Monthly Online Book Review and Listings Magazine

Crammed with page after page of great Christmas gift book ideas!

  December 2008 Issue

HELEN BARBER: Before the Chalet School: The Bettanys of Taverton High (Girls Gone By Publishers PB)

In a small town in the south west of England, a young woman named Madge Bettany is facing an impossible situation.

Her income has mysteriously dwindled to almost nothing, and her little sister’s poor health means that going out to work is not an option.

How Madge and Joey pull together in the face of adversity is the theme of this much-awaited forerunner to the Chalet School series.

• A delightful new story by Helen Barber, author of A Chalet School Headmistress and ‘Puss-in-Boots’ in The Chalet School Christmas Story Book
  
• Follows the fortunes of the Bettany family in the run-up to the founding of the Chalet School
  
• No spoilers – this is a story in its own right, but the discerning Chalet fan can trace the progress of Madge’s evolving plan!
  
• Meet the Bettanys’ old muddler of a guardian, and see Joey and her friends in their ‘old’ school.
  
• Family story or school story? Read it and form your own judgement.
  
• Full colour frontispiece A Chalet School prequel by Helen Barber. Absolutely delightful prequel to the Chalet School series, which finds Joey on the mend but still fragile, and big sister Madge only too pleased to help out when the local school is out of action, by holding imptomptu lessons in her home. In the meantime "Guardy" the guardian dies, leaving them more or less on their uppers. Brother Dick comes from from India and somehow they work out a plan for survival, and the seeds are sewn in Madge's mind as to what she can do to revive the family's fortunes and help Joey get better at the same time. This is a brilliant book, which captures the essence of school life in between the wars. For me there's enough school in it to make it a school story, though many might prefer to think of it as a family story. Either way it's charming and lovely to read, and the GGBP package is, as usual, absolutely stunning. I did try to find out who had done the front cover and the frontispiece, but no reply as yet.

JON MILLS: UTLITY FURNITURE

When the Luftwaffe's Blitz on Britain began in September 1940, people's homes and their contents were destroyed at an alarming rate. Thanks to the bombing, furniture shortages in Britain hit an all time high by 1942. The government responded with a range of affordable furniture - the so-called Utility Furniture Scheme - but only for those that could prove their need. Jon Mills presents a comprehensive guide to the introduction of utility Furniture, to accompany a facsimile reproduction of the first Utility catalogue that appeared in 1943. Jon Mills gives a fascinating insight into the privations of the war years and a nostalgic look back for those who remember this sturdy furniture, much of which has survived into the 21st century. My parents had utility furniture - a sideboard and wardrobes for starters, and I have to say the quality was far superior to anything of the same price range nowadays. This book is a captivating resumé of how things were during and after WWII and the illustrations are fascinating. All in all, this is a superb slice of nostalgia. Modern furniture makers should be made to read it and discover what bargains were to be had in the darkest times of the last century. Fascinating.

PHILIP GLENISTER: THINGS AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE (Sphere HB) Were the 70s and 80s all they were cracked up to be? Or have we never had it so good? Philip Glenister - one of our best-loved actors - takes a swig of Babycham, jumps on his space hopper, and heads off down memory lane to find out. Which Bond was better - Roger Moore or Daniel Craig? Was life better when we were served lashings of gravy, instead of a 'drizzle of jus'? And - most important of all - have Curly Wurlys really got smaller, or have we all just got bigger? Philip Glenister's Things Ain't What They Used to Be is a hilarious and affectionate look at the good, the bad and the ugly from three very different decades, that will have you laughing (and cringing) with recognition. If you're going on a nostalgia trip, you couldn't ask for a better guide. Right. I'm sitting here wearing my Gene Genie badge, watching Ashes to Ashes and from the corner of my eye I can see my two Life on Mars DVD sets, my two Life on Mars companion books, my Rules of Modern Policing and my Life on Mars calendar...obsessed with Philip Glenister? Well, I'm on record as saying that I firmly believe that Life on Mars is the best TV drama series - ever. I also watched CRANFORD and CALENDAR GIRLS, so I guess you could say I am in awe of Mr G and the Gene Genie, and this book is as good a testament as any to the fact that he is one of life's better entities. Born in Harrow in 1963, a fact that confirms my belief that he is a great actor, Philip's style of writing in "Things" suggests that he has a great deal in common with DCI Gene Hunt. It's possible, of course, that he had some help in dredging up all those fantastic reminiscences, though my own memories of the late 1950s/1960s carry the same amount of detail, so it's equally possible he didn't. Either way, the book is an absolute treasure. I'm pleased to see that he didn't do the Thatcher thing (in other words, I hope, he doesn't rate her that highly - in fact there are a couple of references to the fact that she stopped kids getting their school milk!). I'm in complete agreement with him on almost 100% of the subjects he covers in this book - the exception has to be, of course, his choice of football club - Arsenal. But I can forgive him that for being so entertaining and so fantastically talented. Read this and wallow in nostalgia. It's a fine piece of writing!

