AngloAddict

Serving winners

2012-01-25T15:43:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the two winners of the book Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor by Rosina Harrison. The lucky winners were:

Jon

and

Hayley

I hope you'll both enjoy reading the book as much as I did. Thanks again to Penguin for supplying the books for this giveaway!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and look for a new giveaway soon!

It’s like a game of Jenga that's got out of hand

2012-01-23T14:39:00.000-05:00

Poor Karl! It's his misfortune that he attracted the attention of merry pranksters Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (the creative team behind "The Office"). Karl Pilkington was working as a radio producer for Ricky Gervais' radio program when his unique personality and unusual views of the world caused Gervais and Merchant to recognize his comic potential. Because Karl is completely uninterested in life outside of his own little area, his "friends" decide to send him on a trip to the Seven Wonders of the World to "broaden his mind." And so An Idiot Abroad was born.

The 2-disc set of the first series of An Idiot Abroad was released on Jan. 20. If you haven't seen the series, you're in for a treat! At the beginning of each of the travel episodes, Karl meets with Ricky and Stephen for an overview of what "wonder" he'll be visiting soon. Karl remains singularly unimpressed. His expression of bewilderment and lack of enthusiasm for any of the trips help to set the tone for the latest expedition.

Here is an overview of the wonders that Karl is going to visit, and his take on some of them:

The wonders visited include the Great Wall of China (re-named the "OK Wall of China" by Karl), the rock city of Petra, the Taj Mahal, Chichen Itza, the Great Pyramids, the Christ the Redeemer Statue, and Machu Picchu. Although generally unexcited to be visiting such landmarks, Karl generally has to endure several unexpected surprises before getting to the wonder. Here is a look at Karl getting some training in the martial arts:

Food is a constant source of anxiety during the trips. In one memorable whinge, Karl wonders why the people in his host country "don't just eat normal food." I would be interested to know how the Monster Munch that is packed for every trip manages to survive without being reduced to dust!

My favorite episode by far was the one where Karl travelled to Mexico. Before being allowed to visit the wonder at Chichen Itza, he goes a few rounds with Mexican wrestlers, is invited by cowboys to ride a bull, harvests and eats some wasp larva, and goes on a fruitless search for the elusive Mexican Jumping Bean. The most hilarious part of the entire series occurs when Karl is given the great honor of eating the worm from a bottle of tequila he's sharing with the cowboys. After surviving meals of toad, goat eyes, and other disgusting things, the worm nearly does him in!

I really enjoyed watching Karl's experiences as An Idiot Abroad. Whether you've endured similar culture shock as a traveller, or just want to laugh at Karl's pronouncements on the inexplicable oddities of other countries, you'll get a kick out of this series. There is some bad language and a bit of nudity, so keep that in mind if you want to watch with younger or sensitive viewers! Otherwise, prepare for a thoroughly enjoyable time as Karl is wrenched out of his comfort zone, Monster Much and toilet paper in hand!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of An Idiot Abroad from BBC.

Final verdict for An Idiot Abroad: Five Gherkins, for allowing us to see the wonders of the world with the ever unenthusiastic Karl Pilkington

Two words you don't want to see together

2012-01-18T14:38:00.004-05:00

While the title might be somewhat startling, the book Shit London: Snapshots of a City on the Edge by Patrick Dalton offers up an unusual selection of photos that serve to show the unique character (and sometimes unintentional humor) that can be found in the world's most interesting city.

A lifelong London resident, Patrick Dalton began taking digital photos of amusing or strange sights that he saw on his daily rambles through the city. One day he realized that he had a massive collection of these images and decided to put them into a book for everyone to enjoy! In the book's introduction, he laments the general "sameness" that is taking over streets across London -- the same shops and restaurants appearing over and over again have served to displace the family-owned and distinctive establishments that helped to give many areas of London their own unique flavor. This book is an attempt to capture some of this flavor before it disappears entirely.

The lovely full-color photos are all identified with captions identifying the location where the photo was taken. There are also some captions which add humor to already funny photos. There are amusing shop names, graffiti, misspellings, and signs which, while amusing, probably don't get the sought-after response (such as several amusing signs directing people not to spit, to pick up after their dogs, to stop banging doors, etc.).

One example from the book:

Apparently, some customers were taking the cover at its word . . .

The book is a very enjoyable romp through the more amusing aspects of daily life in London proving that humor is alive and well in the metropolis!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the book from the Independent Publishers Group.

Final Verdict for Shit London: Four Gherkins, for being an amusing look at life in the big city!

Serving my lady: giveaway!

2012-01-13T08:48:00.000-05:00

The popularity of the program Downton Abbey shows that we are still fascinated with stately homes, along with the lives of the upper class and the servants who attended them. An inside look into this fascinating world is given in the book Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor by Rosina Harrison. First published in 1975, this is a lovely new edition of the book.

Rosina (known as Rose) was born into a poor Yorkshire family in 1899. Her father was a stonemason and her mother worked as a laundry maid. They lived on land owned by the Marquess of Ripon and worked for the family. It is fascinating to read about Rose's early life and how difficult everything was -- from doing laundry to taking baths, everything was a complicated and back-breaking process. Rose knew early on that she would be spending her life "in service" -- working as a maid for a wealthy family. She did have some high aspirations, however: she dreamed of travel. Right away, she and her mother decided that she would attempt to get a job as a "lady's maid," assisting the lady or daughter of a stately house with dressing and other personal matters. Her mother advised that if she started out as a kitchen or housemaid that she would never be able to move up, so Rose stayed on at school for an extra two years to learn French and also worked with a dressmaker to prepare for her future career.

Rose was quickly hired as a "young ladies' maid" at a large house in London. She had never been outside her Yorkshire area before, but Rose described only excitement about taking the train to the big city. After a few years, she changed employers and was able to travel even more. It was during these many trips that she became acquainted with the Astor family, and their home at Cliveden. Lady Nancy Astor took notice of Rose and decided that she wanted Rose to be her maid. Already somewhat well-known for her outspokenness and demanding ways, Rose was reluctant to take the position. She did, however, apply for the job as maid to Lady Astor's daughter, when she found out the salary paid much more than her current position.

Rose enjoyed her new position. Her charge was an 18 year old girl who was pleasant enough and wasn't demanding like her mother. As an attendant, Rose was able to travel with the family and was responsible for things like keeping the laundry clean, pressed and mended and keeping up with jewelry. Whatever it was that attracted Lady Astor to Rose was still apparent, because before long, Lady Astor demanded that Rose become her maid instead. Lady Astor got whatever she wanted, and this was no exception.

Lady Nancy Astor had been born in Virginia and was already a divorcee with a young son when she married fellow American expatriate Waldorf Astor. She eventually became the first woman to serve in the House of Commons. Due to her connections to politics and society, the Astor house was frequently visited by politicians, writers, members of the royal family and other well-known personalities. As Lady Astor's maid, Rose was able to travel first-class, because she needed to be at "her lady's" beck and call. She had no social life, because of the demands of her job, but the excitement and unpredictability of her duties left her fulfilled.

The majority of the book deals with Rose's observations about the spoiled and demanding Lady Astor. Surprisingly, Rose was never hesitant to speak her mind and point out her employer's faults, if she felt it was warranted. She was Lady Astor's maid for 35 years, so this frank quality must have been appreciated! She still showed great admiration for her employer, particularly during the difficult war years, when they endured bombings and bomb shelters together. The years after the war seemed to be Rose's favorite. She and Lady Astor travelled all over the world, and she was always given time to enjoy the places they visited. She had achieved her lifelong ambition.

Thanks to Penguin Publishers, I have two copies of this fascinating book to give away! To enter, just leave a comment stating what household position you would want to take if you were "in service." Leave your comment by Jan. 24. I'll choose two winners at random. Winners must respond by email within 48 hours or I'll draw a new winner. This giveaway is open worldwide! Be sure and leave your email in the comment so I'll have a way to contact you. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received the review and giveaway copies of the book from the publisher.

BBC America Shop Winner!

2011-12-15T14:05:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered to win the BBC America Shop Holiday prize pack. The lucky winner, chosen by Random.org, was:

mar200

The winner has been notified. Thanks to BBC America Shop for providing the wonderful selection of gifts for the prize pack.

You still have a few days to win a $500 gift card for yourself, plus a $500 gift card for someone else on your gift list! Enter here until Dec. 18: https://bitly.com/BBC_Sweeps (Valid toward your purchases on the BBCAmericaShop.com).

Good luck and happy holidays!

Good luck!

BBC America Shop Holiday giveaway

2011-12-02T09:46:00.001-05:00

This Holiday season discoverthe perfect gift at the BBCAmericaShop.com!

Find DVDs and official merchandise from your favorite BBCshows including Doctor Who, Planet Earth, Top Gear and more. Also, findtraditional holiday decorations from the United Kingdom including ornaments andnutcrackers: http://bit.ly/BBC_Gifts

Plus, it’s back! The annual BBC America ShopSweepstakes giving you a chance to win two $500 Gift Cards for you anda friend: https://bitly.com/BBC_Sweeps (Valid toward yourpurchases on the BBCAmericaShop.com).

Oh, my, I'd love to win the $500 gift card. Not only do I have plenty of ideas on what to spend it on, but I have loads of suggestions for my friend (who would get the other card)!

Enter to win a BBC prize pack!!!

Thanks to BBC, I have an amazing prize pack to award to one lucky winner! There's such a great variety of items here, that you can find a gift for everyone on your list if you win these fantastic prizes!

Here's what's up for grabs:

	Planet Earth: Special EditionYou'll be filled with awe and amazement every time you watch this stunning BBC series about our planet's best-loved, wildest and most elusive creatures, captured on breathtaking, high-definition film in the Earth's most extreme habitats. Forty cameramen and hundreds of producers, scientists and guides spent four years and $25 million to bring you this God's-eye-view of rare action and intimate moments in impossible locations.
	BBC Holiday Comedy Laughs and holiday cheer abound in these eight hilarious BBC Christmas specials. Catch the festive spirit with the residents of Dibley as they put on a pageant or with the Goods and the Leadbetters of Good Neighbors as their Christmas celebrations go terribly awry. Featuring specials from Are You Being Served, Good Neighbors, To the Manor Born, Allo Allo, Last of the Summer Wine, Keeping Up Appearances, Blackadder, and The Vicar of Dibley, this collection is a must have for any fan of British comedy!
	A Walk in London Share the magic of a mother-daughter day trip as you walk past the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, through the Whispering Gallery at St. Paul's Cathedral, and on to the amazing jewels at the Tower of London-learning fascinating facts as you go. See if you can spot the royal family's car, and ride a ferry on the River Thames. A fun children's book you'll both enjoy. Hardcover; 34 color pages, plus panoramic foldout.
	Being Human: Season 3 While Annie the ghost waits in purgatory to learn her fate, her supernatural friends- Mitchell the vampire and werewolves George and Nina-settle into their new home in Wales, hoping for a fresh start at living normal lives. Brace yourself for out-of-this-world adventure when Mitchell decides to rescue Annie. All eight new episodes in the hit BBC series, starring Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey and Lenora Crichlow. Many extras.
	The Hour Romola Garai, Dominic West and Ben Whishaw star in The Hour, a thrilling six-part drama set in 1950s London when the BBC is about to launch an entirely new way of presenting the news. The dynamic Bel (Garai) is chosen to produce the new program, to be called "The Hour," with handsome and well connected Hector (West) set to become the anchor, much to the annoyance of Freddie (Whishaw), a brilliant and outspoken journalist, whose passion continually lands him in trouble. Over the six episodes, the interplay of intense ambitions between our rising news team play out against the backdrop of a mysterious murder and Freddie's controversial and dangerous investigation.
	Spot's Magical Christmas The delightful star of Eric Hill's beloved children's books joins his friends as they embark on a special magical ride to help find Santa's special Christmas sleigh-before it's too late. As a reward for his help, Spot finds a big surprise under the tree on Christmas morning! Bonus episode: Spot's Winter Sports, featuring Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense), plus two games.
	Top Gear 16 The trio is back in Gear for their latest supercharged season. Whether they're torturing a Jaguar, Mercedes, Bentley, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW or Audi or chatting up a "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car," the guys never fail to deliver their irreverent wit and nearly slanderous honesty. Six episodes, highlighted by the "Middle East Special," a seasonal road trip recreating a famous journey across the Middle East to Bethlehem.
	Guinness Baseball Cap For good luck in warmer weather, top your day with the appliquéd shamrock on your Guinness baseball cap. Easily adjustable Velcro headband. One size fits most.

Wow! All these great gifts are up for grabs for one lucky winner! To enter, just leave a comment on this post stating what you most want Santa to bring you for Christmas. Be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you. Due to shipping costs, this contest is only open to US residents. Last day to enter is Dec. 14. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was provided with the prize pack to giveaway by BBC. I received no compensation for hosting this contest.

The Office Collection Special Edition

2011-11-17T10:16:00.001-05:00

This holiday season celebrate with TheOffice Collection Special Edition available on November 22. Written and createdby Golden Globe winners Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the DVD SpecialEdition features the complete, original UK series plus all new bonusfeatures.

BBC AMERICA first introduced U.S. audiencesto the comedy genius of Ricky and Stephen when it premiered the show in2003. At its launch The New York Times called it “pretty much thefunniest show ever” while Newsweek declared it the “best comedy ontelevision.” It went on to win two Golden Globes, inspire the U.S.version on NBC and continues to influence the tone and look of everything fromtelevision comedy and movies to commercials and pop culture at large.

The Special Edition DVD has all 12 episodesand the 2-part Holiday Special with bonus features including:

· Theoriginal pilot

· Sixspecially recorded introductions of every episode from Season 1 by Rickyand Stephen

· Anexclusive documentary Comedy Connections: The Office whichtraces the history of the show

· Interviewswith the original cast including Ricky, Stephen, Lucy Davies, MackenzieCrook, Martin Freeman and Ewen Macintosh as well as celebrity fans Ben Stiller,Christopher Guest, Matthew Perry, Richard Curtis and David Baddiel.

Check out the official site.

Here is a clip of Ricky Gervais, as David Brent, "cheering up" an employee on his 30th birthday:

Ricky Gervais shines as slimy, clueless boss David Brent in the "docusoap" series The Office. The premise of the show is that a documentary film crew is recording the daily goings-on of the paper company Wernham Hogg in lovely industrial Slough. The title credits show a gray, boring, office in the middle of a gray, boring town. David Brent is the Managing Director of the company, but he never seems to do much work beyond annoying employees and making them feel uncomfortable. He is never shy about addressing the viewer directly and imparting his vast wisdom on how to motivate employees to get the best out of them, while at the same time lightening the mood all round by being an "entertainer." The David Brent character does become a more sympathetic character as the series evolves and his odd behavior catches up to him.

This Special Edition collection of the program consists of 4 disks which include both seasons of the series, as well as the series finale, a 2-part Christmas episode shown in 2003. One disk contains the original pilot episode, with actors who didn't continue on to the main series. It is interesting to see David Brent in all his original glory, when the principle actors had no idea that this project would evolve into a series! This disk also includes an interesting documentary with an interview with creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant discussing how the program came to be, and how unenthused the-powers-that-be at the BBC were at the beginning.

The first season's episodes are all introduced by Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais discussing various aspects of the show, illustrated by clips from the series. The very first episode also features short clips of various well-known actors, including Ben Stiller, Christopher Guest and Matthew Perry discussing their admiration for the innovative and influential show. It was a little difficult for me at times to figure out when the reminiscences had ended and the actual episode began, though!

Some of the other actors who appear in the series have also become famous since the airing of the show. Martin Freeman (Dr. Watson and soon to be Bilbo Baggins) plays Tim, who seems to be the only person interested in doing any actual work at Wernham Hogg. He is constantly thwarted in his efforts to concentrate by his annoying cubicle-mate (although they are unfortunately missing the walls which might have made the situation bearable) Gareth, played by Mackenzie Crook, best know for his role as a somewhat ramshackle pirate in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. The other main character is the receptionist Dawn, who is part of a love-triangle between the mild-mannered Tim and her tough boyfriend Lee. Lucy Davis (known for coaching her fellow survivors on how to play zombie in Shaun of the Dead) plays the conflicted Dawn.

The disk containing the final episodes of the series also contains the documentary Closed for Business, where Gervais and Merchant and the various actors discuss why they decided to end the show at that point. The Christmas episodes were intended to be the series finale, so there are no cliffhangers that never get resolved or other annoying plot holes.

New and old fans will enjoy this full series of the iconic British series. Fans of the American version of The Office will enjoy seeing where it all began!

On a side note, I was very pleased to note the Eastenders reference in the first episode (Rickaaay!). Just one iconic show paying tribute to another!

Disclaimer: I was provided a review copy of The Office Collection Special Edition by BBC.

Taking a green thumb too far

2011-11-08T14:44:00.001-05:00

I'm a huge fan of Ruth Rendell, so I was thrilled to find her latest novel, Tigerlily's Orchids, at my local library. Although she has stopped writing about Inspector Wexford, her "one off" novels have always also been quite enjoyable.

The latest novel takes place in a block of flats in London. The gorgeous and spoiled Stuart Font has used an inheritance from an aunt to purchase a flat and also to avoid getting a job. He decides to throw himself a housewarming party and invite the other residents of the building. Stuart is having an affair with a married woman, Claudia, who has a violently unstable husband. The other residents of the building all have their own problems and secrets. Olwen, an older lady who just wants to be left in peace so that she can drink herself to death, naturally attends the party for the free alcohol on offer. Rose and Marius are two aging "hippies" who once had a one-night stand, but are now just neighbors. Michael Constantine, a doctor who is in trouble for writing facually incorrect medical articles, attends with his wife Katie. The three single girls sharing a flat also wouldn't miss a party, and the cleaning lady Richenda and her caretaker husband Wally also show up (although they weren't exactly invited). Not long after the party starts, Claudia's jealous husband Freddy shows up, and the party breaks up when Freddy attacks Stuart. Stuart ends up with a broken arm.

Adding to this cast of characters is Duncan, a retired mechanic who lives across the street. Duncan observes the comings and goings of the residents of Stuart's building, as well as the odd events in the house next door. It is occupied by what appears to be a family of Chinese immigrants. Duncan doesn't have any contact with them. Oddly, his house is always sweltering, even on the warmest days.

