Changes

[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|authorclass-"wikitable" cellpadding= John Samuel"15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->|title= What I Tell You in the Dark<!-- van LENTE -->|rating= 3.5-|genrestyle= Humour|summary"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|link=A man called Will is fighting fiercely against corruption – desperate to expose his company's dodgy dealings to the presshttp://www.amazon. Overcome with doubt and fear, he goes to kill himselfco. But, at the exact moment he attaches his noose to the back of the door, he is saved. By a curious housemate or a concerned girlfrienduk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim? No, by an Angel. Not the whitetag=thebookbag-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 started. It goes without saying that the Angel is hoping things go better than they did with the last guy he possessed – a hapless young man from Galilee called Jesus…|amazonuk21]]  | style=<amazonuk>0715650505</amazonuk>"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|}}{{newreview|author= John Niven|title= =[[The Sunshine Cruise Company|ratingCon Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== 4.5|genre= Humour[[image:4star.jpg|summarylink= Susan Frobisher and Julie Wickham live in a small Dorset town. Friends since schoolCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], they live fairly uneventful lives – Susan has [[: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 looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the chance of maybe, just maybe reuniting with his ex. However, when his rival is found dead trussed up in a sex dungeon, it transpires that he has been leading a hidden life for years, and his expensive fetishes lead Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the bank moving con in order to take Susan's home. Struck by both desperation clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and a sense of injustice, Sue and Julie conspire intrusive fans to rob a bank, taking along their friend Jill zombie obstacle courses – a devout Christian conflicted due to lack of money 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.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434023183</amazonuk>Full Review]]}}{{newreview|author=Marie Phillips<!-- Coulton -->|title=The Table Of Less Valued Knights-|ratingstyle=4.5"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588.jpg|genrelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=Fantasynosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Sir Humphrey has been demoted from King Arthur's Round Table to the Table of Lesser Valued Knights"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]=== [[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:General Fiction|General Fiction]], Humphrey and his ward, the teenage giant Conrad[[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]] Lex Coulton's debut novel is a story about mistakes, failures, eagerly set forthand relationships. Meanwhile in the kingdom of TuftThe main protagonist, Frances Pilgrim, new Queen Martha is a sixth form English teacher who has run away after recently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, a disastrous wedding to… a… well… disastrous Prince Edwinwork colleague, and is grappling with the increasingly eccentric behaviour of her mother. She may not realise it yet, but This relationship is complicated by the fact that Frances's father disappeared at sea when she too will have a job for Humphrey!was five years old. [[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- van LENTE -->0099555875</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Tim Flannery-|titlestyle=The Mystery of the Venus Island Fetish"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=3thebookbag-21]] |genre=Historical Fiction|summarystyle=Meet Archie Meek"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. He's about to leave the Venus Islandsjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], where he's lived [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and sanctuary for the last five yearsmany people, and return to Sydneywhen Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, where he'll take his office in the museum s looking for both that and fill it sanctuary with all other fans and creators, plus the cultural artefacts he's found and wildlife he's plucked or pickledchance of maybe, just maybe reuniting with his ex. That's not to ignore the fact he'll count as something quite alien himselfHowever, with when his filled-out frame, nearly all-over suntan and totemic tattoorival is found dead, Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the con in amongst other changes order to clear his body. But what's this? When he gets backname – from cosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, he finds one of the main Venus Islands artefacts that caused him to go there in the first placedoing so, may just unravel a huge, macabre ceremonial fetish mask, purloined as corporate artworkdark secret behind a legendary industry creator. And some of the curators he wishes to work alongside have vanished. Is the weird society of the museum he's returning to, perchance, even weirder, stranger and more violent than the cannibalistic society he's waving farewell to?[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>1922079308</amazonuk!-- Curran -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Roman Dirge"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=The Cat with a Really Big Head[[image:1683690133.