a bright scarves have been designed, printed and finished in the UK, making them even more desirable. Perfect for Spring!

A black postman bag from luxury Italian lable Pavoni, which has a host of colourful designs for Spring/Summer 2010.

Other fabulous fashion destinations present were: Chesca, Damsel in a Dress, Getmyfashion.com, Lanky Bird, Simone Perele and Implicite. All ones to watch out for next time you go shopping!

The Month: The best book, blog and film of February.

Each month, we do a round up of the best culture, including book, film and blog reviews. Here are some of our favourites for February.


Film of the Month: A Prophet is a true masterpiece from a director in complete command of his material.

Book of the Month: It's Only a Movie - Mark Kermode might not be as entertaining as his weekly performance on Five Live with his long time civil partner Simon Mayo, but Mark Kermode remains by far the best film critic in the country, if only because he's got nicer hair than Kim Newman.

Blog of the Month: I am Neurotic is a blog for those who cannot read blogs without standing on one leg while humming the opening bars of The Bangles' Manic Monday.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! After a much needed break, we're back and ready to take on 2010. To kick start the new year, here are some of our picks of the month:

Film of the Month: Moon, the feature film debut of director Duncan Jones channels Kubrick's 2001 and Tarkosvky's Solaris but manages to make something new from the fusion. Read our review.

Book of the Month: Open is Andre Agassi's account of his life in tennis and is far superior than the average sports bio. Read our review.

Blog of the Month: /Film (or Slash Film) has news and reviews, trailers, the latest rumours and information on films in production. It covers festivals like Sundance and can count directors like Darren Aronofksy among its readers. Read our review.

And less we forget, here is our pick of the Best Films of the Noughties and the Best Books of the Noughties....

Giveaway of the Month: November-December

WIN £500 TO SPEND ON DESIGNER JEWELLERY AT ASTLEYCLARKE.COM

With Christmas not far away we’re turning to AstleyClarke.com for ingenious jewellery gift ideas. Discover fine Designer Jewellery gifts from £35 to £25,000. Its exquisite collection includes 1,000 pieces of contemporary and fine jewellery from over 50 internationally renowned designers.

All Astley Clarke jewellery comes delivered in elegant boxes and can be gift-wrapped in hand-printed Japanese wrapping paper, tied with an Italian blue satin bow. Until Christmas, Astley Clarke is offering Free UK next day delivery, same day London delivery and fast International delivery - making it the perfect place to shop for designer jewellery gifts. Shop online at www.AstleyClarke.com, call 0845 680 6848 or visit 6 Junction Mews, London, W2 1PN.

For a chance to win a £500 voucher to spend across the range, just enter CLICK HERE

Christmas Shopping Guides

Why does Christmas shopping always have to be so stressfuland expensive? The truth is it doesn't - well not when you've got one of our handy guides to help you find presents for all the family, and at discounted prices too.

Gifts for Her include jewellery, super fine cashmere blankets for travelling and more...

Gifts for Him include wine decanters, silver cufflinks, shirts and the finest darn pair of socks we've ever seen...

Gifts for Home Lovers include all candelabra's, scented candles, cushions, door stops and more...

Keep an eye out for more Christmas Gift Guides coming soon!

Win one of two £250 vouchers to spend online at ME & EM

ME & EM believes that if you’re not in work or party mode then you need clothes that you can look good in, but at the same time feel relaxed in.

Whether it’s something to sleep in, lounge around in, jump on a plane in, wear at the weekend, do the school run in or enjoy wearing on off duty days, ME & EM has a full range of fabulously comfortable and stylish clothing and accessories.

Following its recent re-brand, it has brought in a new range of luxurious new fabrics, sumptuous new colours and fabulously flattering new styles. It also has some great new brands, including Monica Vinader, Penelope Chilvers and LA Made. To find out more, visit www.meandem.com

And for a chance to win one of two £250 vouchers to spend across the range, just click on the link below. Entries close 16th November 09. Good Luck!

http://www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk/?PAGEID=12129

We launch our Website of the Year Award 2009!

