Changes

[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|authorclass-"wikitable" cellpadding=Marian Keyes"15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->|title=Making It Up As I Go Along<!-- van LENTE -->|rating=4.5-|genrestyle=Entertainment|summary=Oh, how the book reviewing gods like to give, and equally like to take away"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co. Here before me is a brand, spanking new collection of journalism by the wonderful Marian Keyes – but it's a proof copy, so there's no photo of the author. Even if over the years I have stopped reading her novels, I have always turned to the author picture to remind myself such sights exist in this worlduk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. Himself is a lucky manjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], for sure. But beyond sounding like a letch, what can I say about this – the beauty[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and sanctuary for many people, and when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, he's third large dose of essays, web columns looking for both that and sanctuary with other journalism? I can start fans and creators, plus the chance of maybe, just maybe reuniting with agreeing that I am not the target audiencehis ex. However, when his rival is found dead, but it's easy enough Mike is forced to see from these pages exactly what navigate every dark corner of the target is. So much like that test you do con in order to clear his name – you know the one, that formulates decisions about the age from cosplay flash mobs and commonality of all things in space to come up with how many billions of planets are likely intrusive fans to have alien life on zombie obstacle courses – you can narrow things down quite readily hereMike must prove his innocence and, in doing so, and still come up with may just unravel a dark secret behind a huge numberlegendary industry creator.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]]  |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718182529</amazonuk!-- Coulton -->}}{{newreview|author= Jean-Yves Ferri|titlestyle= Asterix and the Missing Scroll (Album 36)"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=nosim?tag= 5thebookbag-21]] |genre= For Sharing|summarystyle=Asterix is those rarest of book series"vertical-align: top; text-align: left; one designed for kids which is actually even funnier when you are an adult"|===[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]=== [[image:4star. I used to love Asterix as a childjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]], but now that I reread them I can[[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women't help but wonder why, because they are so full of hilarious jokes that I definitely wouldns Fiction]] Lex Coulton't have understood when I was youngers debut novel is a story about mistakes, failures, and relationships. I laughed loud The main protagonist, Frances Pilgrim, is a sixth form English teacher who has recently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, a work colleague, and hard to myself twice within is grappling with the first two pages increasingly eccentric behaviour of Asterix and her mother. This relationship is complicated by the Missing Scroll, so Ifact that Frances'd definitely say that this s father disappeared at sea when she was a hitfive years old.[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1510100458</amazonuk!-- van LENTE -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Spadge Whittaker"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=Braver Than Britain, Occasionally[[image:1683690346.jpg|ratinglink=4|genrehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=Humour|summarynosim?tag=In which Spadge researches Britain's thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top ten fears and faces them all over the course of a year. We're quite a fearful society, you know; text-align: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. And the things we fear most are, in orderjpg|link=Category: heights (acrophobia), snakes (ophidiophobia), public speaking (glossophobia){{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], spiders (arachnophobia)[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and sanctuary for many people, small spaces (claustrophobia)and when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, mice (musophobia)he's looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, needles (trypanophobia)plus the chance of maybe, flying (pteromerhanophobia)just maybe reuniting with his ex. However, crowds (agoraphobia) and clowns (coulrophobia)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 intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, in doing so, may just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0993429904</amazonuk!-- Curran -->}}{{newreview|author= Mike Bullen-|titlestyle= Trust"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating= 4[[image:1683690133.jpg|genrelink= General Fictionhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690133/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle= Greg "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Amanda are happy. Unmarried, but together thirteen years and with two young daughters, they are very much in loveLarissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star. Dan and Sarah aren't so fortunate. Their marriage is going through the motionsjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Historical Fiction|Historical Fiction]] You are a lass of twenty eight. Plucky, penniless and they're staying together for in Regency era London the sake of their troubled teenage sonrace is on to find a suitable suitor - or else doom yourself to life as an eternal spinster. Following Along your journey you'll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood - a business conference away fiesty noble eager to save you from home, one bad decision sends a happy couple into turmoillife alone, and turns an unhappy couple into love's young dreamfired by a rogueish sense for adventure. As secrets and betrayals threaten When it comes to send both relationships out of controlsuitors though, thereyou's only one thing that can keep everything from falling apart: Trust|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751559253</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Dan Rhodes|title=When ll have to make the ultimate decision between witty, pretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, wholesome, rugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, or the Professor Got Stuck in the Snow|rating=4mad, bad and terrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven.5|genre=General Fiction|summary= Two people are on a train on their With orphans, werewolves, long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the way , it's clear this isn't going to, of all things, a WI meeting where the ladies of All Bottoms will be lectured on the non-existence of Godan easy decision... One of the two people is Professor Richard Dawkins, rampant atheist, hectoring scientist chappie, [[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and allLarissa Zageris|Full Review]] <!