The Castello Book Club ~ in partnership with Penguin Books

I love books, and I love cheese!   When Castello, the speciality cheese brand contacted me to tell me about their exciting new project I was really excited.

Castello have teamed up with Penguin Books to launch the Castello Book Club Facebook app.  This space encourages people to create their own book club and provides exclusive content from Penguin authors.

Every month there is a new 'Book of the Month' with discussion topics; this month's title is Nick Hornby's dark comedy 'A Long Way Down'.

A Long Way Down is a truly great read, by an award winning author whose work has been made into films including High Fidelity and About A Boy and on 21 March A Long Way Down was released in cinemas and stars Pierce Brosnan and Toni Collette.

A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby's hilarious bestseller now a major motion picture starring Pierce Brosnan

'Can I explain why I wanted to jump off the top of a tower block?'

For disgraced TV presenter Martin Sharp the answer's pretty simple: he has, in his own words, 'pissed his life away'. And on New Year's Eve he's going to end it all . . . but not, as it happens, alone. Because first single-mum Maureen, then eighteen-year-old Jess and lastly American rock-god JJ turn up and crash Martin's private party. They've stolen his idea - but brought their own reasons.

Yet it's hard to jump when you've got an audience queuing impatiently behind you. A few heated words and some slices if cold pizza later and these four strangers are suddenly allies. But is their unlikely friendship a good enough reason to carry on living?

I read A Long Way Down a few years ago and have re-visited it over the weekend.  It has been republished to tie in with the cinema version and I think it's going to be a great film.  Nick Hornby's strength is in his character creation and development, and whilst there is one particular character who I just couldn't bear in the story, I am looking forward to seeing how they are depicted on the big screen.   Nick Hornby is a talented author and some of his one-liners are very very funny.  A Long Way Down is a quick read at just over 200 pages, and one that explores some relevant topics with humour and at times with sarcasm.

There is a competition currently running on the Book Club app, the winning prize includes a trip to one of the world's cultural capitals, New York.  There are also 50 runner-up prizes of Castello hampers  - these would be great to share in a book club. 

And to the cheese!   I was thrilled to receive a box full of beautifully wrapped cheeses at the end of last week. I love cheese, and can happily sit and nibble it all day long. 

Included in my box of goodies was a hunk of Tickler Chedder - extra mature, it's sweet and has a tang. I toasted some thick granary bread, piled it high with grated Tickler, added a dash of good old Henderson's Relish and put it all under the grill.  Perfect - grilled cheese to die for - I still have half of the block left - guess what's for lunch today?

I was intrigued by the Pineapple Halo cheese; a soft cheese with fruity chunks and chopped almonds. I opened it up, nibbled a bit, then nibbled a bit more.  It's incredibly moreish and eaten with some nice crackers or oatcakes, it's the perfect mid-afternoon snack.

Also in my box was some Creamy White - which is like Brie, but creamier and doesn't have that hard bit in the middle that you sometimes find with Brie.  I've also yet to try the Creamy Blue and the Extra Creamy Danish Blue - but I am certain that these will be deliciously scrumptious too!

The Castello Book Club have kindly provided me with six paperback copies of the re-released movie tie-in version of A Long Way Down to giveaway.   Entry is easy, just fill out the Rafflecopter below, don't forget to follow this blog to make sure that your entry is valid.   Good luck!

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