Release Date: 09/10/15
Publisher: Penguin UK
SYNOPSIS:
This is the comic autobiography of 2014. A comedian's autobiography? I wonder if he's ever used humour to deflect from his insecurities? To avoid being bullied? Is there heartache behind the humour? I wonder if he's a manic-depressive? Tears of a clown? Yes, all of that. Discover the hilarious life-story of one of Britain's best-loved comedians in Kevin Bridges' brilliant memoir. 'First of all, I have never written a book before, you probably haven't either, so there we have it; a connection is established between reader and writer...' Aged just 17, Kevin Bridges walked on stage for the first time in a Glasgow comedy club and brought the house down. He only had a five-minute set but in that short time he discovered that he really could earn a living from making people laugh. Kevin began life as a shy, nerve-ridden school-boy, whose weekly highlights included a cake-bombing attack by the local youths. Reaching his teens, he followed his true calling as the class clown, and was soon after arrested for kidnapping Hugh Grant from his local cinema on a quiet Saturday night. This was a guy going somewhere - off the rails seeming most likely. Kevin's trademark social commentary, sharp one-liners and laugh-out-loud humour blend with his reflections on his Glaswegian childhood and the journey he's taken to become one of the most-loved comedians of our time. '...Hopefully now you'll take this over to the till and I can accompany you for the next wee while. That's the benefit of book shops, reading the little bit and then deciding if the author deserves to be part of your carefully selected 3 for 2 deal, or part of your plane journey, train journey, your next bath, your next shite.'
REVIEW:
I originally came across Kevin on one of the Comedy Channel’s shows and his sense of humour hit me as a lot of the stuff he was saying about growing up struck a chord. He’s funny, his humour takes a poke at life so I thought I’d give his book a go and whilst it did contain some jokes, Kevin really took a long honest look at his life and laid some quite emotional things bare for the reader.
Its written pretty well and whilst you can tell he had a hard time starting, as the book progresses the patter becomes more of a friendly chat with each subsequent chapter. All round, a book that I was pleased I read and whilst I don’t go through many autobiographies, this one more than showed me I should give a few more a go.
Release Date: 09/10/14
Publisher: Preface Publishing
SYNOPSIS:
As a wise ape once observed, space is big - vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly so. However, if you look too closely at space, it becomes nothing but lumps of rock and sundry gases. Sometimes it's necessary to take a step back, and let a few billion years go by, before any of the true wonder and scope of the cosmos becomes apparent. Similarly, the late 20th century author, humorist and thinker Douglas Adams was big - vastly, hugely and thoroughly mind-bogglingly so, both in physical terms, and as a writer who has touched millions of readers, firing up millions of cerebellums all over planet Earth, for over 35 years - and for nearly half of that time, he hasn't even been alive. It would be ridiculous to pretend that Douglas Adams' life and work has gone unexamined since his dismayingly early death at 49 but throughout the decade since the last book to tackle the subject, the universes Adams created have continued to develop, to beguile and expand minds, and will undoubtedly do so for generations to come. An all-new approach to the most celebrated creation of Douglas Adams is therefore most welcome, and The Frood tells the story of Adams' explosive but agonizingly constructed fictional universe, from his initial inspirations to the posthumous sequel(s) and adaptations, bringing together a thousand tales of life as part of the British Comedy movements of the late 70s and 80s along the way. With the benefit of hindsight and much time passed, friends and colleagues have been interviewed for a fresh take on the man and his works.
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of the Douglas Adam’s Hitch-Hiker books, I was more than interested in getting to know the man/mind behind the warped humour. What this biography brings is a frank and honest look at this cracking author. Its easy to read, doesn’t feel like just an infodump and when added to a writing style that really helps you get to the heart of the matter all round makes this a great book to pick up for Douglas fans.