-round devotee of ''Deal or No Deal''. The other is Smee, his mono-named assistant, amanuensis or 'male secretary'Jester -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Jester_Forever. Smee will come to the fore when the weather sets in and the train journey has to be abandoned some way short of its ultimate destination, Upper Bottomjpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co. Instead the pair fetch up at the isolated yet friendly community of Market Horton, and the only option for accommodation is taken – yes, the dieduk/gp/product/1510704361?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-in21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1510704361]]  | style="vertical-thealign: top; text-wool non-believer has to be housed by align: left;"|===[[Forever After: a retired vicar and his wifedark comedy by David Jester]]=== [[image:4star. This clash of titanic opinions, peppered with social faux pas aplenty will provide for a particularly English kind of farcical comedy, but one with the legs to go as far as any other Good Books have reached in the past…jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1910709018</amazonuk>}}Category:{{{newreview|author=Rob Temple|title=Very British Problems Abroad|rating=4}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|genre=HumourParanormal]], [[:Category:Horror|summary=Meet, if you haven't alreadyHorror]], [[:Category:Fantasy|Fasntasy]] Michael Holland is a cocky and brash young man who dies and gets made the phenomenon offer of the Very British Problemhis lifetime; immortality. In this format they're in pithy little comments We follow Michael, a grim reaper and his friends Chip (a stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (of, ooh, about 140 characters a stoner in length, for some reason…the records department) as they grapple with their long lives and detail the minor things finding a clean surface to sit on in life that we like nothing more than to inflate to their flat. [[Forever After: a major factor of life. They can involve manners, staring at things until they mend themselves, hitting things ditto, or the fact that nobody apart from you and I know how to queue properly. And if the idea hits the world outside our shores, then – well, you certainly have a book full of content regarding our attitude and ineptitude abroad.dark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] <!-- Stibbe -->|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751558494</amazonuk>}}{{newreview-|authorstyle=Fraser McAlpine"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|title=Stuff Brits Likeleft|ratinglink=4|genrehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=Humour|summaryUTF8&tag= With over 100 chapters on different aspects of Britain and Britishness, this book is both fascinating and hilarious. Just looking at the list of subjects is enough to produce a sardonic twist of that stiff upper lipthebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241309824]]  | style="vertical-align: the chapters cover topics that range from offal to curry, from pedantry to banter, from conkers to rugby. There may be many chapters but this is no academic tome top; text- each chapter is just two to three pages long, each is written with endearing affection, each is easy and satisfying - and quirkily funny - to readalign: left;"|===[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1857886348</amazonuk>}}Category:{{{newreview|author= John Samuelrating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|title= What I Tell You in the DarkHumour]], [[:Category:Short Stories|rating= 3.5Short Stories]]|genre= Humour|summary=A man called Will is fighting fiercely against corruption Christmas – desperate to expose his company's dodgy dealings to the presstime of traditional trauma. Overcome with doubt and fear, he goes You only have to kill himself. But, at think about the exact moment he attaches his noose to turkey for that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the back of the door, he is saved. By a curious housemate or a concerned girlfriend? No, by an Angel. Not the white-feathered guardian Angel you may expect, but one who wishes downstairs loo to help Will achieve his endsdefrost overnight, and so possess if that failed the body of the hapless Will in order hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Nowadays it's all having to finish what he started. It goes without saying make sure it's suitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that the Angel is hoping things you can go better than they did and visit it, and get too friendly with the last guy he possessed – it to want to eat it. Christmas, though, is of course also a time of great boons. It's cash in hand for a hapless young man from Galilee called Jesus…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0715650505</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= John Niven|title= The Sunshine Cruise Company|rating= 4.5|genre= Humour|summary= Susan Frobisher lot of plump people who can hire red suits and Julie Wickham live in beards, it was always a small Dorset town. Friends since school, they live fairly uneventful lives – Susan has godsend for postmen with all the thank-you letters to aunties you saw twice a lovely house and decade that your parents made you write out in long-hand as a lengthy marriage to accountant Barrychild, whereas Julie is doing slightly less and as for the makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well – living in a council flat and working in an old people's home. When Barry is found dead trussed up in a sex dungeon, it transpires that he has been leading a hidden life for years, , did they even try and his expensive fetishes lead to sell them any other time of the bank moving to take Susan's home. Struck year? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas 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 adventure.Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434023183</amazonuk!-- Doescher -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Marie Phillips"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=The Table Of Less Valued Knights[[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|rating=4.5left|genrelink=Fantasyhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=159474985X]]  |summarystyle=Sir Humphrey has been demoted from King Arthur's Round Table to "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Table of Lesser Valued KnightsSeventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4.5star. 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:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], Humphrey and his ward, the teenage giant Conrad[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, eagerly set forth. Meanwhile in the kingdom of Tufta galaxy far away, new Queen Martha has run away after there was a disastrous wedding to… a… well… disastrous Prince Edwin. She may not realise it yetman called William Shakespeare, but she too will who was able to create a series of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul, rulers most evil and rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. You may or may not have a job noticed the cinematic version of his original stage play for Humphrey!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555875</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Tim Flannery|title=''The Mystery of Force Doth Awaken'', but here at last we get the Venus Island Fetish|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Meet Archie Meek. He's about actual script, complete with annoying-in-different-ways-to leave the Venus Islands-before droids anew, where he's lived for the last five yearsreturning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, and return to Sydney, where he'll take his office in the museum and fill people keeping it in the family til it with all the cultural artefacts he's found and wildlife he's plucked or pickledhurts. ThatAnd if you need further encouragement, don's not to ignore t forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the fact heseries is so popular we'll count re on to part seven – surely making this over twice as something quite alien himself, with his filled-out frame, nearly all-over suntan and totemic tattoo, in amongst other changes to his body. But whatgood… [[William Shakespeare's this? When he gets back, he finds one of the main Venus Islands artefacts that caused him to go there in the first place, a huge, macabre ceremonial fetish mask, purloined as corporate artwork. 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?Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher|Full Review]] <!-- Goss -->|-|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1922079308</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Roman Dirge[[image:Goss_600.jpg|title=The Cat with a Really Big Headleft|ratinglink=3https://www.amazon.co.5|genre=Graphic Novels|summaryuk/gp/product/1785942719?ie= 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, by the author's own admission, his imagining UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785942719]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of the Joseph Merrick Time Lord Verse (the 'Elephant Man'Dr Who) of the feline world – who struggles to sneak up behind a mouse when the shadow of his head is a total giveaway, by James Goss and who can hardly even eat with dignity as bending down to his bowl would break his neckRussell T Davies]]=== [[image:4.5star. If thatjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's too dark or oddball for youRhymes and Verse|Children's Rhymes and Verse]], try the second major piece[[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], 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… - But I hope your death is slow and horrible.''[[:Category:Humour|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782762876</amazonuk>Humour]]}}{{newreview|author=Val Hennessy|title=Not Far From Dreamland|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Ronald Tonks has reached that stage Consider the Doctor. Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand out each year, were he to keep in life which I call upper middle age: you've qualified for your pension but not yet got to the free television licence barrier. What Ronald ''has'' got is touch with even half of his companions? He would certainly need a roof few novelty gifts for some of them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that leaks (there's good reason why his home is called 'the shack'), pithily encapsulate the life of a dog who is going bald (in patches) Time Lord and money that's in very short supplyof some of his friends and enemies. On the plus side As luck would have it, he has friends, mostly platonic and usually the space in his TARDIS to stock up in much the same boat as Ronald. But are they downhearted? Welladvance, they are occasionallyso my advice to him – sorry, but mostly they're generously optimistic and out her – would be to pop along to make the most of what they've got, usually bought from charity shops his local Earth-based book emporium and jumble salesget himself ready. And if you''Not Far From Dreamland'' is the story of re working on a shorter timescale, with a year (2012) in the life of Ronald Tonksshorter lifespan, his friends and relatives.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]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0704373874</amazonuk!