There's a reason you don't fit in

Vampires are all the rage these days.  In the novel The Radleys, author Matt Haig takes a look at a family of vampires living today in northern England.  Father Peter is a doctor, while Helen, the mother, is an artist who doesn't work outside the home.  The two teenaged children, Rowan and Clara, have been raised without knowing they are vampires.  They...

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Gritty but gorgeous!

Walking is a popular pastime in England, and I wonder how many people stop to think about what is UNDER their feet?  That is the question that the book Granite and Grit: A Walker's Guide to the Geology of British Mountains attempts to answer. The book begins with the author, Ronald Turnbull, discussing how he became interested in the geology of Britain through various...

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Business sense from the past

It seems that almost every day there are new business books which come out discussing "new" and "revolutionary" techniques which guarantee success or improved leadership skills.  Sometimes, we can learn more from looking to the past than in trying to invent new skills.  The author Stuart Finlay, while reading the memoirs of Winston Churchill, became struck...

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Actions speak louder than words

We all wish we could do more to help solve the many problems in the world.  Many of us, especially at this time of year, try to help out by giving donations to charitible causes.  In the book Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski, a young man feels compelled to act on his desire to really understand the problem of homelessness in America.  As he stated, "We were...

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A creepy English castle, what could go wrong?

Creepy English castles are always a great setting for a story, so I was excited to read ">The Distant Hours by Kate Morton.  While the events covered in the novel move back and forth in time between the 1940s and the 1990s, the creepy house, Milderhurst Castle, is featured prominently throughout. The story concerns modern (well, 1992) woman Edie, who works for a small...

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If he had a brain cell, it'd be lonely

As an avid reader of mystery stories, I love anything featuring private detectives.  Most mystery series on TV seem to focus on policemen and women as they attempt to solve crimes.  I was therefore excited to discover the series ">Vincent, which features Ray Winstone as a former cop turned private investigator. The series I watched was from...

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Prize Pack Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my prize pack giveaway from Warner Bros. online.  The lucky winner was: Jinxy and Me!! A big congrats and I hope you really enjoy the prize.  With all those great gifts, who wouldn't? Thanks again to Bridget at Warner Bros. online for providing the great prizes. Keep watching for future giveawa...

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Holiday Sweepstakes!

This holiday season WIN $1,000 (two $500 Gift Cards, one for you and one for a friend) redeemable toward purchases at BBCAmericaShop.com with the annual Holiday Sweepstakes: http://on.fb.me/BBC-Sweeps2010. Imagine all the great gifts you could buy for the holidays with that!  Not to mention all the gifts you could get for yourself if Santa somehow managed to misplace...

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A haul for the holidays!

Although I do tend to veer wildly off topic on frequent occasions, one of the main purposes of my blog is for me to rave/complain/recommend some of the books that thrill or disappoint me throughout the year.  I just adore books, and can't stop myself from always being on the lookout for new ones, even though it would probably take several lifetimes to get through...

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Patriotic Daily Readings

The American Patriot’s Almanac is a wonderful book for everyone who is interested in American history and politics.  The book is arranged by date, with every day featuring an engaging description of an event that occurred on that date, as well as an “American History Parade” at the bottom of the page listing other years when significant things happened.  The preface,...

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Folksy, downhome visits

For over 20 years, Charles Kuralt took his motor homes (he eventually wore out 6 of them!) along the back roads of America to visit people and places that were off the beaten path.  In On the Road, Set 3, we get to follow along as Kuralt discovers what's "just around the bend." On the Road became a regular feature on CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite and won an Emmy...

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Bodies turning up in Wales

Last year when I visited Cardiff, I had the quaint idea that it might be interesting to study the Welsh language.  A bit more research into that idea showed me the folly of my ways, but I remain fascinated with the country and the language. That's why I was thrilled to receive a review copy of A Mind to Kill, Series 2 from Acorn Media.  This is the second season...

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Benny Hill Winner!

Congrats to the winner of the Benny Hill Megaset giveaway: dave Thanks to all who entered, and I hope to have more giveaways to entice you in the futu...

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Alien Autopsy winners!

Congratulations to the three winners of the DVD of Alien Autopsy: Nicole C. susan leandrew There's still time to enter my giveaway of the DVD set of Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset.  That contest ends on Nov. 3, so hur...

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Where's Stig Winner!

Random.org kindly chose the winner of the Where's Stig book provided by Warner Bros., and the lucky winner was: Homemaker Yay!  Congrats to Homemaker, and I hope she doesn't get so caught up with trying to find The Stig that she neglects her other duties at home! If you didn't win, there's still time to enter a few more giveaways here on my site: Alien Autopsy (Hurry! ends 10/29) Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset (ends 11/3)   Congratulations...

