No Off Switch by Andy Kershaw

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Last night I watched Andy on stage at Ilkley Literature Festival – his first event to promote the book. He was simply brilliant – passionate, opinionated, funny and friendly. All of that, and a lot more, comes out in the book. From his childhood, ‘our Elizabeth’ (his sister Liz Kershaw), Old Grey Whistle Test, Live Aid (his first live outside broadcast), the introduction of World Music to the…world, on the spot reporting for the Today program from Rwanda during the Genocide, visits to North Korea, sharing an office with John Walters and John Peel, working for the Rolling Stones and Billy Bragg, completing his A Level economics exam in an hour to rush off to Earls Court to see Bob Dylan – ‘He was terrible…’ and more – much more! How he’s managed to fit everything into one book (his reply to the interviewer comment that there was enough to fill two books – ‘I’m not writing another one!’) I’m not sure!

As you read, it’s almost like Andy’s chatting in your head – this is one book which cries out for an audio version, read by Andy. Recommended!

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A Crown of Lights by Phil Rickman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Merrily Watkins, book 3 – this one’s a little bit different. For a start, it’s not really set in Ledwardine (it’s mostly set in a different part of the diocese, closer to Wales – in fact the church which is the main focus is actually in Wales) and Lol doesn’t feature (he’s in Birmingham, doing a psychology course). The basic plotline is that a pagan couple have bought a farmhouse which includes a ruined church. They plan to celebrate pagan ceremonies there, and Merrily, having been alerted to this via. an appearance on a ‘Zoo TV’ show on paganism, is encouraged to investigate by the new bishop. There then follows a very complex plot, including an evangelical preacher with a dark past, a pagan leader with an equally dark spot in his past, the press, TV, a car crash, Jane’s new boyfriend, and more. It’s very, very good, but if you’ve already read the first two, you probably don’t need any encouragement from me to read this one!



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Midwinter of the Spirit by Phil Rickman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book Phil’s written about Merrily Watkins – it starts on a deliverance course in Wales, where we meet Hugh – a priest with a past – who is Merrily’s deliverance course tutor. She’s been selected for the course by Mick Hunter – the new,Blairite bishop of Hereford – cool, not especially religious, but looks good in purple. Hugh doesn’t think it’s a job for a woman, and neither does Canon Dobbs – the current incumbent. While Jane, her daughter, is becoming more anti-church and Lol, her ex pop star friend, is getting closer, something evil is stirring in Hereford, and it’s not what you’d expect…



More great characterization from Phil, along with some brilliant plotting, lots of red herrings, and original ideas – this is another great book!



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Went to see the very first show of the 2010-11 Bradford Alhambra pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, yesterday. The usual great production values (including the 3D system developed for Aladdin a few years ago), the usual brilliant Billy Pearce, and the usual great backup from a generally excellent cast (especially Pete Piper as various members of the OddJob family). There’s also some great production design – particularly the Dwarfs house. The only slight issue I had with it was that things sometimes felt a bit flat when Billy (playing Muddles, Snow Whites best friend, and the court jester) wasn’t on stage – but that’s always the way. Billy energises the show, and although it could be said that he always basically plays the same part, he’s always good value. If you’re around Bradford between now and next February, and you fancy a really good, traditional, laugh or twenty, go and see it!

Laisterdyke and Thornbury in world first!

This morning, a class of Thornbury Primary School’s year 6 pupils, ably assisted by me, participated in the first Skype author event ever run through Usborne Books (a fact I didn’t know – probably just as well! – until after the event!). Andrew (AG) Taylor, writer of Alien Storm and Meteorite Strike, read from the books, and answered a lot of quite searching questions from an enthusiastic audience. Considering it was Andrew’s first Skype ‘virtual visit’, and only the second one we’ve done, it went remarkably well, and we hope to break more new ground by doing it again, with a different writer, in the future!

The 2010 Reindeer Stampede was postponed due to snow. As a result, I’ve just signed up to run (I use the word loosely!) in the Reindeer Stampede 5K in Saltaire on December 11th this year. It’s in the park at Saltaire, and I’m assured Antlers are optional – I’ve signed up for them though!

If you’d like to sponsor me, please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AdrianThompson . All donations, gratefully received!

Thanks.

Me - Leeds 10K last year.

Hi everyone. This is another go at adie.co.uk (eventually, I’ll get time to do it properly!). Look out for some book reviews, and some reviews of the Ilkley Literature Festival events.

I’m also running (I use the word loosely!) the York, Leeds and Hull 10K races in June, July and August for the NSPCC. If you’d like to sponsor me, I be very grateful! – click on the JustGiving logo below (or you could text NCCY62 and the amount you want to donate to 70070 – powered by Just TextGiving! .

You can also have a look at my attempt at a ‘one photo per day’ – one’s above – through 2011 at Shuttercal.