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Stags!
It is every man's right to have a stag weekend in Amsterdam isn't it? Pete Platt certainly thought so when he was asked to be the Best Man for his best mate Johnny Reid, but bride to be Samantha, who also happens to be Pete's sister, has other ideas.
- GenresHumor
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2011
30 people want to read
About the author
Michael Anthony Madden
7 books7 followersMichael Madden is a child of the 1960s and 1970s. Too young to remember the early days of Elvis Presley, but old enough to be an impressionable 15 year old when The King passed away. His influences gathered themselves in the glam rock era of Marc Bolan and Suzi Quatro, and blossomed into the halcyon punk days of The Stranglers, The Rezillos and countless bands that came and went with barely a murmur.
And yet rock and roll was always there. His parents passed on their records by Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, and it was an obscure Kings Of Rockabilly cassette tape featuring Sleepy LaBeef that led to one of Michael’s previously published books Mike Sanchez Big Town Playboy.
He has published a total of 5 titles, and he adapted Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven for a youth theatre production at the Buxton Festival Fringe. His home is in the village of Whaley Bridge in the Peak District where he lives with his wife and 2 youngest children, playing cricket, writing books and songs, and striving to pass on his musical legacy to all 3 of his children and his granddaughter with varying degrees of success.
And yet rock and roll was always there. His parents passed on their records by Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, and it was an obscure Kings Of Rockabilly cassette tape featuring Sleepy LaBeef that led to one of Michael’s previously published books Mike Sanchez Big Town Playboy.
He has published a total of 5 titles, and he adapted Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven for a youth theatre production at the Buxton Festival Fringe. His home is in the village of Whaley Bridge in the Peak District where he lives with his wife and 2 youngest children, playing cricket, writing books and songs, and striving to pass on his musical legacy to all 3 of his children and his granddaughter with varying degrees of success.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 24, 2012
Another Kindle freebie, and my review will reflect the generosity of the author in giving it away.
I picked this up, as I myself am off to Amsterdam in a couple of weeks, and wanted to rekindle my acquaintance with the wonderful city.
Back to the book: there is little in the way of plot, it's a stag night being organised, and without spoiling the book, how they manage to engineer a prohibited trip to Amsterdam.
The characters are painted both in detail in some instances, and mere silhouettes in others.
The book captures the lifestyle of a certain male group really well, but without really developing the story. It feels at times as though it's a personal blog rather than a fully fledged novel.
The upside to the book is its humour - the anecdotes and tales feel real and capture the dynamic of male groups vividly.
I wouldn't actively promote this book, but I also wouldn't pan it completely. I can see where the publishers were coming from in telling the author there isn't really a market for this, but there are moments within the book which make it very readable.
It won't tax you, and you won't be dwelling on the writing for long after you finish it, but it isn't without its charm either.
I picked this up, as I myself am off to Amsterdam in a couple of weeks, and wanted to rekindle my acquaintance with the wonderful city.
Back to the book: there is little in the way of plot, it's a stag night being organised, and without spoiling the book, how they manage to engineer a prohibited trip to Amsterdam.
The characters are painted both in detail in some instances, and mere silhouettes in others.
The book captures the lifestyle of a certain male group really well, but without really developing the story. It feels at times as though it's a personal blog rather than a fully fledged novel.
The upside to the book is its humour - the anecdotes and tales feel real and capture the dynamic of male groups vividly.
I wouldn't actively promote this book, but I also wouldn't pan it completely. I can see where the publishers were coming from in telling the author there isn't really a market for this, but there are moments within the book which make it very readable.
It won't tax you, and you won't be dwelling on the writing for long after you finish it, but it isn't without its charm either.
April 28, 2012
I wrote this book so I'm bound to give it 5 stars!
Johnny Reid is getting married, but bride-to-be Samantha is adamant that his stag weekend will not be in Amsterdam, so much so that she has confiscated his passport, but Best Man Pete Platt, who also happens to be Samantha's brother, has a plan. He procures a passport, organises flights and accommodation, and what follows is a hilarious blow by blow account of the whole episode. Stags! takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the secret planning, the dramatic moment when Pete reveals the sensational, though probably illegal, plan to Johnny, and the resulting orgy of drugs, prostitution and alcohol fuelled excesses of a stag weekend in Amsterdam. Strictly Over 18s only.
If you like Frank Skinner's Autobiography you will probably love this (no guarantees - please read the small print!)
I am told the book is well written with good characterisation, but the market is very limited. I love a challenge and it is my goal to prove this stance wrong.
There is also a UK version and it is available on Amazon, together with the Kindle version.
Johnny Reid is getting married, but bride-to-be Samantha is adamant that his stag weekend will not be in Amsterdam, so much so that she has confiscated his passport, but Best Man Pete Platt, who also happens to be Samantha's brother, has a plan. He procures a passport, organises flights and accommodation, and what follows is a hilarious blow by blow account of the whole episode. Stags! takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the secret planning, the dramatic moment when Pete reveals the sensational, though probably illegal, plan to Johnny, and the resulting orgy of drugs, prostitution and alcohol fuelled excesses of a stag weekend in Amsterdam. Strictly Over 18s only.
If you like Frank Skinner's Autobiography you will probably love this (no guarantees - please read the small print!)
I am told the book is well written with good characterisation, but the market is very limited. I love a challenge and it is my goal to prove this stance wrong.
There is also a UK version and it is available on Amazon, together with the Kindle version.
April 28, 2012
I wrote this book so I'm bound to give it 5 stars!
Johnny Reid is getting married, but bride-to-be Samantha is adamant that his stag weekend will not be in Amsterdam, so much so that she has confiscated his passport, but Best Man Pete Platt, who also happens to be Samantha's brother, has a plan. He procures a passport, organises flights and accommodation, and what follows is a hilarious blow by blow account of the whole episode. Stags! takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the secret planning, the dramatic moment when Pete reveals the sensational, though probably illegal, plan to Johnny, and the resulting orgy of drugs, prostitution and alcohol fuelled excesses of a stag weekend in Amsterdam. Strictly Over 18s only.
If you like Frank Skinner's Autobiography you will probably love this (no guarantees - please read the small print!)
I am told the book is well written with good characterisation, but the market is very limited. I love a challenge and it is my goal to prove this stance wrong.
There is also a US version (Createspace) and it is available on Amazon.com, together with a Kindle version.
Johnny Reid is getting married, but bride-to-be Samantha is adamant that his stag weekend will not be in Amsterdam, so much so that she has confiscated his passport, but Best Man Pete Platt, who also happens to be Samantha's brother, has a plan. He procures a passport, organises flights and accommodation, and what follows is a hilarious blow by blow account of the whole episode. Stags! takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the secret planning, the dramatic moment when Pete reveals the sensational, though probably illegal, plan to Johnny, and the resulting orgy of drugs, prostitution and alcohol fuelled excesses of a stag weekend in Amsterdam. Strictly Over 18s only.
If you like Frank Skinner's Autobiography you will probably love this (no guarantees - please read the small print!)
I am told the book is well written with good characterisation, but the market is very limited. I love a challenge and it is my goal to prove this stance wrong.
There is also a US version (Createspace) and it is available on Amazon.com, together with a Kindle version.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews