Diddly Squat: Pigs Might Fly by Jeremy Clarkson (Review)

Diddly Squat: Pigs Might Fly by Jeremy Clarkson

Blurb

Another year on the Diddly Squat Farm and Jeremy is still knee-deep in mud and endless challenges.

Welcome back to Clarkson’s Farm. Since taking the wheel three years ago Jeremy’s had his work cut out. And it’s now clear from hard-won experience that, when it comes to farming, there’s only one golden rule:

Whatever you hope will happen, won’t.

Enthusiastic schemes to diversify have met with stubborn opposition from the red trouser brigade, defeat at the hands of Council Planning department, and predictable derision from Kaleb – although, to be fair, even Lisa had doubts about Jeremy’s brilliant plan to build a business empire founded on rewilding and nettle soup. And only Cheerful Charlie is still smiling about the stifling amount of red tape that’s incoming . . . But he charges by the hour.

Then there are the animals: the sheep are gone; the cows have been joined by a rented bull called Break-Heart Maestro;. the pigs are making piglets; and the goats have turned out to be psychopaths.

But despite the naysayers and (sometimes self-inflicted) setbacks, Jeremy remains irrepressibly optimistic about life at Diddly Squat. Because It’s hard not to be when you get to harvest blackberries with a vacuum cleaner.

And, after all, it shouldn’t just be Break-heart Maestro who gets to enjoy a happy ending . . .

Review

I have loved all the Diddly Squat books so far so when I saw this one was out I put it on my wish list and my lovely husband bought it for me for Christmas. I read it almost immediately and basically read it in one sitting.

Again, this book has the same beautiful illustrations separating the chapters as the previous books and the book is in the same format as the previous books.

As much as I loved this book I did miss Lisa, Kaleb and Charlie. In ‘Diddly Squat: ’Til the Cows Come Home’ Lisa, Kaleb and Charlie featured a lot more which I really enjoyed so I missed them this time. Although the story of Lisa with the pigs was hilarious.

I liked this book because it is year three of Clarkson as a farmer and you can see he is getting into the swing of things. He is also still trying his hardest to highlight the plight of the poor farmers and what they have to go through to try and make a living.

There were some deeply poignant moments in this book which really showed a different side to Clarkson and a side we don’t often see on TV. I loved his story about Pooh Sticks and what that story means to him and what Winnie-the-Pooh means to him.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book but it was too short! When I reached the end I found myself wanting more so I hope the next one might be longer but I know it all depends on his newspaper column. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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About the author

Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born April 11, 1960) is an English broadcaster and writer who specialises in motoring.

He writes weekly columns for The Sunday Times and The Sun, but is better known for his role on the BBC television programme Top Gear.

From a career as a local journalist in the north of England, he rose to public prominence as a presenter of the original format of Top Gear in 1988. Since the mid-1990s Clarkson has become a recognised public personality, regularly appearing on British television presenting his own shows and appearing as a guest on other shows. As well as motoring, Clarkson has produced programmes and books on subjects such as history and engineering. From 1998 to 2000 he also hosted his own chat show, Clarkson.

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The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights by various authors (Review #57)

The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights by various authors

Blurb

The tradition of a haunted tale at Christmas has flourished across the centuries. These twelve stories, authored by some of today’s most loved and lauded writers of historical and gothic fiction, are all centred on Christmas or Advent, boldly and playfully re-imagining a beloved tradition for a modern audience. Taking you from a haunted Tuscan villa to a remote Scottish island with a dark secret, these stories are your ultimate companion for frosty nights.

Featuring new and original stories from Bridget Collins, Imogen Hermes Gowar, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Andrew Michael Hurley, Jess Kidd, Natasha Pulley, Elizabeth Macneal, Laura Purcell, Susan Stokes Chapman, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Stuart Turton, and Catriona Ward.

Review

I spotted this book by the checkout when I went to buy a pile of books from the bookshop and thought that looks intriguing. I’m so pleased I decided to buy it because once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down.

Some of these stories really creeped me out but there wasn’t one story that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. The one which really got to me was The Gargoyle by Bridget Collins, I will be honest I wasn’t keen on switching my lights off at night after reading this story. I was convinced I would see something moving in the moonlight or hear something moving. I did feel disappointed with this story because I felt like it finished just as it was getting interesting. I wanted to know more!

