That's Christmas: Merry Christmas, everyone! What to do for a last m...

That's Christmas: Merry Christmas, everyone! What to do for a last m...: OK, with all the best will in the world, things can go wrong. The present doesn't turn up at all, or it's broken, the wrong size...

From Small Beginnings

From Small Beginnings is a poetical book from the pen of London-born but Irish citizen, Sean Notyeats.

It's a very interesting book which really belongs on the bookshelf of any writer, poet, or teacher of creative writing.

For it is an exploration of the beginning of Sean's journey as a poet.

He examines lyrics from 21st century hip-hop, 19th century comedy operettas and flower power era songs ands explains how,  at the commencement of his journey through poetry, he regarded poetry as an extension of song. But as he continued his research he modified his viewpoint.

He asks an important question "Why be a poet or a storyteller?"  and makes a good and praiseworthy effort to provide some answers.

There are sixty poems covering a wide range of subjects from the condition of the United Kingdom, sex, the situation in Europe, America, Canada, Death, Australasia, business and several others, including wizards.

It's described as an "anti-textbook" but it is this reviewer's opinion that this book should definitely be a required text for all creative writing classes throughout the land.

It's published by The Book Guild at £7.99 and can be ordered here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Lost?

Lost? is an interesting exploration of Liverpool F. C. as it celebrates 125 years as a football club.

However, there are niggling doubts for the true fans. Is Liverpool F. C. still an elite team? Why is it that, despite all the promises of foreign owners, that the trophy cabinet is all but bare?

The book, by Anthony Carragher, peeks back at the glory days of the past, the current days when the club is flush with dosh and looks towards the uncertain future of not only Liverpool but of English football in general.

For over two decades LIverpool F. C. dominated the football scene at home and in Europe. But of late the victories have dried up and they have not, shockingly, won a league title in over 25 years!

Is this something particular to Liverpool F. C? Or is it indicative of wider problems throughout the game in general?

The author has been able to secure exclusive interviews with key figures from the glory days of the club including former managers, Brendan Rogers and Roy Evans, members of Bill Shankly's family and numerous footballing legends both past and present.

It's a candid look at not only Liverpool F. C., but of the wider football scene in England and it will be a great Christmas present for Liverpool fans and football fans in general.

It's published by Matador at £12.99 and can be bought here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Much Needed Rain

Much Needed Rain is a gripping debut crime thriller from R. G. Oram.

David Lewelyn is an extraordinary person. He knows when you are lying. Every single time. You can try to control your breathing, make your expression as neutral as you can, but it doesn't matter. He'll know if you are lying.

However, things come closer to home for David when Hannah who he employed as his secretary is found dead in her apartment. She had been bound hand and foot and her murderer had slashed her body repeatedly. 

Because he was with her at her apartment mere hours before she was killed, the LAPD immediately suspect him of being the killer. 

But his DNA does not match the DNA of the killer that had been found in the apartment. In fact, there is no match for the killer's DNA on the National Database.

But does this mean that he should be ruled out as a suspect? Should he be allowed to provide his expertise to the police investigators, under the circumstances? After all, as her employer, he knew her better than anyone else.

Whatever suspects the police manage to find all seem to have incontrovertible alibis. 

However, the truths that they finally uncover are perhaps worse than they could ever have imagined and they discover that murder can be either a game or a very lucrative business.

And that sometimes there are people who just can't be trusted.

This is a very good debut thriller and it's to be hoped that this is the first of many books from R. G. Oram.

It will make a gritty thriller of a Christmas present for the thriller fan in your life. You can order a copy here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

A New Man

A New Man is an interesting and very important autobiography from Charlie Kiss.

Charlie was a proud feminist and also a proud lesbian.

Charlie admits to having a few vague doubts about her sexuality, but it was with a shock that Charlie realised, one day, that she was not, after all, a woman, or a lesbian, but was, in fact, really a man.

The result of this realisation was that Charlie's life was turned upside down as she became isolated from family and friends, suffered from a complete collapse of her identity and went through periods of mania. She was even homeless for a period of time.

However, Charlie's story is, ultimately, a very inspirational one as it shows how she was able to continue her life without medication.

Eventually, however, Charlie is strong enough to realise that "he" is "her" real identity and so Charlie began to transition from a Lesbian woman into a heterosexual man.

He began to quickly adjust to his new role as a heterosexual male and is now happy in his own body.

It's an inspirational book and a very moving account of what happened to Charlie.

It costs £13.99 and is published by Matador and is available from https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Marvin's Seaside Adventure

Louise Crowther's Marvin's Seaside Adventure tells the story of Marvin. Marvin is an elderly and rather rusty Mini car who has stood, neglected and uncared for, on the forecourt of a rural garage for many years.

Nobody even gave him a second look, he was not loved or even cared for, very much.

However, every week he did have a treat, his regular trip to the carwash. But! One week something truly extraordinary happened to Marvin! He went in his old, rusty self, yet this time he came out transformed back to what he had originally been, a shiny, beautiful Mini car!

He is magically taken to the seaside where he meets up with Larry who is a young lifeboat and they soon become very good friends.

But one day, disaster looms! Larry was showing off in the sea and he soon gets into difficulty!

What can Marvin, his new friend do, to save Larry the Lifeboat?

This is an amazingly fun book for children which is ideal for reading to them and showing them the stunning and super bright illustrations, from Dave Hill.

It's a must buy Christmas stocking filler and you can order it at https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Lebensraum 2018 How to Fight World War III

Lebensraum 2018 How to Fight World War III is a novel from Ian Muir who brings us a thrilling tale of the very near future.

The novel mixes historical and current facts and events into a disturbing fictional account of how a modern-day Hitler could arise in Germany.

The surge of immigration into Germany has brought about a disaster of global proportions and in this novel readers can see how all these dreadful events are the result of the mind of a man who makes the term Machiavellian redundant.

Wolfgang Schuschnigg is the man, but as he tells his story the reader must struggle to uncover if he is telling the truth or if he is merely delusional?  He desires to ensure that Germany is, once again, a racially pure nation and a major superpower. But what is he? The new Fuhrer or an evil but spent old man?

He ruminates on his life, from his childhood during which he suffered from neglect, and right up until the moment when he is appointed to be the new Chancellor of Germany.

This is an interesting science fiction novel and will make an interesting Christmas present for sci-fi fans and those who like future history books.

It's published by the Book Guild at £8.99 and can be bought here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.