One day, Stuart is in a shop when he spots the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. He doesn't speak to her, but continues to watch for her. Not suprisingly, at this point his relationship with Claudia begins to fizzle out (although Claudia isn't too happy about this). Eventually, he learns that the beautiful girl is part of the "family" that live across the street, next to Duncan. He is able to speak with the girl (whom he calls "Tigerlily") and asks her to meet him. She doesn't speak much English, but agrees to meet him. On their "date," she asks Stuart to help her get a passport. Her "family" is very strict, and she must hide her meetings with Stuart from them.

In the meantime, one of the party girls, Molly, has fallen madly in love with Stuart and decided that she will take on the job of cleaning his flat for him since he is injured. Stuart barely acknowledges her existence.

Stuart has arranged another meeting with Tigerlily in a park. The next day, he is found murdered in the park, and there's no shortage of possible suspects. The first to come to mind is the enraged Freddy, but there's also Tigerlily's "dad," who doesn't like her talking to strange men. Or could there be someone else with a grudge against Stuart??

In amongst all this activity are woven different social issues: illegal immigration, drug trafficking, modern day slavery, substance abuse, even pedophilia! I do love Ruth Rendell, but this book might have benefitted from about half the number of characters and issues that were included!

Final verdict for Tigerlily's Orchids: Three gherkins, for a page-turning but ultimately too busy story

Thatcher winner

2011-11-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my contest to win a copy of "The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher."

The lucky winner is:

Mysharona

Congratulations and happy watching! Watch this space for future giveaways!

The Iron Lady Strikes Again!

2011-10-27T14:26:00.000-04:00

Margaret Thatcher certainly played a vital part in the history of the United Kingdom. As Prime Minister all throughout the 1980s, she steered Britain toward a more conservative course. Gain insight into the life of the controversial and inspiringwoman who led the United Kingdom for morethan ten years. The BBC released The Rise and Fall of MargaretThatcher on DVD October 18. Here is a synopsis of the program:

Synopsis:

Gain insight into the life of thecontroversial and inspiring woman who led the United Kingdom for morethan ten years as the BBC releases The Rise and Fall of MargaretThatcher on DVD this October.Featuring three outstanding productions - TheLong Walk to Finchley, The Falkland’s Play andMargaret - on two discs, this fascinating collection follows thepolitical career of the former Prime Minister. Andrea Riseborough (Made in Dagenham, Happy Go Lucky),Patricia Hodge (The Legacy of ReginaldPerrin, Miranda) and Lindsay Duncan (Doctor Who, Rome) respectivelytackle the role of the Iron Lady in these films. Arriving at retail on October18, The Rise and Fall ofMargaret Thatcher is a must-own DVD set forall history buffs and Anglophiles alike.

Riseborough’s portrayal of a youngMargaret Roberts in The Long Walk to Finchley,was hailed as “breathtaking, giving Thatcher humor, drive and real sex appeal”by the London Evening Standard.The intriguing film reveals her steely determination as an ambitioustwenty-something research chemist on the first rungs of the ladder toParliament. Eager to speak her mind and be selected to a “winnable” Tory seatin the 1950s, The Long Walk to Finchleyimagines what might have gone on behind the scenes during Thatcher’s ten-yearstruggle to gain a seat in Parliament.

Lauded by The Guardian as, “a thrilling piece ofdrama which challenged prejudices and preconceptions,” The Falkland’s Play chronicles thebackroom story of Margaret Thatcher’s war. Once deemed too controversial toproduce, this compelling production depicts a gripping account of how theleaders at 10 Downing Street faced one of their biggest crisesin foreign affairs.

Finally, Margaret examines the downfall of the Prime Minister afterher election to a third term. One of the most formidable figures in Britishpolitics, the film ultimately reveals that the very aspects of her characterthat helped her secure power were also the ones that ensured her decline. The Daily Express praised the film as“riveting viewing…Lindsay Duncan plays heras sharp as a ferret, with the eyes of a lynx and the manner of an aged,furious tiger.”

One of the defining crises of Thatcher's tenure occurred during the Falklands crisis. Here is a video showing some "behind the scenes" discussions just as the action was beginning to heat up:

Check out the Official Site and then Own it on Blu-ray!

I have one copy of the DVD of The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher to give away. To enter, just leave me a comment telling me your favorite leader of all time -- doesn't have to be the leader of a country, just someone who is a strong and inspirational leader! Be sure and leave your email address so I'll have a way to contact you if you should be the winner. I'll choose the winner randomly using random.org on Nov. 4. The winner will have 72 hours to get back to me with their mailing address, or I'll have to choose another winner. Due to mailing restrictions, the giveaway is only valid for US entries.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was provided a giveaway copy of The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher.

Good advice for aspiring writers

2011-10-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

Although I've never written a book, I am well-aware of the difficulties new writers have in attracting the attention of publishers. The 3rd edition of How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen offers many great tips and examples to help new writers stand out from the crowd and gain the attention of publishers. The book is extremely thorough and gives plenty of advice on how to make the proposal stand out from the crowd. The chapters in the book include such topics as how to create a "hook," how to plan a promotion and marketing campaign and how to create an outline. There is also a style guide included to help focus the attention of the writer onto "action" words and active voice constructions that will help make the proposal more dynamic. The appendices in the back of the book are helpful, if somewhat intimidating. The examples of proposals seem to be almost as long and involved as the books themselves! For instance, a sample proposal includes a table of contents, an overview of the work, outlines of chapters and selections from the proposed book. The proposals also include suggested markets for the work, overviews of competing book, a mission statement and suggestions for future "spin-offs." I really had no idea that so much had to be included on a proposal, or that the finished product was so involved! One thing I liked about the book was that each chapter began with a "Golden Rule" which offered a short snippet of advice from the chapter, and each chapter has relevant "Hot Tips" scattered throughout. One thing I found odd with the book is that in several places cartoons were described in detail (including where it appeared and who the author was) -- why not just include the cartoon itself? But that's a minor quibble! Overall the book was packed with advice and the examples of proposals included will give budding writers an extremely detailed model to follow when preparing their own proposals.

You won't want to take this one

2011-09-28T15:03:00.000-04:00

OK, this is a weird one. I am, as I think most right-thinking individuals are, a huge Robson Green fan. So I frequently browse Netflix to see if there are any new films featuring him that I haven't seen yet. I was intrigued to see the "thriller" Take Me listed. I wasn't really sure what to expect, so I was intrigued to see the series open with Mr. Green and another man in tuxedos in the middle of the woods digging what appears to be a grave. Hmm, this could be interesting . . .

Unfortunately, no. The series consists of 6 45-minute episodes, and it really doesn't need to be that long. The story begins (after the grave-digging scene) with Jack and Kay Chambers moving into a huge newly built house. It soon comes to light that Kay has been having an affair, and the move to the new house is part of a new beginning for the couple and their two children.

Jack and Kay soon make the acquaintance of their neighbors across the street, the exotically beautiful Andrea and her somewhat slimy husband Doug (who works as a crime scene photographer). Another neighbor, Lilian, has supposedly gone away on a long vacation to New Zealand. For various reasons, Jack begins to suspect that perhaps she has actually been killed, and that Doug had something to do with it. Of course, when he voices his suspicions to his wife Kay, she is dismissive and impatient. If the story had stuck to this formula (perhaps with more suspicious disappearances being somehow linked to Doug), I think the series could have been interesting.

Instead, it veered off into strange territory. Soon after moving in to their new house, Jack and Kay are invited to a party at Andrea and Doug's house. The party is very crowded, and it soon becomes apparent that the purpose of the party is for everyone to engage in a little wife-swapping. Jack and Kay are surprised and quickly make their getaway, laughing about the whole thing. Soon afterwards, Jack is driving his daughter home from school when they happen to glimpse Kay leaving a hotel with Jack's best friend. So what is the fallout of the discovery of this betrayal? Jack demands that they attend more wife-swapping parties and participate, and Kay agrees to go along with it. SAY WHAT??

So then we are treated to the somewhat ridiculous spectacle of the two of them attending parties where people are quickly, randomly paired off, then retreat to bedrooms with their new partners. We're never actually shown what Kay gets up to, but Jack doesn't seem to be interested in participating in the activities, even though he does go along with it. When Jack and Kay are together, they are both unhappy and depressed. But they keep going to the parties.

Throw into the mix Jack's relationship with his estranged father, who moves in with the family and then suffers serious health problems. There's also some confusing information about Jack's job, which is very well-paid and apparently involves buying out local, family-owned companies for very little money, and then selling them to large corporations which dismantle the companies and fire everyone. It was all very confusing. Jack's job was on the line (so his boss glowering told him many times), but that didn't stop him from creating public scenes in front of clients and behaving in other irrational and totally unbelievable ways.

Fast forward to, oh, the last 15 minutes or so, which are, to give the writers credit, somewhat action packed, if illogical. After all the mysteries are solved and the loose ends tied up, there is one final twist which, I'm sure, was supposed to leave the audience gasping. Yawning, more like.

I guess every actor has a few inexplicable choices on his or her resume, and this seems to be one of those misfires. Still, the scenery was lovely (both shots of the countryside/houses and Mr. Green), so it wasn't a total loss!

Final verdict for Take Me: Two gherkins, for a promising start, but too many illogical plot twists to have a satisfying outcome

Work meetings

2011-08-05T08:30:00.002-04:00

Summer is over, so that means it's time for our annual in-service meetings at work. It's always great to see everyone, especially those who work at other sites that I hardly ever get to see. This year the first day of our meetings was held at the lovely Benham School House Inn in Benham, KY. We've had meetings there before, so that's why I was startled to see this sign in the parking lot:

Luckily, no bears made an appearance. It must have been due to the heat. When I got back to my car in the afternoon, I was greeted with this alarming sight:

I'm already looking forward to the cooler fall weather, even though that also means it will be football time in Tennessee, and therefore an inescapable orange frenzy for the rest of the year.

Dr Who Winners!

2011-08-04T10:48:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the winners of my Dr. Who, Series 6, Part 1 giveaway! The lucky winners were:

April

Erica C.

canneryrowdoc

The winners have been notified. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Watch for more giveaways soon!

Top Gear Winners!

2011-08-03T14:43:00.053-04:00

Congratulations to the winners of my Top Gear:The Complete First Season giveaway! They were:

mar

gene

rachel

The winners have been notified. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Watch this space for other upcoming giveaways!

At least the weather's improving

2011-07-28T10:45:00.000-04:00

I'm often bemoaning to anyone who will listen that there are no good travel writers besides Bill Bryson. His mix of humor and personal disaster is hard to replicate, apparently. That's why I was thrilled to read the new collection of essays More Postcards from across The Pond: Dispatches from an Accidental Expat by Michael Harling. Harling explores his life as an American transported to Britain with a mix of humor and affection for his adopted land that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Much like his previous book Postcards from Across the Pond, the day to day difficulties of adjusting to life in a foreign (if mostly familiar) country are explored. It's also very interesting that, as an "outsider" (even one with newly-minted dual citizenship), Harling is able to notice how quickly Britain is changing, and not always for the better. Not only can you now find Krispy Kremes without too much difficulty (great for the taste buds if not for the waistline), but American holidays such as Thanksgiving and Halloween are frequently celebrated (if not fully comprehended) in modern Britain.

This book contains some humorous examples of Harling's travels with his wife on vacation (as well as for work) that don't always go smoothly. A beach side holiday on the island of Fuerteventura proves that early visitors to the isle weren't kidding when they christened it "Great Wind." Although the temperature was balmy, swimming and even sleeping turned out to be impossible due to the constant gale-force winds. The accommodations also required a great deal of minor repairs -- done by the guests -- to make the stay possible.

Not only does Harling have to deal with holiday DIY disasters, but his flat in Britain (described as being "constructed at the close of the Boer War") also requires occasional updating. This proves to be easier said than done when it comes to actually contacting the landlord and actually scheduling appointments for repairs.

Even everyday commutes are not without problems, as buses keep somewhat, er, flexible schedules, train timetables leave just seconds for connections to be made, and taxi drivers cannot comprehend an American accent.

It's very interesting to note the things that Harling already misses from his early years in Britain, among them plain scones (which are apparently being overtaken by the raisin and cheese varieties), the multi-culturalism of his neighbors (now nearly all young families from the same country, India), and the demise of the traditional pub. There is also a tide of "modernization" sweeping the country in terms of the availability of goods (well, American goods at least), wide availability of things such as air conditioning and dishwashing machines, and relaxed pub opening hours (when you can find a pub).

I really enjoy reading these "postcards" for their look at everyday life in a changing Britain. I'm already looking forward to "Even More Postcards from Across the Pond" from Mr. Harling! (hint, hint!)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of More Postcards from Across the Pond from the author

Final Verdict for More Postcards from Across the Pond: Five Gherkins, for being a very funny look at daily life across the pond

Win Dr. Who Series 6 DVDs!

2011-07-21T08:30:00.002-04:00

One of the most beloved British TV series is out with a new edition on DVD! On July 19, the first part of the new acclaimed season of Doctor Who: Series 6, Part 1.

About the DVD:

Doctor Who: Series 6, Part 1, a two-disc DVD and Blu-ray set, contains the first seven episodes along with two Monster files, “The Gangers” and “The Silence,” two of the Doctor’s most challenging opponents.
In the season opener, “The Impossible Astronaut,” four envelopes are received, numbered 2, 3 and 4, each containing a date, time and map reference, unsigned, but in TARDIS blue. Who sent them? And who received the missing number one? This strange summons reunites the Doctor (Smith), Amy (Gillan), Rory (Darvill) and River Song (Kingston) in the middle of the Utah desert and unveils a terrible secret the Doctor's friends must never reveal to him. ‘Space 1969’ is their only clue, as their quest lands them - quite literally - in the Oval Office, where they are enlisted by President Nixon himself to assist enigmatic former-FBI agent Canton (Mark Sheppard) in saving a terrified little girl from a mysterious spaceman.

Following the two-parter, the Doctor, Amy and Rory journey on the high seas of 1696 aboard Avery’s (Bonneville) pirate ship to solve the mystery of the Siren (Cole). In a bubble universe at the very edge of reality, the Doctor meets an old friend with a new face, and in a monastery on a remote island in the near future, an industrial accident takes on a terrible human shape. And waiting for them, at the end of all this, is the battle of Demon's Run, and the Doctor's darkest hour. Can even the truth about River Song save the Time Lord's soul? Only two things are certain. Silence will fall. And a good man is going to die...

To whet your appetite for these new episodes, here is a clip with an inside look at one of the episodes from the DVD:

Visit the official site!

Thanks to BBC, I have 3 copies of Dr. Who: Series 6, Part 1 to giveaway! To enter, just leave a comment stating how long you've been a Dr. Who fan. If you're a new or potential fan, that's OK, too! Please be sure that your email address is in your comment or on your profile so I can contact you. Open to the U.S. only. On Aug. 2, I will use random.org to choose the 3 winners. The winners will have 72 hours to respond to my email with their addresses, or I will have to choose another winner! Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was provided 3 copies of Dr. Who, Series 6, Part 1 by BBC for this giveaway

Top Gear: The Complete First Season Giveaway!

2011-07-20T10:02:00.000-04:00

Top Gear fans, rejoice!! On July 19, the DVD for the first season of the U.S. version of the smash British series Top Gear was released! Thanks to BBC, I have 3 copies of this great DVD to giveaway.

About the series:

Top Gear races across the pond with the first season of the U.S. version of the world’s most popular car entertainment show. Coming to DVD this July, Top Gear: The Complete First Season, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions, includes all 10 episodes and exclusive DVD extras. The debut 3-disc DVD set features comedian Adam Ferrara, champion rally car and drift racer Tanner Foust and racing analyst Rutledge Wood. The intrepid trio packs the first season with super-cars, extreme stunts and challenges, car reviews, celebrity interviews and, of course, the Stig, Top Gear’s silent and mysterious racing driver. The show is chock-full of high-adrenaline action entertainment as it tracks the colorful history of the automobile as well as the eccentric adventures of its hosts with Top Gear’s customary wit and humor.

In this series, Ferrara, Foust and Wood take on extreme challenges including a moonshine run along a Prohibition route in the Deep South, teaching a blind man to drift a Nissan 370Z and racing a HALO jumper in a Hennessey VelociRaptor across the Arizona desert. The Stig also appears to set definitive “Power Laps” and the team tests some of the world’s fastest cars including a Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, a Porsche Panamera Turbo, an Aston Martin V12 Vantage and more.

Celebrity guests take the wheel in the “Big Star, Small Car” segment including astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actors Ty Burrell (Modern Family) and Dominic Monaghan (Lost), musician Bret Michaels and skateboarder Tony Hawk. Arriving in stores on July 19, Top Gear: The Complete First Season is fully loaded with special features including audio commentary, webisodes and more.

Here is a clip from the DVD:

Check out the official Top Gear site!

To enter to win one of the 3 copies of this great series, just leave a comment letting me know what was your first car? That's it! Be sure to include your email address either in the comments section or your profile so that I can contact you. Open only to the U.S. The winner will be chosen on Aug. 1 by random.org and will be contacted by email for a mailing address. If I don't hear back from you within 72 hours, I'll have to choose another winner.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was provided 3 copies of Top Gear: The Complete First Season by BBC for this giveaway.

This mom's ready for action

2011-07-08T08:30:00.000-04:00

Moms of small children have tough enough jobs just keeping up with day to day life. Imagine how much more difficult it would be to balance your hectic family life when you are always looking over your shoulder for murderous assassins from your past. This is the situation that faces Lucy Hamilton, former spy for the USAWMD (United States Agency for Weapons of Mass Destruction) in the novel Original Sin by Beth McMullen.

When the story begins, Lucy (not her real name, but we're never told her real name) is a stay-at-home mom to 4 year old Theo. She and her family (including husband Will) live in San Francisco. She retired (although no one can ever officially "retire") from the USAWMD when she decided to marry and settle down. Her husband has no idea that she was formerly a spy.

