Notes on a Scandal

The Guardian Books Blog on books that make you talk to strangers. Whenever I see someone reading Unless, I want to tell them it's my favourite book in all the world, though I don't think I ever have. At my library job, however, I am compelled to let patrons know when I think the book they've selected is wonderful. And often lately, it has been Interpreter of Maladies or Small Island.

And books to read on trains. The great train reads of my life have been Slouching Towards Bethlehem on the shinkansen to Hiroshima; Various Miracles on the way to Osaka one afternoon (and I read the story "Scenes" whilst stopped at Amagasaki); when we lived in England, our train rides were usually passed with Sunday papers. And I don't get to take the train anymore, but last year Sweetness in the Belly sure passed a bus journey from Toronto to Ottawa and back just fine.

An interview with Zoe Heller.

Now reading A Biographer's Tale by AS Byatt, which was not well-regarded by the amazon reviewers, but I like it much so far. And the Public Library has called, with Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin (we watched the movie last weekend; it was an obsession of mine in high school; I'm interested in the novel) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (my February classic). Once again, I suppose I can say I have all I need.

Except hair elastics. All of mine have disappeared.