-- Ingram -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Harry Harrison"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=Bill, the Galactic Hero|rating=3[[image:Ingram_Kammie.5jpg|genre=Science Fictionleft|summarylink=Meet Billhttps://www.amazon. He's a simple farmer – well, he ''is'' taking a correspondence course in being a Technical Fertiliser Operator – but fate has something else in storeco. And so does the mechanised, technological, industrial military, which needs several billion grunts to fight the Chingers, in mankind's first interuk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-galactic war. Still, at least he gets medals just for signing upalign: left;"|===[[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star. After that it's all downhill, and the likes of Petty Chief Officer Deathwish Drang can only make that a straight line down. Reallyjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], what hope is there?[[:Category:Humour|amazonuk=<amazonuk>147320531X</amazonuk>Humour]]}}{{newreview|author=Ian Doescher|title=William Shakespeare's The Phantom It was something of Menace|rating=4a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie.5|genre=Humour|summary= Join us, good gentlesYou see, Annie knows something which has been self-evident to me for a merry reimagining long time: dogs are perfectly capable of `Star Wars Episode 1' as only Shakespeare could have written it. 'Tis a true Shakespearean drama, filled communicating with sword fights, soliloquies humans and doomed romance…all in glorious iambic pentameter and coupled with gorgeous illustrations. Hold not just on to your midichlorians: The plays the thinga level of food!, wherein 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'll catch and all you have to do is listen. Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and the rise pair have allowed us to share some of Anakin!their conversations. [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594748063</amazonuk!-- Harris -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Attaboy"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=The Book of Hugs[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1908943823/ref=nosim?tag=4thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Humour"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=A hug's a hug, OK? You either do, or you don't==[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris]]=== [[image:3star. Some people might be a little more enthusiastic about the process whilst others are more elegant in the execution of the hug, but basically you just get on and do it and then forget about it, right?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0867197978</amazonuk>jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreview|author= Christopher FowlerStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|title= Bryant and May – The Burning ManCrime]], [[:Category:Humour|rating=4Humour]]|genre=Crime|summary= The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU) has a new set of overlordsTeenager Liam Glass is mugged and stabbed yards from his Camden flat. For reasons that were explored in the previous couple of outings they have been transferred to As the City Of London Police. The Met are still the big players in the area. City of London Police only police the old cityboy lies comatose, desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the square mileinside scoop, the financial district in other wordstired police officer Andy Rockham searches for a missing tape, that has very little in the way of street crime, because noharried politician Jamila Hasan fights for re-one lives there anymore and the people who work there areelection, distraught mother Katrina Glass waits by her son, and largegym-owner Royland simply finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. We follow this host of ensemble characters in a bleak, either too rich to need to steal, or too smart to have to do so on the streetskaleidoscopic satire of modern media.[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857522043</amazonuk!-- LENTE -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Catharina Ingelman"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-Sundbergalign: center;"|title=The Little Old Lady Who Struck Lucky Again! [[image:Lente_10.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.5|genre=Humourco.uk/dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Following the success of ''The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules'', the League of Pensioners are back – and this time, they’re in Vegas! I haven’t read the first book but it was on my list when the opportunity arose to review this one"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. The idea of jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Nine comedians are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the League guise of Pensioners marching towards working with Dustin Walker, a fairer world through fun and frolics was hugely appealing to me and this is 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 alone novel so I thought I would dive straight in -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 this onea 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.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447274903Of 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]] </amazonuk!-- Scott -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Winshluss"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=In God We Trust[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/1788037006/ref=Graphic Novelsnosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=To start with"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Elizabeth, a rhetorical testWilliam... How about God and Adam playing badminton day in and day out, until one gets bored and decides to create Eve? Or the defeater of Goliath and the saviour of the Israelites being one Conan the Barbarian? Or this as Me by S Lynn Scott]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, a test – Jesus Himself failing to have husband and a successful session job. Then comes the day when ordinariness flies out of tequila slammers with Gabriel due to the holes through His hands? window. It's not a coincidence that it's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I barely need mention that in these pages God does battle with Superman, for you to have answered the test pantry and put yourself firmly the Bard of Avon in one of two camps for this book – one very much opposed her bath. What's she going to buying itdo? Well, Elizabeth and one very much in favourWill have their own ideas about that! [[Elizabeth, William...and Me by S Lynn Scott|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0861662350</amazonuk!