Paper books I have bought this last month or so

'Gold' by Dan Rhodes and 'This is Life' by Dan Rhodes.

These are particularly noteworthy. I bought these in a charity shop in the New Forest somewhere and seeing as we we had planned to do a lot of walking, I didn't want to be carrying the weight of these books around with me, so I sent them to myself in the post and they were waiting for me when I got back from holiday. I also sent a Mystery Jets CD that I had bought in the same charity shop. I thought this was all a great success for the fun of obsolescent media. ?.

On the various online shops they have tried to replicate the browsing experience of going into an actual shop. Ebay/Amazon = online non-charity version of charity shops. They have similar items, items previous people have bought when they bought your chosen item. They show the most popular item in that category, but they can never replicate the efficiency of the information exchange in a real shop. 

The resolution of the pixels is much higher in real life and much more visual information can be displayed.

I read 'Gold' by Dan Rhodes yesterday. I spent most of it thinking it was not a good book. Only at the end could I see what a pleasing whole it actually was.

'The Book of Dave' by Will Self.

I had read in the newspaper that Will Self's next book was probably going to be longlisted for the Booker Prize. I went into City Books and asked them if they had it. It wasn't out yet but I bought another one, 'The Book of Dave', as recommended by the lady in the shop.

I've started reading it. It's bold and experimental and challenging, and a bit like a sci-fi London Ulysses. In some ways. In an interview, Will Self said he was always frustrated with how unchallenging post-modern literature can be. I would tend to agree with him, especially judging by the last few Booker Prize shortlists. He might be my new favourite contemporary author.

'Swamplandia' by Karen Russell.

This was also bought at City Books on the same occasion at the above book. I think it's important to support independent book shops (especially seeing as Amazon cheat their taxes) and this must be the best one in Brighton. They always have signings and talks, (last year I got a book signed by Harry Hill there as a Christmas present for my dad) and the people in there are always helpful and interested in talking about books.

I mainly bought this book because of the name. I do like exclamation marks. And made up words. It was a good book, certainly imaginative, certainly a new kind of world, but it wasn't as unconventional as I would have liked and I didn't like the ending.

'Food in England' by Dorothy Hartley.

Also built in City Books. I decided to treat myself after Ed had enthusiastically recommended it to me. It's a big comprehensive bible of England's pre-fifties food history, with lots of tender illustrations by the author. There's so much detail in it, I think after reading it you'd be able to imagine exactly what it would be like to eat in the past. Maybe you could write a novel about it, or a play, or a film.

'Collins Nature Guide to Trees of Britain & Europe' and 'Collins Nature Guide to Wild Flowers of Britain & Europe'.

Both bought in the New Forest Wildlife Centre. Half price. They are have  efficient categorisations.

If anyone wants to borrow 'Gold' or 'Swamplandia' let me know.

The total weight of all these books is 2.368kg.