Baby Games For 3-6 Month-Olds

As my little one grows up I'm always looking for new ways to keep her development moving. Here is a list of some games you can play from 3 to 6 months of age.

1. A piece of glass separates me from my best friend. around 4 or 5 months she was really looking at things and smiling at things so my wife found out something fun. Find a big mirror that you can stand in front of while holding baby. I would move her close enough until she would catch a glimpse of herself. She would immediately light up and start cooing and giggling. To this day this is our pre-bath routine. As she got older I would change distances to help keep her eyes exercised.

2. Help me name that. An adaptation to the baby eye-spy we played when she was younger was this game. Once she could reach out and touch things I would encourage her to touch things while I named it. Sometimes I think she got it other times she'd look at me and just grin. Again, this is another game we continue to play.

3. I must be butter cause I'm on a roll! Once she was used to being on her belly on the floor I'd get down and play with her. I'd put toys that were just out of her reach and have her try and get them. If she did happen to roll over or get the toy somehow I would get real excited and tell her how good she is and how big she is. As time progressed she loved the excitment I'd give her and she would do it much faster.

4. ABs of steel. She always was trying to sit up and see things when she developed her baby muscles. In an attempt to encourage this and help grow her muscles we would have her hold our fingers as she sat up. At first we had to pull her up to look around. As she got older and stronger she would pull up while holding on. At this point she just sits right up by herself. This helped to encourage her to be curious and to build some core body muscles.

5. If your happy and you know it. Around 3 months we really got into using her arms and legs when we sung songs. We would play 'this little piggy', 'patty cakes', & 'if your happy and you know it'. We would either clap her hands or her feet to the beat and sing to her. At first we got the craziest look. As she learned to like it she would get the biggest grin. Another thing that I would do is play a pop or rock song and have her be my little 'drummer'. I'd sit her on my lap facing away from me and take her hands and have her 'play the drums'. She would giggle and giggle.

We still play a few of the games from when she was younger but a lot of them we've adapted to either be more physical, vocal, or visual. Also, make sure you're always talking to your baby. No matter where we are I'm having a conversation with her. Telling her about my day, asking her about hers, or reading things to her. The most entertaining is when we are shopping at the grocery. She loves hearing the nutritional facts of foods. Go figure.

How to Get a Woman's Phone Number

Do you want to ask for her digits but can't muster the courage? Do you want to get a woman's phone number but are afraid that she might not give it to you? Do you want to date her but are afraid of being rejected? Dude - you're not alone! Even the cockiest men in the planet sometimes find it hard to ask a woman for her contact details. The god news is that while getting her phone number can be an intimidating experience, it doesn't have to always be. Here are a few tricks you can use.

1. Don't doubt yourself. Forget about those other women who rejected you or traded numbers with you but never called you back. Convince yourself that you WILL succeed, and you will.

2. Be cool. Walking towards the woman you like as though she's your friend, and that you've known her for years. Make sure your posture is confident. Smile casually (note: do not give her stupid grin). Speak clearly. If as you walk up to her she makes eye contact, then you should look right back into her eyes, but make sure you don't stare like a creep, either.

3. Don't try to get a woman's phone number right away. Have a decent conversation with her first. Ask her how her day is, etc. Find an appropriate segue into getting her digits. For example, if during your conversation you bring up a movie, ask her what she thinks about it. If she likes it and hasn't seen it (or wants to see it again), then go right in and ask for her number. Say something like, "I was planning to see it this weekend, actually. Do you want to join me?" If she's interested, ask for her contact details so you can set a proper date.

Why I Hate Blogs!

A couple of years ago, when I first came across these viral infections making their way across the Internet I was thoroughly unimpressed. Blogs seemed to be nothing more than sophisticated "diaries". Indeed, many web sites offered what were called live journals, originally started as a place for kids to keep their diaries. What was interesting is that they kept it up on the web so their parents would not get a hold of it, but the whole world was allowed access to these diaries. Blogs seemed to be the next step, feeding the dreams of frustrated authors wanting to get something off their chests and trying to get the rest of the world to listen.

I grew to hate Blogs.

As time went on, Blogs still earned my disdain. Becoming ever-more-popular, now they were the realm of would-be webmasters. Those who could not really understand the intricacies of the web and the creation of "real" HTML pages went to the ever increasing number of servers offering free Blog space and software. There they created within limitations of the Blog what would be called "mini web sites". Oh, nothing with the sophistication of their 500000 page full blown web-site cousins, but nevertheless something that could be looked upon as a place to disseminate information within the vast pits of the world wide web.

I still hated Blogs.

Then as the weeks and months rolled by and the major players such as Google entered the Blog craze, the serious snobs of Internet technology began to take notice. It was the revolt of the plebeians against those who spent their lives matching colors, memorizing Hex Codes, creating menus and finding content for their sites. The Bloggers had the audacity to put up their pages within minutes and begin to start writing, adding, composing and generally taking on the world in the time it took to create the bare shell of one web page. My God! They even used spell checkers!

Oh boy, did I really hate Blogs then.

Then, and when I think upon it to this day, I still cringe - the inevitable happened. One of my clients in a show of how "technologically-minded" he was, began telling me all about his Blog. Trying to impress me with terms such as "tables" and "permalinks" and telling me how he learned HTML by messing with his Blog template, made my blood pressure shoot through the roof.

"Hey," he said with a big evil grin on his face, "It isn't that hard! You always made it seem so mysterious. I mean I Blog all the time!"

At that moment I could have thermally burned every Blog in the universe.

And of course I could not get over the useless amount of information that was out there in these Blogs. Millions upon millions of web pages, or precious gigabytes, of golden bandwidth taken up with the musings of people who had nothing better to do! And the Blogs still kept on growing.

I hated them.

Then it happened. I knew it would. I knew it had to. I just knew it. A client asked me why I didn't have a Blog for my company. After all, Web Sites are great but Blogs he said, were ever better. And so I bit the bullet and put up a one page Blog, linked my "web-site" to it and promptly after 3 days forgot all about it. Let the Bloggers have their Blogs. Real Men & Ladies do Web Sites!

One day while I was about to tear out what was left of my hair in the good old war with the Search Engine Trinity - Google, Yahoo and MSN - trying to figure out just why one keyword was working and the 9,999 others were not, and why my page rank was moving like a yo-yo, and I felt no matter what I did to improve my rank only made it worse, SUDDENLY I see in MSN my site pop up on the first page where it had never been before. At least I thought it was my site. So doing a dance in my chair, and yelling YES YES YES - I click on the link and voila, suddenly my stomach churns in disgust and total nausea. I am brought face-to-face with the Blog I put up 3 months beforehand. NOT MY WEB SITE! MY BLOG!

5 Hot Ways to Attract Girls - Simple and Easy Seduction Techniques For Men

5 Hot Ways to Attract Girls - Simple and Easy Seduction Techniques For Men

Every man has gone through this same pursuit --- attracting girls. You can never say you've been man until you start taking notice of your raging hormones and how the effects of the opposite sex leaves you quite not in control and all hyper all of a sudden. However, all men did try to get lucky with a woman --- but only a very few succeeded. Now I'm not saying you are going to remain a loser all your life --- things get messed up and we still need a few push and whack on the right spot before we get it right. So to help you out, here are the five hot ways to attract girls --- learn the simple and easy seduction techniques to get you the girl you want at last!

• The grin. And it should be a sexy one. Grinning is not only cute, it's a great way to look more approachable and less threatening. When you're a guy, you need to master the grin --- most guys would grin and instantly become like a total babe magnet. Practice on the mirror, know your best angles and start doing the grin --- something that looks sexy and seductive at the same time. She'll never miss it.
• The nod. If you're still too nervous to approach a girl for the first time, nodding can be a great way to start. You can catch a girl looking at you, nod your head and look away. Keep on stealing glances on her way and she'll clearly get the message that you're thinking of coming over --- she might just already be seduced and come right to you instead.
• The scent. Always looking and smelling good may be something you think won't get you nowhere but believe me it will. Women look at the physical attributes of a man first before she can tell he's desirable (of course, she needs to talk to you and get to know your personality right after) so always observe this habit --- she may just be already addicted to you nice scent.
• The fleeting glance. Fleeting glances may seem totally innocent and harmless to you but beware --- the woman mind might tell you otherwise. If you do it and happen to keep doing it, she will definitely come to realize that you're thinking of hitting on her --- so keep to a minimum --- but give her a little something to tease her imagination.
• The wink. Winking can be a little risky but it's still worth it --- when chatting up with a group of girls, wink at the one you find the most attractive and she will definitely feel special --- you've just separated her from the crowd. After your little chitchat with the group, come over to her and start a real conversation. And you can quit winking now.

 

Body Language Romantic Guys Can Use on Dates

Non-verbal communication or body language can be more powerful than the words that are coming out of your mouth. Fifty-five percent of your communication pattern comes from your body language. They may not be heard, yet they are even stronger in conveying your thoughts. In fact, your body language has the ability to support or destroy the statements that you give away.

The thing is, you have to give off the right signals. Through your body language, you will be able to set the records straight and have your intentions clear as crystal. Remember that it is not only her body language that you need to be aware of. You also need to read yours. You might be surprised with what your body is saying.

Here are some of the simple body languages that you could use on dates to make you become the romantic guy every girl would go gaga for.

Getting Closer
In your way to get closer to her, you have to remember to not invade her personal space. You have to be close enough but not too far or too close. Do not invade her personal space until she allows you to do so. Being to far could make your signal be interpreted as being indifferent while you being too close could be seen as rude. You can open yourself to her and let her be lured into your personal space instead.

Copy Her
In studies about romantic body language, it has been proven that a person who is interested to the other party tend to copy the body language of the other unconsciously. Copying her body language like smiling or touching your arm or holding your hand is basically a sign that the feeling is mutual. However, it is not necessary to copy every gesture that she sends. Mimicry should be done in moderation because too much of this can be seen as rude.

The Grin Mouth Closed
Your grin has a very important indication in romantic body language. A tight-lipped grin is considered as a sign of not being interested. A half smile is read as being insincere. The closed mouth grin means you like the girl you are with right now yet you are afraid, shy or hesitant to let go of the feeling. This could be a really good signal to send because it has a tendency to make the lady to move forward. Girls love to unfold secrets and they would be intrigued by this gesture.

Belt Touching
This should be done only if you think it is the right time. When a guy touches his belt or hangs his thumbs in his front pockets are signs that he's got the hots for the girl he's talking with. He is asking for the girl to join him in and be extra intimate. This is your body's way of calling her attention towards that region and leading her to consider the possibility of sleeping together.

The Eye Contact
By looking intently at the girl, you are sending signals that say, "I am into you and I want you so bad." It also shows that you are listening and that she has been the only one in the room who can capture your attention. Look at her with fire love in your eyes. Burn her with your desire to make her happy. But do not look at her too fiercely because it might scare her. Blinking once in a while is okay. Blinking once in a while is actually a way of sending romantic body language unconsciously.

How to Make a Man Smile a Lot - 7 Proven Methods of Making a Grin Stay on His Face

It's great to see a man smile. But these guys aren't as ready to show a grin if all they see is bitching and nagging all day long. Perhaps you've wanted to make your man smile for the longest time - but how do you do it?

Show zero possessiveness.

If you believe that you're a gorgeous woman, then there should be no signs of insecurities whatsoever. Don't let him feel too proud by acting desperate for his attention. Don't let him receive too much attention from you. Show ample independence and he'll surely love you for it.

You're his and he's yours.

This man will surely smile once he is assured that there's no one else that's meant for you but him. Show him what exclusive dating really means - that you're his forever and vice versa. Love him with all of your might and he'd surely smile and treasure you for the rest of his days.

Corny jokes.

Would you believe that even the corniest of jokes can actually make a man smile as long as they come from you? Listening to some jokes after a tiresome day at work could be a relieving thing for him. It's something that would ease him and would make him want to come home to you each time.

The naughty texts.

Teasing the man when he least expects it might just be something that would ease up what would have been a sad day. Cheer him up with some of your naughtiest text message and he'll surely be pleasantly surprised.

Pamper the guy.

Men are practically kids by nature. So if you pamper him and give him all the things that make him happy, then a smile would surely spread on his handsome face. And he would surely smile more often when he knows that you know his needs and you do your best to meet them.

Be impulsive.

No matter how long you've been dating your man, you must still have surprises for him. He shouldn't be able to tell what your next move is. Do all the things that he doesn't expect you to do - all pleasant things, of course.

