pickFascinating biography of Holocaust survivor Bela Guttmann who went on to become Europe's greatest football manager in a continent stained by the blood of his fellow Jews. As well as Guttmann's incredible life, this great book gives you an understanding of the hatred and violence Jews faced during one of the darkest eras in history
pickFascinating insight into the crafting of the greatest football team in the modern era. I follow Spanish football quite closely but Graham Hunter's unique access to the main protagonists gave me an even better understanding of Barca's incredible achievements. Well worth a read
pickDahl is best remembered for his children's books but this fantastic collection proves he was actually far more skilled at crafting short stories. Wonderfully dark, with the tone set in Dahl's recollections of fighting in the war, he focuses mainly on deception, revenge and infidelity. It makes for a heady mix and the stories stay with you long after you finishing reading them. Essential for any lover of literature
I've just published a second edition of Moristoun, having got the rights back from my publisher. You can find it here on Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FZNVNJP
Absolutely loving this so far, about 300 pages in and every story is a delight. Deeply dark in places, right up my street
Interesting audio critique of Moristoun from the good people at Book Reviews Anon. Really gets to the heart of the book
https://www.patreon.com/posts/13092533
pickTackling one of Scotland's great walks is challenging, doing three of them back to back borders on lunacy. Yet that's the challenge Gary Sutherland takes on here and it's a pleasure joining him on his journey. The author's warm humour shines through and the book is more about the characters he meets than the scenery he witnesses, making it a far more enjoyable read. It's very funny in places, especially his fear of being attacked by a panther
pickFollow the adventures of Andy Fairbairn as he makes the leap from Lowland League football with Selkirk to the Premier League. But his dreams of fame and fortune are soon dashed by grim reality and his own unrealistic expectations. Very funny and well written, Clark's warm writing makes you genuinely care for Andy, even though his ego clearly doesn't match his talent.
pickVery funny and well written, we see the chaos that ensues when American wrestling comes to small town Scotland and local belly dancers are drafted in to provide the entertainment. A wonderful farce with well-rounded characters in every sense of the word
pickExcellent thriller about kidnapped kids and a grand conspiracy to cover it up. It's set in 1960s Brighton and that adds to the ambience as our amateur sleuth digs deeper to find more disturbing details. Beautifully paced and well written, it's a page turner you will rattle through in just a few days
pickThis bawdy tale starts off with an alien giving a human abductee hand relief and continues in the same vein throughout an entertaining read. It's a bit too crude in places but is written with flair and provides plenty of laughs. After his abduction in 1969, Reno finds himself returned to earth 30 years later and plunges into the heart of an adventure that features a disillusioned DJ, exotic half breeds and a deranged FBI man. Well worth a read
pickIn this age of narcissism where we are slaves to technology, the wise words of Epicurus resonate louder than ever. This excellent book examines his teachings in great deal and tries to lead the reader down a path to a more meaningful life. Epicurus preaches a life where one enjoys simple pleasures and values emotions higher than logic. The author outlines why we should all follow this path and also gives a wider view of philosophy in general
Halfway through this and really enjoying it. Lots of philosophical things to ponder
My Scotland Writers football team-mate Martin Stewart has just released his new book, please check it out
so-soA Christian story of redemption and punishment as we follow Bart on his journey from wastrel playboy to God-fearing philanthropist. Hrabia is an excellent writer and I found the book enjoyable, even as a non-believer, but the message is laid on a bit too thick.
pickRazor-sharp look at the modern dating world as Michael Collins, the owner of a low-rent Sacramento motel, struggles to find his ideal woman. Lots of laugh arise from his ill-fated dates but even more from the series of misfits who work at his motel. Very funny and perceptive, Gephart is a skilled storyteller and I loved every chapter of this book.
Moristoun is up for the Readers Choice awards. Any votes would be gratefully received
https://www.tckpublishing.com/readers-choice-voting
so-soGreat premise and a good plot as twins separated at birth in Spain meet many years later and become enemies. Pitz is an intriguing lead character and you root for him but the book is let down by over-complicated writing and dialogue that seems forced
pickInteresting exercise in writing as Bunning gives us 200 short stories, each consisting of 200 words. Some work better than others but there's such a wide range of styles, from prose and sci-fi to philosophy and dietary advice, that there's something for everyone. Bunning writes well and with humour and thought. Worth checking out
Win a signed copy of Moristoun plus 10 other books and help a great cause at the same time? Sounds good to me
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/megan-sparrow1
Here's a little film I put together about Moristoun..enjoy
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=2BguzcBFh8M
pickHonest and entertaining memoir that shines a light on the seedier side of Thailand. As he wanders the streets of its most infamous resort, Finch spots a slogan that reads "Good guys go to heaven, bad guys ģo to Pattaya". So is he one of the bad guys? At first, it's tempting to think so but as you read his life story and find out more about the colourful characters he meets, you begin to empathise and sympathise with them.
pickBrilliant novel about conjoined twins growing up in Russia during the perestroika era. Hauntingly beautiful and sad, it will linger long in my memory. Igor Eliseev has a real eye for creating colourful characters and his writing reminds me of the Russian classics. Definitely worth checking out
pickThe author really does her Scottish ancestors proud with this family saga set in the Ayrshire mining communities of the 1800s. It's a bleak tale of loss and death but the warmth of the characters shines through. The central character, Mary McMurdo, suffers so much heartache and the fortitude she shows is incredible.
pickYou will struggle to find a funnier book. Expertly lampoons the celebrity biography and rings so true to the character. As a big fan of all the Partridge TV shows, it didn't take much to win me over and it was great to get the backstory behind some of the incidents from his career. Highly recommended
Nearly halfway through this family epic set in the Ayrshire mining communities of the mid-19th century. Really enjoying it so far
pickBrilliantly dark and funny exploration of a man's mind as he goes through a brutal midlife crisis. Ann Sterzinger unearths the deepest, most unpleasant thoughts of us middle aged men with such skill and humour that you can only doff your cap in admiration. Brilliant and brutal in equal measure but consistently hilarious, this hidden gem deserves far greater acclaim.
Don't think I've ever read as good as description of a coffee shop as this gem from NVSQVAM. "He had entered a space of petty-idle conviviality , a revolving salon for the teetotaling, pretentious, but dumbly gregarious wives of the local good ole boys who had gotten their paws on money."
Maybe I‘ll nail her door shut. Then Martin and I can drink vodka from a giant latex bra and roll around the living room in diapers. She says she wants us to bond. I don‘t think he‘ll complain. Just as long as he doesn‘t bother me with fucking Othello again.
Halfway through this now and still really enjoying it. For a woman, Ann has an uncanny ability for capturing what goes on in a man's warped mind.
When he looked at himself in a mirror he felt a general sadness for the human race. Just a bunch of old orangutans going bald in a cage. Frustration , aggression , and unstoppable decay. Hey, those sound like song lyrics. Maybe I‘ll use them as the title for my dissertation.
Loving the biting little footnotes at the end of each chapter. This is my favourite so far
In 2001 Muslim-extremist terrorists staged a spectacularly violent attack on a civilian monument in the United States, which— having recently suffered an undemocratic election itself— retaliated by picking an Arab nation, apparently at random, to violently democratize.
