Catching up..

[dungrollin]

 > Dot:
Oh yes, I forgot about Bellwether, I enjoyed that one too. Will
> > try 'Doomsday Book'.
> >

Dot (now):
Did you recommend Connie Willis before? I was trying to remember why 
I read them, and have absolutely no idea. Possibly that most evil of 
evil Amazonian inventions (customers who bought this also bought...) 
is to blame. But if it was you, thanks, I enjoyed them.

> > Speaking of Oxford, has anyone read 'An Instance of the 
Fingerpost' by Ia(i)n Pears? It's quite dense, but I thoroughly 
enjoyed it. In fact I'd rate it as the best thing I've read in the 
last couple of years (not counting classics). It's not very light-
hearted, though.
> >
> Barry:
> Very different to his other books (whodunnits set in the art 
world), much darker.
> Doomsday Book isn't a bundle of laughs either - lots of deaths,  
> mostly from disease.
> 
Dot:
Yes, I picked up The Bernini Bust in an airport after I'd read 
Fingerpost, and was rather disappointed. Won't bother with any 
others, I don't think. 

Barry:
> One book that I've never understood why it's not in the top 10 of  
> everyone's list of books to talk about - Flicker by Theodore 
Roszak.  
> Weird conjunction of medieval heresy, history of film and 
detective story.

Dot:
Sounds interesting, I think I'll try that too. I must also 
recommend 'The Sterkarm Handshake' by Susan Price. Time-
travel/historical with elements of fantasy, set in the 16th Century 
Scottish borders. The main character, Andrea, (from the 21st 
century) is a bit wet, but the 16th Century natives more than make 
up for her lack of bloodthirstiness.  Tons of blood and guts, and 
horses, and sheep-thieving and fleas and lice and murder and 
revenge ... and it's very cleverly written. Sequel's not really 
worth bothering with unless you like more of the same, as it doesn't 
really go anywhere new.