Sensational Christmas Gifts Sure to Make an 11-Year-Old Grin from Ear to Ear

Happiness is ... that first sight of Christmas gifts piled high beneath the tree. So today, let us look at some sensational Christmas gifts sure to make an 11-year-old grin from ear to ear.
Now, what kind of Christmas gifts would your favorite 11-year-old boy or girl want to get more than anything? Is he or she a speed whiz? If so, perhaps a pair of Heelys - which are shoes with a wheel in the heel - would be just right. Then again, inline skates are a big hit this year.
For the 11-year-old scientist in your life, there are some great power zoom binoculars you can use for all occasions - car trips, camping, hiking, and bird watching.
A watch is a snazzy gift. Popular ones are the Spiderman3 watch for boys and the Cinderella watch for girls.
Games, videos, and movies are always a thrill for 11-year-olds. Some popular ones are Monopoly, Checkers, Operation, and a bowling pin set.
If you are into the hottest gifts around, let us check out a few right now.
Eyeclops Bionic Eye - Do you want to see everything up close? I mean - really up close? Then, you would need Eyeclops. Just connect the "eye" to your TV, then plug in the "eye" and you are ready to go. It magnifies an object up to 200 times its size. This is great for 11-year-olds to examine their toes, the Christmas pudding, and the dog's tail.
Shuffle Up Playing Cards - You will need to set up the card table for this fun game. This is a little like dominoes, but it is played with cards. What makes it exciting is that the game is very unpredictable. Shuffling is easy and so is the game - but best of all, there is a surprise in every hand.
Electric Guitar - This guitar teaches the first-time player how to play like a rock star. The "learn 'n play" mode teaches you song segments. The "band" mode lets you play along with pre-recorded music. When you are ready to "go public," you can plug into an MP3 player.
Amazing Name Scroll on a Painting - Here is one gift that is always a hit. This scroll contains a person's first name and its meaning along with famous people with that name. The background of the scroll is a painting of a kitten, a dog, a lion, horses. flowers, or other scenes. There is a golden crown, a crest, a seal, and a border. This treasured gift is ready for framing.
Mystery Gifts - Mystery gifts are a number of smaller gifts that you pack up together in a gift box. The recipient never knows what little gift to unwrap next. They are all exciting. There might be a ring that lights up in the dark, coloring books and crayons, activity books, or an animated duck, penguin, or bear that sings and dances.
There we are. What do you think? Some of these gifts may fit the bill. Or, perhaps they will give you ideas for other sensational Christmas gifts sure to make an 11-year-old grin from ear to ear. Now be sure to have a merry old Christmas with lots of cake and ice cream.

 

How to Make Passionate Love to a Woman - And Make Her Grin Ear to Ear

Most guys dream of being able to make their girlfriends orgasm virtually on demand but very few actually succeed. If you want to give you woman the best orgasm she could ever imagine, then continue reading.

Being able to make your woman have multiple orgasms will be sure to make her find you completely irresistible. She certainly won't be going looking elsewhere for pleasure and she will be happy to satisfy you whenever you want her. Here are two super methods to get you started...

How To Make Passionate Love To A Woman - And Make Her Grin Ear To Ear

Method #1: "The Right Spot". Massaging her g-spot is extremely effective in getting her to orgasm. This is easier done with the fingers than the penis, but if you can do this, you will find that she can never get enough of you. You can find the g-spot without too much trouble and the best way to simulate it is by using downward thrusting motions when making love to her or, if using your fingers, make a 'come here' movement with them inside her.

Method #2: "Conversation Seduction". The power of words should never be underestimated during lovemaking either. Women are driven crazy if you talk dirty to them and arouse all sorts of crazy fantasies inside their heads. Choose your words and timing carefully and remember to be passionate and intensely erotic rather than dirty and over the top. When she is highly aroused, try whispering into her ear how much you want her and what you want to do to her - this will be sure to bring her close to climax.

Using these methods, you will be well on the road to success. However, if you want practically guaranteed success, you are going to want to learn some impressive new methods and some of the best kept secrets of the female orgasm.

Now a bonus tip that you will find useful if you want to make any woman orgasm fast...

Is Your Grin Getting You Down?

We see the ads full of models with teeth so white they almost blind our eyes. Most movie stars have the same kind of teeth. After awhile, we start to believe that we are lacking if we don't have teeth like that.

So, we start to consider some kind of teeth whitening system. So, we look around and see all kinds of methods that claim, or at least imply, that we, too, can have teeth like that of the models selling those products.

We find references to teeth surface whiteners, tray teeth bleaching, whitening strips, nightguard bleaching, paint-on bleaching, in-office whitening, in-home bleaching, etc., etc. Are they any good? Do they really work? Are they safe?