DCI GENE HUNT: THE FUTURE OF MODERN POLICING 1981 EDITION (Transworld HB) 'Once upon a time coppers were heroes; nowadays, telling someone you're on the force is likely to get you in as much trouble as dipping your tadger in the punch at a Royal Garden Party'. Policing in the seventies was simple: when a crime was committed you tracked a nearby blagger, 'persuaded' him to confess and sent him off for a good long stretch. Simple. Sadly, policing in the eighties is a completely different kettle of fish. In fact, it's a whole different kettle of shoulder-pad-sporting, bouffant-haired, foundation-caked, coke-snorting, race-rioting career criminals.For your average bobby on the beat "The Rules of Modern Policing" are simply no longer enough. Thankfully, however, DCI Gene Hunt is once again on hand to help his fellow officers, and so we have "The Future of Modern Policing". Packed full advice for all ranks, this an invaluable policing manual in which the Gene Genie discusses all the new issues facing the Met - riots, forensics, political correctness (whatever the hell that is), IT, drugs and advanced interrogation techniques that you just might be able to persuade the judge are legal. There are also some practical exercises at the end of each chapter, including a helpful 'Spot the Drug Addict' picture quiz, so, even if you really don't know your a*** from your elbow, you can at least learn to blag it. Gene Hunt may not be the most modern copper in the Met but he isn't a fool either. If you want to be one of the Met's top dogs, maybe you should buy his book, eh? The most welcome sequel to the earlier RULES OF MODERN POLICING - hilarious - a wonderful, witty little book that will be a welcome addition to your Philip Glenister collection.

MY DAD HAD ONE OF THOSE

Good old Dad and his good old Dad's car. As solid and dependable as the man himself, if a little less balding, Dad's car was almost a member of the family, whisking you to exciting days out, or just to visit boring relatives in distant parts of the country to the chant of 'are we nearly there yet?' Like the man behind the wheel, Dad's car made you feel safe and secure, because it was as reassuring and sensible as he was. Maybe in an idle moment Dad dreamt of driving something rakish and fast, just like in idle moments he dreamt that your Mum was Twiggy, but the demands of family life meant soft tops, hard suspension and anything even remotely sporty were off the cards. Even anything less than four doors would have been wildly hedonistic. But although the family car may not have been the very essence of rock 'n' roll, Dad was proud of it. Spanning the 1950s to the '80s, this is a celebration of the heyday of the Dad car. From much loved family workhorses like the Ford Cortina and Vauxhall Viva to the rakish excitement and playground kudos of the Rover 3500 and Citroen CX, all the great Dad cars are here. Reflecting a time before people carriers and lifestyle off roaders, when the nearest thing to an airbag was hiding behind your fat brother, this is a celebration of simple, honest cars that were as flawed and as loveable as your Dad himself.