Release Date: 09/10/14
Publisher: William Heinemann
SYNOPSIS:
This is introduced by Richard Dawkins and Nick Harkaway. First a legendary radio series, then a sequence of bestselling books, and most recently a blockbuster movie, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of the greatest fictional enterprises of the twentieth century. Reissued in time for the first novel's thirty-fifth anniversary, this hardback omnibus edition includes all five parts of the trilogy, along with a wealth of extra material prefaced and contextualised by Jem Roberts, the official biographer of Douglas Adams, to complete the canon. This unique hardback edition is indispensable for any would-be galactic traveller, and a must-read for all Douglas Adams fans.
REVIEW:
Ah, the almost complete guide to the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy titles and one that is put together in a cracking value compendium in a top notch cloth bound singular volume. It a great find (almost as good as an Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster) and is something that will definitely add that special item to fans collections.
As most people reading this will already know (as probably like me they own multiple copies of the books) the writing it snappy, has cracking humour and is presented in such as a way that readers will believe that the bizarre universe could actually exist as there is a sense of logic within. Add to thi the fact that it’s a true British classic and what else can you ask for to keep the Sci-Fi Reader happy during the busy holiday season. Cracking.
Release Date: 01/03/14
Publisher: Create Space Independent Publishing
SYNOPSIS:
After a long, and deeply philosophical, conversation with Robert LaSardo, I eagerly awaited this book that you are about to read. I was not disappointed. Left deep in thought, I sat in a long contemplative silence. While I always enjoyed Mr. LaSardo as an actor, I discovered I like him even better as who he is, behind the face he shows the public. Often, if you are in the public eye, you develop a persona (ego) and become someone that society, fans and publicists want you to be. You can sometimes lose aspects of yourself. The truly courageous ones overcome this through strength of character and merge the two halves of themselves to be whole. In the end, people will either love you for who you are, imperfections and all, or they will pull back, fading away because you spoiled the 'image' they had of you. It is sad that the creative person loses a part of themselves so that they can be known and make a good living. Yet, it is the love of art, writing and acting - the real, inner person we are is what made us do it in the first place - that can often become extinguished by the machine of ratings, demands of talent agents, advisers or by the shine of fame and glamour. Throughout his career, Robert LaSardo has found his niche in Hollywood, playing the devious criminal. Often evil personified in his roles, he has played the villain we love, on the award-winning series Nip/Tuck and on both CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami. We also see his more recent performances in Ghost Whisperer and his own independent film Never Down, he continues to win the hearts of his audience. In Life Sentence: a true story about love, lunacy and fame, you will encounter the man behind the villain he plays, and come to understand the depth of his heart, his will and desire to accomplish despite the hardships that will make you cry. This book will make you feel the triumph of his success, as you are drawn into his life. ~ From the introduction.
REVIEW:
I’ve been a fan of Robert LaSardo since I originally saw him in Nip/Tuck, so when he released his poetry books I was pretty stunned, not because he released them but purely for the fact that I’d stereotyped him based on not only his looks (with his tattoo’s) but on the character he’d portrayed. Those books were emotionally raw, real and quite frankly awesome so much so that I felt that I had to write reviews on them.
It was a sheer pleasure and when Robert wrote in December to wish us Merry Christmas I was not only surprised but it went to show that he was a down to earth in touch with the real world human being, so when I heard about his autobiography coming out, it was something I wanted immediately and couldn’t wait to get my hands upon.
So when it arrived, it was devoured in quite a short time and whilst I could have written the review much earlier, it’s a review that has taken me time to sit back and digest as well as how to phrase as the emotional aspects detailed within the title are open, frankly brutal in places and has gone on to show how the real Hollywood works.
Starting out in Robert’s early life, the reader is given the cold hard facts about him having to deal with a split family with his mother suffering from mental illness, it was difficult to read and whilst many would have bypassed this to concentrate on their story from later on ie their arrival in Hollywood, his openness about it brought tears to my eyes. I felt special being allowed into his life, as his words portrayed a truth that many others wouldn’t have the courage to face let alone talk about.
