Gideon ConnWhitwell Festival of Music 202513 September 2025Rotten Poetry Firepit Stage I knew Gidean’s set at Whitwell Festival was not to be missed but he was unknown to this audience and so I set out to make sure I encouraged as many people as I could to be there. Gideon performed 2 short sets on… Continue reading What to say about Gideon Conn?
Author: Darren Ellis
Bookshopping in Leeds
Bookshopping despite a full TBR It was a Friday evening and I was feeling disheartened. I wasn’t enjoying the book I was reading and, while I was prepared to slog through all 600 pages, I wasn’t loving it. But if I left it, it would be 3 DNFs in a row. But it was no… Continue reading Bookshopping in Leeds
By the Book, Hunstanton
Spontaneous holidays can always throw wonderful discoveries in your direction, and this day was no exception. As I wandered through the charming streets of Hunstanton, navigating a delightful pop-up market for local makers, I stumbled upon “By the Book,” a delightful independent bookshop. The warm and inviting atmosphere immediately drew me in. Their carefully curated… Continue reading By the Book, Hunstanton
Frankenstein – not the story you think
Most people think they know about Frankenstein. Everyone’s seen multiple TV and movie representations and countless references to Frankenstein and his monster in all forms of media (including chocolate). However, if you haven’t read the novel you may be very surprised by the story you would read. Here’s some reasons why: Lightning “Victor Frankenstein stands… Continue reading Frankenstein – not the story you think
Psycho – Pulp Fiction, it’s complicated
I picked up a copy of Psycho because I was intrigued to find out what the original story was behind one of the greatest films of all time. The answer is complicated. Is it a great book? No. But it does have moments. If you are one of the eight people on the planet who… Continue reading Psycho – Pulp Fiction, it’s complicated
Jurassic Park – First Class Trash Fiction
A relentless romp through a Costa Rican island inhabited by unpredictable prehistoric creatures? Why not! Quite a few leaps of faith are required for the science and nature elements of this story but if you can leave what you know (or think you know) at the door then you’ll enjoy this, quite frankly, remarkable book.… Continue reading Jurassic Park – First Class Trash Fiction
Pride and Prejudice and …
… the complete lack of any character development. I recently listened to the audiobook of P&P (as my sister and mother affectionately call it). I had found an audiobook collection of Penguin Classics in a charity shop and decided to use it to make my commute more productive filling in the gaps in my classic… Continue reading Pride and Prejudice and …
The Vesuvius Club
Review – The Vesuvius Club, Mark Gatiss If you want a suavely written and slightly cheeky period crime novel then you might want to check this out. Set in Victorian England, Gatiss has created a world of secret agents operating under the radar. Our main character is Lucifer Box (every name is a treat in… Continue reading The Vesuvius Club
Specialization is for Insects: Heinlein’s Competent Man
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook… Continue reading Specialization is for Insects: Heinlein’s Competent Man
Dead Zone – The Best King?
I’m going to start with a bold statement. This could be the best book King has written. I haven’t made my mind up yet. But it could be the best. The story is a perfectly constructed web of interconnecting stories which come together at the end in a moment of desperation and terror. Our hero,… Continue reading Dead Zone – The Best King?