Lucy goes about her days of play dates and visits to the park while always keeping one eye open for possible trouble from her past. It doesn't take long for problems to surface in this novel as her former boss Simon shows up asking for her help. A rouge agent, Ian Blackford, who was presumed dead, has re-surfaced and is up to no good. Since Blackford had previously kidnapped Lucy (known then by her secret agent name of Sally Sin) without actually killing her, Simon assumes that Lucy can be used to lure out Blackford. Lucy really has no interest in participating, but she does eventually decide to try to figure out what Blackford is up to. In the meantime, she has to keep her spy skills and background secret from her husband.

This book is obviously meant to be the first in a series of books about Lucy/Sally. Many things are mentioned but not really followed up on. For instance, Lucy has early childhood memories of speaking Russian, her "parents" were mysteriously killed and she was sent to live with "relatives" but has no connection to anyone, a mysterious man visited her parents and discussed her while she was a child, etc. I'm sure more things will be revealed in subsequent books.

Lucy/Sally is portrayed as somewhat of a slacker who had no special talent or direction in college, but miraculously after taking a "test" it was discovered that she could instantly speak any foreign language. She is also (naturally) a weapons and marital arts expert. Of course the story is very far-fetched, but it's an interesting enough story to keep your interest. I will probably check out the next installment in the series to see what Lucy is up to!

Final verdict for Original Sin: Three Gherkins, for being an amusing look at the day to day life of a former spy

Passion wasn't all that surged

2011-07-06T10:17:00.000-04:00

If the Casey Anthony trial has been the "trial of the year" so far, in 1927 that title certainly went to the Ruth Snyder/Judd Gray murder trial. In the book A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion, author Ron Hansen takes a close (although somewhat fictionalized) look at the crime and aftermath of this sensational case.

Ruth Snyder was a fun-loving, attractive woman who was married to an older, somewhat boring man who was an editor at Motor Boating magazine. She was flirty and had many male admirers, but when she met the mild mannered corset salesman Judd Gray, sparks really flew. Gray was several inches shorter than Ruth, wore thick spectacles, and was also married. Nothing could stand in the way of their passionate affair.

Since Gray travelled often in his corset selling job, he was able to arrange many illicit trysts with his lover. The lovers were both stuck in dull, disappointing marriages, but Ruth soon began joking about how much easier their lives would be if her husband, Albert Snyder, were to suddenly die. Before long, she claimed that she had tried on several occasions to kill him -- by shutting him in a garage with a running car, by turning on the gas and leaving the house with her husband sleeping, by knocking a ladder out from under him as he trimmed tree branches, etc. Since none of these projects had been successful, she convinced Judd Gray that he had to help her kill her husband. Gray, frantic at the thought of losing her, reluctantly went along.

Unfortunately for the lovers, after the murder, the police were quickly able to tear their carefully rehearsed stories to shreds. It certainly didn't help matters when it was discovered that Ruth had taken out a hefty insurance policy on her husband (without his knowledge, of course) that paid double indemnity for an "accidental death."

Although Ruth protested her innocence in the murder scheme from the beginning (claiming she was knocked out and remained unconscious for four hours), neither the police or the jury at her trial believed her. Judd Gray quickly confessed and implicated Ruth in the plot. Both Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray penned books in jail which attempted to explain the events that landed them there.

While looking up information about the case online, I was interested to learn that the author James M. Cain based his books The Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity on this case. The case also became famous when a reporter snuck a hidden camera into the prison and was able to snap a blurry photo of Ruth Snyder at the moment of her execution.

Although this book is a work of fiction, the author has relied on contemporary newspaper accounts of the events, as well as books that have been written about the case. It certainly reads like a "true crime novel." I had heard of the case before, but this book was a more in depth look at what must have been going through the minds of the main characters as they hatched their murder plot.

Final Verdict for A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion: Four Gherkins, for being an evocative look at a roaring twenties murder case

Life and death of an American legend

2011-06-10T09:47:00.001-04:00

I remember the first time I ever heard of Bill Hicks. I was watching one of those countdown shows about the 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time. As the numbers counted down, I found myself speculating who would be #1. I figured it had to be Richard Pryor. He was #2. I sat there perplexed, wondering who in the world would be considered greater than Pryor. When #1 was revealed to be Bill Hicks, I sat there stunned and asked, "Who?"

Unfortunately, I was not the only one who was unaware of Hicks' genius. This week the BBC released the documentary American: The Bill Hicks Story. It is a story of the life and career of a comic that many consider to be the best ever.

Bill Hicks grew up the youngest child of a close-knit family in Houston, Texas. He was greatly influenced by seeing a performance of Woody Allen doing a stand-up routine on TV and decided to make that his life's work. As a teenager, he began sneaking out of his parents' house at night to perform onstage at a new comedy club in town. The DVD contains clips of some of these touching early performances, which mostly centered around his parents, their strict Southern Baptist views, and life at school. Even though the patrons of the club were much older than he was, he quickly gained a following.

Once he graduated from high school, Hicks headed to Los Angeles to try his luck in the entertainment business. He convinced a friend, Dwight Slade, to come with him. Hicks performed at the Comedy Store, where many other comedy greats began their careers, but his main focus during this time was writing a screenplay. He and Slade presented the screenplay to an agent at the prestigious William Morris agency, who told them the ending needed a little work, but that he was interested in seeing more from them. Even though this would be encouraging to most people, for Hicks it was an indication that his career as a screenwriter was a dismal failure. He refused to continue working on the screenplay, and entered into a creative lull. Eventually, he moved back to Texas. He was around age 20 at the time.

After returning to Texas, the formerly clean-cut Hicks began to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Although he continued performing, he was often impaired onstage. His contemporaries were amazed at the bitterness and freedom that his lowered inhibitions unleashed -- he said what he felt needed to be said, and no longer worried about what others thought. This continued for several years until he gave up drugs and alcohol altogether and moved to New York.

When the newly sober Hicks decided to dive back into comedy, he performed at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. This is when he really began to attract attention. His performance was filmed and shown in the UK, where Hicks became something of an overnight sensation. He performed to great acclaim at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, and taped a live performance in front of an adoring crowd (which was released as "Revelations"). For the first time, Hicks felt as if an audience "got" what he was trying to say, and his confidence increased exponentially.

Unfortunately, when he came back to the U.S., it was to be greeted by the same indifference he had experienced before. Although he appeared on the David Letterman show multiple times, he just could not attract the same following in the U.S. that he had overseas. Still, he was enthusiastic about his career when disaster struck: Hicks was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He threw himself into many creative projects: working on screenplays, recording albums, and doing more live performances. He was very proud of his final appearance on the David Letterman show, only to be devastated when his appearance was cut before the program aired (it was finally shown on Jan. 30, 2009). Hicks died on Feb. 26, 1994. He was only 32.

The DVD is a wonderful tribute to Hicks. His family and friends provide commentary about his life, and many photos of Hicks are shown in animated sequences that help to illustrate the sometimes frenetic pace which marked Hicks' life. There are actually two DVDs in this set. The first contains the film and extended interviews while the second has more interviews, deleted scenes, rare clips, and Hicks' audio journal entries, among other things. There is also a booklet included about the making of the film.

Here is a clip from the DVD:

This DVD collection is a wonderful tribute to a comedian who, unfortunately, remains largely unknown in his own country. The great reverence and respect with which other comedians hold him shows that his legacy won't be forgotten any time soon. If you haven't heard of this remarkable man yet, this is a great opportunity for you to learn!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of American: The Bill Hicks Story from BBC
Final verdict for American: The Bill Hicks Story: Five Gherkins, for being an in-depth look at an influential and much-loved figure in American comedy

Another great Mike Leigh film!

2011-05-31T11:25:00.000-04:00

Noted director Mike Leigh's latest film, the critically acclaimed Another Year, will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on Tuesday, June 7. The film revolves around the lives of the couple Tom and Gerri (played by Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen) as they go about their daily lives and interact with friends whose lives aren't as settled.

SYNOPSIS:

From seven-time Oscar® nominee Mike Leigh comes this critically acclaimed slice of life starring Academy Award® winner Jim Broadbent (Best Supporting Actor, Iris, 2001), Lesley Manville and Ruth Sheen. A happy couple for over thirty years, Tom (Broadbent) and Gerri (Sheen) act as a steady anchor to their unmarried circle of family and friends. But as the seasons change and another year passes, Tom and Gerri’s support is put to the test in this masterful look at life, love and the meaning of friendship.

Here is the trailer for the film:

Special Features on the DVD Include:

- Commentary with Director Mike Leigh & Actress Lesley Manville

- The Making of Another Year

- The Mike Leigh Method

Don't miss your opportunity to own this film which is sure to become a classic!

Own the fairytale wedding of the century!

2011-05-24T14:12:00.000-04:00

According to news reports, nearly 23 million people in the U.S. set their alarm clocks to get up early and watch the Royal Wedding last month. If (as happened to me) work schedules made viewing the entire spectacle difficult, now you can own the DVD of the ceremony and catch up on anything you might have missed!

You can purchase your own copy of the DVD for only $7.98 at the BBCAmerica Shop.

The BBCAmerica shop gives this overview:

The royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton was the event of a lifetime. BBC Video is making available this beautiful, commemorative DVD of the event on sale on May 24^th! This wonderful keepsake will capture all of the pomp and pageantry of the historic occasion like no other memento. The DVD will include the complete ceremony plus highlights from the official BBC pre- and post-wedding coverage. Also included is the special bonus program, “William and Kate: A Royal Engagement,” presenting the story of William and Kate’s relationship via interviews with colleagues, friends and family. Lovers of the crown will want to own this special, commemorative DVD of this most delightful of events, the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

I really loved watching the whole ceremony again. The excited crowds, the lovely (and unusual) ensembles the ladies were wearing, the gorgeously decorated church: it's all here to savor again and again! If you simply *must* have your own copy of Princess Beatrice's hat, you can freeze the picture until you're able to note all the details!

I'm still amazed at the poise and grace shown by the new Duchess of Cambridge. She displayed absolutely no trace of nerves, just a serene and calm presence which I'm sure greatly influenced the other members of the wedding party. The carriage ride the couple took back to Buckingham Palace was also exhilarating. The horse drawn carriages added to the fairy-tale splendor of the day. It was wonderful to see so many excited, happy people lining the streets to offer their best wishes to the newly married couple.

Of course, everyone was waiting for the big moment when the newlyweds would share a kiss on the balcony:

I'm very happy that such a wonderful DVD is available at such an affordable price! The royal watchers can enjoy the ceremony and join in the celebration of the marriage of a beautiful young couple.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a review copy of The Royal Wedding by the BBC

Final Verdict for The Royal Wedding: Five Gherkins, for being a magical look at a fairytale wedding!

Human Planet Winners

2011-05-17T14:49:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the three winners of my "The Human Planet" giveaway! They were:

Susan M.

Elsie

devotus

All the winners have been contacted and the prizes have been sent. Thanks to everyone who entered, and watch for the next giveaway!

Win Human Planet on DVD!

2011-05-03T09:40:00.004-04:00

Once again the BBC has produced an amazing series with stunning camera work and compelling stories! From the highest, coldest mountain peaks to the hot, dry tropics, this series takes a look at how humans live on this varied planet. Human Planet arrived on DVD and Blu-ray April 26, just two days following the broadcast conclusion.

Here is a synopsis of the series:

Human Planet is the first BBC/Discovery Channel co-production to focus solely on human behavior. Since premiering in the UK, the series has received overwhelming critical acclaim including The Telegraph proclaiming, "it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before" and The Sun stating that it’s "visually stunning and utterly fascinating, this is seriously impressive stuff." From the makers of Planet Earth, Life and Blue Planet, Human Planet focuses on humanities amazing, complex and profound relationship with nature. It weaves together 80 stories, many never told before, to illuminate humanity’s uncanny ability to adapt and live in every corner of our diverse world. Each episode centers on a particular habitat, and by using innovative and cutting edge filming techniques, reveals how its people have created astonishing solutions in the face of extreme adversity.

The Discovery Channel version will be presented by Charles Parnell and consists of six episodes that will take viewers to the farthest reaches of the globe culminating with, Life at the Extremes, a "best of" episode. The Human Planet DVD and Blu-ray will include all eight episodes from the original UK broadcast version, presented by John Hurt, extending the home viewing experience with three hours of footage not seen in the North American broadcast. It will include the episode, Cities, which will be exclusive to the DVD and Blu-ray. Additionally, the DVD and Blu-ray will take viewers deeper into the heart of Human Planet with its set of ten Behind the Lens "making of" bonus features, and, exclusive to Blu-ray, a further "making of" feature called, Zanskar, accessible via BD-Live. Zanskar showcases the astonishing life struggles of a resilient group of people living at the edge of the Himalayas.

Here is a preview of some of the amazing video you can see in this series:

Visit Human Planet on Facebook!

Thanks to BBC, I have 3 copies of this gorgeous DVD series to give away! To enter, just leave a comment with the most amazing place you've ever visited. That's it! The giveaway will end on May 13. Please be sure that your email address is listed in your comment or your Blogger profile so I can contact you. Open to residents of the USA and Canada. I will choose the winners with random.org and the winners will have 3 days to contact me with their addresses, or I will have to choose alternate winners.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received 3 copies of Human Planet from BBC to use as prizes in this giveaway.

Upstairs Downstairs Winner!

2011-05-03T09:24:00.005-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered to win the Upstairs Downstairs DVD giveaway! The winner, chosen by random.org was:

mummytotwoboys

Congratulations! Thanks again to BBC for providing the prize.

Watch for more giveaways coming soon!

Sitting Down for a Cuppa with Jane

2011-04-29T08:30:00.000-04:00

Jane Austen was quite the tea fancier. Her novels and personal letters are filled with references to her love for the drink. In the beautiful book Tea with Jane Austen, author Kim Wilson gives us an inside view of the rituals and routines associated with this most British beverage.

Because tea is so associated with Britain, it's interesting to note that it was unknown in Queen Elizabeth I's time. A few hundred years later, however, it was definitely a status symbol to be able to offer your guests tea. This book describes how tea was such a valued commodity in Jane Austen's home that it was kept under lock and key. Not only was the beverage itself an important part of social calls, but elaborate tea sets and tables were also necessary to impress the guests.

Chapters in the book deal with such important matters as the time of day when tea was consumed, how tea was purchased, the effects of tea on health, and taking tea away from home. Sprinkled throughout the text are lovely excerpts from Jane's books and private letters relating to tea. She was apparently in charge of tea operations in her family's household, and took her duties very seriously.

The book also features many recipes that would have been familiar to people in Austen's day, including Hot Bath Cakes, Barley Water, Plum Cake and China Orange Jelly. There are also plenty of illustrations throughout the book which help to set the mood. Luckily for me, the final chapter of the book concerns "Making the Perfect Cup of Tea." This chapter includes advice on the correct water temperature based on the type of tea you're using, how to correctly use and steep loose tea, and the proper accessories needed to get the most enjoyment out of your cuppa (a beautiful pot and cup, plus a Jane Austen novel, of course!).

I found this book to be very informative and delightful. I truly felt the importance of tea and its place in society during Jane Austen's life!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Tea with Jane Austen from Frances Lincoln Publishers

Final verdict for Tea with Jane Austen: Four Gherkins, for being a thorough look at that most delightful of British customs

Jane Austen's Green Fingers

2011-04-27T14:34:00.005-04:00

Gardens figure prominently in the works and life of Jane Austen. The lovely book In the Garden with Jane Austen by Kim Wilson looks at all aspects of gardening as it relates to the writer and her characters.

This little gem of a book looks at how gardens that Jane knew and loved look today. The gardens are even divided up into Cottage Gardens, Mansion & Manor House Gardens, City Gardens and Public Gardens & Parks. The final chapter contains advice on how would-be gardeners can re-create Jane's gardens (including flower and vegetable varieties) for themselves! The book also features a listing of gardens that were shown in screen adaptations of Austen's works. It's rather interesting how frequently films and TV programs are made from her novels.

The book is filled with beautiful illustrations, as well as information about visiting the locations that are open for tours. There are also plenty of quotes from Jane Austen's works as well as from her personal correspondence. I especially enjoyed the aspects of gardens which might not be considered by modern readers. For instance, one inescapable feature of every garden was the outhouse. The book gives some interesting details about how people tried to disguise them (plants in front and vines to obscure) and how the paths to the outhouses were suggested to be circular, so "it would not be obvious to the casual observer what the stroller's purpose was in choosing that particular path." You have to wonder if modern gardeners know how easy they have it!

Another interesting feature of the book is recipes from the period when Austen lived, including how to make Bee's Wax Lip Salve, Pot Pourri and "Mrs. Norris's Dried Roses." Well, Martha Stewart had to get her ideas from somewhere!

This book is gorgeous and packed with information. Fans of Jane Austen, gardening or flowers will be enchanted!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the book from Frances Lincoln Publishers

Final verdict for In the Garden with Jane Austen: Five Gherkins, for being a beautiful look at the world that Jane Austen inhabited

Are you an Upper or a Downer?

2011-04-21T14:15:00.008-04:00

British TV fans in the US were overjoyed this year when we found out that the wonderful TV series "Upstairs Downstairs" had been updated and was going to be shown on PBS's Masterpiece Classic.

Synopsis: One of the most beloved television series of all time is brought back to life in a sumptuous new production with a fresh new cast. It's 1936 and six years since parlormaid Rose (Jean Marsh, Sense & Sensibility) left 165 Eaton Place. Fate brings her back as housekeeper to its new owners, Sir Hallam Holland (Ed Stoppard, The Pianist, Brideshead Revisited), his wife Lady Agnes (Keeley Hawes, MI-5, Ashes to Ashes), and his mother, Lady Maud Holland (Eileen Atkins, Cranford, Gosford Park). Rose soon finds she has her work cut out for her as she recruits a new “downstairs” family to help run the elegance and finery of the “upstairs” world. Both upstairs and downstairs, it soon becomes apparent there lies a labyrinth of secrets, lies and scandal. Set against the historical backdrop of a pre-World War II Britain with a new King on the throne, with Fascism on the rise on the continent, and with sexual, social and political tensions at 165 Eaton Place, this new series provides an evocative take on the master-servant relationship.

Available on DVD: April 26th

Official Site URL: http://www.bbcamericashop.com/

Anyone who was captivated by the original series, which ran for 5 seasons in the 1970s will be happy to be back among familiar surroundings. Times are changing, but the social lines are still drawn. The interactions between the members of staff and the upper-class people they serve prove that there is more going on than meets the eye.

