Vernon K.

Advantages: Fucken awesome black comedy. Boys will love it.
Disadvantages: Fucken bad language. Girls may find it too horrible to enjoy (à la Voltaire's Candide).

...Jesus has gone on a killing spree at Martirio High School, Texas, and his best friend Vernon is copping the heat. That's Vernon Gregory Little, our foul-mouthed little narrator: "I mean, the whole world knows Jesus caused the fucken tragedy. But because he's dead, and they can't fucken kill him for it, they have to find a skate-goat. That's people for you." Jesus in this case being a six-fingered teenager called Jesus ("Hay-zoose") Navarro rather than Jesus of Nazareth (in case you were wondering). So is this a sick book, or a satire on a sick society? You may well ask.ª The jury's out - probably getting a 'donut' and having their make-up re-touched ready for the close-ups when they hand down their verdict. In the meantime, here's my verdict: it fucken rocks. At times it reminded me of Louis Sacher's brilliant book Holes...

PJE_ 03.04.2004 (28.11.2004) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre

Run Vernon Run

Advantages: excellent read
Disadvantages: takes time and effort

...I was a little unsure about reading this book when I first saw the cover as splashed across the top is the banner ?Winner of The Man Booker Prize 2003?. My concern was based upon the fact that winning an award does not always mean that the winner will have mass appeal. You only have to look at those films that have not won an Oscar and don?t even get me started on the Turner Prize, if you want to see real art take a look at how my 9-year-old daughter manages to turn her quilt inside out every night in her sleep. Set in the BBQ sauce capital of Martirio, Texas the story is told through the eyes of 15-year-old Vernon God Little. Martirio has been the scene of an awful tragedy with the shooting of 17 of Vernon?s classmates by another student. Vernon?s best friend Jesus who had reacted to the constant slurs about his sexuality carried out...

atticusuk 31.03.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre

Vernon Little, the unluckiest boy alive

Advantages: great characters, darkly funny
Disadvantages: not a great plot, very vulgar

...Sometimes, you can just do the most innocent of things, and they?ll turn round and bite you on the ass, as our protagonist Vernon Gregory Little discovers. All Vernon did was make friends with the weird boy and run an errand for his teacher, and it lands him in the deepest trouble he has ever known. Vernon?s best friend, Jesus (pronounced hay-sus) Navarro, goes on a killing spree at their high school, and then turns the gun on himself. Desperate for someone to blame, numb with the loss of their children, the adult community of Martirio turns on Vernon, claiming he collaborated with Jesus, and that he killed people too. After all, he had left he building to run an errand that morning, it makes sense that he went off to get a gun and came back a murderer. Eulalio Ledesma, a reporter out to make a quick buck, makes out he is helping...

flipflopgirl 20.01.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre

Well I Never Knew That

Advantages: Very funny with just a hint of truth
Disadvantages: You have to like satirical humour

...This marvellously funny book by Sunday People columnist and prolific author Vernon Coleman gives straightforward (but tongue-in-cheek) answers to some of life’s most puzzling questions. Now, they do say that many a true word is spoken in jest, and hidden beneath the humour of this book are a few home truths. You’ll laugh…but it will set you thinking too. As one might expect from a qualified doctor, Vernon’s book begins with some advice on health and fitness. It begins by explaining the basic differences between men and women. Women are designed to make beds, wash clothes, cook, clean, iron, pick the kids up from school, do the shopping and look sexy. Men are biologically designed to sit around, drink beer, watch football, whistle at women and drive cars too fast. Therefore, men’s bodies are different to...

Suzan 28.03.2001 (27.03.2001) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Why Is Pubic Hair Curly? - Vernon Coleman

WE'RE ALL OFF TO COLEMANS FARM E, I, E, I, O

Advantages: A great inexpensive day out away from the crowds
Disadvantages: May not be very accessible without a car

...tradition we had our normal debate about where we were going to go, as usual nobody would make a decision, so we flicked through the Island Pocket Guide that we'd picked up on the car ferry and went flicked through the various attractions and places to visit. Finally we came across Colemans Farm, we first visited Colemans Farm last year whilst on holiday on the Island and we'd all very much enjoyed our day there so we decided to go back again. Colemans Farm is situated in Porchfield which is near Newport. It is located in the middle of the countryside so is probably not very accessible if you don't have a car, although there is quite a good bus service on the Island and you may be able to catch a bus to a nearby village and walk to Porchfield. I don't know if this is possible but I'm sure one of the many Tourist Information Centres...

junkboxjules 11.09.2002 (14.09.2002) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Colemans Farm

Coleman Savannah - Ideal family tent.

