Monthly Archives: December 2013

The best Christmas song ever

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

This is so amazing – best vocal harmonies in the world. Happy Festivus, peeps!

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Five albums I’ve loved this year

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

I don’t do music journalism anymore, and one of the nice upshots of that is that I’ve reverted to loving music like a fan again. I’ve listened to tons of stuff old and new, not being arsed about whatever is … Continue reading →

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My Top Ten Books of the Year

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

OK, so here are my top ten novels of the year. Lemme know what you think, and what your own favourites are. I won’t write much about each here, but you can click on the book covers for my reviews … Continue reading →

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My reviews of Sarah Pinborough and Kelly Braffet novels in The Big Issue magazine

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

Aye so, here are my last proper book reviews of the year in The Big Issue, before all the ‘books of the year’ shenanigans start. Very different novels from Sarah Pinborough and Kelly Braffet, but both mighty impressive in their own … Continue reading →

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A handful of new reviews for Gone Again

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

The mass market paperback edition of Gone Again came out back in November, and it got a handful of very good reviews here and there. I’ve only just got round to getting them together, so here they are below. There … Continue reading →

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My review of Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

Aye so, I was asked to review this by The Independent on Sunday. I enjoyed the Wodehouse books as a kid, but I wouldn’t say I was slavishly a fan or anything. Either way you look at it, though, this ‘homage’ … Continue reading →

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Reviews of Metallica and Alan McGee books in the Big Issue

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

‘Metal up your ass’. Guess who’s catchphrase that was, Metallica or Alan McGee? Correct. Last month saw a couple of pretty interesting music tomes out, Birth School Metallica Death (Faber) by Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwood and Alan McGee’s autobiography, Creation … Continue reading →

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Some thoughts on Book Week Scotland

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Doug Johnstone

Aye so, just about recovered from a hectic week last week. For those not in the know it was Book Week Scotland, put together by the brilliant team at the Scottish Book Trust, who organised thousands of events across the … Continue reading →

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