-- Rodford -->}}{{newreview|author=David Walliams and Tony Ross-|titlestyle=The Queen's Orang"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-Utanalign: center;"|rating=5[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|genrelink=For Sharing|summary=The Queen felt trapped in the palace with all those stuffed animals which she has been given on foreign tourshttp://www. There are mountains of them and every night she would dream of escapingamazon. When her birthday drew near the family dutifully asked her what she would like as a presentco. The Prince was thinking of a gold, diamond encrusted stairlift whilst the Duke was considering a great big bottle of brandy. 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 oranguk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-utan'. And she didn't mean a stuffed one, either.21]]|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0008135134</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Jack Sheffield"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=Silent Night|rating=3.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=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 by, for instance, James Herriot or [[The Surgeon's Case:Category:Gervase PhinnGeorge Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Gervase PhinnCrime]], told mostly in the first person, describing [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the author’s first couple second instalment of years as Headmaster at this series, Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired by a small village primary school in Yorkshirewell-known local man to track down some missing valuables. The village of Ragley is fictionalBill Galbraith, as are most of the charactersa 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, but this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his at the incidents and situations encountered are based on hospital. George agrees to look into 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 with theft, assuming it will be a relaxed, relatively easy style and his characters are instantly recognisable as people from everyday walks of lifestraightforward case – little does he know, without being in any way stereotypical. Many he's about to enter a world of the people in these stories are dealing with normal frustrations, deceit and Lennon is cleverly detached enough not to make them individuals that youdysfunction. [[The Surgeon're obviously supposed to root for (the only exception is the industrialist in the eponymous tale, who is an archetypal capitalist fat cat). 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 unfairs 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. 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 themco. There is no supernatural or bizarre element at work here, just ordinary characters at the mercy of social power.|amazonukuk/dp/1760293814/ref=nosim?tag=<amazonuk>1781253358</amazonuk>thebookbag-21]]}}{{newreview|authorstyle=Lynne Truss"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|title=Cat out of Hell|rating=3==[[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]===|genre=Horror[[image:5star.jpg|summarylink=Meet Alec Charlesworth. HeCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's retired Fiction|Women's Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] As predicted by Caroline and decamped to an isolated coastal cottage with just his dog Janice's mother on Caroline and loving memories of his colleague wifeHenry's wedding day, 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 by someone at the college he worked attheir marriage is over, just before he leftalbeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. Bizarrely they show photographic and audio evidence of a talking cat called RogerIndeed, replete with Vincent Price voice – although they are also damaged by being included alongside some bad screenplay attempts about said catthis is definitely not a good weekend for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's house. Worryingly, we soon see what at There's the split and the most only a few awkwardness of the characters can, that this cat is girls' schoolteacher being accompanied by unusual and unexpected death – much like Alec's wifethe other woman for a start. ItThen there's only when Roger testifies to having been pushed through that mistaken identity moment involving the ends of endurance neighbours. At least Janice is well adjusted and out the other side that we begin to doubt where over her ex-husband Alec. She still dreams of him, yes, but it's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the true evil in this story lies…door? [[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk>0099585340</amazonuk!-- Taylor -->}}{{newreview|author=Jimmy Hansen and Mychailo Kazybird-|titlestyle=Wallace & Gromit "width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: The Complete Newspaper Strips Collection Vol 2center;"|[[image:Taylor_Scilly.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Humour"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=For me there are two important areas ==[[The Life of the cover of this book where three letters are arranged in meaningful waysa Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]=== [[image:4. The first is with the S-U-N in their obligatory red and white font5star. No minor paper could hold Wallace and Gromitjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], their adventures have to be in what is (unfortunately) the most widely read tabloid in [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the countryIsles of Scilly. And elsewhere is C-B-E, suggesting (I know they should be called that even – the storytellers at Aardman Animations who are not household names are feted and revered as artistic experts, raising many laughs and much money for author provides a handy guide to the country courtesy etiquette of their creative outputname, their nature and location, etc. Together these short collections ) For our more distant readers, they're several chunks of letters show granite rock out in the Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, with just how much WaG are major creations2,200 permanent residents. They're big on tourism, and if big on growing flowers in the tropical climate the proof was needed this much longer collection of their daily comic strips provides it in spadesGulf Stream bequeaths them – although the weather is bad enough to turn any car to a rust bucket within years.