Advantages: Easy to erect
Disadvantages: Can be dark inside

...The Coleman Savannah is a 6 person frame tent. It has an iside height of200cm high which is ample height for the average family! The tent is a kind of octagonal shape with the bedroom area taking 1 half & living area the other. We found the tent very easy to erect with colour coded steel poles which feed through from the outside of the tent, then legs attatched to lift the flysheet & place the tent in positon ready to be pegged down. There is then a groundsheet for the living area. The inner bedroom tents have an integral groundsheet & the whole thing is hung inside with colour coded hooks. What we particularly like as well is that there is a separate 'storage' area like a zipped up compartment where the cool box & bags ect can be stored. The bedroom has a removeable divider across the width which is a good idea if like us, you...

Cazpanda 08.04.2004 (09.04.2004) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Coleman Savannah Frame Tent

Coleman stove - fast food on the move

Advantages: Fast, cheap to run, fuel widely available - globally
Disadvantages: haven't found any yet - except not really lightweight

...I have used a range of different camping stoves over the years, having been involved in outdoor activities with young people I have had an ongoing debate around the safety/efficiency issues. I have personally used a coleman stove for 15 yrs - the special delight is when you are camping with Trangia fans. I like to set-up the stove and kettle, in the time it takes to boil I can get my tent pitched and then go round with mugs of tea whilst my friends kettles are just getting up to a simmer - smug doesn't even enter into it. So why else am I convinced? You can control the stove from a gentle simmer to a full rolling boil, the fuel - unleaded petrol - is widely available, a tank full is plenty to cook a meal for two, with extra brews as well. The stove has a fairly wide base an is stable in most conditions, it is easy to light and soon...

s1lver 18.01.2003 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Coleman Peak 1 Petrol Camping Stove

The Coleman Peak 1 Petrol Stove

Advantages: Small, portable, high heat (but controllable), reliable
Disadvantages: Price of fuel

...I purchased a Coleman Peak 1 camping stove about 12 years ago, when I embarked on an expedition to walk the Penine Way. The stove is lightweight, portable, and best of all - reliable. It gives a good heat, boiling 2 pints of water in less than 5 minutes (try doing that with your standard Calor Gaz stove!). Although the power output is high, it is also very controllable. There is a small lever to adjust the flame, and it can be lowered to a simmer if that is all that you need. Safety has also been taken into consideration such that, even though the stove is fuelled with petrol, it can be tilted, turned, and even inverted without flaring up in your face. The fuel made by Coleman is rather expensive (around 9 pounds for a 1 litre tin), although the newer models can now use standard unleaded fuel of the type you put in your car...

Longshanx 30.07.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Coleman Peak 1 Petrol Camping Stove

Coleman Weathermaster tent

Advantages: A reasonable sized tent for the average family
Disadvantages: Quite heavy and bulky

......

loum70 09.07.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Coleman Weathermaster

Coleman Bi-Space 300 - a good tent for two people

Advantages: Can stand up in it! Quite Big, pegs!
Disadvantages: Problems with condensation, groundsheet

...Coleman Bi-Space 300 This tent is ideal for two people - for three it might be a bit pushed for space! It features a tall living space - which comes with a groundsheet and a lower smaller sleeping area. The tent is fairly easy to put up! we have even done it in the dark, the poles and loops are colour coded so you know where to thread each rod. The rods fit together nicely and have no trouble getting them through or taking them out - remember to push the rod and not pull otherwise the connections with come loose! Once all the rods are in place you can see the shape of the tent - pegging it down is very time consuming, there are lots of peg loops and a skirt which runs right around the tent...this can be folded up in the day to let air in, we tend not to use it because of all the pegs, but its comforting knowing your...

emzipoo4u 02.10.2002 (04.10.2002) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Coleman BiSpace 300 Dome Tent