Changes

[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|authorclass-"wikitable" cellpadding=Jonathan Pugh"15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->|title=Pugh's New Year's Resolutions|rating=4.5<!-- Coulton -->|genre=Humour-|summarystyle=If there's one thing that's for certain, it's that the world is changing"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co. We're dating online, we're communicating in ways that make email seem redundant, and when we're shopping we just tell a website where and when it can be delivered, and how much leeway they have to swap our wishes for whatever it is they do bring usuk/dp/1473669588/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]=== [[image:4star. But those changes are also supposed to be affecting us – wejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Women're supposed to use a smart watch to tell us if wes Fiction|Women're moving or nots Fiction]] Lex Coulton's debut novel is a story about mistakes, failures, and relationships. The main protagonist, Frances Pilgrim, we have to keep up is a sixth form English teacher who has recently fallen out with the latest fadsher best friend Jackson, a work colleague, and we're supposed to prick our ears up and take note when is grappling with the increasingly eccentric behaviour of her mother. This relationship is complicated by the proverbial fact that Frances'they' change their minds about what we're supposed to eats father disappeared at sea when she was five years old.[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780722885</amazonuk!-- van LENTE -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= Luke Rhinehart"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= Invasion[[image:1683690346.jpg|ratinglink= 4http://www.amazon.5|genre= Humour co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Super"vertical-align: top; text-intelligent furry aliens suddenly appear from another universealign: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. And they've come to earth to have fun. Alien Louie follows fisherman Billy Morton home one dayjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and he sanctuary for many people, and his family quickly come to love the playful alien. But when Louie starts using their computer to hack into government and corporate networkswhen Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, stealing millions from banks to give to others, they realise he's looking for both that Louie and his friends mean trouble. As Billy sanctuary with other fans and his family begin a roller coaster ride creators, plus the chance of fame and fortunemaybe, as well as a ranking high on the FBI's most wanted listjust maybe reuniting with his ex. However, the Government soon decides that these aliens are terroristswhen his rival is found dead, and must be eliminated. Whilst the aliens are playing games they hope will help humans Mike is forced to see the insanity navigate every dark corner of the American politicalcon in order to clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, economic and military systemsin doing so, they soon come to realise that the Powers that Be don't play games: they make warmay just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator. [[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>1785651757</amazonuk!-- Curran -->}}{{newreview|author=Rod Green-|titlestyle=Only Fools and Horses"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: The Peckham Archivescenter;"|rating=4[[image:1683690133.jpg|genrelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690133/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|==Entertainment |summary=We are in the world of one of the country[[My Lady's most famous Choosing by Kitty Curran and well-loved sitcoms – even if it was sort-of killed off for Christmas 2003Larissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star. Yesjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], there have been specials since[[:Category:Historical Fiction|Historical Fiction]] You are a lass of twenty eight. Plucky, penniless and more repeats to clog up in Regency era London the BBC schedules than race is really pukka, but very few people failed on to succumb find a suitable suitor - or else doom yourself to its charms at one time or anotherlife as an eternal spinster. IAlong your journey you'm sure there have been books before now celebrating the stonyll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood -faced reception of ''that'' drop through the open bar hatcha fiesty noble eager to save you from a life alone, and ''that'' chandelier scenefired by a rogueish sense for adventure. When it comes to suitors though, but this is much more meaty. Purporting you'll have to be make the family archivesultimate decision between witty, pretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, wholesome, found dumped in Nelson Mandela Houserugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, or the documents here were passed from pillar to postmad, from one council worker in a department with a clumsy acronym to anotherbad and terrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. With orphans, werewolves, from them to long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the police – and now here they are being published for their social history worth. Will enough readers find them of worthway, as the series quietly celebrates its 35th birthday?it's clear this isn't going to be an easy decision... [[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849909245</amazonuk!-- Jester -->}}{{newreview|author= Mara Wilson-|titlestyle= Where Am I Now?"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Famecenter;"|[[image:Jester_Forever.jpg|ratingleft|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1510704361?