Jon Lymon (Author of The Wronged)

Jon Lymon wrote a new blog post Best Halloween Picture Books for Kids What does a UK author know about the best Halloween picture books for kids? Especially one as long in the slightly rotting tooth as Jon Lymon? After al Read more of this blog post »
Sep 03, 2026 02:32AM · like
Jon Lymon rated a book really liked it White Flag of The Dead (White Flag of the Dead, #1) by Joseph Talluto	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
When a virus sweeps across Earth, infected households are required to display white flags outside their homes. Initially serving as symbols that the humans inside have surrendered to the apocalyptic bug, these flags soon become chilling signs that th ...more
Sep 01, 2026 09:08AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of White Flag of The Dead by Joseph Talluto. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — White Flag of The Dead by Joseph Talluto <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jon Lymon rated a book really liked it Tomorrow War: The Chronicles of Max [Redacted] by J.L. Bourne (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
If there’s ever an apocalypse, have this book about your person. It’ll prove to be a handy guide to survival in the most extreme circumstances. Be sure to have plenty of cans of chicken noodle soup to hand. And it’ll help if you can fly a microlite. T ...more
Aug 13, 2026 07:00AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Tomorrow War by J.L. Bourne. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Tomorrow War by J.L. Bourne <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jon Lymon rated a book it was amazing Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was my second attempt at reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Not sure what happened first time round, but I couldn’t get into it. But I do nothing if not persevere and second time round, lapped up Tim Robbins’ excellent reading. If you like d ...more
Aug 12, 2026 03:10AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jon Lymon rated a book it was ok Wool (Wool, #1) by Hugh Howey (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
It’s been made into a TV series called Silo, I believe. Or the books were adapted from a film. Can’t work it out. Doesn't matter. It was the number one drama in the history of Apple TV, apparently. That’s always something that gives a book extra cred ...more
Aug 11, 2026 12:07AM · like · see review
Jon Lymon finished reading Collected Children's Rhymes by Jon Lymon (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 14, 2026 09:55AM · like
Jon Lymon rated a book it was amazing Men in Love by Irvine Welsh	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Yes, it’s a sequel, but not a masculine focused follow-up to DH Lawrence’s 1920 novel Women In Love. Far, far from it. Irvine Welsh revisits the characters from his iconic Trainspotting, just a few months after the end of that novel and a few months b ...more
Nov 22, 2025 02:25PM · like · see review
Jon Lymon rated a book liked it World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
As a writer of zombie fiction that doesn’t sell particularly well, I often feel honour-bound to read zombie fiction that does sell well. So a book about zombies with a cover that proudly annouces ‘one million copies sold’ is certainly going to regist ...more
Nov 22, 2025 02:22PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of World War Z by Max Brooks. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — World War Z by Max Brooks <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jon Lymon rated a book really liked it Autumn: The London Trilogy - The Complete Post-Apocalyptic Epic by David Moody (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Before bigging up the writing, I’ve got to mention Aubrey Parsons, narrator of the Audible version of this trilogy. He can’t half do an impressive range of accents, required for this multi-character trip through the capital city after the apocalypse. ...more
Nov 22, 2025 02:20PM · like · see review
Jon Lymon rated a book really liked it End Game (William Warwick, #8) by Jeffrey Archer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Never read a Jeffrey Archer novel before. And fair play to the guy, the opening of End Game had me hooked, not quite like a pike, but well enough to see me get through this 350+ page hardback in about a week. There’s nothing spectacular about the lang ...more
Nov 22, 2025 02:17PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of End Game by Jeffrey Archer. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — End Game by Jeffrey Archer <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

Jon Lymon wrote a new blog post

Best Halloween Picture Books for Kids

What does a UK author know about the best Halloween picture books for kids? Especially one as long in the slightly rotting tooth as Jon Lymon?

After al Read more of this blog post »

Jon Lymon rated a book really liked it

White Flag of The Dead by Joseph Talluto

White Flag of The Dead (White Flag of the Dead, #1)
by Joseph Talluto

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When a virus sweeps across Earth, infected households are required to display white flags outside their homes. Initially serving as symbols that the humans inside have surrendered to the apocalyptic bug, these flags soon become chilling signs that th When a virus sweeps across Earth, infected households are required to display white flags outside their homes. Initially serving as symbols that the humans inside have surrendered to the apocalyptic bug, these flags soon become chilling signs that those who succumb to the infection don’t stay dead for long. They rise and begin an incessant search for sustenance in the form of human meat.

Nice.

As with all apocalyptic tales, not everyone falls victim to the virus or the zombies at the same time. Dystopia needs survivors, rebels. A brave / lucky few who manage to dodge death and undeath.

In this tale the focus of the resistance is some kind of school teaching administrator called John Talon. A great name for a great guy who has expansive knowledge of all types of guns, handy in a world where you’re likely to have to shoot a neighbour or friend between the eyes at short notice.

There’s plenty of slaughtering as readers would expect, but the twist here is that Talon has his child to worry about. And not a child that can talk and move around on his own two feet as in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.

Oh no.

Talon’s son, Jake, is a babe in arms, or more accurately, a babe in harm’s way. The wife and mother is taken out by the virus early doors, leaving father and son to fend for themselves.

The book ticks the tropes you’d expect a zombie apocalypse novel to tick as humans are forced from their homes, fear for their lives, try and find shelter, attempt to build a new world with the ever-present threat of undeadism never far away.

Talon’s certainly a brave hero who earns the respect of the humans he meets by putting his life on the line for the good of the future of the world his son will inherit. Yes, there’s some essential babysitting of Jake going on as Talon has to head out on missions that aren't suitable for minors. And of course, there are groups of humans who act dreadfully badly towards fellow humans – raising the question that's apparent in many dystopian novels: Who poses the biggest threat during an apocalypse – the greedy surviving humans whose actions are no longer restricted by the rule of law or the undead, whose only restrictions are their compromised abilities to see, speak and move?

I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say Talon’s a true good guy survivor, given that the series extends to nine books. It’s well written and you find yourself rooting for the father, hoping his son has some kind of decent world to grow up in.

I’m not compelled to read any more in the series, but I rarely do commit to a series, what with so many other books to read.

That said, I prefer my zombie books to come with a fresh (flesh?) twist on the genre, and I don’t just talk the talk when I say that. I’ve walked the walk by writing my own 3-book zombie series that starts with A Big Bluff and Some Green Stuff. ...more

Jon Lymon rated a book really liked it

Tomorrow War: The Chronicles of Max [Redacted]
by J.L. Bourne (Goodreads Author)

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If there’s ever an apocalypse, have this book about your person. It’ll prove to be a handy guide to survival in the most extreme circumstances.

Be sure to have plenty of cans of chicken noodle soup to hand. And it’ll help if you can fly a microlite. T ...more

Jon Lymon rated a book it was amazing

Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury

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This was my second attempt at reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Not sure what happened first time round, but I couldn’t get into it. But I do nothing if not persevere and second time round, lapped up Tim Robbins’ excellent reading.

If you like d ...more

Jon Lymon rated a book it was ok

Wool (Wool, #1)
by Hugh Howey (Goodreads Author)

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It’s been made into a TV series called Silo, I believe. Or the books were adapted from a film. Can’t work it out. Doesn't matter. It was the number one drama in the history of Apple TV, apparently. That’s always something that gives a book extra cred ...more

Jon Lymon finished reading

Collected Children's Rhymes
by Jon Lymon (Goodreads Author)

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Jon Lymon rated a book it was amazing

Men in Love
by Irvine Welsh

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Yes, it’s a sequel, but not a masculine focused follow-up to DH Lawrence’s 1920 novel Women In Love. Far, far from it.

Irvine Welsh revisits the characters from his iconic Trainspotting, just a few months after the end of that novel and a few months b Yes, it’s a sequel, but not a masculine focused follow-up to DH Lawrence’s 1920 novel Women In Love. Far, far from it.

Irvine Welsh revisits the characters from his iconic Trainspotting, just a few months after the end of that novel and a few months before the start of the 1990s.

And while I thought Mark Renton, who seemed to steal leading character status in the Trainspotting film would be the focus here, it’s actually Sick Boy’s (mis)adventures that drive most of the compelling narrative.

Residual bitterness at Renton’s actions remain, but by and large, Sick Boy doesn’t let that dampen his libido, to the extent that he lucks out when he meets rich girl Amanda in drug rehab and uses his charm to weave his way into her life, much to the disgust of her government-employed well-off and well-to-do father, GODfrey (his caps, not mine).

But it was the chapters narrated by Francis James Begbie that stole the show for me. This rather aggressive chap played so brilliantly by Robert Carlyle in the films, is most definitely not over Renton’s actions and he lets everyone know about it.

The language is coarse of course, particularly when this character’s aboot, but kudos to Welsh’s command of English which delights time and time again, although I’m not sure what the quotes from Wordsworth, Coleridge et al at the start of the chapters added.

A bigger but far from terminal gripe lies in what we don’t get at the end, and I won’t say any more than that, because I want you to buy and read this, almost as much as I want you to buy a read anything that has ‘by Jon Lymon’ on the cover.

As has been my experience reading Welsh (Irvine) there’s so much to delight and disgust. Checking back in with the Leith boys is a trip down not Memory Lane but Nostalgia Row – with Spud enjoying a fair bit of coverage, but Renton not as much as you might expect.