Yet as the book carried on he continued to talk about his life from child into adult hood alongside his time in the Navy and how upon de mobbing his return to his love of acting from his humble beginnings through to Hollywood, but not the Tinseltown that many think of as glitz and glamour, the downright real world version where money is scarce and home is a motel as you struggle making rent each week. A pretentious town where people you looked up to and met years before have been chewed up and spat out wandering round crazed and almost forgotten.
The book is harrowing, the tales about auditions frightening and to have an account from an actor who most would think lived in a big house (including myself) with a huge bank balance (he doesn’t) really has a less stable life than most “average people” do. Yet throughout it all, despite being stomped and downtrodden so many times its his clear passion for acting that comes through with each of his characters such as Nip/Tuck’s Escobar whose portrayal pushed not only the audience to the max but the character himself.
If you want real peak beneath Hollywood’s skirt, that contains amazing writing and a truth that rings out then you really have to read Robert’s work (poetry included.) He really is an inspirational guy. Thank you Robert.
Release Date: 17/10/13
Publisher: Penguin Classics
SYNOPSIS:
Steven Patrick Morrissey was born in Manchester on May 22nd 1959. Singer-songwriter and co-founder of the Smiths (1982-1987), Morrissey has been a solo artist for twenty-six years, during which time he has had three number 1 albums in England in three different decades. Achieving eleven Top 10 albums (plus nine with the Smiths), his songs have been recorded by David Bowie, Nancy Sinatra, Marianne Faithfull, Chrissie Hynde, Thelma Houston, My Chemical Romance and Christy Moore, amongst others. An animal protectionist, in 2006 Morrissey was voted the second greatest living British icon by viewers of the BBC, losing out to Sir David Attenborough. In 2007 Morrissey was voted the greatest northern male, past or present, in a nationwide newspaper poll. In 2012, Morrissey was awarded the Keys to the City of Tel-Aviv. It has been said 'Most pop stars have to be dead before they reach the iconic status that Morrissey has reached in his lifetime.' Autobiography covers Morrissey's life from his birth until the present day.
REVIEW:
Having discovered Morrissey at the age of 13 due to sharing a passion for James Dean, I found, after working my way though a fair amount of his catalogue, that I liked his music, I loved the way with which he delivered his “message”, the descriptive contempt behind the words spoke volumes and over the years, with each impassioned speech he gave about events, I found myself liking him more The fact that he was a Manchester Lad come good, from working class roots, like myself also said a hell of a lot to me, so much so that when I heard about his autobiography I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
What unfurls within is a book that starts out almost as if it were one of the author’s songs. It was lyrical, it had deeper emotional context behind the word count but as it started to get going, I noticed a lot of cracks within the Morrissey plasterwork. Pieces that he didn’t want to reveal to the reader, hiding a lot of events that occurred during childhood that helped form him and tended to jump about without any real direction or timeline to follow along. This not only jarred the writing style but also left me feeling a little jaded about the star, especially when the majority of the book was about the various musical lawsuits to which he was embroiled.
Add to this that a fair number of other things didn’t come up, for example his passion of James Dean limited to a few pages alongside an almost passive mention about his vegetarianism (which for a guy who has venues selling veggie only food for the audience as well as being known for the song “Meat is Murder) seemed to not delve into the authors life as I expected.
All round this book fell short of what I was wanting. It missed out huge parts such as his venomous rants against the establishment, barely mentioned the Moors Murders which he was a campaigner against Hindley and Brady, as well as carefully picking its way through some of his early life and the book left me feeling that it was the fans that exploited him, not the ones who had supported his career or purchased his records but people who just grabbed what they wanted without giving him anything in return. A great shame.
Release Date: 15/09/11
SYNOPSIS:
Shaun Ryder has lived a life of glorious highs and desolate lows. As lead singer of the Happy Mondays, he turned Manchester into Madchester, combining all the excesses of a true rock'n'roll star with music and lyrics that led impresario Tony Wilson to describe him as 'the greatest poet since Yeats'. The young scally who left school at fifteen without ever learning his alphabet had come a very long way indeed. Huge chart success and a Glastonbury headline slot followed, plus numerous arrests and world tours – then Shaun's drug addiction reached its height, Factory Records was brought to its knees and the Mondays split.
