12 Feb 2013

MISERY BEAR'S GUIDE TO LOVE & HEARTBREAK AND PADDINGTON RACES AHEAD.

After my last read, Weirdo. Mosher. Freak: If Only They'd Stopped At The Name Calling by Catherine Smyth to be posted on the 20th of February as part of World Day Of Social Justice, I felt the following two books perfect reading.

MISERY BEAR'S GUIDE TO LOVE & HEARTBREAK by MISERY BEAR.

Misery Bear is the saddest, loneliest, drunkest bear in the world. Nothing ever goes his way, he hates his life and he's always one swig of whisky away from oblivion.

In Misery Bear's Guide To Love & Heartbreak, the furry critter shares his photos, diary entries, poems, love letters, romantic recipes and doodles ..... All from the paw of a chronically depressed bear who just wants someone to love.
..... Outer back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Hello): My name is Misery Bear.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 12): The poem entitled As Cold As My Heart.

MY THOUGHTS: Having 'befriended' this cute character on FaceBook a while ago I was delighted to discover he'd written a book which if I had to sum it up in just a few words would be ahhhh, so sweet and very funny, without a doubt the best book written by a bear that I've ever read.

A truly unique book all about affairs of the heart, despite the seriously cute Misery Bear himself and the almost comic style layout of the book this is definitely not one for the little ones but is sure to appeal to all of those who love the idea of this 'the life and loves of the saddest bear in the world' or indeed those who are drawn towards A.A. Milne's Eeyore.

KEEP IT OR NOT?: Bought with a voucher received for Christmas, I shall definitely be keeping this.

And so onto my second bear book .....


PADDINGTON RACES AHEAD by MICHAEL BOND.

Somehow Paddington always manages to find himself in very unusual situations. So it is no surprise when he gets in a spot of bother with some shaving cream, causes a London bus to be evacuated and is mistaken for a Peruvian hurdler. There's never a dull moment when a certain bear is around!
..... Inner front cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): Mr Curry's Birthday Treat): Early one spring morning Paddington hurried into the garden as soon as he had finished breakfast in order to inspect his rockery.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 74): "I wonder if bears snore?" mused Jonathan. "We could ring the zoo and find out."
"I asked him," said Judy. "He swears they don't. He said he stayed awake one night to find out and he didn't snore once."

MY THOUGHTS:
Ah good old Paddington, the quintessential British bear from deepest, darkest Peru, his (mis)adventures much loved by those both young and not so young alike.

Guaranteed to have you smiling if not quietly chuckling, Paddington Races Ahead, with its mention of the London Olympic Games and, my favourite, Paddington having a 'fishy pedicure' finds, finds the bear in some very unusual situations, many of them very much of the minute. 

A great role model, Paddington is always so polite, so well mannered, something that I respect greatly in Bond's writing. It is not however simply the wonderful writing that draws me to the books but the sublime ink drawings that though no longer drawn by Peggy Fortnum but by R.W. Alley are still captivating.


KEEP IT OR NOT?: A Christmas gift, this will proudly sit alongside my other Paddington books.


Disclaimer #1 :Removal of any part of this post without my express consent is considered copyright infringement. This post was created by and for Petty Witter @ Pen and Paper. If you are reading this post on any other site please contact the original blog owner/reviewer.

13 comments:

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

I love bears! Those sound so cute :0)

This line made me smile, "Without a doubt the best book written by a bear that I've ever read."

I'd really like to read both of these.

Kelly said...

Misery Bear sound like a real hoot! I may have to get it. :)

While he's certainly no Pooh, I do love Paddington and have a few of his books in my collection.

Chatty Crone said...

You could make a blanket!

Mary (Bookfan) said...

Aww, my son had a Paddington Bear (made by his Nana). I need to see if it's still around.
I really want to find a copy of Misery Bear's Guide to Love. The title alone cracks me up :-)

Gina said...

Wonderful! The first is too funny and the second is a classic indeed. Sad that you have to have to disclaimer on there now though...*shakes head*...sometimes the world just makes me wonder what in the hey is going on, you know? Anywho...thanks for the share!

Suko said...

Both of these sound charming, Tracy! I have long been a Paddington fan. Wonderful reviews of bear books today.

Maude Lynn said...

That first book sounds hilarious!

brandileigh2003 said...

That poem sounds super cute.
Happy reading,
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

Will have to check out Misery bear. Sounds cute. Oh and a new illustrator for Paddington? Hm... must check that out as well...

The Bookworm said...

Both of these sound too cute!

Blond Duck said...

I think my dad needs to meet Misery Bear. I hope you had a wonderful birthday with cake and sprinkles!

Betty Manousos said...

these sound charming!
i love bears.

xx

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Tracy,

I haven't given much thought to Paddington Bear, since my youth, except for when we get either the books, or the toy bear, donated into the charity shop(we did sell one bear for £99), so this was a real trip down memory lane.

I had thought that we were approaching Valentine's day and there you are posting a book by a drunk and miserable bear, who is harping on about heartbreak!! He sounds like a real bundle of fun!! LOL,

Yvonne