Adventures In Wonderland Hits No.2 In Amazon Charts

Adventures In Wonderland by Paul Charles has hit the No.2 spot in the Amazon music business charts. The book has sold out on a number of occasions over the past week on Amazon, confirming that the demand has gone fully international for what is a riveting music memoir. Adventures In Wonderland is published by Hot Press Books.

It was kept off the top spot by Never Too Late by T. A. Williams, described by Amazon as "a heartwarming escapist holiday romance” – presumably with a strong music twist! Among the books below Adventures In Wonderland on the chart are Buzzin’: The Nine Lives of a Happy Monday by Bez (No. 3); Sunday Times bestseller The Lives of Brian by Brian Johnson, the legendary AC/DC frontman (No. 5); and Who I Am: My Story by former Spice Girl Melanie C (No. 6).

“It’s really exciting to see the book selling so well,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. “We knew that it would be of huge interest to music fans as well as to anyone and everyone involved in the music industry. But there is also a very strong, wider human interest element to what is a fascinating and often inspiring narrative. That's coming through ever more strongly as people read and talk about Adventures In Wonderland."

Paul Charles has a number of upcoming events at which the remarkable stories told in book will be discussed, including at the Dalkey Book Festival. There, he will appear in The Vico, in a public interview with best-selling crime writer John Connolly, in a session that runs from 16.30 to 17.30 on Sunday 18 June. We’re told that this is heading for sold out status, so best to grab tickets while you can!

Among the other speakers at this year’s festival are Bono, The Edge, Ruby Wax, Tom Hanks, Richard Ford, Brian Cox, Dylan Moran, John Banville, Sebastian Barry, Paul Murray – and many more leading literary and journalistic lights.

Paul Charles is also scheduled to appear in the Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy Co. Derry (Thursday 8 June @19.15), where he will be interviewed by Radio Foyle’s Mickey Bradley – also a member of The Undertones; and at Charlie Byrne’s Bookstore in Galway, where he will be interviewed by manager of The Saw Doctors and leading Galway cultural activist and ideas man, Ollie Jennings.

We can also announce that Paul Charles will be heading to Waterford, for a live Q&A in the Book Centre, John Roberts Square, Waterford at 4pm on Saturday, June 10 – where he'll be joined by former Beat 102 103 presenter and local musician Rob O'Connor.

The compliments have been flying in, for Adventures In Wonderland.

“ This may well be the best memoir of its kind yet to come out of Ireland,” John Connolly – who will interview Paul at the Dalkey Book Festival – said. "A very fine piece of work, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

“All music fans,” Star of the Sea author Joseph O’Connor offered, "will relish this fascinating, revealing, wonderfully enjoyable memoir, which is itself the work of a lifelong fan. Full of anecdote, insight and heart.”

“The stories in the book are just incredible,” Pamela Ballentine, of UTV Live commented.

“His stories are absolutely jaw dropping,” Tom Dunne of Newstalk and The Examiner said. “An absolutely essential read.”

Pat Kenny, on Newstalk, hailed it as “A brilliantly written memoir.”

"For those interested in the music business – and undoubtedly for the casual reader too – this book is an absolute must,” Michael J. McDonagh wrote in The Irish Post.

“Adventures in Wonderland is a fabulously entertaining book,” Tom Thorne crime writer Mark Billingham said, "from a writer who’s been there and done it all! A must-read for every music fan.”

"Paul Charles knows the music business inside out,” Irish Times music critic Tony Clayton-Lea said, "and Adventures In Wonderland spills the beans in fine style.”

"To my mind, this fascinating book is one of the great pop music books,” Michael Mary Murphy, Journal of Punk and Post Punk said, "and an essential volume for anyone wanting to understand the true nature of the music industry or to teach about it.”

"Paul Charles has written one of the most enjoyable music industry books you’re likely to encounter this year (and probably any other year)," Rick Bayles of Americana UK concluded.