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{{Frontpage|class-"wikitable" cellpaddingauthor="15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->Patti Smith|title=Year of the Monkey<!-- Walton -->|rating=4|-genre=Biography| stylesummary="width: 10%; verticalOn the coast of Santa Cruz, Patti Smith enters the lunar year of the monkey -align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Walton_Askone packed with mischief, sorrow, and unexpected moments.jpg|left|link=httpIn a stranger's words, ''Anything is possible://wwwafter all, it's the year of the monkey''.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788038053/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbagAs Smith wanders the coast of Santa Cruz in solitude, she reflects on a year that brings huge shifts in her life -21]]loss and ageing are faced head on, as it the shifting political waters in America. |isbn=1526614758}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Walton_Ask|=title==[[Ask For Blues by |author=Malcolm Walton]]==|rating= [[image:3.5star.jpg5|linkgenre=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Autobiography|Autobiography]], [[:Category:Entertainment|Entertainment]], [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]] Malcolm Waltonsummary=Malcolm Walton's book is clearly a memoir about his introduction to the Trad Jazz scene of the late 1950's 1950s and early 1960's1960s, but he has chosen to write it in the form of a novel, claiming in his prologue that this would give the book a different approach to the music memoir. His protagonist 'Martin' takes on Malcolm's mantle, and begins with his first discovery of the Salvation Army band with his grandfather. This catapults him into a love of music, initially taking piano lessons, and later delving into his true love – the trumpet. [[Ask For Blues by Malcolm Walton|Full Review]]}}<!-- Moore -->{{Frontpage|-| styleisbn="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Moore Bientot.jpg|left|linktitle=https://wwwA Bientot.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782438610?ie|author=UTF8&tagRoger Moore|rating=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782438610]] 4| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Entertainment|summary===[[A Bientot... by The news of the death of Sir Roger Moore]]=== [[imagein May 2017 came as a great shock:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Autobiography|Autobiography]], [[:Category:Entertainment|Entertainment]], [[:Category:Lifestyle|Lifestyle]] The he was one of those people you knew would go on forever. There was just one small glimmer of light in the sadness - the news that a matter of days before his death he'd delivered the death finished manuscript of Sir Roger Moore in May 2017 came as his book, ''À bientôt…'', to his publishers. Just a great shock: he was one of those people you knew would go few months later a copy landed on for ever. There was just one small glimmer of light in the sadness - the news that a matter of days before his death he'd delivered the finished manuscript of his book, ''À bientôt…'', to his publishers. Just a few months later a copy landed on my desk and I didnmy desk and I didn't even bother to look as though I could resist reading it straight away.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Maslanka Sherlock|title=Sherlock: The Puzzle Book|author=Christopher Maslanka and Steve Tribe|rating=4|genre=Entertainment|summary=Who doesn't even bother to look as though I could resist reading it straight away. [[A Bientot... by Roger Moore|Full Review]] <love a good puzzle, especially those really fiendish ones that get the brain working extra hard? There really is nothing to compare to that buzz we get from the Aha!-- Maslanka -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Maslanka Sherlockmoment, when everything falls into place and the solution reveals itself. If puzzles are your thing then you may wish to put your grey cells to the test with ''The Sherlock Puzzle Book'', based on the popular TV series.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785943030?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785943030]] }}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Corcoran_Dylan|title===[[SherlockDo You Mr Jones?: The Puzzle Book by Christopher Maslanka Bob Dylan with the Poets and Steve Tribe]]===Professors [[image:4star.jpg|linkauthor=Category:{{{Neil Corcoran|rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category: Entertainment=4.5|genre=Entertainment]] Who doesn|summary=Bob Dylan't love a good puzzle, especially those really fiendish ones that get s award of the brain working extra hard? There really is nothing to compare to that buzz we get from Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016 'for having created new poetic expressions within the Aha! moment, when everything falls into place and great American song tradition' proved highly controversial. It inevitably led some people in the solution reveals itself. If puzzles are your thing then you may wish literary world to put your grey cells to the test take stock and look at his work and reputation with ''The Sherlock Puzzle Book''a fresh eye. This volume of essays was first published in 2002, based on the popular TV series. [[Sherlock: The Puzzle Book and is now reissued with a new foreword by Christopher Maslanka and Steve Tribe|Full Review]]Will Self.