Here is a clip from the new series:

Thanks to BBC, I have one copy of the new DVD series of Upstairs Downstairs to give away! To enter, just leave a comment answering the following question: if your finances would stretch far enough to allow you to hire one servant, which one would you hire and why? I'd have to go for Cook. Cook always seems to be a sort of no-nonsense person, and I'm sure she'd be able to whip up all the traditional English dishes!

Please remember to leave your email address in your comment if it's not visible in your profile. The contest is only open to US Residents due to postal costs. Leave your entry by May 1. The winner will be drawn on May 2 and notified by email. If I don't hear back from you within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck on winning this wonderful DVD!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of Upstairs Downstairs to offer in this giveaway from BBC. I was not compensated for this post.

Hidden gems in the metropolis

2011-04-12T15:38:00.002-04:00

While London is my favorite city, it can be a bit overwhelming. The noise, the crowds and the concrete can seem bewildering to the casual visitor. I've often wondered how it must be for everyday Londoners to try to get to work or the grocery store with throngs of people everywhere.

One Londoner decided to seek out the quiet and calming areas of the city. Siobhan Wall's new book Quiet London takes a look at areas of the city that are not as well known as the popular tourist destinations, but are welcome respites from hectic city life.

The categories covered include:

*Museums
*Libraries
*Parks, Gardens and Nature Reserves
*Places to Relax and Retreat Centers
*Places of Worship
*Small Shops
*Restaurants and Cafes
*Bookshops
*Places to have Afternoon Tea
*Galleries
*Pubs and Wine Bars
*Hotels and Places to Stay

Image courtesy of Siobhan Wall and Frances Lincoln Publishers

Each category contains several recommendations for places that are ideal to read, relax or meditate. Each suggestion shows a lovely photo (most in color, but some in black and white) as well as an address, phone number and website (if applicable). There is also information included for every location about whether it is handicapped accessible, or if only certain parts are. Also included are travel directions including bus, tube and train connections.

I especially liked the descriptions of each place, including whether or not attached cafes or stores play background music. When this book says quiet, it means quiet!

There are plenty of recommendations that I have added to my "must see" list for my next trip, including the National Art Library, Bunhill Fields (glad I'm not the only person with a fascination for cemeteries!), and the Centre for Wildlife Gardening's Stag Beetle Sanctuary (OK, it says it's for children, but who wouldn't want to see that??).

The only quibble I have with the book is that sometimes the text is set too close to the inner margins, and can make the book difficult to read. I really didn't want to pull the book apart to see better, because I was afraid of damaging it. Other than that, the book is a beautiful addition to anyone's library.

The author, Siobhan Wall, has taught fine art, photography, and video production. For a decade she was a full-time senior lecturer at what is now London Metropolitan University. The author and publisher of Quiet Amsterdam is an independent curator who lives and works in Amsterdam.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Quiet London from Frances Lincoln Publishers
Final Verdict for Quiet London: Four Gherkins, for being a a wonderful guide to some seldom-visited parts of London.

Lucifer wasn't the only one crying . . .

2011-04-11T15:55:00.000-04:00

With the current popularity of mystery novels set in northern Europe, you'd figure that one set in the snowy climes of Finland would be a surefire hit. Well, not so fast. The book Lucifer's Tears, by James Thompson, is the second to feature Inspector Kari Vaara.

The blurb on the back of the book states that James Thompson is "eastern Kentucky born and raised" and has lived in Finland for over 10 years. He is married to a Finnish woman. In this novel, the Finnish Inspector Vaara is married to Kate, an American.

Inspector Vaara is the requisite tortured and flawed policeman, although in this instance he really is tortured by extreme migraine headaches. There are numerous times that his previous case is referred to in the book, and since I haven't read the earlier book, I'm a bit lost when it comes to the background.

In this book, Vaara and his unlikeable partner Milo are called out to a particularly brutal crime scene. A married woman has been found beaten to death (and Thompson really relishes giving us the gory, vivid details) in her lover's apartment. The lover was present during the murder, but claims he was attacked and unconscious while the woman was killed. The husband, a Russian businessman, becomes a suspect, especially when it becomes apparent that he's also having an affair with a woman who is nearly a twin of his dead wife.

Vaara is also directed by his boss to investigate a Finnish national hero from WWII for possible war crimes. The situation becomes personal for Vaara when he discovers that the war hero served alongside his beloved late grandfather. If the war hero was guilty of war crimes, that so was dear old granddad.

To complicate matters, Vaara and his wife Kate are expecting their first child at any time. Kate has previously lost twins, so the couple is anxious that nothing go wrong this time. Kate's younger brother and sister come to stay with them on the pretext that they are going to "help out" once the baby is born. The brother is a drunken troublemaker and the sister a judgemental religious fundamentalist.

The situation of the WWII war criminal and the two American outsiders exist solely so that Thompson can lecture the reader on: a) Finland's involvement in WWII on the side of the Nazis (who victimized them as much as the hated Russians); and b) Finland's superior (to the US) social welfare society. There are long, preachy passages that are meant to enlighten the reader, but the author is assuming that the reader has an interest in the subject (I really didn't, and my husband is half Finnish!). Note to author: Tell the story, we don't need a history/civics lesson!

I also found the language to be unnecessarily crude. The "f-word" loses its intended impact when it's used 5 times in the same paragraph. Adding "-wad" or "-wit" or other suffixes to it don't make it a new word!

And what was with the hostility toward Mensa? He has two characters who supposedly are members -- both anti-social, deranged, drunken gun-nuts. Membership application rejected or something???

So, no, I'll have to say I didn't enjoy this one. The over-the-top unbelievable sex and violence scenes, the long, boring history lessons, and lack of any sympathetic characters have ensured that this visit to Inspector Vaara's Helsinki will be my last.

Final Verdict for Lucifer's Tears: One Gherkin, for a passable story told in an unpleasant manner

Great advice for job seekers

2011-04-11T15:53:00.000-04:00

In these days of high unemployment, job seekers need every advantage when they are looking for work. The book Knock 'em Dead 2011: The Ultimate Job Search Guide provides a complete overview of job-search strategies to help you stand out from the crowd.

The book is divided into five sections, each of which covers a different aspect of the process of finding a job. Part one, "The Well Stocked Briefcase" includes advice, exercises and examples of what needs to be on a modern, technologically-savvy resume. I especially like advice such as how to create your own "professional brand" and how to "get inside an employer's head."

The second section of the book deals with job interviews -- how to land them and how to project your most professional image during the interview. Part three is invaluable as it deals with how to handle yourself during the interview, including the types of questions to expect (and what sort of answers will best impress the interviewer), the different types of interviewers (some know even less than you do about the job you're applying for!) and how to cope with unorthodox interview locations.

After you've survived the interview, you're still not finished. Part four of the book deals with such issues as interview follow-up, dealing with job offer negotiations, fielding multiple job offers at the same time (we should be so lucky!), and how to "ace" psychological tests that might be required before you start your new job.

The final section of the book discusses thirty-five occupations which will see job growth in the near future. Each occupation is described in detail, as well as the outlook for that job and Internet sites that provide more information.

I found the advice in the book to be very encouraging and applicable. I know that it can be difficult to know where to start when trying to find a job. I especially liked the "Knock 'em Dead" tips sprinkled throughout each chapter. With this book, everyone will find plenty of advice and concrete examples that you can apply to turn your job search into a job offer!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from BookSneeze

Something to cheer about

2011-04-07T08:00:00.002-04:00

The British royal family is in the news quite a bit lately, due to a certain event that's coming up. In addition to the current crop of royals, this has also been a very good year for some royals from a few generations back. The film The King's Speech was certainly the most decorated film at this year's Academy Awards, winning Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Director (Tom Hooper), and Best Picture.

I was lucky enough to see the film in the theater. This was before it had received so many nominations, and I was surprised to find the theater absolutely packed. I was even more surprised at the round of applause that broke out at the end of the film. That's when I knew for sure that this was a film to be reckoned with!

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company announced will release the Blu-ray™ and DVD versions of The King's Speech on April 19^th.

In case you aren't familiar with the story, here is a quick synopsis:

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of his brother King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) – who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life – is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually forge a genuine friendship. Through this unexpected bond, the new monarch will overcome his stammer to find his voice, inspire his people, and rally the world. The King's Speech is cinematic royalty: a magnificent production, studded with glittering performances, based on a true story of friendship, triumph and, ultimately, glory.

The Blu-ray™ and DVD bonus features include an audio commentary with director Tom Hooper; a 20-minute “Making Of The King’s Speech”; archival footage of the actual King George VI; and much more.

Be sure and get yourself a copy of this wonderful film which will leave you cheering, too!

If You Can't Be There in Person . . .

2011-04-06T13:14:00.001-04:00

With the joyous occasion of the Royal Wedding coming up at the end of the month, many people are looking for ways they can help to celebrate. One way to help set the mood is by listening to the great new CD Music For A Royal Wedding. This CD contains 16 different selections, for a total running time of 67 minutes.

The music on the album includes a variety of selections which have a connection to royalty. The liner notes give detailed information on each track and how it relates to the royal wedding. Some examples:

The first track, Fanfare for a Festive Occasion, was played at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh in 1947

Elger's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 was the music that Princess Diana and Prince Charles heard as they left St. Paul's Cathedral after their wedding ceremony

For the Love of a Princess was featured in the film Braveheart, and evokes the love story between William Wallace and Princess Isabelle of France

Other songs will be familiar to listeners because they've been used in numerous televisions shows (The Flower Duet) or are old favorites (The Bridal March from Lohengrin, Pachelbel's Canon in D Major and God Save the Queen).

If you are unlucky enough to have misplaced your invitation to the big event on April 29, you can still enjoy the atmosphere of being at a Royal Wedding by listening these uplifting and emotionally stirring songs!

For more information visit http://www.silvascreenmusic.com/

A bad hair day, but still giddy

2011-04-06T10:49:00.000-04:00

G.K. Chesterton is mostly known (by me, anyway) as the author of the Father Brown mystery series. I was interested to find out more about the man and his career in the book Defiant Joy: the Remarkable Life & Impact of G.K. Chesterton by Kevin Belmonte. Chesterton comes through in the book as a larger-than-life character, bursting with happiness and intellectual curiosity.

His early life was happy, spent with doting (if somewhat lax) parents. His youth was marred by the death of his older sister Beatrice when he was three. The only thing mentioned about her death was "she fell off a rocking horse," but at age 8, that would seem to be unlikely. Whatever the cause, her death caused Chesterton's father to periodically retreat from the family, and G.K. himself to become overly fearful of illness and death.

As with most young boys of the time (1880s), Chesterton was sent away to a boy's school, where he made lifelong friends and began his interest in debating. After finishing at that school, however, Chesterton went to study art in London. Away from friends and family, it was at this point that he experienced a severe personal and spiritual crisis. While suffering through this deep depression, Chesterton suddenly had a miraculous turn-around. He began to be extremely thankful for the gift of life and for the "personal gifts" he received from his "personal God."

He began working as a journalist and at various publishing firms. His anonymous art criticisms brought him his first notice, after which he published two books of verse in 1900. His two books of social criticism and personal journey to faith, "Heretics" and "Orthodoxy" cemented his place in literary history. In these books, Chesterton laments the pessimism of the day, and details his believe in a God that brings joy, not repression.

The first Father Brown story was published in 1910. Chesterton went on to publish 52 Father Brown stories. The character of Father Brown was based on Chesterton's own good friend Father John O'Connor, and differs from the other sleuths of the day in that he works alone. Father Brown has heard the worst that man can do in his confessions, so he is all too familiar with evil. This allows him to use his knowledge of the human spirit to make connections and solve the mysteries presented to him.

In addition to writing spiritual, critical and mystery works, Chesterton also wrote novels, plays and an epic poem. The book is also filled with well-known names that sparred with Chesterton in friendly and not-so-friendly fashion, including George Bernard Shaw, H.L. Mencken and T.S. Eliot.

I was very happy to learn more about his amazing and prolific author. I wish the book had concentrated more on the author's life instead of including large passages from his work, followed by what everyone who ever wrote said about them. It got a bit tiresome to slog through all the comments that everyone else was making about Chesterton's work: a few sentences would have been preferable to three-quarters of a page.

Still, the book helps to increase interest in an author who is not so well-known today. I hope to be able to read more works of the prolific G.K. Chesterton in the future!

I'd be dangerous if I had any direction

2011-04-01T08:30:00.006-04:00

Don't grow too fond of the crow on the cover of Four Lions. I'm sorry to say that Mr. Crow doesn't have a happy ending in this film about four (well, really five) incompetent terrorists in London. You wouldn't think a film about terrorists could be funny, but this one is. The would-be "terrorists" are plagued by numerous difficulties, including in-fighting and being, uh, not overburdened with brains.

The main players in this film are:

Omar, who has a wife and young son

Waj, Omar's best friend, who is a bit dumb

Barry, the middle-aged British convert

Faisal, who is rather low-key and hopes to train crows to be bombers so he won't have to get involved

Hassan, a student who is recruited into the group, but whose commitment remains shaky

This group of aspiring terrorists spends most of its time attempting to make videos which will be shown after their deaths. But they can't even manage to get through a video shoot without erupting into arguments. They do eventually begin to develop explosives, but once again, can't come to any sort of agreement about what their target should be.

Eventually, they decide to "go undercover" and dress in costumes to conceal the bombs. It's even more absurd to see the fearsome group dressed as a clown, a man riding an ostrich, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and whatever this thing is:

In the end, the film manages to make a very difficult and touchy subject look silly. As a viewer, I found myself feeling both angry at and sorry for the main characters. Each was misguided and lacked direction. Instead of paying attention to giving their families a better life, or working to change things, they were all caught up in the idea of "making a statement" without having any clear idea what sort of statement they wanted to make or why.

I found Omar's wife Sophia to be the most confusing character of all. She fully supported her husband's wish to become a suicide bomber, but mocked his deeply religious brother when he came to visit. She seemed to have no qualms about becoming a single mother. Even though this film was not meant to be taken as a serious study of suicide bombers, I would have liked to learn more about her character's thoughts and feelings.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed the film for its look at a misguided group attempting to make a statement about their beliefs . . . if only they could figure out what those were.

Final Verdict for Four Lions: Four Gherkins, for being an amusing film about an all-too-serious topic

No herrings here, with mustard or otherwise

2011-03-31T08:30:00.003-04:00

Poor Flavia is at it again! Not only does she discover some injured and dead people near her family home Buckshaw, but her sisters are still torturing her. Quite a full and exciting life for an 11 year old. The child chemistry prodigy Flavia de Luce makes her third appearance in A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley.

This novel begins with Flavia, not unexpectedly, having her fortune told in a gypsy's tent at a local fair. When the gypsy tells her something that seems to come from her long-dead mother, Flavia jumps to her feet, upsetting a candle and setting the tent on fire. Feeling guilty about destroying the gypsy's property, Flavia invites the gypsy, Fenella Faa, to camp on her family's land. Checking on Fenella later, Flavia is horrified to find her severely beaten.

This is just the first in a series of strange events. Eventually a dead body turns up impaled on a fountain at her family's estate. As usual, it's up to Flavia to put the pieces together (ably assisted again by her loyal sidekick, her bicycle Gladys) and solve the crime. The police, not surprisingly, are not keen to involve her in their investigations, nor to listen to any of her theories. In the meantime, her odious sisters Daffy and Feely spend a lot of time thinking of ways to torment Flavia. In addition to her sleuthing, Flavia also faces the first realization that all is not well with her father's finances.

I greatly enjoy the time spent with Flavia, although I'm always a bit puzzled as to why neither she nor her sisters ever seem to go to school. I guess maybe the 3 books all take place in the summertime? There's never any mention of schooling, though, so it remains a mystery!

Final Verdict for A Red Herring Without Mustard: Four Gherkins, for being an enjoyable visit to the English countryside with a precocious companion

Made in Dagenham

2011-03-30T11:05:00.000-04:00

Yesterday marked the release of the DVD of the film Made in Dagenham starring Sally Hawkins. This film tells the true story of Rita O'Grady, who fought for equal pay and helped to shake up the male-dominated workplace in 1960s England.

Synopsis: From the director of Calendar Girls comes this extraordinary story based on true events. Dagenham, England 1968. At the town’s local Ford automobile plant, Rita O’Grady (Golden Globe® winner Sally Hawkins) is one of only 187 women in a workforce of 55,000 men. Facing overwhelming opposition in this “man’s world,” Rita rallies her female co-workers to fight for equal pay — a stand that defies the corporate status quo, threatens her marriage, and ultimately exacts a tragic toll. But with the support of the shop’s steward (Golden Globe® winner Bob Hoskins) and the government’s Employment Secretary (two-time Golden Globe® winner Miranda Richardson), the women become the sensation of the nation — and the catalyst for a profound turning point in time.

Here is a clip from the DVD:

With stars such as Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins and Miranda Richardson, this is sure to be an enjoyable and uplifting visit to the past. I'm sure after watching it, it will be amazing to think "it wasn't so long ago that women had to fight for their rights." While current statistics and the recent Wal-Mart discrimination case prove that there is still work to be done, this look at a pioneering woman who bravely fought for equality in the workplace provides lessons for us all.

More Royal Wedding opportunities!!!

2011-03-17T09:35:00.001-04:00

The BBC is looking for some of us rabid Anglophiles to participate in a project about the upcoming Royal Wedding. If this applies to you, please use the contact information to get involved!

The BBC are calling all Royal enthusiasts and Anglophiles!

Are you a Royal fanatic?

Are you excited about the forthcoming wedding?

Are you planning on trekking to London for the big day to see the King and Queen-to-be?

If this sounds like you then we would like to hear from you....

Please email: louise.bartmann@bbc.co.uk

Interesting old photo

2011-03-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

I work in a library, and we frequently get donations of books. In one box a few years ago, I found an interesting old photo. There is, unfortunately, no identifiable information on the photo. I'd love to know about the people in the photo -- who they are, what year the photo was taken, what happened to them, how they are connected, etc. So many questions! Since the box of books the photo was in came from Lexington, Kentucky, it's possible the people in the photo are from that area.

