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STAYING IN [Ulster Region] [Sunday Mirror (England)]
[April 20, 2014]

STAYING IN [Ulster Region] [Sunday Mirror (England)]


(Sunday Mirror (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) LEGO THE HOBBIT Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PS3. Out now Like 2012's Lego Lord of the Rings epic, The Hobbit embellishes the series' platforms 'n' puzzles formula with mild RPG elements. This time, though, the open areas and optional side-quests are complemented by a crafting system which helps stave off the creeping sense of franchise fatigue. As does the increased emphasis on co-op fun. The Hobbit is still more than playable alone but Travellers Tales have embraced the size of their principal cast by introducing buddy attacks and, yes, dwarf stacking to their repertoire of moves. It all makes for a rollicking romp that captures Tolkien's tone. **** DAN SILVER DVD HEMLOCK GROVE: SEASON ONE (18) A cult horror/drama series the originated in Netflix, the offbeat and dark series focuses on the killings of two teenage girls. A dark and compulsive series.



APP ADDISON LEE MINICAB BOOKING APP Free itunes.apple.com Two-taps on your iPhone and a 'take me home' function does the rest. Tracks your cab live SINGLE AMBER RUN Spark EP, Pounds 1.99 itunes.apple.com A rousing chorus, poetic lyrics and a genuinely unique sound, Amber Run will be hitting the dizzying heights of sold-out arenas in no time. Think vibes of Mumford, The Killers and Ben Howard.

GAME TRIALS FUSION Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC. Out now Beneath the deceptively simple surface of Ubisoft's physics- based motorcross series lurks one of the most sadistic but rewarding gaming experiences this side of Dark Souls. Getting to grips with the precision balancing act necessary to get from one end of a Trials track to the other is one thing, mastering it is another matter entirely. Fusion adds an infernal new layer of stunt tricks and flips into the mix, as well as a handful of more questionable quadbike-only maps, but the sci-fi setting is largely boring. While there will soon be an infinite amount of community courses to conquer, veterans will miss the invention and variety that so enriched Evolutions. **** DAN SILVER GADGET SONY WIRELESS STEREO HEADSET 2.0 Pounds 79.99. Out now Produced primarily for wireless use with the PS4 and PS3 (thanks to a supplied 3.5mm jack), Sony's new headphones offer plenty of bang for their relatively bargain Pounds 79.99 RRP. The comfortable cans come with 7.1 channel virtual surround sound, programmable presets and a noise cancelling microphone discreetly tucked into one of the cups. Audiophiles won't be impressed with the occasionally undercooked bass in particular, but they're more than acceptable as an affordable gaming solution.


ALBUM GLENN TILBROOK Happy Ending vinyl and CD Pounds 19.99 amazon.co.uk Not one to rest on his multitude of laurels, Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze is back with a new inventive and witty acoustic solo album being released as a lovely vinyl and CD combo. You won't regret adding this to your music collection.

PLAY OTHER DESERT CITIES Old Vic Theatre, London, until May 24 Most families are dysfunctional to some degree but the wealthy Wyeth family are a cut above. A jolly Christmas Eve reunion soon descends into bitter recriminations when troubled writer daughter Brooke (Martha Plimpton from TV's The Good Wife) arrives home. Full of bitterness towards her actor turned politician father's views and grief for their brother who killed himself, she presents them with her latest book - a memoir about her own family. Her alcoholic aunt (Clare Higgins) applauds her honesty but her icy, controlling mother Polly (Sinead Cusack), and father Lyman (Peter Egan) are appalled at her betrayal. Absorbing and witty.

VICKI GRIMSHAW oldvictheatre.com 0844 871 7628 PLAY A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Young Vic, London, until June 7 From the moment we meet Mark Strong's excellent Eddie there is a sense of menace. His unhealthy obsession with his wife's niece Catherine (Phoebe Fox) leaves you squirming. Nicola Walker is great as his loyal wife and Emun Elliot as a moral illegal immigrant is powerful. A macho production in which lives shatter.

STEVE MYALL PLAY CARS AND BOYS Dundee Rep, until Saturday Catherine lies alone, drifting in and out of consciousness, struck down by a stroke. As her conscience and reality entwine, her past and present become confused and her past loves haunt her dreams while her family wreak havoc as soon as she opens her eyes. Ann Louise Ross plays the workaholic matriarch, battling with mortality. She skillfully leads an excellent cast in this dark, humorous play written by Stuart Paterson. Ncuti Gatwa is brilliant - and handsome - as the wayward grandson and John Buick is predictably fantastic as one of Catherine's lovers. The characters are utterly believable. All of which makes the truth of this play painfully poignant.

ANNA DAY GIG KATIE MELUA Union Chapel, London Fans queued for hours outside the iconic Union Chapel in north London, waiting to see one of pop's best-selling females in the intimate venue. And they weren't let down as Katie Melua's angelic voice bounced off the gothic themed church walls. The Georgia-born 29-year-old was performing her Simplified Tour, stripped back her own songs and elegantly arranged covers. A glittered setlist included Dusty Springfield to Leonard Cohen and The Kinks, it was a wonderful acoustic experience. Her powerful encore included Call Off The Search and a chilling rendition of Diamonds Are Forever.

