Nicely written interesting perspective of Death from the viewpoint of Death The Character.

Like all comedy novels, and shampoo itself, it starts well but then dries up.

Bought at Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena. A couple of lectures in New York about the British and the horrors of the recently ended 1914-18 war.

Everything I needed to know about Descartes: I drink therefore I am. Started last summer and picked up and finished.

About a book thief who like all thieves is in denial about theft. Not written well enough to be really good and she abandons the tale and pursuit of his thieving career before it is over or has come to some dramatic conclusion, in order to publish the book which is a pity as the story lacks a good end, and if you are doing journalism you must await the outcome. You can see this book prominently displayed at all Book Fairs as a burglar alarm in order to deter the thief himself.

His last posthumous novel and is as usual a closely reworked version of something that actually happened (in this case the Monte Carlo Saffire fire death) set now in Biarritz. As with parody often the elusive truth is easier achieved through fiction.

Best play ever. I love it. See it. Read it. He is our finest playwright.

There seems to be a rule that if I like something it is doomed to failure! Now the Booker Prize reverses this: once I have gone off an author he is eligible for all sorts of fame, best sellers and prizes. I have loved Howard Jacobson for years and read every word of his, but the current novel I didn’t enjoy. So it is fitting and ironic that it wins the Booker and will go on to garnish millions in sales in the US. I’m happy for him. I honestly am, but please read some of his earlier ones, he is very good, and very very funny.