The Theatrical Tapes of Leonard Thynn - Adrian Plass

The Theatrical Tapes of Leonard Thynn
Adrian Plass
Harper Collins
ISBN 9780551018754

One of the funniest of Plass's books is this story which chronicles the church's attempt to put on a drama for a Christian Drama Festival. Leonard Thynn decides to record the meetings and rehearsals as an archive of the production. And production it does become. With his dry British whit and an abundance of slapstick humor, this book will entertain again and again. You will laugh out loud.

How Green Was My Curate - Fred Secombe

How Green Was My Curate
Fred Secombe
Fount on imprint of
Harper Collins
ISBN 9780006276838

Also in
Chronicles of a Curate
ISBN 9780006280532

I picked up this book at an Anglican Church Room because the cover reminded me of Adrian Plass book covers. The humor is very different and the experiences seem to be a little more realistic if somewhat embellished. I am very glad I did pick it up and I am sure you will be also. This book is based loosely on personal experience, but told with a true story teller's flare. Fred Secombe embellishes upon his life as clergy in the Church of Wales in this story and his many others about life in ministry and in and around parish life. This is the story of his first posting shortly after WWII, set in the Welsh Valleys and in the town of Pontywen, a village filled with unforgettable characters and personalities. One of the funniest stories is that he gets stuck to the bottom of a freshly painted tub, and the female Doctor who treats him eventually becomes his wife. The book is written with a humorous bent yet the stories will also touch your heat. The vulnerability of a pastor sharing his struggle and follies is heartwarming. Laugh-out-loud funny. this book is worth picking up, either as the single volume or as the 3 in one collection along with A Curate for All Seasons and Goodbye Curate.

Fitness Fridays

Over the last year I have been making a series of lifestyle changes. I have done 2 rounds of P90X, used the Tony Horton One on One Workout Videos, and changed my diet and nutrition. Currently I am reading the The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson and loving it. I have read numerous fitness books over the last 10 years:

Bench Press by: Sven Lindqvist
Sly Moves by: Sylvester Stallone
Fit for Eternal Life: A Christian Approach to Working Out, Eating Right, and Building the Virtues of Fitness in Your Soul by: Dr. Kevin Vost
Body for Life 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strenght by: Bill Phillips
Lose Fat Not Faith by Jeremy R. Likeness
Living The Good Life: Your Guide to Health and Success by: David Patchell-Evans
Dump Your Trainer by: Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulsen

I have read parts of about a dozen more. From all of them I have learned something. So I will be starting a new feature on my blog, Health and Fitness Fridays. It will be selections from what I am reading, some recipes, and I will continue to comment on the changes I am making. If there is anything specific you would like to see, let me know and I can research it and prepare a piece. I am hoping this will be a weekly feature, or at least most weeks. All with the intention of helping me and maybe you find that balance between body, mind and spirit.









Other Fitness Articles:
Fall 2011 Programs
Workout program March 2012
My Gear February 2012
Fitness My Retrospective

TRX Articles:
TRX an Introduction
TRX Force
TRX Force Tactical
TRX Essential Flexibility

My P90X Series:
Phase I, Phase II, Gear, Phase III, Fitness Options, P90X at 120 Days Out

Health & Fitness Book Reviews:
The Primal Blueprint 21 Day Total Body Transformation - Mark Sisson
The Ten Commandments Of Lifting Weights - Jared Zimmerer
Toadally Primal Smoothies - Todd Dosenberry
Caveman Resurection - Jeff Pickett
40 Days to Optimal Health - Dr. Scott Morris
Eat Stop Eat - Brad Pilon
The Primal Blueprint - Mark Sisson
The New Rules of Lifting - Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove
Bench Press by: Sven Lindqvist
Sly Moves by: Sylvester Stallone
Fit for Eternal Life: A Christian Approach to Working Out, Eating Right, and Building the Virtues of Fitness in Your Soul by: Dr. Kevin Vost
Body for Life 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strenght by: Bill Phillips
Lose Fat Not Faith by Jeremy R. Likeness
Living The Good Life: Your Guide to Health and Success by: David Patchell-Evans
Dump your Trainer by: Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulsen

Adrian Plass - Author Profile

Adrian Plass

About a decade ago I was introduced to two UK authors whose main weapon was looking at life, and life in and around the church through humorous eyes. They were Adrian Plass and Fred Secombe. I instantly fell in love with their humour and writings. I have read about a third of Plass' books and almost all of Sacombe's. Over the next few months I plan on re-reading some of my favourites from each but thought I would post an author profile first.

