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[[Category:New Reviews|Humour]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|authorclass-"wikitable" cellpadding= Grady Hendrix"15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE--><!-- van LENTE -->|title= My Best Friend's Exorcism-|ratingstyle= 5"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|genre= Horror|summary[[image:1683690346.jpg|link=1988, Charleston, South Carolinahttp://www.amazon. High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth gradeco. But after an evening of skinnyuk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-dipping goes disatrously wrong, Gretchen begins to act...different. She's moody. She's irritable. And bizarre incidents keep happening whenever she's nearby. Abby's investigation leads her to some startling discoveries - and by the time their story reaches its terrifying conclusion, the fate of Abby and Gretchen will be determined by a single question: Is their friendship enough to beat the devil?21]]  |amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1594748624</amazonuk>"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|}}{{newreview|author= Kevin MacNeil|title==[[The Brilliant and Forever|ratingCon Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== 3.5|genre= Humour[[image:4star.jpg|summarylink= You know sometimes when someone tells a joke, everyone else laughs, and you're sat there wondering what was so funny?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846973376</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreview|author= Christopher FowlerStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|title= Bryant and MayCrime]], [[:Category: Strange TideHumour|rating= 3.5Humour]]|genre= Crime|summary= The thirteenth outing Comic-Cons are a place of wonder and sanctuary for Bryant many people, and May is looking very much like it will be their last. Arthur Bryant is on compassionate leave whilst tests are continuingwhen Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, which are likely to confirm that he is suffering from Alzheimer's. His condition is worsening almost by the daylooking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the chance of maybe, memory lapses are morphing into full-scale hallucinationsjust maybe reuniting with his ex.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857523422</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Kevin Smith|title=The Voyage However, when his rival is found dead, Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the Dolphin|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Dublin 1916: Among the unrest con in order to clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and anti-British feeling worsened by the threat of conscription into a war seen as nothing intrusive fans to do with the Irishzombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, in doing so, Trinity College faculty has other distractions. They'd like may just unravel a dark secret behind a trophy; the skeleton of an Irish 'giant' to be preciselegendary industry creator. [[The only glitch is that the main trophy contender, Bernard MacNeill's skeleton, is somewhere difficult to access and all seasoned explorers are otherwise engagedCon Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]]  <!-- Coulton -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588. There may be hope thoughjpg|link=http://www. They turn to Fitzmaurice, a student not good enough for anything elseamazon. Fitzmaurice agrees, picking his friends Crozier and Rafferty to go with him. So… ''Gentlemen, lace up your strongest boots and pack your warmest underwear – we're all off to the bloody Arctic!'' Whether battle cry or epitaph, three men and a dog… and an iguana… are going anywayco.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910124826</amazonuk>|amazonusstyle=<amazonus>1910124826</amazonus>"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|}}{{newreview|author=Tony Hawks|title=Once Upon a Time in the West… Country|rating=3[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]===|genre=Travel[[image:4star.jpg|summarylink=I have often complained in a jokey voice to my partner about life in the sticksCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]], and the way she moved me from an inner-city flat to slumming it in the suburbs with fewer busses[[:Category:Humour|Humour]], no takeaways within walking-and-keeping-food-hot distance, and no [[:Category:Women'Polishs Fiction|Women' shops for s Fiction]] Lex Coulton's debut novel is a can of beer whenever you fancy onestory about mistakes, failures, and relationships. Things are different with Tony HawksThe main protagonist, as here he has purposefully decided to up sticks from London to SomewhereFrances Pilgrim, Devon – is a tiny village where the people sixth form English teacher who built their own homes decades ago still live in themhas recently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, where slugs are a lot more of a problem for the wannabe lettuce-grower than they are for the metropolitan commuterwork colleague, and where village halls have is grappling with the power to turn you into both a Pol Pot dictator if you get on their committee and into a quivering, bruise-inducing wreck if youincreasingly eccentric behaviour of her mother. This relationship is complicated by the fact that Frances're the wrong gender s father disappeared at a Zumba class…sea when she was five years old. [[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444794809</amazonuk!-- van LENTE -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Marian Keyes"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=Making It Up As I Go Along|rating=4[[image:1683690346.5jpg|genrelink=Entertainmenthttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=Oh, how the book reviewing gods like to give, and equally like to take away. Here before me is a brand, spanking new collection of journalism "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by the wonderful Marian Keyes – but it's a proof copy, so there's no photo of the authorFred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. Even if over the years I have stopped reading her novelsjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], I have always turned to the author picture to remind myself such sights exist in this world. Himself is [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a lucky manplace of wonder and sanctuary for many people, for sure. But beyond sounding like a letchand when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, what can I say about this – the beautyhe's third large dose looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the chance of essaysmaybe, web columns and other journalism? I can start just maybe reuniting with agreeing that I am not the target audiencehis ex. However, but it's easy enough to see from these pages exactly what the target when his rival is. So much like that test you do – you know the onefound dead, that formulates decisions about Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the age and commonality of all things con in space order to come up with how many billions of planets are likely clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and 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!