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1683690133/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Graphic Novels"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary= 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, ==[[My Lady's Choosing by the author's own admissionKitty Curran and Larissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], his imagining [[:Category:Historical Fiction|Historical Fiction]] You are a lass of twenty eight. Plucky, penniless and in Regency era London the Joseph Merrick (the 'Elephant Man') of the feline world – who struggles race is on to sneak up behind find a mouse when the shadow of his head is a total giveaway, and who can hardly even eat with dignity suitable suitor - or else doom yourself to life as bending down to his bowl would break his neckan eternal spinster. If thatAlong your journey you's too dark or oddball for ll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood - a fiesty noble eager to save youfrom a life alone, try the second major piece, which has and fired by a most revealing foreword – rogueish sense for adventure. When it comes to suitors though, you''Dedicated ll have to a certain girl… I hope your life is filled with wonderful accomplishmentsmake the ultimate decision between witty, love pretty and all the magic you desire… - But I hope your death is slow wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, wholesome, rugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, or the mad, bad and horribleterrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven.With orphans, werewolves, long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the way, 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>1782762876</amazonuk>}}{{newreview<!-- Jester -->|author=Val Hennessy-|titlestyle=Not Far From Dreamland"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Jester_Forever.jpg|ratingleft|link=4https://www.amazon.co.5uk/gp/product/1510704361?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1510704361]] |genre=General Fiction|summarystyle=Ronald Tonks has reached that stage in life which I call upper middle age"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Forever After: you've qualified for your pension but not yet got to the free television licence barrier. What Ronald ''has'' got is a roof that leaks (there's good reason why his home is called 'the shack'), a dog who is going bald (in patches) and money that's in very short supplydark comedy by David Jester]]=== [[image:4star. On the plus side he has friendsjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]], mostly platonic and usually in much the same boat as Ronald. But are they downhearted? Well[[:Category:Horror|Horror]], they are occasionally, but mostly they're generously optimistic [[:Category:Fantasy|Fasntasy]] Michael Holland is a cocky and brash young man who dies and out to make gets made the most offer of what they've gothis lifetime; immortality. We follow Michael, usually bought from charity shops a grim reaper and jumble sales. ''Not Far From Dreamland'' is the story of his friends Chip (a year stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (2012) a stoner in the life of Ronald Tonks, his friends records department) as they grapple with their long lives and relativesfinding a clean surface to sit on in their flat.[[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0704373874</amazonuk!-- Stibbe -->}}{{newreview|author=Harry Harrison-|titlestyle=Bill, the Galactic Hero"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"||rating=3[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.5jpg|genre=Science Fictionleft|summarylink=Meet Billhttps://www.amazon.co. 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 interuk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-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?|amazonuk21&linkCode=<amazonuk>147320531X</amazonuk>as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241309824]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Ian Doescher"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||title=William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace|rating=4=[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.55star.jpg|genrelink=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|summary= Join us, good gentlesHumour]], for a merry reimagining [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]] Christmas – the time of `Star Wars Episode 1' as traditional trauma. You only Shakespeare could have written to think about the turkey for that – once upon a time it. 'Tis a true Shakespearean drama, filled with sword fightswas leaving it sat on the downstairs loo to defrost overnight, soliloquies and doomed romance…all in glorious iambic pentameter and coupled with gorgeous illustrationsif that failed the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Hold on Nowadays it's all having to your midichlorians: The plays the thing, wherein youmake sure it'll catch the rise s suitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it, and get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, though, is of course also a time of Anakin!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594748063</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Attaboy|title=The Book of Hugs|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=A huggreat boons. It's cash in hand for a hug, OK? You either dolot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, or you don't. Some people might be it was always a little more enthusiastic about godsend for postmen with all the process whilst others are more elegant in the execution of the hug, but basically thank-you letters to aunties you just get on saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long-hand as a child, and do it as for the makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and then forget about it, rightsell them any other time of the year?[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>0867197978</amazonuk!