- .....No Matter How Hard the Choir tries

by Reginald Frary

More grossly exaggerated and distorted choir stories that have just sufficient truth as their basis that you can almost believe them to be true. Reg Frary has entertained us with his stories year after year, but sadly this is the last of them, as he died in 2011 at the age of ninety-one. Ideal as ‘stocking fillers’ these books have been published before Christmas year after year and have raised many a wry smile, You Can’t Keep a Good Tune Down follows the usual pattern of stories about the different choirs he encountered as he travelled among his friends and sang with them in their various churches.

Review by Mary Bartholomew (12/09/11)

Paperback
Price: £7.99
Publisher: Canterbury Press imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd
Published: Summer 2011
ISBN: 978-1-848-25084-0

View this book on its own page >>

Read this book?

Review it! >>

Stand Up and Deliver

- A Nervous Rookie on the Comedy Circuit

by Andy Kind

'Truly laughter without truth is empty,' so pens Andy Kind in a year long stretch that is engagingly summarised here in grit and graft of the world of comedy. This is a personable and authentic story. The twelve formative months of a fledgling comedy career shoe-horned neatly into a paperback. Stand Up & Deliver is sure to be a revelation to many and a relief to others. A revelation to those that think comedians appear fully formed on television without years of toil, triumph and heartbreak. It's a 'warts and all' account of the side of stand-up comedy that few see or understand.
The final third of the book, I found particularly moving and surprising in equal measure, with Kind, unafraid to tackle some of life's big questions head on. Kind is living his dream and the unique calling God has entrusted to him. Warm, compelling and full of soul!

Review by Johnny Douglas (03/06/11)

Paperback
Price: £7.99
Publisher: Monarch imprint of Lion Hudson
Published: April 2011
ISBN: 978-0-857-21025-8

View this book on its own page >>

Read this book?

Review it! >>

Pig’s Progress

by Jeanette Sears, illustrated by Adela Slomski

A glorious fantastical mixture of Animal Farm, various parables, Nursery Rhymes and Pilgrim’s Progress amusing to read but with an underlying serious message. The Big Bad Wolf is not all he appears to be at first, and amid dreams and double dreams, the third of the ‘Three Little Pigs’ finds salvation.
I was constantly amazed by the little references to things that were obvious connections to something written about such as the Catechism Cat not being able to pronounce Ms, they all came out as Miaows, so she wrote the word ‘mission’ in her tray. Of course a cat would have a tray you could write in, why was I surprised! Penguins in penguin suits, pigs insulting each other with phrases familiar to us all, this is a work of genius, weaving all these strands together into a fun, surprising but thought provoking read. Enjoy! But heed the message, it is a modern parable.

Review by Mary Bartholomew (03/05/11)

Paperback
Price: £6.99
Publisher: Piquant Editions (Distributed by IVP)
Published: Spring 2011
ISBN: 978-1-903-68973-8

View this book on its own page >>

Read this book?

Review it! >>

The Exciting World of Churchgoing

- Even More Cartoons

by Dave Walker

Comedic gets visual engages Churchianity! This is Dave Walkers third book of cartoons where the church gets critiqued by mind, spirit and line cartoons. Walker’s not for letting up on the endless variations of life and possibility that birth from local parish pews to you and I. Dave's visual style is wonderfully simple - with outline drawings of pastors, people and pews abounding! This third publication clusters together Walkers disparate offerings from website, Church Times regulars and many other locations. His handiwork has brightened many a dull publication and long may it continue. There is insight, genius and subtlety abounding in this slim attractive volume. Utterly distinctive!

Review by Johnny Douglas (05/01/11)

Paperback
Publisher: Canterbury Press imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd
Published: 24 August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-848-25029-1

View this book on its own page >>

Read this book?

Review it! >>

I Know a Young Woman Who Swallowed a Lie

- God Songs from Odd Songs - black & white edition

by Hazel Butler

In this unusual book Dr Hazel Butler uses the shape and words of 76 rhymes and songs from our childhood, as the starting point for her re-telling of many Bible stories in a fascinating and intriguing way that hopefully will make you smile but also make you stop and think more deeply about the original stories.
Firstly she sets out the familiar rhyme then tells the story behind it where known, then with the relevant Bible verses quoted below, she weaves her own delightful rhyme to suit her chosen verses.
Researching the origin of the rhymes would have been a worthwhile task, to change the rhymes into works containing the message of the Bible is a labour of love that we are privileged to share.

