RHS Growing Vegetables & Herbs

RHS Growing Vegetables & Herbs

Now I'm no expert alottmenter (alottmenteer?), in fact I'm an absolute amateur.  I only began growing my own fruit and vegetables about a year and half ago and it's been a voyage of discovery, paved with greenfly and bamboo stakes.  It's been fun, but it has been difficult to know what to do or how to do things at times.  There's a plethera of information out there, in the form of books, websites, hints & tips from fellow gardeners etc - and I for one, have been mightily confused sometimes.  That's why a book like this is so helpful, it's all in one place and it works very much like a reference book.  I suspect I'll be referring to, and re-reading it for many growing years to come. 

RHS Growing Vegetables & Herbs is set out in a very practical way.  It begins with a chapter called 'Why grow your own?', moving onto 'Rules & Tools,' then onto 'Crop Protection' before digging into the subject of how to grow almost every vegetable I think I've ever heard of (and some I haven't!).    This is a very easy to follow format and one that lends itself to both casual browsing and more indepth reading.  I've found myself flicking through and gleaning tid-bits of information from the specific veg growing chapters, and spending a little longer reading and learning about the types of soil, digging techniques and protected cropping and other more general gardening topics.  It is a both a good read, and a great gardening resource. 

The illustrations and diagrams are clear too.  It always helps to actually see how things are done, as well as having techniques described.  This book includes a 'Sowing Guide' which will come in very handy, a 'Glossary' for those of us who don't know their 'Topdressing' from their 'Tilth' (namely me) and practical, down to earth advice.  

One thing I noticed which I particularly like, is that the chapters are subtly colour coded.  So if you're amidst a mass seeding frenzy and you need a little advice, you don't have to flick through the page numbers whilst scattering soil everywhere - if you know the book well enough you can quickly skip to the bit you need. 

In summary!  If I said this book was a 'grower' would you throw plant-pots at me?

RHS Growing Vegetables & Herbs was sent to me by Octopus Publishing to review.

On Nature, Unexpected Ramblings on the British Countryside

On Nature, Unexpected Ramblings on the British Countryside

I could not have been sent a more appropriate book for my interests than 'On Nature, Unexpected Ramblings on the British Countryside'.  There is almost nothing that fascinates me more than nature and the natural world.  I quite literally rubbed my hands together and squealed when this arrived in the post.

This book is written by a diverse smattering of writers from many backgrounds, all of which are anchored by their love of the British countryside.  It has been compiled by 'Caught by the River'  which is a website equally interesting and well worth a look around.  Link is above if you're curious!

Personally I thought the range of writers and their sometimes dramatically contrasting writing styles was a winning combination.  It was never, at any point boring, and at no junction did I consider skipping a few pages to find a more interesting bit.  The writers, to list them are (deep breath): Stuart Maconie, Chris Yates, Bill Drummond, Charles Rangeley-Wilson, Colin Elford, Martin Noble, Ceri Levy Tracey Thorn John Wright, Richard Adams, John Andrews, Jon Berry, Sarah Boden, Mathew Clayton, Mark Dredge, Paul Evans, Harry Griffin, Nick Hand, Dan Kieran, Richard King, Dexter Petley, Nick Small and Michael Smith.  (Bet you couldn't say all that one in one go!)  Some of the names you may recognise, others are less familiar, but equally worth their place here.

Each and every single writer is passionate about their topic and it really shows. Speaking of which, the subjects range from the experiences of a falconer; how to catch trout; a man's obsession with damsons; night fishing, the language we use to describe nature and habitat; how to be a lazy naturalist and far, far more.  I don't want to list them all for fear of spoiling the surprise in case you decide to buy this book - because I have to say each new chapter is like opening a brown paper parcel that's just arrived in the post.  You really have no idea what to expect.  Obviously the theme is nature, but the spread of interests covered is huge.

There were a few stand out favourites for me.  I loved the chapter entitled 'The Lazy Naturalist' by Nick Small.  It appealed to my lax attitude to observing nature.  Never in all my years have I set out with a pair of binoculars and sat in a bush for hours observing birds on a lake noting types of swans and marking them off in my bird book / bible - which is something I think a proper dyed-in-the-wool bird-watcher probably does.  I'm far more likely to casually stand in front of our kitchen window observing blue tits and sparrows bickering over stale bread.  However this make me no less enthusiastic about our feathered friends than the true 'twitcher' as I believe they're called.   Nick Small seems to share my thoughts exactly.  You don't necessarily have to go to Outer Mongolia to watch fan tailed eagles soaring overhead to satisfy an interest in nature, you can find so much simply in your back yard.

