As only a child can!, 24 Nov 2007
Funny, lovable and heartwarming. Better because it comes from the heart as only children can present the story of 2000 years ago in a Nativity play. I could imagine the voices of the children and Gervais Phinn as I read the book.




Fantastic, laugh out loud book review by Maz-Manchester, 20 Sep 2007
having had 3 boys myself and experience of childhood "clangers" over the years, I laughed out loud at the antics of the children in this book, never has a book made me giggle so much or marvel and enjoy the innocence of childhood. The book has a lovely feel-good factor and one which you can dip into again and again, every page you open makes you smile at one antic or another. The storyline really jumps out of the page and you can almost hear the children with their Yorkshire accent and lovely sayings. A really heart-warming, delightful book full of enchanting anecdotes and I'm delighted to recommend it to all, great family reading.

:o), 24 Jun 2007
NOT to be read when you are travelling on public transport. A laugh-out-loud book. The only fault was that it wasn't long enough.

What a bore, 12 Jun 2007
Quite who Gervaise Phinn had in mind as his potential audience is quite beyond me. This book is full of the kind of drivel that, if spouted by someone at a dinner party, would have everyone coming up with excuses involving babysitters or early starts, anything but endure another "witty" anecdote from Mr Phinn. Full of the kind of nauseating tales that would be hard enough to bare from the children's doting parents, Gervais Phinn lives up to Charles de Montesquieu's definition of an author as "a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations".

Wish there'd been more!, 01 Jan 2007
This is a funny and touching book - it took me right back to watching my Son's nativity plays and at times gave me a lump in my throat...

My only regret is that there isn't enough content: this book could have easily been half as thick, but the canny folks at Penguin have used LARGE TYPEFACE to help fill up the pages and that's a shame. It would have been better as a slimmer volume at a cheaper price than p-a-d-d-e-d o-u-t in this way.

As only a child can!, 24 Nov 2007
Funny, lovable and heartwarming. Better because it comes from the heart as only children can present the story of 2000 years ago in a Nativity play. I could imagine the voices of the children and Gervais Phinn as I read the book.




Fantastic, laugh out loud book review by Maz-Manchester, 20 Sep 2007
having had 3 boys myself and experience of childhood "clangers" over the years, I laughed out loud at the antics of the children in this book, never has a book made me giggle so much or marvel and enjoy the innocence of childhood. The book has a lovely feel-good factor and one which you can dip into again and again, every page you open makes you smile at one antic or another. The storyline really jumps out of the page and you can almost hear the children with their Yorkshire accent and lovely sayings. A really heart-warming, delightful book full of enchanting anecdotes and I'm delighted to recommend it to all, great family reading.

:o), 24 Jun 2007
NOT to be read when you are travelling on public transport. A laugh-out-loud book. The only fault was that it wasn't long enough.

What a bore, 12 Jun 2007
Quite who Gervaise Phinn had in mind as his potential audience is quite beyond me. This book is full of the kind of drivel that, if spouted by someone at a dinner party, would have everyone coming up with excuses involving babysitters or early starts, anything but endure another "witty" anecdote from Mr Phinn. Full of the kind of nauseating tales that would be hard enough to bare from the children's doting parents, Gervais Phinn lives up to Charles de Montesquieu's definition of an author as "a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations".

Wish there'd been more!, 01 Jan 2007
This is a funny and touching book - it took me right back to watching my Son's nativity plays and at times gave me a lump in my throat...

My only regret is that there isn't enough content: this book could have easily been half as thick, but the canny folks at Penguin have used LARGE TYPEFACE to help fill up the pages and that's a shame. It would have been better as a slimmer volume at a cheaper price than p-a-d-d-e-d o-u-t in this way.

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, 13 Nov 2008
I must say the author has made a good and funny translation of what would have considered harmless children's stories into modern day PC propaganda. What I will say is that it did get a tiny bit repetitive but otherwise it is a good read. Highly recommended for all those who remember the good old days of our children's stories

For everyone not PC repressed, 15 Dec 2007
For any Squaddies or ex-Squaddies who might read this review -

I swamped myself - you have been warned

Funny - or not?, 19 Aug 2007
I found the first two or three amusing - but after that it became just too predictable and, I confess, I never managed to finish it!

Oppression, Alienation, and the Three Little Pigs, 29 Dec 2005
Bedtime stories are probably among the oldest forms of tale-telling there is in human history. Before epic poetry, before political speeches, before religious tales of awe, there were people sitting around campfires and living in caves, caring for their young, speaking soothing sounds to their young.

Bedtime stories were quickly discerned to be an excellent way in which to reinforce not only language skills, but culture and accepted morality, too.

So, why is it that fairy tales, the more-modern equivalent of these stories, became canonised and thus immutable by the likes of the Brothers Grimm, etc.? Just what does Hansel & Gretel or the Little Red Riding Hood mean for us today, beyond being good stories?

And, are they good stories? Should we teach children there are houses made of candy and cookies out in the woods? This is the kind of question addressed in this delightful little collection, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, realise that this is all in fun, but, as it is fun, highlights certain important points nonetheless. Political correctness can be stretched to the limits of absurdity, like almost anything carried to and beyond its logical limits. That is not to say that political correctness is all bad. But, we do approach a time when nothing can be said for fear of offending someone somewhere at some time.

James Finn Garner highlights this in his introduction, by saying if he has inadvertently displayed any sexist, racist, culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, ageist, lookist, ableist, sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist, phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other type of bias as yet unnamed, he apologizes and encourages your suggestions for rectification.

In this volume, we have the following stories, revised and updated for the modern reader:

- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Emperor's New Clothes
- The Three Little Pigs
- Rumpelstiltskin
- The Three Codependent Goats Gruff
- Rapunzel
- Cinderella
- Goldilocks
- Snow White
- Chicken Little
- The Frog Prince
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- The Pied Piper of Hamlin

I shall recount part of the tale of the Frog Prince below, so you can get a sense of the style of the rest of the stories in this book, which present Little Red Riding Hood teaming up with the wolf against the violence of the hunter, the three pigs living in a harmonious collective, and of course, the frog prince: Once, there was a young princess who, when she grew tired of beating her head against the male power structure at her castle, would relax by walking into the woods and sitting beside a small pond. There she would amuse herself by tossing her favourite golden ball up and down and pondering the role of the eco-feminist in her era.

Well, to cut a not-so-long story even shorter (and to avoid infringements by limiting my take to a fair-use length!), the princess and the frog agree to terms, but when the frog approaches for a kiss, the princess feels harassed; however, she relents, and the frog transforms into a businessman who wants to make the pond into a golf course and condo development... The princess eventually decided that she really didn't need a prince after all, particularly one like this, and turns him back into a frog.

'And while someone might have noticed that the frog was gone, no one ever missed the real estate developer.'

Of course, apologies are due to real estate developers, those who wear tacky golf clothing, and those caught in an inter-species spell.

Fun for children of all adult ages.

BRILLIANTLY FUNNY, 06 Jan 2003
This book is for anyone who likes parodys or mocking the political systems. it is a 'value for money' book,as itwill have you laughing all the time (due to its humorous twists and phrases.) The book is composed of several 're-looks' at popular Fairy-Tales and Nursery Stories. I thoroughly recommend this book for everyone, as although it is based on Fairy Tales; its updated twists,endings and political humor makes it more adult- but keeping it light and not boring.

As only a child can!, 24 Nov 2007
Funny, lovable and heartwarming. Better because it comes from the heart as only children can present the story of 2000 years ago in a Nativity play. I could imagine the voices of the children and Gervais Phinn as I read the book.




Fantastic, laugh out loud book review by Maz-Manchester, 20 Sep 2007
having had 3 boys myself and experience of childhood "clangers" over the years, I laughed out loud at the antics of the children in this book, never has a book made me giggle so much or marvel and enjoy the innocence of childhood. The book has a lovely feel-good factor and one which you can dip into again and again, every page you open makes you smile at one antic or another. The storyline really jumps out of the page and you can almost hear the children with their Yorkshire accent and lovely sayings. A really heart-warming, delightful book full of enchanting anecdotes and I'm delighted to recommend it to all, great family reading.

:o), 24 Jun 2007
NOT to be read when you are travelling on public transport. A laugh-out-loud book. The only fault was that it wasn't long enough.

What a bore, 12 Jun 2007
Quite who Gervaise Phinn had in mind as his potential audience is quite beyond me. This book is full of the kind of drivel that, if spouted by someone at a dinner party, would have everyone coming up with excuses involving babysitters or early starts, anything but endure another "witty" anecdote from Mr Phinn. Full of the kind of nauseating tales that would be hard enough to bare from the children's doting parents, Gervais Phinn lives up to Charles de Montesquieu's definition of an author as "a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations".

Wish there'd been more!, 01 Jan 2007
This is a funny and touching book - it took me right back to watching my Son's nativity plays and at times gave me a lump in my throat...

