Life's a Beach

Every Day Is a Holiday #2

by George Mahood

“...endearing and laugh-out-loud funny...”
“...laugh a minute and impossible to put down...”
“...acutely observed, irreverent and funny...”
“...reading this was like a soft warm blanket on a cold winter’s night...”
Join George, his long-suffering wife, and their three young children, as they pack their bags to begin an exciting new life in South West England. Picking up where Every Day Is a Holiday left off, George continues his celebration of an eclectic mix of weird and wonderful calendar days, proving that fun and adventure can be found in the most unlikely situations.
Life’s a Beach is a follow-up to Every Day Is a Holiday, but is equally enjoyable on its own.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir

287 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 2014

About the author

George Mahood is an award-winning writer. Specifically, he was placed third in the Little Brington Village Fete's limerick competition (Under 10s category) in 1988. It was the same year that Mrs Marriott's legendary fruit loaf was beaten in the WI cake contest for the first time in six years.

George studied Communication Studies and English Literature at Leeds University. After spending a year travelling in the USA (with clothes and money), he worked for several years in a variety of jobs including charity fund-raising and garlic bread making. He currently works as a photographer, specialising in weddings. George has been the lead singer and guitarist of a rubbish band and the chairman and midfielder of an awful Sunday-league football team.

George has plenty more madcap ideas that will form the basis of future books. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook to keep in touch, see more photos from FREE COUNTRY, and to hear about future projects.

www.facebook.com/georgemahood
www.twitter.com/georgemahood

Reviews

[Max Robberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

More personal than his previous books but it's a true privilege to be allowed to spend six months as part of George Mahood's family; which is what this book feels like. Thanks George.

[Aaron Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely could tell this was one of George’s first books but the typical whimsy that makes a Mahood book was still there throughout. I think George is the master of the ‘palette cleanser’ book. There are definitely worse things to aspire.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great quick read from George Mahood. This is the third book that I've read by Mahood and I've enjoyed each new book more than the last. I look forward to see what his next adventure will be and how he will share it with the readers. Mahood has found a good voice to share his stories with the reader. He has a great sense of humor that had me laughing out loud a couple of times.

This book is a continuation of his last book Every Day Is a Holiday. The last book was a lot more focused on the holidays and what the holidays celebrated or what cause it was drawing attention to but this book used the holidays as a way to share good stories involving Mahood's family and friends. I found this book sharing the story of the Mahood family relocating to a new area and how they adjusted. The holidays were there but didn't seem as much of a focus.

I would recommend this book for anyone that is looking for a quick weekend read. Each chapter is a different month starting with July and going through December. Each chapter is separated by day to give the book a journal feel. Most of the days are only a handful of paragraphs long and can be read quickly. I would highly recommend reading Every Day is a Holiday before reading this book and also checking out Mahood's first book Free Country: A Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had just finished reading the author's second book (where he promised he'd have this book released by Fall) and it was available the day after-great timing. This book chronicles the second half of the year holiday celebrates. Enjoyed it immensely. If you like Dave Barry or Bill Bryson-a must read.

[Elizabeth Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the sequel to the "Every Day is a Holiday."

I truly enjoyed reading about the authors day to day activities as he celebrates each "holiday" as the calendar designates each day.

I cannot wait to read more books that he writes as at the end of the book he decides that he wants to quit being a photographer and become and author.

[Drew Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love George Mahood's books and this one is NO EXCEPTION. His writing is authentic and hilarious all while being down-to-earth and relatable as well! I cannot wait for another book from him and I am for sure one his biggest fans! You rock George. Anytime I had a bad day or something I would always look forward to coming home and picking up my Kindle and continuing to read your books! :D

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I abso-frikin'-lutely LOVED this book. I didn't think it was possible to laugh more than I did while reading the first of his calendar celebration books, "Everyday is a Holiday". Not only was it possible, I did!! I feel as though I have been made a part of the Mahood family. What a wonderful and welcoming writer you are, George Mahood!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as Every Day is a Holiday, but I can understand it follows a bit different pattern. It's more about what's going on in the author's life than the way he celebrates the holidays. Still, enough laugh-out-loud moments to keep me page-turning.

[Irene Moyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this book!

I have read all his books. They are funny and also poignant at times. Manhood is a good writer. Nowadays that is saying something. I enjoy his observations and quirky bits. Write more just as you say you will!

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is as good as George's other two books. It was so fun getting to "know" his family. It is very obvious that George has got the author thing down. I for one am glad that he will be officially changing careers at the end of the year.