But was this the end for Shaun Ryder? Not by a long shot. Two years later he was back with new band Black Grape, and their groundbreaking debut album topped the charts in possibly the greatest comeback of all time. Even his continuing struggle with drugs did not stem the tide of critically acclaimed tracks and collaborations as he went on to prove his musical genius time and again. And then there was the jungle...
Rock'n'roll legend, reality TV star, drug-dealer, poet, film star, heroin addict, son, brother, father, husband, foul-mouthed anthropologist and straight-talking survivor, Shaun Ryder has been a cultural icon and a 24-hour party person for a quarter of a century. Told in his own words, this is his story.
REVIEW:
Whenever you see an autobiography you know that its going to be heavily edited, its going to stick mainly to the sunny days and rarely will it follow the subjects bad habits or even give a fully rounded opinion of the person concerned. So whilst I ordered this as Shaun was a local lad (although don’t call him a Manc, he’s a Salford Lad) I expected a title just to deal with his golden years.
What this autobiography did was delve into everything from his early years in the family home and how things were for him, how he grew up, the friends he made and lost which gave a rounded picture of the Happy Monday’s Lead Singer before going into his music career. The book was emotive, it was sensitive and open about all the choices he made be they good or bad. Add to this a frank and honest look at his drug taking which whilst you shouldn’t really laugh some were hilarious in places.
All in I really enjoyed this book as we went through the years of his music career and my only disappointment was that it didn’t come with maracas, although I did wonder if something else had been added to the mix as this picture of Cas demonstrates who thinks that its twisted his Penquino. LOL
Release Date: 08/07/11
SYNOPSIS:
Sig Hansen has been a star of the Channel 4's The Deadliest Catch from the pilot to the present. Seen in over 150 countries, the show attracts more than 49 million viewers per season, making it one of the most successful series in the history of cable TV. With its daredevil camera work, unpredictably dangerous weather, and a setting as unforgivable and unforgettable as the frigid Bering Sea, The Deadliest Catch is unlike anything else on television. But the weatherworn fishermen of the fishing vessel Northwestern have stories that don't come through on TV. For Sig Hansen and his brothers, commercial fishing is as much a part of their Norwegian heritage as their names. Descendents of the Vikings who roamed and ruled the northern seas for centuries, the Hansens' connection to the sea stretches from Alaska to Seattle and all the way to Norway. And after twenty years as a skipper on the commercial fishing vessel the Northwestern -- which was his father's before him -- Sig has lived to tell the tales. To be a successful fisherman, you need to be a mechanic, navigator, welder, painter, carpenter, and sometimes, a firefighter. To be a successful fisherman year after year, you need to be a survivor. This is the story of a family of survivors; part memoir and part adventure tale, North by Northwestern brings readers on deck, into the dockside bars and into the history of a family with a common destiny. Built around a gripping tale of a deadly shipwreck like The Perfect Storm, North by Northwestern is the multi-generational tale of the Hansen family, a clan of tough Norwegian-American fishermen who, through the popularity of The Deadliest Catch, have become modern folk-heroes.
REVIEW:
Whilst many know Sig and the Hansen family from TV’s Deadliest Catch, the history behind the current crew of the Northwestern is not only fascinating but engrossing as a hard life with tough choices and even greater consequences leads the reader to get a greater understanding of these heroes of the Baring Sea.
The story of the family is told with passion, with gusto and of course with a caring manner that to a certain degree goes against the gruffness that many expect from these Alaskan toughened men. Yes there is swearing within but when life is as harsh as it is, what do you expect. All in, a truly fascinating read and one that leads me to a newfound respect for these men who risk it all as they journey with the harshest mistress of them all, the sea. Cracking stuff.
