Bloodlines
6.0
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They have been here for centuries. Their planet was destroyed by war, and they now hide among us....
Paranormal Romance Suspense
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2635 KP) rated Serving Up the Truth in Books
Aug 17, 2026 (Updated Aug 17, 2026)
The writing took a couple of chapters to smooth out, but I get it, all the character introductions can be hard. Once we got into the mystery, it got much better. The mystery was solid, although I did figure a couple of things out early on the way to the logical climax. Amanda is a different series lead since she is happily married with two young adult children. I loved that difference and what it brought to the story. I’m glad I picked this book up and hope we get to visit Amanda again.
When in Rome: An Alternative Guide for Travellers
Michael Haskins and Willie Ryan
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When In Rome is a riotous, hilarious, gift book that highlights the varying differences between...
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue: Volume 9
C. Bb, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden and Humphrey Lyttelton
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Inspired nonsense and pointless revelry - it's time for another helping of the antidote to panel...
Mock the Week: 1001 Scenes We'd Like to See
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Scenes We'd Like to See is the very first Mock the Week book, published to coincide with the sixth...
The Carry on Films: 2017
10.0
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Saucy, rude and vulgar-the 31 Carry On films remain an important part of the history of British...
The Art of Being Ill
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Have you ever worried that you're doing a poor job of feeling poorly? Have you despaired that you're...
The Secret Bridesmaid
8.5
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Sophie Breeze is a brilliant bridesmaid. So brilliant, in fact, that she’s made it her full-time...
Murder by Design
8.0
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In a world carefully constructed for murder, solving crimes takes a keen mind and eye in a witty,...
Ross (3284 KP) rated After Life in TV
Apr 11, 2019
Gervais plays Tony, a journalist on a local free paper who has recently lost his wife to cancer. Tony has simply given up on life and, while he cannot bring himself to end it, he seems to have decided to just do whatever he wants, no matter the consequences. He is rude to people in the street, makes his colleagues' working days miserable, and while he visits his dad in a care home regularly he clearly hates it and is just doing it out of duty.
Most of the comedy comes through in Gervais doing what he does best - being rude and nasty and way over the top in insulting people. The humour here is more for the shock value (calling a 6 year old a tubby little c**t for example) rather than a more considered layer of humour. As Tony has decided he can just do whatever he wants and hang the consequences, he takes a stand against stupid rules (the scene where he takes his nephew for tea in a café was brilliant).
I preferred the drama side of the series - him trying drugs, meeting new people and gradually softening over the series were some very touching moments and very well written. However when weighed against the comedy it just seems incongruous. I think Gervais needs to think about whether he wants to write a drama (and tone down the comedy a little more) or a comedy (and try less to push the boundaries).
Tony's epiphany was a little rushed/hard to spot. It seems that after 5 episodes of not caring about anything, the 6th starts off with him suddenly being a changed man out of nowhere. There were small moments where he seemed to soften but there was no sudden realisation big enough to justify the change of heart in the last episode.
This was a pretty hard hitting, emotional series, but I think it lost a little of the impact by having Gervais in it and trying to shoe-horn his sense of humour into it.