Category Archives: READING

Can Bob Mortimer, be as funny at writing novels as he is on TV? You bet

Posted on January 17, 2025 by SCARFMAN

By releasing his recent bestselling novels, The Satsuma Complex and The Hotel Avocado, Bob Mortimer, has become a complete British national treasure. Those of you wondering if TV comic royalty Bob Mortimer, might not be able to master writing comedy … Continue reading →

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those people by Louise Candlish – a review. Neighbours from hell!

Posted on March 8, 2021 by SCARFMAN

New neighbours from hell might not be the most original of ideas for a whodunit, but in those people, author Louise Candlish has skilfully produced a right page turner that will leave you fully satisfied. The premise might not be … Continue reading →

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Mayflies – Andrew O’Hagan. Manchester, music, and male friendship that lasts forever! A book review

Posted on December 21, 2020 by SCARFMAN

Mayflies is a rather touching tale about the wonder of male friendship.  Not perfect, but not rubbish by any means.  If you are after a bit of 1980s Manchester and indie music nostalgia, then the first part of this book … Continue reading →

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A likeable, touching mid-life crisis! Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler. A book review.

Posted on November 29, 2020 by SCARFMAN

Male, forty-three going on forty-four, OCD sufferer, who likes to put the bins out for the neighbours and who hates radio phone-in shows.  No, this is not my profile from the Plenty of Fish dating website, but it could be. … Continue reading →

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FOREVER YOUNG : The Story of Adrian Doherty, Football’s Lost Genius! A review.

Posted on January 8, 2017 by SCARFMAN

This book was interesting, moving, but at the same time it has to be said that it also had shades of blandness in places.  The latter aspect could have been easily remedied by it being about one hundred pages shorter. … Continue reading →

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AN UNSATISFYING DRAMA! ‘THE CASUAL VACANCY’ -EPISODE THREE REVIEW.

Posted on March 3, 2015 by SCARFMAN

After seeing the concluding part of this drama last night the verdict is now clear, I DEFINITELY PREFER THE BOOK OVER THE TV ADAPTATION! This third episode in many ways was a bit all over the place.  Like episode two, … Continue reading →

Posted in A CASUAL VACANCY, BBC, BBC COMEDY, BBC DRAMA, BBC ORIGINAL DRAMA, BBC1, BOOK REVIEWS, BOOKS, DRAMA, ENTERTAINMENT, J.K.ROWLING, POPULAR CULTURE, RANT, READING, screenplay, TELEVISION, THE ARTS, THE CASUAL VACANCY, TV, TV REVIEW, UK TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I NOW PREFER THE BOOK! ‘THE CASUAL VACANCY’ -EPISODE TWO REVIEW.

Posted on February 23, 2015 by SCARFMAN

After watching the first episode of The Casual Vacancy last week I did a blog about how I preferred this TV version to the J.K Rowling book it is based upon.  I watched the second installment last night and have … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, BBC DRAMA, BBC ORIGINAL DRAMA, BOOKS, death, DRAMA, EMOTION, grief, J.K.ROWLING, LITERATURE, POPULAR CULTURE, READING, screenplay, TELEVISION, THE ARTS, THE CASUAL VACANCY, TV, TV REVIEW, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A CASUAL HIT! ‘The Casual Vacancy’ – episode one review.

Posted on February 17, 2015 by SCARFMAN

Think The Vicar of Dibley with elements of Eastenders in it and you will pretty much have an idea of what the first episode of this new three part BBC1 drama was like.  The screenplay was written by Sarah Phelps … Continue reading →

Posted in A CASUAL VACANCY, BBC, BBC DRAMA, BBC ORIGINAL DRAMA, BBC1, BOOK REVIEWS, BOOKS, COMEDY, DRAMA, ENTERTAINMENT, J.K.ROWLING, MENTAL HEALTH, POPULAR CULTURE, READING, TELEVISION, THE CASUAL VACANCY, TV REVIEW, UK TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A STRANGE SHEEP SHEARING, SHAGGING SHEILA….WHO FAILED TO FULLY SATISFY ME! ‘ALL THE BIRDS, SINGING’ BY Evie Wyld – A Review.

Posted on February 27, 2014 by SCARFMAN

ALL THE BIRDS, SINGING by Evie Wyld – A Review. After a tricky start(the writing style took a bit of getting used too), I found myself in the day really looking forward to reading more of this book whenever I next … Continue reading →

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A NEAR PERFECT STORY, THAT NEARLY MADE ME CRY! ‘PERFECT’ by Rachel Joyce – A Review.

Posted on February 18, 2014 by SCARFMAN

Perfect by Rachel Joyce – A Review. One of favourite books of last year was THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY by Rachel Joyce(see an earlier blog). Whenever reading it, it was like coming home from a hard day at the office and … Continue reading →

Posted in ANXIETY, BOOK REVIEWS, death, DEPRESSION, EMOTION, FRIENDSHIP, HEALTH, LITERATURE, mens health, MENTAL HEALTH, OCD, POPULAR CULTURE, READING, THE ARTS, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment