Funny at 40 - Derek Kettlety - 14/03/2011 22:35:34
This has to be one of the funniest books I have read in a long time, and it takes a lot to make me laugh when travelling on the London Underground - I nearly missed my stop at least twice reading this book. *If you are a Doctor Who fan, with a sense of humour, then this is defiantly a book for you. You will, at times, empathise with our two anti-heroes and at times want to knock their heads together – but you’ll be laughing none the less. Well worth the read, and I’m not going to give away any spoilers.*(Absorbed in book, not fallen asleep)

A piece of geek heaven - Ruth Wheeler - 07/04/2011 16:04:10
This compilation of fictional diary entries of thirty-somethings Jeff Greene and Pete Ross is hard to put down and has many laugh out loud moments. I would describe Life Begins at 40 as Adrian Mole meets The Big Bang Theory, however the duo’s obsession is not with physics but with Doctor Who. The book is littered with Who references, which embellish the daily thoughts of both Jeff and his agraphobic flatmate Pete. Even if some of the references pass readers by, who are perhaps less familiar with the subject matter, there is plenty more to enjoy with a variety of colourful characters, hilarious incidents and a whole world to explore in the apartment alone. New Who and Classic fans alike should be able to see a little of themselves in the main characters. It is this familiarity which adds to the comedic tone of the book. For example, Jeff’s list of reasons why he doesn’t like River Song and Pete’s absurdly long and detailed review of the Eleventh Doctor’s sonic screwdriver. The format makes the book easy to pick up and read, although you’ll find yourself half way through before you’ve even realised it. I recommend Life Begins At 40 to all who appreciate the world of fandom and obsession.

The Doctor has two hearts - called Pete and Jeff - MrDandyryan - 11/04/2011 10:47:32
Or Mark and Chris, it's hard to tell really. Yet there is much more than Doctor Who at the heart of this hilarious and uplifting book. Life Begins at 40 is the new book from authors Mark Charlesworth and Chris Newton. It intimately follows the lives of Pete and Jeff, 'Two thirty-something Doctor Who fanatics sharing a flat in Blackpool, out of pocket, out of luck and clinging to the hope that Life Begins at 40". The battle between how old you are and how old you feel is visible throughout the book, but another central theme involves the idea that we seek to interpret our ever-changing surroundings based on the things we know best. For Pete and Jeff, most of those things revolve around Doctor Who. The challenge for them is to cope with reality when compelled to abandon those things or forced to encounter things they have little experience of. The mixture of diary entries with letters, emails and even dream episodes provides a well-rounded but varied reading experience, as well as offering ample opportunities for the authors to demonstrate their unique brand of black comedy. About halfway through, it becomes apparent that Life Begins at 40 is curiously difficult to put down. Based on this book alone, Charlesworth and Newton are surely names to watch. The cliffhanger at the end suggests the possibility of a sequel, and if so, it will be eagerly awaited. But enough of that. Spoilers. Unabridged review here: http://tinyurl.com/62mlch2