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[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]]__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{|class-"wikitable" cellpadding="15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE--><!-- van LENTE -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|link=Humourhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=__NOTOC__thebookbag-21]]

{{newreview|authorstyle=Nick Wadley"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||title=Man + Dog|rating=4.5|genre=Humour|summary[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]==Throughout my life I've lived with dogs or deeply regretted the fact that I lacked a canine companion. Watching a dog – or better still, the interaction between dogs – is infinitely better than anything on television and it's sheer joy to see how man and dog interacts and how, so often, they hold a mirror up to each other.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1564785521</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview[[image:4star.jpg|authorlink=The Harvard Lampoon|title=NightlightCategory: A Parody of Twilight |{{{rating=3.5}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|genre=Humour|summary=Most people will have heard of the worldwide phenomenon that is Crime]], [[Twilight by Stephenie Meyer:Category:Humour|TwilightHumour]]. The books by Stephenie Meyer and the film have made a legend of the romance between vampire Edward Mullen (Robert Pattinson plays the movie role) and teenage schoolgirl Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart).|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849013330</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Steven Lowe Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and Alan McArthur |title=Is it Just Me or Has the Shit Hit the Fan?: Your Hilarious New Guide to Unremitting Global Misery|rating=3|genre=Humour|summary=''The banks fell over like fat Labradors running over a wet kitchen floor.'' Surely that is the wackiestsanctuary for many people, most inappropriate simile for the credit crunch and all it has done for the world. You won't get any such nambywhen Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-pamby animal likenesses from these authorsCon, instead he's looking for both that and sanctuary with quite a potty mouth on them they will lambast the modern worldother fans and creators, plus the entire banking systemchance of maybe, all those who failed to see it coming, and those millions just seemingly waiting for us all to revert to high-interestmaybe reuniting with his ex. However, high-riskwhen his rival is found dead, high-lending capitalism, so they can get back on Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the expenses train, con in order to clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and back up the rich lists.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847443656</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Eoin Colfer|title=And Another Thing ... Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide intrusive fans to the Galaxy: Part Six of Three (Hitchhikers Guide 6) |rating=3.5|genre=Science Fiction|summary=Of all the big books announced for this year, this one zombie obstacle courses – Mike must have raised more eyebrows than many. Why try prove his innocence and write a new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book, when way before the end, its creator Douglas Adams was proving quite hopeless at such a task? And why approach an Irishman, Eoin Colfer, when the originals - tempered with their humour which could only be described as Monty Python in doing a sci-fi Terry Pratchettso, and with their cups of tea and dressing gowns, could only be described as very English? Well the answer is most evident - Colfer is may just unravel a world-beater when it comes to knocking up dark secret behind a storylegendary industry creator.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718155149</amazonuk>}}Full Review]]

{{newreview<!-- Coulton -->|author=David O'Doherty, Claudia O'Doherty and Mike Ahern-|titlestyle=100 Facts About Pandas"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.5|genreamazon.co.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=Humour|summarynosim?tag=Sometimes the title says it all thebookbag- this is a book with 100 facts about pandas. Sometimes you need to note the author too - David O'Doherty won an Edinburgh Comedy Award, so this is a book of a 100 silly and untrue facts about pandas.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224086324</amazonuk>}}21]]

{{newreview|authorstyle=James May"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||title=Car Fever: Dispatches From Behind The Wheel|rating=4|genre=Lifestyle|summary[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]==Now, way back when I was younger, and watched TV a lot, I am sure I remember Top Gear as being a consumer programme. How times change. These days I am sure they destroy more cars than they review, and the three main people from the show are approaching superstar status, with their amenable personalities, awkward wardrobe choices and trenchant laddish charms. They've sprung their media entities from out of the studio, into other TV programmes, and the world of journalism, with chatty columns in the broadsheets allowing them free rein to witter to their heart's desire. And here, in one grandiloquent volume, and in time for Christmas, are many of James May's desires.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340994533</amazonuk>}}

[[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{newreview|author=Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith |title=Pride and Prejudice and Zombies|rating=4.5}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|genre=General Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|summary=AhHumour]], the benefits to a good book of a classic first line. [[:Category:Women'Call me Ishmael.' 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' Who can forget Iain Banks' 'It was the day my grandmother explodeds Fiction|Women'? Or those timeless words by Jane Austen, 'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594743347</amazonuk>}}s Fiction]]

{{newreview|author=Harry Hill|title=Tim The Tiny Horse At Large|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=ItLex Coulton's been debut novel is a while since Tim story about mistakes, failures, and Fly's [[Tim the Tiny Horse by Harry Hill|last adventures]]relationships. The main protagonist, Frances Pilgrim, and changes are afoot in Tim's tiny world: Fly is getting married to his girlfriend. Tim's a little worried because they've only known each other for sixth form English teacher who has recently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, a week. The marriage goes aheadwork colleague, and Tim finds himself kicking his heels, so he gets a petis grappling with the increasingly eccentric behaviour of her mother. And so This relationship is complicated by the brief episodes in the life of a horse who lives in a matchbox continuefact that Frances's father disappeared at sea when she was five years old.[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571244157</amazonuk>}}Full Review]]

{{newreview<!-- van LENTE -->|author=Spike Milligan-|titlestyle=The Magical World of Milligan"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"||rating=4[[image:1683690346.5jpg|genrelink=Confident Readers|summary=Some people you just have to lovehttp://www. It's the lawamazon. Spike Milligan was always fantastic, and he's much missedco. He's got the perfect mix of nonsense, heart, and surreal humour. He speaks to people of all ages, and he's just plain lovely. |amazonukuk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=<amazonuk>1905264844</amazonuk>}}thebookbag-21]]

{{newreview|authorstyle=Christopher Moore"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=You Suck|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=You know that old adage about books and covers? Well this is a case in point. [[The title isn't great, but the cover design for the paperback imprint is, like, duh!, the pits. It is so uncool…so unrep-resent-ative of the book. This is not a cocktail thing. Not even a "Bloody Mary" thing. Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]===

Well, except for the tiny bit that is, but you'll discover that in due course[[image:4star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1841498092</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]]

{{newreview|author=Hugh Murr Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and sanctuary for many people, and Sid Nigtures |title=Cyber Sign Offs|rating=2|genre=Humour|summary=I admit I had the wrong end of the stick when it came to this Comic book, before I opened it artist Mike Mason arrives at least. I had assumed it was a collection of realSan Diego Comic-life on-line signatures - weCon, he've all seen thems looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, those straplines people have on all their forum posts. The obvious response would have been along plus the lines chance of 'fair enoughmaybe, just maybe reuniting with his ex. However, but why when his rival is this a book in this day and agefound dead, and not a website?'. But no. This Mike is a collection forced to navigate every dark corner of dialogues between two people - shall we call them Sue deNim the con in order to clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and Allie Bye, who have in doing so, may just unravel a line or two to say to each other, and dark secret behind a made-up name (sorry, make that May Dupp-Name) with which to sign it offlegendary industry creator. Much jolly nonsense ensues.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904312497</amazonuk>}}Full Review]]

{{newreview<!-- Curran -->|author=Tim Fitzhigham -|titlestyle=All at Sea"width: 10%; vertical-align: One Man. One Bathtub. One Very Bad Ideatop; text-align: Conquering the Channel in a Piece of Plumbingcenter;"|[[image:1683690133.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/1683690133/ref=Travel|summarynosim?tag=Once more my life is made easy by saying this book does just what it claims on the cover thebookbag- takes a narrator of zesty, wacky humour, throws him into an unlikely situation (a bath) and gets him to do something unusual (row it across the Channel - and then beyond). This despite the fact he was the world's worst sculler at University.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848090269</amazonuk>}}21]]

{{newreview|authorstyle=Karl Pilkington"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=Karlology|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=The Radio Five film critic Mark Kermode has a rule when reviewing comedies. If he laughs more than five times then the film deserves its billing as a comedy. If that rule was applied to Karl Pilkington[[My Lady's new book Karlology then it would easily fit into the category for there are laugh aplenty in this strange, amusing Choosing by Kitty Curran and charming little book.|amazonukLarissa Zageris]]===<amazonuk>140533746X</amazonuk>}}

[[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{newreview|author=Joe Stretch|title=Wildlife|rating=3}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|genre=Humour|summary=The word ''Twitter'' doesn't occur in Joe Stretch's vocabulary]], but that's what his book is about. Life in the blogosphere, massively exaggerated, where people don't leave their desks but nevertheless come together (but never literally) in satisfying their deepest, darkest desires. If I've made it sound even faintly exciting, believe me, Joe Stretch is a fantasist with realist tendencies. What he is after is laughter; what he produces is a virtual simulacrum. Sniggery-pokery, jiggery-jokery, he tinkers with the twilight zone of a future-scenario where, for reasons beyond all understanding, some robotic and literal Dickhead (i.e. a man with a dick fixed to his forehead – I kid you not) decides to target a few selected humans for a make-over in his own image. Given that virtual worlds exist to pull in punters who don't like themselves in the real one, and their main purpose is to make money, one's only question must be[[:Category: why?Historical Fiction|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099532077</amazonuk>}}Historical Fiction]]

{{newreview|author=Michael Marr|title=Three Jumpers|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=When Bardolph Middle placed an ad in the paper proclaiming he was You are a writerlass of twenty eight. Plucky, he thought he might get penniless and in Regency era London the odd request race is on to write find a speech suitable suitor - or twoelse doom yourself to life as an eternal spinster. MaybeAlong your journey you'll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood - a fiesty noble eager to save you from a life alone, if he was very luckyand fired by a rogueish sense for adventure. When it comes to suitors though, a company might ask him you'll have to conceive an entire marketing plan make the ultimate decision between witty, pretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, wholesome, rugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, or the mad, bad and advertising campaignterrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. What he never expected was With orphans, werewolves, long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the way, it's clear this job offer…isn't going to be an easy decision... [[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906558485</amazonuk>}}Full Review]]

{{newreview<!-- Jester -->|author=Rosy Barnes-|titlestyle=Sadomasochism for Accountants"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=3[[image:Jester_Forever.jpg|genre=Women's Fictionleft|summarylink=Humour's very personal, isn't it? If you dig films like ''Shaun of the Dead'' and ''Hot Fuzz'', I predict you'll love this chick lit parodyhttps://www. It's anarchic and very British comedy traditionamazon. If you're into the conventions of good writing, you may find it a little painfulco. Nevertheless, I enjoyed plenty of moments in Rosy Barnes' first novel.|amazonukuk/gp/product/1510704361?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=<amazonuk>0714531812</amazonuk>}}1510704361]]

{{newreview|authorstyle=Tim Moore"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=I Believe in Yesterday: My Adventures in Living History|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=Common opinion has it that the television programme ''Time Team'' did [[Forever After: a lot for the public image of archaeologists – bringing them out of their holes in the ground, and making them seem like exciting, interesting people with a good way of putting their knowledge across. However it was clearly a much harder task when it came to those background artistes they have sometimes, walking up and down in Roman centurion gear, or living the historical lifestyle as a re-enactment.|amazonukdark comedy by David Jester]]===<amazonuk>0224077813</amazonuk>}}

[[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{newreview|author=L Vaughan Spencer|title=Don't Be Needy Be Succeedy|rating=4}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|genre=HumourParanormal]], [[:Category:Horror|summary=Are you underperforming in your business and personal lives? Do you underestimate the importance of good hair and moisturised skin in achieving your life goals? Are you stumbling through life in a Fast-Moving Business Environment (FMBE) without a motivational mantra to guide you? Then you need this book. As ''The A to Zee of Motivitality''Horror]], this is a dictionary of achievement from a man who can teach you how to succeed like a toothless budgie.[[:Category:Fantasy|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846681634</amazonuk>}}Fasntasy]]

