Day 22 April A to Z Challenge my theme is characters from books I’ve read plus some audience participation.
Letter V is for Vince Crow from Trading Vincent Crow by D. C. J Wardle
Trading Vincent Crow is a book of British dark humour. Don’t let the title put you off. We first meet Vincent Crow employed in a lowly job as kitchen pot-washer in a pub called “The Carrot and Jam Kettle” in the Midlands of England; it’s New Year’s Eve. Vowing not to be stuck in this job forever Vince decides it’s time to aim higher, he’s got a trade-up plan to better himself in life.
Through luck and keeping his eyes open to opportunities, his head on his shoulders and his strict three month trade-up rule Vince finds himself as; a bar-man, a factory worker, a London hotel receptionist, a temporary hotel manager, a London cabbie, a Porsche driving Chauffeur, a Pub manager and ends his year with an offer to run a business in Asia.
I did find the first part of the book a bit slow, it pre-dates the internet boom and the social networking of today, but once Vince got to London, the book picked up and had me chuckling along. The black-market world of the foreign Europeans and their scheming hard-working ways to make money poked fun at the more gullible Westerners. I particularly warmed to Vince’s Nan when he came home and her colourful language, plus there is a delightful episode with a Tiger in Asia.
A quick read and definitely one with a few giggles along the way.
Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
For my audience participation I’m asking readers to create book titles using the letter V for the picture below.
A book title and cover picture can often make or break a book sale. Is a book cover eye-catching? Does the book title appeal to the reader?
Have fun creating book titles from my own pictures, you might even think about a genre they could fit.
Leave your answers below in the comments and I’ll choose my favourites.
Some randomly chosen challenge bloggers for you to visit today
https://embarkwithmythoughts.wordpress.com/
http://nonnarose2.blogspot.co.uk/
https://kaapitimes.wordpress.com/
As part of the blogging challenge we ask readers to leave comments, thank you.
Book sounds like my cup of tea.
Title: Victor the Valiant Tram ~ a children’s story (it IS a tram, isn’t it???!)
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Thanks Terry, tram or train.
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Some brilliant entries for yesterday’s picture comp. The Ubiquitous Padlock, Under lock and Key, Locked in, Unbroken promises, Unlock me, Uber lovelock, Unable to unlock, Unlock my heart, Unlock and unloose, Ultra-lock, Until the world falls down.
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Like the review, love the cover.
Vroom-Vroom-Vroom
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What a title June! Excellent!
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Hi Rosie – Trading Vincent Crow sounds a good fun book .. I can imagine the British sense of humour coming in … cheers Hilary
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Oh yes, that dry British sense of humour was definitely in there.
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hmm, Voyage 4803. I’d darken the image to make it more catching. Voyage 4803 sounds like a bit of a horror to me.
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Great one! I like your thinking, thanks for stopping in today and taking part.
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I can’t think of a title just yet, especially if it is to start with the letter V, but the picture brings back a memory which is almost a story in itself.
As for the book, it does sound like a fun read.
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No worries, it’s all about inspiring people. Glad you like the sound of the book.
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Great review, I might look at this one. Victory Train – A survival against the odds story.
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Thanks Cathy, that’s a book I’d read.
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Dark British humour appeals to me too …
Ok I’m thinking – Visitors to the Valley of Horrors – genre: something dark and gothic
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Oh going dark today I see, lovely thanks Susan, we are nearly at the end of another years challenge, can’t believe it.
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British dark humour – love it. Today’s title: Veering off the Tracks – a travel memoir.
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Thanks Wendy, that works well for me.
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Hi Rosie – I tend to love books that make me giggle along the way. I finished reading Officer Elvis by Gary Gusick. I read one of the beginning passages to my husband because it made me laugh and I wanted to share with him. Hey, Guess What?? Only 4 more letters to go! Yeah!!
@dino0726 from
FictionZeal – Impartial, Straighforward Fiction Book Reviews
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Thanks Diane, I can’t believe we are so near the end now.
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Another interesting read. ❤
Title: Virgin Express 4803 (horror / fantasy: a holiday lark for seniors with a young runaway hidden in a restroom. This train doesn't stop until the last senior dies…except, what about the runaway?) Bwahaha
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Thanks Tess, exciting book bio too.
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Sigh. So many books…
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Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs.
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This book is already on my to read list, it looks great 🙂
Voyages For Trainspotters – a diary (sadly a bit heavy on the stats) of one man’s efforts to travel on every train line across the world.
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Thanks Georgia, a niche market for this book I think?
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British humor is great.
I love Hyacinth Bucket from the British TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances – she is priceless!
However, I haven’t read any British humor.
Title: The Vixen & The Villain. Historical Romance. It all starts when they meet aboard a train.
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Thanks Michelle, that would make a great start to a book.
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I added Trading Vincent Crow to my reading list. Great review, it sounds pretty funny!
As for the picture I didn’t do so well… All I could come up with is “That’s Why The Lady is A Tram”. Sigh.
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Hi Nancy, great to hear you like the sound of Trading Vincent Crow. No worries about the book title, you made it in the end.
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Like the sound of Trading Vincent Crow – something completely different.
As for a title, can’t possibly compete with Vroom-vroom-vroom, or Virgin Express, for example. How about Vulcan the Mighty Engine, like Thomas the Tank Engine bit more powerful.
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Like it, thanks Margaret.
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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