The photo is mounted on an old, brittle piece of cardboard-ish backing. The backing has seen better days, but the photo itself is undamaged:

There is some writing in pencil on the back, but it's hard to decipher:

I'd love to be able to figure out where this came from! Any detectives with any ideas??

That water's never been to Wapping

2011-03-11T12:09:00.001-05:00

Archie Bunker is such a well-known American character, most people probably don't realize that he was based on a character from a British TV series. Till Death Us Do Part tells the story of Alf Garrett, his wife Else, daughter Rita and Rita's liberal layabout husband Mike. Alf is quick to express his opinions to everyone, blaming politicians (especially liberal ones) for the problems in the country, and expressing his disdain for people who are unlike him in skin color or national origin. Most people in the three episodes I saw seem to stand and listen to his rants in a somewhat shocked manner, without attempting to argue or set him straight.

He does have frequent ideological arguments with his son-in-law Mike (played by Antony Booth, Cherie Blair's father), who seems to spend most of his time lying on the couch with a book. In the episodes I saw, there was never any mention of Mike working. Alf's long suffering wife Else also argues with him, but Alf is (to say the least) stringent in his opinions.

In one of the episodes, Alf and Else enjoy a holiday at the seaside in Bournemouth. Looks relaxing, doesn't it?

Since this series was filmed in the early 1970s, most of the references to politicians and political situations are unfamiliar to me. Still, it wouldn't matter who was in charge. I get the feeling that Alf would have plenty to say, no matter who was running the country.

One thing that is very shocking to modern viewers is the near constant smoking by Else. She is often seen with a smoldering cigarette, ash dangling, as she holds her infant grandson. That's something you wouldn't see in a modern sitcom!

All in all, the series in enjoyable (in brief doses) for the over-the-top antics of Alf. Still, a lot of drunken yelling goes a long way, so I wouldn't recommend watching many of these episodes in a row!

Archie and Edith are probably looking pretty out of date by today's standards, too!

Final verdict for Till Death Us Do Part: Three Gherkins, for being an interesting look at a landmark show in TV history

Sweden's best hope is out

2011-02-11T13:58:00.000-05:00

Once again, it looks like Sweden can already kiss its chances goodbye in the Eurovision Song Contest. They've already eliminated the best song in the running, Oh My God by Le Kid. If the catchy song doesn't hook you, surely the dancing licorice allsorts will:

But no, I'm sure when the winning song has been chosen, I'll once again shake my head and ask, "Does anyone in Sweden ever WATCH the program to see the sort of songs that actually end up winning?"

Why do they do this to me every year? Oh well, there's always 2012 . . .

UK and Northern Ireland folks, vote & enter to win an iPad!

2011-02-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

Win an iPad with Classic FM’s Hall of Fame 2011

Have your say in the definitive poll of classical music tastes. Tell us which composers have inspired you this year and you could win an Apple iPad or three runner-up prizes of shopping vouchers worth £100 each.

Will Vaughan Williams’ Lark Ascending top the poll for a fifth year? Or might it even be Mozart who had no less than a staggering 20 works in last year’s poll? Or will it be Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 which topped the Ultimate Hall of Fame in January?

So if your choice is a Beethoven, Brahms or Busoni then let us know. Let the battle commence!

All you need to do is visit http://www.classicfmhalloffame.co.uk/ to vote for your top three pieces of classical music.

Simply type the details of the piece of music or composer you'd like to vote for in the box and select from the list of thousands of pieces. If your favourite isn't listed just follow the instructions to type it in manually.

Listen as we reveal this year’s brand new Top 300, in association with NS&I, across the Easter weekend from 22-25 April 2011.

Online voting closes at 23:59 on Friday 11 February 2011. The Competition is open to residents of the UK and Northern Ireland aged 18 or over only.

Need a few suggestions to jog your memory? Why don't you browse our recent Ultimate Hall Of Fame chart?

Classic FM broadcasts across the UK on 100 – 102 FM, digital radio, digital TV and online at classicfm.com

Merlin Complete Second Season DVD Winner!

2011-02-03T09:31:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered to win the Merlin Complete Second Season DVD from BBC. The winner, chosen by random.org, was:

Jon Trouten

The winner has been notified. Thanks again to all who entered, and watch for more giveaways in the future!

Adorable little princes (and princesses!)

2011-02-03T09:27:00.000-05:00

Conor Grennan portrays himself as something of a slacker in the book Little Princes. After graduating from college and working in Europe for a while, he decides to spend a year traveling around the world. Nearing the end of his trip, he imagines the wonderful bragging rights he'll gain if he spends a few months volunteering with orphans in Nepal. He plays out scenes in his head in which rapt audiences of friends and family are regaled with stories of his selflessness and generosity of spirit. In other words, he had no idea what the project would involve.

In 2004 he arrives at the Little Princes orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal to spend 2 months volunteering. At the time, there was a civil war going on in the country between forces loyal to the king and Maoist rebels. This made travel and other situations in the country unpredictable and dangerous.

Conor soon realizes that he is out of his depth with the children. He has no experience in dealing with small people, and no idea of how to pass the time. There were 18 children there when he arrived. The children were very friendly, running out to jump on him as he walked up the path to the building. He soon grew accustomed to their exuberance and was even able to tell them apart after a while!

Conor leaves the country to continue his travels after his 2 months are up, but by that time he is interested in returning to visit the children again. While doing his second tour of duty at the orphanage, he makes a horrifying discovery: most of the children aren't orphans. When the war broke out, child traffickers moved in to rural areas and offered to take the children to schools in the city where they would be safe and receive an education. Many impoverished parents sold what few possessions they had to send their children into safety. Little did they realize that the traffickers often abandoned the children, and that they would most likely never see their children again. The children at the Little Princes home are taken care of and go to school, but Conor and his fellow volunteers soon discover 7 additional children who have been abandoned in the capital. They are living in extreme poverty after having been dumped with a poor woman who cannot support them. Conor frantically calls other Western child welfare agencies who are operating in the capital, and is finally able to find a place for all 7 children. He visits the children and tells them that someone will be coming soon to take them to a safe place where they will live with other children and attend school.

At this time, Conor returns to the United States and intends to get on with his life. Not long after his return, he receives an email from the lady who was to pick up the 7 children: they have disappeared. The child trafficker who abandoned them has had word that people are interested in them, so he removes the children again. Conor feels an overwhelming sense of guilt because he'd promised the children that someone would be coming to take them away to a safe place, and instead they were taken by a very dangerous person.

Once again Conor returns to Nepal, this time with the main focus of his trip being to find the missing 7 children. While there, he also vows to visit the home region of the Little Princes children and find out how many of the parents are still alive. The rest of the book is taken up with his efforts to locate the parents, find the missing children, and, eventually, to start his own children's home.

The book is very heart-warming. It's very interesting to read about a country that is fairly unknown to most people. I had no idea that such horrible things were happening to the children in that country. There is an interesting article from 2007 about Conor's journey in The University of Virginia Magazine. He has also started an organization, Ne xt Generation Nepal, which attempts to reunite the trafficked children with their parents.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of the book from Harper Collins and was very moved by the story. The book won't be released until February, but I hope everyone will look for it then.

Final Verdict for Little Princes: Four Gherkins, for being an enlightening and thought-provoking look at a major problem in a remote country

Merlin The Complete Second Season DVD Giveaway!

2011-01-24T09:57:00.002-05:00

The characters we loved in the recent series Merlin are back with all new adventures and thanks to BBC, I have one copy of the Season 2 DVD to giveaway!

Merlin is back with even more magic, adventure and romance as the young wizard struggles to protect Prince Arthur in the perilous world of Camelot. While battling deadly assassins, mystical monsters and the most powerful sorcerers Camelot has ever seen, Merlin must work harder than ever to conceal his unique abilities, as King Uther redoubles his war against magic. And Merlin isn’t the only one whose destiny calls—Lady Morgana , Uther’s ward, discovers dangerous secrets she dare not reveal; Lancelot returns, changing everything for both Gwen and Arthur; and King Uther fall in love, little knowing that the charming Lady Catrina is secretly a hideous troll. And as Arthur continues on his path from arrogant prince to the noble and just King Arthur of legend, we see the return of the one prophesised to kill him—the mysterious druid boy, Mordred. Featuring exciting new villains, white-knuckle stunt sequences, and spectacular CGI monsters, Merlin season two is more thrilling than ever.

The 5-disc set includes over 12 hours of programming plus 3 ½ hours of bonus content including Making of Special, audio commentaries, photo gallery, and more!

To whet your whistle for the new series, check out this clip:

Available on DVD: January 18th
Official Site URL: http://www.bbcamericashop.com/

To enter, please leave a comment naming your favorite mini-series. That's it!

Be sure to include your email address in your comment if it's not visible in your Blogger profile (or if you don't have a Blogger profile). US entries only, due to shipping restrictions. Contest ends Feb. 2, so hurry! I'll choose the winner by random.org and the winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email, or I'll have to choose another winner. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

Disclaimer: BBC is providing the prize for this giveaway. I received no compensation for holding the contest.

When will busy Agatha slow down?

2011-01-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

Oh Agatha! Everyone's favorite short-tempered private detective is back again in M.C. Beaton's latest Agatha Raisin novel Busy Body. As usual, the bodies pile up along with Agatha's man-troubles.

In this adventure, the lives of the villagers in Odley Cruesis have been disrupted by an overly enthusiastic Health and Safety Board officer, John Sunday. He has put a stop to nearly everything (from putting up Christmas decorations to the selling of homemade craft items) due to "safety concerns." He's managed to offend just about everyone, so when he turns up murdered (outside a gathering of most of the villagers), there's no shortage of suspects.

Agatha is brought into the case when one of the suspects, Miriam Courtney, hires her to find the real killer. Things go from bad to worse when Ms. Courtney is murdered, too. As usual, it's up to Agatha to sort out the truth, while dodging threats to her own safety and engaging in various romantic entanglements. All of her friends are back, too, including her assistant Toni, her friend policeman Bill Wong, former employee Roy Silver, sometime lover Sir Charles Fraith, and patient confidant Mrs. Bloxby.

I do love reading about Agatha's adventures, but I must say there were several things that were odd in this book. ** Possible Spoiler Alert Ahead ** Such as the insistence that "identical twins" could be of different genders and be indistinguishable when cross-dressing. Huh? I guess that's a new wrinkle, but it doesn't seem to be at all possible. There are also people who are attacked for "knowing too much" who know and do much less than Agatha herself. Someone close to her also asks for a job, an idea she dismisses immediately, but then a bit later she's advertising for a new assistant. Hmm . . .

All in all, though, with a bit of the old suspension of disbelief, this book is a welcome visit to Agatha and her old friends.

Final Verdict for Busy Body: Three Gherkins, for some plot holes, but a generally enjoyable visit to Carsley

The best-dressed cow in town

2011-01-20T11:02:00.001-05:00

Finally, finally, I got around to watching Cranford. This delightful mini-series is based on the novels of 19th century writer Elizabeth Gaskell. The mini-series was filmed in 2007 and shown on Masterpiece Theater in 2009-2010.

In the small village of Cranford, times are changing. The railroad is getting nearer and wants to expand into Cranford itself. Most of the residents are against the very idea, not only because the work of building the railroad will spoil their beautiful rustic way of life, but also because, well, just what sort of people might the railroad bring? You never can be too careful, you know, and we don't want any of that outside riff-raff invading our town!

I've been working on the railroad

Leading the anti-railroad charge is Miss Deborah Jenkyns. Strong-willed (she brooks no arguments) Miss Deborah lives with her sister Miss Matty in the middle of town. Their friends are mostly other spinsters of a certain age, who love nothing better than a good gossip. Imelda Staunton steals the show as the busybody Miss Pole, forever nearly injuring herself as she rushes around to all her friends with the latest morsel of overheard news.

On the edge of town is the stately home owned by Lady Ludlow. She has only one child living, the spoiled and overindulged Septimus, who is currently residing in Rome "for his health." Septimus seems to have no contact with his mother, other than to write asking for more money. Even though the estate is not bringing in enough to cover expenses, Lady Ludlow refuses to take no for an answer when her son asks for ever increasing amounts of cash. Her estate manager, Mr. Carter (the delightful Philip Glenister playing nice for a change!) attempts to reason with her, to no avail. The railroad is desperate to have some of Lady Ludow's land, and her cash flow problem makes the situation even more precarious.

There are plenty of side stories, including the Jenkyns sisters' maid's secret romance with the town carpenter, a young doctor's romance with a local girl that is nearly undone by frequent misunderstandings, and a cow in pajamas after an unfortunate encounter with a lime pit. There is also a poor family whose young son is mostly responsible for the upkeep of his family, with much help from the kindly Mr. Carter.

The cast is outstanding, including Judi Dench, Julia Sawalha, Julia McKenzie, Francesca Annis, and plenty of other familiar faces for fans of British TV! The scenery is beautiful and the costumes are lovely.

Unfortunately, the sequel, 2009's Return to Cranford, was a bit of a letdown. Most of the familiar characters were back, but the story lines were silly and contrived. True fans will want to catch the second series, just to return to familiar characters and places, but really, you'd be better off to stop after the first!

Final Verdict for Cranford: Four Gherkins, for being a delightful period drama with plenty of comedy

Royal Wedding Fans Apply Here!

2011-01-12T11:06:00.000-05:00

Here's a great opportunity for those of us who are anxiously awaiting the upcoming royal wedding. I received an email looking for applicants to appear in an upcoming TV show by a major US production company and cable network. Here is the information:

CASTING ROYAL WEDDING FANS FOR TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Can you name William and Kate’s favorite London nightclub?

Do you run a blog that reports every detail of the royal wedding planning?

Did you grow up with a Princess Diana-obsessed mother?

Do you dream of marrying into the royal family?

A major American cable network is currently seeking the country's most obsessed royal wedding fans. We're looking for outrageous, outgoing characters who can't get enough Wills and Kate! Candidates must be American and willing to travel. To apply, please email royalweddingcasting@gmail.com and a producer will send you an application.

Good luck! This sounds like a great opportunity to get "up close and personal" with the Royal Wedding festivities!

Overcoming difficult relationships with food

2011-01-10T14:19:00.000-05:00

The book Hope, Help & Healing for Eating Disorders was written by a certified eating disorder specialist, Dr. Gregory L. Jantz. His work with sufferers of eating disorders and "disordered eating" form the basis of the book. He describes disordered eating" as someone who may not suffer from a traditional eating disorder, but one whose life is nevertheless controlled by thoughts of food (when to eat, what to eat, how much to eat, how to avoid the effects of what was eaten, etc.). The approach of the book is to look at the whole person when attempting to resolve problems people might have in their relationships with food. Each chapter takes an issue and then looks at it from emotional, intellectual, physical, relational and spiritual aspects.

An interesting part of the book is the "Food for Thought" section which comes near the end of each chapter. These sections consist of exercises that the reader can complete in a journal. One interesting exercise had the outline for the reader to write his or her own obituary. Jantz points out that eating disorders may actually lead to death, and therefore it is important to think about what would you would want to be said about you after your death. A bit shocking, perhaps, but relevant!

Dr. Jantz realizes that there is something in the past that has caused the person to have an unhealthy relationship with food. He discusses many aspects (including examples) of things such as family patterns, repressed anger, abuse and so on that are common in the backgrounds of so many people who suffer from eating problems. He also includes sections on physically recovering from the disorders, implementing forgiveness, mapping progress, and allowing others to help.

The book ends with an interesting Q & A section about eating disorders, as well as related books and Internet sites that would be useful for further exploration of the topic.

Overall, I found the book to be a useful overview of all aspects of eating disorders: examples, possible causes, physical implications, and strategies for recovery. If a sufferer were really and truly motivated to examine his or her situation and do the difficult and painful work of honest self-evaluation, I believe this book could be extremely helpful in the recovery process.

Read Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Power based life advice

2011-01-08T12:52:00.002-05:00

In his book The Power Based Life, author Mike Flynt looks at various personal attributes and how they can be harnessed in order to strengthen the body, mind and spirit. Flynt was a college football player who lost his scholarship and was kicked off the team before his senior year due to his frequent fights. He had always regretted not playing his senior year, so at the age of 59 he went back and played his final year of football. In the years in between, he’d worked a variety of jobs before discovering that he could make a career out of something he loved: strength training and weight-lifting. The book is divided into chapters such as Visualization, Belief, Adversity and Compassion. Each chapter uses examples from both the sports world, his own personal experiences, and the Bible in order to reinforce points. While the book is positive and can be encouraging, I didn’t find it innovative or especially motivating. Perhaps I wasn’t the target audience, not being especially tied to the athletic world, , although it might resonate with young athletes. This book was a so-so addition to the crowded self-help market that didn’t bring anything new to the table.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers for this review

There's a reason you don't fit in

2010-12-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

Vampires are all the rage these days. In the novel The Radleys, author Matt Haig takes a look at a family of vampires living today in northern England. Father Peter is a doctor, while Helen, the mother, is an artist who doesn't work outside the home. The two teenaged children, Rowan and Clara, have been raised without knowing they are vampires. They are pale, regarded by their classmates as strange, and constantly ill. Peter and Helen have determined to live as "abstainers" -- vampires who attempt to overcome their craving for blood by following the advice in The Abstainer's Handbook.

Things would have probably gone on like this for the foreseeable future, except for an unfortunate incident involving Clara. One evening she is attending an outside party with Eve, a new girl at school, when she begins to feel ill. Clara starts walking home, but one of the drunken boys follows her and refuses to leave her alone, even after she throws up on his shoes. He becomes more violent, and, without really knowing what she is doing, Clara transforms into her vampire self and kills him. She is understandably confused about what has happened, so she calls her parents in a panic. They arrive and her father is able to fly the body out to sea to get rid of it. Then the parents are in the awkward position of having to explain to their children that they are vampires.

While in a panic over the situation, Peter makes a call to his estranged brother Will. Will is a very active vampire, killing anyone who attracts his attention. His negative influence is one reason why Peter and Helen have chosen to distance themselves from him. He shows up and parks his somewhat distinctive van outside the Radley's respectable suburban house.