{{newreview|author=Mark Crick |title=Sartre's Sink: The Great Writers' Complete Book of DIY|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=''Sartre's Sink'' comprises fourteen short story parodies of some of the world's best known writers – the twist being that the stories are all about undertaking some mundane DIY task such as tiling Michael Holland is a bathroom (Dostoevsky) or reglazing a window (Milan Kundera). So far it sounds a bit like some pretentious Oxbridge student twaddle. You can just imagine how cocky and brash young man who dies and gets made the idea came up over an over-ripe Brie and an underrated bottle offer of 1963 Taylor's porthis lifetime; immortality. It also rather smacks of that Radio 4 programme which I detest with an absolute passion - I can't even stand writing its nameWe follow Michael, ugh - ''Quote Unquote'', in which parodies do feature, read out by smug self-congratulatory writer darlings a grim reaper and his friends Chip (you can tell I don't like it, can't you?a stoner tooth fairy). However, dear readers, this book is rather enjoyable and I speak as someone who is rather less versed Naff (a stoner in the writings of this famous lot than I care records department) as they grapple with their long lives and finding a clean surface to admitsit on in their flat.[[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847080472</amazonuk>}}Full Review]]

{{newreview<!-- Stibbe -->|author=Eric Nakagawa-|titlestyle=I Can Has Cheezburger "width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=4[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|genre=Petsleft|summarylink=''I Can Has Cheezburger'', is a clever and witty anthology of some of the best pictures and captions from the fantastic [httphttps://icanhascheezburgerwww.com/ lolcats website] of the same nameamazon. The site has been growing in popularity in recent months, and so it was inevitable that a book would soon hit the shelvesco. Choosing which pics to include in the book could not have been an easy task, and some of the old favourites are there, alongside some less well known ones.|amazonukuk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=<amazonuk>0340977574</amazonuk>}}0241309824]]

{{newreview|authorstyle=Jim Holt"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||title=Stop Me If You've Heard This|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe]]==As far as I can remember, my first time in print was when I submitted some jokes to a charity's themed joke collection. Before then, some of my first actions as a child might have been laughing, and what is cuter in a baby than that? But why was that infant laughing – he didn't have a joke he could get, surely?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668109X</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=P G Wodehouse |title=Joy in the Morning|rating=[[image:4.55star.jpg|genrelink=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|summary=''Joy in the Morning'' is another novel from P.G. Wodehouse's wonderful series of books about Bertram Wooster and Jeeves. Bertie is a young gentleman of inherited means and no present occupation. He is a good humoured and well-meant chap, however clearly not the smartest tool in the shed. Bertie seems to have a talent of getting himself into trouble but that is where Jeeves, his loyal, educated and painfully clever butler comes to his rescue. Jeeves is irreplaceable when it comes to saving Bertie from whatever creativeHumour]], complicated and incredibly funny situations Wodehouse puts his characters through.[[:Category:Short Stories|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099513765</amazonuk>}}Short Stories]]

{{newreview|author=P G Wodehouse|title=Thank Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. Youonly have to think about the turkey for that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the downstairs loo to defrost overnight, Jeeves|rating=4|genre=General Fiction|summary=Bertie Wooster and if that failed the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was once engaged your next best bet. Nowadays it's all having to Pauline Stoker. It didnmake sure it't last very long s suitably free-range and organic – about forty eight hoursbut not too organic that you can go and visit it, and get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, though, most is of which Bertie spent in bed with course also a bad cold, if his memory serves him correctlytime of great boons. It's still embarrassing when he meets Pauline cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and her fatherbeards, particularly as it was always a godsend for postmen with all the father who was responsible thank-you letters to aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long-hand as a child, and as for breaking off the engagement. Rather than eat at the Savoy Grill where he spotted the Stokersmakers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, he goes home to his only consolation. Bertie plays did they even try and sell them any other time of the banjo. Unfortunately, he doesn't play it very well.year? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099513730</amazonuk>}}Full Review]]