Release Date: 14/04/11
SYNOPSIS:
The Stand-Up while Sitting Down Years...Jo Brand tells the story of how she crawled to fame and fortune, managed to persuade someone to marry her and had some children at an age when she should have been in a bath chair on the seafront. In this second volume of her memoirs, Jo recounts wild times on the comedy circuit, the attempts to tart her up for the TV screen, running the marathon, rally driving, her numerous, occasionally extremely inebriated, Edinburgh festival appearances, her 'acting' career, and much, much more. Jo Brand is one of our best-loved comedians, according to a quote she made up. This memoir is full of hard-won wisdom, hilarity and her views on life, laughs, friendships and all the good and bad things in the world. If she was Prime Minister, the country would be in even more of a mess than it is.
REVIEW:
The life of a comedian is one that is usually touched by a lot of sadness that few ever hear about as they’re expected to be funny all of the time so when I embark on an autobiography of one I hope that its going to have some humour within as well as presenting their life in an interesting way.
Having missed Jo’s original Look Back in Hunger title, I was definitely interested in this one that dealt more with the comedic aspects as well as how it impacted her life as I’ve loved her humour for years. Its fascinating, it is wonderfully written and it’s Jo’s warm self-depreciating sarcasm that brings this to the fore in a wonderfully upbeat title. Add to this her own special journey through some life changing moments and it’s a book that I not only enjoyed but one I look forward to reading again, especially after I’ve picked up the first title so that I can get the full flavour of this larger than life remarkable woman.
Release Date: 12/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
‘The decision to publish this book has been very difficult, and taken with heavy hearts … My reason for writing it is simple: to give an account of the truth … Writing this memoir has entailed recording some very personal, intimate and emotional aspects of our lives. Sharing these with strangers does not come easily to me, but if I hadn’t done so I would not have felt the book gave as full a picture as it is possible for me to give. As with every action we have taken over the last four years, it ultimately boils down to whether what we are doing could help us to find Madeleine. When the answer to that question is yes, or even possibly, our family can cope with anything …
What follows is an intensely personal account, and I make no apology for that …
Nothing is more important to us than finding our little girl.’
Kate McCann, May 2011
‘It is a sad fact that not a single police force anywhere is proactively looking for Madeleine (as is the case for many other missing children). I am sure this book will re-energize the search for our daughter and the public will get behind the Find Madeleine campaign once again. It is simply not acceptable that the authorities have given up on Madeleine – especially when no comprehensive review of the case has been undertaken. Our daughter, and whoever took her, are out there. We need your help to find them.’
Gerry McCann, May 2011REVIEW:
This title has been a hard one to review due to the complex issues raised within and due to the media attention the world over. Whether you think Madeleine’s parents are guilty or not of the crime that has yet to be proven in a court of law, it’s their version of events that led up to as well as after the disappearance of their daughter.
What this title will do however is counteract the book released by Gonçalo Amaral (the Portuguese Police Chief who led the investigation) entitled Maddie. La verità della menzogna. First of all the main problem that I have with this book by Kate is that it didn’t do anything to change my POV to the case prior to reading this, in fact in places some of the issues raised did lead to more questions and whilst the title did put forward a chain of events that they believe happened it did leave me wondering exactly how carefully this book has been viewed by lawyers as there is no real emotion behind it, presenting more a staged front rather than an account from the heart.
Add to this randomisation to the title where one minute she’s on one thread and then switches into a huge piece of text about someone else, the book could end up an unfinished coffee table piece rather than a title to put their point of view forward. All in an interesting read but as I’ve said it’s a title I feel won’t influence people’s thoughts on the case in one direction or the other.