Men in Love comes highly, highly recommended by Jon Lymon, although with T2 Trainspotting having already been filmed and tracing the lives of these characters long after the events of Men In Love, it’s difficult to see how any movie of this could ever happen. ...more

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World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
by Max Brooks (Goodreads Author)

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As a writer of zombie fiction that doesn’t sell particularly well, I often feel honour-bound to read zombie fiction that does sell well. So a book about zombies with a cover that proudly annouces ‘one million copies sold’ is certainly going to regist As a writer of zombie fiction that doesn’t sell particularly well, I often feel honour-bound to read zombie fiction that does sell well. So a book about zombies with a cover that proudly annouces ‘one million copies sold’ is certainly going to register as interesting for me. Hence, my attraction to the World War Z book by Max Brooks.

However, this is one of those occasions where I saw the film before reading the book. I actually didn’t know there was a book. And now, having read it, well, I’m flabbergasted.

I have to say straight from the off that I preferred the film, which followed a more traditional story structure, a beginning, middle, end, a hero, a villain etc

But what got me is the complete lack of things in common between the World War Z film and book. Because while the film follows Brad Pitt’s character, the book has chapters narrated by different people from all over the world, talking about different aspects of the zombie apocalypse they’ve lived through, answering interview questions put to them, I presume, by some journalist.

There’s certainly no sparing the horses when it comes to describing their gruesome experiences – indeed, I fear horses were among those to turn zombie in some instances.

It seems to me the only similarity between book and film is the title. Did the film makers pay big bucks for the title and think we’ll just write our own zombie screenplay and loosely connect it with the book of the same name?

Fair enough, people are allowed to exercise however much artistic license they feel like exercising, especially after paying millions for the book rights. And fair play to the team who made a story out of a seemingly unfilmable book that works well on screen.

Brooks has certainly found a unique designing principle for his book (see the brilliant screenwriter and writing theorist John Truby for an explanation of the importance of this).

I found the World War Z book a little hard going and something you can dip in and out of as one chapter has little in common with the next. This format means it lacks the one hero you can get behind and the character arc you can follow – unless there’s something clever going on that I’ve completely missed out on.

So, whether you read the book first or see the film, it really doesn’t matter with World War Z as the two are worlds apart. ...more

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Autumn: The London Trilogy - The Complete Post-Apocalyptic Epic
by David Moody (Goodreads Author)

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Before bigging up the writing, I’ve got to mention Aubrey Parsons, narrator of the Audible version of this trilogy. He can’t half do an impressive range of accents, required for this multi-character trip through the capital city after the apocalypse. ...more

Jon Lymon rated a book really liked it

End Game (William Warwick, #8)
by Jeffrey Archer (Goodreads Author)

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Never read a Jeffrey Archer novel before. And fair play to the guy, the opening of End Game had me hooked, not quite like a pike, but well enough to see me get through this 350+ page hardback in about a week.

There’s nothing spectacular about the lang Never read a Jeffrey Archer novel before. And fair play to the guy, the opening of End Game had me hooked, not quite like a pike, but well enough to see me get through this 350+ page hardback in about a week.

There’s nothing spectacular about the language or style, but the plot’s as tight as the lycra some of the athletes featured probably wore back in 2012. There’s not a lead character as such driving the narrative. Warwick’s as close as we get, although his daughter, son and wife all have their own fairly well sketched subplot stories that Archer weaves into the main plot.

And that main thrust concerns another kind of plot – to scupper the 2012 Olympic Games and ruin Britain’s reputation on the world stage.

I don’t think it’s a big spoiler to say that the 2012 Olympics went down well, from the opening royal skydive with 007 to the closing ceremony of which I remember nothing. But Archer takes us into the realms of alternate reality in End Game, suggesting dastardly forces funded and encouraged by unfriendly nations were at work behind the scenes, planning to turn the games into a disaster.

Chillingly, some of the events Archer reveals happened behind the scenes actually happened in the run-up and during the games, although which are based on fact, and which come from the author’s imagination are not specified.

Never reveal your sources, right?

End Game is a thriller that takes you on an enjoyable ride without any challenging vocabularly and in which the bad try to outwit the good with a decent helping of treachery thrown in. I enjoyed the filmic and unlikely death at the end that neatly includes some athletic Olympic furniture.

I can’t tell you if this is up there with Archer’s personal best as it’s my first taste of his work, and while it’s unlikely anyone will be handing it any medals, it’s a decent, fast-paced read, worthy of a place on the podium, but not a patch on the fast-pace we saw from Usain Bolt who, let’s face it, was and always will be the star of this 2012 sporting show. ...more

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	The Wronged liked it 3.00 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2013 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Is It My Birthday Yet? 4.50 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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