Literary antacid required

I notice that today's Grauniad digested read features Houellebecq's Possibility of an Island, which is summarised as follows: "25 Daniels don't give a damn. And neither will you." Ouch. Given what others, including the Good Doctor, have said I think I'll probably skip it and read something else.

Learning the World

Recently finished reading Ken MacLeod's lastest, Learning the World, which covers everything from cross generational friction to the corrupting nature of slavery to the metaphysics of first contact with alien species, with a philosophical minded blogger supplying a big chunk of the narrative drive. No wonder I liked it — it fits the profile of my favourite type of novel: big, clever, and with it's erudition worn lightly.