|
Browse categories
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 Customer Reviews
Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.
Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.
A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.
Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.
My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Product Description
"Each Peach Pear Plum. I spy Tom Thumb!" In this engaging, interactive book for the very young, familiar nursery-rhyme characters such as Mother Hubbard and Baby Bunting sneak their way into the gentle drawings. Even young children who might not know all the fairy-tale stars can find them lurking in the cupboard, on the stairs or deep in the woods. In the happy finale, the whole cast meets up for plum pie in the sun, where the little one on your lap will gleefully find everyone.
Customer Reviews
Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.
Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.
A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.
Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.
My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.
Lovely and gentle, 03 Aug 2008
Such a lovely board book and in my opinion it's perfect for babies and toddlers of any age really.
It's especially good for reading before a daytime nap (or any winding down time) as the beautiful rhymes and gentle illustrations can be quite soothing.
My 2 year old daughter loves it and I highly recommend it.
Buy it and you'll soon see...it will come out from the bookshelf time and time again.
amazing book let down by presentation, 26 Jan 2008
As all the other reviews say, this is an out and out classic children's book - a must have.
This copy, however, is dreadful. The paper is thin and overly glossy, making it difficult to get to the next page and it could do with being bigger as it's really all about the pictures. I bought where the wild things are at the same time and that is amazingly presented, highlighting the problem with this further. This seems like a pamphlet or concert programme - cheap.
Save money and get the board book. It's smaller but the pictures are sharper.
Charming, 14 Sep 2007
What a perfectly charming book. Children love the bouncy rhyme and they recognise many famous characters such as tom thumb and cinderella. Statistics show that if a child is not interested in a reading by the time they are 7 they never will be. This is a brilliant introduction to literature!
Lovely for young children, 06 Apr 2007
This is a lovely book for young children. Mine love looking on every page for the hidden character, and the rhyming text is great and easy to remember so little ones can join in when they've heard it a few times.
My 3 kids love this one!
Read this as a child, 13 Sep 2006
I read this book when I was in nursery school and 20 years on I still love it, this is one that my children will read. The rhyme is simple yet effective, the pictures are beautiful to look at and enjoyable as you follow the story and find the characters. A must have in every family.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.
Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.
A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.
Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.
My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.
Lovely and gentle, 03 Aug 2008
Such a lovely board book and in my opinion it's perfect for babies and toddlers of any age really.
It's especially good for reading before a daytime nap (or any winding down time) as the beautiful rhymes and gentle illustrations can be quite soothing.
My 2 year old daughter loves it and I highly recommend it.
Buy it and you'll soon see...it will come out from the bookshelf time and time again.
amazing book let down by presentation, 26 Jan 2008
As all the other reviews say, this is an out and out classic children's book - a must have.
This copy, however, is dreadful. The paper is thin and overly glossy, making it difficult to get to the next page and it could do with being bigger as it's really all about the pictures. I bought where the wild things are at the same time and that is amazingly presented, highlighting the problem with this further. This seems like a pamphlet or concert programme - cheap.
Save money and get the board book. It's smaller but the pictures are sharper.
Charming, 14 Sep 2007
What a perfectly charming book. Children love the bouncy rhyme and they recognise many famous characters such as tom thumb and cinderella. Statistics show that if a child is not interested in a reading by the time they are 7 they never will be. This is a brilliant introduction to literature!
Lovely for young children, 06 Apr 2007
This is a lovely book for young children. Mine love looking on every page for the hidden character, and the rhyming text is great and easy to remember so little ones can join in when they've heard it a few times.
My 3 kids love this one!
Read this as a child, 13 Sep 2006
I read this book when I was in nursery school and 20 years on I still love it, this is one that my children will read. The rhyme is simple yet effective, the pictures are beautiful to look at and enjoyable as you follow the story and find the characters. A must have in every family.
Spongebob Squarepants, 25 Feb 2005
spongebob is the best in the world i watched his film and enjoyed it
To be enjoyed by many ages, a good entertainer!, 02 Feb 2005
Being a big fan of spongebob squarepants, i had to get my hands on this book. I give it 4 out of 5. The jokes appeal to young children and older children and the illustrations are hilarious. The only bad thing for me was that it wasn't in colour, which would have been better since spongebob and his friends are the most colourful creatures under the sea!
The jokes are a mix of some classics, new innovative ones and silly but funny ones.
Great for any SpongeBob fans, 23 Nov 2004
This little book (41 pages, not including title page, and so forth) was a great big hit with my son. Most pages contain one or two wonderful black-and-white drawings of SpongeBob or one of the other Bikini Bottom gang, and a couple of jokes. The reading level is right on for Ages 4-8, and the jokes are funny enough to entertain older SpongeBob fans! My son (a Spongebob fan, like his father!) bought this book with his own money, and he considers it money well spent. We both recommend this book to you.
Cute, 17 Nov 2004
This is a cute little book full of silly lame jokes. It really is one to supplement a kid who is an avid Spongebob fan. At a nice price too, it shouldn't be too heavy on the pocket and is something that should keep your child amused for a while.
Spongebob!!!!!!, 01 Mar 2004
Heehee! I Love Spongebob Squarepants! Silly him!!!!
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.
Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.
A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.
Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.
My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.
Lovely and gentle, 03 Aug 2008
Such a lovely board book and in my opinion it's perfect for babies and toddlers of any age really.
It's especially good for reading before a daytime nap (or any winding down time) as the beautiful rhymes and gentle illustrations can be quite soothing.
My 2 year old daughter loves it and I highly recommend it.
Buy it and you'll soon see...it will come out from the bookshelf time and time again.
amazing book let down by presentation, 26 Jan 2008
As all the other reviews say, this is an out and out classic children's book - a must have.
This copy, however, is dreadful. The paper is thin and overly glossy, making it difficult to get to the next page and it could do with being bigger as it's really all about the pictures. I bought where the wild things are at the same time and that is amazingly presented, highlighting the problem with this further. This seems like a pamphlet or concert programme - cheap.
Save money and get the board book. It's smaller but the pictures are sharper.
Charming, 14 Sep 2007
What a perfectly charming book. Children love the bouncy rhyme and they recognise many famous characters such as tom thumb and cinderella. Statistics show that if a child is not interested in a reading by the time they are 7 they never will be. This is a brilliant introduction to literature!
Lovely for young children, 06 Apr 2007
This is a lovely book for young children. Mine love looking on every page for the hidden character, and the rhyming text is great and easy to remember so little ones can join in when they've heard it a few times.
My 3 kids love this one!
Read this as a child, 13 Sep 2006
I read this book when I was in nursery school and 20 years on I still love it, this is one that my children will read. The rhyme is simple yet effective, the pictures are beautiful to look at and enjoyable as you follow the story and find the characters. A must have in every family.
Spongebob Squarepants, 25 Feb 2005
spongebob is the best in the world i watched his film and enjoyed it
To be enjoyed by many ages, a good entertainer!, 02 Feb 2005
Being a big fan of spongebob squarepants, i had to get my hands on this book. I give it 4 out of 5. The jokes appeal to young children and older children and the illustrations are hilarious. The only bad thing for me was that it wasn't in colour, which would have been better since spongebob and his friends are the most colourful creatures under the sea!
The jokes are a mix of some classics, new innovative ones and silly but funny ones.
Great for any SpongeBob fans, 23 Nov 2004
This little book (41 pages, not including title page, and so forth) was a great big hit with my son. Most pages contain one or two wonderful black-and-white drawings of SpongeBob or one of the other Bikini Bottom gang, and a couple of jokes. The reading level is right on for Ages 4-8, and the jokes are funny enough to entertain older SpongeBob fans! My son (a Spongebob fan, like his father!) bought this book with his own money, and he considers it money well spent. We both recommend this book to you.