Eagle Annual of the Cutaways (Orion HB)

After Dan Dare, the most famous and fondly remembered part of the Eagle comic was the cutaway. Basically, these were beautifully detailed drawings of the inner workings of pretty much anything: from steam trains, jet liners and racing cars, to oil wells, suspension bridges and tube lines beneath Piccadilly Circus. The Eagle had a team of three or four artists, but the king of the cutaway was undoubtedly L. Ashwell Wood, whose forensic attention to detail -- be it a cross section of the Cutty Sark or a grand landscape of how electricity is generated -- enthralled a generation of school boys. About the Author: Daniel Tatarsky is the author of Flick to Kick, An Illustrated History of Subbuteo, and editor of The Eagle Annual of the 1950s. A fantastic present for Dad or anyone fascinated by how things worked in the 1950s. Beautifully reproduced from the original colour plates, this book is sumptuous in every sense of the word. Prophetic cutaways of a channel tunnel and a modern family car rub shoulders with classic cars like the Triumph TR2 and gasometers, oil rigs and ten ton trucks. Absolutely fascinating - it'll keep Dad quiet for hours and hours! The great news is that a new Eagle book is scheduled for Autumn 2009. Keep them coming!

The Best of British Comedy: Dad's Army (Harper HB)

The best jokes, gags and scenes from a true British comedy classic. 'They don't like it up 'em!' 'People shout the "Don't tell him, Pike!" line at me regularly - and I didn't even say it!' Philip Madoc. In the annals of British television, no finer example of classic comedy exists than in the shape of Dad's Army, the Home Guard-based sitcom written by veteran writers Jimmy Perry and David Croft. Although they penned many other sterling programmes, including Hi-De-Hi! and the underrated You Rang, M'Lord?, they'll forever be remembered for their brilliant wartime comedy spotlighting the antics of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard, led by the irascible and pompous Captain Mainwaring. Between 1968 and '77, nine series and three Christmas Specials - totalling 80 instalments - were screened, much to the delight of the millions of fans who tuned in; but the show's popularity has continued unabated and even today, four decades since the platoon marched onto the scene, it remains one of the golden offerings from the sitcom genre. With the 40th anniversary of Dad's Army in 2008, what better time to celebrate the magic of this show.The Best of British Comedy - Dad's Army includes: / The History: an overview of how Dad's Army was born and developed / Gags and Catchphrases: a collection of classic quotes from the programme / Did You Know? : snippets of info about the show, cast, etc. / Favourite scenes: the most memorable scenes in full / A Dad's Army quiz Episode: 'Something Nasty in the Vault' Mainwaring and Wilson are stuck in the bank's strong room. There has been an air raid and they've ended up holding an unexploded bomb. Pike arrives. Pike: Uncle Arthur? Wilson: Oh, what it is, Frank? Pike: Do you think I ought to phone mum and tell her you're holding a bomb? Wilson: No! Pike: But she might get cross if she found out that you'd been holding a bomb and she wasn't told about it. One of the greatest ever comedy series, Dad's Army is as popular now as it ever was, and this book can only enhance its reputation. Full of reminiscences from surviving cast members and writers, it's a joy to read and remember just how good this series actually is.

The Best of British Comedy: Porridge (Harper HB)

The best jokes, gags and scenes from a true British comedy classic. 'Cheer up, could be worse. State the country's in, we could be free.' 'Doctor: I want you to fill one of those containers for me. Fletcher (other side of the room): What, from 'ere?' You can count the number of truly classic British sitcoms on one hand -- well, perhaps two. But however many hands you use, Porridge will be one of the first programmes to register for inclusion. Undoubtedly one of the real gems, the prison-based show starring the late Ronnie Barker as the recalcitrant yet loveable rascal, Fletcher, transcends the generations; like any other classic, it remains as accessible and funny today as it did when first aired in the 1970s. Including the pilot, transmitted a year before the first series hit the screen, twenty-one instalments were made, attracting audiences of up to 20 million.Written by those prolific scribes Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and brought to life by an estimable bunch of actors, headed by the great Ronnie B as Fletch, a recidivist who spent most of his adult life behind bars, the sitcom quickly attracted plaudits and became a shining example of what good situation comedy is all about. The Best of British Comedy -- Porridge includes: / The History: an overview of how Porridge was born and developed / Gags and Catchphrases: a collection of classic quotes / Did You Know?: snippets of info about the show, cast, etc. / Favourite scenes: the most memorable scenes in full / A Porridge quiz 'New Faces, Old Hands' FLETCHER My beloved Isobel.The little woman. Well she aint so little.I said to her the other day, 'Isobel, I'll never get over you, I'll have to get up and go round.' Like the Dad's Army book above, this is another ideal stocking filler - Ronnie Barker was one of Britain's best-loved entertainers, and Porridge was probably his finest series, though some woujld possibly plump for OPEN ALL HOURS. The chemistry between Barker and Fulton Mackay was legendary. A perfect book.

