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[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|authorclass-"wikitable" cellpadding=Rob Temple"15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE--><!-- van LENTE -->|title=Very British Problems Abroad-|ratingstyle=4"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|genrelink=Humourhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|=Meet, if you haven't already, the phenomenon of the Very British Problem==[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. In this format they're in pithy little comments (of, ooh, about 140 characters in lengthjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and sanctuary for some reason…) many people, and detail the minor things in life that we like nothing more than to inflate to a major factor of life. They can involve manners, staring when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at things until they mend themselvesSan Diego Comic-Con, hitting things dittohe's looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, or plus the fact that nobody apart from you and I know how to queue properlychance of maybe, just maybe reuniting with his ex. And if the idea hits the world outside our shoresHowever, then – wellwhen his rival is found dead, you certainly have a book full Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of content regarding our attitude and ineptitude abroadthe con in order to clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, in doing so, may just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751558494</amazonuk>Full Review]]}}{{newreview|author=Fraser McAlpine<!-- Coulton -->|title=Stuff Brits Like-|ratingstyle=4"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|genre=Humour[[image:1473669588.jpg|summarylink= With over 100 chapters on different aspects of Britain and Britishness, this book is both fascinating and hilarious. Just looking at the list of subjects is enough to produce a sardonic twist of that stiff upper liphttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: the chapters cover topics that range from offal to curry, from pedantry to banter, from conkers to rugby. There may be many chapters but this is no academic tome top; text- each chapter is just two to three pages long, each is written with endearing affection, each is easy and satisfying - and quirkily funny - to readalign: left;"|===[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1857886348</amazonuk>}}Category:{{{newreview|author= John Samuelrating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|title= What I Tell You in the Dark|rating= 3.5General Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|genre= Humour]], [[:Category:Women's Fiction|summary=A man called Will is fighting fiercely against corruption – desperate to expose his companyWomen's Fiction]] Lex Coulton's dodgy dealings to the pressdebut novel is a story about mistakes, failures, and relationships. Overcome with doubt and fear, he goes to kill himself. ButThe main protagonist, at the exact moment he attaches his noose to the back of the doorFrances Pilgrim, he is saved. By a curious housemate or sixth form English teacher who has recently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, a concerned girlfriend? Nowork colleague, by an Angel. Not and is grappling with the white-feathered guardian Angel you may expect, but one who wishes to help Will achieve his ends, and so possess the body of the hapless Will in order to finish what he startedincreasingly eccentric behaviour of her mother. It goes without saying that the Angel This relationship is hoping things go better than they did with complicated by the last guy he possessed – a hapless young man from Galilee called Jesus…fact that Frances's father disappeared at sea when she was five years old. [[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0715650505</amazonuk!-- van LENTE -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= John Niven"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= The Sunshine Cruise Company[[image:1683690346.jpg|ratinglink= 4http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] |genre= Humour|summarystyle= Susan Frobisher and Julie Wickham live in a small Dorset town"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. Friends since school, they live fairly uneventful lives – Susan has jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a lovely house place of wonder and a lengthy marriage to accountant Barrysanctuary for many people, whereas Julie is doing slightly less well – living in a council flat and working in an old peoplewhen Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, he's home. When Barry is found dead trussed up in a sex dungeon, it transpires looking for both that he has been leading a hidden life for yearsand sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the chance of maybe, and just maybe reuniting with his expensive fetishes lead to the bank moving to take Susan's homeex. Struck by both desperation and a sense of injusticeHowever, when his rival is found dead, Sue and Julie conspire Mike is forced to rob a bank, taking along their friend Jill navigate every dark corner of the con in order to clear his name – a devout Christian conflicted due from cosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to lack of money zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and , in doing so, may just unravel a terminally ill grandson, and Ethel – dark secret behind a foul mouthed resident of the nursing home longing for adventurelegendary industry creator.|amazonuk=[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] <amazonuk>0434023183</amazonuk!