-- Doescher -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= Christopher Fowler"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= Bryant and May – The Burning Man[[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|left|ratinglink=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=4159474985X]] |genre=Crime|summarystyle= The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU) has a new set of overlords. For reasons that were explored in "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[William Shakespeare's the previous couple of outings they have been transferred to Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the City Of London PoliceSeventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4. The Met are still the big players in the area5star. City of London Police only police the old city, the square milejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, the financial district in other wordsa galaxy far away, that has very little in the way there was a man called William Shakespeare, who was able to create a series of dramatic histories full of street crimemachinations most foul, because no-one lives there anymore rulers most evil and the people who work there are, by rebellious heroes and large, either too rich to need to steal, heroines most sturdy. You may or too smart to may not have to do so on noticed the streets.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857522043</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Catharina Ingelmancinematic version of his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken'', but here at last we get the actual script, complete with annoying-in-different-ways-to-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''before droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, the League of Pensioners are back – and this time, they’re people keeping it in Vegas! I haven’t read the first book but family til it was on my list when the opportunity arose to review this onehurts. The idea And if you need further encouragement, don't forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the League of Pensioners marching towards a fairer world through fun and frolics was hugely appealing to me and this series is a stand alone novel so I thought I would dive straight in with so popular we're on to part seven – surely making this one.over twice as good… [[William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447274903</amazonuk!-- Goss -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Winshluss"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=In God We Trust[[image:Goss_600.jpg|rating=4.5left|genrelink=Graphic Novelshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785942719?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785942719]]  |summarystyle=To start with, a rhetorical test. How about God and Adam playing badminton day in and day out, until one gets bored and decides to create Eve? Or the defeater "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Goliath Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and the saviour of the Israelites being one Conan the Barbarian? Or this as 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 SupermanRussell T Davies]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|Children's Rhymes and Verse]], for you to have answered the test and put yourself firmly in one of two camps for this book – one very much opposed to buying it[[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], and one very much in favour.[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0861662350</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=David Walliams Consider the Doctor. Just how many birthday and Tony Ross|title=The Queen's Orang-Utan|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=The Queen felt trapped Christmas gifts must he have to hand out each year, were he to keep in the palace touch with all those stuffed animals which she has been given on foreign tours. There are mountains even half of them and every night she his companions? He would dream certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of escaping. When her birthday drew near them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the family dutifully asked her what she would like as life of a present. The Prince was thinking Time Lord and that of a gold, diamond encrusted stairlift whilst the Duke was considering a great big bottle some of brandyhis friends and enemies. The Royal Baby had some decorated thimbles in mindAs luck would have it, but he has the Queen became just a little snappish as she explained that what she really wanted was 'One's own orang-utan'. And she didn't mean a stuffed onespace in his TARDIS to stock up in advance, eitherso my advice to him – sorry, her – would be to pop along to his local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0008135134</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Jack Sheffield|title=Silent Night|rating=3.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=I read And if you're working on a shorter timescale, with a couple of Jack Sheffield’s books about five years agoshorter lifespan, and enjoyed them very much. They were written in a similar style to those popularised bythinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, for instance, James Herriot or well my advice is pretty much the same. [[Doctor Who:CategoryNow We Are Six Hundred:Gervase PhinnA Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies|Gervase PhinnFull Review]], told mostly in the first person, describing the author’s first couple of years as Headmaster at a small village primary school in Yorkshire. The village of Ragley is fictional, as are most of the characters, but the incidents and situations encountered are based on the author’s experience.|amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Ingram -->0552167045</amazonuk>}}{{newreview |author=J Robert Lennon-|titlestyle=See You In Paradise"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=3[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|genre=Short Storiesleft|summarylink=Lennon writes with a relaxed, easy style and his characters are instantly recognisable as people from everyday walks of life, without being in any way stereotypicalhttps://www.amazon.co. Many of the people in these stories are dealing 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 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)Kammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star. There are some very clever characterisations – in ''Weber’s Head''jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], for example, the narrator is [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It was something of a flawed individual whose opinions of his housemate are gradually revealed to be unreliable relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and unfairher cocker spaniel Kammie. For You see, Annie knows something which has been self-evident to me, the most unsettling story is ''No Life'', because it portrays for a decent couple at the mercy long time: dogs are perfectly capable of people more powerful communicating with humans and influential than them. There is no supernatural or bizarre element at work here, not just ordinary characters at the mercy on a level of social powerfood!, 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>1781253358</amazonuk>}}{{newreview<!-- Harris -->|author=Lynne Truss-|titlestyle=Cat out of Hell"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=3[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|genrelink=Horror|summary=Meet Alec Charlesworthhttp://www.amazon. He'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 timeco. But the fusty librarian cannot rest too long before engaging in exploring some unusual computer files that were pinged across by someone at the college he worked at, just before he uk/dp/1908943823/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left. Bizarrely they show photographic and audio evidence ;"|===[[The Breaking of a talking cat called Roger, replete with Vincent Price voice – although they are also damaged by being included alongside some bad screenplay attempts about said catLiam Glass by Charles Harris]]=== [[image:3star. Worryingly, we soon see what at the most only a few of the characters canjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], that this cat [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Teenager Liam Glass is being accompanied by unusual mugged and unexpected death – much like Alec's wifestabbed yards from his Camden flat. It's only when Roger testifies to having been pushed through As the ends of endurance and out boy lies comatose, desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the other side that we begin to doubt where the true evil 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 story lies…host of ensemble characters in a bleak, kaleidoscopic satire of modern media. [[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099585340</amazonuk!-- LENTE -->}}{{newreview|author=Jimmy Hansen and Mychailo Kazybird-|titlestyle=Wallace & Gromit "width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: The Complete Newspaper Strips Collection Vol 2center;"|rating=4[[image:Lente_10.jpg|genrelink=Humourhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|=For me there are two important areas of the cover of this book where three letters are arranged in meaningful ways==[[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. The first is with the S-U-N in their obligatory red and white font. No minor paper could hold Wallace and Gromit, their adventures have jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Nine comedians are invited to be in what is (unfortunately) a remote Caribbean island under the most widely read tabloid in guise of working with Dustin Walker, a comedic legend. Each fits neatly into one of the archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, the country. And elsewhere is Cwashed-Bup has-Ebeen who has fallen far from his early days; Zoe, suggesting that even the storytellers at Aardman Animations who are not household names are feted and revered as artistic expertsrising female star with a new stand-up special coming soon; Dante, raising many laughs and much money for who went from being a kid on the streets to the hardest working road comic in the country courtesy of their creative output. Together these short collections of letters show just how much WaG are major creationsbusiness; Oliver, and if the proof was needed this much longer collection of their daily child-like prop comic who can't get any respect from his peers; Janet, the insult comic strips provides it in spades.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782760822</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Dear Committee Members|author=Julie Schumacher|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Jason Fitger (Jay) is who is past her prime; TJ, the nightly variety show host with a Professor of creative writing reputation for harassing his female colleagues and literature at a small university in guest acts; Ruby, the American midultra-west. He is also a frustrated novelist feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a colourful personal historychip on her shoulder; and William, much of which bleeds into whose redneck character ''Billy the Contractor'' is a far cry from his professional lifereal personality as a posh millionaire. Of course, with interesting results.|amazonuk=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]] <amazonuk>0007586345</amazonuk!-- Scott -->}}{{newreview|-|titlestyle=Mapp and Lucia Omnibus"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=E F Benson[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/1788037006/ref=Humournosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|==Miss =[[Elizabeth Mapp rules the town of Tilling - she is the centre of the social life, William... and spends her days enjoying bridge, polite conversation and civilised paintingMe by S Lynn Scott]]=== [[image:4.5star. When Mrs Emmeline Lucas arrives in town (known to all as Lucia), Miss Mapp finds her life truly shaken upjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, as the cultured, fashionable a husband and progressive Lucia makes her home in a job. Then comes the town, and swiftly rises to the top day when ordinariness flies out of the ranks amongst window. It's not a coincidence that it's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I in the pantry and the social scene Bard of Avon in Tillingher 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>1849908478</amazonuk>}}{{newreview<!