We recently listened to an audiobook of Rebecca, by Daphne DuMaurier. There follows a collection of thoughts on the matter, **including spoilers**.
You know when you read something on the internet that incenses you beyond reason? I’m not talking so much about the times an elected official says something eye-wateringly racist / awful about women’s reproductive rights / climate change denial-y. I’m more thinking of the comments that come from unexpected places. The ones that get under your skin and make you want to shout at people who have ultimately only expressed a personal opinion. Continue reading “How To Arrange A Bookshelf”
Last week Terry Gilliam (yes, he of Monty Python, Brazil and Time Bandits fame – as if there could be another) visited Edinburgh to unveil a 10-metre long illuminated quotation from Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote. As you do. Continue reading “Words On The Street”
A short while ago I was asked to test a new bookish app. Naturally the first thing I thought was ‘braw, there’s a series of blog posts in that!’ So, over the next few weeks I’ll be reviewing a few booky apps for tablets and smartphones – kicking off today with the newly released Edinburgh Book App from purpleTrails.

Continue reading “Review – Edinburgh Book app from purpleTrails”

This evening I am going along to a literary salon in Edinburgh to talk about 12 books in 12 months as part of a literary blog themed event.
I think this sounds rather grand for two reasons.
- If you know your history or have a Wikipedia tab open you’ll know salons started in 17th century France as a way to gather lots of very bright types to talk about literature and philosophy.
- I have been known to read a few literary blogs, and they are often maintained by very knowledgable people, far better read than I, who discuss worthy books in a sensible way.
Then there’s me, struggling for weeks to get through Life of Pi but cheerfully staying up all night to read George R. R. Martin in a hostel in Ljbljana.