My only regret is that there isn't enough content: this book could have easily been half as thick, but the canny folks at Penguin have used LARGE TYPEFACE to help fill up the pages and that's a shame. It would have been better as a slimmer volume at a cheaper price than p-a-d-d-e-d o-u-t in this way.

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, 13 Nov 2008
I must say the author has made a good and funny translation of what would have considered harmless children's stories into modern day PC propaganda. What I will say is that it did get a tiny bit repetitive but otherwise it is a good read. Highly recommended for all those who remember the good old days of our children's stories

For everyone not PC repressed, 15 Dec 2007
For any Squaddies or ex-Squaddies who might read this review -

I swamped myself - you have been warned

Funny - or not?, 19 Aug 2007
I found the first two or three amusing - but after that it became just too predictable and, I confess, I never managed to finish it!

Oppression, Alienation, and the Three Little Pigs, 29 Dec 2005
Bedtime stories are probably among the oldest forms of tale-telling there is in human history. Before epic poetry, before political speeches, before religious tales of awe, there were people sitting around campfires and living in caves, caring for their young, speaking soothing sounds to their young.

Bedtime stories were quickly discerned to be an excellent way in which to reinforce not only language skills, but culture and accepted morality, too.

So, why is it that fairy tales, the more-modern equivalent of these stories, became canonised and thus immutable by the likes of the Brothers Grimm, etc.? Just what does Hansel & Gretel or the Little Red Riding Hood mean for us today, beyond being good stories?

And, are they good stories? Should we teach children there are houses made of candy and cookies out in the woods? This is the kind of question addressed in this delightful little collection, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, realise that this is all in fun, but, as it is fun, highlights certain important points nonetheless. Political correctness can be stretched to the limits of absurdity, like almost anything carried to and beyond its logical limits. That is not to say that political correctness is all bad. But, we do approach a time when nothing can be said for fear of offending someone somewhere at some time.

James Finn Garner highlights this in his introduction, by saying if he has inadvertently displayed any sexist, racist, culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, ageist, lookist, ableist, sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist, phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other type of bias as yet unnamed, he apologizes and encourages your suggestions for rectification.

In this volume, we have the following stories, revised and updated for the modern reader:

- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Emperor's New Clothes
- The Three Little Pigs
- Rumpelstiltskin
- The Three Codependent Goats Gruff
- Rapunzel
- Cinderella
- Goldilocks
- Snow White
- Chicken Little
- The Frog Prince
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- The Pied Piper of Hamlin

I shall recount part of the tale of the Frog Prince below, so you can get a sense of the style of the rest of the stories in this book, which present Little Red Riding Hood teaming up with the wolf against the violence of the hunter, the three pigs living in a harmonious collective, and of course, the frog prince: Once, there was a young princess who, when she grew tired of beating her head against the male power structure at her castle, would relax by walking into the woods and sitting beside a small pond. There she would amuse herself by tossing her favourite golden ball up and down and pondering the role of the eco-feminist in her era.

Well, to cut a not-so-long story even shorter (and to avoid infringements by limiting my take to a fair-use length!), the princess and the frog agree to terms, but when the frog approaches for a kiss, the princess feels harassed; however, she relents, and the frog transforms into a businessman who wants to make the pond into a golf course and condo development... The princess eventually decided that she really didn't need a prince after all, particularly one like this, and turns him back into a frog.

'And while someone might have noticed that the frog was gone, no one ever missed the real estate developer.'

Of course, apologies are due to real estate developers, those who wear tacky golf clothing, and those caught in an inter-species spell.

Fun for children of all adult ages.

BRILLIANTLY FUNNY, 06 Jan 2003
This book is for anyone who likes parodys or mocking the political systems. it is a 'value for money' book,as itwill have you laughing all the time (due to its humorous twists and phrases.) The book is composed of several 're-looks' at popular Fairy-Tales and Nursery Stories. I thoroughly recommend this book for everyone, as although it is based on Fairy Tales; its updated twists,endings and political humor makes it more adult- but keeping it light and not boring.

An enjoyable collection of Wodehouse's works, 27 Feb 1999
Before purchasing this book I had only been aquainted with Wodehouse's most famous characters Bertie Wooster and his stalwart man servant, Jeeves; and I must say that it was a pleasant suprise to be introduced to Reggie Pepper. His stories frolic in as much fun as Bertie's and he is a man who can think for himself (althought I do miss the perspicatious Jeeves standing in a corner ever ready to solve all the world's problems). With a mixture of Bertie, Jeeves and Reggie you're sure to have a jolly old time.

As only a child can!, 24 Nov 2007
Funny, lovable and heartwarming. Better because it comes from the heart as only children can present the story of 2000 years ago in a Nativity play. I could imagine the voices of the children and Gervais Phinn as I read the book.




Fantastic, laugh out loud book review by Maz-Manchester, 20 Sep 2007
having had 3 boys myself and experience of childhood "clangers" over the years, I laughed out loud at the antics of the children in this book, never has a book made me giggle so much or marvel and enjoy the innocence of childhood. The book has a lovely feel-good factor and one which you can dip into again and again, every page you open makes you smile at one antic or another. The storyline really jumps out of the page and you can almost hear the children with their Yorkshire accent and lovely sayings. A really heart-warming, delightful book full of enchanting anecdotes and I'm delighted to recommend it to all, great family reading.

:o), 24 Jun 2007
NOT to be read when you are travelling on public transport. A laugh-out-loud book. The only fault was that it wasn't long enough.

What a bore, 12 Jun 2007
Quite who Gervaise Phinn had in mind as his potential audience is quite beyond me. This book is full of the kind of drivel that, if spouted by someone at a dinner party, would have everyone coming up with excuses involving babysitters or early starts, anything but endure another "witty" anecdote from Mr Phinn. Full of the kind of nauseating tales that would be hard enough to bare from the children's doting parents, Gervais Phinn lives up to Charles de Montesquieu's definition of an author as "a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations".

Wish there'd been more!, 01 Jan 2007
This is a funny and touching book - it took me right back to watching my Son's nativity plays and at times gave me a lump in my throat...

My only regret is that there isn't enough content: this book could have easily been half as thick, but the canny folks at Penguin have used LARGE TYPEFACE to help fill up the pages and that's a shame. It would have been better as a slimmer volume at a cheaper price than p-a-d-d-e-d o-u-t in this way.

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, 13 Nov 2008
I must say the author has made a good and funny translation of what would have considered harmless children's stories into modern day PC propaganda. What I will say is that it did get a tiny bit repetitive but otherwise it is a good read. Highly recommended for all those who remember the good old days of our children's stories

For everyone not PC repressed, 15 Dec 2007
For any Squaddies or ex-Squaddies who might read this review -

I swamped myself - you have been warned

Funny - or not?, 19 Aug 2007
I found the first two or three amusing - but after that it became just too predictable and, I confess, I never managed to finish it!

Oppression, Alienation, and the Three Little Pigs, 29 Dec 2005
Bedtime stories are probably among the oldest forms of tale-telling there is in human history. Before epic poetry, before political speeches, before religious tales of awe, there were people sitting around campfires and living in caves, caring for their young, speaking soothing sounds to their young.

Bedtime stories were quickly discerned to be an excellent way in which to reinforce not only language skills, but culture and accepted morality, too.

So, why is it that fairy tales, the more-modern equivalent of these stories, became canonised and thus immutable by the likes of the Brothers Grimm, etc.? Just what does Hansel & Gretel or the Little Red Riding Hood mean for us today, beyond being good stories?

And, are they good stories? Should we teach children there are houses made of candy and cookies out in the woods? This is the kind of question addressed in this delightful little collection, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, realise that this is all in fun, but, as it is fun, highlights certain important points nonetheless. Political correctness can be stretched to the limits of absurdity, like almost anything carried to and beyond its logical limits. That is not to say that political correctness is all bad. But, we do approach a time when nothing can be said for fear of offending someone somewhere at some time.

James Finn Garner highlights this in his introduction, by saying if he has inadvertently displayed any sexist, racist, culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, ageist, lookist, ableist, sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist, phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other type of bias as yet unnamed, he apologizes and encourages your suggestions for rectification.

In this volume, we have the following stories, revised and updated for the modern reader:

- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Emperor's New Clothes
- The Three Little Pigs
- Rumpelstiltskin
- The Three Codependent Goats Gruff
- Rapunzel
- Cinderella
- Goldilocks
- Snow White
- Chicken Little
- The Frog Prince
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- The Pied Piper of Hamlin

I shall recount part of the tale of the Frog Prince below, so you can get a sense of the style of the rest of the stories in this book, which present Little Red Riding Hood teaming up with the wolf against the violence of the hunter, the three pigs living in a harmonious collective, and of course, the frog prince: Once, there was a young princess who, when she grew tired of beating her head against the male power structure at her castle, would relax by walking into the woods and sitting beside a small pond. There she would amuse herself by tossing her favourite golden ball up and down and pondering the role of the eco-feminist in her era.

Well, to cut a not-so-long story even shorter (and to avoid infringements by limiting my take to a fair-use length!), the princess and the frog agree to terms, but when the frog approaches for a kiss, the princess feels harassed; however, she relents, and the frog transforms into a businessman who wants to make the pond into a golf course and condo development... The princess eventually decided that she really didn't need a prince after all, particularly one like this, and turns him back into a frog.

'And while someone might have noticed that the frog was gone, no one ever missed the real estate developer.'

Of course, apologies are due to real estate developers, those who wear tacky golf clothing, and those caught in an inter-species spell.

Fun for children of all adult ages.

BRILLIANTLY FUNNY, 06 Jan 2003
This book is for anyone who likes parodys or mocking the political systems. it is a 'value for money' book,as itwill have you laughing all the time (due to its humorous twists and phrases.) The book is composed of several 're-looks' at popular Fairy-Tales and Nursery Stories. I thoroughly recommend this book for everyone, as although it is based on Fairy Tales; its updated twists,endings and political humor makes it more adult- but keeping it light and not boring.

An enjoyable collection of Wodehouse's works, 27 Feb 1999
Before purchasing this book I had only been aquainted with Wodehouse's most famous characters Bertie Wooster and his stalwart man servant, Jeeves; and I must say that it was a pleasant suprise to be introduced to Reggie Pepper. His stories frolic in as much fun as Bertie's and he is a man who can think for himself (althought I do miss the perspicatious Jeeves standing in a corner ever ready to solve all the world's problems). With a mixture of Bertie, Jeeves and Reggie you're sure to have a jolly old time.

Perceptive and very funny, 26 May 2004
This is a marvellously funny book, well worth reading. Unlike most collections of scripts from TV comedies, this has been carefully and skilfully edited to make it into a highly plausible diary.

We learn of Jim Hacker's rise to the office of Prime Minister and observe his relationships with leading Civil Service figures, such as Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley. The tension between party politics and goverment and the scheming of the civil service officials is brilliantly worked out throughout the diary. Wry comments on British political, religious and military history subtly abound.

A highly entertaining book that presents a tongue-in-cheek view of the goings on at No 10, it's easy to get really involved with the story. The portrayal of various characters is superb, the odious and somewhat ineffectual PM Jim Hacker, the highly intelligent, scheming Sir Humphrey and the pragmatic and pedantic Bernard Woolley shine through.

Great fun - read it.

Intelligent, clever humour., 17 Feb 2004
The relationship between Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey and Bernard Wooley are brilliantly detailed in this collection of the episodes. Instead of the normal transcribe of scripts that one expects in humour series books, the episodes are carefully presented in diary form. We learn all the information through a variety of diaries, official documents and letters from different sources. The clever humour of the television series is not lost in the translation and in fact possibly increases. It is possible that the book form is even better than the television series (excepting the brilliant acting).
This is clever humour that does not dumb down for anyone and gives a corrageously accurate depiction of the British civil service.

Superb, 06 Oct 2003
At last television series scripts that aren't.

I am ususally disappointed when I am given 'scripts' to various sitcoms, as they are dry and boring to read, but with Yes Prome Minister, not so! Lynn and Jay have expertly transferred the screenplay into continous prose, with excellent returns. Super just to 'dip into', the light-hearted antics of Whitehall and No. 10 will amuse almost anyone! A real pleasure to read - again and again!

The Real Thing, 05 Apr 2003
This is the definitive text book on how British politics works.

It is essential reading for students of politics to save wasting time on all those theoretical constitutional tomes, and for anyone who ever comes into contact with government - it will reassure you that your experiences are not unique but are part of an overall pattern of creative inertia. Sir Humphrey should be the role model for all civil servants who want to get on in their careers and want to prevent their political masters getting on in theirs. There is no evidence that Sir Humphrey is a reincarnation of Machiavelli but it is highly likely. How did earlier generations cope without this masterpiece?

Can never be read too often.

A superb and insightful read- typical of Yes PM, 12 Jun 2000
A brilliant read, superbly crafted, the diary entries of James Harker, Humphrey and Bernard. The book goes through each Yes PM episode in am way of diary entries, as expected the PM's entries makes himself look clever, Humphrey's makes his irrational ideas look normal and Bernard fight with his conscience. More books like these should be available. In a word................Superb

As only a child can!, 24 Nov 2007
Funny, lovable and heartwarming. Better because it comes from the heart as only children can present the story of 2000 years ago in a Nativity play. I could imagine the voices of the children and Gervais Phinn as I read the book.




Fantastic, laugh out loud book review by Maz-Manchester, 20 Sep 2007
having had 3 boys myself and experience of childhood "clangers" over the years, I laughed out loud at the antics of the children in this book, never has a book made me giggle so much or marvel and enjoy the innocence of childhood. The book has a lovely feel-good factor and one which you can dip into again and again, every page you open makes you smile at one antic or another. The storyline really jumps out of the page and you can almost hear the children with their Yorkshire accent and lovely sayings. A really heart-warming, delightful book full of enchanting anecdotes and I'm delighted to recommend it to all, great family reading.

:o), 24 Jun 2007
NOT to be read when you are travelling on public transport. A laugh-out-loud book. The only fault was that it wasn't long enough.

What a bore, 12 Jun 2007
Quite who Gervaise Phinn had in mind as his potential audience is quite beyond me. This book is full of the kind of drivel that, if spouted by someone at a dinner party, would have everyone coming up with excuses involving babysitters or early starts, anything but endure another "witty" anecdote from Mr Phinn. Full of the kind of nauseating tales that would be hard enough to bare from the children's doting parents, Gervais Phinn lives up to Charles de Montesquieu's definition of an author as "a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations".

Wish there'd been more!, 01 Jan 2007
This is a funny and touching book - it took me right back to watching my Son's nativity plays and at times gave me a lump in my throat...

My only regret is that there isn't enough content: this book could have easily been half as thick, but the canny folks at Penguin have used LARGE TYPEFACE to help fill up the pages and that's a shame. It would have been better as a slimmer volume at a cheaper price than p-a-d-d-e-d o-u-t in this way.

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, 13 Nov 2008
I must say the author has made a good and funny translation of what would have considered harmless children's stories into modern day PC propaganda. What I will say is that it did get a tiny bit repetitive but otherwise it is a good read. Highly recommended for all those who remember the good old days of our children's stories

For everyone not PC repressed, 15 Dec 2007
For any Squaddies or ex-Squaddies who might read this review -

I swamped myself - you have been warned

Funny - or not?, 19 Aug 2007
I found the first two or three amusing - but after that it became just too predictable and, I confess, I never managed to finish it!

Oppression, Alienation, and the Three Little Pigs, 29 Dec 2005
Bedtime stories are probably among the oldest forms of tale-telling there is in human history. Before epic poetry, before political speeches, before religious tales of awe, there were people sitting around campfires and living in caves, caring for their young, speaking soothing sounds to their young.

Bedtime stories were quickly discerned to be an excellent way in which to reinforce not only language skills, but culture and accepted morality, too.

So, why is it that fairy tales, the more-modern equivalent of these stories, became canonised and thus immutable by the likes of the Brothers Grimm, etc.? Just what does Hansel & Gretel or the Little Red Riding Hood mean for us today, beyond being good stories?

And, are they good stories? Should we teach children there are houses made of candy and cookies out in the woods? This is the kind of question addressed in this delightful little collection, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, realise that this is all in fun, but, as it is fun, highlights certain important points nonetheless. Political correctness can be stretched to the limits of absurdity, like almost anything carried to and beyond its logical limits. That is not to say that political correctness is all bad. But, we do approach a time when nothing can be said for fear of offending someone somewhere at some time.

James Finn Garner highlights this in his introduction, by saying if he has inadvertently displayed any sexist, racist, culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, ageist, lookist, ableist, sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist, phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other type of bias as yet unnamed, he apologizes and encourages your suggestions for rectification.

In this volume, we have the following stories, revised and updated for the modern reader:

- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Emperor's New Clothes
- The Three Little Pigs
- Rumpelstiltskin
- The Three Codependent Goats Gruff
- Rapunzel
- Cinderella
- Goldilocks
- Snow White
- Chicken Little
- The Frog Prince
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- The Pied Piper of Hamlin

I shall recount part of the tale of the Frog Prince below, so you can get a sense of the style of the rest of the stories in this book, which present Little Red Riding Hood teaming up with the wolf against the violence of the hunter, the three pigs living in a harmonious collective, and of course, the frog prince: Once, there was a young princess who, when she grew tired of beating her head against the male power structure at her castle, would relax by walking into the woods and sitting beside a small pond. There she would amuse herself by tossing her favourite golden ball up and down and pondering the role of the eco-feminist in her era.

Well, to cut a not-so-long story even shorter (and to avoid infringements by limiting my take to a fair-use length!), the princess and the frog agree to terms, but when the frog approaches for a kiss, the princess feels harassed; however, she relents, and the frog transforms into a businessman who wants to make the pond into a golf course and condo development... The princess eventually decided that she really didn't need a prince after all, particularly one like this, and turns him back into a frog.

