I haven't blogged lately because there hasn't been anything that interesting to write about. True, I've done some sterling work at the day job, but that barely interests people who work there, let alone people who don't work there. I've read maybe six new books but I don't have much to say about them.
The new cd by Van der Graaf Generator was released two weeks ago and I've been listening to it almost every day. As is common with all VdGG records, it's not possible to listen to it too frequently at first as it is rather spikey and one has to be in the correct mood. I like this disc much more than its predecessor, "Trisector", and possibly more than the first reunion disc, 'Present'. I still miss David Jackson and his wind instruments for the extra colour that they bring to the songs. The opening song, "Your time starts now" is a definite keeper; it sounds like mid-period solo Hammill although with the organ flushes that are the trademark of Hugh Banton.
The book list includes two by Norwegian author Jo Nesbo, who unfortunately is claimed to be 'the next Steig Larsson'. Considering my opinion of Larsson's books, I'm not too sure that this is an accolade which I would want, but presumably it does boost sales. Like Larsson, Nesbo writes long books, which makes their assimilation somewhat difficult.
The Norwegian names don't help much in this respect either. Nesbo's protagonist, Inspector Harry Hole (why are police procedurals always about inspectors?) is not as inward looking as Rebus or Banks which is a shame as he seems to be cut from similar cloth. As opposed to Ian Rankin's Rebus novels or Peter Robinson's Banks novels, Nesbo's novels have only one strand to them, albeit a very long strand. From the two which I have read ("Nemesis" and "Snowman"), it seems that Nesbo leads us purposely towards a false solution mid-way through the book.
The first book was ordered via the Book Depository whereas I picked up the second in an Israeli bookshop. The first route is definitely cheaper even though the Israeli book was priced remarkably low.
Other books which I have read recently are "We had it so good", a contemporary novel about people slightly old than me, "Cider with roadies", a very amusing memoir by a writer for a music newspaper (now a radio presenter) slightly younger than me, (Stuart Maconie) and "The Fermata", which could be described as science fiction pornography, although there is too much pornography and not enough science fiction. The road to this book was via Robert Silverberg's "Dying Inside"; here too there is a protagonist who has an s-f gift (he can stop time by clicking his fingers) and uses it for less than moral purposes (mainly undressing women when they are 'stopped'). It's an interesting idea and probably someone could have done a better job than this.
I've just come back from a doctor's appointment; it seems that one BCC which was removed two years ago has reappeared, meaning another minor operation but more intensive than the previous. The doctor was prepared to do it then and there but it would mean not driving after the operation which would in turn leaving my motorbike in the shopping centre where the clinic is situated and the doctor feared that someone would steal it. So I have a repeat appointment for next week.
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