David Roach: The Art of War (Carlton PB)

From the 1950s to the '70s Fleetway and its successor IPC was the world's biggest comic-book publisher and its line of digest-sized Picture Libraries was the jewel in their crown. The most popular and longest lasting titles were "War", "Battle", "Air Ace" and "War at Sea", which ran for a combined total of over four and a half thousand issues. This is a collection of over 400 of the finest "War", "Battle", "Air Ace" and "War at Sea" covers, digitally remastered from the original archived artwork in a lavish format with the finest quality reproduction. About the Author: David A. Roach is an artist, illustrator, writer and historian with 20 years experience in the comics industry. Among the comics he has worked on are such iconic strips as Batman, Judge Dredd, Dr Who, Star Wars and Aliens. As an author he is an editor and writer for such books as True Brit: The History of British Comics and The SuperHero Book. He is also a regular writer for Comic Book Artist and Comics International magazines. A second fantastic book of illustrations from Battle and War Picture Libraries. The quality of these illustrations is unbelievable, and second-to-none. Full colour, large-format scans of the original pocket library covers - a perfect gift for Dad for Christmas!

For comic book fans everywhere, Marvel’s fasinating story explored and explained, decade by decade, year by year, month by month. Everything is covered, from the company’s beginnings as Timely Comics in the late 1930s to the founding of the Marvel Universe of Super Heroes in the 60s, right up to the present day. Learn all about the birth of key Marvel Super Heroes from the X-Men, Spider-Man and Hulk to The Fantastic Four. Discover all about their extraordinary comic book debuts, the geniuses that invented them, the crucial events behind their creation and their continuing influence on the world today via comic books, TV series and blockbuster movies. Packed with stunning original comic book art and covers, this is a vibrant and visually spectacular look at Marvel Comics spanning seven tumultuous decades.

RICK RANDOM Edited by Steve Holland published by Carlton Books ~ Rick Random, Space Detective, was a comic book character who appeared in "Super Detective Library", published by Amalgamated Press, from 1954. His first appearance was in the "Super Detective Library" number 37 in a tale titled "Crime Rides the Spaceways". Random worked for the Interplanetary Bureau of Investigation, and among his arch-enemies was a futuristic bank robber, John Jolson, who used a matter transmitter in one story to steal gold from London's Interplanetary Bank. Random's female companion was Detective Superintendent Andi Andrews. Rick Random proved as difficult to kill off in the real world as he did in his sci-fi adventures. He was resurrected in the late seventies in 2000 AD, where he enjoyed a whole new audience. Now you can enjoy ten of Rick's original interplanetary adventures all over again, with the wonderful artwork of Ron Turner reproduced larger and more excitingly than ever before. Twelve fantastic intergalactic stories featuring the great Rick Random. It's the artwork that contributes more than anything to the success of this publication - visoions of the future without parallel in the comics world. Fantastic!

HIGH NOON Edited by Steve Holland published by Carlton Books ~ Whooping Injuns, wandering cowpokes, grizzled prospectors, mysterious hombres in sombreros and masked outlaws - this is the untamed West of our childhoods, where the heroes are rugged and honest, the villains are yellow-bellied cowards and only the toughest survive. From the Great Plains to dusty Texan trails and lawless prospecting towns, every thrilling story in this book is jam packed with gunfights, jaw busting saloon punch ups, racing stagecoaches and tomahawk throwing varmints. So saddle up partner, grab your six-gun and prepare to ride into town. A fantastic collection of western comic strips, beautifully printed - one for Dads and teenaged sons, I would say.