I’m carefully avoiding the news again and find myself looking at my photos of Singapore’s orchids. So, I’ve put some more up for you to enjoy. And now for something completely different. Like most readers of crime, I have an interest in Jack the Ripper. I wrote a review of Bruce Robinson’s book They All…
When I was a kid finding something to give me for birthdays and Christmas was easy – just buy me a book. I loved to read and would often lie in bed after lights-out reading a book under the blankets with a torch. Actually, even when I was much, much older, buying me a birthday…
Thousands of books are published every day somewhere in the world, as ebooks and, to a lesser extent, paperbacks. I know lots of people love the feel of a book in their hands, and the smell of books. I used to be one of those but these days I prefer ebooks. I can change the…
I first met Terry Pratchett’s books in a news agency at Perth airport many years ago. I was looking for a book to read on the 5 hour flight to Sydney and idly picked up a paperback with a colourful cover showing all sorts of grotesque creatures. I read the first page (as you do)…
The Man Booker award has been made, and the winner (Hilary Mantel) will no doubt sell a besquillion copies of her historical novel, Wolf Hall. And to that, all I can say is bully for her. I mean no malice, no sour grapes. I can’t imagine anything I write qualifying for a literary award. As…