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[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|authorclass-"wikitable" cellpadding= Mike Bullen"15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE--><!-- van LENTE -->|title= Trust-|ratingstyle= 4"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|genre= General Fiction[[image:1683690346.jpg|summarylink= Greg and Amanda are happyhttp://www. Unmarried, but together thirteen years and with two young daughters, they are very much in loveamazon. Dan and Sarah aren't so fortunateco. Their marriage is going through the motions, and they're staying together for the sake of their troubled teenage son. 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 dreamuk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. 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: Trust|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751559253</amazonuk>{{{rating}}}{{newreview|author=Dan RhodesStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|title=When the Professor Got Stuck in the SnowCrime]], [[:Category:Humour|rating=4.5Humour]]|genre=General Fiction|summary= Two people Comic-Cons are on a train on their way to, place of all things, a WI meeting where the ladies of All Bottoms will be lectured on the non-existence of God. One of the two wonder and sanctuary for many people is Professor Richard Dawkins, rampant atheist, hectoring scientist chappie, and allwhen Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-round devotee of ''Deal or No Deal'Con, he's looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the chance of maybe, just maybe reuniting with his ex. The other is SmeeHowever, when his mono-named assistantrival is found dead, amanuensis or 'male secretary'. Smee will come Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the fore when the weather sets con in and the train journey has order to be abandoned some way short of its ultimate destination, Upper Bottom. Instead the pair fetch up at the isolated yet friendly community of Market Horton, clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and the only option for accommodation is taken intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – yesMike must prove his innocence and, the died-in-the-wool non-believer has to be housed by doing so, may just unravel a dark secret behind a retired vicar and his wifelegendary industry creator. 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…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910709018</amazonuk[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]]  <!-- Coulton -->}}{{newreview|author=Rob Temple-|titlestyle=Very British Problems Abroad|rating=4"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588.jpg|genrelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=nosim?tag=Humourthebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Meet, if you haven't already, the phenomenon of the Very British Problem"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]=== [[image:4star. In this format they're in pithy little comments (ofjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]], ooh[[:Category:Humour|Humour]], about 140 characters in length, for some reason…) and detail the minor things in life that we like nothing more than to inflate to [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]] Lex Coulton's debut novel is a major factor of life. They can involve mannersstory about mistakes, staring at things until they mend themselvesfailures, hitting things ditto, or the fact that nobody apart from you and I know how to queue properlyrelationships. And if the idea hits the world outside our shoresThe main protagonist, then – wellFrances Pilgrim, you certainly have is a book full of content regarding our attitude and ineptitude abroad.sixth form English teacher who has recently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, a work colleague, and is grappling with the increasingly eccentric behaviour of her mother. This relationship is complicated by the fact that Frances's father disappeared at sea when she was five years old. [[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- van LENTE -->0751558494</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Fraser McAlpine-|titlestyle=Stuff Brits Like"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=4[[image:1683690346.jpg|genrelink=Humourhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|summary= With over 100 chapters on different aspects of Britain and Britishness, this book is both fascinating and hilarious==[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. 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:Crime|Crime]], from pedantry to banter[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and sanctuary for many people, from conkers to rugby. There may be many chapters but this is no academic tome and when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic- each chapter is just two to three pages longCon, each is written he's looking for both that and sanctuary with endearing affectionother fans and creators, each is easy plus the chance of maybe, just maybe reuniting with his ex. However, when his rival is found dead, Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the con in order to clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and satisfying - intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and quirkily funny - to read., in doing so, may just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator. [[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Curran -->1857886348</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= John Samuel-|titlestyle= What I Tell You in the Dark"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690133.jpg|ratinglink= 3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1683690133/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] |genre= Humour|summarystyle=A man called Will is fighting fiercely against corruption – desperate to expose his company"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[My Lady's dodgy dealings to the press. Overcome with doubt Choosing by Kitty Curran and fear, he goes to kill himselfLarissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star. Butjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], at the exact moment he attaches his noose to the back [[:Category:Historical Fiction|Historical Fiction]] You are a lass of twenty eight. Plucky, penniless and in Regency era London the door, he race is saved. By on to find a curious housemate suitable suitor - or a concerned girlfriend? No, by else doom yourself to life as an Angeleternal spinster. Not the white-feathered guardian Angel Along your journey you may expect, but one who wishes 'll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood - a fiesty noble eager to help Will achieve his endssave you from a life alone, and so possess the body of the hapless Will in order fired by a rogueish sense for adventure. When it comes to finish what he startedsuitors though, you'll have to make the ultimate decision between witty, pretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, wholesome, rugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, or the mad, bad and terrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. It goes without saying that the Angel is hoping things go better than they did with With orphans, werewolves, long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the last guy he possessed – a hapless young man from Galilee called Jesus…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>0715650505</amazonuk!-- Jester -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= John Niven"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= The Sunshine Cruise Company|rating= 4[[image:Jester_Forever.5jpg|genre= Humourleft|summarylink= Susan Frobisher and Julie Wickham live in a small Dorset townhttps://www.amazon. Friends since school, they live fairly uneventful lives – Susan has a lovely house and a lengthy marriage to accountant Barry, whereas Julie is doing slightly less well – living in a council flat and working in an old people's homeco. When Barry 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 to the bank moving to take Susan's home. Struck uk/gp/product/1510704361?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1510704361]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Forever After: a dark comedy 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 adventureDavid Jester]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>0434023183</amazonuk>}}Category:{{{newreview|author=Marie Phillips|title=The Table Of Less Valued Knights|rating=4.5}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|genre=FantasyParanormal]], [[:Category:Horror|summary=Sir Humphrey has been demoted from King Arthur's Round Table to Horror]], [[:Category:Fantasy|Fasntasy]] Michael Holland is a cocky and brash young man who dies and gets made the Table offer of Lesser Valued Knightshis lifetime; immortality. The only way to get We follow Michael, a grim reaper and his comfier seat back is to redeem himself via friends Chip (a quest. Therefore when damsel Elaine seeks help to find her kidnapped fiancé, Humphrey stoner tooth fairy) and his ward, the teenage giant Conrad, eagerly set forth. Meanwhile Naff (a stoner in the kingdom of Tuft, new Queen Martha has run away after records department) as they grapple with their long lives and finding a disastrous wedding to… a… well… disastrous Prince Edwinclean surface to sit on in their flat. She may not realise it yet, but she too will have [[Forever After: a job for Humphreydark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] <!-- Stibbe -->|amazonuk-| style=<amazonuk>0099555875</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Tim Flannery[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|title=The Mystery of the Venus Island Fetishleft|ratinglink=3|genrehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=Historical Fiction6738&creativeASIN=0241309824]]  |summarystyle=Meet Archie Meek. He's about to leave the Venus Islands, where he's lived for the last five years, and return to Sydney, where he'll take his office in the museum and fill it with all the cultural artefacts he's found and wildlife he's plucked or pickled"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.5star. That's not to ignore the fact he'll count as something quite alien himselfjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], with his filled-out frame, nearly all-over suntan and totemic tattoo, in amongst other changes [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]] Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. You only have to his body. But what's this? When he gets back, he finds one of think about the main Venus Islands artefacts turkey for that caused him to go there in – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the first placedownstairs loo to defrost overnight, a huge, macabre ceremonial fetish mask, purloined as corporate artwork. And some of and if that failed the curators he wishes to work alongside have vanishedhair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Is the weird society of the museum heNowadays it's returning all having tomake sure it's suitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it, perchanceand get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, even weirderthough, stranger and more violent than the cannibalistic society he's waving farewell to?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1922079308</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Roman Dirge|title=The Cat with is of course also a Really Big Head|rating=3time of great boons.5|genre=Graphic Novels|summary= How many picture books are there about cats? And how many do It's cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, it was always a godsend for postmen with all the thank-you letters to aunties you know saw twice a decade that your parents made 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 write out in this collection islong-hand as a child, by and as for the author's own admission, his imagining makers of the Joseph Merrick (the 'Elephant Man') Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and sell them any other time of the feline world – who struggles to sneak up behind a mouse when the shadow of his head is a total giveaway, 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… year? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] <!-- Doescher -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text- But I hope your death is slow and horrible.''align: center;"|[[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|left|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1782762876<https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/amazonuk>159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=159474985X]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Val Hennessy"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=Not Far From Dreamland|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Ronald Tonks has reached that stage in life which I call upper middle age: you[[William Shakespeare've qualified for your pension but not yet got to s the free television licence barrierForce Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4.5star. What Ronald ''has'' got is a roof that leaks (there's good reason why his home is called 'the shack')jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, a dog who is going bald (in patches) and money that's in very short supply. On the plus side he has friendsa galaxy far away, mostly platonic and usually in much the same boat as Ronald. But are they downhearted? Wellthere was a man called William Shakespeare, they are occasionally, but mostly they're generously optimistic and out who was able to make the create a series of dramatic histories full of machinations most of what they've gotfoul, usually bought from charity shops rulers most evil and rebellious heroes and jumble salesheroines most sturdy. You may or may not have noticed the cinematic version of his original stage play for ''Not Far From DreamlandThe Force Doth Awaken'' is , but here at last we get the story of a year (2012) actual script, complete with annoying-in the life of Ronald Tonks-different-ways-to-before droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his friends oeuvre, and relativespeople keeping it in the family til it hurts.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0704373874</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Harry Harrison|title=Bill And if you need further encouragement, the Galactic Hero|rating=3.5|genre=Science Fiction|summary=Meet Bill. Hedon's a simple farmer t forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – well, he ''here the series isso popular we're on to part seven – surely making this over twice as good… [[William Shakespeare' taking a correspondence course in being a Technical Fertiliser Operator – but fate has something else in store. And so does s the mechanised, technological, industrial military, which needs several billion grunts to fight Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Chingers, in mankind's first interSeventh by Ian Doescher|Full Review]] <!-- Goss -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-galactic waralign: center;"|[[image:Goss_600. Still, at least he gets medals just for signing upjpg|left|link=https://www.amazon. After that it's all downhill, and the likes of Petty Chief Officer Deathwish Drang can only make that a straight line downco. Really, what hope is thereuk/gp/product/1785942719?|amazonukie=<amazonuk>147320531X</amazonuk>UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785942719]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Ian Doescher"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||title=William Shakespeare's The Phantom ==[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of MenaceTime Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies]]===|rating=[[image:4.55star.jpg|genrelink=Humour|summary= Join us, good gentles, for a merry reimagining of `Category:{{{rating}}} Star Wars Episode 1Reviews]] [[:Category:Children' as only Shakespeare could have written it. s Rhymes and Verse|Children'Tis a true Shakespearean dramas Rhymes and Verse]], filled with sword fights, soliloquies and doomed romance…all in glorious iambic pentameter and coupled with gorgeous illustrations. Hold on to your midichlorians[[:Category: The plays the thingScience Fiction|Science Fiction]], wherein you'll catch [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Consider the rise of Anakin!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594748063</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Attaboy|title=The Book 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 Hugs|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=A hug's his companions? He would certainly need a hugfew novelty gifts for some of them, say, OK? You either dofor example, or you don't. Some people might be a little more enthusiastic about whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the process whilst others are more elegant in the execution life of the hug, but basically you just get on a Time Lord and do it that of some of his friends and then forget about enemies. As luck would have it, right?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0867197978</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Christopher Fowler|title= Bryant and May he has the space in his TARDIS to stock up in advance, so my advice to him – sorry, her – The Burning Man|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary= The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU) has a new set of overlordswould be to pop along to his local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready. 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 cityAnd if you're working on a shorter timescale, the square milewith a shorter lifespan, the financial district in other wordsand thinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, that has very little in well my advice is pretty much the way same. [[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of street crime, because no-one lives there anymore and the people who work there are, Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and large, either too rich to need to steal, or too smart to have to do so on the streets.Russell T Davies|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857522043</amazonuk!