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782760822</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Dear Committee Members|author=Julie Schumacher|rating=4They'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.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Jason Fitger (Jay) is a Professor of creative writing and literature But there is – at least two working at a small university in the American mid-westany one time. He is also a frustrated novelist with a colourful personal history, much And one of which bleeds into his professional lifethem in recent years has been Colin Taylor, with interesting resultswho 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]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007586345</amazonuk!-- Lloyd -->}}{{newreview|-|titlestyle=Mapp and Lucia Omnibus"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=E F Benson[[image:Lloyd_Twas.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/1472125118/ref=Humournosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Miss Elizabeth Mapp rules the town of Tilling "vertical-align: top; text- she is align: left;"|===[['Twas the centre of the social life, Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and spends her days enjoying bridge, polite conversation and civilised paintingEmlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3. When Mrs Emmeline Lucas arrives in town (known to all as Lucia), Miss Mapp finds her life truly shaken up, as the cultured, fashionable and progressive Lucia makes her home in the town, and swiftly rises to the top of the ranks amongst the social scene in Tilling5star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1849908478</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreviewStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|title=Encyclopedia ParanoiacaHumour]]|author=Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=We're screwedIt's Christmas Eve and Mum has arranged everything. Wherever we look, whatever we think All she now has to do is await the arrival of doing, there is a reason why we shouldn't be doing it, and people to back that reason up with scientific datathe relatives and the food shopping delivery. Take any aspect of your daily life – what you eat, how you work, how you rest even, what you touch – all have problems Little does Mum know that could provoke a serious illness or worsethose two elements alone have the potential to ruin everything. And outside that daily sphere there are economic disasters, nuclear meltdowns, errant AI scientists [['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd 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…|amazonuk=Emlyn Rees|Full Review]] <amazonuk!-- Phinn -->0715649213</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Diary of a Mad Diva-|authorstyle=Joan Rivers|rating"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|left|link=3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]|genre=Humour|summarystyle=The late Joan Rivers was, 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 2014."vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||amazonuk=<amazonuk>0425269027</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title==[[The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy - The Nearly Definitive Edition|authorVirgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]===Douglas Adams|rating=5[[image:4.5star.jpg|genrelink=General FictionCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Anthologies|summary=There are few series that have garnered such a cult following as 'The Hitchhikers Guide Anthologies]] Christmas in our house is the time we tend to get on a plane and head to the Galaxy'. Whether the fans have come either sun or snow, anywhere that is far, far away from the radio seriesmadness at home, last minute dashes to the (impossibly hard) computer gameshops on Christmas Eve, or the (well intentioned but not particularly good) filmand food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, they are everywherenor a mere 36 hours. Ask a room of people what But I do remember the meaning feeling of life isChristmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, and back when you can be pretty sure a good few will pipe up knew exactly what the season would bring with '42' 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 the answera child.[[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- North -->0434023396</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|title=Quick Pint After Work-|authorstyle=Luke Lewis|rating=4"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:North_Romeo.jpg|genrelink=Humourhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0356508536/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=BuzzFeed is one of the world’s best time sucks, "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Romeo and I’m regularly directed to the site /or Juliet by links from Facebook and Twitter, in between browsing the app on my phoneRyan North]]=== [[image:3.5star. According to the author bio on this book, BuzzFeed is 'a social news jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] For all those who think tragedy plots are too restricted and entertainment company'prescribed, which is a fancy way of describing read on. In these pages you too will see that Romeo had lots of fun lists that speak options en route to hitting the readership (20 words that bottle. Likewise, she could have a completely different meaning in Manchesterturned away from her predestined path at no end of junctures. And to what result? Well, 30 Things all exhappy 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 --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>}}