With the taste of blood, Clara has transformed into a beautiful, calm and confident girl. Rowan becomes very interested in the possibility that he might also feel better if he indulged in blood also. Uncle Will is, of course, all for the children to become their true vampire selves. Some members of the police force are aware of the activities of the vampires in their communities, but they have a truce with the Sheridan Society, a vampire association which attempts to keep the more rogue vampires in check.

Unfortunately, Clara's victim washes up on a beach and is quickly identified as being the victim of a vampire. The police are sniffing around, and there is a great deal of tension between Uncle Will and the rest of his family. Can the Radleys continue to live among regular society, or will they be punished for their vampire activities?

The book is interesting in that the author has created a vampire society which has its own rules. Crosses don't bother vampires in this book, but they do become violently ill if they accidentally ingest garlic. They can inherit their vampire charistics, or they can be "converted" by a practicing vampire. Many famous people throughout history were vampires, including Lord Byron and Jimi Hendrix. Most chapters begin with some instructions for vampires from The Abstainer's Handbook.

The book is a rather pleasant addition to modern vampire literature. The chapters are short and the book moves quickly.

Final Verdict for The Radleys: Three Gherkins, for being an interesting, if somewhat predictable vampire tale

Gritty but gorgeous!

2010-12-28T09:08:00.002-05:00

Walking is a popular pastime in England, and I wonder how many people stop to think about what is UNDER their feet? That is the question that the book Granite and Grit: A Walker's Guide to the Geology of British Mountains attempts to answer.

The book begins with the author, Ronald Turnbull, discussing how he became interested in the geology of Britain through various school trips and visits to a holiday cottage. The next section of the book concerns the history of Britain. How did it come to reach its current shape and composition?

After giving a brief overview of how Britain came to be, the author then gives an in-depth discussion of 17 types of stone that can be found in the country. An interesting feature of the book is that the author describes walks that the reader may want to follow, and what sort of rocks and other features (algae, fossils, etc.) can be found along the route.

The book is written in a very engaging and conversational style. The author puts a lot of his own experiences into the text, which helps to make it very relevant to the casual reader. At the end of the book is a glossary of terms, which is very helpful! The book has many, many large and colorful illustrations of not only various geologic features, but also of lovely landscapes.

All in all, I found this to be a gorgeous, very informative book about what lies UNDER a beautiful country.

Granite and Grit will be released in mid-January and is now available for pre-order through Amazon.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Granite and Grit from the publisher

Final Verdict for Granite and Grit: Four Gherkins, for being a very thorough introduction to an unusual subject

Business sense from the past

2010-12-23T10:54:00.000-05:00

It seems that almost every day there are new business books which come out discussing "new" and "revolutionary" techniques which guarantee success or improved leadership skills. Sometimes, we can learn more from looking to the past than in trying to invent new skills.

The author Stuart Finlay, while reading the memoirs of Winston Churchill, became struck by the personal and professional qualities Churchill employed in order to help him successfully lead his country through the dark days of WWII and emerge victorious. The book What Churchill Would Do is a fascinating look at how Churchill's skills can be applied in today's workplace.

The book is a mix of an examination of Churchill's writings and action during and following the war years, and the author's personal experiences in the modern corporate culture. Each chapter examines a trait that Churchill exhibited, followed by a discussion of the historical actions that exhibit this trait. For example, in the chapter titled "Disarmingly Ruthless," Finlay shows how Churchill could be ruthless but compassionate. To illustrate this trait, the author discusses Churchill's actions during the blockade of French ships at Oran in North Africa. The British were concerned that French ships would fall into the hands of the Germans, so Churchill gave the French naval commander several options, including handing over the ships to the British, destroying them, or sailing them to a conflict-free area of the world. The French naval commander refused all these conditions and attempted to flee a British blockade. There was a battle with a large loss of life on the French side. Churchill had attempted to avoid the loss of life, but he had to show a ruthless streak to send a message that he would follow through with consequences if provoked.

Finlay then shows that this same trait of ruthlessness can be harnessed successfully in the business world, if, as Churchill displayed, it is tempered with fairness and compassion. He shows how at some jobs he's had, ruthless bosses who display only the negative side of the trait, have workers who are fearful and do not work for the good of the company -- but rather not to make any mistakes that might cause the boss to turn his or her negativity on them. On the other hand, bosses who display a ruthless streak in business matters while at the same time showing understanding and support for their employees have workers who are willing to work hard for the greater good of the company. I know which sort of boss I'd rather be . . . and work for!

The book has 21 chapters which demonstrate the traits that made Churchill so successful. The last chapter of the book is the text of Churchill's "victory speech" from May, 1945, in which he discusses his strategies during the war and the hardships that he and the country have overcome, while not dismissing the dangers that were still present at the time.

This book combines the best of two genres: history and business. Times may change, but the personal traits which make people successful can be applied at any time. Today's business leaders would do well to take note of What Churchill Would Do -- and follow suit!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of What Churchill Would Do from the author.

Final Verdict for What Churchill Would Do: Four Gherkins, for being a fascinating book filled with personal examples of how following a great leader can make you a better leader

Actions speak louder than words

2010-12-22T14:25:00.003-05:00

We all wish we could do more to help solve the many problems in the world. Many of us, especially at this time of year, try to help out by giving donations to charitible causes. In the book Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski, a young man feels compelled to act on his desire to really understand the problem of homelessness in America. As he stated, "We were created to be and to do, not merely to discuss. The hypocrisy of my life troubled me." He made the decision to go onto the streets and live as a homeless person, both to experience homelessness, and to discover how churches are responding to the needs of the homeless.

At the time of his decision, Yankoski was a Christian college student. Needless to say, his family and friends were somewhat shocked and dismayed at his decision. He began slowly, volunteering at a homeless shelter and even gathering a group of advisors who helped him plan his journey. Before he left, he was joined on his mission by another young man, Sam Purvis. They both wanted to learn more about the problem, and felt that two men travelling together would have safety in numbers.

They set out to experience homelessness in 6 cities: Denver, Washington, D.C., Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix and San Diego. They found differences in the homeless populations in each city. In Washington, DC, for example, they found that most of the homeless people they encountered were African American veterans in their 50s. In Portland, most of the homeless were young people in their teens and 20s. And in San Francisco, they were dismayed at the racial hatred that played out frequently among the various groups. Mike and Sam took their guitars with them, and tried to earn money by panhandling. This went better in some places than in others, but they were often able to make enough money for at least one meal per day.

They encountered a few people who helped them along the way, but for the most part, they found that to be homeless was to be invisible. Whether through fear or some other reason, they found it was rare that anyone would even make eye contact with them. The most shocking thing they discovered was that many churches were not only not helping the homeless, but were actively avoiding them. They found churches that were padlocked when "church business" wasn't being held, and were told to leave several churches where they had come to either attend services or perhaps find a meal. In one memorable instance, Mike and Sam slept in the doorway of a church to be there first thing in the morning when the doors opened. They were awakened by singing -- every member of the church had entered for services through a side door, in order to avoid the two "vagrants" at the front door!

Through all of this, Mike and Sam knew that at the end of their journey, they had warm beds, clean clothes and hot meals waiting for them. They constantly wondered and worried about the people who had been living for years in the existance that was nearly unbearable for them to endure.

At the end of the book, Mike gives many suggestions for people who might want to get more involved in working with the homeless. He encourages everyone to step outside of their comfort zones and truly live the life that God intended. I found the story to be very touching and encouraging. It is wonderful to see someone who really puts his faith into action.

You can download an Under the Overpass action plan for Christmas here.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of Under the Overpass from WaterBrook Multnomah for posting my honest opinion

A creepy English castle, what could go wrong?

2010-12-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

Creepy English castles are always a great setting for a story, so I was excited to read The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. While the events covered in the novel move back and forth in time between the 1940s and the 1990s, the creepy house, Milderhurst Castle, is featured prominently throughout.

The story concerns modern (well, 1992) woman Edie, who works for a small bookshop and has just broken up with her boyfriend and become homeless in the process. She is staying with her kindly boss and trying to figure out how to break the news to her parents. While visiting her parents one day, her mother receives a letter that had been sent in the 1940s, but for some reason was only just now delivered. The sight of the handwriting on the letter has a profound effect on Edie's mother, and she eventually tells a story that she had not mentioned before. During WWII, she was evacuated from London and sent to live in the countryside. She ended up staying at Milderhurst Castle, home to writer Raymond Blythe and his 3 unmarried daughters. She states that after she returned home, she had never been back to visit the castle nor the Blythe sisters, but the long-lost letter was from one of the sisters, Juniper.

Edie becomes very interested in Milderhurst Castle, both because of her mother's association with it, and the fact that it had been the home of Raymond Blythe, the author of one of her favorite books. The book The True History of the Mud Man (Blythe's best-known work) is mentioned as a beloved children's classic, although everything mentioned about the book seems to indicate that it would be quite dark and scary, not the sort of thing that would appeal to children at all.

Edie eventually visits the castle and meets the now elderly Blythe sisters, who still live there. The two oldest sisters, Persephone and Seraphina, are twins (although nothing alike) and the youngest sister, Juniper, suffers from some sort of mental disorder that causes her to wander around the castle, lost and ghostlike, mumbling incoherently. I know this is supposed to be creepy and Gothic and all, but really could we have had some more believable names?

So anyway, the story begins to alternate between Edie in the present, who has been tapped to write a biography of Raymond Blythe (and therefore has access to the castle, his papers, and the sisters) and the 1940s, when events happened which caused Juniper to go all loopy. The big mystery is what happened to Juniper's fiance. She was kept virtually as a prisoner in the castle by her father, who felt that her "talent" as a writer would be wasted if she were to marry and have children. She escapes, however, and travels to London where she meets Thomas Cavill, a young teacher (the teacher of Edie's mother, the war refugee, in fact) and they fall in love. They decide to marry, and Juniper decides to introduce her strange family to Thomas. On the night she and Thomas go to the castle for the introductions, Thomas disappears, along with Juniper's sanity. Oh, whatever could have happened???

Well, by the time the mysteries of the novel have been revealed (what happened to Thomas and what was in the long delayed letter), the reader is really ready for some big, earth-shaking, mind-blowing, wildly unexpected revelations. The build-up to the ending is so agonizingly slow that you think, "It must be worth waiting for." Therefore, it's a huge disappointment when the ending just sort of fizzles out. Nothing that is revealed is all that shocking or even interesting. There is a huge feeling of let-down when you realize you've slogged through nearly 700 pages (in my Advanced Reader's Copy) for . . . well, not much. Very depressing.

The book had the elements to be really good, but it leaves the reader flat. As I mentioned, I didn't read the final edition of the novel, so I can only hope it has been pared down somewhat. Not much of interest was revealed, but it sure took a long time to get there.

Final Verdict for The Distant Hours: Two Gherkins, for some creepy potential, but an ultimately disappointing story

If he had a brain cell, it'd be lonely

2010-12-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

As an avid reader of mystery stories, I love anything featuring private detectives. Most mystery series on TV seem to focus on policemen and women as they attempt to solve crimes. I was therefore excited to discover the series Vincent, which features Ray Winstone as a former cop turned private investigator. The series I watched was from 2005 and contained 4 episodes. There was a season 2, so I'd be interested to see it as well if it's ever released in the US.

We drop in on Vincent just as his personal life is going down the drain. His long-time girlfriend Cathy has moved in with another man (a surprisingly mild-mannered Phillip Glenister) and is pressuring him to sell their jointly-owned flat. Vincent still has a thing for Cathy and tries to convince her to come back to him, but she's having none of it.

Vincent has an office with 4 assistants who perform various duties. In the four stories presented in the first series, the team investigates a cheating girlfriend (with tragic consequences), a young man's death in a nightclub, an autistic young man who might have killed a woman, and a cocaine distribution ring. While the stories are interesting, there are quite a few events that make the series not quite as believable as it should be. In the episode where the team is investigating the young man's death in a club, Vincent and his co-workers are threatened by a menacing, powerful crime boss, whose son is suspected of the crime. By the end of the episode, the crime boss has inexplicably decided to confide in Vincent (rather than follow through with trying to kill him, which he has been doing non-stop up to this point). In the final episode, Vincent gets a bit to close to a beautiful, jet-setting cocaine dealer, and after knowing each other a few days, she apparently decides to give up a life of crime to be with Vincent. And let's not forget the fact that the not-exactly-svelte, generally rumpled, aging Vincent is inexplicably irresistible to beautiful women (even if they are sometimes annoyed by his habit of having to answer phone calls and rush off after exchanging two sentences with them). There are also story lines which are developed, but never resolved. In one case, Vincent's young assistant is sent to follow a teen aged boy who is getting into trouble and suspected of doing drugs. The tape of the son's activities is shown to his father, who is upset, but that's the end of that story. What happened as a result of the father seeing the tape? We never find out.

I did mostly enjoy the series, even if I found the story lines to be a bit far-fetched. Still, it was interesting to see the gadgets that the team employed in their investigations, and the relationships between the members of the team. Small bits and pieces were dropped from time to time about Vincent's employees (the two female assistants have children/former partner problems), so it would be interesting to see if these events came into play later in the series.
Final Verdict for Vincent: Three Gherkins, for a generally enjoyable look at a modern private detective

Prize Pack Winner!

2010-12-02T14:43:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my prize pack giveaway from Warner Bros. online. The lucky winner was:

Jinxy and Me!!

A big congrats and I hope you really enjoy the prize. With all those great gifts, who wouldn't?

Thanks again to Bridget at Warner Bros. online for providing the great prizes.

Keep watching for future giveaways!

Holiday Sweepstakes!

2010-11-22T09:56:00.001-05:00

This holiday season WIN $1,000 (two $500 Gift Cards, one for you and one for a friend) redeemable toward purchases at BBCAmericaShop.com with the annual Holiday Sweepstakes: http://on.fb.me/BBC-Sweeps2010.

Imagine all the great gifts you could buy for the holidays with that! Not to mention all the gifts you could get for yourself if Santa somehow managed to misplace your wish list!

The BBCAmerica Shop has some great gift ideas (sugar plums!) as well as an amazing assortment of DVDs, books, mugs, T-shirts and those all important "Mind the Gap" items!

Click on the link above to go to enter the Holiday Sweepstakes! The Sweepstakes is only open to US residents and ends on Dec. 19.

While you're waiting to find out if you've won (fingers crossed!), you can enter my own giveaway for a prize pack containing DVD copies of Are You Being Served, Being Human, Last Of the Summer Wine, as well as the book The Guide To the Queen's English, a Big Ben Ornament and Lemon Soap. To enter, just leave a comment stating the #1 item on your Christmas wish list (I'm angling for the complete All Creatures Great and Small myself!). That's it! Due to mailing restrictions, the giveaway is only open to US residents. Submit your comment by Dec. 1, and remember to leave your email address in the comment (or in your Blogger profile, if you have one!) so that I can contact you.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Disclaimer: I was provided with the prize pack to give away by Bridget at Warner Bros. online.

A haul for the holidays!

2010-11-12T10:54:00.003-05:00

Although I do tend to veer wildly off topic on frequent occasions, one of the main purposes of my blog is for me to rave/complain/recommend some of the books that thrill or disappoint me throughout the year. I just adore books, and can't stop myself from always being on the lookout for new ones, even though it would probably take several lifetimes to get through all the ones I already have in my teetering TBR pile . . .

So I was thrilled to find out about the Happy Haul-idays contest being run right now by Chronicle Books. Bloggers can post a list of Chronicle Books that they'd love to win, up to $500. One lucky winner will win their entire list! In addition, if you comment on a blog post about the contest, you're entered to win, too! Rules and details about the contest (including a list of other bloggers who are participating = more chances to win!) can be found here.

Here's my list of books that I'm crossing my fingers will find their way under my tree this Christmas:

City Walks: London 50 Adventures on Foot By Christina Henry de Tessan
London A Field Guide for the Curious By Fred Dust and IDEO
The Smart Traveler's Passport by Erik Torkells
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel By Joshua Piven
Paris Out of Hand A Wayward Guide by Karen Elizabeth Gordon
52 Great Travel Tips By Lynn Gordon
Secret Lives of Great Filmmakers What Your Teachers Never Told You About the World's Greatest Directors By Robert Schnakenberg
Secret Lives of Great Composers What Your Teachers Never Told You About the World's Musical Masters By Elizabeth Lunday
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Deluxe Heirloom Edition The Classic Regency Romance—Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem! By Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls By Steve Hockensmith
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters By Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters
The Crimes of Dr. Watson An Interactive Sherlock Holmes Mystery By John H. Watson, M.D.
The Sherlock Holmes Handbook The Methods and Mysteries of the World's Greatest Detective By Ransom Riggs
Two Cats and the Woman They Own or Lessons I Learned from My Cats By Patti Davis
Ernie A Photographer's Memoir By Tony Mendoza
Craft, Inc. Turn Your Creative Hobby Into a Business By Meg Mateo Ilasco
Lotta Jansdotter's Handmade Living A Fresh Take on Scandinavian Style By Lotta Jansdotter
Handmade Hellos Fresh Greeting Card Projects from First-Rate Crafters By Eunice Moyle and Sabrina Moyle
The Guerilla Art Kit By Keri Smith
The Irish Pub Cookbook By Margaret M. Johnson
Super-Charged Smoothies More Than 60 Recipes for Energizing Smoothies By Mary Corpening Barber and Sara Corpening Whiteford
Field Guide to Produce How to Identify, Select, and Prepare Virtually Every Fruit and Vegetable at the Market By Aliza Green
Field Guide to Candy How to Identify and Make Virtually Every Candy Imaginable By Anita Chu
Tea & Crumpets Recipes and Rituals from Tearooms & Cafés By Margaret M. Johnson
The Book of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks A Celebration of Creative Punctuation By Bethany Keeley
Stuff Every Woman Should Know By Alanna Kalb
Pictorial Webster's A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities By John M. Carrera
Change the World for Ten Bucks Small Actions X Lots of People = Big Change By We Are What We Do

Wow! That was fun! I was really surprised at how many books I was able to add to my list. Of course, plenty of worthy candidates had to be left off. {sigh} Isn't that always the way?

Good luck to all!