<br>}}{{Frontpage<!-- Corcoran -->|isbn=Kyncl_Stream|-title=Stream Punks| styleauthor="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Robert Kyncl and Maany Peyvan[[image:Corcoran_Dylan.jpg|left|linkrating=https://www4.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1784706809?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1784706809]] 5| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Entertainment|summary===[[Do You Mr Jones?: Bob Dylan with the Poets and Professors by Neil Corcoran]]=== [[image:4I watch quite a lot of YouTube. I play music videos when I want to listen to a particular song I don't already have in my collection.5starI use it to find out how to do things, with the instruction videos they seem to have for pretty much anything.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category: Entertainment|Entertainment]] Bob DylanAt the gym, I's award of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016 'for having created new poetic expressions within ll stick it on on my phone, prop it up on the great American song tradition' proved highly controversial. It inevitably led cross-trainer and watch some people in behind the literary world to take stock and look at his work and reputation scenes interviews with a fresh eyethe cast of my favourite shows. This volume of essays was first published in 2002, and And sometimes I'll treat it as if it is now reissued Netflix, to watch series with new episodes releasing every few days, exclusively on YouTube. Having a new foreword by Will Self. [[Do You Mr Jones?: Bob Dylan with the Poets and Professors by Neil Corcoran|Full Review]] <!-- Kyncl -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Kyncl_Streamsmart TV adds an extra, easy way to watch without having to plug in my laptop or squint at a small phone screen.jpg|left|link=https://wwwSo yes, I like YouTube and I use YouTube. But I didn't know a whole lot about the site it until I read this book.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0753545926?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0753545926]]}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"JVDK_Swing|===[[Stream Punks by Robert Kyncl and Maany Peyvan]]==title=We Can Swing Together: The Story of Lindisfarne [[image:4.5star.jpg|linkauthor=Category:{{{John Van der Kiste|rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Lifestyle=4.5|Lifestyle]], [[:Category: genre=Entertainment|Entertainment]] I watch quite summary=It all began with a lot group of YouTubeyoungsters in North Shields. I play music videos when I want to listen to a particular song I don Rod Clements, Simon 'Si' Cowe, Ray 'Jacka' Jackson and Ray Laidlaw formed ''The Downtown Faction''t already have in my collection. I use it to find out how to do things, with soon changing the instruction videos they seem name to have for pretty much anything. At the gym, I'll stick it on on my phone, prop it up on the cross trainer 'Brethren'' when they were joined by singer-songwriter Alan Hull. As a US-based group had a similar name they opted to change the name again - and watch some behind ''Lindisfarne'' (with the scenes interviews with name taken from an island off the cast of my favourite showsNorthumberland coast) was born. And sometimes I'll treat it as if it More than forty years on and with numerous changes of personnel the band is Netflix, to watch series with new episodes releasing every few days, exclusively on YouTube. Having a still very much around. They might not be touring or producing much in the way of new smart TV adds an extramaterial, easy way to watch without having to plug in my laptop or squint at a small phone screen. So yesbut they still perform, I like YouTube and I use YouTubewith Rod Clements, one of the original members on his fourth stint with the group. But I didn't know a whole lot about the site it until I read this book.[[Stream Punks by Robert Kyncl and Maany Peyvan|Full Review]] <!-- JVDK -->}}{{Frontpage|-isbn=JVDK_ELO| styletitle="widthElectric Light Orchestra: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Song by Song|author=John Van der Kiste[[image:JVDK_Swing.jpg|linkrating=http://www4.amazon.co.uk/dp/1781555893/ref5|genre=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Entertainment| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[We Can Swing Together: The Story My memories of Lindisfarne by John Van der Kiste]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Entertainment|Entertainment]] It all pop music in the early sixties revolve around guitars and drums, sometimes the piano with only occasional excursions into strings and brass. Pop music rarely stands still and it wasn't long before the basic instruments were seen as constraints and The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys began to experiment, with a group of youngsters in North Shieldsother groups following where they led. Rod ClementsAmongst these groups was The Move and their lead guitarist and songwriter, Simon Roy Wood. Wood wanted to develop the group'Si' Cowe, Ray 'Jacka' Jackson and Ray Laidlaw formed ''The Downtown Faction'', soon changing s sound by adding more instruments but was prevented from achieving what he wanted by cost limitations and because the rest of the name to group didn''Brethren'' when they were joined by singer-songwriter Alan Hullt really share his enthusiasm. As a US-based group had a similar name they opted to change the name again - and }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Watkins_Lets|title=Let''Lindisfarne'' (with s Make Lots of Money: My Life as the name taken from an island off the Northumberland coast) was born. More than forty years Biggest Man in Pop|author=Tom Watkins|rating=4|genre=Entertainment|summary=Who on and with numerous changes of personnel the band is still very much around. They might not be touring or producing much earth would be a manager in the way of new materiallarger than life, but they still performhere today gone tomorrow world of pop? Anybody with an ego, with Rod Clementsa ruthless streak, one of an opportunity to embrace the original members on his fourth stint with the groupchances and accept that it's not going to last, evidently. [[We Can Swing Together: The Story Tom Watkins is just one of several to have walked the fine line and, for part of Lindisfarne by John Van der Kiste|Full Review]] <!-- jvdk -->the time, quite successfully. As his memoirs suggest, part of the time was achievement enough.}}|-{{Frontpage| styleisbn="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Kendrick_Scrappy|title=Scrappy Little Nobody[[image:JVDK_ELO.jpg|linkauthor=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1781556008/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Anna Kendrick| stylerating="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"3.5|genre=Entertainment|summary===[[Electric Light Orchestra: Song Celebrity autobiographies. It's a genre long tainted by Song the examples of people who clearly didn't deserve to be a celebrity, let alone have a ghost-writer create their book, and by John Van der Kiste]]=== [[image:4those who did so little but managed to churn out five memoirs before they were even thirty.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Entertainment|Entertainment]] My memories But more recently it's become a way of pop music in the early sixties revolve around guitars and drumsstaking a claim to importance for female comics. They've not all written autobiographies, sometimes the piano with only occasional excursions into strings and brassas Bridget Christie proved, but enough have to provide for a rapidly-filling shelf at the bookstore. Pop music rarely stands still 2016 we had Amy Schumer winning a GoodReads award, Lena Dunham's been at it, and it wasnwe't long before the basic instruments were seens as constraints ve also got Anna Kendrick. Now she's not a strict comic – not all of her films are designed to make you laugh, and The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys began some of them that are just don't – but this has to experiment, with other groups following where they ledbe in the same bracket. Amongst these groups was }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Ropek_Tragic|title=Tragic Magic: The Move and their lead guitarist and songwriter, Roy Wood. Wood wanted to develop the groupLife of Traffic's sound by adding more instruments but was prevented from achieving what he wanted by cost limitations and because the rest of the group didn't really share his enthusiasm. <!-- Watkins -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Watkins_Lets.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0753541971/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Let's Make Lots of Money: My Life as the Biggest Man in Pop by Tom Watkins]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Entertainment|Entertainment]] Who on earth would be a manager in the larger than life, here today gone tomorrow world of pop? Anybody with an ego, a ruthless streak, an opportunity to embrace the chances and accept that it's not going to last, evidently. Tom Watkins is just one of several to have walked the fine line, and for part of the time, quite successfully. As his memoirs suggest, part of the time was achievement enough. [[Let's Make Lots of Money: My Life as the Biggest Man in Pop by Tom Watkins|Full Review]]  <!-- Mourby -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Mourby_Rooms.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785782754?