LINDSAY SELBY READS "THREE MEN"

Having to spend long hours in hospital waiting rooms and undergoing interminable tests, I needed something to keep me occupied and stop me becoming sane. I remembered I had a copy of Three Men Seeking Monsters, which I had been meaning to read for ages so armed with this and Terry Pratchett’s new book, and my little MP3 player with suitable ear tingling raucous rock music, I thought I might survive and remain eccentric and not turn into an old person. I have visions of being found sitting in the waiting room at the chest clinic covered in cobwebs in two years time. However, I digress; what this blog post is about is a review of the book.

I have never met any of the guys in person but after reading the book feel they are just my kind of people and can’t wait to meet them at the Weird Weekend. The book is a surreal journey into a Fortean world that exists on our doorsteps. The book is set in 2001 and Nick is about to move to the USA and with Jon and Richard embarks on a mission to investigate some phenomena before he leaves the UK to start his new life. He gets to Jon and Richard’s place to find a snapping turtle in residence and running loose and has to jump up on some rubbish bags until it is contained. That is just the start of a journey that takes them by campervan to everywhere from forests to government sites to Loch Ness (where Jon gets a fright). They show bravery in going on to investigate even when there is danger and warned off...or maybe it is alcohol-fuelled optimism (I suffer from that myself at times), but in parts it made me laugh so much I had an asthma attack. The two incidents that stick out are the exploration of the staircase and cellars in the creepy old house and the description of them in the woods at night, and Jon falling over because he is wearing a monocle just tickled me so much and was so vivid.

I would recommend the book to anyone who needs a laugh but there is a serious side to the book as well and the guys get themselves into some scrapes. Fortean investigation is not for the faint-hearted. All that remains to say is thanks, guys, for keeping me entertained. I have a few more tests to go yet and a few more long waits (three hours last time) but think I can find a few more Fortean books to while away the time, though I doubt they will be as amusing.

JON: Monocle. Pah!!!!