-- Curran -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Marie Phillips"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690133.jpg|titlelink=The Table Of Less Valued Knightshttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690133/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |ratingstyle=4.5"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||genre=Fantasy|summary=Sir Humphrey has been demoted from King Arthur=[[My Lady's Round Table to the Table of Lesser Valued KnightsChoosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star. The only way to get his comfier seat back is to redeem himself via a quest. Therefore when damsel Elaine seeks help to find her kidnapped fiancéjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], Humphrey and his ward, the teenage giant Conrad, eagerly set forth. Meanwhile in the kingdom [[:Category:Historical Fiction|Historical Fiction]] You are a lass of Tufttwenty eight. Plucky, new Queen Martha has run away after penniless and in Regency era London the race is on to find a disastrous wedding to… a… well… disastrous Prince Edwinsuitable suitor - or else doom yourself to life as an eternal spinster. She may not realise it yet, but she too will have Along your journey you'll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood - a fiesty noble eager to save you from a life alone, and fired by a job rogueish sense for Humphrey!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555875</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Tim Flannery|title=The Mystery of the Venus Island Fetish|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Meet Archie Meek. He's about adventure. When it comes to suitors though, you'll have to leave make the Venus Islandsultimate decision between witty, where he's lived for pretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, wholesome, rugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, or the last five yearsmad, bad and return to Sydneyterrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. With orphans, werewolves, where he'll take his office in long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the museum and fill way, it with all the cultural artefacts he's found and wildlife he's plucked or pickledclear this isn't going to be an easy decision... That[[My Lady's not to ignore the fact he'll count as something quite alien himself, with his filled-out frame, nearly all-over suntan Choosing by Kitty Curran and totemic tattoo, in amongst other changes to his bodyLarissa Zageris|Full Review]] <!-- Jester -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Jester_Forever. But what's thisjpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1510704361? When he gets back, he finds one of the main Venus Islands artefacts that caused him to go there in the first place, ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1510704361]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Forever After: a huge, macabre ceremonial fetish mask, purloined as corporate artworkdark comedy by David Jester]]=== [[image:4star. And some of the curators he wishes to work alongside have vanished. Is the weird society of the museum he's returning tojpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]], perchance[[:Category:Horror|Horror]], even weirder, stranger [[:Category:Fantasy|Fasntasy]] Michael Holland is a cocky and more violent than brash young man who dies and gets made the offer of his lifetime; immortality. We follow Michael, a grim reaper and his friends Chip (a stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (a stoner in the cannibalistic society he's waving farewell records department) as they grapple with their long lives and finding a clean surface to?|amazonuk=sit on in their flat. [[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] <amazonuk!-- Stibbe -->1922079308</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Roman Dirge-|titlestyle=The Cat with a Really Big Head"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|ratingleft|link=3https://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=Graphic Novels|summarythebookbag-21&linkCode= How many picture books are there about cats? And how many do you know that you would really NOT prefer your children to see? If the answer to the second question is 'none – yet', scratch that last word. The title piece in this collection is, as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241309824]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by the author's own admissionNina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], his imagining of the Joseph Merrick (the 'Elephant Man') [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]] Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. You only have to think about the feline world turkey for that – who struggles to sneak up behind once upon a mouse when time it was leaving it sat on the shadow of his head is a total giveawaydownstairs loo to defrost overnight, and who can hardly even eat with dignity as bending down if that failed the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Nowadays it's all having to his bowl would break his neck. If thatmake sure it's suitably free-range and organic – but not too dark or oddball for youorganic that you can go and visit it, and get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, try the second major piecethough, which has is of course also a most revealing foreword – time of great boons. It''Dedicated to s cash in hand for a certain girl… I hope your life is filled lot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, it was always a godsend for postmen with wonderful accomplishments, love and all the magic thank-you letters to aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you desire… write out in long- But I hope your death is slow hand as a child, and horrible.''as for the makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and sell them any other time of the year? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782762876</amazonuk!-- Doescher -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Val Hennessy"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=Not Far From Dreamland|rating=4[[image:Doescher_Will.5jpg|genre=General Fictionleft|summarylink=Ronald Tonks has reached that stage in life which I call upper middle agehttps: you've qualified for your pension but not yet got to the free television licence barrier//www.amazon.co. What Ronald ''has'' got is a roof that leaks (there's good reason why his home is called uk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=159474985X]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[William Shakespeare's the shack'), a dog who is going bald (in patches) and money that's in very short supply. On Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the plus side he has friends, mostly platonic and usually in much the same boat as RonaldSeventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4. But are they downhearted? Well, they are occasionally, but mostly they're generously optimistic and out to make the most of what they've got, usually bought from charity shops and jumble sales5star. ''Not Far From Dreamland'' is the story of a year (2012) in the life of Ronald Tonks, his friends and relatives.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0704373874</amazonuk>jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreview|author=Harry HarrisonStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|title=BillScience Fiction]], the Galactic Hero[[:Category:Humour|rating=3.5Humour]]|genre=Science Fiction|summary=Meet Bill. He's a simple farmer – wellA long time ago, he ''is'' taking a correspondence course in being a Technical Fertiliser Operator – but fate has something else in store. And so does the mechanisedgalaxy far away, technologicalthere was a man called William Shakespeare, industrial military, which needs several billion grunts who was able to fight the Chingerscreate a series of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul, in mankind's first inter-galactic warrulers most evil and rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. StillYou may or may not have noticed the cinematic version of his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken'', but here at least he gets medals just for signing up. After that it's all downhill, and last we get the likes of Petty Chief Officer Deathwish Drang can only make that a straight line down. Reallyactual script, what hope is there?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>147320531X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Ian Doescher|title=complete with annoying-in-different-ways-to-before droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, and people keeping it in the family til it hurts. And if you need further encouragement, don't forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the series is so popular we're on to part seven – surely making this over twice as good… [[William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menacethe Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher|Full Review]] <!-- Goss -->|rating=4.5-|genrestyle=Humour"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Goss_600.jpg|summaryleft|link= Join us, good gentles, for a merry reimagining of `Star Wars Episode 1' as only Shakespeare could have written ithttps://www.amazon. 'Tis a true Shakespearean drama, filled with sword fights, soliloquies and doomed romance…all in glorious iambic pentameter and coupled with gorgeous illustrationsco. Hold on to your midichlorians: The plays the thing, wherein you'll catch the rise of Anakin!|amazonukuk/gp/product/1785942719?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=<amazonuk>1594748063</amazonuk>1785942719]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Attaboy|title"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|=The Book ==[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of HugsTime Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies]]=== |rating=[[image:4.5star.jpg|genrelink=HumourCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|summary=A hugChildren's a hugRhymes and Verse]], OK? You either do, or you don't. Some people might be a little more enthusiastic about the process whilst others are more elegant in [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Consider the execution of the hug, but basically you just get on Doctor. Just how many birthday and do it and then forget about itChristmas gifts must he have to hand out each year, rightwere he to keep in touch with even half of his companions?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0867197978</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Christopher Fowler|title= Bryant He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the life of a Time Lord and May – The Burning Man|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary= The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU) has a new set that of some of overlordshis friends and enemies. For reasons that were explored As luck would have it, he has the space in the previous couple of outings they have been transferred his TARDIS to the City Of London Police. The Met are still the big players stock up in the area. City of London Police only police the old cityadvance, the square mileso my advice to him – sorry, the financial district in other words, that has very little in the way of street crime, because noher – would be to pop along to his local Earth-one lives there anymore based book emporium and the people who work there areget himself ready. And if you're working on a shorter timescale, with a shorter lifespan, by and largethinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, either too rich to need to steal, or too smart to have to do so on well my advice is pretty much the streetssame.