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785782754]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Rooms with a View: The Secret Life of Great Hotels by Adrian Mourby]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], [[:Category:History|History]] Adrian Mourby has given us a flying visit to each of fifty grand hotels, from fourteen regions of the world, with the hotels in each section being arranged chronologically rather than by region, which helps to give something of an overall picture. So what makes a hotel 'grand'? The first hotel to call itself 'grand' was in covent Garden in 1774 and it ushered in the beginning of a period when a hotel would be a lifestyle choice rather than a refuge for those without friends and family conveniently nearby. The hotels we visit all began life in different circumstances and each faced a different set of challenges. We begin in the Americas, move to the United Kingdom, circumnavigate Europe, briefly visit Russia and Turkey then northern Africa, India and Asia. Australia, it seems, does not go for the grand. [[Rooms with a View: The Secret Life of Great Hotels by Adrian Mourby|Full Review]] <!-- Kendrick -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Kendrick_Scrappy.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1471156834/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Autobiography|Autobiography]], [[:Category:Entertainment|Entertainment]] Celebrity autobiographies. It's a genre long tainted by the examples of people who clearly didn't deserve to be a celebrity, let alone have a ghost-writer create their book, and by those who did so little but managed to churn out five memoirs before they were even thirty. But more recently it's become a way of staking a claim to importance for female comics. They've not all written autobiographies, as Bridget Christie proved, but enough have to provide for a rapidly-filling shelf at the bookstore. 2016 we had Amy Schumer winning a GoodReads award, Lena Dunham's been at it, and we've also got Anna Kendrick. Now she's not a strict comic – not all of her films are designed to make you laugh, and some of them that are just don't – but this has to be in the same bracket. [[Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick|Full Review]]  <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE --> |} {{newreviewChris Wood|author= Thomas Dolby|title= The Speed of SoundDan Ropek|rating= 4.5

|summary= From struggling post-punk Chris Wood was a member of Traffic, the group formed by Steve Winwood in 1967 after he left The Spencer Davis Group. A gifted musician to pop starbest known for his flute and saxophone work, from Silicon Valley innovator to university professorhe also played keyboards, Thomas Dolby has had bass guitar and contributed backing vocals as well as having a remarkable if not unique career, often reinventing himself on hand in writing several of the waysongs and one or two instrumentals. This memoir is based on biography takes its title from the name of one of his extensive notes and journalscompositions for their fifth album.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785781952</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Dan RopekDolby_Sound|title= Tragic Magic: The Life Speed of Traffic's Chris Wood Sound|author=Thomas Dolby|rating= 4.5|genre= Entertainment|summary= Chris Wood was a member of Traffic, the group formed by Steve Winwood in 1967 after he left The Spencer Davis Group. A gifted From struggling post-punk musician best known for his flute and saxophone workto pop star, he also played keyboardsfrom Silicon Valley innovator to university professor, bass guitar and contributed backing vocals as well as having Thomas Dolby has had a hand in writing several of remarkable if not unique career, often reinventing himself on the songs and one or two instrumentalsway. This biography takes its title from the name of one of memoir is based on his compositions for their fifth albumextensive notes and journals.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910773190</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Morris_Legion|title=The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains: Oddball Criminals from Comic Book History

|genre=Graphic Novels Entertainment|summary=As much as I like comics – and I do, whether superhero ones or not – I have to admit one thing, namely that the villains in them are a bit pants. What is The Penguin but the world's worst Mafioso, with a hobby of waddling along like his pet birds? Where else do you win an Oscar of all things by playing a two-bit killer who just fell in a vat of random chemicals and changed colour, and got mardier as a result (although recently he's become a nanotech genius – but let's not go there)? And what is it with the gimp in the see-through plant pot because he is the embodiment of cold? And that's just some of the better-known enemies of ''Batman'', one of the better goodies. You can imagine how awful the baddies related to the bad goodies can be. And if you can't, this is the perfect primer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594749329</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Theo GuignardFletcher_Midnight|title=LabyrinthIn the Midnight Hour: The Life & Soul of Wilson Pickett|author=Tony Fletcher