'And while someone might have noticed that the frog was gone, no one ever missed the real estate developer.'

Of course, apologies are due to real estate developers, those who wear tacky golf clothing, and those caught in an inter-species spell.

Fun for children of all adult ages.

BRILLIANTLY FUNNY, 06 Jan 2003
This book is for anyone who likes parodys or mocking the political systems. it is a 'value for money' book,as itwill have you laughing all the time (due to its humorous twists and phrases.) The book is composed of several 're-looks' at popular Fairy-Tales and Nursery Stories. I thoroughly recommend this book for everyone, as although it is based on Fairy Tales; its updated twists,endings and political humor makes it more adult- but keeping it light and not boring.

An enjoyable collection of Wodehouse's works, 27 Feb 1999
Before purchasing this book I had only been aquainted with Wodehouse's most famous characters Bertie Wooster and his stalwart man servant, Jeeves; and I must say that it was a pleasant suprise to be introduced to Reggie Pepper. His stories frolic in as much fun as Bertie's and he is a man who can think for himself (althought I do miss the perspicatious Jeeves standing in a corner ever ready to solve all the world's problems). With a mixture of Bertie, Jeeves and Reggie you're sure to have a jolly old time.

Perceptive and very funny, 26 May 2004
This is a marvellously funny book, well worth reading. Unlike most collections of scripts from TV comedies, this has been carefully and skilfully edited to make it into a highly plausible diary.

We learn of Jim Hacker's rise to the office of Prime Minister and observe his relationships with leading Civil Service figures, such as Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley. The tension between party politics and goverment and the scheming of the civil service officials is brilliantly worked out throughout the diary. Wry comments on British political, religious and military history subtly abound.

A highly entertaining book that presents a tongue-in-cheek view of the goings on at No 10, it's easy to get really involved with the story. The portrayal of various characters is superb, the odious and somewhat ineffectual PM Jim Hacker, the highly intelligent, scheming Sir Humphrey and the pragmatic and pedantic Bernard Woolley shine through.

Great fun - read it.

Intelligent, clever humour., 17 Feb 2004
The relationship between Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey and Bernard Wooley are brilliantly detailed in this collection of the episodes. Instead of the normal transcribe of scripts that one expects in humour series books, the episodes are carefully presented in diary form. We learn all the information through a variety of diaries, official documents and letters from different sources. The clever humour of the television series is not lost in the translation and in fact possibly increases. It is possible that the book form is even better than the television series (excepting the brilliant acting).
This is clever humour that does not dumb down for anyone and gives a corrageously accurate depiction of the British civil service.

Superb, 06 Oct 2003
At last television series scripts that aren't.

I am ususally disappointed when I am given 'scripts' to various sitcoms, as they are dry and boring to read, but with Yes Prome Minister, not so! Lynn and Jay have expertly transferred the screenplay into continous prose, with excellent returns. Super just to 'dip into', the light-hearted antics of Whitehall and No. 10 will amuse almost anyone! A real pleasure to read - again and again!

The Real Thing, 05 Apr 2003
This is the definitive text book on how British politics works.

It is essential reading for students of politics to save wasting time on all those theoretical constitutional tomes, and for anyone who ever comes into contact with government - it will reassure you that your experiences are not unique but are part of an overall pattern of creative inertia. Sir Humphrey should be the role model for all civil servants who want to get on in their careers and want to prevent their political masters getting on in theirs. There is no evidence that Sir Humphrey is a reincarnation of Machiavelli but it is highly likely. How did earlier generations cope without this masterpiece?

Can never be read too often.

A superb and insightful read- typical of Yes PM, 12 Jun 2000
A brilliant read, superbly crafted, the diary entries of James Harker, Humphrey and Bernard. The book goes through each Yes PM episode in am way of diary entries, as expected the PM's entries makes himself look clever, Humphrey's makes his irrational ideas look normal and Bernard fight with his conscience. More books like these should be available. In a word................Superb

What Ho! , 27 Jun 2008
It hasn't occurred to me to review audio CD's before but as we tend to listen to them when making long car journeys and good ones can just make the miles whizz by I thought I'd break my duck with this one as it is one of the most enjoyable ones I've heard recently. The stories themselves are of course timeless but Cecil ( who has appeared in various guises on other Wodehouse productions on TV and radio) was surely born to read these and in my opinion they are infinitely superior to the various dramatisations that have been on the radio and are more easily digestible. Cecil obviously has a whale of a time when he records his Wodehouse discs. I don't know if he is still doing them but they are well worth getting - much better than the abridged versions and/or the dramatisations as I say.

Wodehouse Mixed Grill, 04 Feb 2008
An Egg eagerly rushed into the bar of The Drones Gentlemen's Club and addressed all the various Beans, Crumpets and Piefaces not engaged with throwing food around whilst their trust funds robbed the widow and orphan `I say, have you heard, Wodehouse has published a collection of short stories about that ass Bingo Little?'

`Surely not!' exclaimed a Bean whom was wondering why he was struggling the read the newspaper he was holding upside down `I mean to say as a minor character in the stories about Bertie Wooster and his man, Jeeves, he could hold his own but he has no star quality!'

`Fear not,' said a comforting Crumpet, `I read the volume whilst I stopped drinking to suit the Doctor and some nonsense about renal failure and the book is a winner. Bingo's attempts to win out over his wife leave one with a smile plastered all over ones visage. Also Bingo only Drives four of the nine stories, with one supplied by Wodehouse regular Mr Mulliner and a further three about our favourite rogue Ukridge.'

`I say,' said the Bean whom was in no mood to be offering concessions to Crumpets from minor public schools, `Pater bought me a degree in Maths at `varsity and you have only accounted for eight of the stories.'

`You are, of course, correct,' continued the Crumpet, `the other story concerns a `Romance at Droitgate Spa' and I cannot help but think it is the greatest short story Wodehouse has ever written.'

`I see' concluded the Bean whose attention span had been exceed some time ago, `bet you five pounds I can hit the wine waiter with this Bread roll.'

`You're on'.


"Quite a good egg," said the Crumpet, 19 Dec 2003
As the egg, no doubt said to the crumpet, "That Wodehouse bean really knows his stuff!" A series of short stories featuring Bingo Little, who always comes up trumps, and poor old Ukridge, who never does. This little edition is well worth buying for one story alone, 'Romance at Droitgate Spa', featuring Mortimer Rackstraw, alias, The Great-Boloni. Topping stuff. Jonathan Cecil gets the voices just right, except perhaps the women, but there's no need to be hard on a chap just because he doesn't sound like a girl. There is so much more to Wodehouse than Jeeves and Wooster - jump in and do it.

As only a child can!, 24 Nov 2007
Funny, lovable and heartwarming. Better because it comes from the heart as only children can present the story of 2000 years ago in a Nativity play. I could imagine the voices of the children and Gervais Phinn as I read the book.




Fantastic, laugh out loud book review by Maz-Manchester, 20 Sep 2007
having had 3 boys myself and experience of childhood "clangers" over the years, I laughed out loud at the antics of the children in this book, never has a book made me giggle so much or marvel and enjoy the innocence of childhood. The book has a lovely feel-good factor and one which you can dip into again and again, every page you open makes you smile at one antic or another. The storyline really jumps out of the page and you can almost hear the children with their Yorkshire accent and lovely sayings. A really heart-warming, delightful book full of enchanting anecdotes and I'm delighted to recommend it to all, great family reading.

:o), 24 Jun 2007
NOT to be read when you are travelling on public transport. A laugh-out-loud book. The only fault was that it wasn't long enough.

What a bore, 12 Jun 2007
Quite who Gervaise Phinn had in mind as his potential audience is quite beyond me. This book is full of the kind of drivel that, if spouted by someone at a dinner party, would have everyone coming up with excuses involving babysitters or early starts, anything but endure another "witty" anecdote from Mr Phinn. Full of the kind of nauseating tales that would be hard enough to bare from the children's doting parents, Gervais Phinn lives up to Charles de Montesquieu's definition of an author as "a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations".

Wish there'd been more!, 01 Jan 2007
This is a funny and touching book - it took me right back to watching my Son's nativity plays and at times gave me a lump in my throat...

My only regret is that there isn't enough content: this book could have easily been half as thick, but the canny folks at Penguin have used LARGE TYPEFACE to help fill up the pages and that's a shame. It would have been better as a slimmer volume at a cheaper price than p-a-d-d-e-d o-u-t in this way.

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, 13 Nov 2008
I must say the author has made a good and funny translation of what would have considered harmless children's stories into modern day PC propaganda. What I will say is that it did get a tiny bit repetitive but otherwise it is a good read. Highly recommended for all those who remember the good old days of our children's stories

For everyone not PC repressed, 15 Dec 2007
For any Squaddies or ex-Squaddies who might read this review -

I swamped myself - you have been warned

Funny - or not?, 19 Aug 2007
I found the first two or three amusing - but after that it became just too predictable and, I confess, I never managed to finish it!

Oppression, Alienation, and the Three Little Pigs, 29 Dec 2005
Bedtime stories are probably among the oldest forms of tale-telling there is in human history. Before epic poetry, before political speeches, before religious tales of awe, there were people sitting around campfires and living in caves, caring for their young, speaking soothing sounds to their young.

Bedtime stories were quickly discerned to be an excellent way in which to reinforce not only language skills, but culture and accepted morality, too.

So, why is it that fairy tales, the more-modern equivalent of these stories, became canonised and thus immutable by the likes of the Brothers Grimm, etc.? Just what does Hansel & Gretel or the Little Red Riding Hood mean for us today, beyond being good stories?

And, are they good stories? Should we teach children there are houses made of candy and cookies out in the woods? This is the kind of question addressed in this delightful little collection, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, realise that this is all in fun, but, as it is fun, highlights certain important points nonetheless. Political correctness can be stretched to the limits of absurdity, like almost anything carried to and beyond its logical limits. That is not to say that political correctness is all bad. But, we do approach a time when nothing can be said for fear of offending someone somewhere at some time.

James Finn Garner highlights this in his introduction, by saying if he has inadvertently displayed any sexist, racist, culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, ageist, lookist, ableist, sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist, phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other type of bias as yet unnamed, he apologizes and encourages your suggestions for rectification.

In this volume, we have the following stories, revised and updated for the modern reader:

- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Emperor's New Clothes
- The Three Little Pigs
- Rumpelstiltskin
- The Three Codependent Goats Gruff
- Rapunzel
- Cinderella
- Goldilocks
- Snow White
- Chicken Little
- The Frog Prince
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- The Pied Piper of Hamlin

I shall recount part of the tale of the Frog Prince below, so you can get a sense of the style of the rest of the stories in this book, which present Little Red Riding Hood teaming up with the wolf against the violence of the hunter, the three pigs living in a harmonious collective, and of course, the frog prince: Once, there was a young princess who, when she grew tired of beating her head against the male power structure at her castle, would relax by walking into the woods and sitting beside a small pond. There she would amuse herself by tossing her favourite golden ball up and down and pondering the role of the eco-feminist in her era.

Well, to cut a not-so-long story even shorter (and to avoid infringements by limiting my take to a fair-use length!), the princess and the frog agree to terms, but when the frog approaches for a kiss, the princess feels harassed; however, she relents, and the frog transforms into a businessman who wants to make the pond into a golf course and condo development... The princess eventually decided that she really didn't need a prince after all, particularly one like this, and turns him back into a frog.

'And while someone might have noticed that the frog was gone, no one ever missed the real estate developer.'

Of course, apologies are due to real estate developers, those who wear tacky golf clothing, and those caught in an inter-species spell.

Fun for children of all adult ages.

BRILLIANTLY FUNNY, 06 Jan 2003
This book is for anyone who likes parodys or mocking the political systems. it is a 'value for money' book,as itwill have you laughing all the time (due to its humorous twists and phrases.) The book is composed of several 're-looks' at popular Fairy-Tales and Nursery Stories. I thoroughly recommend this book for everyone, as although it is based on Fairy Tales; its updated twists,endings and political humor makes it more adult- but keeping it light and not boring.

An enjoyable collection of Wodehouse's works, 27 Feb 1999
Before purchasing this book I had only been aquainted with Wodehouse's most famous characters Bertie Wooster and his stalwart man servant, Jeeves; and I must say that it was a pleasant suprise to be introduced to Reggie Pepper. His stories frolic in as much fun as Bertie's and he is a man who can think for himself (althought I do miss the perspicatious Jeeves standing in a corner ever ready to solve all the world's problems). With a mixture of Bertie, Jeeves and Reggie you're sure to have a jolly old time.

Perceptive and very funny, 26 May 2004
This is a marvellously funny book, well worth reading. Unlike most collections of scripts from TV comedies, this has been carefully and skilfully edited to make it into a highly plausible diary.

We learn of Jim Hacker's rise to the office of Prime Minister and observe his relationships with leading Civil Service figures, such as Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley. The tension between party politics and goverment and the scheming of the civil service officials is brilliantly worked out throughout the diary. Wry comments on British political, religious and military history subtly abound.

A highly entertaining book that presents a tongue-in-cheek view of the goings on at No 10, it's easy to get really involved with the story. The portrayal of various characters is superb, the odious and somewhat ineffectual PM Jim Hacker, the highly intelligent, scheming Sir Humphrey and the pragmatic and pedantic Bernard Woolley shine through.

Great fun - read it.

Intelligent, clever humour., 17 Feb 2004
The relationship between Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey and Bernard Wooley are brilliantly detailed in this collection of the episodes. Instead of the normal transcribe of scripts that one expects in humour series books, the episodes are carefully presented in diary form. We learn all the information through a variety of diaries, official documents and letters from different sources. The clever humour of the television series is not lost in the translation and in fact possibly increases. It is possible that the book form is even better than the television series (excepting the brilliant acting).
This is clever humour that does not dumb down for anyone and gives a corrageously accurate depiction of the British civil service.

Superb, 06 Oct 2003
At last television series scripts that aren't.

I am ususally disappointed when I am given 'scripts' to various sitcoms, as they are dry and boring to read, but with Yes Prome Minister, not so! Lynn and Jay have expertly transferred the screenplay into continous prose, with excellent returns. Super just to 'dip into', the light-hearted antics of Whitehall and No. 10 will amuse almost anyone! A real pleasure to read - again and again!

The Real Thing, 05 Apr 2003
This is the definitive text book on how British politics works.

It is essential reading for students of politics to save wasting time on all those theoretical constitutional tomes, and for anyone who ever comes into contact with government - it will reassure you that your experiences are not unique but are part of an overall pattern of creative inertia. Sir Humphrey should be the role model for all civil servants who want to get on in their careers and want to prevent their political masters getting on in theirs. There is no evidence that Sir Humphrey is a reincarnation of Machiavelli but it is highly likely. How did earlier generations cope without this masterpiece?

Can never be read too often.

A superb and insightful read- typical of Yes PM, 12 Jun 2000
A brilliant read, superbly crafted, the diary entries of James Harker, Humphrey and Bernard. The book goes through each Yes PM episode in am way of diary entries, as expected the PM's entries makes himself look clever, Humphrey's makes his irrational ideas look normal and Bernard fight with his conscience. More books like these should be available. In a word................Superb

What Ho! , 27 Jun 2008
It hasn't occurred to me to review audio CD's before but as we tend to listen to them when making long car journeys and good ones can just make the miles whizz by I thought I'd break my duck with this one as it is one of the most enjoyable ones I've heard recently. The stories themselves are of course timeless but Cecil ( who has appeared in various guises on other Wodehouse productions on TV and radio) was surely born to read these and in my opinion they are infinitely superior to the various dramatisations that have been on the radio and are more easily digestible. Cecil obviously has a whale of a time when he records his Wodehouse discs. I don't know if he is still doing them but they are well worth getting - much better than the abridged versions and/or the dramatisations as I say.

Wodehouse Mixed Grill, 04 Feb 2008
An Egg eagerly rushed into the bar of The Drones Gentlemen's Club and addressed all the various Beans, Crumpets and Piefaces not engaged with throwing food around whilst their trust funds robbed the widow and orphan `I say, have you heard, Wodehouse has published a collection of short stories about that ass Bingo Little?'

`Surely not!' exclaimed a Bean whom was wondering why he was struggling the read the newspaper he was holding upside down `I mean to say as a minor character in the stories about Bertie Wooster and his man, Jeeves, he could hold his own but he has no star quality!'

`Fear not,' said a comforting Crumpet, `I read the volume whilst I stopped drinking to suit the Doctor and some nonsense about renal failure and the book is a winner. Bingo's attempts to win out over his wife leave one with a smile plastered all over ones visage. Also Bingo only Drives four of the nine stories, with one supplied by Wodehouse regular Mr Mulliner and a further three about our favourite rogue Ukridge.'

`I say,' said the Bean whom was in no mood to be offering concessions to Crumpets from minor public schools, `Pater bought me a degree in Maths at `varsity and you have only accounted for eight of the stories.'

`You are, of course, correct,' continued the Crumpet, `the other story concerns a `Romance at Droitgate Spa' and I cannot help but think it is the greatest short story Wodehouse has ever written.'

`I see' concluded the Bean whose attention span had been exceed some time ago, `bet you five pounds I can hit the wine waiter with this Bread roll.'

`You're on'.


"Quite a good egg," said the Crumpet, 19 Dec 2003
As the egg, no doubt said to the crumpet, "That Wodehouse bean really knows his stuff!" A series of short stories featuring Bingo Little, who always comes up trumps, and poor old Ukridge, who never does. This little edition is well worth buying for one story alone, 'Romance at Droitgate Spa', featuring Mortimer Rackstraw, alias, The Great-Boloni. Topping stuff. Jonathan Cecil gets the voices just right, except perhaps the women, but there's no need to be hard on a chap just because he doesn't sound like a girl. There is so much more to Wodehouse than Jeeves and Wooster - jump in and do it.