[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857522043</amazonuk!-- Ingram -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Catharina Ingelman"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-Sundbergalign: center;"|[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|title=The Little Old Lady Who Struck Lucky Again! left|ratinglink=3.5https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]]  |genrestyle=Humour"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=Following the success of ''The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules'', the League of Pensioners are back – and this time==[[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], they’re in Vegas! [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It was something of a relief when I haven’t read the first book but it was on my list when the opportunity arose to review this oneencountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie. The idea of the League of Pensioners marching towards a fairer world through fun and frolics was hugely appealing You see, Annie knows something which has been self-evident to me and this is for a stand alone novel so I thought I would dive straight in long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating with this onehumans and not just on a level of food!, walk! or play!.You do require extensive training to become fluent, but most dogs will be perfectly willing to give their time to teach you and all you have to do is listen. Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and the pair have allowed us to share some of their conversations. [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]]|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447274903</amazonuk>}}{{newreview<!-- Harris -->|author=Winshluss-|titlestyle=In God We Trust"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/1908943823/ref=Graphic Novelsnosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|summary===[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris]]===To start with, a rhetorical test [[image:3star. How about God and Adam playing badminton day in and day outjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], until one gets bored and decides to create Eve? Or the defeater of Goliath [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Teenager Liam Glass is mugged and stabbed yards from his Camden flat. As the saviour of boy lies comatose, desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the Israelites being one Conan the Barbarian? Or this as inside scoop, tired police officer Andy Rockham searches for a test – Jesus Himself failing to have a successful session of tequila slammers with Gabriel due to the holes through His hands? I barely need mention that in these pages God does battle with Supermanmissing tape, harried politician Jamila Hasan fights for re-election, distraught mother Katrina Glass waits by her son, for you to have answered the test and put yourself firmly gym-owner Royland simply finds himself in one of two camps for the wrong place at the wrong time. We follow this book – one very much opposed to buying ithost of ensemble characters in a bleak, and one very much in favourkaleidoscopic satire of modern media.[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0861662350</amazonuk!-- LENTE -->}}{{newreview|author=David Walliams and Tony Ross-|titlestyle=The Queen's Orang"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-Utanalign: center;"|rating=5[[image:Lente_10.jpg|genrelink=For Sharing|summary=The Queen felt trapped in the palace with all those stuffed animals which she has been given on foreign tourshttp://www.amazon.co. There are mountains of them and every night she would dream of escaping. When her birthday drew near the family dutifully asked her what she would like as a presentuk/dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. The Prince was thinking jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Nine comedians are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the guise of a goldworking with Dustin Walker, diamond encrusted stairlift whilst the Duke was considering a great big bottle comedic legend. Each fits neatly into one of brandy. The Royal Baby had some decorated thimbles in mindthe archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, but the Queen became just a little snappish as she explained that what she really wanted was 'One's own orangwashed-up has-utan'. And she didn't mean been who has fallen far from his early days; Zoe, the rising female star with a stuffed onenew stand-up special coming soon; Dante, either.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0008135134</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Jack Sheffield|title=Silent Night|rating=3.