Well, before we go off and buy something that might or might not work in your situation, it might be best to have a chat with our dentists. They will probably be able to give you an idea of why your teeth aren't as white as you would like them to be. Once they have determined that, they can suggest some appropriate methods of brightening your teeth.

Keep in mind, however, some people's teeth are just naturally darker. In that case, using teeth whiteners will probably not be very effective. The best alternative there is to find out from you dentist how much it would cost to have your teeth veneered. Then it is easy to do a cost-benefit analysis.

By the way, if your natural teeth have become darker than a cap or a crown, that might indicate that teeth bleaching might be effective. The reason is that when the crown or cap was added, it probably matched your tooth color at that time. Obviously, in the passage of time, your teeth have become stained or darkened for some reason. Again, your dentist will be able to tell you need to know.

Teeth do become stained over time by some of the things we regularly put in our mouths. Things like cigarette, tea, coffee, colas, and wine. Regular use of certain medicines can also stain your teeth.

Sometimes just one tooth becomes darkened. Have your dentist check that out as soon as you can. It could be an indication of a problem inside the tooth.

Besides deciding on which method is best, you should also consider the safety of the various methods. Almost all use some form of bleach, usually hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, or carbamide peroxide. Swallowing the stuff would not be a good thing. Getting it into other parts of the mouth could also create problems.

So, before you go ahead with teeth whitening, do your homework first, and make sure it is the best decision for you.

A Grin on the Master's Face

This remarkable story recently made national news. Pauline Jacoby had just finished putting her groceries into her car trunk in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Dyersburg, Tennessee. As she got into the driver's seat a man slid into the front passenger seat and told her he had a gun and wanted all her money.

Mrs. Jacoby is ninety-two years old and reads her Bible every single day. She has a halo of blue tinted gray hair and gold wire-rimmed glasses. A snappy dresser, she takes care to look her best with tastefully applied make-up and manicured nails and looks considerably younger than her years.

Mentally, she is sharp as a tack. However, the cadence of her speech, which is laced with a thick Southern accent, betrays her age as do the gnarled, arthritic knuckles of her hands. Her face is still lovely and exhibits the wrinkles and lines of a life well lived.

She looked at the threatening stranger and said, "No, I'm not gonna give you my money", standing firm as she reiterated her decision no less than three times. Mrs. Jacoby then informed the man, "As quick as you kill me, I'll go to heaven and you'll go to hell!" She advised him to ask God for forgiveness and told him "Jesus is in this car and He goes with me everywhere I go."

The would-be robber was totally confounded and stared at his surroundings as tears began to fill his eyes. She proceeded to witness and minister to this young man for more than ten minutes as they continued to sit in the car. He told her " I think I'll go home and pray tonight." "You don't have to wait until tonight; you can pray any time you want to" she assured.

As he sat there openly weeping, she voluntarily reached into her purse and gave him all the money she had; ten dollars. "Don't you go spending this on whiskey either!" she admonished with a gentle smile. He thanked her for the money and to her surprise and delight, he reached over and kissed her soft, wrinkled cheek, then got out of the car and simply walked away.

Although I have never met Mrs. Pauline Jacoby, I think I can make some educated assumptions about this spunky lady. She was probably born and reared in the South and has most likely been a long time Christian who takes her relationship with God very seriously.

I doubt that she has accomplished anything noteworthy that the world in general would think impressive. Considering the era in which she was born she most likely married young and raised her children with good Southern manners, expecting good grades and ensuring they paid attention to their Sunday School lessons. I can just imagine a blessing was given before each meal she took pride in cooking and serving her family.

I have to assume she is a widow now, still living in the home she shared with her husband for decades. The television interview revealed lace curtains and flowered wall paper hanging in her living room with crocheted doilies draping the back of a well used couch and chair. A home that is safe and familiar, reverberating with priceless memories of joy, sorrow, love, laughter and the hard work of many years.

In those few minutes of what was undoubtedly a terrifying ordeal, this little elderly saint did more for the Kingdom of God than most of us will ever accomplish. She showed the grace and love of Christ to a very lost and lonely soul. Only in heaven will she know the end result of what could have been the sacrifice of her very life.

Because of the tenderness and courage she displayed perhaps that young man will give his life to Christ and go on to lead many others to the Lord. Who knows what he might achieve in days to come due to her witness?

It makes me wonder how I would have reacted in the same situation. Would I have fought back? Panicked and handed my cash to the assailant? Or would I have the calm quiet courage of a ninety-two year old lady who wants to take advantage of every chance she gets to tell others about the Savior she loves? Maybe one day I can produce as much for God's Kingdom as Mrs. Pauline Jacoby did in those few minutes.