|genre=Children's Non-FictionEntertainment|summary=Of all the books published for people's paper-based hobbies when I was a youngster, it's remarkable that all of them have been revisited Tamla Motown groups and revamped. I say this because they certainly weren't exactly brilliant fun back then. Nosingers apart, we didn't have quite in the modern style of colouringmid-sixties there were three major names in books, but they were available, if you'd gone beyond 'join the dots'soul music field who mattered above all. I read only recently that origami is allegedly coming back – and I remember how every church book sale for years had ''Origami'', ''Origami 2'' James Brown was something of a cult name who rarely bothered about or ''Origami 3'' paperbacks somewhere for ten pence. But troubled the ultimate in paper-based fun back then singles charts, and Otis Redding was on the use-once format verge of shooting into the maze bookstratosphere when he died in an aeroplane crash. This is The other was the modern equivalent – but boyman from Alabama, hasn't the idea grown up since then…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847809987</amazonuk>wicked Pickett'.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Tony FletcherPaling_Reading|title= In the Midnight HourReading Allowed: The Life & Soul of Wilson Pickett|rating= 4.5|genre= Entertainment|summary= Tamla Motown groups True Stories and singers apart, in the mid-sixties there were three major names in the soul music field who mattered above all. James Brown was something of Curious Incidents from a cult name who rarely bothered about or troubled the singles charts, and Otis Redding was on the verge of shooting into the stratosphere when he died in an aeroplane crash. The other was the man from Alabama, 'the wicked Pickett'.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0190252944</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewProvincial Library

|summary=I once made a comical faux pas in a library when I was younger, but it certainly didn't put me off returning. I once declared in a self-important way that I would start at the beginning of the books for young children and not stop til the end, then do the same for those for the older children – ''and then do it all over again with them'', I said, pointing at the large-print shelves. ''I hope not'', was the response – but little me was only aware of a need for large font for my fellow whippersnappers, and not for any other reason. Since then I've needed libraries, and going to them has been second nature. On the dole I made sure I could use the free Internet they provided to pay me back for my council tax; later I was intent on finding out if a Senior Library Assistant girl was worthy of her title; , and of course , it saved a fortune on books for study and fun. I'm not alone in sharing the warmth of both their heating system and the very thing they were born to provide – books, but there was still a huge step up between my level of use and knowledge of them to actually working in one. Which is where Chris Paling comes in. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472124715</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Bruce SpringsteenSpringsteen_Born|title= Born to Run|author=Bruce Springsteen|rating= 5|genre= AutobiographyEntertainment|summary= No , you haven't stumbled into a music review from the 1970s, I'm talking about The Boss's autobiography. Lots of books have been written about Springsteen by folk who knew him, worked with him and by others who have only read the cuttings. Over the last seven years he has been going about – not putting the record straight, exactly – but telling it from his own perspective. As he puts it: ''Writing about yourself is a funny business''. By his own admission, it isn't the whole truth, discretion holds him back but ''in a project like this, the writer has made one promise, to show the reader his mind.'' ''In these pages, I've tried to do this.''|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1471157792</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=JVDK_Beatles|title=A Beatles Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Beatles but Were Afraid to Ask

|genre=ReferenceEntertainment|summary=You might have thought that just about everything which could be said about the Beatles had been said and certainly , there's been no shortage of books about what went wrong, what happened to the money and even what went right. But what I've never seen before is a 'miscellany' - all those little facts which are so hard to track down and this is where historian John Van der Kiste comes into his own: he's a man with an eye for detail and the ability to bring everything together into a very readable whole. It's a wonderful collection of the small facts.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781555826</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Julian Palacios|title= Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe|rating= 4|genre= Entertainment|summary= There were few sadder casualties of the sixties music scene than Syd (real name Roger) Barrett. The original songwriting genius and front man of Pink Floyd, he burnt out all too soon. A few months in the spotlight were followed all too soon by a pathetic postscript of a stuttering solo career, and over three decades as a largely housebound recluse.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0859655482</amazonuk>