-- Curran -->}}{{newreview|author= Jean-Yves Ferri|titlestyle= Asterix and the Missing Scroll (Album 36)"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating= 5[[image:1683690133.jpg|genrelink= For Sharing|summaryhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690133/ref=Asterix is those rarest of book seriesnosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; one designed for kids which is actually even funnier when you are an adult"|===[[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star. I used to love Asterix as a child, but now that I reread them I can't help but wonder whyjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], because they [[:Category:Historical Fiction|Historical Fiction]] You are so full a lass of hilarious jokes that I definitely wouldn't have understood when I was younger. I laughed loud twenty eight. Plucky, penniless and hard in Regency era London the race is on to myself twice within the first two pages of Asterix and the Missing Scroll, so I'd definitely say that this was find a hit.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1510100458</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Spadge Whittaker|title=Braver Than Britainsuitable suitor - or else doom yourself to life as an eternal spinster. Along your journey you'll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood - a fiesty noble eager to save you from a life alone, Occasionally|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary=In which Spadge researches Britain's top ten fears and faces them all over the course of fired by a yearrogueish sense for adventure. We're quite a fearful societyWhen it comes to suitors though, you know. And 'll have to make the things we fear most areultimate decision between witty, in order: heights (acrophobia)pretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, snakes (ophidiophobia)wholesome, public speaking (glossophobia)rugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, spiders (arachnophobia)or the mad, small spaces (claustrophobia)bad and terrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. With orphans, mice (musophobia)werewolves, needles (trypanophobia)long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the way, flying (pteromerhanophobia), crowds (agoraphobia) it's clear this isn't going to be an easy decision... [[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and clowns (coulrophobia).Larissa Zageris|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0993429904</amazonuk!-- Jester -->}}{{newreview|author= Mike Bullen-|titlestyle= Trust"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating= 4[[image:Jester_Forever.jpg|genre= General Fictionleft|summarylink= Greg and Amanda are happyhttps://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 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 business conference away from home, one bad decision sends a happy couple into turmoil, and turns an unhappy couple into love's young dreamdark comedy by David Jester]]=== [[image:4star. As secrets and betrayals threaten to send both relationships out of controljpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]], there's only one thing that can keep everything from falling apart[[:Category: TrustHorror|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751559253</amazonuk>Horror]], [[:Category:Fantasy|Fasntasy]]}}{{newreview|author=Dan Rhodes|title=When the Professor Got Stuck in Michael Holland is a cocky and brash young man who dies and gets made the Snow|rating=4offer of his lifetime; immortality.5|genre=General Fiction|summary= Two people are on We follow Michael, a grim reaper and his friends Chip (a stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (a train on stoner in the records department) as they grapple with their way to, of all things, long lives and finding a WI meeting where the ladies of All Bottoms will be lectured clean surface to sit on the non-existence of Godin their flat. One of the two people is Professor Richard Dawkins, rampant atheist, hectoring scientist chappie, and all[[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] <!-- Stibbe -round devotee of ''Deal or No Deal''. The other is Smee, his mono-named assistant, amanuensis or 'male secretary'. 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 Bottom>|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|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/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-in21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241309824]]  | style="vertical-thealign: top; text-wool non-believer has to be housed align: left;"|===[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by a retired vicar and his wifeNina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.5star. 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>}}jpg|link=Category:{{{newreview|author=Rob Temple|title=Very British Problems Abroad|rating=4}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|genre=Humour]], [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]]|summary=Meet, if you haven't already, Christmas – the phenomenon time of the Very British Problemtraditional trauma. In this format they're in pithy little comments (of, ooh, You only have to think about 140 characters in length, the turkey for some reason…) and detail that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the minor things in life that we like nothing more than downstairs loo to inflate to a major factor of lifedefrost overnight, and if that failed the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. They Nowadays it's all having to make sure it's suitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that you can involve mannersgo and visit it, staring at things until they mend themselves, hitting things ditto, or the fact that nobody apart from you and I know how and get too friendly with it to want to queue properlyeat it. And if the idea hits the world outside our shoresChristmas, then – wellthough, you certainly have is of course also a book full time of content regarding our attitude great boons. It's cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and ineptitude abroad.