I find it far too hard to choose a favourite story from this book but I think the ones I enjoyed the most were Inferno by Laura Shepherd-Robinson, The Salt Miracles by Natasha Pulley and Widow’s Walk by Susan Stokes-Chapman. Widow’s Walk was predictable but very cleverly done, nothing was quite said out loud so it made your imagination run wild. The Salt Miracles was excellent and a really good story I would have loved more of, in fact I would happily have read a full book about this storyline.

Quite a few of these stories were along the lines of if you are bad you get punished which could be a little repetitive but because the stories were so varied I didn’t mind this at all. Some of these stories were new authors for me but I will definitely be exploring more of their work especially Natasha Pulley whose writing style I absolutely loved. Her use of description painted the scene perfectly and I loved her characters.

I really loved this book and as all the stories were set either in Advent or Christmas it was the perfect read for December. I think I will read The Haunting Season next year during spooky season. I give this book a big 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

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Classic Victorian and Edwardian Ghost Stories edited by Rex Collings (Review #56)

Classic Victorian and Edwardian Ghost Stories edited by Rex Collins

Blurb

This is a book to be read by a blazing fire on a winter’s night, with the curtains drawn close and the doors securely locked. The unquiet souls of the dead, both as fictional creations and as ‘real’ apparitions, roam the pages of this haunting new selection of ghost stories by Rex Collings.

Review

I chose this book as one of my October spooky reads but I must admit I didn’t read it until after Halloween. I always love a good Victorian ghost story so I was really excited to read this book. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.

I’m not entirely sure about the first few stories of this book because they didn’t really feature any ghosts and hardly felt like ghost stories to me. In fact I’m still trying to understand why The Story of Mary Ancel by Thackeray was even included in the book because it didn’t include a ghost and couldn’t even be considered as eerie in my opinion.

This book contains one of my all time favourite little ghost stories and that is The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde. I’ve read this short story many times but I was quite happy to read it again in this book. My other favourites were the stories by Charles Dickens who never disappoints. The Haunted Doll’s House by Montague Rhodes I found rather creepy and I’m not sure I will ever look at my doll’s house in the same way again. The Tapestried Chamber was also rather creepy and I’m not sure I ever want to sleep in a room with tapestries on the walls after reading this short story.

I really found this book to be quite a mixed bag of stories but all of them I either liked or thoroughly enjoyed. I’m not a huge fan of horror so this was the perfect book for me. Give me a good classic ghost story and I am happy and this book had loads. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and give it 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

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Hauntings by Neil Oliver (Review #55)

Hauntings: A Book of Ghosts and Where to Find Them Across 25 Eerie British Locations by Neil Oliver

Blurb

For longer than recorded history there have been tales of spirits and of places where our hackles rise and our skin turns cold.Bestselling historian Neil Oliver travels the British Isles on a deliciously spine-chilling tour that spans several centuries and explores more than 20 sites – castles, vicarages and towers, lonely shorelines and forgotten battlefields – to unpick their stories..Oliver invokes his family’s history alongside that of kings and queens past as he probes why our emotions and senses are heightened in certain locations where the separation between dimensions seems gossamer thin. Our landscape is riven with these places, creaking from the weight of the secrets they hold, the echoes of tragedy and dark deeds . From Inverness to Devon, Co Dublin to Norfolk, Hauntings casts an enjoyably eerie glow with stories that, told generation after generation, are inextricable from place – and considers why they matter.

Review

I was quite excited about this book but wow what a surprise I had when I read it. This sadly is my most disappointing book of the year and I’m quite surprised I actually finished it because quite frankly the man is an over opinionated bottom and that is the polite version.

My first problem with this book is the fact that it has very little ghosts in it. Each chapter briefly mentions a haunting and by briefly I mean maybe a paragraph or two, the rest of the chapter is history and Oliver’s opinions or about how he is grieving for his dad. The best chapter and most informative about the hauntings was the one on Glamis castle. I really enjoyed that chapter and it made me do further research into the castle and its hauntings.

The second problem I had was Oliver’s opinions that personally he should have kept to himself. His opinions on people who use antidepressants were definitely uncalled for and the fact he didn’t mention it just once but kept bringing it up was even worse. I really didn’t feel like it was his place to judge. I can understand how he was trying to explain certain feelings and possible sightings of ghosts by environment and the individual people but it was not a balanced argument and overly critical.

