Around the World in 80 Tales - Dave Tomlinson

Book Summary: 
80 Stories, 25 Countries, 5 Continents, One Heck of a Ride! A journey of captivating true travel stories from that will inspire, amuse and amaze. This fascinating kaleidoscope of people, places, food and culture brings to life the colourful experiences of travelling the world on a budget!

Review:

I've always wanted to travel, since I've been a child I was always thinking of where I should go, for how long and what I would do there and most importantly how I would get there. As I grew I begun to see the full picture, how much it was going to cost to go to places I craved to visit, I even made plans for a road trip through American once with a few friends, we planned the majority of and I still quite embarrassingly have the notepad document on my laptop that I typed  it all in. The plan of course fell through, distance grew between me and everyone involved yet the very need in me to visit America and everywhere else to see all of these beautiful things still lingered within me.

So when Dave contacted me and told me about his new travel book Around the World in 80 Tales I really couldn't say no. It is one of the greatest things I've gotten to read about the world, the people scattered around it and the wonderful views and experiences to be had outside of my home.  I'm beyond envious of Dave's journeys, incredibly in awe of the photo's he took, the experiences he had and those who gave him a glimpse into their life and were so generous on his travels through each place.

Each story is short and engaging, accompanied by beautiful photos. Reading each story at home tucked under a roof in between 4 walls I was in a constant state of seeing myself in each situation, even in those not so very 'glorious' ones Dave will know which ones I'm talking of! and a state of pure envy which would physically ache my chest. Each story is pure and true, in no way exaggerated or altered for our pleasure, they are real life moments, memories and breath taking moments. Dave made me envious but reading his tales, poured gasoline on the flame inside of me that wants to travel.

I am beyond thankful for Dave having shared with not only me but you, his stories, its been a great experience and a very much eye opening one. As you know before now I have wanted to travel, to experience cultures and peoples generosity whilst experiencing great things, now I don't 'want' to travel, I thrive to, I pray and hope to do so even if its only to a few places, it's still an adventure or several, all of which I would be thankful to have experienced.

Having bought me so much joy and laughs I can't reward this book anything less than a 5/5. I recommend it to anyone who wants to travel but haven't got the time or money or are going to be traveling and want some ideas on where to go and activities to do. Thank you to Dave who provided me with a copy for a review.

Corpse In The Kitchen - D.J.Reid

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

 

Off-duty police officer Danny Sullivan comes home from shopping to find a corpse lying on his kitchen floor.

 

 

Review:

 

So what can I really say its like a 20 page short story which was really something I read just because it seemed like it could have been funny and just because I was intrigued by the one line synopsis as it allowed me to start thinking about what happened etc. before I even read it.

 

It kicks off automatically as it should when only being a short story and in honestly I cant understand why I was really thinking so deep into the story but I was anyway. First off Danny reacts kind of too casually to a dead person lying in his kitchen yet alone the fact when the police actually arrive followed by the 'lab guys' Danny is just treated like he was a cop who had been called to a dead body in a kitchen it was just so weird for me to read that he wasn't technically treated like anyone should be when in those circumstances but hey ho I watch too much crime related TV shows its my fault I expected it to be those standards.

 

After following a trail of blood they find where the victim worked and was staying where they find further evidence and also gain information on how could have done it. Turns out in this neighbourhood you can run into a cops house when you're in trouble, in some stories that's really not something a character would do unless they were family or really trusted which Danny must have been. In the end they find who does it literally sat on ice which to me was something I laughed at, it was a funny ending for me I suppose.

 

What really did my nut in though is the fact the questions and theories the officer and Danny put together always seemed to go too nicely together and to plan and all questions they both had were answered exactly how they wanted them to be which I just started to ignore in all honesty.

 

Altogether I have to give it a 3 out of 5, it was well written and the plot had substance I just wish it wasn't a short story and then it could have been padded out more and possibly altered so everything could have been done how it really would have been done. I recommend it if you want a quick read to pass the time or fill in a short break its bound to work for you in those circumstances.