A laugh a minute.., 28 Oct 2007
This is a gorgeous, hilarious book, and right on the money, as anyone involved in the literary scene will tell you! The pomposities, pretensions and pettiness of the industry are perfectly punctured, but there's also a great sympathy with characters and dilemmas. Highly recommended!

hilarious - and all too true, 12 Mar 2007
If you are a writer or have any ambitions to be published, then you have to read this book. Posy Simmonds' cartoons are always funny, but in Literary Life she turns her sharp eyes on the publishing industry. I've read and re-read this book many times and each time it makes me laugh because it's all true. Everything in an author's life is here - disastrous book signings, the perils of success, day time television and other displacement activities. I wish she'd bring out another collection.

Literally brilliant, 24 Feb 2004
Posy punctures the pomposity, pretensions and preciousness of the literary world in this brilliant collection of cartoons from the Guardian newspaper. It may be a slim collection but it's worth every penny. Posy depicts a whole gallery of characters in this business; being a children's author/illustrator herself she must have a lot insider information about the subject. The artwork, as ever with Posy, is first-rate and the humour is spot-on and imaginative. One of the best strips in it is the 'Ask Doctor Derek' series where problems encoutered by readers and authors are dealt with by the handsome literary doctor. Very funny. My advice is simple. If you like cartoons and appreciate intelligent and thoughtful wit, buy this book.

Publishing funnies, 14 Feb 2004
A handsome selection of Posy Simmonds cartoons that originally appeared in the weekly book review supplement of the Guardian. They all relate to literature and especially publishing, either as strips or whole page cartoons. My favorites are the strips for Ask Doctor Derek, where a handsome young MD solves medical (literary) problems like a bout of plagiarism, the incredibly contagious writers cliché or dreadful critics mauling syndrome. Simmonds drawing style is typically British, slightly soft and with a caricature edge as opposed to the slick graphic style of Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury for instance.

Posy has a wicked sense of humor, especially when she is exposing the phonies of the English publishing establishment. A bull's-eye every time and great fun, too.

As only a child can!, 24 Nov 2007
Funny, lovable and heartwarming. Better because it comes from the heart as only children can present the story of 2000 years ago in a Nativity play. I could imagine the voices of the children and Gervais Phinn as I read the book.




Fantastic, laugh out loud book review by Maz-Manchester, 20 Sep 2007
having had 3 boys myself and experience of childhood "clangers" over the years, I laughed out loud at the antics of the children in this book, never has a book made me giggle so much or marvel and enjoy the innocence of childhood. The book has a lovely feel-good factor and one which you can dip into again and again, every page you open makes you smile at one antic or another. The storyline really jumps out of the page and you can almost hear the children with their Yorkshire accent and lovely sayings. A really heart-warming, delightful book full of enchanting anecdotes and I'm delighted to recommend it to all, great family reading.

:o), 24 Jun 2007
NOT to be read when you are travelling on public transport. A laugh-out-loud book. The only fault was that it wasn't long enough.

What a bore, 12 Jun 2007
Quite who Gervaise Phinn had in mind as his potential audience is quite beyond me. This book is full of the kind of drivel that, if spouted by someone at a dinner party, would have everyone coming up with excuses involving babysitters or early starts, anything but endure another "witty" anecdote from Mr Phinn. Full of the kind of nauseating tales that would be hard enough to bare from the children's doting parents, Gervais Phinn lives up to Charles de Montesquieu's definition of an author as "a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations".

Wish there'd been more!, 01 Jan 2007
This is a funny and touching book - it took me right back to watching my Son's nativity plays and at times gave me a lump in my throat...

My only regret is that there isn't enough content: this book could have easily been half as thick, but the canny folks at Penguin have used LARGE TYPEFACE to help fill up the pages and that's a shame. It would have been better as a slimmer volume at a cheaper price than p-a-d-d-e-d o-u-t in this way.

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, 13 Nov 2008
I must say the author has made a good and funny translation of what would have considered harmless children's stories into modern day PC propaganda. What I will say is that it did get a tiny bit repetitive but otherwise it is a good read. Highly recommended for all those who remember the good old days of our children's stories

For everyone not PC repressed, 15 Dec 2007
For any Squaddies or ex-Squaddies who might read this review -

I swamped myself - you have been warned

Funny - or not?, 19 Aug 2007
I found the first two or three amusing - but after that it became just too predictable and, I confess, I never managed to finish it!

Oppression, Alienation, and the Three Little Pigs, 29 Dec 2005
Bedtime stories are probably among the oldest forms of tale-telling there is in human history. Before epic poetry, before political speeches, before religious tales of awe, there were people sitting around campfires and living in caves, caring for their young, speaking soothing sounds to their young.

Bedtime stories were quickly discerned to be an excellent way in which to reinforce not only language skills, but culture and accepted morality, too.

So, why is it that fairy tales, the more-modern equivalent of these stories, became canonised and thus immutable by the likes of the Brothers Grimm, etc.? Just what does Hansel & Gretel or the Little Red Riding Hood mean for us today, beyond being good stories?

And, are they good stories? Should we teach children there are houses made of candy and cookies out in the woods? This is the kind of question addressed in this delightful little collection, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, realise that this is all in fun, but, as it is fun, highlights certain important points nonetheless. Political correctness can be stretched to the limits of absurdity, like almost anything carried to and beyond its logical limits. That is not to say that political correctness is all bad. But, we do approach a time when nothing can be said for fear of offending someone somewhere at some time.

James Finn Garner highlights this in his introduction, by saying if he has inadvertently displayed any sexist, racist, culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, ageist, lookist, ableist, sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist, phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other type of bias as yet unnamed, he apologizes and encourages your suggestions for rectification.

In this volume, we have the following stories, revised and updated for the modern reader:

- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Emperor's New Clothes
- The Three Little Pigs
- Rumpelstiltskin
- The Three Codependent Goats Gruff
- Rapunzel
- Cinderella
- Goldilocks
- Snow White
- Chicken Little
- The Frog Prince
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- The Pied Piper of Hamlin

I shall recount part of the tale of the Frog Prince below, so you can get a sense of the style of the rest of the stories in this book, which present Little Red Riding Hood teaming up with the wolf against the violence of the hunter, the three pigs living in a harmonious collective, and of course, the frog prince: Once, there was a young princess who, when she grew tired of beating her head against the male power structure at her castle, would relax by walking into the woods and sitting beside a small pond. There she would amuse herself by tossing her favourite golden ball up and down and pondering the role of the eco-feminist in her era.

Well, to cut a not-so-long story even shorter (and to avoid infringements by limiting my take to a fair-use length!), the princess and the frog agree to terms, but when the frog approaches for a kiss, the princess feels harassed; however, she relents, and the frog transforms into a businessman who wants to make the pond into a golf course and condo development... The princess eventually decided that she really didn't need a prince after all, particularly one like this, and turns him back into a frog.

'And while someone might have noticed that the frog was gone, no one ever missed the real estate developer.'

Of course, apologies are due to real estate developers, those who wear tacky golf clothing, and those caught in an inter-species spell.

Fun for children of all adult ages.

BRILLIANTLY FUNNY, 06 Jan 2003
This book is for anyone who likes parodys or mocking the political systems. it is a 'value for money' book,as itwill have you laughing all the time (due to its humorous twists and phrases.) The book is composed of several 're-looks' at popular Fairy-Tales and Nursery Stories. I thoroughly recommend this book for everyone, as although it is based on Fairy Tales; its updated twists,endings and political humor makes it more adult- but keeping it light and not boring.

An enjoyable collection of Wodehouse's works, 27 Feb 1999
Before purchasing this book I had only been aquainted with Wodehouse's most famous characters Bertie Wooster and his stalwart man servant, Jeeves; and I must say that it was a pleasant suprise to be introduced to Reggie Pepper. His stories frolic in as much fun as Bertie's and he is a man who can think for himself (althought I do miss the perspicatious Jeeves standing in a corner ever ready to solve all the world's problems). With a mixture of Bertie, Jeeves and Reggie you're sure to have a jolly old time.

Perceptive and very funny, 26 May 2004
This is a marvellously funny book, well worth reading. Unlike most collections of scripts from TV comedies, this has been carefully and skilfully edited to make it into a highly plausible diary.

We learn of Jim Hacker's rise to the office of Prime Minister and observe his relationships with leading Civil Service figures, such as Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley. The tension between party politics and goverment and the scheming of the civil service officials is brilliantly worked out throughout the diary. Wry comments on British political, religious and military history subtly abound.

A highly entertaining book that presents a tongue-in-cheek view of the goings on at No 10, it's easy to get really involved with the story. The portrayal of various characters is superb, the odious and somewhat ineffectual PM Jim Hacker, the highly intelligent, scheming Sir Humphrey and the pragmatic and pedantic Bernard Woolley shine through.

Great fun - read it.