Another one that really intrigued me was 'On the Road to Damascus' by Bill Drummond.  You might not know the name, but if I said KLF and the 'Justified Ancients of MuMu' that might ring a few bells?  You really wouldn't expect to see him here would you, but this is the nature of the book; it is exactly as it says  in the title: 'Unexpected'.  Bill appears to have an absolute, almost pathological passion for Damsons.  He doesn't just say 'I like damsons, you can use them in gin or jam' though - he interweaves them through periods of his life, how damsons were grown at his old house whilst talking about old relationships and the history of the house for example.  He uses damsons, of all things, as a narrative tool.  Very, very clever!

Throughout the book there are beautifully simple, eye-catching, black and white illustrations. They are in themselves a feature that add so much, and I loved finding them at the start of each new chapter.  These served as a preamble for what was to come, and captured the spirit of each tale very neatly.

'On Nature' is unique, originally and exquisitely written and makes for brilliant reading.  I'd recommend it to anyone.  If you don't have an enthusiasm for nature when you start reading this, you will have by the end of it.  10/10 :O)

Sex Counsel - Suzi Godson

Sex Counsel - Suzi Godson

Now this is rather embarrassing, this book looks very well read and quite battered really, and considering the topic I'm a little sheepish about the condition it has ended up in.  In my defense, this is because it has been the perfect bathroom book.  It has sat on the shelves behind the loo and has been read in short bursts so to speak! This has also meant that it has showered accidentally, and chucked on the floor in puddles of soapy water by the kids on ocassions.  My youngest can't read so well, so it wasn't an inappropriate book to leave hanging around by the way, before you raise your eyebrows at me!

I did enjoy reading this book, Suzi Godson is a very insightful, witty, helpful person by the sounds of things.   She is The Times sex and relationships expert and in my simple terms, that means she is a posh agony aunt!  The book is set out in 21 sections, each of which features questions sent in by readers on that particular topic; these range from queries on 'Orgasms, inequities & Oscar Winning Peformances' to 'Age, expectations & dancing naked in the Himalayas with lesbian sheep farmers.'  As you can see, it is written with humour, but that humour is peppered with  sensible, practical advice that is well written and shows a great deal of understanding for the human condition in relation to sexual queries and complications.  

All manner of issues are written about in a question and answer format.  I think my favourite question is: 'I have developed a fetish for black rubber, to the extent that I practically live in black wellies.  How can I persuade my girlfriend to share my kink?'.   Now, me being the insensetive soul I am....I'd probably just giggle uncontrollably and make innappropriate jokes about sheep; but Sophie Godson actually discusses how people hide their fetishes and how that deceit can affect trust in a relationships, why people develop fascinations with kinks, how best to begin a discussion about such thing  with a partner and is generally frank and helpful.  

This is the beauty of the book, it deals with potentially embarrasing questions that people simply don't feel comfortable asking or talking about, not even with their partners or in the case of sexual dysfuctions, with their GP's.  Sophie listens carefully to each query, whether it be about porn, fantasies, kinks, impotency, sexual peformance, sex toys and is unfailingly entertaining and understanding with her observations and advice.

Sex Counsel deals with a huge range of questions, all answered in detail, with sensetivity and humour.  It's easy to read, and a book that's very easy to dip in and out of, which is appropriate at least! (ahem!)  I'd certainly recommend it as an interesting read!

On the back cover page it says 'Within 48 hours your sex life will be transformed forever.....it's a promise' - Daily Mirror.  Well, I'm certainly not telling you if this book does what it says on the cover or not, because I'm a prude probably - but that's a huge recommendation from the Daily Mail at least!

Many thanks to Octopus Books for forwarding Sex Counsel for reviewing purposes.

Santa Montefiore - The House by the Sea

Simon & Schuster sent me this book, and it claims to be 'the star of the summer' - I think they may be right.  If this isn't a 'Beach book' I don't know what one is!  I suspect there'll be a great many of these sold at airports and shoved into hand luggage for reading on a sunbed a couple of hours later.  And rightly so!  