Colour version ISBN 978-1-907-50943-8, £12.99

Review by Mary Bartholomew (24/12/10)

Paperback
Price: £9.99
Publisher: Onwards and Upwards Publishing
Published: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-907-50904-9

View this book on its own page >>

Read this book?

Review it! >>

At Our Age

- Humorous and Insightful Reflections on the Ageing Process

by James A. Simpson

A glorious collection of pieces relating to getting older, compiled by the author of several previous books that have made me laugh. Just put the author into our search facility and you will see that I have enjoyed every one.
As before any royalties go to charity.
My husband still gets our twin daughters confused now they are in their forties, so the story of the Grandpa bathing his four grandsons particularly amused me, but then I smiled or laughed at them all! Being in my mid seventies the smiles were sometimes rather wry, I could relate only too well to the stories being told!
A perfect ‘stocking filler’ for Christmas, or excellent as a gift at any time and not just for the elderly.

Review by Mary Bartholomew (17/11/10)

Paperback
Price: £5.95
Publisher: Steve Savage Publishers Ltd
Published: 30 September 2010
ISBN: 978-1-904-24634-3

View this book on its own page >>

Read this book?

Review it! >>

Silences and Nonsenses - Collected Poetry, Doggerel, and Whimsy by Adrian Plass
ISBN: 978-1-850-78876-8 Price: £10.99	Published: August 2010
More Information about this book >>

Seriously Funny - Life, Love and God...Musings Between Two Good Friends by Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas
ISBN: 978-1-850-78869-0 Price: £8.99	Published: 09 April 2010
More Information about this book >>

The Lost Chords - The Parish Choir Tries It’s Best by Reginald Frary
ISBN: 978-1-853-11977-4 Price: £7.99	Published: Autumn 2009
More Information about this book >>

A Basket of Gems - A Collection of Wise, Witty and Wonderful Quotes and Anecdotes by Mark Stibbe
ISBN: 978-1-854-24922-7 Price: £8.99	Published: 2009
More Information about this book >>

Losing the Thread - Joyful Wit and Wisdom for Today's Woman Compiled by Alie Stibbe
ISBN: 978-1-854-24907-4 Price: £8.99	Published: Autumn 2009
More Information about this book >>

Lucas Unleashed - Wisdom for Life on the High Wire by Jeff Lucas
ISBN: 978-1-850-78823-2 Price: £8.99	Published: Autumn 2009
More Information about this book >>

The Bells! The Bells! - A Collection of the Finest Stories, Jokes, Quotes…..About Marriage….. Compiled by Mark Stibbe
ISBN: 978-1-854-24893-0 Price: £8.99	Published: January 2009
More Information about this book >>

If You Think My Preaching is Bad, Try My Jokes by David Pytches
ISBN: 978-1-854-24868-8 Price: £4.99	Published: 2008
More Information about this book >>

We Don’t Do That Tune Vicar - More Disharmony in the Choir by Reginald Frary
ISBN: 978-1-853-11837-1 Price: £7.99	Published: October 2007
More Information about this book >>

Laughter Lines - Family Wit and Wisdom by James A. Simpson
ISBN: 978-1-904-24628-2 Price: £4.95	Published: October 2007
More Information about this book >>

The Gospel According to Canon & Ball by Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball with Chris Gidney, illustrated by John Byrne
ISBN: 978-1-853-11792-3 Price: £8.99	Published: Summer 2007
More Information about this book >>

A Clean Camel is Happy Camel - The story of Jesus as told by the men and women and livestock whose lives he touched by Paul Symonds
ISBN: 978-1-846-94036-1 Price: £7.99	Published: Summer 2007
More Information about this book >>

Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation - An A-Z of the Christian Life by Adrian Plass
ISBN: 978-1-850-78723-5 Price: £7.99	Published: 29 January 2007
More Information about this book >>

The Dave Walker Guide to the Church by Dave Walker
ISBN: 1-853-11779-X Price: £5.99	Published: 2006
More Information about this book >>

Browse the archive:-

All books reviewed in this section, indexed by title:-
A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T W Y 1