-- Ingram -->}}{{newreview|author=Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg|titlestyle=The Little Old Lady Who Struck Lucky Again! "width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|left|ratinglink=3https://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=Humour|summaryUTF8&tag=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 onethebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star. 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.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1447274903</amazonuk>}}Category:{{{newreviewrating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|author=WinshlussPets]], [[:Category:Humour|title=In God We TrustHumour]]|rating=4.5|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=To start with, It was something of a rhetorical testrelief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie. How about God and Adam playing badminton day in and day outYou see, until one gets bored and decides Annie knows something which has been self-evident to create Eve? Or the defeater me for a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of Goliath communicating with humans and the saviour of the Israelites being one Conan the Barbarian? Or this as a test – Jesus Himself failing to have not just on a successful session level of tequila slammers with Gabriel due food!, walk! or play!. You do require extensive training to the holes through His hands? I barely need mention that in these pages God does battle with Superman, for 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 answered the test and put yourself firmly in one allowed us to share some of two camps for this book – one very much opposed to buying it, and one very much in favourtheir conversations.[[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0861662350</amazonuk!-- Harris -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=David Walliams and Tony Ross"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|titlelink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1908943823/ref=The Queen's Orangnosim?tag=thebookbag-Utan21]] |rating=5|genrestyle=For Sharing"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary===[[The Queen felt trapped in the palace with all those stuffed animals which she has been given on foreign tours. There are mountains Breaking of them and every night she would dream of escapingLiam Glass by Charles Harris]]=== [[image:3star. When her birthday drew near the family dutifully asked her what she would like as a present. The Prince was thinking of a goldjpg|link=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, diamond encrusted stairlift whilst desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the Duke was considering inside scoop, tired police officer Andy Rockham searches for a great big bottle 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 brandymodern media. [[The Royal Baby had some decorated thimbles in mind, but the Queen became just a little snappish as she explained that what she really wanted was 'One's own orangBreaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] <!-- LENTE --utan'. And she didn't mean a stuffed one, either.>|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0008135134</amazonuk>}}{{newreview-|authorstyle=Jack Sheffield"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=Silent Night[[image:Lente_10.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.5|genre=General Fictionco.uk/dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|==I read a couple of Jack Sheffield’s books about five years ago, and enjoyed them very much. They were written in a similar style to those popularised =[[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by, for instance, James Herriot or Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:Gervase Phinn|Gervase Phinn]{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour], told mostly in ] Nine comedians are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the first personguise of working with Dustin Walker, describing the author’s first couple of years as Headmaster at a small village primary school in Yorkshirecomedic legend. The village Each fits neatly into one of Ragley is fictionalthe archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, as are most of the characterswashed-up has-been who has fallen far from his early days; Zoe, but the incidents and situations encountered are based rising female star with a new stand-up special coming soon; Dante, who went from being a kid on the author’s experience.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0552167045</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=J Robert Lennon|title=See You In Paradise|rating=3|genre=Short Stories|summary=Lennon writes 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 relaxedreputation for harassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, easy style the ultra-feminist YouTuber and his characters are instantly recognisable as people Blogger with a chip on her shoulder; and William, whose redneck character ''Billy the Contractor'' is a far cry from everyday his real personality as a posh millionaire. Of course, all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on a beam of lifelight and asks for your help, without being in any way stereotypical. Many of the people in these stories what the hell else are dealing with normal frustrations, and Lennon is cleverly detached enough not you going to make them individuals that yousay?''re obviously supposed to root for (the only exception is the industrialist in the eponymous tale, who is an archetypal capitalist fat cat)[[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. There are some very clever characterisations – in ''Weber’s Head'', for example, the narrator is a flawed individual whose opinions of his housemate are gradually revealed to be unreliable and unfair. For me, the most unsettling story is ''No Life'', because it portrays a decent couple at the mercy of people more powerful and influential than them. There is no supernatural or bizarre element at work here, just ordinary characters at the mercy of social powerjpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788037006/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1781253358</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|author=Lynne Truss|title=Cat out of Hell|rating=3|genre=Horror|summary=Meet Alec Charlesworth[[Elizabeth, William... 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 time. But the fusty librarian cannot rest too long before engaging in exploring some unusual computer files that were pinged across Me by someone at the college he worked at, just before he leftS Lynn Scott]]=== [[image:4. Bizarrely they show photographic and audio evidence of a talking cat called Roger, replete with Vincent Price voice – although they are also damaged by being included alongside some bad screenplay attempts about said cat5star. Worryingly, we soon see what at the most only jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, a few husband and a job. Then comes the day when ordinariness flies out of the characters can, that this cat is being accompanied by unusual and unexpected death – much like Alecwindow. It's wife. Itnot a coincidence that it's only when Roger testifies to having been pushed through the ends of endurance and out same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I in the other side that we begin to doubt where pantry and the true evil Bard of Avon in this story lies…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099585340</amazonuk>}}her bath. What's she going to do? Well, Elizabeth and Will have their own ideas about that! [[Elizabeth, William... and Me by S Lynn Scott|Full Review]] {{newreview<!-- Rodford -->|author=Jimmy Hansen and Mychailo Kazybird-|titlestyle=Wallace & Gromit "width: The Complete Newspaper Strips Collection Vol 210%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?tag=4thebookbag-21]] |genre=Humour|summarystyle=For me there are two important areas of the cover of this book where three letters are arranged in meaningful ways. The first is with the S"vertical-align: top; text-U-N in their obligatory red and white fontalign: left;"|===[[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star. No minor paper could hold Wallace and Gromit, their adventures have to be in what is (unfortunately) the most widely read tabloid in the country. And elsewhere is C-B-Ejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], suggesting that even [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the storytellers 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 Aardman Animations Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who are not household names are feted and revered as artistic expertshosts a popular medical television programme, raising many laughs and much money for the country courtesy of their creative outputhas had his briefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servant, Aurora. Together these short collections of letters show just how much WaG are major creationsAccording to Galbraith, and if the proof was needed this much longer collection briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of their daily comic strips provides his at the hospital. George agrees to look into the theft, assuming it in spadeswill 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|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>1782760822</amazonuk!-- Jordan -->}}{{newreview|-|titlestyle=Dear Committee Members"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Julie Schumacher|rating=4[[image:Jordan_Tiny.5jpg|genrelink=General Fictionhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1760293814/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Jason Fitger (Jay) is a Professor of creative writing and literature at a small university in the American mid"vertical-align: top; text-west. He is also a frustrated novelist with a colourful personal history, much of which bleeds into his professional life, with interesting results.align: left;"|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007586345</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Mapp and Lucia Omnibus|author=E F Benson|rating=3.5[[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]===|genre=Humour[[image:5star.jpg|summarylink=Miss Elizabeth Mapp rules the town of Tilling - she is the centre of the social life, and spends her days enjoying bridgeCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]], polite conversation [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] As predicted by Caroline and Janice's mother on Caroline and civilised painting. When Mrs Emmeline Lucas arrives in town (known to all as Lucia)Henry's wedding day, Miss Mapp finds her life truly shaken uptheir marriage is over, as the cultured, fashionable albeit 15 years and progressive Lucia makes her home in the towntwo daughters further along than predicted. Indeed, and swiftly rises this is definitely not a good weekend for Janice to the top be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the split and the awkwardness of the ranks amongst girls' schoolteacher being the other woman for a start. Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving the social scene in Tillingneighbours.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849908478</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Encyclopedia Paranoiaca|author=Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=We're screwedAt least Janice is well adjusted and over her ex-husband Alec. Wherever we lookShe still dreams of him, whatever we think of doingyes, there is a reason why we shouldnbut it's so over! Just as well really… guess who't be doing its at the door? [[Our Tiny, and people to back that reason up with scientific dataUseless Hearts by Toni Jordan|Full Review]] <!