Patriotic Daily Readings

2010-11-08T15:41:00.000-05:00

The American Patriot’s Almanac is a wonderful book for everyone who is interested in American history and politics. The book is arranged by date, with every day featuring an engaging description of an event that occurred on that date, as well as an “American History Parade” at the bottom of the page listing other years when significant things happened. The preface, introduction and “12 Great Reasons to Love a Great Country,” which lead off the book, are perhaps a bit too “rah-rah” and over-the-top in their flag-waving nationalism, but the rest of the book is a treasure-trove of interesting facts about people and events that have shaped the United States. There are also many useful historical documents included, such as the texts of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Gettysburg Address. At the end of the book can be found State Flags, Facts and Symbols, including such obscure state symbols as state rocks, reptiles, folk dances and insects listed for each of the 50 states. While most of this information can be found online, it is helpful to have it all together and easily accessible in one handsome volume. Great fun to browse through and learn something new!

Disclaimer: I received a copy the The American Patriot's Almanac from Thomas Nelson Publisher's Booksneeze.com

Folksy, downhome visits

2010-11-05T10:30:00.000-04:00

For over 20 years, Charles Kuralt took his motor homes (he eventually wore out 6 of them!) along the back roads of America to visit people and places that were off the beaten path. In On the Road, Set 3, we get to follow along as Kuralt discovers what's "just around the bend." On the Road became a regular feature on CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite and won an Emmy and three Peabody awards.

This DVD set features 3 volumes of stories. There are a total of 14 episodes, each containing 3-5 segments. A bonus feature includes a 55 minute interview with Kuralt's longtime cameraman, Isadore Bleckman. Each disk also contains some Road Updates on the people and stories featured, including websites where available. Since most of the episodes appear to be from the 1970s, it's good to find out what happened to some of the more memorable characters. There is also a biography of Kuralt.

I really enjoyed the story of Moses Walters, an elderly mailman in Magoffin County, Kentucky who delivered the mail by mule for over 50 years. I was most intrigued by this, because my mother is actually a mail carrier in that same county today. I'm sure there are some roads where she wishes she could trade in her car for a mule! I was happy to find out that Moses Walters achieved fame late in life by virtue of being profiled by Charles Kuralt (although I'm sure he never sought the recognition!).

That is the beauty of Kuralt's work. He looked for ordinary people doing ordinary things, and allowed the rest of America to become acquainted with them, too. In the days before the Internet gave everyone his or her own website, video channel and podcast, Kuralt showcased what made people special and unique. I'm glad I was able to see the varied personalities and locations in this wonderful set of stories.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of On the Road, Set 3 from Acorn Media

Final Verdict for On the Road, Set 3: Four Gherkins, for being an interesting collection of the extraordinary stories of ordinary people

Bodies turning up in Wales

2010-11-04T15:37:00.004-04:00

Last year when I visited Cardiff, I had the quaint idea that it might be interesting to study the Welsh language. A bit more research into that idea showed me the folly of my ways, but I remain fascinated with the country and the language.

That's why I was thrilled to receive a review copy of A Mind to Kill, Series 2 from Acorn Media. This is the second season of a Welsh detective drama that ran for 5 seasons, between 1994 and 2002. The action concerns the sufficiently grizzled yet oddly attractive (he has no problem finding female companionship)Welsh DCI Noel Bain, played by Philip Madoc. Twelve years before the action in this series takes place, his wife was hit and killed by a drunk driver. This event has left a massive scar on Bain's life, as will be shown toward the end of this season.

Dr. Edwards looking fondly upon a corpse

Bain has a twenty-something daughter, Hannah, who is off at college but still tends to show up and need rescuing from time to time! There's also Bain's on-again/off-again relationship with the pathologist Professor Margaret Edwards. Margaret is something of a puzzle. I haven't seen the first series yet (although I'm planning to rectify this situation soon!) so I'm not entirely sure what her story is. She and Bain flirt and spend time together, yet he is also open to overtures from other unattached ladies. Margaret also seems to enjoy her job a little too much, generally looking all too pleased as she examines the burned or drowned or the otherwise unpleasantly dispatched corpses of the recently departed!

Rounding out the cast of characters are two of Bain's officers, DS Alison Griffiths and DS Carwyn Phillips. They appear genuinely fond of their somewhat cranky and unpredictable boss, although they do smirk behind his back at his relationship with Professor Edwards.

The series takes place in Wales, which provides a magnificent backdrop to the horrible crimes that Bain is forced to investigate. There is some forest shown, but for the most part, the hills are quite barren and stark. Maybe that's why the people who live there get up to such mischief!

One fascinating aspect of the series is that it was filmed in both English and Welsh versions. This DVD has the English version (of course), but you can watch 7 minutes of one of the episodes in the Welsh language. It's a very beautiful and mysterious sounding language! Even when the actors are speaking English, their lilting Welsh accents are very pleasant.

The 7 episodes on this DVD deal with horrible murders and hostile members of the public. In one case, two brothers are found tied together at the bottom of a lake, and Bain must work out if it really was a murder-suicide (as it appeared to be at first), or a double murder. In another case, Bain goes undercover at a seaside resort town to look for a killer, but things are complicated when his daughter Hannah shows up. Another episode deals with a housing estate where residents don't take kindly to the police coming in to investigate the discovery of a burned body in a car. I found the most unusual episode to be the last one, in which Bain decides to track down the man who was responsible for the death of his wife 12 years previously.

All in all, this was a very interesting entry into the detective fiction genre. I really enjoyed the stark scenery and the (for me) unusual accents. I hope I can find the rest of this series to find out what happened to Bain and crew in future seasons!

Disclaimer: I was sent a review copy of A Mind to Kill by Acorn Media

Final Verdict for A Mind to Kill: Four Gherkins, for being a gripping and atmospheric tale of crime in the Welsh countryside

Benny Hill Winner!

2010-11-04T12:45:00.000-04:00

Congrats to the winner of the Benny Hill Megaset giveaway:

dave

Thanks to all who entered, and I hope to have more giveaways to entice you in the future!

Alien Autopsy winners!

2010-11-01T12:09:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the three winners of the DVD of Alien Autopsy:

Nicole C.

susan

leandrew

There's still time to enter my giveaway of the DVD set of Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset. That contest ends on Nov. 3, so hurry!

Where's Stig Winner!

2010-10-29T12:15:00.000-04:00

Random.org kindly chose the winner of the Where's Stig book provided by Warner Bros., and the lucky winner was:

Homemaker

Yay! Congrats to Homemaker, and I hope she doesn't get so caught up with trying to find The Stig that she neglects her other duties at home!

If you didn't win, there's still time to enter a few more giveaways here on my site:

Alien Autopsy (Hurry! ends 10/29)

Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset (ends 11/3)

Congratulations to all the recent winners, and thanks again to Warner Bros. for providing such an interesting prize this time around!

Being Human winners!

2010-10-28T15:11:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway for DVDs of Being Human: Season Two. The winners were:

Jessica

Chrystal

ky2here

kitkat234

devotus

kanderspina

Maja

MAT

david boyington

jsc123

Congrats to the winners, and I hope you enjoy watching!

If you didn't win this time, there's still a chance to enter my other drawings:

Where's Stig? (Hurry! ends 10/28)

Alien Autopsy (ends 10/29)

Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset (ends 11/3)

The Queen winner!

2010-10-27T14:12:00.000-04:00

I had the drawing for the DVD of The Queen, and the winner was:

clc408

Congratulations! If you didn't win this time, be sure and enter one of my other giveaways:

Being Human ( Hurry! ends 10/27)

Where's Stig? (ends 10/28)

Alien Autopsy (ends 10/29)

Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset (ends 11/3)

Thanks again to Acorn Media for providing the copy of The Queen!

Midsomer winner!

2010-10-22T11:15:00.000-04:00

I'd like to thank everyone for the comments on my Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files giveaway. I used random.org to choose the winner, who was:

wcc-whitechocolatecherries

Thanks again to all who entered. If you didn't win this time, why not enter one of my other current giveaways?

The Queen (hurry, ends 10/22!)

Being Human (ends 10/27)

Where's Stig? (ends 10/28)

Alien Autopsy (ends 10/29)

Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset (ends 11/3)

Ain't British TV great? :)

Benny Hill Giveaway!

2010-10-21T10:45:00.000-04:00

The hilarious Benny Hill is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedians of the 20th century. His groundbreaking TV series ran for many seasons, most popularly produced by Thames Television from 1969-1989. A&E Home Video is now releasing the complete 20 year run of the series. The set contains 58 episodes on 18 DVDs and will be sure to delight his many fans!

BENNY HILL: THE COMPLETE MEGASET contains Benny’s raucous 20-year reign over the television-sketch variety genre, from the naughty early years to the debut of the nubile Hills Angels, through the final episodes. Witness the birth of crazy caricatures like Fred Scuttle, Chow Mein, and Pierre de Terre. Laugh out loud as Benny and his bevy of buxom babes flaunt their racy rowdiness and tongue-in-cheek satire in characteristically outrageous sketches like The Little Dimpton Street Party and The Crook Report.

BONUS FEATURES:

Bonus Documentary: The Worlds Favorite Clown;
The Benny Hill Cheeky Challenge Trivia Quiz # 1-6
Liner Notes DVD Insert Booklets
Benny Hill: Laughter and Controversy Episode of A&Es Award-Winning Series BIOGRAPHY®
Eddie in August
Featurettes: I Was A Hills Angel, Hills Angels: Off the Record and Hills Angels: In Conversation

Thanks to Jelena at A&E Home Video, I have one copy of Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset to give away! To enter, just leave a comment naming your favorite comedian. Be sure your email address is in your comment or visible in your profile (if you have a blog) so that I can contact you. Open to the US only. Contest ends 11/3. Good luck!

Disclaimer: A&E Home Video provided the DVD set for this giveaway

Anglophile dream come true!!

2010-10-20T11:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, that's right. It's me and my new pal, Elton John! I was incredibly lucky and won the Godiva Chocolate Valentine's Day Game sweepstakes. The prize was an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, along with the opportunity to attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation's Enduring Vision benefit. I also got to present Sir Elton a check, on behalf of Godiva, in the amount of $200,000 for the foundation:

Me, my husband Hans, Elton John, Jim Goldman (CEO of Godiva) and Gigi Goldman

As if that weren't exciting enough, I also got to choose a charity to receive a $20,000 donation in my name. I was thrilled to be able to choose the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah as the recipient!

So I've had an exciting few days. Not only did Sir Elton perform numerous songs, but plenty of delicious Godiva chocolate was on offer, so it was a perfect evening!

Thanks so much to the Godiva company for providing such a wonderful experience!!

Alien Autopsy giveaway!

2010-10-16T08:30:00.001-04:00

A film about aliens starring Ant & Dec? What could be more perfect?

Alien Autopsy is a humorous film that looks at the incidents surrounding the release of the infamous "alien autopsy" video from 1995. That year, mysterious top-secret black-and-white footage, supposedly filmed during the 1947 Roswell incident, was broadcast around the world. It showed the autopsy of an alien lifeform. The men responsible for the discovery of the footage, buddies Ray (Declan Donnelly) and Gary (Ant McPartlin), are thrown into intense media scrutiny. But the guys have an even bigger secret. And it's not very pretty. Based on true events, Alien Autopsy is the alternately bizarre and frequently quirky story of the two unlikely lads from London who become icons in UFOlogy with a discovery that stunned millions who've long searched for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Bill Pullman and Harry Dean Stanton also star. Watch a clip from the film.

Special features on the DVD include:

The Making of Ant and Dec's Alien Autopsy
Additional Scenes
Outtakes
Alternate Opening

Thanks to Bridget at Warner Bros., I have 3 copies of the DVD to giveaway! To enter, just leave a comment stating whether or not you've ever seen a UFO. Be sure to include your email address in your comment or you profile (if you have a blog) so that I can contact you. Open to the US and Canada. Ends on Oct. 29.

Disclaimer: I was sent 3 copies of the DVD to giveaway by Warner Bros.

Where's Stig?

2010-10-15T08:30:00.005-04:00

Fans of the BBC series Top Gear will enjoy this new companion book. Where's Stig is a picture book based on the popular "Where's Waldo" books. The white-clad, white-helmeted The Stig manages to lose himself in 12 different Top Gear inspired locations, including the Studio, Tokyo, the Deep South and the English Channel. In addition to trying to find The Stig, there is a list of other things that you can look for in each location, including his colleagues Jeremy, Richard and James. At the end of the book there is also a checklist of things to look for specific to each scene.

The illustrations are very colorful and humorous, and contain jokes and other elements that fans of the show will surely recognize. While this is a picture book, it is aimed at adults. There's nothing really offensive contained, but it is not a children's book. If you are a fan of the series, you will find a lot to engage you in this book. Even if you've never seen Top Gear, you'll enjoy the illustrations and the challenge of trying to find all the elements!

Thanks to Warner Bros., I have one copy of the book Where's Stig to giveaway! To enter, please leave a comment stating your favorite location to "lose yourself." Please be sure your email address is in your comment or in your profile (if you have a blog) so I'll have a way to contact you. Open to the US and Canada. Contest ends on Oct. 28.

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of Where's Stig to give away by Warner Bros.

Being Human giveaway!

2010-10-14T10:33:00.000-04:00

While most of us take the attributes of "being human" for granted, the three main characters of the BBC series of the same name don't have that luxury. Being Human is the story of George (a werewolf), Mitchell (a vampire) and Annie (a ghost) attempting to get by in the modern world.

In Being Human Season Two, the vampire leader Herrick has been defeated, but there are new enemies and dangers facing our heroes at every turn. Mitchell (Aiden Turner) has a new girlfriend, but he's unable to enjoy the relationship due to the disarrayed vampire community. George (Russel Tovey) also has a new girlfriend, but a new twist in his werewolf life disrupts their relationship as well. Annie (Lenora Crichlow) has a difficult time trying to figure out how to cross over to the other side, and if that is really a good idea. To top it off, all three of them are now being threatened by CenSSA, headed by the mysterious Professor Jaggat and the ruthless Kemp. CenSSA is a religious organization determined to destroy and convert all supernatural beings. And here you probably thought being a supernatural entity was all superpowers, wearing black, and looking mysterious!

The undead aren't exactly tidy, are they?

Check out this creepy preview clip from the DVD.

In addition, there are bonus features on the DVD including:

o Behind the Scenes Featurettes:

o Blood Bursting

o The Caves

o Unleashing the Beast

o The Swinging Sixties

o Behind the Makeup

o Making the New Werewolf

o Train Carnage

o Easter Eggs

Thanks to Bridget at Warner Bros., I have *TEN* copies of Being Human Season Two to giveaway! To enter, just leave a comment stating whether (given the chance), you'd prefer to live as a ghost, a vampire or a were wolf. Be sure and leave your email address in your comment so I'll have a way to contact you. Open to the U.S. and Canada. Contest ends on Oct. 27.

Check out the official site: BBCAmericaShop.com

Disclaimer: Warner Bros. provided the 10 DVDs for giveaway.

Top Gear winners!

2010-10-13T08:56:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the winners of my Top Gear Season 13 DVD giveaway. I chose the winners using random.org, and they were:

Mark N.

Hotsnotty2

The winners have been contacted and the DVDs sent out. If you didn't win this time, why not enter my other current giveways for The Queen or Midsomer Murders DVDs?

Watch this space for more upcoming giveaways!

Duty before self

2010-10-13T08:30:00.001-04:00

Queen Elizabeth II is certainly a popular subject in film and on TV lately. I wonder what she herself thinks about all the dramatizations of her life? I was very interested to receive a copy of the recent Channel 4 miniseries, The Queen to learn even more about the life of this long-serving monarch.

I was expecting this to be just a dramatization of various points in the life of the queen, but I was pleasantly surprised by the format of this program. Five different actresses portray the queen at different ages, and important events are dramatized. The introduction to each episode states "The drama is imagined." I think they imagined a bit too far in one episode, as the queen is shown doing the washing up while having a cosy chat with the current prime minister. Somehow, I don't think "we" do washing up ourselves! Aside from the re-created scenes, there are also interviews with people who were involved with the events, archival footage, and a narrator tying all the events together. So the series isn't a straightforward dramatic telling of the story as I had imagined.

The five episodes in the series look to especially stressful or difficult times in the queen's life.

Episode 1: Sisters This episode looks at the early relationship of Queen Elizabeth and her younger sister Princess Margaret just after the death of their father, King George VI. After being crowned queen, Elizabeth was surrounded by the mostly elderly male advisers who had worked with her father. Margaret fell in love with a divorced man, and the queen faced her first crisis in attempting to persuade her sister to avoid this potentially explosive match.

Episode 2: Us and Them Events from 1969 to 1975 are covered. In those years, the UK was in economic upheaval. It was beset by strikes, IRA bombings and demands to abolish the monarchy. Amidst all this, the queen had to ask for more money from the government to continue to run her increasingly expensive household. The country is briefly united for the wedding of Princess Anne, but even this turns out badly when she becomes the target of a botched kidnapping.

Episode 3: The Rivals This turned out to be my favorite episode, mainly because I hadn't realized (or had forgotten) that there was such tension between the queen and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Their icy relationship was mainly caused by Mrs. Thatcher's refusal to impose sanctions on South Africa, which the queen feared would cause the break-up of the Commonwealth.

Episode 4: The Enemy Within The queen's famous annus horribilis (1992) is played out in all its gory glory, from the divorces of her children to the fire at Windsor Castle to tax problems. Can't a queen get a break?

Episode 5: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Camilla? The queen must struggle with her son, Prince Charles, over his decision to marry his mistress Camilla Parker Bowles. Princess Diana had given television interviews blaming Camilla for the break-up of her marriage, so the queen was not especially eager to give her blessing to the union.

I was surprised to see the Queen portrayed as forever reading tabloid newspapers and taking note of opinion polls on the future of the monarchy. I suppose when your livelihood depends upon "the affection of the public" that it pays to keep up with their moods!

I really enjoyed this series. It provided a fascinating look behind one scenes at the life of one of the most famous women in the world. She never had a choice about whether or not to be queen, and she certainly had to endure more than her fair share of controversies and tragedies. She has still managed to maintain an air of dignity and grace that probably few of us could match!