Release Date: 26/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Bear Grylls is a man who has always sought the ultimate in adventure. Growing up on the Isle of Wight, he was taught by his father to sail and climb at an early age. Inevitably, it wasn't long before Bear was leading out-of-bounds night-climbing missions at school. As a teenager, he found identity and purpose through both mountaineering and martial arts, which led the young adventurer to the foothills of the mighty Himalaya and a grandmaster's karate training camp in Japan. On returning home, he embarked upon the notoriously gruelling selection course for the British Special Forces to join 21 SAS - a journey that was to push him to the very limits of physical and mental endurance. Then, in a horrific free-fall parachuting accident in Africa, Bear broke his back in three places. It was touch and go whether he would ever walk again. However, only eighteen months later and defying doctors' expectations, Bear became one of the youngest ever climbers to scale Everest, aged only twenty-three. But this was just the beginning of his many extraordinary adventures ...Known and admired by millions - whether from his global adventure TV series, as a bestselling author, or as Chief Scout to the Scouting Association - Bear Grylls has survived where few would dare to go. Now, for the first time, Bear tells the story of his action-packed life. Gripping, moving and wildly exhilarating, Mud, Sweat and Tears is a must-read for adrenalin junkies and armchair adventurers alike.
REVIEW:
Like a great many others, I’ve watched Born Survivor with a gory fascination. Let’s face it you’d never know what Bear would be up to or perhaps more precisely what would be on the menu for that week. It became a journey into the macabre world of survival and pot luck as to what would turn up. Whilst I did know a little about him from the show, when I had the opportunity to read his autobiography I felt that I’d best give it a go just so that I could get a fuller picture as to how the character you see on the screen meets up to the standards of real life.
Whilst the autobiography can be revealing I did wonder why Bear (or rather Edward) felt it necessary to bring in his lineage into the whole thing, yes parts of it did allude to his sense of fun but when a fair amount felt more like dropping into the social circles that his family moved in, for me it left me unable to associate with the privileged upbringing to which fate allowed him. Add to that a fair bit about his religious convictions and whilst I can see how each part formed his character it was stuff that could have been edited to quite a small part of the story.
Another area that did get to you was the writing style, it felt more like a dictated anecdotes that were tailored together to help form a whole. As such the timeline jumped all over the place and whilst the wording fitted in with what the reader will know of him, it does take quite a while to get used to this style, especially when you’ve got what felt like 50 pages of waffle to start. It is a title that is going to be hard going for a number of readers and whilst some of the tales within will make you laugh, a fair few of the others will have you wondering exactly who this guy thinks he is. In addition the title could have been better edited to get the reader to the nitty gritty of the story rather than taking the round the houses route and personally I’d have preferred maybe a little backstory but the majority to be about the skinny on behind the scenes of the show.
Release Date: 07/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Born into a working-class family in London in 1919, Victor Gregg enlisted in the Rifle Brigade at nineteen, was sent to the Middle East and saw action in Palestine. Following service in the western desert and at the battle of Alamein, he joined the Parachute Regiment and in September 1944 found himself at the battle of Arnhem. When the paratroopers were forced to withdraw, Gregg was captured. He attempted to escape, but was caught and became a prisoner of war; sentenced to death in Dresden for attempting to escape and burning down a factory, only the allies' infamous raid on the city the night before his execution saved his life. Gregg's fascinating story, told in a voice that is good-natured and completely original, continues after the end of the war. In the fifties he became chauffeur to the Chairman of the Moscow Norodny bank in London, involved in shady dealings and strange meetings with MI5, MI6 and the KGB. His adventures, though, were not over - in 1989, on one of his many motorbike expeditions into Eastern Europe, he found himself at a rally of 700 people in a field in Sopron at a fence that formed part of the barrier between the Soviet Union and the West. Vic cut the wire, and a few weeks later the Berlin Wall itself was destroyed - a truly unexpected coda to an incredible life lived to the full. This is the story of a true survivor.
REVIEW:
Life as they say can be stranger than fiction and that’s exactly what occurs within this autobiographical story by Victor Gregg who tells of his life experiences during the Second World War, from marching in Africa through Italy as well as being an eyewitness to the devastation of Dresden.