I enjoyed this book and found it an easy read, with a plot that was simple to follow and with characters I quite liked.  The language is straightforward and you can pick this book up, put it down, drink your Sangria, go for a swim in the pool and pick it back up where you left off - effortless reading!  I have to say I loved and was frustrated in equal measure at the flowery descriptions 'The House by the Sea' specialises in.  Sometimes it was lovely to lose myself in the endless countryside descriptions, and at other times I found myself itching to skip the adjectives and find a few more verbs!  It was a bit slow moving sometimes, but then again, I think that's one of the reasons why the book is such a relaxing read.

The simplicity of it all is very attractive.  There are two storylines that work side by side, eventually linking up at the end, when all the loose ends are neatly tied up in a tidy bow.  This is a nice touch, as it does keep you guessing throughout.  I was very curious about how the characters in such different parts of the world were connected and it was very satisfying to see how deftly the author drew all the threads of the stories together.  

To summarize the plot (whilst trying not to spoil it for you...), a small orphan girl becomes friends with an older boy from a rich family, over the years that friendship blossoms into love in the midst of a lush Tuscan landscape.  The girl becomes pregnant and for her own safety is whisked away to begin another life, having to leave her baby and her lover behind.

The other storyline involves a hotel in Devon called the Polzanze, where they are struggling to make ends meet.  They employ an artist to conduct drawing lessons in an attempt to bring in custom, and he inadvertantly falls in love with Clementine, the step-daughter of the owner.  This is a rocky romance that mis-starts a number of times, while Clementine struggles to recognise her feelings and the artist (Rafa) struggles to keep his reasons for being at the hotel a secret.  Marina (the co-owner with her husband Grey) has her own hidden past which gradually reveals itself as the book progresses. 

'The House By The Sea' does all end happily, I don't think I'm ruining anything by telling you that - this is one of the charms of this book.  The whole story is 'nice', in fact I'd go so far as to say it is sugary sweet if I'm giving my personal opinion - perhaps a bit of grittiness would have grounded it in reality a little more.  Still, if you're the kind of person who loves a good romance and a happy ending, you can't go wrong with this novel.

In summary, it's a summer blockbuster!  There's enough interest to keep you reading, the characters are of different ages and at different stages of life so there's something there for everyone. Mind you, I'd be more than surprised to see any men reading this on the airplane home back from Costa del Packet.  The main themes are true love, loss, secrets, passion and if I had do describe this book in terms of a colour, I'd say it was pink - very pink!  It is a very feminine book destined to accompany a golden tan and a swimming pool.

'Silly Moo - A lift the flap book' by Karen King (illustrated by Marina le Ray)

Top That Publishing!

‘Silly Moo, A lift the flap book’ 

Top That Publishing have sent me three lovely books to review – this was first off the pile.

It is written by Karen King and is illustrated by Marina le Ray and has a very amusing little message on the back of the book:

The back cover reads ‘WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 years’

The book is 10 x 10 inches, and has fold out flaps – it doesn’t look like a choking hazard to me. Mind you, it could be a risk if your child is prone to ripping books up into tiny pieces and eating them.

I love the book already! (I’m very sorry, I shouldn’t be laughing at my own jokes)

Both my kids seem to like this book, and have brought it over to me to read, several times since it arrived last week. My 5 year old daughter in particular likes it, and S drew on it, so I’m taking that as a stamp of approval.

It has a matt hardback cover, with nicely toned colours on, and the pages feel very sturdy so I think this should be a book that will last a while. The reason they are so sturdy is because each page appears to be made of thin card, rather than paper, and each has a fold out flap. My kids wreck flimsy books, often within weeks, so I welcome hardy books like this. I can think of at least 3 destroyed pop up books that have been bought as presents over the last few years, some didn’t even survive 24 hours.

This is why fold out flaps are a lasting favourite, they are very simple and effective. They don’t encourage children to yank at pages and pull books in bits like the aforementioned. My only criticism is that I have to lift the flaps, neither of my two have nails that can lift the edges. I feel this is a bit of a drawback as I like them to be able to read and look at books on their own as well as when they’re with me.

