Postcards from Accross the Pond - Michael Harling

[steveg]

This is a book written by a member (albeit more a lurker than a poster) of this very forum - MikeH - here are my thoughts on it....

Well, what can I say? Not only did I enjoy this book, but I am now craving more (there will be more Mike won’t there?) (pretty please?). This in my opinion is a very funny book indeed. Virtually every situation he describes, Paula and I have experienced too, albeit not using the Bag Balm tin (and yes, we do have a tin of it) to kill spiders, as I am not that fazed by them. I challenge any of you Americans now living in the UK not to have thought the same as Mike has done when presented with some of the situations.

I am trying desperately not to compare his writing with Bill Bryson (too easy to do as both are Americans writing about living in Britain) , but it’s hard as they both have an excellent, if slightly different, sense of humour about what they see and experience. I can say however, that I was literally laughing out loud during my lunch breaks at work whilst reading this book.

If you want to remember what it was like when you first moved here – how it felt before you understood what “feeling chuffed” was, or what sort of food a Swede is – then buy a copy of this book (go to the blog site – see below - and order directly from there) I for one am happy to have read this, and I know Paula equally enjoyed reading it too.

http://www.lindenwald.com/index.html

Steve

[steveg]

For anyone who may be interested to go to the blog and read about it, Mike the author of the book I wrote about in the post above this one has just become a British citizen and has written about the ceremony in his blog. I thought i would mention it here for the folks who are all going through the process at the moment (Paula included), as you may find it interesting to read his thoughts on it.

Steve

[Lotus Freak]

will definitely have to check this out, from what you and Paula said it really sounds intersting

[steveg]

For those who may wish to know - and of course in plenty of time for Christmas (hint) - MIke's book has finally been picked up by a publisher and is currently going through the process of being professionally published. There is to be a new cover and a great deal of new content - so even we, who bought a copy of the original, may have to buy a new one.

Having bought the original, I can honestly say to the Americans on the forum living in the UK, you will enjoy the humour in this book and the experiences Mike has getting to grips with living in the UK - just as you all did.

I think you'll really like it

Steve

[MikeH]

Thanks Steve.  And thanks for the blurb - I hope you were serious about that credit involving Tom Jones, because we really did put it in the book ;0)

The book is out now:

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1905430485/ref=nosim?tag=bookshakercom-20

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1905430485/bookshaker-21



As part of the 'team' you'll get a complementary copy. 

I would also like to offer a free copy to the first person who contacts me and agrees to review it for the Amazon twins (Com and Co.UK)

Thanks.

[steveg]

Hi Mike

Yes I can attest that the Tom Jones story is 100% true - so with a bit of luck his lawyers will not be on to you (us?) 

I've just been looking at the Amazon sites and have spotted that I am even mentioned by name on the back cover - honour indeed - I shall be preening about this for a while  hahaha

Once you have a couple of comments from others Paula and I will be happy to add to the comments section - I'd better not be first due to already being named on the cover.......

I plan to get your book out to a wider circle of readers this week by taking the original copy I bought from youand passing it on at a local bookcrossers meeting - this way it will be "in the wild" and can be tracked on the internet as to where it is and who has had it - hopefully this wider readership will encourage a few of them to purchase a copy for their own collections, It deserves a wider audience.

For more info on bookcrossing check out this link  http://www.bookcrossing.com/

(though I Googled "Bookcrossing + Leeds" to find a local group)

Cheers

Steve

[steveg]

Hmmmm Thinking about it Mike - I will not be placing your book into "the wild" as I had forgotten you signed it for me and I have no intention of letting go on a book with a personal message from the author, that would not be something I would be happy with - I shall however make sure i recommend the book to the people there (and the staff at borders bookshop where the meeting is to be held this evening)

Cheers

Steve

[cheryls]

I ma interested in reading this but sadly am too busy to do so at the moment. After Christmas I will pick a copy up.

[MikeH]

Thanks a lot, Steve.  And I'd hang on to that book if I were you--a limited first edition signed by the author, you never know what you'll be able to get for that on e-bay some day

And Cheryls, I hope you have lots of time for reading after Christmas.

[Molly Mockford]

Mike, I'd have thought that the really rare and valuable copies would be the ones which are not signed by the author!

[steveg]

Mike, I'd have thought that the really rare and valuable copies would be the ones which are not signed by the author!

Hahaha

I have some milk spare here Molly - would you like a saucer of it?   

<Sorry!>

[Howard]

Ahem, young Molly:  may I remind you that the copy of Postcards that you very kindly gave to Joss for her last birthday you yourself actually got signed by our good Writer-in-Residence Mike? 

[MikeH]

Well, for those of you who believe the author's autograph enhances the value of a book, I offer the 'autograph' graphic.  Just fill your name in the blank and paste it inside the cover.

For the rest of you, I offer the 'anti-autograph' graphic.

Don't say I don't aim to please.

[Molly Mockford]