-- Taylor -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Taylor_Scilly. Take any aspect of your daily life – what you eat, how you work, how you rest even, what you touch – all have problems that could provoke a serious illness or worsejpg|link=http://www.amazon.co. And outside that daily sphere there are economic disasters, nuclear meltdowns, errant AI scientists and passing comets that could turn our world upside down at the blink of an eye. Perhaps then you better read this book first – for it may well turn out to be your last…uk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>0715649213</amazonuk>"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|}}{{newreview|title=Diary ==[[The Life of a Mad Diva|authorScilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]==Joan Rivers|rating=3.5|genre=Humour[[image:4.5star.jpg|summarylink=The late Joan Rivers wasCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], without a doubt, a character. Actress, comedian, writer, director, presenter, she was well known in [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the USA and beyond for her sharp tongue and no holds barred personaIsles of Scilly. This was (I know they should be called that – the author provides a handy guide to the last etiquette of the dozen books she publishedtheir name, her final title before her death their nature and location, etc.) For our more distant readers, they're several chunks of granite rock out in September 2014the Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, with just 2,200 permanent residents.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0425269027</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy 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- The Nearly Definitive Edition|author=Douglas Adams|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=There are few series that have garnered such seeming, especially at night, you can be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a cult following as 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'police presence. But there is – at least two working at any one time. Whether the fans have come from the radio seriesAnd one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, the (impossibly hard) computer game, or the (who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a well intentioned but not particularly good) film-known online existence, they are everywherewhich has brought to life all the whimsical comedy of his work. Ask [[The Life of a room of people what the meaning of life is, and you can be pretty sure a good few will pipe up with '42' as the answer.Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Lloyd -->0434023396</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Quick Pint After Work-|authorstyle=Luke Lewis"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_Twas.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=4thebookbag-21]] |genre=Humour|summarystyle=BuzzFeed is one of "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[['Twas the world’s best time sucks, and I’m regularly directed to the site Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by links from Facebook Josie Lloyd and Twitter, in between browsing the app on my phone. According to the author bio on this book, BuzzFeed is Emlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It'a social news s Christmas Eve and entertainment company', which Mum has arranged everything. All she now has to do is a fancy way await the arrival of describing lots of fun lists that speak to the readership (20 words relatives and the food shopping delivery. Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have a completely different meaning in Manchester, 30 Things all ex-gymnasts know to be true, 40 Very British problems, yadda yadda yadda)the potential to ruin everything. These list work well on line when you want a quick distraction, [['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd 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=Emlyn Rees|Full Review]] <amazonuk!-- Phinn -->0751557730</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Graeme Simsion-|titlestyle=The Rosie Effect|rating"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|left|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=4thebookbag-21]]|genre=Humour|summarystyle=Following inadvertent success with the Wife Project, Professor Don Tillman and his new bride Rosie have moved from Australia to New York. Although Don"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Virgin Mary's position on the autistic scale is subjective, he still operates on a daily basis of structured procedures, lists and logicGot Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4. Rosie can generally handle that but there are choppy waters ahead5star. With the patter of tiny feet imminent logic goes out the window as she struggles with her PhD while Don struggles to find his place jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas in our house is the baby production process. At least he has his drinking buddies time we tend to support him – an aging rock drummer 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 friend whose wife has thrown him out for infidelitymonth, nor a mere 36 hours. What could possibly go wrong?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718179471</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Burnt Tongues: An Anthology But I do remember the feeling of Transgressive Short Stories|author=Chuck PalahniukChristmas when I was younger, 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 back when it was magical, and back when you are best off leaving them inside your headknew exactly what the season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This book is an anthology of those moments, or better yet not thinking and it took me right back to the wonder of them at allChristmas as a child. When these words are spoken they could lead to the sensation of Burnt Tongue; an aftereffect of knowing what you said was wrong. Are you prepared to enter the world of Transgressive Fiction that aims to disturb, alienate, disgust and question?[[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] <!-- North -->|-| style="width: 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 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 a Lady M (her). [[Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North|Full Review]] <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178329552X</amazonuk>}}