{{newreview<!-- Doescher -->|author=Tom Holt -|titlestyle=The Better Mousetrap"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=4 [[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|genre=Humourleft|summarylink=I approached this book with a fair degree of trepidation, as I had never heard of the author, and wondered if, when reading the synopsis, I was about to embark on a Terry Pratchett type novel (and I have to say, much though I admire his achievements, I'm not a fan of Discworld!) However, my fears were unfounded, and from page one I found myself drawn into this clever and erudite novelhttps://www.amazon. Not having read the preceding novels in the series did put me at a slight disadvantage, but didn't detract from my enjoyment, and has certainly ensured that I'll read the others in the near futureco. |amazonukuk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=<amazonuk>1841495034</amazonuk>}}159474985X]]

{{newreview|authorstyle=John Mole "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=I Was a Potato Oligarch: Travels and Travails in the New Russia|rating=1 |genre=Travel|summary=I remember getting this book in post, reading the title and thinking no, even though I am Russian, I will try to be unbiased and judge it like I would judge any other book about a foreign country experience. I now have to regretfully admit I failed. In my defence, John Mole[[William Shakespeare's focus on mocking the nation and country made that all too easy.|amazonukForce Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher]]===<amazonuk>1857885090</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Clive Gifford[[image:4.5star.jpg|titlelink=Teenage KicksCategory: 101 Things to Do Before You're 16|{{{rating=3.5}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|genre=Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|summary=Kids. They're bored all the time, aren't they? Nothing you buy seems to have any longevity. I think they live in alternative dimension in which time passes much more slowly that it does for harassed parents. It's the only explanation. I think Clive Gifford must sympathise, because his latest book, Teenage Kicks, has a whopping 101 ideas to alleviate boredom and a clever challenge too - your bored child has to complete them all before they reach 16. At a measly £5.99, this book could represent the most wonderful value for money any parent could ever wish for.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340950617</amazonuk>}}Humour]]

{{newreview|author=Jon Canter |title=A Short Gentleman|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=The narrator of this spoof biography is long time ago, in a civil law barrister. Robert Purcell has been educated at Winchester and Oxford. He has modelled himself on his polite and restrained fathergalaxy far away, there was a High Court judge andman called William Shakespeare, as who was able to create a childseries of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul, Robert maps out rulers most evil and rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. You may or may not have noticed the components cinematic version of his own expected adult life – wifeoriginal stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken'', but here at last we get the actual script, complete with annoying-in-different-ways-to-before droids anew, two childrenreturning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, career – and people keeping it in the respect which he will gain from thisfamily til it hurts. And if you need further encouragement, together with don't forget his undoubted intellectual superiority. At audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the age of eight, he writes a future Whoseries is so popular we're on to part seven – surely making this over twice as good… [[William Shakespeare's Who entry for himself, with all the academic and professional accolades he expects to garner.Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224077740</amazonuk>}}Full Review]]

{{newreview<!-- Goss -->|author=George Saunders -|titlestyle=The Brain"width: 10%; vertical-dead Megaphonealign: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Goss_600.jpg|left|ratinglink=4https://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/gp/product/1785942719?ie=Humour|summaryUTF8&tag=American author George Saunders is known for his short stories and fiction, but he is also a journalist for publications such as ''The Guardian'', ''The New Yorker Magazine'' and ''GQ''. ''The Brainthebookbag-Dead Megaphone'' is his first collection of essays and it's an interesting proposition: sixteen pieces ranging from travel writing, literary appreciation, political essays, to surrealist short fiction.|amazonuk21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=<amazonuk>0747594260</amazonuk>}}1785942719]]