Adrian Plass born in 1948 in Tunbridge Wells, worked with disadvantaged children for several years before a personal breakdown. That breakdown and his recovery have subsequently shaped much of his thinking and reflections on life and life in the church. Because of his intense vulnerability about his own faults, failures and struggles, he has become a beloved author and example to many. For a Christian to admit that he struggles with faith, hope, depression and liking the drink a little too much, is not common and makes him unique in his presentation. His writings, loosely focused around his own and his family's experience, will make you laugh out loud and maybe help you experience some of his struggles so that when you encounter trials you will be better prepared for them. Adrian Plass is an author who writes primarily Christian humour, but also short stories, Bible commentaries and novels with a more serious tone. His most famous book is The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass Aged 37¾. The title parodies Sue Townsend's Adrian Mole books and is a humorous, fictional satire of his own Christian life, including such moments as trying to move a paperclip by faith and the enthusiastic but not very talented young Christian band, 'Bad News for the Devil'. Plass has developed a wide and devoted following at home in the UK, Australia, Germany and to a smaller extent in Canada. Some of his books are harder to find in North America but are well worth tracking down.

Books By Adrian Plass:
An Alien at St. Wilfred's
And Jesus Will Be Born
Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation
Blind Spots in the Bible
Broken Windows, Broken Lives
Cabbages for the King
Clearing away the Rubbish
Colours of Survival
Father to the Man
The Final Boundary
Ghosts
The Growing-up Pains of Adrian Plass
Jesus - Safe, Tender and Extreme
The Heart of the Family
The Horizontal Epistles of Andromeda Veal
Never Mind the Reversing Ducks
Nothing But the Truth
Philip Illiot, Biography
Plass At Christmas
The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass Aged 37 3/4
The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Christian Speaker Aged 45 3/4
The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, on Tour: Aged Far Too Much to Be Put on the Front Cover of a Book
A Smile on the Face of God
Stress Family Robinson
Stress Family Robinson 2
The Theatrical Tapes of Leonard Thynn
The Unlocking
View from a Bouncy Castle
The Visit
When You Walk
Why I follow Jesus
Words from the Cross
A Year at St. Yorick's
You Say Tomato

Fred Secombe - Author Profile

Fred Secombe:

About a decade ago I was introduced to two UK authors whose main weapon was looking at life, and life in the church through humorous eyes. They were Adrian Plass and Fred Secombe. I instantly fell in love with their humour and writings. I have read about a third of Plass' books and almost all of Sacombe's. Over the next few months I plan on re-reading some of my favourites from each but thought I would post an author profile first.

Fred Secombe, ordained as Rev. Frederick Thomas Secombe, was born 31st of December 1918 in Swansea, Wales, UK. He is the older brother of Sir Harry Donald Secombe. Fred was ordained first as a deacon and then later as a priest in The Church in Wales. He first served as an assistant curate in South Wales, later as a Vicar. Then he moved to Hanwell, as a Rector in West London. He was later appointed Prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral, London. He is the author of several humorous books based on his experiences as a newly ordained priest in South Wales. These books follow his progress in the ministry and in life. They are set immediately following The Second World War. They will make you laugh out loud.

Books by Fred Secombe:
How Green was my Curate
A Curate for all Seasons
Goodbye Curate
Hello Vicar!
A Comedy of Clerical Errors
The Crowning Glory
Pastures New
The Changing Scenes of Life
Mr. Rural Dean
Two Vandals and a Wedding

The Dark Deeps - Hunchback Assignments II - Arthur Slade

The Dark Deeps
Arthur Slade
Hunchback Assignments
Book II
Harper Collins
Browse Inside
ISBN 9781554683567

When I finished book I in this series, The Hunchback Assignments, I was itching for a second book. This book exceeded expectations, and still left me wanting a third book. Arthur Slade has created an amazing new series in the steam punk style. Set in a Victorian Era but with technology they never had. A convincing alternate reality, that engrosses the reader and draws them into the possibilities of the world that has been created.In this book Modo and Octavia are paired up again to investigate something troubling to the British Empire. Masquerading as Husband and Wife they travel to America, to find a missing British agent and stumble upon some French agents and their plans. They must discover who or what has been sinking ships in the north Atlantic. Modo meets a beautiful French agent named Colette and they end up needing to partner up after both being captured by a new player on the board, a sort of Queen. There is also the reappearance of the Clockwork Guild and it looks like we haven't seen the end of them yet.

This book is incredibly well written. While reading it, you become completely engrossed in the book and will find yourself drawn into their world and rooting for Modo during his adventure. Slade has created a wonderful world with characters you find yourself enamored of, and rooting for.



Books by Arthur Slade:
The Dragonfly's Journey (1996)
John Diefenbaker: an Appointment with Destiny (2000)
Dust (2001)
Tribes (2002)
Monsterology (2005)
Villainology (2005)
Megiddo's Shadow (2006)
Jolted (2008)
Shades: 17 Startling Stories (2011)
Flickers (2016)
Crimson (2018)
Death by Airship (2019)
Mr. Universe (2021)

...

Hunchback Assignments Series:
aka Modo Mission Clockwork Series:
The Hunchback Assignments (2009)
The Dark Deeps (2010)
Empire of Ruins (2011)
Island of Doom (2012)
Modo Embers End - Graphic Novel (2014)

The Northern Frights Series
Draugr (1997)
The Haunting of Drang Island (1998)
The Loki Wolf (2000)

Northern Frights Reprint Editions:

Draugr (2020)

Drang (2020)

Loki Wolf (2020)

...

The Canadian Chills Series
Return of the Grudstone Ghosts (2002)
Ghost Hotel (2004)
Invasion of the IQ Snatchers (2007)

...

The Canadian Chills Reprint Editions:

Return of the Grudstone Ghosts (2024)

Ghost Hotel (2024)

Invasion of the IQ Snatchers (2024)

...

Librarian. Assassin. Vampire Series:
Amber Fang: The Hunted
Amber Fang: Betrayed
Amber Fang: Revenge
Amber Fang Box Set Books 1-3
...

Dragon Assassin Series:
Twin Fury
Shadow Hunter
Dark Wings
Bitterwaters
Elder Magic
Royal Blood
Hidden Powers
Burning Empire
Old Enemies

Downfall

The Golden Spear

Deathwings

...

Dragon Assassin Novels (Omnibus editions):

Twin Fury

Royal Blood

Burning Empire

Downfall

Deathwings

…

I, Brax Series:

A Battle Divine

…

Books as Stephen Shea:
The Not So Simple Life
Damage
Viper - Short Story

...

Visual Bibliography for Arthur Slade
Author profile interview with Arthur Slade.
Author profile interview with Stephen Shea. 

A Brand New Me - Hank Zipzer Book 17 - Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

A Brand New Me!
Hank Zipzer Book 17
Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Penguin Canada
ISBN 9780448452104

Hank Zipzer, the world's greatest underachiever, is back at it again. In this seventeenth book in the series, we again encounter Hank towards the end of a school year, and again Hank is in the position of not finishing. This time it is because he has failed to complete his community service requirement. The biggest difference between this book and earlier books in the series is that Hank starts to see something in himself, some potential for something other than failure. He realizes this with the help of Mr. Rock, the school music teacher who helps him explore this new side. Soon he is practicing monologues, improv, and characterization. He has set his goals on auditioning for the Professional School of Performing Arts. Yet, as usual, he needs to convince his father to let him try out, and if he gets it, to go. Hank is desperate to succeed as his two best friends are going to the Enhanced Science program, and he does not want to be left without them or something special himself.

These books are very well written. In the last year I have read or re-read 16 of the 17 in the series. They keep my attention, and are fun and enjoyable to read. The humour is age appropriate. As someone with dyslexia, these stories do an amazing job of capturing the experience of living with, and learning to deal with, learning disabilities. They are great reads just as books, but for young people with learning disabilities or people close to them, they will provide encouragement and support also.

Books by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Hank Zipzer Books:
1. Niagara Falls, or Does It?
2. I Got a "D" in Salami
3. Day of the Iguana
4. Zippety Zinger
5. The Night I Flunked My Field Trip
6. Holy Enchilada!
7. Help! Somebody Get me out of Fourth Grade!
8. Summer School? What Genius thought That Up?
9. My Secret Life as a Ping-Pong Wizard
10. My Dog's a Scaredy-Cat: A Halloween Tail
11. The Curtain Went Up, My Pants Went Down
12. Barfing in the Backseat: How I Survived My Family Road Trip
13. Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me!
14. Life of Me
15. A Tail of Two Tails
16. Dump Trucks and Dogsleds: I'm On My Way, Mom!
17. A Brand-New Me!

Ghost Buddy Books:
1. Zero to Hero
2. Mind If I Read Your Mind?
3. How to Scare the Pants off Your Pets