There are many books out there that collect amusing anecdotes about weird things happening in a certain environment. I can't think of a single job that involves dealing with people that hasn't yet been written about. This book doesn't really depart from that formula (after all even online-commentators are people) but it's still clear that more thought went into it than hastily throwing together a 'best of' from the Guardian comment section.

First of all each chapter has a hilarious introduction that pokes fun at the topic of the chapter, Guardian-readers and the Guardian itself in (more or less) equal amounts. There also are just as hilarious notes on some of the comments or people/events mentioned in them (like describing George Galloway as 'Reality TV cat-impersonator').

However what I really loved were the illustrations done by Tom Gauld (of You're just jealous of my jet-pack-fame...and that cool The Three Musketeers-cover). I love his style in general and they were just great interpretations of some of the comments. (I almost wish there had been a few more but it's quality over quantity I suppose).

If you only buy a single 'amusing anecdotes'-book make it this one.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

As someone who regularly reads the Guardian and always reads the comments section, I knew what to expect when I received this book. Guardianistas (as they’re called) are, in my opinion, some of the most fascinating commenters on the Internet. That doesn’t mean they always leave thoughtful and intelligent comments, but at the very least they are interesting. This is not only due to the commenters’ sarcasm and wit, but also to the team of moderators who help keep the place civil. The fun (and cringing) come from the fact that, as Marc Burrows, the editor (and moderator) says, every single one of these commenters “passionately believes the first rule of the internet: they are completely right, and everyone else is wrong."

This book did not disappoint. There are some funny and memorable quotes on everything. I have to admit, though, that reading the quotes out of context is not nearly as funny as reading an article and then scrolling down to find baffling comments from every part of the spectrum of opinions. I would have preferred to see more quotes on each section. Nevertheless, this is a good book to give as a gift to a friend in need of a laugh.

Note: I got this book for review purposes through NetGalley.

Again I feel like I did read more than those books but again it's only six (one of which was a DNF) but at least this month I can explain it with The Queen's Necklace being quite a doorstopper (and all those fanfics I read...)

Overall not a bad month, as said one was a DNF but I quite enjoyed the rest.

(on a side-note: I don't quite get the amount of books I'm getting approved of that have 'only for Commonwealth countries' in the publisher's description...I always check my NG-profile after that but it says that I'm German XD)

Oh well...at least the Guardian and the QI-book seem to be quick reads. 

Winter Siege is by Arianna Franlin who also wrote the Mistress of the Art of Death series of which I am actually not that fond but I couldn't resist when I saw that it was about the war between Stephen and Maud (and really...when we look at books set in that time-period...it can only be better than Pillars of the Earth)