Please Don't Ask For Extra Glasses by Barb Taub @barbtaub

5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads

On BookBub

How I discovered this book: I read the last book about Barb, Janine and Jaya's travels, loved it, so had to get this one too!

In A Nutshell: Humorous travel account, India

I've read excerpts on Barb Taub's blog of what would become this book, so was most pleased to see that they, and so much more, had arrived in Kindle format (and paperback).  When I first opened it on my tablet, I thought 'what's going on here?' because it seemed to be in PDF rather than Kindle style, but I soon understood why - it contains masses of fabulous photos of the trip, which add so much to the whole book (particularly the ones of Barb trying to mount and get down from a camel).  By a little deft fingerwork on the screen, you can not only make the text bigger, but the photos too.  There's so much splendid detail in the pictures; I very much appreciated this feature.

From the camel trip in the desert, to the elephant rides (and the avalanche of elephant-themed souvenirs), from Mr CallMeSami's transparent coffee, to masala papad (apparently the most wonderful snack food on earth) and a desert resort that I long to visit, this book is a total winner.  Not only is it beautifully presented, it would also be of use to anyone wanting to tour this part of India.  Other main attractions include many stories and legends attached to places Barb, Janine and Jaya visited, but, most of all, it's funny.  And I mean funny.

Well done Barb, well done Janine and Jaya for the photos, and I hope you manage to get back there again before too long!

LIFE BEGINS WHEN THE KIDS LEAVE HOME AND THE DOG DIES by Barb Taub @barbtaub

5 out of 5 stars

On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads

How I discovered this book: I love Barb Taub's blog and thought her account of a few weeks in India, Do Not Wash Hands In Plates, was one of the funniest books ever, so this was a 'must buy'!

Genre: Domestic humour, non-fiction 

This is a collection of articles, all with a family theme, from Barb's own childhood, about her parents and siblings, and about her own children and family life.  Later, she touches upon death, and writing....they are all really, really funny.  There are so many newspaper columns and would-be hilarious blogs about domestic life in which the humour seems a little forced and self-consciously 'wacky'; not these.  I read a lot of PJ O'Rourke, and Barb Taub's style reminds me of his lighter, more domestically-orientated pieces.  The off-the-wall snark's all there.

In LBWKLH&DDs, you can do the Super Mother quiz.  And read about Barb's adventures with the possibly rabies-riddled dead bat.  If you dare.  BT deserves widespread reknown ~ I suggest you buy this, pronto, so you can see what I mean!

I'll leave you with some quotes:

When Barb is trying to feed her kids with wholefoods but her husband gives their small one her first ice cream cone: 'Through the chocolate, I could see her thinking, "This stuff was out there and I've been eating yams?"'

'While I bought (my children) developmental, non-gender-specific playthings, my daughters held fashion shows for the stuffed toys and dolls, and their brother built the blocks and legos into weapons of mass-doll-destruction.'

'Barb's guide to films: if the characters kiss a lot, have sex, and then kill each other, it's American.  If they smoke a lot, have sex, and then kill themselves, it's foreign.'

'Sadly, the day came when we had to choose between the cat and our son, who turned out to be allergic to her.  This was a difficult choice because while our son had never coughed up a hairball, he was not a very good mouser.'

All at 99p (and couple of free ones)! Great books for under £1 each ~ genuine recommendations

I've got something for anyone currently spending their book budget on Christmas shopping ~ all the books listed below are permanently under £1!  They're genuine recommendations, books I've enjoyed and rated highly, not just a random selection of cheapies.  A click on the title will (in most cases) take you to my review, which includes buy links to Amazon.  A couple I have not reviewed on this blog, in which case the link will just go to Amazon.

I've also included links to the books of my own that are permanently on sale at 99p, and a couple that are permanently free, too :)


First, some outstanding historical fiction: The Bastard Princess by Gemma Lawrence.  The early years of Elizabeth I.

Wonderful short stories set in Suffolk: Sandlands by Rosy Thornton

Gangster thrills and spills in LA: Hollywood Shakedown by Mark Barry.

**FREE from Feb 25-27!**
My novella about three writers struggling to make it, with a few moral dilemmas: Best Seller 

Doesn't get any funnier than this!  Barb Taub's memoir of her travels in India ~ Do Not Wash Hands In Plates

More short stories, this time set in zombie apocalypse ~ a terrific collection, and I've read all the other books in the series, too! Broken Stories by Kate L Mary. 