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN= 51510704361]] |genre= Autobiography|summarystyle= Mara Wilson has always felt "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Forever After: a little young and a little out of placedark comedy by David Jester]]=== [[image: as the only child on a film set full of adults, the first daughter in a house full of boys4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]], the sole clinically depressed member of a cheerleading squad[[:Category:Horror|Horror]], [[:Category:Fantasy|Fasntasy]] Michael Holland is a valley girl in New York cocky and a neurotic in Californiabrash 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 an adult Naff (a stoner in the world still remembers records department) as they grapple with their long lives and finding a little girl. Tackling everything from how she first learned about sex clean surface to sit on the set of ''Melrose Place,'' to losing her mother at in their flat. [[Forever After: a young age, to getting her first kiss (or was it kisses?) on a celebrity canoe trip, to not being cute enough to make it in Hollywood, these essays tell the story of one young woman's journey from accidental fame to relative obscurity, but also illuminate a universal struggledark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] <!-- Stibbe -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: learning to accept yourself, and figuring out who you are and where you belong. top; text-align: center;"|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0143128221</amazonuk>}}{{newreview[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|author= Tony Stuartleft|titlelink= Writing Lines|ratinghttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN= 4.50241309824]]  |genrestyle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe]]=Humour== [[image:4.5star.jpg|summarylink= George Gordon Wentworth (1946-2011) lived a humdrum lifeCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]] Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. He was a barely adequate teacher in You only have to think about the turkey for that – once upon a fairly world renowned independent school in Kent and kept a copious diary of his quotidian existence. Most of what he recorded time it was dross. Howeverleaving it sat on the downstairs loo to defrost overnight, amongst all the utterly uninteresting tailings of his life there were some nuggets and grains to catch the attention. Author Tony Stuart has created these amusing anecdotes, panning them out over twenty six episodes which give us if that failed the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best of Wentworth – comedy goldbet. From losing Nowadays it's all the pupils in his charge on a school trip having to being arrested on suspicion of terrorism; from waking up in bed between the married couple the morning after their wedding, to destroying a ski run; from appearing fullmake sure it's suitably free-frontal naked in a sheep-farmers' gazette to triggering an air-sea rescue; Wentworth was, blinkered range and befuddled, the subject organic – of these and so many more unlikely but highly amusing events.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1524634441</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Graham Fulbright|title=Driving Mad: Maniacsnot too organic that you can go and visit it, Morons and the Advanced Motorist's Club|rating=3get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, though, is of course also a time of great boons.5|genre=Humour|summary=I passed my driving test when John F Kennedy was It's cash in the White House and I've recently had to reapply hand for my driving licence having achieved a venerable age. When I started driving lot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, it was always a godsend for postmen with all the roads were kinder, more forgiving places thank-you letters to aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long- or put another wayhand as a child, and as for the idiots were fewer and further between. I don't know how long Graham Fulbright has been drivingmakers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, but he certainly knows his motoring morons did they even try and in ''Driving Mad'' he brings us a fictional sample sell them any other time of their eccentricities. Well, I'm pretty certain that they're fictional - but these days you never know...the year? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783062584</amazonuk!-- Doescher -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Mario Giordano"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|titleleft|link=Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions|ratinghttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=4|genreUTF8&tag=Crime|summarythebookbag-21&linkCode=Poldi had not long been widowed when she decided to move from Bavaria to Sicily with as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=159474985X]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the intention of drinking herself to death. She could, of course, have done this in Germany, but she felt that a sea view was essentialSeventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4.5star. Once there, new friendsjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], family already resident on the island and the corpse of a young man[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, his face blown off by in a shotgungalaxy far away, whom she found on the local beachthere was a man called William Shakespeare, intervened who was able to give her life some meaning. For create a while she was a suspectseries of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul, but that (rulers most evil and her wig) were no obstacle to her falling for Commissario Vito Montana who was assigned to investigate the caserebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. Assisting him (You may or having him assist her) came naturally to Poldi and before long there was an investigative and personal partnership. At least so far as Poldi was concerned.