The book tells the tale of a cow that is hit on the head with an apple, and therefore can’t remember where she lives. She wanders around the farm yardlooking for her home, and tries other animals’ homes to see if they fit – with comic effect. D thought the bit where the cow got her head stuck in a rabbit hole was very funny. At this point I should really warn you - this review contains spoilers ;o)

The cow, named ‘Silly Moo’ because she keeps attempting to fit herself in inappropriately sized homes, is eventually hit over the head again by an apple wielded by a helpful hen. ‘Silly Moo’ is apparently cured, but is later found in the farmer’s bed, to the Farmer’s annoyance. The cow is led back to a field, where he is again hit over the head with an apple – I can only presume that there will be a sequel….

D has asked many questions about amnesia since reading this book, a subject I didn’t expect a children’s book to raise to be honest. I suspect the next time she falls over she’ll claim not to know her name or something, and will also conveniently forget how to tidy her room. Hold on a second, she’s already ‘forgotten’ how to tidy her room, so there’ll be no change there then!

All in all, I quite liked the book and so did D & S. It is pretty enough, with friendly colours and cute animals and the fold out pages add novelty too. It is £7.99, but it is a fairly big book and is obviously good quality, so I think the price is justified. It would make a lovely birthday or Christmas present. Having said that, I don’t think it’s anything reeeealy amazing, but it’s definitely something that’s nice to pick up every now and then.

Here's a link to their site: www.topthatpublishing.com/

*This review has been posted in retrospect

 - all promotion details are now out of date 

- however, it is still a really lovely book and one to look out for!*

 Barefoot Books - The Story Tree - Tales to Read Aloud

At this time of year, I start looking thinking about ....(dare I whisper it......) Christmas.  It comes around all too quickly and every year I decide I'll be more organised and get all my presents bought and wrapped by December 1st.  That has always been the plan!  Carrying out the plan is a different matter entirely and usually I end up panic buying stocking fillers in pound shops and grabbing stuff that will 'do' from high street shops at the last minute.  To my great shame, I bought my husband a meercat last year.  He's not a fan of cuddly teddies, or meercats, I just lost it whilst wandering around Toys r Us in late December.  So, my point is -   I publicly declare...this year will be different!  No more meercats!

My first task is to put together the kid's stockings - In particular, I love buying new books to roll up and slot in the top of them.  I used to treasure the ones I got in my stocking when I was a kid because they were 'special' ones that Father Christmas had brought for me.  Even now I can remember reading stories about 'Pip' the fairy, written by Enid Blyton, in my mind's eye I can still see it poking out of the top of the old grey woollen stocking my sister and I used to tie at the bottom of our beds.  I always think books are wonderful presents that last the test of time, if they are loved and appreciated they are read and re-read and passed on through the years.  Plastic toys get broken, chocolate gets gobbled, but books tend to last.  

If you want to get on with organising Christmas in advance too and if you have kids, maybe you'd like to consider Barefoot Books?  I have in my possession a copy of 'The Story Tree' Tales to Read Aloud retold by Hugh Lupton, and illustrated by Sophie Fatus which comes complete with CD and absolutely gorgeous illustrations.  Personally I think this would roll up perfectly and fit in the top of any child's stocking and make for a very lovely gift.    It also comes with a CD at the back of the book, so you can tuck your children into bed on the night of the 25th and they can listen to the dulcit tones of Hugh Lupton reading the tales, leaving you to crawl downstairs and drink a well earned glass of sherry.

This book is written for children under five apparently, but my daughter is beyond that age and still thinks this book is fantastic.  I read a few stories and both she and her brother actually sat still, didn't try and attack each other for once, and actually listened to the tales and commented on the illustrations.  A little island of calm for a couple of minutes at least.  

There are 64 pages, and 7 stories originating from all around the world.   There's the 'Three Billy Goats Gruff' from Norway, 'The Magic Porridge Pot' from Germany, Monkey-See, Monkey-Do from India, 'The Sweetest Song' from Africa / America, 'Little Red Hen' from Blighty and 'The Blue Coat' which is a Jewish tale.   Every single page is illustrated with people and animals and places, all in great detail.  The perfect bedtime book!  And I'm not just saying that because I'm reviewing it, it genuinely is.

If you would like a copy you can click on this link to access the online shop :Barefoot Books.    Speaking from personal experience, the delivery is quick, the packaging appropriate, and the price reasonable.  Start your stocking shopping early!

This month Barefoot Books (through this link only) are also offering to donate 10% of all profits to the NSPCC - in addition to this every person who places an order this month will have their name put into a hat and will have a chance at winning a £20 voucher of their choice.