It’s beautifully written and brings a human personal look to events that are pretty static and impersonal in the history books. Add to this a good understanding of pace, a solid comprehension of keeping it linear and it’s a tale that should be passed on to others to read. With so much of recent history being lost with the elderly generation we need to get these stories down so that when the last one passes the stories are there otherwise we’ll be left with a history that has no connection, cold and sterile.
Add to this events in his life after the war and it’s a tale that will have many an author scrabbling to create an equally large as life character.
Release Date: 11/11/10
BOOK BLURB:
Following on from the terrific success of A Wayne in a Manger , Gervase Phinn has collected together from his bestselling Dales books his favourite stories about children, and included some poems from his popular Puffin poetry books. In this humorously illustrated book, the stories have one thing in common - the wonderfully funny (and usually innocent) things that children say. Whether they are stories about children who cannot read very well but know the names of many breeds of sheep or children who are more privileged (coming to school in a Wolls-Woyce), they are simply delightful. This heart-warming book will not only enchant you, it will make you look at life through a child's eyes - and that's quite a special thing.
REVIEW:
Well known for his autobiographical titles as well as his public speaking this title brings perhaps some of Gervase’s best anecdotes to the fore in this compact stocking filler title that the reader will enjoy as children go to prove that misunderstanding alongside their own thinking processes can produce comedy gold.
Add to the mix something for everyone to enjoy, an author that’s more than willing to poke fun at himself as well as be honest with the reader about his own past and it’s a title that will endear itself to a great many.
Release Date: 05/08/10
BOOK BLURB:
As research for his acclaimed true-crime books, Philip Carlo has interviewed at length some of the most infamous criminals and killers of our times in prison and on death row. He has been able to forge a trusting relationship with his subjects, enabling him to extract the facts behind their infamy and identify what motivated them to commit their horrific crimes. His successful books reveal the truth about notorious characters such as LA serial killer Richard Ramirez ( The Night Stalker ), Mafia contract killer Richard Kuklinski ( The Ice Man ) and crime-family boss Anthony Casso ( Gaspipe ), and, working closely with the DEA, Carlo also wrote the definitive account of Bonanno Mafia family assassin Tommy 'Karate' Pitera ( The Butcher ). Carlo's investigative achievements are remarkable, but what wasn't known to his readers is that, while working on The Ice Man , he learnt he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal illness that causes all of the muscles in the body to atrophy over time. Suddenly, after years of penetrating the minds of killers, Carlo was himself being pursued by the grim reaper. But rather than lying down and succumbing to the disease, Carlo continues to work; and his books are published to critical and commercial acclaim. In The Killer Within , Carlo documents his difficult experiences with ALS and explains how he has managed to continue working as a true-crime author in the face of adversity. He provides an intimate account of his relationships with Ramirez, Kuklinski and Casso and reveals intriguing information about writing his bestsellers, while simultaneously coping with the numerous challenges that ALS presents as it slowly begins to steal his life away.
REVIEW:
Having read a couple of his other titles, I expected something more about the serial killer angle rather than a title based more on the author. That said, it’s fascinating to see how he copes day to day with his illness as well bringing his experiences to the fore. It’s a brave offering from the author and one that will hopefully get the readers to understand things a little clearer. If however you want a book more on serial killers and understanding them then this perhaps isn’t the best title for you and I refer to you some of Philip’s earlier works instead.
Release Date: 14/10/10
BOOK BLURB:
For Gervase Phinn growing old is not about a leisurely walk to the pub for a game of dominoes or snoozing in his favourite armchair. As this sparkling collection of his very best humorous writing shows, he may be 'out of the woods' but he is certainly not 'over the hill'.Looking back over more than sixty years of family life, teaching, inspecting schools, writing and public speaking, Gervase never fails to unearth humour, character, warmth and wisdom from the most diverse of experiences, whether they be growing up in Rotherham with the most un-Yorkshirelike of names or describing why loud mobile phone users get his goat.Brimming with nostalgia, gently mocking life's absurdities, never shy of an opinion, this is Gervase Phinn at his wittiest, twinkly-eyed best.