Cute, 17 Nov 2004
This is a cute little book full of silly lame jokes. It really is one to supplement a kid who is an avid Spongebob fan. At a nice price too, it shouldn't be too heavy on the pocket and is something that should keep your child amused for a while.
Spongebob!!!!!!, 01 Mar 2004
Heehee! I Love Spongebob Squarepants! Silly him!!!!
A book of two halves, 09 Oct 2008
For the most part, this book is entertaining and witty. Maconie's enthusiam for his subject is contagious and the stuff you are learning is genuinely interesting. Then he stops writing about Lancashire and starts on Yorkshire.
I can't help but think that this book would have been better if Maconie had stuck to what he knows, ie: the west side of the Pennines. Quite how, for example, he can make various claims about 'professional Yorkshiremen' (a dying breed anyway) and deny the existence of the Lancastrian equivalent is an unforgivable oversight that kind of gives away where Maconie's loyalties lie. They are not called 'professional Lancastrians' as such, but how many 'professional Scousers' and 'professional Mancs' could we name? Is Stuart Maconie's beloved Peter Kay not a great example of a professional Lancastrian? There's nothing wrong with that, and while such matters don't ruin the book, there is a real difference in Pies and Prejudice between the writing about Cheshire and Lancashire and the writing about the rest of 'the North'.
That, and a few errors that half-decent any sub would have picked up, aside, the book largely does what it sets out to do: entertain. Southerners that aren't as touchy as this reviewer will probably enjoy it all the more too.
Entertaining and perceptive, 28 Aug 2008
This is a superb book; although it has the appearance of belonging to the recently emerged sub genre of humorous and slightly outrageous travel writing, it quickly become apparent that there's far more to it than that. Maconie takes us on a selective tour of the North of England, visiting both his old haunts and other key areas, such as Liverpool, Harrogate and other parts of Yorkshire. Along the way, there are recollections of various amusing personal incidents and a stock of good one-liners, but alongside these, there's a depth of historical, cultural, political and social information and analysis, which is both well researched and convincingly argued. Well worth reading.
Whose pies are they?, 21 Aug 2008
I was on a cruise and the comedian was Bobby Bennett. In a question and answer session someone mentioned that he had been mentioned in Stuart Maconie's Pies and Prejudice as he was the compare of Junior Showtime in the 1970s with people like Bonnie Langford and Pauline Quirke.
That led me to read this book. The jokes about the north south divided is a bit of a cliche for comedians but the cliches are all we can go on without any facts. This book goes someway towards giving us some facts.
He story about the Wigan liking of pies is quite good.
A Bolton man who breathlessly tells his workman from Wigan about a new lunchtime offer at local pub
" A pie , a pint and a woman for 80p" The Wiganer seems unimpressed 80p repeats his workmate excitedly
H'm declares the Wiganer warily " Whose pies are they?"
He went to Blackpool when he was young and said when on the train he took out a book and began to read. the whole carriage looked at him as if he had taken out a cuckoo clock or a lacrosse stick.
I learnt that Roger Whittaker had got it all wrong in the song Durham Town (the leavin') he said he sat on the banks of the river Tyne whereas it should have been the Wear.
I have visited quite a few of the places he mentions but only briefly. It makes me want to visit them all again. A perceptive look at the north by someone who knows what he is talking about.
He should now do a similar book about the south
He says the BBC has A northern correspondent and that it would be laughable if anyone thought they should have southern correspondent. the South views the North as some sort of foreign country that has to be explained to from London and the home counties.
A good read and I have ordered his Cider with Roadies. Well recommended.
Well written, enjoyable and informative, 12 Aug 2008
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and as others have said it certainly has inspired me to visit some of the places described. I liked the author's writing style and most of all I found most of the historical detail interesting and educational. However after reading through relatively huge sections on Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan I was disappointed to see places like Sheffield glossed over very briefly - surely Sheffield has more to offer than the time he spent discussing the National Museum of Pop Music?
YES THERE IS A NORTH - SOUTH DIVIDE: WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES AND SOUTHERNERS CAN'T!, 01 Aug 2008
BRILLIANT READ. OK - if you know the places Stuart writes about (I know the exact chippy he talks about down the road from Crewe station!) it helps but even if you don't and have never ventured north of Chalfont St Witless, it's still a great read. The two one star reviewers from "Darn Sarth" are obviously miffed at the fact that no-one can be bothered to write about "southerners" because, as Maconie points out early on in the book, there is not the strong identification of "being a southerner" as there is for those of us north of..well, according to Stuart it's north of Stoke.
It pokes fun of the north and does ask some tough questions at times but more than anything else, it is a great travelogue. Strike a light, Guv, you can't ask fairer than that....
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.
Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.
A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.
Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.
My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.
Lovely and gentle, 03 Aug 2008
Such a lovely board book and in my opinion it's perfect for babies and toddlers of any age really.
It's especially good for reading before a daytime nap (or any winding down time) as the beautiful rhymes and gentle illustrations can be quite soothing.
My 2 year old daughter loves it and I highly recommend it.
Buy it and you'll soon see...it will come out from the bookshelf time and time again.
amazing book let down by presentation, 26 Jan 2008
As all the other reviews say, this is an out and out classic children's book - a must have.
This copy, however, is dreadful. The paper is thin and overly glossy, making it difficult to get to the next page and it could do with being bigger as it's really all about the pictures. I bought where the wild things are at the same time and that is amazingly presented, highlighting the problem with this further. This seems like a pamphlet or concert programme - cheap.
Save money and get the board book. It's smaller but the pictures are sharper.
Charming, 14 Sep 2007
What a perfectly charming book. Children love the bouncy rhyme and they recognise many famous characters such as tom thumb and cinderella. Statistics show that if a child is not interested in a reading by the time they are 7 they never will be. This is a brilliant introduction to literature!
Lovely for young children, 06 Apr 2007
This is a lovely book for young children. Mine love looking on every page for the hidden character, and the rhyming text is great and easy to remember so little ones can join in when they've heard it a few times.
My 3 kids love this one!
Read this as a child, 13 Sep 2006
I read this book when I was in nursery school and 20 years on I still love it, this is one that my children will read. The rhyme is simple yet effective, the pictures are beautiful to look at and enjoyable as you follow the story and find the characters. A must have in every family.
Spongebob Squarepants, 25 Feb 2005
spongebob is the best in the world i watched his film and enjoyed it
To be enjoyed by many ages, a good entertainer!, 02 Feb 2005
Being a big fan of spongebob squarepants, i had to get my hands on this book. I give it 4 out of 5. The jokes appeal to young children and older children and the illustrations are hilarious. The only bad thing for me was that it wasn't in colour, which would have been better since spongebob and his friends are the most colourful creatures under the sea!
The jokes are a mix of some classics, new innovative ones and silly but funny ones.
Great for any SpongeBob fans, 23 Nov 2004
This little book (41 pages, not including title page, and so forth) was a great big hit with my son. Most pages contain one or two wonderful black-and-white drawings of SpongeBob or one of the other Bikini Bottom gang, and a couple of jokes. The reading level is right on for Ages 4-8, and the jokes are funny enough to entertain older SpongeBob fans! My son (a Spongebob fan, like his father!) bought this book with his own money, and he considers it money well spent. We both recommend this book to you.
Cute, 17 Nov 2004
This is a cute little book full of silly lame jokes. It really is one to supplement a kid who is an avid Spongebob fan. At a nice price too, it shouldn't be too heavy on the pocket and is something that should keep your child amused for a while.
Spongebob!!!!!!, 01 Mar 2004
Heehee! I Love Spongebob Squarepants! Silly him!!!!