One lucky person can have this book free of charge though!  I have the review copy to give away.  All you need to do is comment and follow this blog by clicking on the 'Sign Me Up!' button. Please remember to put your Twitter or Facebook name on here.  To make the comments more interesting I'd like you to mention on of your favourite ever stocking presents.  Books aside, I used to love licorice swirls with sweets in the middle, they made my tongue go black which I always thought was amazing!  Simple pleasures eh!

I'll choose a lucky winner on the 1st December.  :O)

'Rivers: A Voyage into the Heart of Britain - by Griff Rhys Jones

Rivers: A Voyage into the Heart of Britain - by Griff Rhys Jones 

One of the simple pleasures in my life is a walk, I find open skies and hills quite literally 'restore my soul'.  Having two kids and responsibilities does mean that I can't always tip them out the door and go trekking unfortunately, but if it's persisting it down with icy rain on a cold winter's day, this book is the perfect half-way house.  A quick dose of CBeebies and a snatched half an hour with a book such as this is not a bad alternative to a walk.  It features everything I love about a relaxed amble by waterways and with the dry, witty and informed company of Griff Rhys Jones.

This book is the background and the accompaniment to the TV series 'Rivers', presented by Griff Rhys Jones.  He travels along sections of British rivers via all manner of craft, ranging from canoes to barges with a chocolate labrador for company, whilst chatting and mulling over the history of these places and sometimes environmental issues.

It is quite a slow moving book that diverts and dabbles with lots of different water related subjects, which suits me fine.  This is the perfect pick up / put down / pick up again read - I often find books that race along exhausting and the cause of late night reading leading to shattered bleary eyed mornings.  There's a lot to be said for a calm read, which this most certainly is.

Griff Rhys Jones is quietly a very funny man, not one of these celebrities that make you fall over laughing maybe (well, in my opinion that is), but I do find his self deprecating, wry sense of humour really amusing.  He seems to have quite strong opinions on some subjects, for example wind and water power - which he's honest about, and his thoughts and observations are very interesting to read as a result.  All in all, I've gained a new respect for this author and presenter.  I'd never read any of his books before this one, and had never really seen any of his recent programmes either - but I'll definitely go and dig them out now.

Rivers is a lovely, meandering book that is funny and interesting - with the added bonus of beautiful photographs and some fascinating old maps.  I'd definitely recommend reading it if you have an interest in places, people, history and the environment and boats of course!

This book can be bought from WHSmith for £16.98 if you're interested in getting hold of a copy.

Magnetic 'Funny Monsters' and 'Funny Pets'

Top That Publishing!

Magnetic 'Funny Monsters' and 'Funny Pets' 

 

Top That Publishing sent me two books to review, these are Magnetic ‘Funny Monsters’ and ‘Funny Pets.’  Both shown below!

On the Funny Monsters book it says to ‘Mix and match the magnets to make funny monsters’ and it says almost exactly the same thing on the ‘Funny Pets’ book; apart from it says you make ‘Funny pets’ on that one – funnily enough.

They are basically the same book except one has pets, and the other has monsters. Both are traditional favourites with kids, so it’s all good so far.

The books are glossy and hardback; and the pages are quite thick card, which means they’ll survive longer than your average flimsy paper books.

I love the idea too - basically you have to put the magnetic eyes, ears, noses, wings, monster tongues, eyebrows etc etc, onto basic monster / pet face shapes. You can create the faces as they are shown on the back cover (ie, put rabbit features on the rabbit, or sad monster features on the sad monster) or you can go freestyle! S and D have both made bizarre critters, as we have both books we now have pets that look like monsters and vice versa. They’ve merrily swapped all the magnetic features between the books. Share and share alike!

The magnetic pieces have actually been shared out throughout the house now. I have monster faces on the radiator, and half a rabbits face on the washing machine at present. This is the only problem with books like these, little magnetic pieces are easily lost and misplaced – we have exactly the same issues with jigsaws and self-assembly toys that are disassembled and scattered all over the living room as soon as they’re taken off the shelf. I’ve already nearly hoovered an eye or two.

If you have a tidy house and tidy kids, maybe you won’t have this issue. I just know that any toys with detachable bits, drive me a bit mad. Having said that I still love these books, and at £4.99 a pop, they’re great little stocking fillers (sighs….I cannot believe that little phrase is running around my head already!)