I am certain of one thing; I bet her actions resulted in a celebration among the angels as well as causing a huge grin to appear on the face of the Master she serves.

 

Grin & Giggle on Your Trip With Funny Luggage Tags

Grin & Giggle on Your Trip With Funny Luggage Tags

Funny Luggage Tags are varied - they may have a funny picture or a slogan. These tags are meant to have laughs on your luggage. They are available in refreshing, eye-catching colours. They will carry messages such as:

• "This is my bag."
• "I am pretty sure this isn't your bag."
• "This is not your suitcase."
• "Careful; my shoes are inside."
• "Open with caution; dirty clothes inside."
• "Nothing worth stealing in here."
• "If you can read this you are too close to my bag."
• "You won't look good in my clothes."

They definitely are funny slogans and will attract many travellers.
All Funny Luggage Tags are made of durable materials and will withstand the hassles of baggage handling. Most of them are made out of strong and robust plastic with strong, flexible plastic loops.
These tags are a perfect idea as a gift. In case you know of some friends, relatives or loved one who are planning a trip - you can make this an ideal gift. It is unusual, and it will make them grin and giggle. They come with the message on one side and the other side is left for your personal information. Many online stores offer a wide choice of stylish and witty tags. You may either choose a funny picture or a funny message.
Funny Luggage Tags are great as a promotional tool. With a witty message like the ones mentioned above, you are sure that the tag will attract a great number of people. Here is a good opportunity to market your brand. A tag of this type will have limited space and you may not be able to have much of your company details. However, since the opportunity is great it is a good chance to have you logo and company name or even your contact details. Companies who specialize in the production of promotional items will be able to help you with some good ideas.
Funny Luggage Tags are from fun to funny, also from conservative to wild. They are perfect for every mood and every trip a traveller will have. This funny assortment of luggage tags features interesting and cute messages which will have all travellers smiling.
Since they are available in bright colours, identification will be made easy as well.
When travelling on business or leisure, it is important to have your luggage stand out from the rest - unfortunately the flimsy paper styled luggage tags don't suit any more. These bright tags are full of personality and attitude, and they help your luggage to stand out from the rest.
Most of these fun, plastic luggage tags are very stylish and offer ample room for all the necessary contact information on the back. At the back of each tag is a removable card that allows the traveller to enter his/her information. For those travellers who would prefer a more practical method - the slot will fit in a standard sized business card too.
Enjoy your travel bringing humour to others with the use of Funny Luggage Tags!

 

The Grin of the Dark - A Macabre Tale by Ramsey Campbell

Remember the demonic creature in a clown suit in Stephen King's "It." Master of horror, Ramsey Campbell takes a different but equally chilling approach and uses the eeriness of clowns to create a psychological mystery in his novel The Grin of the Dark.

Campbell's cleverly crafted plot is more psychological page-turner than horror story. There's none of the violence that is usually found in the horror genre. The unrelenting sense of impending dread provides the chills. The sinister atmosphere and malevolent presence in cyberspace raises goose bumps and the first person narrative style immerses you in the madness.

Simon Lester is a film reviewer who is left jobless after a stint with a controversial magazine comes to an end. He works at a gas station and is forced to move in with his girlfriend and her young son. Her parents take every opportunity to remind him he's not worthy of her. Finally things start looking up. A former professor hires him to expand on his thesis and write a book about silent film star, Tubby Thackery, whose outrageous antics used to cause riots in his audiences. Research proves difficult as Simon embarks on a journey that exposes him to some surreal scenarios and e-mail exchanges with a snide film buff. Disturbing events take place as Simon delves deeper into Tubby's life. Is he being persecuted or is it his imagination? The reader is never quite sure because the only perspective is Simon's and the unreliable narrator is obviously losing his grip on reality.

The suspense is all the more brutal because it builds slowly through the excellent use of atmosphere, dialogue and internal monologue. The macabre story is dark but also has some genuinely humorous moments. Deliberately misspelled words, doubled consonants and anagrams add a unique twist. That being said, The Grin of the Dark is not an easy read. Parts of the story are confusing and the detailed descriptions sometimes become repetitious. Lester is not a particularly likeable protagonist and the end of his tale is predictable. But ultimately the story is extremely convincing and well worth a read.