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0751558494</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Fraser McAlpine|title=Stuff Brits Like|rating=4|genre=Humour|summary= With over 100 chapters on different aspects of Britain and Britishness, this book is both fascinating and hilarious. Just looking at beards, it was always a godsend for postmen with all the list of subjects is enough thank-you letters to produce aunties you saw twice a sardonic twist of decade that stiff upper lip: your parents made you write out in long-hand as a child, and as for the chapters cover topics that range from offal to currymakers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, from pedantry to banter, from conkers to rugby. There may be many chapters but this is no academic tome did they even try and sell them any other time of the year? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] <!-- each chapter is just two to three pages long, each is written with endearing affection, each is easy and satisfying Doescher - and quirkily funny - to read.>|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1857886348</amazonuk>}}{{newreview-|authorstyle= John Samuel"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title= What I Tell You in the Dark[[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|rating= 3.5left|genrelink= Humourhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=159474985X]]  |summarystyle=A man called Will is fighting fiercely against corruption – desperate to expose his company"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[William Shakespeare's dodgy dealings to the pressForce Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4. Overcome with doubt and fear, he goes to kill himself5star. Butjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], at the exact moment he attaches his noose to the back of the door[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, he is saved. By in a curious housemate or galaxy far away, there was a concerned girlfriend? No, by an Angel. Not the white-feathered guardian Angel you may expectman called William Shakespeare, but one who wishes was able to help Will achieve his endscreate a series of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul, rulers most evil and so possess rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. You may or may not have noticed the body cinematic version of his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken'', but here at last we get the hapless Will actual script, complete with annoying-in order -different-ways-to finish what he started-before droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, and people keeping it in the family til it hurts. 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…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0715650505</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= John Niven And if you need further encouragement, don't forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the series is so popular we're on to part seven – surely making this over twice as good… [[William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher|Full Review]] <!-- Goss -->|title= The Sunshine Cruise Company-|ratingstyle= 4"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Goss_600.5jpg|genre= Humourleft|summarylink= Susan Frobisher and Julie Wickham live in a small Dorset townhttps://www.amazon.co. 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 homeuk/gp/product/1785942719?ie=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 Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies]]=== [[image:4.5star. When Barry is found dead trussed up in a sex dungeonjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|Children's Rhymes and Verse]], it transpires that he has been leading a hidden life for years[[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], and his expensive fetishes lead to [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Consider the bank moving to take Susan's homeDoctor. Struck by both desperation Just how many birthday and a sense of injustice, Sue and Julie conspire Christmas gifts must he have to rob a bankhand out each year, taking along their friend Jill – a devout Christian conflicted due were he to lack keep in touch with even half of money and his companions? He would certainly need a terminally ill grandsonfew novelty gifts for some of them, say, and Ethel – a foul mouthed resident of the nursing home longing for adventureexample, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the life of a Time Lord and that of some of his friends and enemies.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434023183</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Marie Phillips|title=The Table Of Less Valued Knights|rating=4.5|genre=Fantasy|summary=Sir Humphrey has been demoted from King Arthur's Round Table As luck would have it, he has the space in his TARDIS to the Table of Lesser Valued Knights. The only way stock up in advance, so my advice to him – sorry, her – would be to pop along to his local Earth-based book emporium and get his comfier seat back is to redeem himself via ready. And if you're working on a shorter timescale, with a quest. Therefore when damsel Elaine seeks help to find her kidnapped fiancéshorter lifespan, Humphrey and his wardthinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, well my advice is pretty much the teenage giant Conrad, eagerly set forthsame. Meanwhile in the kingdom [[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Tuft, new Queen Martha has run away after a disastrous wedding to… a… well… disastrous Prince Edwin. She may not realise it yet, but she too will have a job for Humphrey!Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Ingram -->0099555875</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Tim Flannery-|titlestyle=The Mystery of the Venus Island Fetish"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|rating=3[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|genre=Historical Fictionleft|summarylink=Meet Archie Meekhttps://www.amazon.co. 