Not long ago I was chuffed to discover that this ‘umble blog was the lavvy reading of choice at the home of a pal. For the smartphone generation littlest-room reading has no limits – with your pants around your ankles you can google yourself to where ever you fancy. Is it me, or is the […]
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Is it possible to love and hate a book in equal measure? After raving at length, the Panther insisted I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy. So, in spite of Terry Pratchett and because of Philip Pullman, I picked up the volume. Hopes weren’t high, it has to be said. A “post-apocalyptic fight for survival” […]
A slacker’s guide to classic novels
OK. You know those lists that have all the books you should have read? The ones, in my case, that I feel quite smug about To Kill A Mockingbird and Brave New World, but pretty inadequate about almost everything else. Those. My powers of bluster and google had in the most part got me through. […]
Locked in Waterstones for the night – book me in
Imagine it. A night to yourself. The luxury of pleasing yourself. Piles of books stand attentive – you can dip in for a paddle or wallow for hours. There are no children, no housework, nothing else to do. When you’re peckish, there’s a coffee shop. You might have to help yourself, but that’s OK. That’s […]
The sexiest men in books
When you think of hot literary heroes, perhaps the first fellows to come to mind are the obvious ones – Mr Darcy, Rhett Butler or even Christian Grey if that’s your bag. But you can keep Soggy Shirt, Don’t Give A Damn and Captain Cable Tie, I’ve just fallen for a new leading man who […]