| style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[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|link=Category:{{newreview {rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|Children's Rhymes and Verse]], [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Consider the Doctor. Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand out each year, were he to 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 life of a Time Lord and that of some of his friends and enemies. As luck would have it, he has the space in his TARDIS to stock up in advance, so my advice to him – sorry, her – would be to pop along to his local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready. And if you're working on a shorter timescale, with a shorter lifespan, and thinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, 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 Russell T Davies|Full Review]] <!-- Ingram -->|title-| style=Tim "width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie. You see, Annie knows something which has been self-evident to me for a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating with humans 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 Tiny Horsepair have allowed us to share some of their conversations. [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]] <!-- Harris -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1908943823/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |authorstyle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris]]===Harry Hill [[image:3star.jpg|genrelink=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Teenager Liam Glass is mugged and stabbed yards from his Camden flat. As the boy lies comatose, desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the inside scoop, tired police officer Andy Rockham searches for a missing tape, harried politician Jamila Hasan fights for re-election, distraught mother Katrina Glass waits by her son, and gym-owner Royland simply finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. We follow this host of ensemble characters in a bleak, kaleidoscopic satire of modern media. [[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] <!-- LENTE -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lente_10.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/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.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Nine comedians are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the guise of working with Dustin Walker, a 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, the rising female star with a new stand-up special coming soon; Dante, who went from being a kid on the streets to the hardest working road comic in the business; Oliver, 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 reputation for harassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, the ultra-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulder; and William, whose redneck character ''Billy the Contractor'' is a far cry from his real personality as a posh millionaire. Of course, all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on a beam of light and asks for your help, what the hell else are you going to say?'' [[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] <!-- Scott -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788037006/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Elizabeth, William... and Me by S Lynn Scott]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|summarylink=After doing even tiny bit Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, a husband and a job. Then comes the day when ordinariness flies out of research the window. It's not a coincidence that it's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I realised in the pantry and the Bard of Avon in her bath. What's she going to do? Well, Elizabeth and Will have their own ideas about that I must ! [[Elizabeth, William... and Me by S Lynn Scott|Full Review]] <!-- Rodford -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the second instalment of this series, Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired by a well-known local man to track down some missing valuables. Bill Galbraith, a world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts a 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 theft, assuming it will be a relatively easy and straightforward case – little does he know, he's about to enter a world of deceit and dysfunction. [[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford|Full Review]] <!-- Jordan -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Jordan_Tiny.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1760293814/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] As predicted by Caroline and Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry's wedding day, their marriage is over, albeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. Indeed, this is definitely not a good weekend for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the split and the awkwardness of the girls' schoolteacher being the only person out other woman for a start. Then there 's that mistaken identity moment involving the neighbours. 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 ever read Tim 's at the door? [[Our Tiny Horse having never heard , Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan|Full Review]] <!-- Taylor -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Taylor_Scilly.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the Isles of Scilly. (I know they should be called that – the authorprovides a handy guide to the etiquette of their name, their nature and location, etc.) For our more distant readers, they're several chunks of granite rock out in the Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, with just 2,200 permanent residents. They're big on tourism, and big on growing flowers in the tropical climate the Gulf Stream bequeaths them – although the weather is 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 police presence. ThusBut there is – at least two working at any one time. And one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, I who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a well-known online existence, which has brought to life all the whimsical comedy of his work. [[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|Full Review]] <!-- Lloyd -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_Twas.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It's Christmas Eve and Mum has arranged everything. All she now has to do is await the arrival of the relatives and the food shopping delivery. Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have the potential to take another reviewerruin everything. [['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|Full Review]] <!-- Phinn -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Virgin Mary's word Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas in our house is the time we tend to get on a plane and head to either sun or snow, anywhere that is far, far away from the madness at home, last minute dashes to the shops on Christmas Eve, and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, nor a mere 36 hours. But I do remember the feeling of Christmas when I was younger, back when itwas magical, and back when you knew exactly what the season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This book is an anthology of those moments, and it took me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a child. [[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] <!-- North -->|-| style="typical Harry Hillwidth: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:North_Romeo.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0356508536/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style=" vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[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 too restricted and prescribed, read on. In these pages you too will make see that Romeo had lots of options en route to hitting the bottle. Likewise, she could have turned away from her predestined path at no end of junctures. And to what result? Well, happy marriage and a kid called Ben, because the leads have just banged people's heads together and stopped the quarrelling, or Death by Tybalt (him) or a long life running an attempt at reviewing Tim establishment curing murderous women, such as a stand-aloneLady M (her). [[Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571229565</amazonuk!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->}|}