Blogs

Minette's whodunnits are sick and dirty. I find them real page-turners. I read this one in a 3 hour gulp last night and will probably re-read it today. In fact, bad confession here, it will probably be a re-reread as I got to around the middle and recognised one of the nicer characters. I only get this with whodunnits, anything else I know by around page 5 if it is a re-read. Some of her books have villains and victims who are from the bottom of...

Thought members would like to read this from the Poet Lauriat: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/dec/20/-sp-dorothy-wordsworths-christmas-birthday-carol-ann-duffy-a-christmas-poem

I prefer books but I’ve got a Kindle. I’ve downloaded Katy Brand’s Brenda Monk is Funny and read about 16% of it (Kindle doesn’t do page numbers). Brenda Monk isn’t funny, but the novel does give an interesting and readable account of the British comedy circuit. Dominic Frisby claims to be a comedian. I’ve got to about 11% of Frisby’s book and I’m sure he is. It’s Social Darwinism in its purest form, laissez-faire capitalism doesn’t work because...

Sometimes less is more, and there's no better example of this than our Story of the Week - love-writing's dispassionate account of the loss of her baby at birth: http://www.abctales.com/story/lovewriting/amy Congratulations also to Parson Thru for Broken Faith, our Poem of the Week, which is a simple yet powerful reaction to recent events: http://www.abctales.com/story/parson-thru/broken-faith The Inspiration Point for today is The Shortest Day...

Owen Jones (2012) Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class. We live in a something for nothing society, but only one party, only one class ensure that its members get away with it. What’s more the top centile of wealth that own almost everything, and everybody, are lauded for their efforts in wealth generation. We eat gruel. Well, not exactly, gruel. Pre-school meals and after-school care in my district are being stopped. Merry Christmas...

Here's something to look forward to next month - one of ABC's legendary readings at the wonderful Wheatsheaf in Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia. We usually start around 7 - 7.30 pm and finish by 9.30. We'll be reminding you nearer the time, but for now, do email us if you'd like to read - we only have a fixed number of places. If you've never been to one before, it's a lovely relaxed evening in a beautiful place - do try to come!

I’m not normal me. I can’t bear to be in the same room as Jeremy Kyle. I want to smash his face in. I really do. I know it will never happen. But that doesn’t stop me hating him. Switch off the telly, turn it over, and watch something else. It’s as simple as that. He doesn’t do any harm. It’s only a laugh. I’m not laughing. What has made Jeremy Kyle a very rich man has been peddling other people’s misery. Imagine hosting a musical evening for...

I am almost tempted to rate this my film of the year. The children's tale about the marmalade-loving bear from darkest Peru. Very clever movie. Set in the fictional film set of London we all know, Paddington keeps the slapstick humour and childlike warmth of the original and resonates with echoes about 'where's home?',and the need to sometimes take risks. It captures the strangeness of being a creature in a strange environment. The last 6 days I...

Some really good news - the Afghanistan Taliban has condemned the attack on the school in Pakistan; this will bring some good cheer for their families at this time of year. Maybe they'll put mini coffins underneath their Christmas trees. Seriously though: that part of the world is feudal and this is just one gang lambasting another one, and when the oil's gone we won't give a damn. Bring it on. They're discussing on The Wright Stuff, would you...

Over the past few months ABCtales has helped turn two of its members into published authors. A third member – Jack O’Donnell (also known as Celticman) – is about halfway to publishing his Lily Poole with Unbound . This novel is a moving portrait of working class life in Scotland. It’s supernatural – but it’s much more than a simple ghost story. It's also about family, the social services, community and the way Scotland is now. If you haven’t...