Thanks to Alyssa at Acorn Media, I have a copy of The Queen to give away! To enter, just leave a comment naming your favorite member (past or present) of the British royal family. Be sure that your email is in your comment or in your profile (if you have a blog) so I can contact you. Open only to the U.S. Ends Oct. 22, so get to commentin'! The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email, or I will have to choose another winner.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a review copy and a giveaway copy of the DVD.

Pop a ciggy in her hand, and you've got Dot Cotton!

Final Verdict for The Queen: Four Gherkins, for being a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at a royal life

Midsomer giveaway!!

2010-10-07T14:45:00.000-04:00

If you want a real taste of beautiful scenery, village life, chocolate-box-pretty towns, and the occasional dead body, I've got just the thing for you! Acorn Media is releasing a collection of recent DVDs in the Midsomer Murders Village Case Files.

If you've never visited the lovely English county of Midsomer, you're in for a treat! Nestled in the middle of England (the real filming takes place in villages in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire), the events portrayed in Midsomer Murders take place in towns with charming names like Midsomer Mallow, Midsomer Wellow, Badgers Drift and Morton Fendle. It's up to the dogged DCI Tom Barnaby (played by John Nettles) and his assistants DS Dan Scott and DC Ben Jones to clear up the many cases of murder that inexplicably happen in such gorgeous surroundings.

In every episode we are also treated to scenes from DCI Barnaby's home life, including his long-suffering wife Joyce (very sweet, but decidedly lacking in culinary skills) and daughter Cully (an aspiring actress). The play between Barnaby and his underlings is also interesting to watch. Somehow the assistants are always the ones directed to chase and tackle fleeing suspects or to overnight in barns and lofts to await developments.

The episodes generally start with the victim meeting his untimely end, and Barnaby and sidekick rushing to the scene. There will likely be more bodies piled up before the evildoer is finally tracked down! Many of the mysteries are set in specialized worlds. The people involved (victims and suspects) might be involved in the local horse racing scene, or be collectors of rare orchids or all have psychic powers. Everyone is a suspect (well, until he or she turns up dead, that is!) and it's fun to see if I can suss out the murderer before Barnaby does (generally not!).

The series began in 1997 in the UK and since then more than 65 feature-length episodes have aired. The series is still in production, although John Nettles is set to retire from the show this year). The Village Case Files set contains 4 sets of DVDs containing 16 mysteries. The scenery is lovely. There are plenty of thatched cottages, flowers, stately churches and village fetes to whet the appetite for a quick visit to this lovely area of England! Bonus features include text interviews with John Nettles and Jason Hughes, fascinating facts, The Killings of Badger's Drift connection, production notes, Caroline Graham (who wrote the novels that inspired the series) biography and cast filmographies.

Thanks to Alyssa at Acorn Media, I have one copy of Midsomer Murders Village Case Files to giveaway! To enter, just leave a comment stating a mystery you would recommend. It can be a book or a TV series or even a film. Make sure your email address is in your comment or profile (if you have a blog) so that I can contact you. Open only to the U.S. Enter by Oct. 20.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy and a giveaway copy of Midsomer Murders Village Case Files from Acorn Media

Final Verdict for Midsomer Murders Village Case Files: Five Gherkins, for being a cosy look at an idyllic British countryside . . . if you can overlook all the dead bodies!

Riddle me this

2010-10-05T15:11:00.001-04:00

As a rabid Londonphile, I'm always thrilled to find a book which centers on weird or unknown facts about the city. I was very exited to receive a copy of the beautiful little book London Quiz by Travis Elborough and Nick Rennison to browse through.

This compact little book is just packed with interesting stuff! It is arranged into 20 chapters, each covering an area of London life or history. Some of the chapters are:

Crime and Punishment
Royal London
London Transport
London Firsts
The London Dead
Literary London
London Buildings

and so on. There are also 20 questions in each chapter (I'm sensing a pattern here!) followed by three possible answers. Here is an example of a question from the Shops & Shopping chapter:

In 1907, how did William Whiteley, founder of the famous Whiteleys department store in Bayswater, die?
a. He tripped and fell from a window on the third floor of his store
b. He was shot dead in his office by a man claiming to be his illegitimate son
c. He contracted fatal food poisoning after eating shellfish in the restaurant of his store

To make cheating more difficult (it's as if this book were made for me!) the answers are to be found in the back of the book. The table of contents gives both the page number of each chapter, as well as the page number where the answers can be found. The questions and possible answers are all fascinating and lead to a desire to find out even more about some of these people and events. (Poor Mr. Whiteley was done in by his alleged illegitimate son, by the way.)

The book is also beautifully illustrated by Kerry Lee. There is an illustration in the style of the map on the cover at the start of every chapter. The illustrations alone are very colorful and entertaining!

This book is a delight from cover to cover. In the introduction to the book, the authors state that the questions are not easy, but are rather intended to "provide entry points into the fascinating history of the city." I can say that they have succeeded admirably with that goal!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of London Quiz from The Little Bookroom

Final verdict for London Quiz: Five Gherkins, for being a delightful look at some unusual aspects of a wonderful city

Who is benefitting?

2010-10-04T11:51:00.001-04:00

This book manages to be scary, depressing and heartbreaking all at the same time. Ankarlo visited the US-Mexico border area to get a clearer impression of the people who are involved in all illegal immigration: migrants, coyotes who traffic them, border enforcement agents, residents, and “volunteer” border guards. He notes that the majority of people who enter the US illegally come here for a better life, but most of them end up in poverty. The journey itself to get into the country is fraught with horrors. Not only must migrants pay (generally multiple people) to “help” transport them, they also risk kidnapping by armed extortion gangs (aided by corrupt Mexican police). Female immigrants are nearly always raped on the journey, and this is a known and accepted part of the price that is paid. Ankarlo also discovers a growing movement in the Latino community to take back the American southwest states, which were “illegally” taken from Mexico. He also looks at who is benefitting from this situation. He fears a growing tide of division in the U.S. if the situation isn’t addressed. At the end of the book, he offers over 30 possible solutions to this difficult and divisive issue.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Get it in gear with Top Gear!

2010-09-29T14:44:00.001-04:00

Top Gear: Complete Season 13

The BBC series Top Gear has just released its 13th season of automotive fun on DVD. Hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May enter a terrifying French ice race in low cost rear-wheel-drive coupés and James travels to America to spend a day with stunt-driving legend Ken Block. The boys are no less ambitious this season as Richard and James challenge the logistical might of Britain’s mail service by racing the new Porsche Panamera versus a stamped envelope across the British Isles and Richard stages the world’s first-ever race between the 1000 horsepower Bugatti Veyron, McLaren F1 and Lamborghini Murcielago SV in Abu Dhabi.

Elsewhere, Jeremy and James attempt to understand what makes a great Volkswagen advertisement – and then try to film one of their own. Plus, Jeremy gets chased by the British Army in some of its latest and most deadly toys and in a long-awaited television-first, the mysterious Stig takes off his helmet to reveal just who he really is.

The ongoing hit “Star in the Reasonably Priced Car” segment continues with Jay Leno, Olympic Gold Medal Sprinter Usain Bolt, Sienna Miller, AC/DC Singer Brian Johnson and more getting behind the wheel on the test track.

To whet your appetite, here is a clip of the three hosts engaging in one of their popular races: steam train vs. car vs. motorcycle. Which will reach the destination first?

TOP GEAR 13 BONUS FEATURES

• Stig POV
• Spitfire Magic
• Ken Block: Slow Motion
• Extended Brian Johnson Interview
• Extended Jenson Button Interview
• Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4-SV 200 mph Run in Abu Dhabi
• Train Race Sequence with JC

Top Gear Season 13 Blu-ray/DVD is available for purchase starting on Sept. 28.

**Win! Thanks to Bridget at Warner Bros. I have ~~one~~ TWO copies of Top Gear Season 13 to giveaway! To enter, just leave a comment stating what car you would like to test drive if given a chance. Make sure your email address is either in your Blogger profile (if you have one) or in your message so that I can contact you if you win! The contest closes on Oct. 8, 2010. Open to the US and Canada. Good luck!**

The hosts are so engaging and the features are so over the top and unexpected that even non "gear heads" will get a kick out of watching! While you're waiting to find out if you're the winner, be sure to check out new episodes of Top Gear on BBCAmerica.

Get the inside scoop on WB movie & DVD releases! http://www.wbreelnews.com/

Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of the DVD to giveaway.

Don't flaunt your ignorance

2010-09-24T08:30:00.000-04:00

As a huge fan of Stephen Fry, I was excited to discover the QI TV series. I was also thrilled to discover that the creators of the program have also published a number of books related to the show. I was excited to read QI: Book of General Ignorance: The Noticeably Stouter Edition. The book begins with a humorous forward by Mr. Fry himself, a completely useless attempt at humor by Alan Davies (in the "look at me, aren't I clever?" vein he employs in the show) and a forward by the author John Lloyd.
The book format consists of a question, followed by an in-depth explanation of the answer. Many of the questions could be considered "trick" questions, as one of the purposes of the authors is to question widely accepted, but incorrect information. An example:

How many wives did Henry VIII have? Most Americans would probably have to go look that one up, but the generally accepted answer is six (two beheaded, two divorced, one died and one survived). The answer to the question is: it varies according to source. Since Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves was annulled, it never really happened, so that one doesn't count. The Pope refused to recognize Henry's second marriage, because the Pope stated that Henry was still married to his first wife at the time. And so on.

There are questions about everything from animals (What's the most dangerous animal that ever lived?), to science (What's in an atom?) and history (Who was Britain's first Prime Minister?) and many other topics. Whether you like trivia or just need some interesting facts to astound your friends (the country of Bhutan banned tobacco sales in 2004), this is the book for you!

Final Verdict for QI: Book of General Ignorance: Four Gerkins, for being an enlightening and entertaining look at some facts you only think you know

I'm in no hurry . . .

2010-09-23T12:47:00.004-04:00

Turning up by the Duck Pond during rush hour yesterday, I (along with dozens of other motorists) was annoyed to find my journey delayed by a herd of geese who decided to cross the street vvveeeerrrry slowly. They seemed to enjoy tormenting people. I'd never seen anything like it. Lead goose would slowly lift one leg, hesitate for a while, then slowly put it back down. The others were worse. There were about 6-8 other geese on the right-hand side of the street who kept darting into the road, then back to the side, then hesitantly standing by the side of the street looking as if they were going to step out in front of cars any second. Finally one of the frustrated motorists got out and shooed across the geese who were, at that moment, in the street. I was expecting them to have just used this as a ploy to draw us out of our cars for a good savaging, but they docilely scurried on across. I hope all drivers are as patient as these were!

Off the rails

2010-09-23T12:29:00.003-04:00

We’ve all seen how the economy has been negatively impacted recently by the poor (some would say greedy) actions of a seemingly small group of people.These business people who were personally making millions every year had no hesitation in risking the livelihoods, pensions and futures of their employees or even strangers. While these people rose to prominence using their business skills and personal drives, at the end of the day many high-flying CEOs have taken hard falls in recent months. In the book Derailed, Tim Irwin profiles some of these fallen business leaders in an attempt to determine what went wrong, and what skills they were lacking that ultimately led to their downfalls. Many of the people profiled became blinded by their own power and influence and lost sight of the ultimate results of their actions. Irwin emphasizes the need for a strong background in morals, strength of character and integrity for people who obtain positions of leadership. While skills and profits are extremely useful, they cannot make up for the character flaws that have been exposed in fallen leaders recently. Irwin gives advice on how to strengthen these important traits in our own careers. Good advice!

I must be too young (for once)

2010-09-01T08:30:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend I watched the dramatization of the events surrounding the 1960s terrorist group the Red Army Faction (also known as the Baader-Meinhof Group) in the film The Baader Meinhof Complex. I had some vague impression that they had perhaps set off some bombs in Germany in the 1960s, but I had no idea of the extent of their activities. While their many atrocities were shown during the film, their motivations, goals and backgrounds were all left out. Since the film is German, I assume the director thought that the audience would be familiar with the events in the film. For someone who didn't grow up in that era or that country, it was all somewhat confusing.

The story starts with some student protests at universities in Germany in the late 1960s. Like most students at the time, they were upset with the events taking place in Viet Nam. Ulrike Meinhof was a journalist, somewhat older than the other members of the group. She was also married and had two children. She starts off as a somewhat fringe follower of the group, but makes a snap decision to go with the fleeing members after they break a prisoner out of jail. After that, she is part of the group.

It was difficult to follow who all the members of the group were, apart from the 3 main characters: Ulrike Meinhof, Andreas Baader and Gudrun Ensslin. There were always plenty of other people milling about, but none of them really stood out. What was never explained was why the group came to be known as the Baader Meinhof Group. Andreas Baader was extremely hostile and contemptuous toward everyone, but especially toward Ulrike Meinhof. It seems strange that their names are linked forevermore in that way. It's also difficult to understand how Meinhof became such a fanatical follower of the group that she was willing to have her children sent to a Palestinian orphanage and to never see them again.

The members of the group were forever spouting off about wanting to help oppressed people and ending imperialism. How they planned to do that through robbing banks and bombing department stores was never explained. They seemed to have no means of support (the bank robbing took place pretty far into the course of events), yet they were forever flying off to be trained in terrorism methods in places like Jordan. The "terrorists" came across as terribly rude, shallow and unaware. The German girls delighted in sunbathing in the nude in full view of their Arab hosts in Jordan. Baader thinks it's hilarious to pick pockets of innocent pedestrians, but he goes ballistic when someone steals his car. And so on.

The group eventually becomes involved in more and more extreme activities. In addition to their bombing and bank raiding activities, they were also implicated in the murders of the Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, a plane hijacking, murders, assassinations, and so on. What was really strange was that much of the German public at the time apparently supported the group and their anarchistic activities. When the main members of the group are captured and put on trial, their every utterance is met with cheers from the courtroom spectators. And I didn't get the impression that all the spectators were their fellow Red Army Faction members, either. There has been some speculation that the public support for the group stemmed from leftover feelings of guilt and mistrust for authority in the aftermath of World War II. Whatever the cause, it was very strange.

The trial sequences were also unusual. There never seemed to be any lawyers present or speaking for either the prosecution or the defendants. The courtroom scenes basically showed one of the four defendants railing about how their rights were being ignored and how the trial was a farce. The defendants also engaged in the very adult pursuit of calling the judges rude names. It might have been easier to feel sorry for the poor prisoners if it didn't seem as if they were receiving extremely favorable treatment in jail. They all had very nice and large cells, complete with color TVs, bookcases, typewriters and other amenities. They were all allowed to meet, apparently for most of the day together, and seemed to have adjacent cells (the men and the women all together on the same floor).

I could just never get what it was all about. Not why the group embarked on its murderous, destructive mission, nor what their defence was during the trials, nor what rights of their were supposedly being violated. None of it made any sense. The film seemed to end rather abruptly with the deaths (suicides?) of the four main characters. While they were in jail, the outside members of the group were committing more atrocities. Whatever happened to them? Nothing is mentioned. It's as if the group stopped with the leaders' deaths, but this was clearly not the case.

I enjoyed the film for showing the events surrounding the group, even if I don't really understand what was going on. Still, it's an interesting snapshot of a point in history that I'm too young to remember.

Final Verdict for The Baader Meinhof Complex: Two Gherkins, for being a vivid, if somewhat confusing, depiction of a turbulent time in German history

My ready wead

2010-08-30T12:15:00.020-04:00

I still remember my first exposure (if you will) to Russell Brand. I was vacationing in London and leafing through the complimentary copy of The Guardian newspaper while eating breakfast. Most of the articles had small journalist photos next to them. Sort of like this guy's (just for illustrative purposes). So anyway, I'm half asleep, buttering my toast and leafing through the newspaper when I turn the page, and the journalist's photo next to a column appears to be that of a pirate. As all of the other journalist photos were, well, somewhat bland, suddenly seeing a pirate fixing you with his steely glare was somewhat alarming. Of course, I had to read the accompanying column. I don't remember what it was about at all, but I do remember that it was hilarious. I knew I had to do some further research on this Russell Brand bloke when I got back to the US.

At this point, he was still doing a radio show, so I listened to some of the programs and found them to be quite funny -- once I got over the somewhat jarring (on first listen) Essex accent! Of course, I knew that he'd had quite the history with drug and sex addiction, so I was interested to read his account of his early years in My Booky Wook.

Let's just say that Russell likes to share. A bit too much. I would think that when writing our memoirs, most of us would want to paint ourselves in the most positive light, or leave out anything too embarrassing. Using that as a guideline, I'd hate to find out what was deemed "too outrageous" for this book!

Brand was born in the Essex town of Grays in 1975. His parents split up almost immediately, so he came from the requisite "dysfunctional family situation." His father was never in the picture much, and his mother had frequent bouts of cancer which required young Russell to be packed off to relatives. Eventually, his mother remarried, and, unsurprisingly, the step-father isn't too keen on Russell. There are boarding schools, borderline sexual abuse (not by the step-father), and random acts of cruelty from adults (this was by the step-father, among others). All of this added up to a young man who was cripplingly insecure (believe it or not) and generally unhappy. Luckily, in secondary school he participated in a play where he discovered his love of performing.

Between that first stage experience and his more recent success, however, there were many bumps along the road: multiple arrests (shoplifting and drugs), semi-homelessness, addiction, bouts self-harming, expulsions from stage schools, etc. All of these events are related in a way that seems to show that Brand has distanced himself from destructive behavior like that, while at the same time seeming to indicate that this behavior was perfectly normal and natural at the time. He does come across as extremely non-judgemental, to the point of continually being astounded that others take offense at his sometimes outrageous behavior.

He also relates his experiences with drugs, particularly heroin, as well as his downward spirals which led to separate stays in rehab facilities for drugs and sex-addiction. He had already achieved some success on television and as a stand-up performer before an agent forced him into rehab. It was interesting to me that it seemed as if everything "took" on the first try. For someone who had lived most of his life to that point as an addict, it seems amazing that Brand was able to beat his addictions fairly quickly. It seems as if his determination to succeed in his career was enough of a motivating factor for him to resist relapse.

The book is very funny in some parts and is clearly written in Brand's style. It is an enjoyable, if somewhat eye-opening, read!
Final Verdict for My Booky Wook: Three Gherkins, for being an engaging look at a unique performer