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1908524693</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Grady Hendrix|title= My Best Friendmay not have noticed the cinematic version of his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken''s Exorcism|rating= 5|genre= Horror|summary=1988, Charlestonbut here at last we get the actual script, South Carolina. High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an evening of skinnycomplete with annoying-in-different-ways-to-dipping goes disatrously wrongbefore droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, Gretchen begins to act...different. She's moody. She's irritableand people keeping it in the family til it hurts. And bizarre incidents keep happening whenever sheif you need further encouragement, don's nearby. Abbyt 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 investigation leads her to some startling discoveries - and by the time their story reaches its terrifying conclusion, Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the fate of Abby and Gretchen will be determined Seventh by a single question: Is their friendship enough to beat the devil?Ian Doescher|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594748624</amazonuk!-- Goss -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= Kevin MacNeil"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=The Brilliant and Forever[[image:Goss_600.jpg|rating= 3.5left|genrelink= Humourhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785942719?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785942719]] |summary= You know sometimes when someone tells a joke, everyone else laughs, and you're sat there wondering what was so funny?|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1846973376</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|author= Christopher Fowler|title= Bryant and May: Strange Tide|rating= 3.5|genre= Crime[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|summarylink= The thirteenth outing for Bryant Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|Children's Rhymes and May is looking very much like it will be their lastVerse]], [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Consider the Doctor. Arthur Bryant is on compassionate leave whilst tests are continuingJust how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand out each year, which are likely were he to confirm that he is suffering from Alzheimer's. His condition is worsening almost by keep in touch with even half of his companions? He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the day, memory lapses are morphing into full-scale hallucinations.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857523422</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Kevin Smith|title=The Voyage life of the Dolphin|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Dublin 1916: Among the unrest a Time Lord and anti-British feeling worsened by the threat that of some of conscription into a war seen as nothing to do with the Irishhis friends and enemies. As luck would have it, Trinity College faculty he has other distractions. They'd like a trophy; the skeleton of an Irish 'giant' space in his TARDIS to be precise. The only glitch is that the main trophy contenderstock up in advance, Bernard MacNeill's skeletonso my advice to him – sorry, is somewhere difficult her – would be to pop along to access his local Earth-based book emporium and all seasoned explorers are otherwise engagedget himself ready. There may be hope though. They turn to FitzmauriceAnd if you're working on a shorter timescale, with a student not good enough for anything else. Fitzmaurice agreesshorter lifespan, picking his friends Crozier and Rafferty to go with him. So… ''Gentlementhinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, lace up your strongest boots and pack your warmest underwear – we're all off to the bloody Arctic!'' Whether battle cry or epitaph, three men well my advice is pretty much the same. [[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and a dog… and an iguana… are going anyway.Russell T Davies|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910124826</amazonuk!-- Ingram -->|amazonus=<amazonus>1910124826</amazonus>}}{{newreview-|authorstyle=Tony Hawks"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=Once Upon a Time in the West… Country[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|rating=3left|genrelink=Travelhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]]  |summarystyle=I have often complained in a jokey voice to my partner about life in the sticks, and the way she moved me from an inner"vertical-city flat to slumming it in the suburbs align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Conversations with fewer bussesKammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], no takeaways within walking-[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram andher cocker spaniel Kammie. You see, Annie knows something which has been self-keeping-food-hot distance, and no 'Polish' shops evident to me for a can long time: dogs are perfectly capable of beer whenever you fancy one. Things are different communicating with Tony Hawkshumans and not just on a level of food!, as here he has purposefully decided walk! or play!. You do require extensive training to up sticks from London become fluent, but most dogs will be perfectly willing to Somewhere, Devon – a tiny village where the people who built give their own homes decades ago still live in them, where slugs are a lot more of a problem for the wannabe lettuce-grower than they are for the metropolitan commuter, time to teach you and where village halls all you have the power to turn you into both a Pol Pot dictator if you get on their committee do is listen. Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and into a quivering, bruise-inducing wreck if you're the wrong gender at a Zumba class…pair have allowed us to share some of their conversations. [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444794809</amazonuk!-- Harris -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Marian Keyes"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=Making It Up As I Go Along[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.5|genre=Entertainmentco.uk/dp/1908943823/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|summary=Oh, how the book reviewing gods like to give, and equally like to take away. Here before me is a brand==[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris]]=== [[image:3star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], spanking new collection of journalism by the wonderful Marian Keyes – but it's a proof copy, so there's no photo of the author[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Teenager Liam Glass is mugged and stabbed yards from his Camden flat. Even if over As the years I have stopped reading her novelsboy lies comatose, I have always turned to desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the author picture to remind myself such sights exist in this world. Himself is inside scoop, tired police officer Andy Rockham searches for a lucky manmissing tape, harried politician Jamila Hasan fights for sure. But beyond sounding like a letchre-election, what can I say about this – the beauty's third large dose of essaysdistraught mother Katrina Glass waits by her son, web columns and other journalism? I can start with agreeing that I am not gym-owner Royland simply finds himself in the wrong place at the target audiencewrong time. We follow this host of ensemble characters in a bleak, but it's easy enough to see from these pages exactly what the target iskaleidoscopic satire of modern media. So much like that test you do – you know the one, that formulates decisions about the age and commonality of all things in space to come up with how many billions of planets are likely to have alien life on – you can narrow things down quite readily here, and still come up with a huge number[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] <!-- LENTE -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lente_10.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>0718182529<http://amazonuk>}}www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] {{newreview|authorstyle= Jean"vertical-align: top; text-Yves Ferrialign: left;"|title= Asterix and the Missing Scroll (Album 36)|rating= 5|genre= For Sharing|summary=Asterix is those rarest of book series; one designed for kids which is actually even funnier when you [[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Nine comedians are an adult. I used invited to love Asterix as a childremote Caribbean island under the guise of working with Dustin Walker, but now that I reread them I can't help but wonder whya comedic legend. Each fits neatly into one of the archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, the washed-up has-been who has fallen far from his early days; Zoe, because they are so full of hilarious jokes that I definitely wouldn't have understood when I was younger. I laughed loud and hard to myself twice within the first two pages of Asterix and the Missing Scrollrising female star with a new stand-up special coming soon; Dante, so I'd definitely say that this was who went from being a hit.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1510100458</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Spadge Whittaker|title=Braver Than Britainkid on the streets to the hardest working road comic in the business; Oliver, Occasionally|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=In which Spadge researches Britainthe child-like prop comic who can's top ten fears and faces them all over t get any respect from his peers; Janet, the course of a year. We're quite insult comic who is past her prime; TJ, the nightly variety show host with a fearful societyreputation for harassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, you know. And the things we fear most areultra-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulder; and William, in order: heights (acrophobia), snakes (ophidiophobia)whose redneck character ''Billy the Contractor'' is a far cry from his real personality as a posh millionaire. Of course, public speaking (glossophobia)all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on a beam of light and asks for your help, spiders (arachnophobia), small spaces (claustrophobia), mice (musophobia), needles (trypanophobia), flying (pteromerhanophobia), crowds (agoraphobia) and clowns (coulrophobia).what the hell else are you going to say?'' [[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0993429904</amazonuk!-- Scott -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= Mike Bullen"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|titlelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788037006/ref= Trustnosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]|rating= 4|genre= General Fiction|summarystyle= Greg and Amanda are happy"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Elizabeth, William. Unmarried, but together thirteen years and with two young daughters, they are very much in love. Dan and Sarah aren't so fortunate. Their marriage is going through the motions, and they're staying together for the sake of their troubled teenage sonMe by S Lynn Scott]]=== [[image:4. Following a business conference away from home, one bad decision sends a happy couple into turmoil, and turns an unhappy couple into love's young dream5star. As secrets and betrayals threaten to send both relationships out of control, there's only one thing that can keep everything from falling apartjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category: TrustHumour|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751559253</amazonuk>Humour]]}}{{newreview|author=Dan Rhodes|title=When Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, a husband and a job. Then comes the Professor Got Stuck in day when ordinariness flies out of the Snow|rating=4window.5|genre=General Fiction|summary= Two people are on a train on their way to, of all things, a WI meeting where It's not a coincidence that it's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I in the ladies of All Bottoms will be lectured on pantry and the non-existence Bard of GodAvon in her bath. One of the two people is Professor Richard DawkinsWhat's she going to do? Well, rampant atheist, hectoring scientist chappieElizabeth and Will have their own ideas about that! [[Elizabeth, William... and allMe by S Lynn Scott|Full Review]] <!