'Last chance to See' by Mark Carwardine, foreword by Stephen Fry

'Last Chance to See' by Mark Carwardine,

foreword by Stephen Fry

Surely you must have listened to Desert Island Discs, even if only just the once? Do you remember the bit where they ask which book you would take with you if you were abandoned on a tropical island?  Well, this is my choice.   Maybe I'd smuggle 'Dog Walks Man' in my hand luggage too, I'm presuming they wouldn't search my bags beforehand?

This book is written by Mark Carwardine, a regular contributor to BBC Wildlife and an avid conservationist.  He describes his travels with Stephen Fry (you can't not know who Stephen Fry is!) around the world visiting exotic locations where there are endangered animals, or even fairly recently extinct animals.

The background is that Mark Carwardine travelled with Douglas Adams (Hitch Hikers Trilogy in four parts author)  twenty years prior to the publication of the book 'Last Chance to See' shown above.  So you see, the book I am reviewing is actually the sequel to the one shown below. Both books are literary wildlife gems that you cannot afford to miss out on if you have an interest in the natural world. I highly recommend that you read the Douglas Adams Last Chance to See book before you read the sequel with Stephen Fry.

Read this first!

In the book I was sent by WHSmiths, Mark Carwardine and Stephen Fry travel to various part of the world to revisit the places mentioned in the book above.  They aim to see how the endangered animals have fared in 20 years, have conservation efforts been successful or otherwise?  In some cases, the news is good and in some cases it isn't.

I had joyful moments and very sad moments whilst reading this.  It's uplifting to see how hard people work to preserve our irreplaceable wildlife, and yet heartbreaking to see how some efforts are simply all in vain.  It's an emotional book in that respect, but there are so many more facets to it - there's information about habitat, details about ongoing conservation projects, tales of exotic travel and in the middle of all of this is Stephen Fry who makes it all endlessly entertaining.

The photography is amazing.  It really is a visually beautiful book that is a pleasure to browse.   'Last Chance to See' is well written and has the perfect balance of facts, humour and photography.  I love this book unreservedly.  Even if nature books aren't really your thing, I'd recommend giving this a go.  The tales of travel and animal escapades make for really interesting and fun reading.  Not to be missed!  The only downside to the book is that it doesn't go on forever, I was so sad to reach the last page.

Thank you to WHSmiths for sending me this gorgeous book to review.  If you would like a copy of your own, you can find it here for £14, and if you'd like a copy of the first Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams, it's £5.99

'Dog Walks Man' by John Zeaman

'Dog Walks Man' by John Zeaman

This book is quite simply lovely.  I want to gush and say it was wonderful, and fabulous and heart-wrenching, but that would be far too overstated for a book such as this.  In my opinion, if this book was to be personified, it would just blush shyly and say 'It was nothing!' if I did.  So I shall say it was lovely so as not to embarrass the book further and leave it at that - whilst still recommending that anyone and everyone should read it, preferably a minimum of  five times, and then that they should memorize it so they can recite paragraphs at will.  It's really that good!

Dog Walks Man is subtly brilliant and I loved it, start to finish.  I read the last pages only a couple of weeks ago, but would quite happily re-read it even now whilst it is fresh in my memory.  The tag line is 'A Six-Legged Odyssey' which gives an inkling of the wit that lies within the book.  After all it is about dog walking isn't it?  Surely a dog walk couldn't be an 'Odyssey' could it?  Is an amble around the park really a huge adventure?  The answer is that it depends on how you look at it.

Throughout this book the author allows the reader to see a dog walk through his keen eyes,  to appreciate his sense of humour and to share in his observations.  He also introduces you to his family a little, fellow dog walkers, their doggy charges and the different places he strolls around.  Most importantly he waxes lyrical about his dog 'Pete' (named after a character in Ghostbusters 'Peter Venkman') and their time together.

Don't you just love the sillhouette on the back!

Something I particularly loved about this book was its simplicity.  The author does not scale mountains in snowstorms with his trusty dog by his side and boast about the views - he goes out to let Pete do his business and to stretch his legs, just as every other dog walker in the world does.  Yet he still makes the walk seem as interesting and informative as if he had been writing about ascending Everest - in a very understated, calm, witty way.

Personally I love walking, crappy weather and appropriate clothing permitting of course -so this book was bound to agree with me really.  I also devour travel books given half a chance, and although this was inherently a book about short dog walks around an american neibourhood - it definitely held me in the same thrall as, say, a book about hiking through Patagonia might.  Apologies to anyone who thinks that sounds like the most boring book ever, I unashamedly adore that kind of thing.