My final issue was the fact that Oliver clearly has some guilt regarding his father and is not grieving well so he used the book to help. When deciding to read a book about haunted places in the British Isles I was really not expecting to have this thrown at me every chapter and really didn’t see the link. Overall, I was not happy with this book and think it is wrongly titled, I give this book 2 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

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About the author

Neil Oliver is a Scottish archaeologist, historian, broadcaster and writer who has become widely known as the presenter of BBC television’s series A History of Scotland and Coast.

His first fiction novel, Master of Shadows, is published by Orion in September 2015.

He lives in Stirling with his wife and three children.

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The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths (Review #52)

The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths

Blurb

Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway uncovers the bones of a Victorian murderess while a baby snatcher threatens modern-day Norfolk in this exciting new entry in a beloved series.

Every year a ceremony is held in Norwich for the bodies in the paupers’ graves: the Service for the Outcast Dead. Ruth has a particular interest in this year’s proceedings. Her recent dig at Norwich Castle turned up the body of the notorious Mother Hook, who was hanged in 1867 for the murder of five children. Now Ruth is the reluctant star of the TV series Women Who Kill, working alongside the program’s alluring history expert, Professor Frank Barker.

DCI Harry Nelson is immersed in the case of three children found dead in their home. He is sure that the mother is responsible. Then another child is abducted and a kidnapper dubbed the Childminder claims responsibility. Are there two murderers afoot, or is the Childminder behind all the deaths? The team must race to find out-and the stakes couldn’t be any higher when another child goes missing.

Review

It was so good to be reading a Ruth Galloway book again. These books are definitely my comfort reads and during the busy month of December it was the perfect read for me.

Every book in this series I just think the books get better and better but one thing lets this book down for me and that was the lack of my favourite character, Cathbad. Yes he was there on the phone and then there in person about half way through the book but he just wasn’t there enough like he usually is. However, I did love Thing his dog appearing more in this book. I think Cathbad is wonderful, he is eccentric, kind, other worldly and above all an old soul who loves everyone. The book just didn’t feel complete without his presence and of course his purple cloak.

Ruth is her usual chaotic self in this book, trying to juggle work and be a good mom to Kate. Being a single mom is hard but Ruth manages so well and I think Griffiths portrays the struggle of a working single mom brilliantly with Ruth. I also loved seeing Kate’s character starting to appear in this book. She is no longer a baby but a toddler who is starting to know her own mind. I am also with Ruth, why can’t people call Kate by her name and not change it to another form of Kate.

There were some difficult storylines in this book but I thought the parallel of finding the remains of Mother Hook a woman dating from the Victorian times and the present day child abductor worked brilliantly. I also enjoyed Ruth’s involvement with both cases.

I really enjoyed this book and it nearly got a full 5 dragons but I missed Cathbad too much! This book gets a big 4 dragons out of 5.

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Purchase Links

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About the author

Elly Griffiths was born in London and began her career in publishing, she then turned to writing full time. In 2016 she won the CWA Dagger in the Library for her work. Griffiths lives in Brighton with her family.

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Under a Greek Sun by Mandy Baggot (Review #51)

Under a Greek Sun by Mandy Baggot

Blurb

Her job as a counsellor has been as taxing as it has been rewarding, and she can’t wait for some downtime on the Greek island of Corfu with best-friend, Gabby. But between Eve’s brother, Ben, unexpectedly joining and Gabby’s job at the animal rescue centre keeping her busy, Eve might have to start mucking in…

When Gianni arrives in the village of Episkepsi, it’s like a model has stepped straight off the pages of Vogue Italia… with an uptight personality to match. He may be super-sexy but there are obvious chips on those broad shoulders.

As Eve and Gianni get to know each other and both start to lean into the Greek customs and avrio mentality, an initial attraction starts to turn into something more. But with so much family drama in both their lives, neither of them were looking for a holiday romance…

Review

This is my first book by Mandy Baggot and will definitely not be my last. I read this book whilst on the island of sunny Kos and think this really helped set the atmosphere.

As with a lot of these type of books, some of the scenes and characters verge on the ridiculous but as I was reading this book on a relaxing holiday with plenty of cocktails I was happy to accept the ridiculous. I also thoroughly enjoyed Baggot’s beautiful descriptions of sunny Corfu. It really made me feel like I was there in Corfu but thankfully not experiencing the mosquitos!

Eve is the main character of this book and I will be honest at times I thought she was great and at times she drove me crazy. I understood that she had trauma in her life and struggled to trust but sometimes her reactions especially the main one to Gianni just made no sense. Eve really needs to get her life back on track but the past and worrying for others has held her back. During this book you slowly start to see her mindset change and her realisation she needs to move forward with her life take place.