A book of two halves, 09 Oct 2008
For the most part, this book is entertaining and witty. Maconie's enthusiam for his subject is contagious and the stuff you are learning is genuinely interesting. Then he stops writing about Lancashire and starts on Yorkshire.
I can't help but think that this book would have been better if Maconie had stuck to what he knows, ie: the west side of the Pennines. Quite how, for example, he can make various claims about 'professional Yorkshiremen' (a dying breed anyway) and deny the existence of the Lancastrian equivalent is an unforgivable oversight that kind of gives away where Maconie's loyalties lie. They are not called 'professional Lancastrians' as such, but how many 'professional Scousers' and 'professional Mancs' could we name? Is Stuart Maconie's beloved Peter Kay not a great example of a professional Lancastrian? There's nothing wrong with that, and while such matters don't ruin the book, there is a real difference in Pies and Prejudice between the writing about Cheshire and Lancashire and the writing about the rest of 'the North'.
That, and a few errors that half-decent any sub would have picked up, aside, the book largely does what it sets out to do: entertain. Southerners that aren't as touchy as this reviewer will probably enjoy it all the more too.
Entertaining and perceptive, 28 Aug 2008
This is a superb book; although it has the appearance of belonging to the recently emerged sub genre of humorous and slightly outrageous travel writing, it quickly become apparent that there's far more to it than that. Maconie takes us on a selective tour of the North of England, visiting both his old haunts and other key areas, such as Liverpool, Harrogate and other parts of Yorkshire. Along the way, there are recollections of various amusing personal incidents and a stock of good one-liners, but alongside these, there's a depth of historical, cultural, political and social information and analysis, which is both well researched and convincingly argued. Well worth reading.
Whose pies are they?, 21 Aug 2008
I was on a cruise and the comedian was Bobby Bennett. In a question and answer session someone mentioned that he had been mentioned in Stuart Maconie's Pies and Prejudice as he was the compare of Junior Showtime in the 1970s with people like Bonnie Langford and Pauline Quirke.
That led me to read this book. The jokes about the north south divided is a bit of a cliche for comedians but the cliches are all we can go on without any facts. This book goes someway towards giving us some facts.
He story about the Wigan liking of pies is quite good.
A Bolton man who breathlessly tells his workman from Wigan about a new lunchtime offer at local pub
" A pie , a pint and a woman for 80p" The Wiganer seems unimpressed 80p repeats his workmate excitedly
H'm declares the Wiganer warily " Whose pies are they?"
He went to Blackpool when he was young and said when on the train he took out a book and began to read. the whole carriage looked at him as if he had taken out a cuckoo clock or a lacrosse stick.
I learnt that Roger Whittaker had got it all wrong in the song Durham Town (the leavin') he said he sat on the banks of the river Tyne whereas it should have been the Wear.
I have visited quite a few of the places he mentions but only briefly. It makes me want to visit them all again. A perceptive look at the north by someone who knows what he is talking about.
He should now do a similar book about the south
He says the BBC has A northern correspondent and that it would be laughable if anyone thought they should have southern correspondent. the South views the North as some sort of foreign country that has to be explained to from London and the home counties.
A good read and I have ordered his Cider with Roadies. Well recommended.
Well written, enjoyable and informative, 12 Aug 2008
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and as others have said it certainly has inspired me to visit some of the places described. I liked the author's writing style and most of all I found most of the historical detail interesting and educational. However after reading through relatively huge sections on Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan I was disappointed to see places like Sheffield glossed over very briefly - surely Sheffield has more to offer than the time he spent discussing the National Museum of Pop Music?
YES THERE IS A NORTH - SOUTH DIVIDE: WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES AND SOUTHERNERS CAN'T!, 01 Aug 2008
BRILLIANT READ. OK - if you know the places Stuart writes about (I know the exact chippy he talks about down the road from Crewe station!) it helps but even if you don't and have never ventured north of Chalfont St Witless, it's still a great read. The two one star reviewers from "Darn Sarth" are obviously miffed at the fact that no-one can be bothered to write about "southerners" because, as Maconie points out early on in the book, there is not the strong identification of "being a southerner" as there is for those of us north of..well, according to Stuart it's north of Stoke.
It pokes fun of the north and does ask some tough questions at times but more than anything else, it is a great travelogue. Strike a light, Guv, you can't ask fairer than that....
Rind - What Prince Charles Buys in the Pub, 20 Jun 2008
For fans of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, this second volume of the Uxbridge English Dictionary will come as no surprise - an excellent book of word play and hilarity. And now that poor Humph has left us, this may become a unique item....depends what they do with the show. Excellent book, very funny, and guaranteed to make you laugh - a great tribute to the show...the best radio comedy show around. Highly recommended.....oh and one more definition....Propaganda....A good look :)
The funniest book I have EVER read!, 18 May 2008
Fans of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue will need no introduction to this collection - for everyone else all that I can give you is one "defination" - "Reincarnation - to be born again as a tin of condensed milk" - I am a cynical, hard bitten old sod but I cried tears of laughter when I read this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
 |
|
The Timewaster Letters
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
|
*Amazon: £1.22
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.
Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.
A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.
Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.
My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.
Lovely and gentle, 03 Aug 2008
Such a lovely board book and in my opinion it's perfect for babies and toddlers of any age really.
It's especially good for reading before a daytime nap (or any winding down time) as the beautiful rhymes and gentle illustrations can be quite soothing.
My 2 year old daughter loves it and I highly recommend it.
Buy it and you'll soon see...it will come out from the bookshelf time and time again.
amazing book let down by presentation, 26 Jan 2008
As all the other reviews say, this is an out and out classic children's book - a must have.
This copy, however, is dreadful. The paper is thin and overly glossy, making it difficult to get to the next page and it could do with being bigger as it's really all about the pictures. I bought where the wild things are at the same time and that is amazingly presented, highlighting the problem with this further. This seems like a pamphlet or concert programme - cheap.
Save money and get the board book. It's smaller but the pictures are sharper.
Charming, 14 Sep 2007
What a perfectly charming book. Children love the bouncy rhyme and they recognise many famous characters such as tom thumb and cinderella. Statistics show that if a child is not interested in a reading by the time they are 7 they never will be. This is a brilliant introduction to literature!
Lovely for young children, 06 Apr 2007
This is a lovely book for young children. Mine love looking on every page for the hidden character, and the rhyming text is great and easy to remember so little ones can join in when they've heard it a few times.
My 3 kids love this one!
Read this as a child, 13 Sep 2006
I read this book when I was in nursery school and 20 years on I still love it, this is one that my children will read. The rhyme is simple yet effective, the pictures are beautiful to look at and enjoyable as you follow the story and find the characters. A must have in every family.
Spongebob Squarepants, 25 Feb 2005
spongebob is the best in the world i watched his film and enjoyed it
To be enjoyed by many ages, a good entertainer!, 02 Feb 2005
Being a big fan of spongebob squarepants, i had to get my hands on this book. I give it 4 out of 5. The jokes appeal to young children and older children and the illustrations are hilarious. The only bad thing for me was that it wasn't in colour, which would have been better since spongebob and his friends are the most colourful creatures under the sea!
The jokes are a mix of some classics, new innovative ones and silly but funny ones.
Great for any SpongeBob fans, 23 Nov 2004
This little book (41 pages, not including title page, and so forth) was a great big hit with my son. Most pages contain one or two wonderful black-and-white drawings of SpongeBob or one of the other Bikini Bottom gang, and a couple of jokes. The reading level is right on for Ages 4-8, and the jokes are funny enough to entertain older SpongeBob fans! My son (a Spongebob fan, like his father!) bought this book with his own money, and he considers it money well spent. We both recommend this book to you.