-- Rodford --round devotee of ''Deal or No Deal''. The other is Smee, his mono>|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-named assistant, amanuensis or 'male secretary'align: center;"|[[image:Rodford_Surgeon. Smee will come to the fore when the weather sets in and the train journey has to be abandoned some way short of its ultimate destination, Upper Bottomjpg|link=http://www.amazon.co. Instead the pair fetch up at the isolated yet friendly community of Market Horton, and the only option for accommodation is taken – yes, the dieduk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-inalign: top; text-the-wool non-believer has to be housed align: left;"|===[[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by a retired vicar and his wifeE G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star. This clash of titanic opinions, peppered with social faux pas aplenty will provide for a particularly English kind of farcical comedy, but one with the legs to go as far as any other Good Books have reached in the past…jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1910709018</amazonuk>}}Category:{{{newreviewrating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|author=Rob TempleCrime]], [[:Category:Humour|title=Very British Problems Abroad|rating=4Humour]]|genre=Humour|summary=Meet, if you haven't already, In the phenomenon second instalment of the Very British Problemthis series, Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired by a well-known local man to track down some missing valuables. In this format theyBill Galbraith, a world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke're in pithy little comments (ofs Hospital who hosts a popular medical television programme, ooh, about 140 characters has had his briefcase stolen by his live-in lengthdomestic servant, for some reason…) and detail the minor things in life that we like nothing more than Aurora. According to inflate to a major factor Galbraith, this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of lifehis at the hospital. They can involve mannersGeorge agrees to look into the theft, staring at things until they mend themselves, hitting things ditto, or the fact that nobody apart from you assuming it will be a relatively easy and I straightforward case – little does he know how , he's about to queue properly. And if the idea hits the world outside our shores, then – well, you certainly have a book full of content regarding our attitude and ineptitude abroadenter a world of deceit and dysfunction.[[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Jordan -->0751558494</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Fraser McAlpine-|titlestyle=Stuff Brits Like"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=4[[image:Jordan_Tiny.jpg|genrelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1760293814/ref=Humournosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle= With over 100 chapters on different aspects of Britain and Britishness"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Our Tiny, this book is both fascinating and hilariousUseless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]=== [[image:5star. Just looking at the list of subjects is enough to produce a sardonic twist of that stiff upper lipjpg|link=Category: the chapters cover topics that range from offal to curry{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]], from pedantry to banter[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] As predicted by Caroline and Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry's wedding day, from conkers to rugbytheir marriage is over, albeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. There may be many chapters but Indeed, this is no academic tome - each chapter is just two definitely not a good weekend for Janice to three pages long, each is written with endearing affection, each be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the split and the awkwardness of the girls' schoolteacher being the other woman for a start. Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving the neighbours. At least Janice is easy well adjusted and satisfying over her ex- and quirkily funny - to readhusband Alec.|amazonuk=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|Full Review]] <amazonuk>1857886348</amazonuk!