The first part of the highly acclaimed romantic suspense/mystery Grayson trilogy by Georgia Rose: A Single Step

And more excellent short stories: What Tim Knows by Wendy Janes

My novella Round and Round: one woman, four men, and a guardian angel.  It's one of those 'what would have happened if I'd taken the other path' stories! 

Epic fantasy ~ the first part of the Storm trilogy by Antony Lavisher ~ Whispers of a Storm

 
I loved this Brexit thriller novella by Joel Hames: Brexecution

My two novels about a rock band, and various love triangles: Dream On and Full Circle

 
Very good long short story about a life not lived: Doppelganger by Jenny Twist

...and another long short story, this one a psychological thriller, very good indeed. The Kindness of Neighbours by Matthew Iden.

Great memoir about life on the waterways ~ Watery Ways by Val Poore. 

Last of all, my own collection of short stories: Nine Lives.

These two are permanently FREE!

Wonderful classic The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Witch hunts in the 17th century ~ this is an awesome novelette length prelude to the main book: Blackwater by Alison Williams

 Hope you find something here that appeals :)

QUARTERLY ROUND UP: Jan-March 2016

I have read far, far more books than usual this quarter (because I was laid up in bed for much of it), so it's been harder than usual to choose just ten for the 'highlights' out of the 45-ish I've read or started to read. I've been fortunate to find a high percentage of gems over the past three months, too, so all those in my top ten are those to which I've given either 5 stars or my extra special 5 GOLD stars.  They range from a classic, to the traditionally published, to a couple from small independent presses, to self-published. 

I've also read lots of great books to which I've given 4.5* which you can find HERE, and all the 4* are HERE .

A click on the title will take you to the review, and I've also written a quick line to say how I discovered the book, as I think this is interesting for both readers and writers alike.  I've listed them in the order I read them.

I've linked most of the authors' Twitter handles so you can follow them if you wish, too.

1. DO NOT WASH HANDS IN PLATES by Barb Taub

Non-fiction/Humorous travel memoir/India

 

I bought this after reading Barb's extremely funny blog @barbtaub on Twitter 

2. THE HERETIC HEIR by Gemma Lawrence

Tudor historical fiction

I got to know the author via Twitter @TudorTweep because of our mutual interest in the Tudors

3. LEAVING THE BEACH  by Mary Rowen

Quirky contemporary drama about eating disorders and music

I read the author's other book after reading a guest post by her on a book blog, and thought she sounded interesting; liked this one even more. @maryjrowen  on Twitter.


4. THE FABRIC OF MURDER by William Savage 

18th Century Murder Mystery

I read the author's first book in my capacity as a member of Rosie Amber's Book Review Team.
I liked it so much I've read and reviewed both his others; this is my favourite. @penandpension on Twitter.


5. OCTOBER RAIN by Dylan Morgan  

Dystopian/Sci-Fi Novella

A Rosie Amber's Review Team choice
 @dylanjmorgan on Twitter


6. THE ART OF STAYING DEAD by Joel Hames  

Conspiracy thriller 

I read Mr Hames's first book (discovered via a promotional tweet); didn't like the subject matter but loved the way he writes, so thought I'd give this one a go.
@BankersTown on Twitter


7.  BLACKWATER by Alison Williams

17th century witch hunts, novella
 

Discovered the sequel via Twitter ages ago, and for some reason had never got round to reading this, too - glad I did!
@Alison_Williams on Twitter


8. FIVE BOOKS  by Jon Krakauer

Non-fiction: adventure/religion/injustice/mountaineering

I discovered the books of Jon Krakauer earlier in the year and decided to lump them all together as they're all brilliant!  Above is the link to Under The Banner of Heaven, with links to my reviews of the others.


9.  THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London  

Classic; 19th goldrush century adventure

I read about this in one of Jon Krakauer's books, so thought I'd give it a whirl.   


10. JASPER: Book Two of the Tudor Trilogy by Tony Riches 

Plantagenet/Tudor historical fiction

A Rosie Amber Review Team choice.  Author is @tonyriches
on Twitter 

   

Hope there's something there that interests you!