Cute, 17 Nov 2004
This is a cute little book full of silly lame jokes. It really is one to supplement a kid who is an avid Spongebob fan. At a nice price too, it shouldn't be too heavy on the pocket and is something that should keep your child amused for a while.
Spongebob!!!!!!, 01 Mar 2004
Heehee! I Love Spongebob Squarepants! Silly him!!!!
A book of two halves, 09 Oct 2008
For the most part, this book is entertaining and witty. Maconie's enthusiam for his subject is contagious and the stuff you are learning is genuinely interesting. Then he stops writing about Lancashire and starts on Yorkshire.
I can't help but think that this book would have been better if Maconie had stuck to what he knows, ie: the west side of the Pennines. Quite how, for example, he can make various claims about 'professional Yorkshiremen' (a dying breed anyway) and deny the existence of the Lancastrian equivalent is an unforgivable oversight that kind of gives away where Maconie's loyalties lie. They are not called 'professional Lancastrians' as such, but how many 'professional Scousers' and 'professional Mancs' could we name? Is Stuart Maconie's beloved Peter Kay not a great example of a professional Lancastrian? There's nothing wrong with that, and while such matters don't ruin the book, there is a real difference in Pies and Prejudice between the writing about Cheshire and Lancashire and the writing about the rest of 'the North'.
That, and a few errors that half-decent any sub would have picked up, aside, the book largely does what it sets out to do: entertain. Southerners that aren't as touchy as this reviewer will probably enjoy it all the more too.
Entertaining and perceptive, 28 Aug 2008
This is a superb book; although it has the appearance of belonging to the recently emerged sub genre of humorous and slightly outrageous travel writing, it quickly become apparent that there's far more to it than that. Maconie takes us on a selective tour of the North of England, visiting both his old haunts and other key areas, such as Liverpool, Harrogate and other parts of Yorkshire. Along the way, there are recollections of various amusing personal incidents and a stock of good one-liners, but alongside these, there's a depth of historical, cultural, political and social information and analysis, which is both well researched and convincingly argued. Well worth reading.
Whose pies are they?, 21 Aug 2008
I was on a cruise and the comedian was Bobby Bennett. In a question and answer session someone mentioned that he had been mentioned in Stuart Maconie's Pies and Prejudice as he was the compare of Junior Showtime in the 1970s with people like Bonnie Langford and Pauline Quirke.
That led me to read this book. The jokes about the north south divided is a bit of a cliche for comedians but the cliches are all we can go on without any facts. This book goes someway towards giving us some facts.
He story about the Wigan liking of pies is quite good.
A Bolton man who breathlessly tells his workman from Wigan about a new lunchtime offer at local pub
" A pie , a pint and a woman for 80p" The Wiganer seems unimpressed 80p repeats his workmate excitedly
H'm declares the Wiganer warily " Whose pies are they?"
He went to Blackpool when he was young and said when on the train he took out a book and began to read. the whole carriage looked at him as if he had taken out a cuckoo clock or a lacrosse stick.
I learnt that Roger Whittaker had got it all wrong in the song Durham Town (the leavin') he said he sat on the banks of the river Tyne whereas it should have been the Wear.
I have visited quite a few of the places he mentions but only briefly. It makes me want to visit them all again. A perceptive look at the north by someone who knows what he is talking about.
He should now do a similar book about the south
He says the BBC has A northern correspondent and that it would be laughable if anyone thought they should have southern correspondent. the South views the North as some sort of foreign country that has to be explained to from London and the home counties.
A good read and I have ordered his Cider with Roadies. Well recommended.
Well written, enjoyable and informative, 12 Aug 2008
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and as others have said it certainly has inspired me to visit some of the places described. I liked the author's writing style and most of all I found most of the historical detail interesting and educational. However after reading through relatively huge sections on Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan I was disappointed to see places like Sheffield glossed over very briefly - surely Sheffield has more to offer than the time he spent discussing the National Museum of Pop Music?
YES THERE IS A NORTH - SOUTH DIVIDE: WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES AND SOUTHERNERS CAN'T!, 01 Aug 2008
BRILLIANT READ. OK - if you know the places Stuart writes about (I know the exact chippy he talks about down the road from Crewe station!) it helps but even if you don't and have never ventured north of Chalfont St Witless, it's still a great read. The two one star reviewers from "Darn Sarth" are obviously miffed at the fact that no-one can be bothered to write about "southerners" because, as Maconie points out early on in the book, there is not the strong identification of "being a southerner" as there is for those of us north of..well, according to Stuart it's north of Stoke.
It pokes fun of the north and does ask some tough questions at times but more than anything else, it is a great travelogue. Strike a light, Guv, you can't ask fairer than that....
Rind - What Prince Charles Buys in the Pub, 20 Jun 2008
For fans of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, this second volume of the Uxbridge English Dictionary will come as no surprise - an excellent book of word play and hilarity. And now that poor Humph has left us, this may become a unique item....depends what they do with the show. Excellent book, very funny, and guaranteed to make you laugh - a great tribute to the show...the best radio comedy show around. Highly recommended.....oh and one more definition....Propaganda....A good look :)
The funniest book I have EVER read!, 18 May 2008
Fans of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue will need no introduction to this collection - for everyone else all that I can give you is one "defination" - "Reincarnation - to be born again as a tin of condensed milk" - I am a cynical, hard bitten old sod but I cried tears of laughter when I read this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely hilarious book, 27 Sep 2008
A fabulously funny book. I laughed and LAUGHED and LAUGHed. My wife laughed so much a small bit of wee came out, but since having our second child, that does happen every 7 weeks or so.
For me, the enjoyment did not come from the letters being a `wind-up' - the author does not relish in making people seem foolish and does not ever really ridicule them. If they did subsequently read their own responses in the book, I think they'd see the funny side. The humour lies in the totally natural and unforced way the author writes about the bizarre, and his intelligent simple constructs in the correspondence. It avoids the lazy, artificially bizarre (hurling raw fish at a radiator) kind of comedy in favour of something more educated and rounded. The comedy reminded me of some of the more intelligent and less crude articles found in Viz, but a bit more grown-up.
The small details had me in hysterics. "Poor water boy" may not seem too hilarious, but in the context of the letter to the Belgian Ambassador, that single phrase had me howling for several (9) minutes and laughing the next morning (Thursday); at least I think it was Thursday because I remember seeing an offal lorry on that day.
Top notch, 25 Sep 2008
Cooper wasn't the first to embark on this genre but he's up there with the best. Funny, whimsical and wonderfully pointless. Henry Root is my all time favourite wind up merchant followed by The Raymond Delauney Emails, which is absolutely hilarious. Cooper's books are perfect for cheering you up on a day when you are feeling a little down.
Boring and really not funny, 27 Mar 2008
The idea for this book is rather simple: write silly letters to various companies and get them to play along with the game. It sounds interesting at first but I found it rather tedious. I had one or two giggles but there's nothing that really made me laugh out loud and I thought that the book lived up to it's title - it really is a timewaster! If you want cranks then I'd recommend watching Fonejacker, which is a very funny show with guaranteed laughs.
Ok - funny in parts, 23 Mar 2008
I bought this as a result of an Amazon recommendation after purchasing and enjoying a couple of Guy Browning books. Whereas they were laugh out loud hilarious, this is mildly amusing verging at times on the childish, but nonetheless, enjoyable to read during the tedium of a 2 hour commute; anything to lighten the day is a good thing, right?!
Hilarious, 20 Nov 2007
It isn't often that a book makes me laugh out loud, but this is genuinely, side-splittingly funny. I drove my husband mad with it, to the point where he too had to read it in sheer self-defence.