Intelligent, clever humour., 17 Feb 2004
The relationship between Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey and Bernard Wooley are brilliantly detailed in this collection of the episodes. Instead of the normal transcribe of scripts that one expects in humour series books, the episodes are carefully presented in diary form. We learn all the information through a variety of diaries, official documents and letters from different sources. The clever humour of the television series is not lost in the translation and in fact possibly increases. It is possible that the book form is even better than the television series (excepting the brilliant acting).
This is clever humour that does not dumb down for anyone and gives a corrageously accurate depiction of the British civil service.

Superb, 06 Oct 2003
At last television series scripts that aren't.

I am ususally disappointed when I am given 'scripts' to various sitcoms, as they are dry and boring to read, but with Yes Prome Minister, not so! Lynn and Jay have expertly transferred the screenplay into continous prose, with excellent returns. Super just to 'dip into', the light-hearted antics of Whitehall and No. 10 will amuse almost anyone! A real pleasure to read - again and again!

The Real Thing, 05 Apr 2003
This is the definitive text book on how British politics works.

It is essential reading for students of politics to save wasting time on all those theoretical constitutional tomes, and for anyone who ever comes into contact with government - it will reassure you that your experiences are not unique but are part of an overall pattern of creative inertia. Sir Humphrey should be the role model for all civil servants who want to get on in their careers and want to prevent their political masters getting on in theirs. There is no evidence that Sir Humphrey is a reincarnation of Machiavelli but it is highly likely. How did earlier generations cope without this masterpiece?

Can never be read too often.

A superb and insightful read- typical of Yes PM, 12 Jun 2000
A brilliant read, superbly crafted, the diary entries of James Harker, Humphrey and Bernard. The book goes through each Yes PM episode in am way of diary entries, as expected the PM's entries makes himself look clever, Humphrey's makes his irrational ideas look normal and Bernard fight with his conscience. More books like these should be available. In a word................Superb

What Ho! , 27 Jun 2008
It hasn't occurred to me to review audio CD's before but as we tend to listen to them when making long car journeys and good ones can just make the miles whizz by I thought I'd break my duck with this one as it is one of the most enjoyable ones I've heard recently. The stories themselves are of course timeless but Cecil ( who has appeared in various guises on other Wodehouse productions on TV and radio) was surely born to read these and in my opinion they are infinitely superior to the various dramatisations that have been on the radio and are more easily digestible. Cecil obviously has a whale of a time when he records his Wodehouse discs. I don't know if he is still doing them but they are well worth getting - much better than the abridged versions and/or the dramatisations as I say.

Wodehouse Mixed Grill, 04 Feb 2008
An Egg eagerly rushed into the bar of The Drones Gentlemen's Club and addressed all the various Beans, Crumpets and Piefaces not engaged with throwing food around whilst their trust funds robbed the widow and orphan `I say, have you heard, Wodehouse has published a collection of short stories about that ass Bingo Little?'

`Surely not!' exclaimed a Bean whom was wondering why he was struggling the read the newspaper he was holding upside down `I mean to say as a minor character in the stories about Bertie Wooster and his man, Jeeves, he could hold his own but he has no star quality!'

`Fear not,' said a comforting Crumpet, `I read the volume whilst I stopped drinking to suit the Doctor and some nonsense about renal failure and the book is a winner. Bingo's attempts to win out over his wife leave one with a smile plastered all over ones visage. Also Bingo only Drives four of the nine stories, with one supplied by Wodehouse regular Mr Mulliner and a further three about our favourite rogue Ukridge.'

`I say,' said the Bean whom was in no mood to be offering concessions to Crumpets from minor public schools, `Pater bought me a degree in Maths at `varsity and you have only accounted for eight of the stories.'

`You are, of course, correct,' continued the Crumpet, `the other story concerns a `Romance at Droitgate Spa' and I cannot help but think it is the greatest short story Wodehouse has ever written.'

`I see' concluded the Bean whose attention span had been exceed some time ago, `bet you five pounds I can hit the wine waiter with this Bread roll.'

`You're on'.


"Quite a good egg," said the Crumpet, 19 Dec 2003
As the egg, no doubt said to the crumpet, "That Wodehouse bean really knows his stuff!" A series of short stories featuring Bingo Little, who always comes up trumps, and poor old Ukridge, who never does. This little edition is well worth buying for one story alone, 'Romance at Droitgate Spa', featuring Mortimer Rackstraw, alias, The Great-Boloni. Topping stuff. Jonathan Cecil gets the voices just right, except perhaps the women, but there's no need to be hard on a chap just because he doesn't sound like a girl. There is so much more to Wodehouse than Jeeves and Wooster - jump in and do it.

A laugh a minute.., 28 Oct 2007
This is a gorgeous, hilarious book, and right on the money, as anyone involved in the literary scene will tell you! The pomposities, pretensions and pettiness of the industry are perfectly punctured, but there's also a great sympathy with characters and dilemmas. Highly recommended!

hilarious - and all too true, 12 Mar 2007
If you are a writer or have any ambitions to be published, then you have to read this book. Posy Simmonds' cartoons are always funny, but in Literary Life she turns her sharp eyes on the publishing industry. I've read and re-read this book many times and each time it makes me laugh because it's all true. Everything in an author's life is here - disastrous book signings, the perils of success, day time television and other displacement activities. I wish she'd bring out another collection.

Literally brilliant, 24 Feb 2004
Posy punctures the pomposity, pretensions and preciousness of the literary world in this brilliant collection of cartoons from the Guardian newspaper. It may be a slim collection but it's worth every penny. Posy depicts a whole gallery of characters in this business; being a children's author/illustrator herself she must have a lot insider information about the subject. The artwork, as ever with Posy, is first-rate and the humour is spot-on and imaginative. One of the best strips in it is the 'Ask Doctor Derek' series where problems encoutered by readers and authors are dealt with by the handsome literary doctor. Very funny. My advice is simple. If you like cartoons and appreciate intelligent and thoughtful wit, buy this book.

Publishing funnies, 14 Feb 2004
A handsome selection of Posy Simmonds cartoons that originally appeared in the weekly book review supplement of the Guardian. They all relate to literature and especially publishing, either as strips or whole page cartoons. My favorites are the strips for Ask Doctor Derek, where a handsome young MD solves medical (literary) problems like a bout of plagiarism, the incredibly contagious writers cliché or dreadful critics mauling syndrome. Simmonds drawing style is typically British, slightly soft and with a caricature edge as opposed to the slick graphic style of Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury for instance.

Posy has a wicked sense of humor, especially when she is exposing the phonies of the English publishing establishment. A bull's-eye every time and great fun, too.



Fantastic Mr Dahl, 03 Feb 2003
Roald Dahl is a genius. The highlight of this book is the end of The Visitor- I won't give it away but it was one of the most chilling pieces of literature I've ever read. What is great about Dahl is that even when he is describing day-to-day events it is obvious he is leading up to something and the suspense kills!
This book I would recommend for anybody- especially those who love dark humour and clever plot twists.

Fantastic Mr Dahl, 02 Feb 2003
Roald Dahl is a genius. The highlight of this book is the end of The Visitor- I won't give it away but it was one of the most chilling pieces of literature I've ever read. What is great about Dahl is that even when he is describing day-to-day events it is obvious he is leading up to something and the suspense kills!
This book I would recommend for anybody- especially those who love dark humour and clever plot twists.

Fantastic Mr Dahl, 21 Nov 2002
Roald Dahl is a genious. The highlight of this book is the end of The Visitor- I won't give it away but it was one of the most chilling pieces ofliterature I've evr read. What is great about Dahl is that even when he is describing day to day events it is obvious he is leading up to something and the suspense kills!
This book I would recommend for anybody- especially those who love dark humour and clever plot twists.

Brought me to Enlightenment, 02 Dec 2000
A leatherbound edition came into my hands when I was thirteen - and I was in rural Philippines. (I now live in Australia.) I do not know how the book came to my part of the world, but it surely opened my sexual horizons. Being a non-English speaker, I found a lot of the terms alien to me, but gradually learned their meanings. The book brought me to new heights of pleasure, and ushered me into my own Age of Enlightenment.

As only a child can!, 24 Nov 2007
Funny, lovable and heartwarming. Better because it comes from the heart as only children can present the story of 2000 years ago in a Nativity play. I could imagine the voices of the children and Gervais Phinn as I read the book.




Fantastic, laugh out loud book review by Maz-Manchester, 20 Sep 2007
having had 3 boys myself and experience of childhood "clangers" over the years, I laughed out loud at the antics of the children in this book, never has a book made me giggle so much or marvel and enjoy the innocence of childhood. The book has a lovely feel-good factor and one which you can dip into again and again, every page you open makes you smile at one antic or another. The storyline really jumps out of the page and you can almost hear the children with their Yorkshire accent and lovely sayings. A really heart-warming, delightful book full of enchanting anecdotes and I'm delighted to recommend it to all, great family reading.

:o), 24 Jun 2007
NOT to be read when you are travelling on public transport. A laugh-out-loud book. The only fault was that it wasn't long enough.