-- Rodford -->|title=Encyclopedia Paranoiaca-|authorstyle=Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?tag=4thebookbag-21]] |genre=Popular Science|summarystyle=We"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Surgeon're screweds Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star. Wherever we look, whatever we think of doingjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], there is a reason why we shouldn't be doing it[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the second instalment of this series, and people Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired by a well-known local man to back that reason up with scientific datatrack down some missing valuables. Take any aspect of your daily life – what you eatBill Galbraith, how you worka world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts a popular medical television programme, how you rest evenhas had his briefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servant, what you touch – all have problems that could provoke a serious illness or worseAurora. And outside that daily sphere there are economic disastersAccording to Galbraith, nuclear meltdowns, errant AI scientists and passing comets that could turn our world upside down this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his at the blink of an eyehospital. Perhaps then you better read this book first – for George agrees to look into the theft, assuming it may well turn out to will be your last…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|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>0715649213</amazonuk!-- Jordan -->}}{{newreview|-|titlestyle=Diary of a Mad Diva"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Joan Rivers[[image:Jordan_Tiny.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/1760293814/ref=Humour|summarynosim?tag=The late Joan Rivers wasthebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Our Tiny, without a doubt, a character. Actress, comedian, writer, director, presenter, she was well known in the USA and beyond for her sharp tongue and no holds barred persona. This was the last of the dozen books she published, her final title before her death in September 2014Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>0425269027</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]], [[: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 As predicted by Caroline and Janice'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxys mother on Caroline and Henry'. Whether the fans have come from the radio seriess wedding day, their marriage is over, the (impossibly hard) computer gamealbeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. Indeed, or the (well intentioned but this is definitely not particularly a good) film, they are everywhereweekend for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's house. Ask a room There's the split and the awkwardness of people what the meaning of life is, and you can be pretty sure girls' schoolteacher being the other woman for a good few will pipe up with start. Then there'42' as s that mistaken identity moment involving the answerneighbours.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434023396</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Quick Pint After Work|author=Luke Lewis|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=BuzzFeed At least Janice is one well adjusted and over her ex-husband Alec. She still dreams of the world’s best time suckshim, and I’m regularly directed to the site by links from Facebook and Twitteryes, in between browsing but it's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the app on my phone. According to the author bio on this bookdoor? [[Our Tiny, BuzzFeed is '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 exUseless Hearts by Toni Jordan|Full Review]] <!-- Taylor -gymnasts know to be true, 40 Very British problems, yadda yadda yadda). 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>}}{{newreview-|authorstyle=Graeme Simsion"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=The Rosie Effect[[image:Taylor_Scilly.jpg|ratinglink=4|genre=Humourhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|==Following inadvertent success with the Wife Project, Professor Don Tillman and his new bride Rosie have moved from Australia to New York. Although Don's position on the autistic scale is subjective, he still operates on =[[The Life of a daily basis of structured procedures, lists and logicScilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]=== [[image:4. Rosie can generally handle that but there are choppy waters ahead5star. With the patter jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the Isles of tiny feet imminent logic goes out the window as she struggles with her PhD while Don struggles Scilly. (I know they should be called that – the author provides a handy guide to find his place in the baby production processetiquette of their name, their nature and location, etc. At least he has his drinking buddies to support him – an aging ) For our more distant readers, they're several chunks of granite rock drummer and a friend whose wife has thrown him out for infidelityin the Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, with just 2,200 permanent residents. What could possibly go wrong?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718179471</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Burnt Tongues: An Anthology of Transgressive Short Stories|author=Chuck PalahniukThey'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, Dennis Widmyer and Richard Thomas|rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=Saying certain things out loud just don’t sound right. Some things are so disturbing or politically incorrect that you are best off leaving them inside your headidyllic-seeming, or better yet not thinking of them especially at all. When these words are spoken they could lead to the sensation of Burnt Tongue; an aftereffect of knowing what night, you said was wrongcan be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a police presence. Are you prepared But there is – at least two working at any one time. And one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a well-known online existence, which has brought to enter life all the world whimsical comedy of Transgressive Fiction that aims to disturb, alienate, disgust and question?his work. [[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>178329552X</amazonuk!