The premise is simple, Robin Cooper, the author, picks random institutions and writes them letters of astonishing absurdity in the hope that they will write back and a correspondence can then ensue. You would think, given the patent lunacy of many of his letters, that he would be roundly ignored, but luckily for us, he does get replies, and these with the original letters are what makes up this book.
My particular favourites are the letters in which diagrams of the most terrible, wobbly penned quality are sent out with the letters in illustration of some madly random point, and then these are actually taken seriously by the correspondent. Genius, pure genius.
I am now on my third copy, having lent and mysteriously never been given back my previous two. Be warned this is a book you think you will dip into and then accidentally end up reading in one sitting, howling with laughter.
|
|
|
 |
|
Wannabe a Writer?
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
|
*Amazon: £4.44
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.
Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.
A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.
Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.
My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.
Lovely and gentle, 03 Aug 2008
Such a lovely board book and in my opinion it's perfect for babies and toddlers of any age really.
It's especially good for reading before a daytime nap (or any winding down time) as the beautiful rhymes and gentle illustrations can be quite soothing.
My 2 year old daughter loves it and I highly recommend it.
Buy it and you'll soon see...it will come out from the bookshelf time and time again.
amazing book let down by presentation, 26 Jan 2008
As all the other reviews say, this is an out and out classic children's book - a must have.
This copy, however, is dreadful. The paper is thin and overly glossy, making it difficult to get to the next page and it could do with being bigger as it's really all about the pictures. I bought where the wild things are at the same time and that is amazingly presented, highlighting the problem with this further. This seems like a pamphlet or concert programme - cheap.
Save money and get the board book. It's smaller but the pictures are sharper.
Charming, 14 Sep 2007
What a perfectly charming book. Children love the bouncy rhyme and they recognise many famous characters such as tom thumb and cinderella. Statistics show that if a child is not interested in a reading by the time they are 7 they never will be. This is a brilliant introduction to literature!
Lovely for young children, 06 Apr 2007
This is a lovely book for young children. Mine love looking on every page for the hidden character, and the rhyming text is great and easy to remember so little ones can join in when they've heard it a few times.
My 3 kids love this one!
Read this as a child, 13 Sep 2006
I read this book when I was in nursery school and 20 years on I still love it, this is one that my children will read. The rhyme is simple yet effective, the pictures are beautiful to look at and enjoyable as you follow the story and find the characters. A must have in every family.
Spongebob Squarepants, 25 Feb 2005
spongebob is the best in the world i watched his film and enjoyed it
To be enjoyed by many ages, a good entertainer!, 02 Feb 2005
Being a big fan of spongebob squarepants, i had to get my hands on this book. I give it 4 out of 5. The jokes appeal to young children and older children and the illustrations are hilarious. The only bad thing for me was that it wasn't in colour, which would have been better since spongebob and his friends are the most colourful creatures under the sea!
The jokes are a mix of some classics, new innovative ones and silly but funny ones.
Great for any SpongeBob fans, 23 Nov 2004
This little book (41 pages, not including title page, and so forth) was a great big hit with my son. Most pages contain one or two wonderful black-and-white drawings of SpongeBob or one of the other Bikini Bottom gang, and a couple of jokes. The reading level is right on for Ages 4-8, and the jokes are funny enough to entertain older SpongeBob fans! My son (a Spongebob fan, like his father!) bought this book with his own money, and he considers it money well spent. We both recommend this book to you.
Cute, 17 Nov 2004
This is a cute little book full of silly lame jokes. It really is one to supplement a kid who is an avid Spongebob fan. At a nice price too, it shouldn't be too heavy on the pocket and is something that should keep your child amused for a while.
Spongebob!!!!!!, 01 Mar 2004
Heehee! I Love Spongebob Squarepants! Silly him!!!!
A book of two halves, 09 Oct 2008
For the most part, this book is entertaining and witty. Maconie's enthusiam for his subject is contagious and the stuff you are learning is genuinely interesting. Then he stops writing about Lancashire and starts on Yorkshire.
I can't help but think that this book would have been better if Maconie had stuck to what he knows, ie: the west side of the Pennines. Quite how, for example, he can make various claims about 'professional Yorkshiremen' (a dying breed anyway) and deny the existence of the Lancastrian equivalent is an unforgivable oversight that kind of gives away where Maconie's loyalties lie. They are not called 'professional Lancastrians' as such, but how many 'professional Scousers' and 'professional Mancs' could we name? Is Stuart Maconie's beloved Peter Kay not a great example of a professional Lancastrian? There's nothing wrong with that, and while such matters don't ruin the book, there is a real difference in Pies and Prejudice between the writing about Cheshire and Lancashire and the writing about the rest of 'the North'.
That, and a few errors that half-decent any sub would have picked up, aside, the book largely does what it sets out to do: entertain. Southerners that aren't as touchy as this reviewer will probably enjoy it all the more too.
Entertaining and perceptive, 28 Aug 2008
This is a superb book; although it has the appearance of belonging to the recently emerged sub genre of humorous and slightly outrageous travel writing, it quickly become apparent that there's far more to it than that. Maconie takes us on a selective tour of the North of England, visiting both his old haunts and other key areas, such as Liverpool, Harrogate and other parts of Yorkshire. Along the way, there are recollections of various amusing personal incidents and a stock of good one-liners, but alongside these, there's a depth of historical, cultural, political and social information and analysis, which is both well researched and convincingly argued. Well worth reading.
Whose pies are they?, 21 Aug 2008
I was on a cruise and the comedian was Bobby Bennett. In a question and answer session someone mentioned that he had been mentioned in Stuart Maconie's Pies and Prejudice as he was the compare of Junior Showtime in the 1970s with people like Bonnie Langford and Pauline Quirke.
That led me to read this book. The jokes about the north south divided is a bit of a cliche for comedians but the cliches are all we can go on without any facts. This book goes someway towards giving us some facts.
He story about the Wigan liking of pies is quite good.
A Bolton man who breathlessly tells his workman from Wigan about a new lunchtime offer at local pub
" A pie , a pint and a woman for 80p" The Wiganer seems unimpressed 80p repeats his workmate excitedly
H'm declares the Wiganer warily " Whose pies are they?"
He went to Blackpool when he was young and said when on the train he took out a book and began to read. the whole carriage looked at him as if he had taken out a cuckoo clock or a lacrosse stick.
I learnt that Roger Whittaker had got it all wrong in the song Durham Town (the leavin') he said he sat on the banks of the river Tyne whereas it should have been the Wear.
I have visited quite a few of the places he mentions but only briefly. It makes me want to visit them all again. A perceptive look at the north by someone who knows what he is talking about.
He should now do a similar book about the south
He says the BBC has A northern correspondent and that it would be laughable if anyone thought they should have southern correspondent. the South views the North as some sort of foreign country that has to be explained to from London and the home counties.
A good read and I have ordered his Cider with Roadies. Well recommended.
Well written, enjoyable and informative, 12 Aug 2008
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and as others have said it certainly has inspired me to visit some of the places described. I liked the author's writing style and most of all I found most of the historical detail interesting and educational. However after reading through relatively huge sections on Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan I was disappointed to see places like Sheffield glossed over very briefly - surely Sheffield has more to offer than the time he spent discussing the National Museum of Pop Music?
YES THERE IS A NORTH - SOUTH DIVIDE: WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES AND SOUTHERNERS CAN'T!, 01 Aug 2008
BRILLIANT READ. OK - if you know the places Stuart writes about (I know the exact chippy he talks about down the road from Crewe station!) it helps but even if you don't and have never ventured north of Chalfont St Witless, it's still a great read. The two one star reviewers from "Darn Sarth" are obviously miffed at the fact that no-one can be bothered to write about "southerners" because, as Maconie points out early on in the book, there is not the strong identification of "being a southerner" as there is for those of us north of..well, according to Stuart it's north of Stoke.