We have spent nearly ten years researching and reviewing the best websites across a range of topics and this year we’re launching our first Website of the Year Award, aimed at small businesses and organisations. There will be only one winning site, picked by a team of qualified judges. If that's your site you will win:

• £1,000 to spend on their website plus an advertising campaign on thegoodwebguide.co.uk during 2010 worth £500.

• A press release prepared by Kenyon Communications on the subject of their choosing, with full media distribution, worth £500.

• A full SEO audit and follow up consultation with SEOptimise, worth £750.

• A Vistaprint Custom Business Kit to help build their brand and market their business like a pro, worth £178.

• Professionally taken portraits of the website founder(s) and/or team worth £350, by award-winning photographer Dave Watts.

To find out more the awards and how to enter, just click here.

Win a new summer wardrobe of clothes from Kew, worth £250!

Congratulations to Mrs Johnson, who won £500 to spend on jewellery at Leblas in last month's draw. This month, we've got an equally fabulous giveway from Kew, which is donating a £250 spending spree on its classic clothing as its prize.

Kew’s gorgeous range of summer styles and accessories is made with the attention to detail and quality that you’d expect from a sister brand to Jigsaw. With up-to-date classics and trend driven pieces in natural fabrics – there’s something in the range for everyone. Check out the full range at http://www.kew-online.com/.

Enter the draw here before 20th August!

Brixton deli-owner, Rosie Lovell talks good food & friendship

Five years ago, after finishing her History of Art degree at Edinburgh University, Rosie Lovell set up Rosie’s Deli Café in Brixton market. Since then she has welcomed an eclectic mix of hungry customers from across the globe and counts Basement Jaxx amongst some of her most enthusiastic fans.

Between juggling orders, serving up her famous scrambled eggs, going to gigs and taking time out to recover from a brain haemorrhage that nearly killed her two years ago, Rosie found the time to write her first book, Spooning with Rosie: Food, Friendship and Kitchen Loving, which is published by Fourth Estate this June.

Read our interview with Rosie here
Read our review of Spooning with Rosie here

Win £500 to spend on any piece of jewellery at Leblas

A rare bird in the world of jewellery design, Leblas combines traditional techniques, modern design and sustainable practices in the creation of its beautifully made selection of rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and specially commissioned pieces. This year, it is proud to have won the accolade of Coutts New Jeweller Award 2009, part of the annual Coutts London Jewellery Week (8th-14th June 09).

There’s 15% off across the range for visitors who enter goodwebguide at checkout when ordering at www.leblas.com. To enter the draw to win £500 to spend on Leblas jewellery, click here.

Our new shopping pages

As you know, Thegoodwebguide.co.uk re-launched earlier in the year with a whole host of new features. One of our favourites is on the Shopping & Lifestyle channel where we can now produce image-driven shopping features from a selection of our top recommended websites.

This month, we've got two new shopping features running with a wide selection of discounts.

Father's Day

From quality cufflinks and tasteful ties to shaving kits and special Father's Day hampers, you can't fail to find your Dad something for June 21st. Click here for more.

Get Fit for the Sun

From fitness equipment and sports clothing to beach wear, body moisturiser and spa days, this feature helps you to look and feel your best this summer. Click here for more.

Enjoy!

Talking business with NotontheHighStreet's Sophie Cornish....

In April 2006, Holly Tucker and Sophie Cornish started Notonthehighstreet.com, an online showcase and shop for small UK businesses. Since the website’s launch, Holly & Sophie have watched Notonthehighstreet.com grow to include over 800 small UK businesses and today they receive 300 applications for membership each month.

It provides a much-needed community, a source of information and marketing support for the best of Britain’s small creative businesses - 97% of which are run by women. In a mark of their success, last October, Holly & Sophie were invited to a business focused question and answer with the Prime Minister.

So what makes a successful small business? Why are so many women running them? And what was it like meeting Gordon Brown? The Good Web Guide talks to Sophie Cornish…..

Read the full interview here

Photo credit: Founders of notonthehighstreet.com, Sophie Cornish and Holly Tucker. Photographed by Rankin, for BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur 2008