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 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 all the cultural artefacts he's found and wildlife he's plucked or pickledKammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star. That's not to ignore the fact he'll count as something quite alien himselfjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], with his filled-out frame, nearly all-over suntan [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and totemic tattooher cocker spaniel Kammie. You see, in amongst other changes Annie knows something which has been self-evident to his body. But what's this? When he gets back, he finds one me for a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of the main Venus Islands artefacts that caused him to go there in the first place, communicating with humans and not just on a hugelevel of food!, macabre ceremonial fetish maskwalk! or play!. You do require extensive training to become fluent, purloined as corporate artwork. And some of the curators he wishes but most dogs will be perfectly willing to give their time to work alongside teach you and all you have vanishedto do is listen. Is Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and the weird society pair have allowed us to share some of the museum he's returning to, perchance, even weirder, stranger and more violent than the cannibalistic society he's waving farewell to?their conversations. [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1922079308</amazonuk!-- Harris -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Roman Dirge"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=The Cat with a Really Big Head[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1908943823/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] |genre=Graphic Novels|summarystyle= 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"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris]]=== [[image:3star. The title piece in this collection is, by the author's own admissionjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Teenager Liam Glass is mugged and stabbed yards from his imagining of Camden flat. As the Joseph Merrick (boy lies comatose, desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the 'Elephant Man') of 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 feline world – who struggles to sneak up behind a mouse when wrong place at the shadow wrong time. We follow this host of his head is ensemble characters in a total giveawaybleak, and who can hardly even eat with dignity as bending down to his bowl would break his neckkaleidoscopic satire of modern media. 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… [[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] <!-- LENTE -- But I hope your death is slow and horrible.''>|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782762876</amazonuk>}}{{newreview-|authorstyle=Val Hennessy"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=Not Far From Dreamland[[image:Lente_10.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] |genre=General Fiction|summarystyle=Ronald Tonks has reached that stage in life which I call upper middle age"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Ten Dead Comedians: 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 supplyA Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star. On jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Nine comedians are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the plus side he has friendsguise of working with Dustin Walker, mostly platonic and usually in much a comedic legend. Each fits neatly into one of the same boat as Ronald. But are they downhearted? Wellarchetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, they are occasionallythe washed-up has-been who has fallen far from his early days; Zoe, but mostly they're generously optimistic and out to make the most of what they've gotrising female star with a new stand-up special coming soon; Dante, usually bought who went from charity shops and jumble sales. ''Not Far From Dreamland'' is being a kid on the streets to the story of a year (2012) hardest working road comic in the life of Ronald Tonksbusiness; Oliver, his friends and relatives.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0704373874</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Harry Harrison|title=Billthe child-like prop comic who can't get any respect from his peers; Janet, the Galactic Hero|rating=3.5|genre=Science Fiction|summary=Meet Bill. insult comic who is past her prime; He's TJ, the nightly variety show host with a simple farmer – wellreputation for harassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, he ''is'' taking the ultra-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a correspondence course in being a Technical Fertiliser Operator – but fate has something else in store. And so does the mechanisedchip on her shoulder; and William, technological, industrial military, which needs several billion grunts to fight whose redneck character ''Billy the Chingers, in mankindContractor''s first inter-galactic waris a far cry from his real personality as a posh millionaire. StillOf course, at least he gets medals just all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on a beam of light and asks for signing up. After that it's all downhillyour help, and what the likes of Petty Chief Officer Deathwish Drang can only make that a straight line down. Really, what hope is therehell else are you going to say?'' [[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>147320531X</amazonuk!-- Scott -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Ian Doescher"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/1788037006/ref=Humour|summarynosim?tag= Join usthebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Elizabeth, good gentles, for a merry reimagining of `Star Wars Episode 1' as only Shakespeare could have written itWilliam... 