From the Library

Of course I am a huge fan of the Ryder Cup, and have many happy memories of watching the contest unfold over the years. Prior to the advent of constant updates and tracking it online, I have been known in the past to sit in front of the TV with a pencil and paper, particularly on singles day, to try to keep up with all of the games as the coverage flitted between them. It's also been great to enjoy the tournament with J every couple of years. It's on our sporting calendar, right alongside Augusta. This year, as a result of not properly co-ordinating my sporting and my professional calendars, here I am in Indonesia trying to keep up with things. That's meant mostly 'watching' day 1 by text update, then day 2 by reasonably decent live coverage of the latter part of the day from where I am staying, despite it being essentially the middle of nowhere. And now we move on to day 3 with Europe only needing 4 points from the 12 available in the singles to reclaim the trophy....

We continue to adopt a hand-luggage only policy when travelling (for work), and so that doesn't really leave much space for packing reading material. Therefore I tend to really on e-reading on these occasions, and this is where Libby is my friend. Whilst some (mean) authors don't make their books available, lots do, and so I am able (with patience and wait-listing in some cases) to download library books - mostly copies of ones from my physical library - to take away with me. The last three mentions of books read all fit that description - enjoyed on ipad whilst travelling in the safe knowledge that the hard copy is tucked away on the shelves at home.

Today I was lucky enough to do a school visit as part of my travels. I was treated to a music performance, some singing, and then as a special bonus, one of the school pupils read me her book (in English) 'The Little Match Girl'. She read it brilliantly, and we talked a little bit about it afterwards. We agreed that the story was a little bit sad, but she explained that it had 'touched her heart'. I commented that she'd picked a very good book by a very famous author, and we borrowed a phone from the school head to look up online some of the other stories he had written, and sure enough, she knew some of them as well.

Rattled through 'Fear no Evil' on a few plane journeys plus moments of sleeplessness in hotel rooms. Typically bonkers Alex Cross fodder. Master criminals, improbable plot, indestructible heroes, lots of dead bodies, and the eternally ninety-something Nana Mama! I thought that I was reading the most recent, in preparation for the new one to be published next month, but it turns out that I was one more behind than I'd realised. I still have 'Triple Cross' to go before I get to this year's book (I am not getting sucked in to a Sampson standalone co-authored recently released - slippery slope).

Read 'The God Desire' by David Baddiel, having read his 'Jews Don't Count' a little while back. Certainly we're left in no doubt that Baddiel is an atheist, but he does acknowledge how much nicer life would be if there was a God. Something we can all agree on. Another point he made in the book was that he wasn't writing it seeking to change anyone's view, as atheists are unlikely to suddenly start believing by reading his stuff, and believers probably don't come looking to him to have their faith tested. For me, having been brought up in and around the church, a much trickier book was 'Homo Sapiens' which, as it sticks in my mind, rather simply explained how we seemed to have evolved to invent God(s) to fulfil a need in our lives.

Arrived Singapore after the long flight, and waiting in the lounge for the next, and thankfully shorter, one. Main priority of the longer flight was to get some sleep, which was reasonably successful, but also managed to finish my book, which was inspired by a mention in Rob Delaney's. Frankenstein is fantastic, albeit a tale of non-relenting woe. Poor old Victor. One terrible mistake and he is destined to lose everything - family, friends, life, love, and to be taken to the edge of sanity. And what of his creation and what could have been. Alas!

Posting from the departure lounge at Heathrow on my way to South East Asia for the next two weeks. Smiths is, as always, full of the 'airport exclusive editions' - those strange hardbacks in paperback that no-one in their right mind wants. I see also that the Times today is starting to serialise the new Ian Fleming biography by Nicholas Shakespeare and will no doubt be picking out some of the most salacious bits in the lead up to publication on 5 October. From a quick flick through the magazine there seemed to be mention of young ladies and the back of taxis! I've tried to track down where to pre-order a signed copy, but not obvious so far. There is a signing at Messums (an Arts Centre in Wiltshire) on Sunday 8 October, and their website would have you believe that you can order a signed copy for delivery, but having spoken to them on the phone, this is not the case. I will have to continue hunting. 