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=I read a couple of Jack Sheffield’s books about five years agowho went from being a kid on the streets to the hardest working road comic in the business; Oliver, and enjoyed them very much. They were written in the child-like prop comic who can't get any respect from his peers; Janet, the insult comic who is past her prime; TJ, the nightly variety show host with a similar style to those popularised by, reputation for instanceharassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, James Herriot or [[:Category:Gervase Phinn|Gervase Phinn]]the ultra-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulder; and William, told mostly in whose redneck character ''Billy the first person, describing the author’s first couple of years Contractor'' is a far cry from his real personality as Headmaster at a small village primary school in Yorkshire. The village of Ragley is fictionalposh millionaire. Of course, as are most all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on a beam of the characterslight and asks for your help, but what the incidents and situations encountered hell else are based on the author’s experience.you going to say?'' [[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Scott -->0552167045</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=J Robert Lennon-|titlestyle=See You In Paradise"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=3[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|genrelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788037006/ref=Short Storiesnosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Lennon writes with a relaxed, easy style and his characters are instantly recognisable as people from everyday walks of life"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Elizabeth, without being in any way stereotypicalWilliam... Many of the people in these stories are dealing with normal frustrations, and Lennon is cleverly detached enough not to make them individuals that you're obviously supposed to root for (the only exception is the industrialist in the eponymous tale, who is an archetypal capitalist fat cat)Me by S Lynn Scott]]=== [[image:4.5star. There are some very clever characterisations – in ''Weber’s Head'', for example, the narrator jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, a flawed individual whose opinions of his housemate are gradually revealed to be unreliable husband and unfaira job. For me, Then comes the day when ordinariness flies out of the most unsettling story is window. It's not a coincidence that it'No Life'', because it portrays a decent couple at s the mercy of people more powerful same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I in the pantry and influential than them. There is no supernatural or bizarre element at work here, just ordinary characters at the mercy Bard of social powerAvon in her bath.What's she going to do? Well, Elizabeth and Will have their own ideas about that! [[Elizabeth, William... and Me by S Lynn Scott|Full Review]]|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781253358</amazonuk>}}{{newreview<!-- Rodford -->|author=Lynne Truss-|titlestyle=Cat out of Hell"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?tag=3thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Horror"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=Meet Alec Charlesworth. He==[[The Surgeon's retired and decamped to an isolated coastal cottage with just his dog and loving memories of his colleague wife, now that she has died before her timeCase: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star. But the fusty librarian cannot rest too long before engaging in exploring some unusual computer files that were pinged across by someone at jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the college he worked atsecond instalment of this series, just before he left. Bizarrely they show photographic and audio evidence of a talking cat called Roger, replete with Vincent Price voice – although they are also damaged by being included alongside Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired by a well-known local man to track down some bad screenplay attempts about said catmissing valuables. WorryinglyBill Galbraith, we soon see what a world-famous surgeon at the most only Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts a few popular medical television programme, has had his briefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servant, Aurora. According to Galbraith, this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his at the hospital. George agrees to look into the characters cantheft, that this cat is being accompanied by unusual assuming it will be a relatively easy and unexpected death straightforward case – much like Aleclittle does he know, he's wifeabout to enter a world of deceit and dysfunction. It[[The Surgeon's only when Roger testifies to having been pushed through the ends of endurance and out the other side that we begin to doubt where the true evil in this story lies…Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Jordan -->0099585340</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Jimmy Hansen and Mychailo Kazybird-|titlestyle=Wallace & Gromit "width: 10%; vertical-align: The Complete Newspaper Strips Collection Vol 2top; text-align: center;"|rating=4[[image:Jordan_Tiny.jpg|genrelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1760293814/ref=nosim?tag=Humourthebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=For me there are two important areas of the cover of this book where three letters are arranged in meaningful ways"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]=== [[image:5star. The first is with the S-U-N in their obligatory red and white font. No minor paper could hold Wallace and Gromitjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]], their adventures have to be in what [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] As predicted by Caroline and Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry's wedding day, their marriage is (unfortunately) the most widely read tabloid in the countryover, albeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. And elsewhere Indeed, this is C-B-E, suggesting that even definitely not a good weekend for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the storytellers at Aardman Animations who are not household names are feted and revered as artistic experts, raising many laughs split and much money for the country courtesy awkwardness of their creative outputthe girls' schoolteacher being the other woman for a start. Together these short collections of letters show just how much WaG are major creations, and if Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving the proof was needed this much longer collection of their daily comic strips provides it in spadesneighbours.At least Janice is well adjusted and over her ex-husband Alec. She still dreams of him, yes, but it's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the door? [[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>1782760822</amazonuk!