SIMON SIMONAES LIVE SHOW CBEEBIES LIVE SHOW Manchester Arena It would be easy to be cynical about the CBeebies Live show but the Big Band show at Manchester Arena was nothing short of fantastic with youngsters rocking in the aisles as stars such as Katy Ashworth (I Can Cook), Nina (and the Neurons) presenters Andy and Alex and Ben Faulks (Mr Bloom's Nursery) put on their dancing shoes. And who would have thought that artist Mr Maker would be such a nifty mover. Jamaican Rastamouse and the Zingzillas also joined in the lavish production but the undoubted highlight was Justin Fletcher's Mr Tumble. Once you've witnessed your kids' beaming faces you truly get the cult of CBeebies! GRACE MACASKILL "This has been compared to Adrian Mole.

Somebody needs to read those again, they were far funnier and more subtly crafted SUBMARINE Joe Dunthorne Oliver is just like any other teenager - he wants to get a girlfriend, save his parents' marriage and find the meaning of life. He fancies himself as a writer but will his love of words and grammar stand in the way of his other ambitions? And is he too pedantic to be a true romantic hero? Francesca says: I wouldn't say this is a great novel but I enjoyed it. Oliver is oddly charming, it's humorous and while the author catches something of the teenage experience, at times I felt it was his voice, not Oliver's.

You say: Submarine is a good coming-of-age tale. It's entertaining, candid and slightly disturbing. Sharon Green, by email Oliver struck a chord. He's clever but eccentric, I liked his analytical view. It was funny. Andy Wilkins, Dartmouth, Kent This has been compared to Adrian Mole. Somebody needs to read those again, they were far funnier and more subtly crafted. Cath Howard, by email Join the debate at facebook.com/mirrorbookclub, at mirror.co.uk/ booktalk, on twitter @MirrorBookClub, or write to Mirror Book Club, Sunday Mirror, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5AP.

IN MY SISTER'S SHOES Sinead Moriarty When Kate's sister Fiona is diagnosed with breast cancer, she is forced to give up her career in London and go home to Dublin to care for her troublesome nephews.

Francesca says: Do you think Kate was right to give up her job and move back to Dublin? Would you have done the same? Which is more important - family or career? You say: I'd like to think I'd do the same - if I had a sister! Family is more important, but I understand how important a career might be to some people. I haven't finished it but I hope it is not a case of "the grass is greener" and that she stays in Dublin. Ros Jewell, Facebook THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD John Le Carre British Intelligence officer Alec Leamas takes on his final Cold War mission but as he gets further into enemy territory, he realises the playing field is not as level as he believed.

Francesca says: This story draws a fine line between the good guys and the bad guys - who did you think was the hero and who was the villain? You say: Leamas is definitely a good guy. I think he really believed in what he was doing, even though he could see problems with "Control". George Smiley is supposed to be on the side of the goodies but he seemed like a nasty piece of work to me.

Nathan Burns, by email KISS KISS Roald Dahl A fantastic collection of short stories that ranges from the hilarious to the macabre, Roald Dahl covers just about everything you can think of, from cheating wives to mad scientists and crooked priests.

Francesca says: I absolutely loved Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat - the outrage of seeing where the coat ended up! What do you reckon? Did she get her comeuppance or did you feel sorry for her? You say: A clever story but both are as bad as each other! Wish these stories would come back on TV! @thebooktrailer, Twitter MAY'S BOOKS... GET READING NOW! The Accidental by Ali Smith, A Zoo in My Luggage by Gerald Durrell, Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Go to mirror.co.uk/bookorder to get any title for Pounds 5 each with FREE P&P NEW OUT WOLF Mo Hayder Bantam Press. Out Thursday DI Jack Caffery, Hayder's tortured hero, returns for his sixth outing in this wonderfully gruesome mystery. Starting with a sinister discovery in an isolated house - the scene of a horrible crime 14 years earlier - it builds to its mesmerising climax with a brilliantly paced sense of menace. Masterful.

WHO IS TOM DITTO? Danny Wallace Ebury Press. Out Thursday Comedian Wallace has scored another hit with this quirky novel. Radio DJ Tom returns to find his girlfriend gone and in his quest to find her, stumbles across an eccentric cast of characters with a bizarre hobby. Packed full of gags, this is also a tender and touching story.

THINGS WE NEVER SAY Sheila O'Flanagan Headline Review. Out Thursday The death of a wealthy man leads to a bitter dispute about his will, dragging in American Abby. She never even knew her late grandfather or any of the secrets buried in the family's past. Moving between Ireland and America, this is a light and engaging read, ideal for summer.

DEIRDRE O'BRIEN (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved.

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