'Tis a true Shakespearean drama, filled with sword fights, soliloquies and doomed romance…all in glorious iambic pentameter and coupled with gorgeous illustrationsMe by S Lynn Scott]]=== [[image:4.5star. Hold on to your midichlorians: The plays the thing, wherein you'll catch the rise of Anakin!jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1594748063</amazonuk>}}Category:{{{newreview|author=Attaboy|title=The Book of Hugs|rating=4}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|genre=Humour]]|summary=A hug's Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, a husband and a hug, OK? You either do, or you don'tjob. Some people might be a little more enthusiastic about Then comes the process whilst others are more elegant in the execution day when ordinariness flies out of the hug, but basically you just get on window. It's not a coincidence that it's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I in the pantry and the Bard of Avon in her bath. What's she going to do it ? Well, Elizabeth and then forget about itWill have their own ideas about that! [[Elizabeth, right?William... and Me by S Lynn Scott|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0867197978</amazonuk!-- Rodford -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle= Christopher Fowler"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|titlelink= Bryant and May – The Burning Manhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]|rating=4|genre=Crime|summarystyle= "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU) has a new set of overlordsSurgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star. For reasons that were explored in jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the previous couple second instalment of outings they have this series, Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been transferred hired by a well-known local man to the City Of London Policetrack down some missing valuables. The Met are still the big players in the area. City of London Police only police the old cityBill Galbraith, the square mile, the financial district in other wordsa world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts a popular medical television programme, that has very little had his briefcase stolen by his live-in the way of street crimedomestic servant, because no-one lives there anymore and the people who work there are, by and large, either too rich Aurora. According to need to stealGalbraith, or too smart this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his at the hospital. George agrees to have look into the theft, assuming it will be a relatively easy and straightforward case – little does he know, he's about to do so on the streetsenter a world of deceit and dysfunction.[[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford|amazonuk=Full Review]] <amazonuk!-- Jordan -->0857522043</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg|titlestyle=The Little Old Lady Who Struck Lucky Again! "width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Jordan_Tiny.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1760293814/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |genrestyle=Humour"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=Following the success of ==[[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women'The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Ruless Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] As predicted by Caroline and Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry's wedding day, their marriage is over, the League of Pensioners are back – albeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. Indeed, this time, they’re in Vegas! I haven’t read is definitely not a good weekend for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the first book but it was on my list when split and the opportunity arose to review this one. The idea awkwardness of the League of Pensioners marching towards girls' schoolteacher being the other woman for a fairer world through fun start. Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving the neighbours. At least Janice is well adjusted and frolics was hugely appealing to me and this is a stand alone novel so I thought I would dive straight in with this oneover her ex-husband Alec.She still dreams of him, yes, but it's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the door? [[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447274903</amazonuk!-- Taylor -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=Winshluss"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=In God We Trust[[image:Taylor_Scilly.jpg|ratinglink=4http://www.amazon.co.5|genreuk/dp/178475515X/ref=Graphic Novelsnosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  |summarystyle=To start with, "vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Life of a rhetorical testScilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]=== [[image:4. How about God and Adam playing badminton day in and day out5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], until one gets bored and decides to create Eve? Or [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the defeater Isles of Goliath and Scilly. (I know they should be called that – the saviour of the Israelites being one Conan the Barbarian? Or this as author provides a test – Jesus Himself failing handy guide to have a successful session the etiquette of tequila slammers with Gabriel due to the holes through His hands? I barely need mention that in these pages God does battle with Supermantheir name, for you to have answered the test their nature and put yourself firmly in one of two camps for this book – one very much opposed to buying itlocation, and one very much in favouretc.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0861662350</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=David Walliams and Tony Ross|title=The Queen) For our more distant readers, they's Orang-Utan|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=The Queen felt trapped in the palace re several chunks of granite rock out in the Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, with all those stuffed animals which she has been given just 2,200 permanent residents. They're big on foreign tours. There are mountains of them tourism, and every night she would dream of escaping. When her birthday drew near big on growing flowers in the tropical climate the Gulf Stream bequeaths them – although the family dutifully asked her what she would like as weather is bad enough to turn any car to a presentrust bucket within years. The Prince was thinking of a goldThey're so wee, diamond encrusted stairlift whilst the Duke was considering a great big bottle of brandy. The Royal Baby had some decorated thimbles in mindand so idyllic-seeming, especially at night, but the Queen became just you can be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a little snappish as she explained that what she really wanted was 'One's own orang-utan'police presence. But there is – at least two working at any one time. And she didn't mean a stuffed oneof them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, either.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0008135134</amazonuk>who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a well-known online existence, which has brought to life all the whimsical comedy of his work. [[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|Full Review]]}}{{newreview<!-- Lloyd -->|author=Jack Sheffield-|titlestyle=Silent Night"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_Twas.jpg|ratinglink=3http://www.amazon.co.5uk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] |genre=General Fiction|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 by, for instance, James Herriot or [['Twas the Fight Before Christmas:Category:Gervase Phinn|Gervase PhinnA Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees]], told mostly in the first person, describing the author’s first couple of years as Headmaster at a small village primary school in Yorkshire=== [[image:3.5star. The village of Ragley jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It's Christmas Eve and Mum has arranged everything. All she now has to do is fictional, as are most await the arrival of the characters, but relatives and the incidents and situations encountered are based on food shopping delivery. Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have the author’s experiencepotential to ruin everything.[['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0552167045</amazonuk!-- Phinn -->}}{{newreview|-|authorstyle=J Robert Lennon"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|title=See You In Paradise[[image:Phinn_Virgin.jpg|rating=3left|genrelink=Short Stories|summary=Lennon writes with a relaxed, easy http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1444779400/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style and his characters are instantly recognisable as people from everyday walks of life, without being in any way stereotypical. Many of the people in these stories are dealing with normal frustrations, and Lennon is cleverly detached enough not to make them individuals that you="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Virgin Mary're obviously supposed to root for (the only exception is the industrialist in the eponymous tale, who is an archetypal capitalist fat cat)s Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]=== [[image:4. 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 unfair5star. For mejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Anthologies|Anthologies]] Christmas in our house is the most unsettling story time we tend to get on a plane and head to either sun or snow, anywhere that is ''No Life''far, because it portrays a decent couple far away from the madness at home, last minute dashes to the mercy of people more powerful shops on Christmas Eve, and influential than them. There is no supernatural or bizarre element at work herefood cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, just ordinary characters at nor a mere 36 hours. But I do remember the mercy feeling of social power.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781253358</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Lynne Truss|title=Cat out Christmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, and back when you knew exactly what the season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This book is an anthology of Hell|rating=3|genre=Horror|summary=Meet Alec Charlesworth. He's retired those moments, and decamped it took me right back to an isolated coastal cottage with just his dog and loving memories the wonder of his colleague wife, now that she has died before her timeChristmas as a child. But the fusty librarian cannot rest too long before engaging in exploring some unusual computer files that were pinged across [[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by someone at the college he worked at, just before he left. 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 catGervase Phinn|Full Review]] <!-- North -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:North_Romeo. Worryingly, we soon see what at the most only a few of the characters can, that this cat is being accompanied by unusual and unexpected death – much like Alec's wifejpg|link=http://www.amazon.co. It's only when Roger testifies to having been pushed through the ends of endurance and out the other side that we begin to doubt where the true evil in this story lies…|amazonukuk/dp/0356508536/ref=nosim?tag=<amazonuk>0099585340</amazonuk>}}thebookbag-21]]{{newreview|author=Jimmy Hansen and Mychailo Kazybird|titlestyle=Wallace & Gromit "vertical-align: The Complete Newspaper Strips Collection Vol 2top; text-align: left;"||rating=4==[[Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North]]===|genre=Humour[[image:3.5star.jpg|summarylink=For me there Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] For all those who think tragedy plots are two important areas too restricted and prescribed, read on. In these pages you too will see that Romeo had lots of options en route to hitting the cover of this book where three letters are arranged in meaningful waysbottle. The first is with the S-U-N in their obligatory red and white font. No minor paper Likewise, she could hold Wallace and Gromit, their adventures have turned away from her predestined path at no end of junctures. And to be in what is 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 (unfortunatelyher) the most widely read tabloid in the country. And elsewhere is C. [[Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North|Full Review]] <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -B-E, suggesting 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 the country courtesy of their creative output. Together these short collections of letters show just how much WaG are major creations, and if the proof was needed this much longer collection of their daily 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 a Professor of creative writing and literature at a small university in the American mid-west. He is also a frustrated novelist with a colourful personal history, much of which bleeds into his professional life, with interesting results.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007586345</amazonuk>}}