-- Lloyd -->}}{{newreview|author=Sammy Looker-|titlestyle=Something Nasty in the Slushpile|rating=4"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_Twas.jpg|genrelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=Humourthebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=I couldn't resist the title "vertical- a neat play on align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Cold Comfort Farm 'Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Stella GibbonsJosie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|Cold Comfort Farmlink=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It's Christmas Eve and I'm sure that you'll understand that I was expecting some examples of the horrors to be found amongst the mountain of unsolicited manuscripts which every publisher accumulatesMum has arranged everything. I'll confess I was expecting All she now has to giggle, even to groan - unkind, I know - and I'd mentally shelved do is await the book with arrival of the trivia, or (hopefully) relatives and the humourfood shopping delivery. There is Little does Mum know that element those two elements alone have the potential to the book, but there's also something far more usefulruin everything. If you[['re thinking about publishing a book this should be required reading ''before'' you even go near a publisher.Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>1472111028</amazonuk!-- Phinn -->}}{{newreview|author=The Queen-|titlestyle=Still Reigning"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=4[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|genre=Humourleft|summarylink=Anyone who frequents Twitter will know that it's a mixed blessinghttp://www.amazon. It's a mine of wonderful information and supportive camaraderieco. It's also uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag- 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 [https21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align://twitter.com/Queen_UK @Queen_UK], a delightful satire on members of the royal family, celebrities, the political classes and the state of Her Majestyleft;"|===[[The Virgin Mary's nationGot Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4. Or5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], ''one's nation'' as Ma'am would say. ''Still Reigning'' [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas in our house 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 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 originalshops on Christmas Eve, and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, nor a mere 36 hours.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0715649132</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Last Days But I do remember the feeling of Christmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, and back when you knew exactly what the Bus Club|author=Chris Stewart|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=I could well have been a near-neighbour of Chris Stewartseason would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. Not, This book is an anthology of coursethose moments, near his current primary occupancy, an ecological farmstead just beyond and it took me right back to the turning off from the back end wonder of nowhere in the most rural of corners of southern Spain, but back when he lived in the south-east of England, being Genesis' first ever drummer, and building bridges in the North DownsChristmas as a child. [[The fact I learnt the latter from this book shows up several of the features of this warm-hearted Virgin Mary'travelogue' – the fact that Stewart is never shy about portraying family details and history – given a good map and a prevailing wind one could find where he lives and descend on the farm, if one wished; and that while this might be on the travel shelves, the narrative is so fragmented it actually moves a lot more than any of the characters do.s Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] <!-- North -->|-|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1908745436</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:North_Romeo.jpg|titlelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0356508536/ref=Summer Half|authornosim?tag=Angela Thirkellthebookbag-21]]|rating=4|genre=Humour|summarystyle=If one didn’t know of Angela Thirkell’s distinguished background as a granddaughter of Sir Edward Burne"vertical-align: top; text-Jones and daughter of a classicist, it would be tempting to describe her as a kind of country cousin of align: left;"|===[[:Category:P G Wodehouse|P.GRomeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North]]=== [[image:3.5star. Wodehouse’sjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]]. An unaffected and intelligent one, whose humour is less sophisticated but bubbles over with [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] For all those who think tragedy plots are too restricted and prescribed, read on. In these pages you too will 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 establishment curing murderous women, such as much glee. The middle-class world she has created, where young men come from families that are comfortably wealthy rather than outrageously so, offers a counterpoint to the Mitford or Wodehouse worlds with their aristocratic characters who travel the world and mingle with more louche, bohemian ones.a Lady M (her). [[Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North|Full Review]] <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184408969X</amazonuk>}}