The author, John Zeaman, includes funny anecdotes (you cannot fail to laugh at the bit where Pete finds a huge black vibrator and refuses to stop carrying it) and sad moments that had me wiping tears on my sleeve and weeping like a baby.   I felt genuinely privelidged to read the book and to share some of the details of Pete and the author's life, seeing ups and downs and descriptions of the days.

Many, many thanks to Octopus Books for sending me this to review.  I shall guard it with my life!  It's a very special book and my life's all the richer for having read it.

If you'd like to purchase your own copy you can find it HERE, and it retails at £7.99.

'Hic' by Jaclin Azoulay - Top That Publishing

'Hic' by Jaclin Azoulay - Top That Publishing

I'm really pleased to announce that Top That Publishing have chosen to me work as part of their mummy blogging review team.  My children will be book guinea pigs, as well as little book worms!  I will be trying out Top That Publishing's books on Sausage and Darlek and I'll let you know what they think of them, and my thoughts as a mum too.

So here goes!  Dive in at the deep end!  This is one of the books  they sent me last week. It is called 'Hic!' and is about hiccups, surprisingly enough!

Excuse you! Hic....hic....hic....

Snuffletrump the piglet was very sad.  It seems like everyone has forgotten his birthday, and he has only hiccups instead of cards and presents and a party.  He goes off to try and rid himself of the pesky hiccups by riding on the horse at the farm, by drinking milk from the cow by standing on his head drinking from a glass and even accepts help from the hens (who are secretly laughing at him - meanies!) who tell him he needs to juggle eggs to stop hiccuping.

The poor love ends up covered in milk, splattered with eggs, bounced about by the horse and still has hiccups......until....he finds out he has a surprise birthday party! His birthday hasn't been forgotten after all and because it was all such a surprise, his hiccups are gone.

It's a lovely simple story, illustrated with cute, cuddly friendly looking farm animals.  The colours are lush and warm looking, and there's really nothing to fault!  The subject matter is naturally funny, and it's great to read out loud.  Both kids liked this book, and giggled at the 'Hic!' bits, it's a nice bed time story, or even one for after lunch when they've eaten their food too quickly and have the same problem as Snuffletrump.

Should you decide to buy this book, it retails at £5.39 and can be found HERE at Top That Publishing's website. It's a good read, and I always think books such as these make great birthday party presents if you're stuck for inspiration.

Robopocalypse by Daniel H Wilson

'Robopocalypse'

By Daniel H Wilson - a Review!

*Copy and pasted from my parenting blog The Brink of Bedlam*

I am about to do the unthinkable, I am going to blog about Science Fiction on what I suspect is classified as a mummy blog.  Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that is the equivalent of blogicide.  Ah well, you can always tut and skip this one if you like.

Please can I just stress, the Brink of Bedlam is not a 'Book Blog', I know I've done a few book reviews recently and if books aren't your thing, you're maybe looking at your watch and yawning right now.  I've just that I've been sent a few by kind publishers, and in return I said I'd review them - which I'm more than happy to do.  I'll be back on with random parenting topics soon enough if that's more your kind of thing.  Promise.  Hang on in there.

It is actually an absolute pleasure to read a bit of half-decent science fiction.  Simon & Schuster sent me 'Robopocalypse' by Daniel H Wilson and I was immediately curious.  I tend to read this genre of book only when I recognise the author, so this was unknown territory for me.   Unlucky for me, but lucky for Simon & Schuster I was hospitalised for a couple of days last week and spent hours of undisturbed time stuck in a very quiet room on my own, so I ploughed through this in two days.  It was no hardship either, I quite enjoyed the writing style, the characters (the ones I could keep track of anyway) and the majority of the slightly stilted plot.

I have to confess, although I do love science fiction, I get very fed up with 'scary aliens' and 'gone mad robots', generally I do prefer a story with a bit of scientific meat to it, something half believable at least.  With this in mind although intrigued by this book, I braced myself for a familiar story - namely robots take over the earth, people are not very happy about having to fight off aggressive toasters, blood loss, battery fluid leakage, end of story.  In many ways I wasn't far wrong.  With a book title such as 'Robopocalypse' how could I really expect anything else?