Auction day today at Sotheby's - well online anyway. I left it late to register, but got myself set up a little before things kicked off at 2pm. I did a little bit of research beforehand, and sure enough a hefty buyers premium started to get added to final bids as lots closed, which turned out to be 27%. The two versions of the 2008 Queen Anne centenary edition disappeared over the horizon pretty quickly, and the letter 'Z' fine binding one finally went for £28,000 (+27%). However, I am extremely pleased to report that I was successful with one of the lots. Clue in the picture. I think I got a good deal, even allowing for the premium. It will leave me with a gap in my first edition collection, but I'm sure Jon will be able to help me with that soon.

Last day in the office for a while, so took the opportunity at lunchtime to pop in and see Jon. He was generous with his time as always and, I think, entertained to hear about my trip to London on Saturday and rummaging around looking for lots. I was also keen to tell him about my recent ebay purchase. Looking at Bond books, I'd found a set of signed Raymond Bensons. All nine books in first edition paperback, plus a tenth being the four screenwriter variant of Tomorrow Never Dies, and I'd ended up winning the set for what I thought was a very reasonable price. I was pleased to hear from Jon that he would retail the set for somewhere between 4-5 times what I'd paid. I thought that I might be able to pick up a copy of 'Nobody Lives For Ever', the next of the John Gardner's for me to collect, whilst I was there, but neither of the ones in store took my fancy. So, Jon said to give him a little bit of notice next time and he should be able to rustle up some alternati...

Went in to Waterstones today, and picked up a signed copy of Sara Pascoe's novel - Weirdo. Wasn't marked down in store, so had to play the game of requesting the online discount, which they are always happy to honour, but never offer.

Two purchases made from my visit to Shapero's on Saturday. The owner (I presume) was kind enough to take me to the upstairs room where there were some Modern Firsts in a slightly more reasonable price range. I was tempted by a signed Colin Dexter (I think it was Service of All the Dead) at £300, but given that I don't really have any of the early firsts, I decided that I wasn't ready to go there, and saved that for another day. However, one of the books I did come away with was Iain Banks' second book in first edition - Walking on Glass. I have a paperback, but haven't read it. Found The Wasp Factory fascinating when I read it a year or two ago, so will have to make a point of reading this one now.

 'The Last Devil to Die' was published last week and, according to the assistant in Waterstones, was doing pretty brisk business in early trading, no doubt helped by the half price offer, which I was happy to avail myself of. There was a brief question of whether to go for the half price Waterstones exclusive, or whether to look elsewhere for a signed copy, but a quick check of the collection revealed that books 2 and 3 are both Waterstones exclusives with the sprayed edges, so that sealed the deal. Plus, book 2 is signed, and it looks like Richard has had to sign so many copies (certainly there was talk of him being stuck in a warehouse with many pallets to wade through this time around) that his signature is an illegible squiggle, plus that hardly makes them rare. If I do decide that I need something a bit more genuinely exclusive, I see that Goldsboro have a limited (ish - a run of 2000) number of signed and numbered copies available for £25, albeit take up isn't that ur...

Just finished 'A Heart That Works' by Rob Delaney. What a remarkable book. A testament to the love of a father for his son. Beautifully, honestly written. By parts funny and desperately moving as we struggle through the worst of times, and the ongoing, never-ending desire to hold Henry once again, to stroke his hair, to kiss and cuddle him, to tend to him, to read him a bedtime story, to see him dancing with his mother, to watch as he plays with his brothers. Even having read about it, I just can't imagine. 'I can offer you no consolation, my friend. Your disaster is irreparable.'

A trip to London today to visit Sotheby's and the exhibition of their "James Bond on Bond Street" sale lots. Frustratingly, only a small selection of them were on display, albeit the wall of First Editions was rather impressive. Having expressed my disappointment to the Sotheby's team, I was allowed 'backstage' to have a rummage through the lots that weren't on show. Was at least able to find the other 'For Your Eyes Only', which is an association copy, albeit not in as good condition, but also has no reserve in the auction. Sadly despite hunting around, no sign of lots 190 and 191 which I would really have liked to see. They are the centenary edition complete works in both the fine and vellum bindings (as shown here on the Queen Anne Press website). Will have to contemplate whether to put in a cheeky bid or two. I have a feeling that the auction estimate ranges may be rather on the low side just to keep us interested. Maybe I'll pop into Harr...