Roland Butter

Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites

Welcome to my World - Jim Reeves

Prime of My Life - Phyllis Hyman

Rather than carrying them home in your luggage, it might work out cheaper to post them to yourself, if you really do buy that many books. I have no idea, but it might be worth investigating.

Really good, wasn't it? I found the historical note at the end really useful, too - it was enlightening to know that, like many characters in the book (and probably like many Germans in real life), Fallada was neither a rabid Nazi nor a fervent anti-Nazi, but found himself in a situation where he just had to rub along as best he could.

She's About A Mover - Sir Douglas Quintet

The Twins are going well, I'll give you that. They can be my "second" team, after the Blue Jays.

Finished Men in Space last night. It's a strange one - well written, but there were just too many strands going on, and they didn't come together for me. Not sure what it was all about, at the end of the day. Now I'm on to some light reading - Ashes to Ashes by Marcus Berkmann (sub-titled 35 years of humiliation (and about 20 minutes of ecstasy) watching England v Australia). Now, that's a subject I believe my good friend Kylie and I may have discussed on occasion in the past ....

The Mike Hammer Omnibus Volume 1 by Mickey Spillane - £1.99 in the remaindered bookshop in Bromley. They don't write 'em like this anymore: "Here's one you'll like, chum", Velda grinned at me. She pulled out a full-length photo of a gorgeous blonde. My heart jumped when I saw it. The picture was taken at a beach, and she stood there tall and languid-looking in a white bathing suit. Long solid legs. A little heavier than the movie experts consider good form, but the kind that make you drool to look at.

Makes you yearn for Ally McLeod ...

Me too ... but for different reasons

Sometimes When We Touch - Dan Hill

Well, there are a few names from the past! And it reminded me about "that" bit - certainly one of the most stomach-churning passages in any book I've read! Enjoy, Brida ...

If This World Were Mine - Marvin and Tammi

Where are you changing planes? If it's Singapore, you don't have to worry. I've done that one, and it's a piece of cake.

There's certainly been some discussion on here. I remember posting about it at the time I first joined the Forum which, at a guess, would have been around three years ago. Probably archived now. For what it's worth, I thought it was a very good read - the story of a man's mental health unravelling, but not as bleak as it sounds. There's a fair bit of humour, albeit mostly quite dark. I'd never have thought of buying it for myself, but I was on holiday and out of books, and someone had left it at the hotel. Turned out to be well worth while - I'd give it a go if I were you.

Wild Honey - The Beach Boys

I suspect they'll be dancing in the streets of Raith ....

Started "Men in Space" by Tom McCarthy last night. Bit of an odd one: "Set in a Central Europe rapidly fragmenting after the fall of Communism, "Men in Space" follows a cast of dissolute Bohemians, political refugees, a football referee, a disorientated police agent and a stranded astronaut as they chase a stolen icon painting from Sofia to Prague and onwards. The icon's melancholy orbit is reflected in the various characters' ellipses and near misses as they career vertiginously through all kinds of space: physical, political, emotional and metaphysical. What emerges is a vision of humanity adrift in history, and a world in a state of disintegration". Actually, there are a few more laughs than you might imagine ...

Even I like "Bridget Jones"! The fight scene's one of the funniest things I've seen

I hope you enjoy "Alone in Berlin", Judy. I read it about three weeks ago, and I thought it was exceptional - definitely the best book I've read this year.

Thank you! Inspired, of course, by Mr Sondheim ...

Every Day I Have The Blues - B B King

Finished "The Clothes On Their Backs" by Linda Grant last night. If I was being all pseudy, I'd describe it as a challenging yet poignant exploration of identity and family relationships. But as I'm not, it was a thoroughly good read.

I read an article about Shirley Jackson a couple of weeks ago, and it stirred my interest. By the sound of it, she specialised in "disturbing". I think I'll be looking out for something by her in the not too distant future - "The Lottery" sounded like a challenging story, certainly.