The Pogues - 'The best night out in town'

What a great read. Not only does this book give a great insight into the writers love of the Pogues but it highlights his love for family, friends, football and being a chef.The style of the writing made me feel like I was actually with Calum and his friends at all of the concerts, football matches and the odd festival. I owned one Pogues album prior to reading this. I'm now the happy owner of 4 and I'm reliving chapters of the book through the music. it's really uplifting and inspiring.The humour or many of the situations really had me chuckling and sad reality of the death of both his mother and also his close friend Les and his fathers illness cannot fail to make you feel his sorrow.I cannot wait till his next book is published.Thanks, brilliant

They say everybody has a book in them and Calum Bruce proves this with this book. I really enjoyed this refreshing tale of one man trying to juggle his professional life as a chef and home life as a son and husband with his love and need to see his beloved Pogues at every possible opportunity. Calum charts the highs and lows of following the Pogues with honesty and humour as he tries, and usually fails, to keep his lunatic sidekick Keith in some sort of order and out of trouble. It’s not all about the Pogues though, it’s more of a journey through one man’s life with the band as the glue that sticks it all together, their music giving inspiration, joy and comfort to Calum as he faces good times and bad.Calum’s passion for the band and his team Hibernian (don’t let that put you off – someone has to support them) shine through as does his love and respect of his family, mates and colleagues as we see Calum grow up with the Pogues as his soundtrack. No grow up isn’t the term I was after, you get the feeling Calum will never grow up,….errmm shall we say grow wider instead? Yes that will do , wider and balder.Anyway, if you fancy something a bit different give this book a go, its unpretentious , down to earth stuff and all the better for it and proof that everyone has a story to tell – well done for getting your story down and out there Mr Bruce.Now where’s my pen – there must be a gap in the market for a tale of a civil engineer and his obsession with the Sex Pistols…..

If you enjoy a tale written from the heart ,this is for you ,it has no frills just honesty ,humour and the general feeling of ; it is what it is! The story takes you through the writers teenage years of discovering music ,moving out into the big world, the importance of his friends, football and ultimately his family .The book will have you laughing out loud at the ridiculous situations that the writer finds, himself in , the story includes lots of reference to his favourite band the Pogues, his love for their writing and how the music has had such strong meaning to him ,particularly later on in the book with reference to his father,it is indeed written with passion ,it will capture you, I dont read many books but i really enjoyed this one , I love the writers style ,he is clearly a larger than life individual ,Go buy a copy congratulations Calum.

Don't be fooled by the title! This is an epic chronicle. Calum's story is one of keeping faith with his music, his favouritefootball team and his family and friends.But it is much, much, more besides. We relive his struggles as a trainee and qualified chef in the catering trade, hisexile and adventures in deepest England and the challenges life has thrown at him. This is a rich, full tale with characters abounding, (North and South of the Border), and escapades recounted with bawdy humour and a sensitiveeye. I hope all of the individuals involved get as much pleasure from this book as I did!Full of wit and jocularity and always a page turner the book demonstrates the authors ear for dialogue and comicsituations. He is a great storyteller who shows depth and resilience in his personal life when faced with upsets andtrials. I applaud his achievement and urge you to read this book or,better still, buy the book. You won't regret it!,Phil Thomson

Hubby loved this!

excellent

You don't have to be a fan of The Pogues to enjoy Calum Bruce's first book, This is a story about one fans obsession with his his favourite band, but it's also a very touching, sometimes sad, but in the whole hilarious account of an ordinary Man's journey through adult life. Working in Kitchens as a Chef for most of his working life, his reminices of all the characters and situations he's been in that are worthy comparisons of George Orwell's down and Out in London and Paris.He also writes about family life, very eloquently, the pieces on his beloved mother are particularly moving, I found myself in tears often, The day to day difficulties of caring for his Father who unfortunatley suffers from dementia, are in the space of two scentences, hilariously funny and really touching.His beloved Band The Pogues are the Catalyst for many of the stories here, all told with verve,incredible humour fulled with never ending glasses of something fruity, and sarcastic wit.Buy it now You know you wanna!!!!!!!!

A really easy and interesting read for anyone with a love for Shane and The Pogues - as I read on I found myself really caring about Calum's journey through life, his family and friends as well as reliving the atmosphere of the fantastic night out that is The Pogues! An added bonus was discovering the author is from Perth, the town I grew up in so a real nostalgia trip as well.A very honest and hugely entertaining book - well done Calum!