Throughout this book, I felt I was reading a screenplay rather than an actual solid steel novel.  As far as I'm aware 'Robopocalypse' has already been earmarked for film production by Stephen Spielberg and I can well believe it! It has all the right ingredients for a typical blockbuster.  Without giving too much away, each chapter is dedicated to 'Heros' who fight nobly against the evil robot hoardes - if that's not a 'feel good' film in  the making I don't know what is.  Call me bias, but I often find films such as these lack depth and this book shows similar traits - which is probably why it would make such a great mainstream film.  One that I wouldn't go to see though, sorry!  2001 it  'aint!

The author does a reasonable job of conveying the voices of the different characters and you are drawn to care about them a little, and the mini stories that are covered in each chapter are interesting in their way.  What drove me mad was that the characters were picked up and dropped in random places and the story jumped about quite a bit.  There were also huge holes in the narrative which were very frustrating.  How five completely outnumbered, virtually unarmed squaddies escape masses of rampaging robots and robotic zombies and live to see the light of day is not explained in one chapter.  They simply appear alive and kicking in the next one. I honestly felt as if someone had ripped a couple of pages out of the book.  There were other instances I shan't bore you with.

'Robopocalypse' also appears to be very male orientated, if not downright 'macho.' The men seem to do the fighting stuff, and the women appear as wives, robotic wives (I'm not joking) and mother hen types.  There is one woman who fights alongside the men, but I simply cannot forgive Daniel H Wilson for saying that in the midst of a long and bloody battle she 'peeks' out from behind a tree.  If a man at that point had done any 'peeking' whilst dodging bullets I'd have died laughing.  It just seemed a little sexist.  This female character predictably falls in love with one of the other lead characters too, which made me feel a little nauseous too.  Just for once it would have been refreshing if they'd hated each other's guts, but then that wouldn't make for a good film kiss would it?

The thing is, I did enjoy the book, there's no denying that.  It is a chick-flick style, science fiction epic, except with more emphasis on the chick-flick and less on the epic.  'Robopocalypse' as a whole is a good read, it just seems to miss a strong narrative link and depth .  I suspect the author simply lacks experience and concentration, or maybe just wrote it whilst drinking excessive amounts of coffee.  I recommend you do likewise, drink shed loads of 'proper coffee' and cane the book.  It's a quick, enjoyable read, best read with a bit of adrenaline and not much thought.

When I Dream of ABC by Mr Henry Fisher

When I Dream of ABC by Mr Henry Fisher

 Top That Publishing were kind enough to send me one of their beautifully illustrated children's books, and it would be a travesty not to tell you about it!  It's already a firm favourite with the kids and one that I'd definitely invest in if I were you.  Here it is!

Simply brilliant! This book oozes character and interest.

This book is a rare breed, not only does it radiate humour and character, there are really gorgeous, detailed illustrations too.  My two love this, and have actually argued over who gets to keep it in their room, it's that popular at our house!   Apologies for the very slightly battered looking appearance, this is because When I Dream of ABC been read many, many times already.

It's a traditional format, alphabet letters associated with pictures and rhymes, but it's done so well! Take a look at this!

The mischievious humour is really appealing to adults and children alike!

I don't know how clear my photograph is so I'll type out the letter D's contribution to the book so you can see why we like it so much.

D is for Dragon.  

'Dragons are very shy and live in caves.  Despite popular opinion, dragons are very polite, but are best avoided on account of having rather smelly breath'

It's just so cute, and such an original little observation.  Each and every letter of the alphabet is treated to the same quirky, amusing wording and beautiful imagery.

O is for Octopus! It's tickling the diver! Great for interacting with the kids.

When I Dream of ABC is educational too of course, which is always a bonus.  The last page has a spread of all the little pictures and letters of the alphabet to look back over too which is a great summary.  Personally I think it would make a fabulous poster wall chart and one that I'd certainly buy, Mr Henry Fisher is a very talented artist!

Mr Henry Fisher, please make these pages into a poster wall chart!

The only drawback is that When I Dream of ABC is paperback.  I think its a really special book that will be read and treasured, and these sorts of books do tend to get damaged over time.  If it was hardback it might last a little longer.

One to buy for the grandchildren! A keeper!

If you'd like to buy a copy of this book, it costs £6.29 (on offer at the moment) from Top That Publishing.  Of all the kids books I've reviewed, this is the best one so far.  Lovely!