Guy Portman's Blog, page 15

20 Free Humour Books For You

I have collaborated with my fellow humour authors to offer you a selection of 20 FREE humour books. The deal includes my black comedy, Necropolis. All you have to do is sign up to the given author’s mailing list to receive your free book. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Humour Book Giveaway Link

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Necropolis is the first instalment in a proposed trilogy. The second part, Sepultura, was released last year. Part 3, Golgotha, will be unveiled later this year. This darkly humorous collection fea...

A Personal Update

It’s Friday again. They come around pretty quickly when one is in a routine. This week I have been immersed in my garden, removing bamboo. The insidious stuff nearly defeated me, but it’s finally gone. The garden is now being dug up and landscaped.

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This is my agricultural building/glorified garden shed. I am considering doing some of my writing in there this summer.

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The breakfast of champions.

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The below is cockle popcorn. I had it in the pub the other day. Tasty, but frustrating trying to...

6 Books for 6 Moods

This week sees the latest instalment in my books for different moods series. Here are 6 books for 6 moods/different states of mind. Click on the links to read my reviews.

In the mood for something shocking? If so then your search is over:

Newspaper Diapers

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This compilation of vignettes about child abuse and group homes left an indelible mark on this reader’s mind. What it lacks in length, it more than compensates for in disturbing content. Click here to read my review.

In the mood for a Tra...

5 Disturbing Reading Recommendations

I am an avid writer and reader of dark and disturbing fiction. Here are five disturbing books that I would recommend. Click on the links to read my reviews.

Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

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Child of God is a tautly written and concise work of ‘country noir’. Themes include loneliness and necrophilia.

My Review: Having been dispossessed of his land, Lester Ballard is now homeless and eking out an existence in the backwoods of Sevier County, East Tennessee. For food, he steals and forages. For...

My Reading Plans

I have fallen a bit behind with my reading of late. I’m blaming Netflix. To date I have read only two books in 2019. However, I have ordered some more from the antichrist that is Amazon. No doubt many of you are sticking to eBooks these days, but I am going through a paperback phase and as I don’t have a good bookshop near me, online is the best option. The break from staring at a screen is welcome. Anyway, without further ado here are the books I have lined up.

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As an avid fan of dark ficti...

6 Dark Humour Reading Recommendations

This week sees the return of my dark humour reading recommendation series. Here are five ‘dark humour’ books that I have read and one that I have written.

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

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Survivor is an innovative and erudite social commentary, brimming with satirical observations and irreverent humour.

My Review: Tender Branson, the last survivor of the Creedish Church cult, has hijacked an aeroplane, which is now flying on autopilot. His objective: to dictate his life story onto …(more)

Spencer...

My Tour of Nong Nooch Botanical Garden

This is the third and final post about my trip to Thailand. While out there I visited the famous Nong Nooch botanical garden, a place billed as one of the world’s most beautiful gardens.

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Some of this expansive garden is truly spectacular.

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Water features heavily here.

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Elephants are a popular mode of transport at Nong Nooch.

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There is an abundance of remarkable trees and plants.

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The Thais seem to have a predilection for merging the serene and pristine with the gaudy and the ersatz.

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The pl...

My Trip To Thailand

I have decided to devote a couple more posts to my recent trip to Thailand. While this is not a travel blog, these posts are a welcome hiatus from my customary writing/book related theme.

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The majestic structure above is the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya.

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It has been hand-carved in its entirety out of wood. The ongoing project started 30 years ago. Perhaps the man below is an Atlas-esque figure, destined to bear this weight for eternity.

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I arrived at the Sanctuary of Truth jetlagged, hu...

My Thai Culinary Tour

I have just returned from a week long trip to Thailand. Today, I am going to share with you some of the things I ate along the way.

With its long coastline, Thailand boasts some delicious culinary fare. This is the lobster I ate on my first day. Half was served with cheese and the other with something else that I was unable to discern.

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I couldn’t resist some dim sum in Bangkok’s China Town.

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A post-dinner snack.

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This restaurant may have had a peculiar name, but its setting was serene.

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And...

6 Dark Humour Reading Recommendations

Here are five darkly humorous books that I have read and one that I have written. Click on the links to read the reviews.

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

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Haunted is a series of short stories, in which the author explores a variety of themes, including the media-obsessed nature of society.

My Review: Haunted is about a group of writers, who have been assembled by the conniving Mr Whittier to attend a writers group. The location of the retreat is in an isolated theatre with no access … (more)

The B...