-- Taylor -->}}|-{{newreview|author| style= John Samuel"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= What I Tell You in the Dark[[image:Taylor_Scilly.jpg|ratinglink= 3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle= Humour"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|summarylink=A man called Will is fighting fiercely against corruption – desperate to expose his company's dodgy dealings Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the Isles of Scilly. (I know they should be called that – the author provides a handy guide to the press. Overcome with doubt etiquette of their name, their nature and fearlocation, he goes to kill himselfetc. But) For our more distant readers, at the exact moment he attaches his noose to the back they're several chunks of granite rock out in the doorAtlantic, he where Cornwall is saved. By a curious housemate or a concerned girlfriend? Nopointing, with just 2, by an Angel200 permanent residents. Not the white-feathered guardian Angel you may expect, but one who wishes to help Will achieve his endsThey're big on tourism, and so possess big on growing flowers in the body of tropical climate the hapless Will in order to finish what he started. It goes without saying that Gulf Stream bequeaths them – although the Angel weather is hoping things go better than they did with the last guy he possessed – bad enough to turn any car to a rust bucket within years. They're so wee, and so idyllic-seeming, especially at night, you can be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a hapless young man from Galilee called Jesus…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0715650505</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= John Niven|title= The Sunshine Cruise Company|rating= 4police presence. But there is – at least two working at any one time.5|genre= Humour|summary= Susan Frobisher and Julie Wickham live And one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a small Dorset town. Friends since schoolwell-known online existence, they live fairly uneventful lives – Susan which has a lovely house and a lengthy marriage brought to accountant Barry, whereas Julie is doing slightly less well – living in a council flat and working in an old people's homelife all the whimsical comedy of his work. When Barry is found dead trussed up in [[The Life of a sex dungeon, it transpires that he has been leading a hidden life for years, and his expensive fetishes lead to the bank moving to take Susan's homeScilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|Full Review]] <!-- Lloyd -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_Twas. Struck by both desperation and a sense of injustice, Sue and Julie conspire to rob a bank, taking along their friend Jill – a devout Christian conflicted due to lack of money and a terminally ill grandson, and Ethel – a foul mouthed resident of the nursing home longing for adventurejpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>0434023183</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Marie Phillips"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=The Table Of Less Valued Knights|rating=4.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=Sir Humphrey has been demoted from King Arthur[['s Round Table to Twas the Table of Lesser Valued KnightsFight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3. The only way to get his comfier seat back is to redeem himself via a quest5star. Therefore when damsel Elaine seeks help to find her kidnapped fiancé, Humphrey jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It's Christmas Eve and his ward, the teenage giant Conrad, eagerly set forthMum has arranged everything. Meanwhile in All she now has to do is await the kingdom arrival of Tuft, new Queen Martha has run away after a disastrous wedding to… a… well… disastrous Prince Edwinthe relatives and the food shopping delivery. She may not realise it yet, but she too will Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have a job for Humphrey!the potential to ruin everything. [['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555875</amazonuk!-- Phinn -->}}{{newreview|author=Tim Flannery-|titlestyle=The Mystery of the Venus Island Fetish"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=3[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|genre=Historical Fictionleft|summarylink=Meet Archie Meekhttp://www. Heamazon.co.uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Virgin Mary's about to leave the Venus Islands, where he's lived for the last five yearsGot Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], and return to Sydney, where he'll take his office [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas in our house is the museum time we tend to get on a plane and fill it with all head to either sun or snow, anywhere that is far, far away from the cultural artefacts he's found and wildlife he's plucked or pickled. That's not madness at home, last minute dashes to ignore the fact he'll count as something quite alien himself, with his filled-out frameshops on Christmas Eve, nearly all-over suntan and totemic tattoofood cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, in amongst other changes to his bodynor a mere 36 hours. But what's this? When he gets I do remember the feeling of Christmas when I was younger, backwhen it was magical, he finds one of and back when you knew exactly what the main Venus Islands artefacts that caused him to go there in the first place, a huge, macabre ceremonial fetish mask, purloined as corporate artworkseason would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. And some This book is an anthology of the curators he wishes those moments, and it took me right back to work alongside have vanished. Is the weird society wonder of the museum he's returning to, perchance, even weirder, stranger and more violent than the cannibalistic society heChristmas as a child. [[The Virgin Mary's waving farewell to?Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1922079308</amazonuk!-- North -->}}{{newreview|author=Roman Dirge-|titlestyle=The Cat with a Really Big Head"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:North_Romeo.