Gianni is the other main character in this book and he also has his troubles. His troubles have only just recently hit him and they have turned his life upside down. He now finds himself in Corfu trying to find out the answers he desperately seeks.

My all time favourite parts of this book are the scenes in the animal shelter. The animals in this book all have interesting characters and they are all loved and well cared for by Gabby. Seeing Gabby’s relationship and love for the animals was a lovely bonus in the book and a nice break from the romantic scenes.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and it made a lovely read during my holiday. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

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About the author

Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and award-winning romance writer represented by Tanera Simons of The Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency.

Mandy is best-known for her laugh-out-loud romantic comedies featuring strong heroines, gorgeous heroes and always that happy-ever-after!

The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK’s Festival of Romance, her novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award in 2016. Mandy’s books have so far been translated into Bulgarian, Czech, German, Hungarian and Italian.

Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, wine, cheese, Netflix, country music and handbags. Also a singer, she has taken part in ITV1’s Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Most recently, Mandy took part in BBC1’s Ready Steady Cook with Greek celebrity chef, Akis Petretzikis.

Mandy is a member of the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband and two children.

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Sudeley Castle: Royalty, Romance and Renaissance by James Parry and Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe (Review #49)

Sudeley Castle: Royalty, Romance and Renaissance by James Parry and Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe

Blurb

Set in the beautiful Gloucestershire Cotswolds, Sudeley Castle exemplifies popular perceptions of the romantic English country house. The final resting place of King Henry VIII’s last wife, Katherine Parr, it is partly castellated and its centuries-old ruins are festooned with roses. This book, the first comprehensive publication about this remarkable castle, traces over 1,000 years of illustrious history from the time of King Aethelred the Unready through the castle’s Tudor heyday and its subsequent decline and fall, before its dramatic rescue during the second half of the 19th century by the Dent-Brocklehurst family, whose descendants still live there. Sudeley’s architectural heritage, art and gardens are all described and illustrated by historical material as well as stunning new photography.

Review

I went to visit Sudeley Castle during half term and absolutely loved it so I was very pleased to see they had a new book out.

The book is mainly the history of the castle right from before it was a castle to present day and it is interspersed with memories from Lady Ashcombe. The castle has a fascinating history and I love the Tudor connections. I also love how the book doesn’t hide the more grizzly history of the castle. The castle’s story during the Civil War is rather brutal.

The memories Lady Ashcombe shares are wonderful and really give an insight into the castle as a family home as well as a tourist attraction. I particularly like the stories of the pranks that Lady Ashcombe’s children pulled on the visitors when they were young.

The book isn’t long at only 160 pages and contains some wonderful pictures of the castle, maps from history and treasures from inside the castle as well as images of the people who have lived in the castle. It is a perfect coffee table book.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The history chosen to feature in the book is well thought out and well written and is perfectly paired with the relevant photos. I will definitely be revisiting this book as well as the castle. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

About the authors

James Parry

James Parry is a Norfolk-based writer and consultant. After training as a conservation officer with English Heritage, he joined the British Council, working in East Africa and the Middle East before returning to the UK to study for a Masters in Architecture. He was then appointed by the National Trust as its academic editor, and was responsible for developing a specialist art and architecture publishing programme. He now writes on art, heritage, natural history and conservation for a wide range of publications and takes a particular interest in the Islamic world.

Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe

Living in Sudeley Castle for over 50 years, making her the longest residing Chatelaine to date, Lady Ashcombe is responsible for opening Sudeley to the public in 1970 and continuing to ensure its success and intrigue to this day. Lady Ashcombe and her family are committed to the continued preservation of the castle, its treasures and the ongoing restoration and regeneration of the gardens, for future generations of visitors to enjoy.

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Cats in Medieval Manuscripts by Kathleen Walker-Meikle (Review #48)

Cats in Medieval Manuscripts by Kathleen Walker-Meikle

Blurb

Cats were illustrated in medieval manuscripts throughout the Middle Ages, often in exquisite detail and frequently accompanied by their natural prey, mice. Medieval cats were viewed as treasured pets, as fearsome mousers, as canny characters in fables, as associates of the Devil, and as magical creatures. Featuring an array of fascinating illustrations from the British Library’s rich medieval collection, Cats in Medieval Manuscripts includes anecdotes about cats—both real and imaginary—to provide a fascinating picture of the life of the cat and its relationship with humans during the Medieval period. A great gift for all cat-lovers.