It pokes fun of the north and does ask some tough questions at times but more than anything else, it is a great travelogue. Strike a light, Guv, you can't ask fairer than that....
Rind - What Prince Charles Buys in the Pub, 20 Jun 2008
For fans of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, this second volume of the Uxbridge English Dictionary will come as no surprise - an excellent book of word play and hilarity. And now that poor Humph has left us, this may become a unique item....depends what they do with the show. Excellent book, very funny, and guaranteed to make you laugh - a great tribute to the show...the best radio comedy show around. Highly recommended.....oh and one more definition....Propaganda....A good look :)
The funniest book I have EVER read!, 18 May 2008
Fans of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue will need no introduction to this collection - for everyone else all that I can give you is one "defination" - "Reincarnation - to be born again as a tin of condensed milk" - I am a cynical, hard bitten old sod but I cried tears of laughter when I read this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely hilarious book, 27 Sep 2008
A fabulously funny book. I laughed and LAUGHED and LAUGHed. My wife laughed so much a small bit of wee came out, but since having our second child, that does happen every 7 weeks or so.
For me, the enjoyment did not come from the letters being a `wind-up' - the author does not relish in making people seem foolish and does not ever really ridicule them. If they did subsequently read their own responses in the book, I think they'd see the funny side. The humour lies in the totally natural and unforced way the author writes about the bizarre, and his intelligent simple constructs in the correspondence. It avoids the lazy, artificially bizarre (hurling raw fish at a radiator) kind of comedy in favour of something more educated and rounded. The comedy reminded me of some of the more intelligent and less crude articles found in Viz, but a bit more grown-up.
The small details had me in hysterics. "Poor water boy" may not seem too hilarious, but in the context of the letter to the Belgian Ambassador, that single phrase had me howling for several (9) minutes and laughing the next morning (Thursday); at least I think it was Thursday because I remember seeing an offal lorry on that day.
Top notch, 25 Sep 2008
Cooper wasn't the first to embark on this genre but he's up there with the best. Funny, whimsical and wonderfully pointless. Henry Root is my all time favourite wind up merchant followed by The Raymond Delauney Emails, which is absolutely hilarious. Cooper's books are perfect for cheering you up on a day when you are feeling a little down.
Boring and really not funny, 27 Mar 2008
The idea for this book is rather simple: write silly letters to various companies and get them to play along with the game. It sounds interesting at first but I found it rather tedious. I had one or two giggles but there's nothing that really made me laugh out loud and I thought that the book lived up to it's title - it really is a timewaster! If you want cranks then I'd recommend watching Fonejacker, which is a very funny show with guaranteed laughs.
Ok - funny in parts, 23 Mar 2008
I bought this as a result of an Amazon recommendation after purchasing and enjoying a couple of Guy Browning books. Whereas they were laugh out loud hilarious, this is mildly amusing verging at times on the childish, but nonetheless, enjoyable to read during the tedium of a 2 hour commute; anything to lighten the day is a good thing, right?!
Hilarious, 20 Nov 2007
It isn't often that a book makes me laugh out loud, but this is genuinely, side-splittingly funny. I drove my husband mad with it, to the point where he too had to read it in sheer self-defence.
The premise is simple, Robin Cooper, the author, picks random institutions and writes them letters of astonishing absurdity in the hope that they will write back and a correspondence can then ensue. You would think, given the patent lunacy of many of his letters, that he would be roundly ignored, but luckily for us, he does get replies, and these with the original letters are what makes up this book.
My particular favourites are the letters in which diagrams of the most terrible, wobbly penned quality are sent out with the letters in illustration of some madly random point, and then these are actually taken seriously by the correspondent. Genius, pure genius.
I am now on my third copy, having lent and mysteriously never been given back my previous two. Be warned this is a book you think you will dip into and then accidentally end up reading in one sitting, howling with laughter.
I'm gonnabe a writer after reading this!, 12 Oct 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews on here because I have discovered recently that I have a really strong interest in writing. I'd always thought writing was for a particular sort of person, the very talented, super-creative sorts who have characters and plots falling out of their ears. This book helped me to see that writing is for anyone who has the desire to write and that if you fancy having a go you should go for it.
The first few chapters had me laughing out loud with tears rolling down my face. It was such good fun, not a serious text book at all yet getting many serious points across. I wish I could write like that!
I also enjoyed the input from wide ranges of other authors, agents and publishers that provided both balance and backup to the topics. I feel encouraged to have a go and I'm glad that I have read this at the very beginning of my adventure.
Just enough inspiration at just the right time - if you think you might be interested in becoming a writer but are not sure what to do next, buy this book!
Brilliant, 09 Aug 2008
Both wonderfully entertaining and extremely helpful, this book is ideal for all people, from those of us who have just daydreamed about becoming a writer, to those of you who are already well on their way. Well written with an endearing personal touch it was perfect for me, still being at university a book on how to become a writer could easily have terrified me out of the profession forever! This book, however, inspired several of my friends and I to give writing a go. Each chapter is full of useful information sandwiched between Jane's own unpretentious and amusing life experiences as a writer; I would highly recommend it to all!
Real people with real lives....real writing, 18 Jul 2008
Like every second house in every second street, I aspire to be published. I bought this book, initially because the reviews hinted at it being a wring book for the non-committed writer. And it is. But it's also for the absolutely dedicated, fanatical writer too. So who wins?
Both parties as it turn out. This book delivers everything you'd want. A fun read, a hilarious read. A real book of realistic expectations. it doesn't promise to make you or me rich. It can't even promise break even. even alluding to permanent poverty and despair.
However, it does demonstrate the best way to destroy your liver and family life. So that's fine by me too. A large glass if you please. Oh, and a keyboard to go....
Realistic, helpful and amusing, 13 Jul 2008
At last a 'how to' book on writing that doesn't preach to its readers. Wenham-Jones' writing style is funny, making the book a page-turner anyway but, for me, it's the fact that her approach is totally down-to-earth, realistic and not too highbrow that makes it a winner. The author shares her own struggles trying to get fiction published and reminds you constantly that hardly anyone creates a masterpiece on their first attempt. Instead she gives all sorts of tips that I found both inspiring and useful, plus lots of useful contacts, websites and groups you can join for support.
If you're serious about your writing, you won't regret buying this book.
Inspirational writing, 03 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book. Helped inspire me to keep going with my novel. Great book for anyone trying to finish their novel or wants to have a go at writing.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.
Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.
A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.
Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.
My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.
Lovely and gentle, 03 Aug 2008
Such a lovely board book and in my opinion it's perfect for babies and toddlers of any age really.
It's especially good for reading before a daytime nap (or any winding down time) as the beautiful rhymes and gentle illustrations can be quite soothing.
My 2 year old daughter loves it and I highly recommend it.
Buy it and you'll soon see...it will come out from the bookshelf time and time again.
amazing book let down by presentation, 26 Jan 2008
As all the other reviews say, this is an out and out classic children's book - a must have.
This copy, however, is dreadful. The paper is thin and overly glossy, making it difficult to get to the next page and it could do with being bigger as it's really all about the pictures. I bought where the wild things are at the same time and that is amazingly presented, highlighting the problem with this further. This seems like a pamphlet or concert programme - cheap.
Save money and get the board book. It's smaller but the pictures are sharper.
Charming, 14 Sep 2007
What a perfectly charming book. Children love the bouncy rhyme and they recognise many famous characters such as tom thumb and cinderella. Statistics show that if a child is not interested in a reading by the time they are 7 they never will be. This is a brilliant introduction to literature!