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/0356508536/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Graphic Novels"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary= How many picture books ==[[Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] For all those who think tragedy plots are there about cats? And how many do too restricted and prescribed, read on. In these pages you know too will see that you would really NOT prefer your children Romeo had lots of options en route to see? If hitting the answer to the second question is 'none – yet'bottle. Likewise, scratch that last wordshe could have turned away from her predestined path at no end of junctures. The title piece in this collection isAnd to what result? Well, happy marriage and a kid called Ben, by because the authorleads have just banged people's own admissionheads together and stopped the quarrelling, his imagining of the Joseph Merrick or Death by Tybalt (the 'Elephant Man'him) of the feline world – who struggles to sneak up behind or a mouse when the shadow of his head is long life running an establishment curing murderous women, such as a total giveaway, Lady M (her). [[Romeo and who can hardly even eat with dignity as bending down to his bowl would break his neck. If that's too dark /or oddball for you, try the second major piece, which has a most revealing foreword – ''Dedicated to a certain girl… I hope your life is filled with wonderful accomplishments, love and all the magic you desire… Juliet by Ryan North|Full Review]] <!-- Crowley -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text- But I hope your death is slow and horriblealign: center;"|[[image:Crowley_Shoot.''jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1782762876<http://amazonuk>www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1783296518/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Val Hennessy"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||title=Not Far From Dreamland==[[Shoot by Kieran Crowley]]===|rating=4[[image:4star.5jpg|genrelink=General FictionCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] |summary=Ronald Tonks has reached that stage in life which I call upper middle age: you've qualified for your pension but not yet got make something of a habit of being late to discover good writers, in this case getting to the free television licence barrierCrowley after he is no longer with us. What Ronald ''has'' got The result is a roof that leaks (there's good reason why his home what is called billed as 'the shack'), a dog who is going bald (in patches) and money thatan F.X. Shepherd mystery''s in very short supply. On with all the plus side he optimism of there being more to come has friendsthe poignancy of being, mostly platonic and usually in much if not the same boat as Ronald. But are they downhearted? Welllast of a short line, they are occasionally, but mostly they're generously optimistic and out to make the most certainly one of what they've got, usually bought from charity shops and jumble sales. ''Not Far From Dreamland'' is the story of a year (2012) in the life of Ronald Tonks, his friends and relativesa few.[[Shoot by Kieran Crowley|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->0704373874</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Harry Harrison|title=Bill, the Galactic Hero|rating=3.5|genre=Science Fiction|summary=Meet Bill. He's a simple farmer – well, he ''is'' taking a correspondence course in being a Technical Fertiliser Operator – but fate has something else in store. And so does the mechanised, technological, industrial military, which needs several billion grunts to fight the Chingers, in mankind's first inter-galactic war. Still, at least he gets medals just for signing up. After that it's all downhill, and the likes of Petty Chief Officer Deathwish Drang can only make that a straight line down. Really, what hope is there?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>147320531X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Ian Doescher|title=William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace|rating=4.5|genre=Humour|summary= Join us, good gentles, for a merry reimagining of `Star Wars Episode 1' as only Shakespeare could have written it. 'Tis a true Shakespearean drama, filled with sword fights, soliloquies and doomed romance…all in glorious iambic pentameter and coupled with gorgeous illustrations. Hold on to your midichlorians: The plays the thing, wherein you'll catch the rise of Anakin!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594748063</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Attaboy|title=The Book of Hugs|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=A hug's a hug, 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 the execution of the hug, but basically you just get on and do it and then forget about it, right?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0867197978</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Christopher Fowler|title= Bryant and May – The Burning Man|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary= The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU) has a new set of overlords. For reasons that were explored in the previous couple of outings they have been transferred to the City Of London Police. The Met are still the big players in the area. City of London Police only police the old city, the square mile, the financial district in other words, that has very little in the way of street crime, because no-one lives there anymore and the people who work there are, by and large, either too rich to need to steal, or too smart to have to do so on the streets.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857522043</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg|title=The Little Old Lady Who Struck Lucky Again! |rating=3.5|genre=Humour|summary=Following the success of ''The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules'', the League of Pensioners are back – and this time, they’re in Vegas! I haven’t read the first book but it was on my list when the opportunity arose to review this one. The idea of the League of Pensioners marching towards a fairer world through fun and frolics was hugely appealing to me and this is a stand alone novel so I thought I would dive straight in with this one.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447274903</amazonuk>}}