Relative Disasters: A Little Book of Silly Verse

by Wilkie Martin, Ade Gorst (Illustrator)

detailing the unfortunate demise of various relatives from a plethora of perils.

Containing six silly nonsense poems and two short poems.

60 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2017

About the author

Wilkie Martin sets his Unhuman series of novels in the Cotswolds, where he lives. He introduces readers to a close-knit, small-town community filled with quirky and occasionally dangerous inhabitants, and an ‘unhuman’ policeman who maintains law and order.
Read/listen to samples of his books with these Nielsen widgets:

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood - unhuman I - http://book2look.com/vBook.aspx?id=ZrFHGPVxgR

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood was shortlisted for the Impress Prize for New Writers 2012

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood audiobook narrated by Tim Campbell was nominee for Audiobook Reviewer Listener Awards 2018 Mystery, Fantasy, Humor

Inspector Hobbes and the Curse - unhuman II - http://book2look.com/book/NqlwpcMhNm

Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers - unhuman III - http://www.book2look.co.uk/vBook.aspx?id=o8I6rbXQPo

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones - unhuman IV
- http://www.book2look.com/book/6EJ4xgUg5Z

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones audiobook narrated by Tim Campbell won Independent Audiobook Fantasy 2019 and was a nominne for VoiceArts Award Fantasy 2019


Razor - https://b2l.bz/qPxBBc


Wilkie Martin Website
twitter @wilkiewrites

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings)]

Son won in the Goodreads Giveaways.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly, “a little book of silly verse”

I found this description to be perfect. The poems are very silly, but this is not inconsistent with other Wilkie Martin’s writings. I enjoyed the book and it showed me a slightly different side of Martin than I saw in his Inspector Hobbes series.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very little book indeed, this contains only seven pieces of poetry, and one of those is a Limerick. It's fun doggerel, and competently presented stuff, with a light touch of black comedy. Worth considering.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent very funny.

[J.S. Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel guilty writing this review because I didn’t enjoy the book that much and yet, I’m not sure that it’s a fault of this book. Basically it claims to be “A little book of silly verse” and that’s what it is.

It’s a slim volume of seven humorous verses and accompanying illustrations by Ade Gorst, all creatively exploring the antics of the writer’s imagined relatives.

The writer does not lay down great claims for the book: “I don’t consider myself a poet, and having read these you probably don’t either!” And without wishing to sound too snooty, I’d probably agree with him. He is a writer of silly verse and it turns out I don’t really enjoy amusing verse without a point. I prefer the cynicism and sarcasm of Dorothy Parker or Ogden Nash on a good day. Likewise, Hilaire Belloc, who at least slipped a cautionary tale or two into his silliness.

So sorry, little book, you didn’t amuse me, but it may be my fault.

[Robin Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this short book by Wilkie Martin has triggered my memory of being a child and reading those books written by Edward Lear.

Edward Lear had been an English Renaissance Man of the 19th century, an individual who had an array of several interests; and Mr. Lear it had been being an artist, author, illustrator, musician as well as being a poet. As a child I can remember reading his collections of nonsensical poems, songs, short stories, and especially those hilarious limericks he had written and had made popular.

Mr. Martin writing style seems to emulate that of Mr. Lear which is rather refreshing these day. And to personalize the items contained in this book, he has made sure to humorize his own unfortunate personal life and as the title indicates, disasters involving members of his own family.

For putting a little silly humor into the lives of his readers and myself, I’ve given this book and its author 5 STARS.

[Josepha Dattore · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title says

It was silly but fun and the cartoons were great. I absolutely loved all of the Inspector Hobbs books and i'm hoping for a lot more books.

[Daniel Smith]

Won in the Goodreads Giveaways.