Lovely for young children, 06 Apr 2007
This is a lovely book for young children. Mine love looking on every page for the hidden character, and the rhyming text is great and easy to remember so little ones can join in when they've heard it a few times.
My 3 kids love this one!
Read this as a child, 13 Sep 2006
I read this book when I was in nursery school and 20 years on I still love it, this is one that my children will read. The rhyme is simple yet effective, the pictures are beautiful to look at and enjoyable as you follow the story and find the characters. A must have in every family.
Spongebob Squarepants, 25 Feb 2005
spongebob is the best in the world i watched his film and enjoyed it
To be enjoyed by many ages, a good entertainer!, 02 Feb 2005
Being a big fan of spongebob squarepants, i had to get my hands on this book. I give it 4 out of 5. The jokes appeal to young children and older children and the illustrations are hilarious. The only bad thing for me was that it wasn't in colour, which would have been better since spongebob and his friends are the most colourful creatures under the sea!
The jokes are a mix of some classics, new innovative ones and silly but funny ones.
Great for any SpongeBob fans, 23 Nov 2004
This little book (41 pages, not including title page, and so forth) was a great big hit with my son. Most pages contain one or two wonderful black-and-white drawings of SpongeBob or one of the other Bikini Bottom gang, and a couple of jokes. The reading level is right on for Ages 4-8, and the jokes are funny enough to entertain older SpongeBob fans! My son (a Spongebob fan, like his father!) bought this book with his own money, and he considers it money well spent. We both recommend this book to you.
Cute, 17 Nov 2004
This is a cute little book full of silly lame jokes. It really is one to supplement a kid who is an avid Spongebob fan. At a nice price too, it shouldn't be too heavy on the pocket and is something that should keep your child amused for a while.
Spongebob!!!!!!, 01 Mar 2004
Heehee! I Love Spongebob Squarepants! Silly him!!!!
A book of two halves, 09 Oct 2008
For the most part, this book is entertaining and witty. Maconie's enthusiam for his subject is contagious and the stuff you are learning is genuinely interesting. Then he stops writing about Lancashire and starts on Yorkshire.
I can't help but think that this book would have been better if Maconie had stuck to what he knows, ie: the west side of the Pennines. Quite how, for example, he can make various claims about 'professional Yorkshiremen' (a dying breed anyway) and deny the existence of the Lancastrian equivalent is an unforgivable oversight that kind of gives away where Maconie's loyalties lie. They are not called 'professional Lancastrians' as such, but how many 'professional Scousers' and 'professional Mancs' could we name? Is Stuart Maconie's beloved Peter Kay not a great example of a professional Lancastrian? There's nothing wrong with that, and while such matters don't ruin the book, there is a real difference in Pies and Prejudice between the writing about Cheshire and Lancashire and the writing about the rest of 'the North'.
That, and a few errors that half-decent any sub would have picked up, aside, the book largely does what it sets out to do: entertain. Southerners that aren't as touchy as this reviewer will probably enjoy it all the more too.
Entertaining and perceptive, 28 Aug 2008
This is a superb book; although it has the appearance of belonging to the recently emerged sub genre of humorous and slightly outrageous travel writing, it quickly become apparent that there's far more to it than that. Maconie takes us on a selective tour of the North of England, visiting both his old haunts and other key areas, such as Liverpool, Harrogate and other parts of Yorkshire. Along the way, there are recollections of various amusing personal incidents and a stock of good one-liners, but alongside these, there's a depth of historical, cultural, political and social information and analysis, which is both well researched and convincingly argued. Well worth reading.
Whose pies are they?, 21 Aug 2008
I was on a cruise and the comedian was Bobby Bennett. In a question and answer session someone mentioned that he had been mentioned in Stuart Maconie's Pies and Prejudice as he was the compare of Junior Showtime in the 1970s with people like Bonnie Langford and Pauline Quirke.
That led me to read this book. The jokes about the north south divided is a bit of a cliche for comedians but the cliches are all we can go on without any facts. This book goes someway towards giving us some facts.
He story about the Wigan liking of pies is quite good.
A Bolton man who breathlessly tells his workman from Wigan about a new lunchtime offer at local pub
" A pie , a pint and a woman for 80p" The Wiganer seems unimpressed 80p repeats his workmate excitedly
H'm declares the Wiganer warily " Whose pies are they?"
He went to Blackpool when he was young and said when on the train he took out a book and began to read. the whole carriage looked at him as if he had taken out a cuckoo clock or a lacrosse stick.
I learnt that Roger Whittaker had got it all wrong in the song Durham Town (the leavin') he said he sat on the banks of the river Tyne whereas it should have been the Wear.
I have visited quite a few of the places he mentions but only briefly. It makes me want to visit them all again. A perceptive look at the north by someone who knows what he is talking about.
He should now do a similar book about the south
He says the BBC has A northern correspondent and that it would be laughable if anyone thought they should have southern correspondent. the South views the North as some sort of foreign country that has to be explained to from London and the home counties.
A good read and I have ordered his Cider with Roadies. Well recommended.
Well written, enjoyable and informative, 12 Aug 2008
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and as others have said it certainly has inspired me to visit some of the places described. I liked the author's writing style and most of all I found most of the historical detail interesting and educational. However after reading through relatively huge sections on Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan I was disappointed to see places like Sheffield glossed over very briefly - surely Sheffield has more to offer than the time he spent discussing the National Museum of Pop Music?
YES THERE IS A NORTH - SOUTH DIVIDE: WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES AND SOUTHERNERS CAN'T!, 01 Aug 2008
BRILLIANT READ. OK - if you know the places Stuart writes about (I know the exact chippy he talks about down the road from Crewe station!) it helps but even if you don't and have never ventured north of Chalfont St Witless, it's still a great read. The two one star reviewers from "Darn Sarth" are obviously miffed at the fact that no-one can be bothered to write about "southerners" because, as Maconie points out early on in the book, there is not the strong identification of "being a southerner" as there is for those of us north of..well, according to Stuart it's north of Stoke.
It pokes fun of the north and does ask some tough questions at times but more than anything else, it is a great travelogue. Strike a light, Guv, you can't ask fairer than that....
Rind - What Prince Charles Buys in the Pub, 20 Jun 2008
For fans of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, this second volume of the Uxbridge English Dictionary will come as no surprise - an excellent book of word play and hilarity. And now that poor Humph has left us, this may become a unique item....depends what they do with the show. Excellent book, very funny, and guaranteed to make you laugh - a great tribute to the show...the best radio comedy show around. Highly recommended.....oh and one more definition....Propaganda....A good look :)
The funniest book I have EVER read!, 18 May 2008
Fans of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue will need no introduction to this collection - for everyone else all that I can give you is one "defination" - "Reincarnation - to be born again as a tin of condensed milk" - I am a cynical, hard bitten old sod but I cried tears of laughter when I read this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely hilarious book, 27 Sep 2008
A fabulously funny book. I laughed and LAUGHED and LAUGHed. My wife laughed so much a small bit of wee came out, but since having our second child, that does happen every 7 weeks or so.
For me, the enjoyment did not come from the letters being a `wind-up' - the author does not relish in making people seem foolish and does not ever really ridicule them. If they did subsequently read their own responses in the book, I think they'd see the funny side. The humour lies in the totally natural and unforced way the author writes about the bizarre, and his intelligent simple constructs in the correspondence. It avoids the lazy, artificially bizarre (hurling raw fish at a radiator) kind of comedy in favour of something more educated and rounded. The comedy reminded me of some of the more intelligent and less crude articles found in Viz, but a bit more grown-up.
The small details had me in hysterics. "Poor water boy" may not seem too hilarious, but in the context of the letter to the Belgian Ambassador, that single phrase had me howling for several (9) minutes and laughing the next morning (Thursday); at least I think it was Thursday because I remember seeing an offal lorry on that day.
