Current book is The Discovery of France, by Graham Robb, a very entertaining and informative jaunt through the obscure byways of French social history. No, it's good, really.

Next up: The Rotters Club. 1970s adolescence listening to prog rock? That'll have been me, then.

Finished the Anselm - it was pretty good in places, but dragged a bit in the (justly) less famous parts. I'm coming around to the view that (a) Norman Malcolm interpreted the Ontological Argument correctly, and that (b) that version of it is, more or less, valid.

I've now got Elizabeth Potter's book on Feminism and Philosophy of Science going, as well as the poetry anthology and various stuff for prepping lectures.

Are lecturing, Toro? Where?

Just re-read Kapuscinksi's Another Day of Life. It really is sheer genius. Also finished Chinua Achebe's Anthills of the Savannah. I may be horribly culturally insensitive, but I don't see the fuss about Achebe. Small good bits, mostly kind of tedious. Nowehere near as interesting as, say, na Thiongo's The Wizard of the Crow.

Now to resume my quest to read all of Ian Banks' sci-fi in a single year (up next: the Algebraist), plus a new football book has arrived - When Friday Comes, about football in the middle east. So this should supply some sustenance on my flight tonight.

Back in Leeds - they've given me a year's posting, doing Philosophy of Science stuff.

And I've been *totally* remiss in not replying to you, after you sent those ads! Thanks a million, it was massively appreciated.

Oh, so no longer in London? That's too bad - I never make it to Leeds.

Do you want me to keep sending those ads? I'm happy to, if you like. The next couple of months are when most of the postings for 09-10 will go up.

Yeah, please do. I'm having to start thinking about second jobs and CV-building already...

Also, I spend loads of the time in London anyway, so do keep me posted on your travel plans.

Finished the Elizabeth Potter - it's very thorough and persuasive, and pretty accessible. I could see Wyatt getting a good deal out of it.

Am replacing it with Setting Sun, an anthology of Japanese Photographers' writings.

Just finished Flood by Stephen Baxter. Alright, I s'pose, but the crushing inevitability of the end slowed the book down to a crawl.

Now starting The Burning Man by Mark Chadbourn, the 8th book in a series of ever-decreasing returns...

Finished Inverting The Pyramid, read a very short book about The Book Of Kells today, and tomorrow I'll be starting The Remains Of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.

I am completely addicted to Robert Harris. I'm not generally a thriller kind of guy, but Fatherland was genius. And Imperium. So, on the plan home yesterday, I finished Ghost, and am completely unable to figure out how he avoided a slander suit from the Blairs.

Also read David Conn's The Beautful Game (starring TonTon!), which was a truly excellent book. I've also been reading When Friday Comes, which has a rich and promising subject but is written by a rank amateur. Makes the Bennet book on Russia read like Simon Kuper. I'm holding out because I assume there will be nuggets, but yeesh!

Just finished Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and it was excellent. This morning I nipped into Barcelona and did this walk, which, if I'm being honest, was a bit underwhelming (obviously enough for a work of fiction, as you're just staring at random buildings half the time), though did give a good 'feel'for the book ...

Did you like Ghost, Antonio? I've never read any Robert Harris but listened to the radio adaptation of Ghost on a Book at Bedtime and was distinctly underwhelmed. Maybe the adaptation didn't do it justice though and I'm pretty sure they abridge them anyway.

Talking, as Lodz was, of Spanish writers I've just finished La de Bringas by Benito Perez Galdos. Although it's set in Madrid, most of it takes place inside the Royal Palace so it doesn't really conjure up 19th century Madrid like the majestic Fortunata y Jacinta does.

Lodzubelieveit wrote:

QUOTE:
Just finished Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and it was excellent.

I had a bit of an odd relationship with that book. The first hundred pages or so are too descriptive by far for my liking... but after that it changed and became a really, really bloody good read.

I enjoy all of Harris' stuff, even the ones that aren't that good. Like this one, and Archangel (both set in the present and with wholly ludicrous premises). Not up to the standards of my two faves (Imperium and Fatherland).

None of Harris' novels stand on their own and make you say: "hey! great literature!" But he has a way of carryng you along - the pages do fly, even when he's not at his best (which this wasn't).

"Shakespeare" by Bill Bryson. A very good read and throws up all sorts of weird historical facts along the way.