REVIEW:
If you want witty observation that looks back from the everyman’s point of view, then you really have to read Gervase Phinn’s books. Told from an Ex-Teacher, School Inspector and public speakers memories, the general observations really do hit the mark with you so much so that you’ll find yourself chuckling along on his journey.
It’s definitely something unique and whilst we’re not talking comedian humour here we are talking about a title that will make you laugh. There is definitely something for everyone within this title with excerpts that everyone of a certain age will identify as well as appreciate. All in a fun novel and one that the odd wedding speech may borrow from with ease.
Finally, if you get the chance to meet Gervase at a signing or a talk, take the opportunity, it’s a wonderful night out, you’ll laugh and a great night out will have been had. If you’re worried, take a friend, they’ll find it as funny as you and soon be a fan of the author. A man who can truly talk the birds from the trees.
Release Date: 01/09/10
BOOK BLURB:
In 1997, Tony Blair won the biggest Labour victory in history to sweep the party to power and end eighteen years of Conservative government. He has been one of the most dynamic leaders of modern times; few British prime ministers have shaped the nation's course as profoundly as Blair during his ten years in power, and his achievements and his legacy will be debated for years to come. Now his memoirs reveal in intimate detail this unique political and personal journey, providing an insight into the man, the politician and the statesman, and charting successes, controversies and disappointments with an extraordinary candour. "A Journey" will prove essential and compulsive reading for anyone who wants to understand the complexities of our global world. As an account of the nature and uses of power, it will also have a readership that extends well beyond politics, to all those who want to understand the challenges of leadership today.
REVIEW:
Whilst you may not agree with the politics or choices that Tony Blair made during his time as Prime Minister, here the reader has the opportunity to get to into Blair’s mind and see how he ran the country from his point of view.
It’s well put together and to be honest I found it fascinating to read about things as they were developing at the time, which goes to prove that hindsight is a wonderful thing.
All in, it’s a title that will have people talking, a book that will explain modern historical points and above all else a novel that gives the read a clear view on how events can spiral out of control as well as seeing things without them being coloured or hidden by the media to influence the readers thoughts.
BOOK BLURB:
'From my early teens I've been an exhibitionist and from the time I started senior school I was desperate to look different. I've always gone for clothes that make me stand out, rather than blend in with the rest of the crowd'. Nobody stands out from the crowd quite like Katie Price. The world can't help but sit up and take notice of her every move. Ever since her early modelling shoots, the camera lens has never been off her and even in those early days, it was clear that a star was born. Katie Price isn't one to follow trends. Unafraid to do whatever it takes to look how she wants, she doesn't play by anyone else's rules and she always does things her own way. Here, Katie Price opens up her make-up bag and throws open the doors to her wardrobe. She talks about how her image has changed as her career in the spotlight has evolved and how what she wears affects her relationships with her her family, her fans and the press. She reveals all her top tips on looking and feeling good to get the best out of life including what she wore on the night that Jordan was born, how she puts together an outfit to make a statement and she talks frankly about her fascination with cosmetic surgery. Find out which style crime makes Katie say 'there's just no excuse for it' and who makes Katie think did you actually look in the mirror before leaving the house? And what are the must-have items that Katie just can't live without. This is Katie's guide to looking good, living life and being happy, inspiring others to be confident about the woman they are and the woman they want to be.
REVIEW:
OK, this was one was a title request for my sister who is a massive fan of Ms Price. So in order to get the full view about this title I passed it onto her to see what she thought. As a whole the title was met with interest however it really didn’t contain anything that hadn’t been seen or known prior to the titles publication which left her feeling like they’d gone through the magazines, found out who said what and put this title together. Add to that some new photo’s and it really felt like a bit of a cheap way to make some cash from her fans which whilst entertaining in its limited ability really didn’t do much for the reader.