Top notch, 25 Sep 2008
Cooper wasn't the first to embark on this genre but he's up there with the best. Funny, whimsical and wonderfully pointless. Henry Root is my all time favourite wind up merchant followed by The Raymond Delauney Emails, which is absolutely hilarious. Cooper's books are perfect for cheering you up on a day when you are feeling a little down.
Boring and really not funny, 27 Mar 2008
The idea for this book is rather simple: write silly letters to various companies and get them to play along with the game. It sounds interesting at first but I found it rather tedious. I had one or two giggles but there's nothing that really made me laugh out loud and I thought that the book lived up to it's title - it really is a timewaster! If you want cranks then I'd recommend watching Fonejacker, which is a very funny show with guaranteed laughs.
Ok - funny in parts, 23 Mar 2008
I bought this as a result of an Amazon recommendation after purchasing and enjoying a couple of Guy Browning books. Whereas they were laugh out loud hilarious, this is mildly amusing verging at times on the childish, but nonetheless, enjoyable to read during the tedium of a 2 hour commute; anything to lighten the day is a good thing, right?!
Hilarious, 20 Nov 2007
It isn't often that a book makes me laugh out loud, but this is genuinely, side-splittingly funny. I drove my husband mad with it, to the point where he too had to read it in sheer self-defence.
The premise is simple, Robin Cooper, the author, picks random institutions and writes them letters of astonishing absurdity in the hope that they will write back and a correspondence can then ensue. You would think, given the patent lunacy of many of his letters, that he would be roundly ignored, but luckily for us, he does get replies, and these with the original letters are what makes up this book.
My particular favourites are the letters in which diagrams of the most terrible, wobbly penned quality are sent out with the letters in illustration of some madly random point, and then these are actually taken seriously by the correspondent. Genius, pure genius.
I am now on my third copy, having lent and mysteriously never been given back my previous two. Be warned this is a book you think you will dip into and then accidentally end up reading in one sitting, howling with laughter.
I'm gonnabe a writer after reading this!, 12 Oct 2008
I bought this book after reading the reviews on here because I have discovered recently that I have a really strong interest in writing. I'd always thought writing was for a particular sort of person, the very talented, super-creative sorts who have characters and plots falling out of their ears. This book helped me to see that writing is for anyone who has the desire to write and that if you fancy having a go you should go for it.
The first few chapters had me laughing out loud with tears rolling down my face. It was such good fun, not a serious text book at all yet getting many serious points across. I wish I could write like that!
I also enjoyed the input from wide ranges of other authors, agents and publishers that provided both balance and backup to the topics. I feel encouraged to have a go and I'm glad that I have read this at the very beginning of my adventure.
Just enough inspiration at just the right time - if you think you might be interested in becoming a writer but are not sure what to do next, buy this book!
Brilliant, 09 Aug 2008
Both wonderfully entertaining and extremely helpful, this book is ideal for all people, from those of us who have just daydreamed about becoming a writer, to those of you who are already well on their way. Well written with an endearing personal touch it was perfect for me, still being at university a book on how to become a writer could easily have terrified me out of the profession forever! This book, however, inspired several of my friends and I to give writing a go. Each chapter is full of useful information sandwiched between Jane's own unpretentious and amusing life experiences as a writer; I would highly recommend it to all!
Real people with real lives....real writing, 18 Jul 2008
Like every second house in every second street, I aspire to be published. I bought this book, initially because the reviews hinted at it being a wring book for the non-committed writer. And it is. But it's also for the absolutely dedicated, fanatical writer too. So who wins?
Both parties as it turn out. This book delivers everything you'd want. A fun read, a hilarious read. A real book of realistic expectations. it doesn't promise to make you or me rich. It can't even promise break even. even alluding to permanent poverty and despair.
However, it does demonstrate the best way to destroy your liver and family life. So that's fine by me too. A large glass if you please. Oh, and a keyboard to go....
Realistic, helpful and amusing, 13 Jul 2008
At last a 'how to' book on writing that doesn't preach to its readers. Wenham-Jones' writing style is funny, making the book a page-turner anyway but, for me, it's the fact that her approach is totally down-to-earth, realistic and not too highbrow that makes it a winner. The author shares her own struggles trying to get fiction published and reminds you constantly that hardly anyone creates a masterpiece on their first attempt. Instead she gives all sorts of tips that I found both inspiring and useful, plus lots of useful contacts, websites and groups you can join for support.
If you're serious about your writing, you won't regret buying this book.
Inspirational writing, 03 Jun 2008
This is a brilliant book. Helped inspire me to keep going with my novel. Great book for anyone trying to finish their novel or wants to have a go at writing.
BEEN THERE FORGOT THE TEE SHIRT!, 05 Dec 2007
Shelly`s book is essential reading for anyone who has trailed aound the house looking for lost keys or come downstairs for something, having to go back upstairs to remember what it was! A funny book full of helpful hints to survive the mid and later life crisises.
Mick Drake author of the comic novel All`s Well at Wellwithoute
An odd little book, but entertaining , 24 Nov 2007
I bought this for my parents although, ironically, the print is rather small and I'm concerned that they may struggle with it! I started browsing through it myself and was hooked. The book is a complete hotchpotch of ideas and styles. There are quotes from politicians, writers, comedians and actors. One-liners, jokes, anecdotes and more serious advice. There is no over-riding structure, it just seems to ramble on in whichever direction feels good at the time.
It only took a couple of hours to read, so is not great value for money. Some of the advice comes across as a little obvious or patronising and feels a little out of place in what I took to be a humorous coffee table/bathroom book. There are a lot of well-known quotes in here which may again make you feel that you've wasted your money. It seems that the writer has a particular liking for certain comedians as well who are quoted bizarrely often.
Overall though it does take a light-hearted look at the effects of ageing (which it assumes occur in those turning 40, not just over retirement age). So not a bad little stocking filler.
very droll, 03 Apr 2006
we've all had them! there are some very good funny stories and quotes.. and the top tips are very inspirational.. .. nice to have a cheery book about this subject!
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
Perhaps she'll die?, 09 Oct 2008
I loved this book when I was little. I'm sure we had the paper version. But my 10 month old daughter now loves the indestructable board version. A must have.
Lovely, well-illustrated book, 03 Oct 2008
My toddler realy enjoys singing along, but I'm not sure he gets the significance of 'perhaps she'll die' - it's great fun, but it is irritating that each page shows both the new animal being introduced and the next one along - so that when I'm singing about the dog, the lad is shouting 'cow, daddy, look, cow'. But excellent for all that.
A childhood classic, 15 Sep 2008
A childhood favorite that I now share with my son. The imaginative book design with holes encourages interaction and is always stimulating. Any child who has been read this book at my house soon gets their own copy! Enjoy.
Brings back childhood memories, 31 Jul 2008
I love this book! I remember it from when I was a kid, (more than 30 years ago!) I have been searching for it for ages for my 3 year old son who loves books, and he loves it too. Not sure if it has changed over the years, but it's very much the same as I remember it to be.
My toddler prefers other sing along books, 06 May 2008
My 17 month old little boy has this, along with other sing along books, he's never taken to this one.
He much prefers "the wheels on the bus", I'm not sure if it's because this book isn't very colourful.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with it when it arrived.
Lovely and gentle, 03 Aug 2008
Such a lovely board book and in my opinion it's perfect for babies and toddlers of any age really.
It's especially good for reading before a daytime nap (or any winding down time) as the beautiful rhymes and gentle illustrations can be quite soothing.
My 2 year old daughter loves it and I highly recommend it.
Bu | | |