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Being Human winners!

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway for DVDs of Being Human: Season Two.  The winners were: Jessica Chrystal ky2here kitkat234 devotus kanderspina Maja MAT david boyington jsc123 Congrats to the winners, and I hope you enjoy watching! If you didn't win this time, there's still a chance to enter my other drawings: Where's Stig? (Hurry!  ends 10/28) Alien Autopsy (ends 10/29) Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset (ends 11...

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The Queen winner!

I had the drawing for the DVD of The Queen, and the winner was: clc408 Congratulations!  If you didn't win this time, be sure and enter one of my other giveaways: Being Human ( Hurry! ends 10/27) Where's Stig? (ends 10/28) Alien Autopsy (ends 10/29) Benny Hill: The Complete Megaset (ends 11/3) Thanks again to Acorn Media for providing the copy of The Que...

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Midsomer winner!

I'd like to thank everyone for the comments on my Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files giveaway.  I used random.org to choose the winner, who was: wcc-whitechocolatecherries Thanks again to all who entered.  If you didn't win this time, why not enter one of my other current giveaways? The Queen (hurry, ends 10/22!) Being Human (ends 10/27) Where's Stig? (ends 10/28) Alien Autopsy (ends 10/29) Benny Hill: The...

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Benny Hill Giveaway!

The hilarious Benny Hill is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedians of the 20th century.  His groundbreaking TV series ran for many seasons, most popularly produced by Thames Television from 1969-1989.  A&E Home Video is now releasing the complete 20 year run of the series.  The set contains 58 episodes on 18 DVDs...

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Anglophile dream come true!!

Yes, that's right.  It's me and my new pal, Elton John!  I was incredibly lucky and won the Godiva Chocolate Valentine's Day Game sweepstakes.  The prize was an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, along with the opportunity to attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation's Enduring Vision benefit.  I also got to present Sir Elton a check, on behalf of Godiva,...

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Alien Autopsy giveaway!

A film about aliens starring Ant & Dec?  What could be more perfect? ">Alien Autopsy is a humorous film that looks at the incidents surrounding the release of the infamous "alien autopsy" video from 1995. That year, mysterious top-secret black-and-white footage, supposedly filmed during the 1947 Roswell incident, was broadcast around the world. It...

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Where's Stig?

Fans of the BBC series Top Gear will enjoy this new companion book.  ">Where's Stig is a picture book based on the popular "Where's Waldo" books.  The white-clad, white-helmeted The Stig manages to lose himself in 12 different Top Gear inspired locations, including the Studio, Tokyo, the Deep South and the English Channel.  In addition to trying to find The...

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Being Human giveaway!

While most of us take the attributes of "being human" for granted, the three main characters of the BBC series of the same name don't have that luxury.  Being Human is the story of George (a werewolf), Mitchell (a vampire) and Annie (a ghost) attempting to get by in the modern world. In Being Human Season Two, the vampire leader Herrick has been defeated, but there are...

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Top Gear winners!

Congratulations to the winners of my Top Gear Season 13 DVD giveaway.  I chose the winners using random.org, and they were: Mark N. Hotsnotty2 The winners have been contacted and the DVDs sent out.  If you didn't win this time, why not enter my other current giveways for The Queen or Midsomer Murders DVDs? Watch this space for more upcoming giveaway...

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Duty before self

Queen Elizabeth II is certainly a popular subject in film and on TV lately.  I wonder what she herself thinks about all the dramatizations of her life?  I was very interested to receive a copy of the recent Channel 4 miniseries, The Queen to learn even more about the life of this long-serving monarch. I was expecting this to be just a dramatization of various...

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Midsomer giveaway!!

If you want a real taste of beautiful scenery, village life, chocolate-box-pretty towns, and the occasional dead body, I've got just the thing for you!  Acorn Media is releasing a collection of recent DVDs in the Midsomer Murders Village Case Files.  If you've never visited the lovely English county of Midsomer, you're in for a treat!  Nestled in the middle...

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Riddle me this

As a rabid Londonphile, I'm always thrilled to find a book which centers on weird or unknown facts about the city.  I was very exited to receive a copy of the beautiful little book London Quiz by Travis Elborough and Nick Rennison to browse through. This compact little book is just packed with interesting stuff!  It is arranged into 20 chapters, each covering...

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Who is benefitting?

This book manages to be scary, depressing and heartbreaking all at the same time.  Ankarlo visited the US-Mexico border area to get a clearer impression of the people who are involved in all illegal immigration: migrants, coyotes who traffic them, border enforcement agents, residents, and “volunteer” border guards.  He notes that the majority of people who enter...

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