What a bore, 12 Jun 2007
Quite who Gervaise Phinn had in mind as his potential audience is quite beyond me. This book is full of the kind of drivel that, if spouted by someone at a dinner party, would have everyone coming up with excuses involving babysitters or early starts, anything but endure another "witty" anecdote from Mr Phinn. Full of the kind of nauseating tales that would be hard enough to bare from the children's doting parents, Gervais Phinn lives up to Charles de Montesquieu's definition of an author as "a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations".

Wish there'd been more!, 01 Jan 2007
This is a funny and touching book - it took me right back to watching my Son's nativity plays and at times gave me a lump in my throat...

My only regret is that there isn't enough content: this book could have easily been half as thick, but the canny folks at Penguin have used LARGE TYPEFACE to help fill up the pages and that's a shame. It would have been better as a slimmer volume at a cheaper price than p-a-d-d-e-d o-u-t in this way.

Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, 13 Nov 2008
I must say the author has made a good and funny translation of what would have considered harmless children's stories into modern day PC propaganda. What I will say is that it did get a tiny bit repetitive but otherwise it is a good read. Highly recommended for all those who remember the good old days of our children's stories

For everyone not PC repressed, 15 Dec 2007
For any Squaddies or ex-Squaddies who might read this review -

I swamped myself - you have been warned

Funny - or not?, 19 Aug 2007
I found the first two or three amusing - but after that it became just too predictable and, I confess, I never managed to finish it!

Oppression, Alienation, and the Three Little Pigs, 29 Dec 2005
Bedtime stories are probably among the oldest forms of tale-telling there is in human history. Before epic poetry, before political speeches, before religious tales of awe, there were people sitting around campfires and living in caves, caring for their young, speaking soothing sounds to their young.

Bedtime stories were quickly discerned to be an excellent way in which to reinforce not only language skills, but culture and accepted morality, too.

So, why is it that fairy tales, the more-modern equivalent of these stories, became canonised and thus immutable by the likes of the Brothers Grimm, etc.? Just what does Hansel & Gretel or the Little Red Riding Hood mean for us today, beyond being good stories?

And, are they good stories? Should we teach children there are houses made of candy and cookies out in the woods? This is the kind of question addressed in this delightful little collection, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories

Now, before you get your knickers in a twist, realise that this is all in fun, but, as it is fun, highlights certain important points nonetheless. Political correctness can be stretched to the limits of absurdity, like almost anything carried to and beyond its logical limits. That is not to say that political correctness is all bad. But, we do approach a time when nothing can be said for fear of offending someone somewhere at some time.

James Finn Garner highlights this in his introduction, by saying if he has inadvertently displayed any sexist, racist, culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, ageist, lookist, ableist, sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist, phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other type of bias as yet unnamed, he apologizes and encourages your suggestions for rectification.

In this volume, we have the following stories, revised and updated for the modern reader:

- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Emperor's New Clothes
- The Three Little Pigs
- Rumpelstiltskin
- The Three Codependent Goats Gruff
- Rapunzel
- Cinderella
- Goldilocks
- Snow White
- Chicken Little
- The Frog Prince
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- The Pied Piper of Hamlin

I shall recount part of the tale of the Frog Prince below, so you can get a sense of the style of the rest of the stories in this book, which present Little Red Riding Hood teaming up with the wolf against the violence of the hunter, the three pigs living in a harmonious collective, and of course, the frog prince: Once, there was a young princess who, when she grew tired of beating her head against the male power structure at her castle, would relax by walking into the woods and sitting beside a small pond. There she would amuse herself by tossing her favourite golden ball up and down and pondering the role of the eco-feminist in her era.

Well, to cut a not-so-long story even shorter (and to avoid infringements by limiting my take to a fair-use length!), the princess and the frog agree to terms, but when the frog approaches for a kiss, the princess feels harassed; however, she relents, and the frog transforms into a businessman who wants to make the pond into a golf course and condo development... The princess eventually decided that she really didn't need a prince after all, particularly one like this, and turns him back into a frog.

'And while someone might have noticed that the frog was gone, no one ever missed the real estate developer.'

Of course, apologies are due to real estate developers, those who wear tacky golf clothing, and those caught in an inter-species spell.

Fun for children of all adult ages.

BRILLIANTLY FUNNY, 06 Jan 2003
This book is for anyone who likes parodys or mocking the political systems. it is a 'value for money' book,as itwill have you laughing all the time (due to its humorous twists and phrases.) The book is composed of several 're-looks' at popular Fairy-Tales and Nursery Stories. I thoroughly recommend this book for everyone, as although it is based on Fairy Tales; its updated twists,endings and political humor makes it more adult- but keeping it light and not boring.

An enjoyable collection of Wodehouse's works, 27 Feb 1999
Before purchasing this book I had only been aquainted with Wodehouse's most famous characters Bertie Wooster and his stalwart man servant, Jeeves; and I must say that it was a pleasant suprise to be introduced to Reggie Pepper. His stories frolic in as much fun as Bertie's and he is a man who can think for himself (althought I do miss the perspicatious Jeeves standing in a corner ever ready to solve all the world's problems). With a mixture of Bertie, Jeeves and Reggie you're sure to have a jolly old time.

Perceptive and very funny, 26 May 2004
This is a marvellously funny book, well worth reading. Unlike most collections of scripts from TV comedies, this has been carefully and skilfully edited to make it into a highly plausible diary.

We learn of Jim Hacker's rise to the office of Prime Minister and observe his relationships with leading Civil Service figures, such as Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley. The tension between party politics and goverment and the scheming of the civil service officials is brilliantly worked out throughout the diary. Wry comments on British political, religious and military history subtly abound.

A highly entertaining book that presents a tongue-in-cheek view of the goings on at No 10, it's easy to get really involved with the story. The portrayal of various characters is superb, the odious and somewhat ineffectual PM Jim Hacker, the highly intelligent, scheming Sir Humphrey and the pragmatic and pedantic Bernard Woolley shine through.

Great fun - read it.

Intelligent, clever humour., 17 Feb 2004
The relationship between Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey and Bernard Wooley are brilliantly detailed in this collection of the episodes. Instead of the normal transcribe of scripts that one expects in humour series books, the episodes are carefully presented in diary form. We learn all the information through a variety of diaries, official documents and letters from different sources. The clever humour of the television series is not lost in the translation and in fact possibly increases. It is possible that the book form is even better than the television series (excepting the brilliant acting).
This is clever humour that does not dumb down for anyone and gives a corrageously accurate depiction of the British civil service.

Superb, 06 Oct 2003
At last television series scripts that aren't.

I am ususally disappointed when I am given 'scripts' to various sitcoms, as they are dry and boring to read, but with Yes Prome Minister, not so! Lynn and Jay have expertly transferred the screenplay into continous prose, with excellent returns. Super just to 'dip into', the light-hearted antics of Whitehall and No. 10 will amuse almost anyone! A real pleasure to read - again and again!

The Real Thing, 05 Apr 2003
This is the definitive text book on how British politics works.

It is essential reading for students of politics to save wasting time on all those theoretical constitutional tomes, and for anyone who ever comes into contact with government - it will reassure you that your experiences are not unique but are part of an overall pattern of creative inertia. Sir Humphrey should be the role model for all civil servants who want to get on in their careers and want to prevent their political masters getting on in theirs. There is no evidence that Sir Humphrey is a reincarnation of Machiavelli but it is highly likely. How did earlier generations cope without this masterpiece?

Can never be read too often.

A superb and insightful read- typical of Yes PM, 12 Jun 2000
A brilliant read, superbly crafted, the diary entries of James Harker, Humphrey and Bernard. The book goes through each Yes PM episode in am way of diary entries, as expected the PM's entries makes himself look clever, Humphrey's makes his irrational ideas look normal and Bernard fight with his conscience. More books like these should be available. In a word................Superb

What Ho! , 27 Jun 2008
It hasn't occurred to me to review audio CD's before but as we tend to listen to them when making long car journeys and good ones can just make the miles whizz by I thought I'd break my duck with this one as it is one of the most enjoyable ones I've heard recently. The stories themselves are of course timeless but Cecil ( who has appeared in various guises on other Wodehouse productions on TV and radio) was surely born to read these and in my opinion they are infinitely superior to the various dramatisations that have been on the radio and are more easily digestible. Cecil obviously has a whale of a time when he records his Wodehouse discs. I don't know if he is still doing them but they are well worth getting - much better than the abridged versions and/or the dramatisations as I say.

Wodehouse Mixed Grill, 04 Feb 2008
An Egg eagerly rushed into the bar of The Drones Gentlemen's Club and addressed all the various Beans, Crumpets and Piefaces not engaged with throwing food around whilst their trust funds robbed the widow and orphan `I say, have you heard, Wodehouse has published a collection of short stories about that ass Bingo Little?'

`Surely not!' exclaimed a Bean whom was wondering why he was struggling the read the newspaper he was holding upside down `I mean to say as a minor character in the stories about Berti