[Christie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday

I have read all three books in this series. They were quite funny! Laughed out loud quite a few times! They were definitely an enjoyable read. I'm hoping Mr. Manhood has another book on the way!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow-up to Every Day Is A Holiday! I had no idea there were so many odd holidays and I like George's quirky take on them. (Spoiler alert) I'm looking forward to George's future books.

[Lois Tuffield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy sequel to Everday's a holiday! All questions answered about the move to Devon and the cat next door.

[Tracie Chapple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have just finished Life's a Beach and can honestly say it was just as funny, if not more so, than Every Day is a Holiday. A brilliant read!

[Tamara Y. Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny

I have enjoyed reading all three of your books and cannot wait for the next one so hurry up! Thank you George.

[Julie Stansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been fun sharing George's offbeat challenges with his family helping along the way. A great read

[Marbeth Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this after reading Every Day is a Holiday and it did not disappoint, loved reading it!

[Jane M Simonson · Rating 5 out of 5]

More enjoyable reading

Another six months romp with George and family. My how time flies when you're having fun! This guy can squeeze a bucket of fun out of a rock.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Not my usual genre but really enjoyed it, will read more of George Mahood.

[Wallace D Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me smile

Really enjoyed this book. The writing is funny and the content was very interesting and endearing. Hope to read many more from him.

[Onconerka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously enjoyed this book and his two others. Although I had to stop reading it in bed at night. My laughing was keeping my husband up.

[Rebecca W · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Every Day is a Holiday, of course I had to continue on with Life's a Beach. Same tone, same humor, same everything I loved about Every Day is a Holiday, so, no complaints here!

[Gilden · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so very funny, as were his other books. If you are feeling down pick up one of George Mahood's books, guaranteed to brighten your day

[Angela Nurse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendously funny and well written. George's books make me want to make more out of my days. I have enjoyed following his year and hope he continues to write so I can continue to read

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Day to day stories from the life of the author. Very funny in places. Will be reading more of George's books now.

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might not say, Hilarious! but it was very, very amusing. It's kind of half memoir, half comedy, and I liked both halves equally well. I read this one before reading Every Day is a Holiday only because it had higher ratings, and I realize now that the reason for that is The Series Effect. That's the thing that will make the first book in a series rank lower than the subsequent ones, but only because people who didn't LOVE the first one will go on to read the later ones.

And yeah, he's doing all these crazy stunts only because he wants to write books about them, but I still give him credit for the doing thereof. Besides, it's funny. And a little touching, too.

My only criticism is that, being American, I don't get all the Brit-Humor. For example, it took me a while to realize that when Brits say "pants" they mean "underwear." So he writes that he frequently sits around writing in his "pants" and I took that to mean "trousers." What's so funny about that?

Oops. Who am I criticizing, here? Me, I think!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was reading the book previous to this one in the two-part series, I found myself slowing down a bit because I didn’t want the fun to end. But then….Rachel to the rescue!
Thank goodness she knew it wasn’t yet time for the holiday challenge to end.
Aug 20 or 21 should be Honor Rachel’s Idea Day, as these were the days I read Life’s A Beach.

George, if you’re reading this review and have read my other reviews (I mean my reviews of your other books, not my reviews of random books you don’t care about, that would be silly) - my laugh so loud I scared the dogs moments in this book came when you made the bed / Rachel made the bed; when you cleaned out grandma’s freezer; and when you inhaled toothpaste.
(I sincerely hope that sentence wasn’t too much of a spoiler for would be readers of this title.)

[Ethan West · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book changed my life. Well, actually, more like changed my death. This book was fun and enjoyable and I liked getting to know George Mahood and his family throughout the course of this book and the last one he wrote. The reason that I say that this book changed my death is that I learned that there is a company that will take my ashes when I am cremated and use them to make fireworks that will be used in a fireworks show put on for those that I leave behind. I'm only 29 so I don't see this all going down anytime soon but it sounds awesome. My wife and I have decided that we want to be cremated but then I didn't know what I would want done with my remains. I wouldn't want my wife or kids to keep me on a shelf somewhere. I would rather go out with a bang. (pun intended)

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book of George Mahood’s that I have read and this one doesn’t disappoint. I love his sharp observations and his quirky sense of humour. I read this on holiday and it was a perfect treat. It actually had me laughing out loud at times and at others I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. His love of his family and of life in general are evident on every page. From cleaning out his grandma’s fridge to wandering a child’s maze this book cannot fail to cheer you up.

[J. A. Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Mahood has a comical way of writing. This is the second of his book's that I've read. This one is about his challenge of celebrating daily holidays, many of which are quite quirky and unusual. However, if anyone is up to the challenge, it would be George and his amusing family. I won't say this was my favorite read, but it kept me smiling for the most part and we all can certainly use more smiles in our lives.