-- Taylor -->}}{{newreview|-|titlestyle=Dear Committee Members"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Julie Schumacher[[image:Taylor_Scilly.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.5|genre=General Fictionamazon.co.uk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Jason Fitger (Jay) is a Professor of creative writing and literature at a small university in the American mid"vertical-align: top; text-west. He is also align: left;"|===[[The Life of a frustrated novelist with a colourful personal history, much of which bleeds into his professional life, with interesting results.|amazonukScilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]===<amazonuk>0007586345</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Mapp and Lucia Omnibus[[image:4.5star.jpg|authorlink=E F Benson|Category:{{{rating=3.5}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|genre=Humour|summary=Miss Elizabeth Mapp rules Travel]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the town Isles of Tilling - she is Scilly. (I know they should be called that – the author provides a handy guide to the centre etiquette of the social lifetheir name, their nature and spends her days enjoying bridgelocation, polite conversation and civilised paintingetc. When Mrs Emmeline Lucas arrives ) For our more distant readers, they're several chunks of granite rock out in town (known to all as Lucia)the Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, Miss Mapp finds her life truly shaken upwith just 2, as the cultured200 permanent residents. They're big on tourism, fashionable and progressive Lucia makes her home big on growing flowers in the town, and swiftly rises to tropical climate the top of Gulf Stream bequeaths them – although the ranks amongst the social scene in Tillingweather is bad enough to turn any car to a rust bucket within years.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849908478</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Encyclopedia Paranoiaca|author=Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=We're screwed. Wherever we look, whatever we think of doingThey're so wee, and so idyllic-seeming, especially at night, you can be mistaken for thinking there is would be no need for a reason why we shouldn't be doing it, and people to back that reason up with scientific datapolice presence. Take But there is – at least two working at any aspect one time. And one of your daily life – what you eatthem in recent years has been Colin Taylor, how you work, how you rest even, what you touch who has done his official duty – all have problems that could provoke alongside maintaining a serious illness or worse. And outside that daily sphere there are economic disasterswell-known online existence, nuclear meltdowns, errant AI scientists and passing comets that could turn our world upside down at which has brought to life all the blink whimsical comedy of an eyehis work. Perhaps then you better read this book first – for it may well turn out to be your last…[[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>0715649213</amazonuk!-- Lloyd -->}}{{newreview|-|titlestyle=Diary of a Mad Diva"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Joan Rivers[[image:Lloyd_Twas.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Humour"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=The late Joan Rivers was, without a doubt, a character==[['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3. Actress, comedian, writer, director, presenter, she was well known in the USA and beyond for her sharp tongue and no holds barred persona5star. This was the last of the dozen books she published, her final title before her death in September 2014.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0425269027</amazonuk>jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}}Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]]{{newreview|title=The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy - The Nearly Definitive Edition|author=Douglas Adams|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=There are few series that have garnered such a cult following as 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the GalaxyIt's Christmas Eve and Mum has arranged everything. Whether All she now has to do is await the fans have come from arrival of the radio series, the (impossibly hard) computer game, or relatives and the (well intentioned but not particularly good) film, they are everywherefood shopping delivery. Ask a room of people what Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have the meaning of life is, and you can be pretty sure a good few will pipe up with '42potential to ruin everything. [[' as Twas the answer.Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434023396</amazonuk!-- Phinn -->}}{{newreview|title=Quick Pint After Work-|authorstyle=Luke Lewis"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=4[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|genre=Humourleft|summarylink=BuzzFeed is one of the world’s best time sucks, and I’m regularly directed to the site by links from Facebook and Twitter, in between browsing the app on my phonehttp://www.amazon.co. According to the author bio on this book, BuzzFeed is uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Virgin Mary'a social news and entertainment company', which is a fancy way of describing lots of fun lists that speak to the readership (20 words that have a completely different meaning in Manchester, 30 Things all ex-gymnasts know to be true, 40 Very British problems, yadda yadda yadda)s Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4.5star. These list work well on line when you want a quick distraction, and they’re easy to flip through, looking at the attached photos or video clips. The question then, is whether or not BuzzFeed the book will have the same appeal.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751557730</amazonuk>jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreviewStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|author=Graeme SimsionHumour]], [[:Category:Anthologies|title=The Rosie EffectAnthologies]]|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=Following inadvertent success with Christmas in our house is the Wife Projecttime we tend to get on a plane and head to either sun or snow, Professor Don Tillman and his new bride Rosie have moved anywhere that is far, far away from Australia the madness at home, last minute dashes to New York. Although Don's position on the autistic scale is subjective, he still operates shops on a daily basis of structured proceduresChristmas Eve, lists and logic. Rosie can generally handle that but there food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are choppy waters aheadshutting for a month, nor a mere 36 hours. With But I do remember the patter feeling of tiny feet imminent logic goes out Christmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, and back when you knew exactly what the window as she struggles season would bring with her PhD while Don struggles to find his place in the baby production processcarol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. At least he has his drinking buddies to support him – This book is an aging rock drummer anthology of those moments, and it took me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a friend whose wife has thrown him out for infidelitychild. What could possibly go wrong?[[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718179471</amazonuk!-- North -->}}{{newreview|-|titlestyle=Burnt Tongues"width: An Anthology of Transgressive Short Stories10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Chuck Palahniuk, Dennis Widmyer and Richard Thomas[[image:North_Romeo.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0356508536/ref=nosim?tag=4thebookbag-21]] |genre=Short Stories|summarystyle=Saying certain things out loud just don’t sound right. Some things are so disturbing "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Romeo and/or politically incorrect that you are best off leaving them inside your head, or better yet not thinking of them at allJuliet by Ryan North]]=== [[image:3. When these words are spoken they could lead to the sensation of Burnt Tongue; an aftereffect of knowing what you said was wrong5star. Are you prepared to enter the world of Transgressive Fiction that aims to disturb, alienate, disgust and question?jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>178329552X</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreviewStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|author=Sammy LookerHumour]]|title=Something Nasty in the Slushpile|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=I couldn't resist the title - a neat play For all those who think tragedy plots are too restricted and prescribed, read on [[Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons|Cold Comfort Farm]] and I'm sure that . In these pages you'll understand too will see that I was expecting some examples Romeo had lots of the horrors options en route to be found amongst hitting the mountain bottle. Likewise, she could have turned away from her predestined path at no end of unsolicited manuscripts which every publisher accumulatesjunctures. I'll confess I was expecting And to gigglewhat result? Well, even to groan - unkindhappy marriage and a kid called Ben, I know - because the leads have just banged people's heads together and I'd mentally shelved the book with stopped the triviaquarrelling, or Death by Tybalt (him) or a long life running an establishment curing murderous women, such as a Lady M (hopefullyher) the humour. There is that element to the book, but there's also something far more useful. If you're thinking about publishing a book this should be required reading ''before'' you even go near a publisher.[[Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472111028</amazonuk>Full Review]]}}{{newreview|author=The Queen|title=Still Reigning|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=Anyone who frequents Twitter will know that it's a mixed blessing. It's a mine of wonderful information and supportive camaraderie. It's also <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE - unfortunately - home to a lot of people who take great pleasure in causing pain to others. But in amongst all this are a few gems and one of them is [https://twitter.com/Queen_UK @Queen_UK], a delightful satire on members of the royal family, celebrities, the political classes and the state of Her Majesty's nation. Or, ''one's nation'' as Ma'am would say. ''Still Reigning'' is her second book, after ''Gin O'Clock'' and it's the sort of parody which leaves you wondering if the writer might not be someone ''very'' close to the original.>|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0715649132</amazonuk>}}