Review

I have been after this book for so long ever since I read Dogs in Medieval Manuscripts a few years ago. However, I couldn’t seem to get a copy but my wonderful husband managed to find me a copy for my birthday.

Just like the dog version of this book I was not disappointed. Each two page spread in the book contains beautiful examples and fascinating facts. I couldn’t believe some of the facts about cats living or trying to survive in medieval times. Cats in Medieval times were not safe and life was definitely not easy for them unless they found a loving home and were kept safe.

I loved the variety of images in this book and the fact that you can just dip in and out of this book and not have to read it from cover to cover. You aren’t bombarded with information and the information you do get is told simply and succinctly.

This little book is a perfect gift for cat lovers and will also look fab on your coffee table. I give this book a big 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Kathleen Walker-Meikle completed her PhD at University College, London on late-medieval pet keeping. She researches and writes on medieval and early modern animals and medicine.

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The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Review #46)

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Blurb

They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis—neighbours call her the Witch of Oldhouse—and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.

When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.

But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina—and himself—that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins. The Beautiful Ones is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon.

Review

This book is easily my favourite read of the year so far. I could not put it down and loved every page. It just made me so happy!

This is my second Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel and it won’t be my last. The book is so beautifully written. This character driven historical romantic drama also has a telekinetic twist. It really had quite a Jane Austen feel for me which is probably another reason for my love of the book.

Nina is an unusual girl who loves beetles and insects and not the usual things that a high society girl of her age is considered. She also has something else which hampers her progress in the Grand Season and that is her telekinetic abilities. These abilities have led her to gain the nickname the Witch of Oldhouse by people in her local village and it is not a nice nickname. Nina is spending the season with her cousin and his wife and things are not going well. However, things begin to change when Nina meets Hector. Hector is like Nina and has powerful telekinetic abilities but he has spent his life showing them off whilst performing on stage whilst poor Nina has been trying to hide her abilities.

This book is full of old world traditions and opinions and these are most prominent in Valerie. I really didn’t like Valerie, she is cold and calculating and loves nobody but herself. She lives to make people suffer and because she is from an old family of a good name she believes she has the right to get her own way no matter what the consequences.

This book is atmospheric, entertaining and very engaging. It is packed full of glamour, love, expectations, hypocrisy of society and gender inequality. The book is beautifully written and has such fantastic characters that I really didn’t want to leave behind. I loved this book and give it 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu’s Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination.

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Goodby Mr Chips by James Hilton (Review #45)

Goodbye Mr Chips by James Hilton

Blurb

Mr Chipping, known fondly to his students as Mr Chips, is the beloved Latin master at a quiet boy’s school. For forty-three years he acts as the heart and the soul of his institution, proving that dedication, love and good sense of humour can make all the difference to generations of children.

The classic story of a quiet, unassuming man and the many lives he touches, Goodbye Mr Chips has sold over two million copies and has never been out of print.

Review

Oh what a beautiful little book!

I picked up this book whilst in Cheltenham and thought this will be a nice quick read. My husband has seen the film but I’ve never seen it so had no idea what the story would be like. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.

I could have easily read this book in one sitting but because of work and sleep I read it over two days. The story is focused on Mr Chipping, who is affectionately known as Mr Chips. Mr Chips is the Latin master at an all boys school but becomes so much more than just a teacher to everyone at the school.

This little book is all about a very quiet man who doesn’t seem to make a big impression on the world but who in his own small way touches so many lives in a big way. Mr Chips is a man that so many people treasure and remember and so many still want to meet.

This beautiful book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me ponder and so much more. For such a small book it certainly packs a punch and I must admit I would have loved it to be longer and sometimes more detailed. I would have loved to have learned more about certain times in Mr Chips’ life but sadly it was not to be and I was left to imagine instead.

I loved this book and will happily read it again and again. It gives you a perfect little snippet of England between the World Wars and the time before WWI. I happily give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

James Hilton (1900–1954) was a bestselling English novelist and Academy Award–winning screenwriter. After attending Cambridge University, Hilton worked as a journalist until the success of his novels Lost Horizon (1933) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1934) launched his career as a celebrated author. Hilton’s writing is known for its depiction of English life between the two world wars, its celebration of English character, and its honest portrayal of life in the early twentieth century.