From the Library

Read 'A Long Way Down' by Nick Hornby on the plane journey to Orlando. Didn't intentionally set out to read a book about suicide on way to two weeks of holiday, but there you go. It was a case of downloading a selection of books by authors I like, and picking one to make a start on once we were settled on the plane, and the rest is history. Anyway, maybe the book isn't actually about suicide anyway, maybe it's about people looking out for each other when they really need it, and how, even when life can seem at its bleakest, somehow it's worth sticking around and seeing how the story pans out.

More travel, more airports, at least this time for pleasure rather than for work. Of course, a trip to the airport bookshop, and between J and me, we chose two books in the BOGOHP offer. One by Ben 'Bringing Down the House' Mezrich, called 'Dumb Money' which from the cover looks like it is soon to be a film, all about the nonsense of buying shares in defunct (Gamestop) companies. The other called 'Can't we just print more money?' by The Bank of England (or at least a couple of guys from it), which seeks to answer some simple economics questions.

Much excitement to report as, after a long wait, my auction book has arrived. Following lengthy correspondence about delivery charges and pickup arrangements, and thanks to J for actually doing the pickup earlier in the week, I now have my copy of Goldfinger safe in hand. And a mighty fine copy it is too. Chatting with Jon yesterday, he was saying that he would have probably retailed it for about £1,000 more than I paid in the auction, so I think I did ok.

An opportunity to leave the office for a little while at lunchtime so a trip to my favourite bookshop, and the nearby Oxfam bookstore. Spent a fair while upstairs in my favourite bookshop, but all chatting and no buying today, but did manage to pick up a 1st of 11.22.63 downstairs, which was a result, as it had proved elusive until now in the King collection. Excellent book, excellent story, and enjoyed it immensely a couple of years ago. Then successful with the final missing Galbraith at Oxfam, so now have all seven.

Here's a book I've been meaning to mention for quite some time. The new Stephen King is out and, of course, I had to dash out and get it as soon as possible, grabbing it whilst it was in its just-launched half-price special time. I contemplated the WHS purple cover, but the image didn't really suit it, and the decision was made when they'd included a 'sticker' that was part of the printed cover, so off to Waterstones I went. Anyway, as for the book itself, I am thoroughly looking forward to reading more about Holly. I see that I have another post with the same title here , which tries to explain something of why this series, and these characters, are so important to me.

My burgeoning partner in literary crime is keeping an ear to the ground on my behalf, and has sent me a message today to let me know that the exhibitor details are out for the Chelsea book fair that is taking place the weekend after we get back from holiday. Might be a good excuse to meet up with him, have a little rummage, and have a meal out together. He's also doing me a favour tomorrow and popping into New Bond Street to finally pick up my auction purchase as mentioned here , after a fairly protracted email correspondence with them. The first challenge was to ensure that I could pay without incurring their delivery charge (£158 to send me one book - bonkers), and the second was to ensure that they would actually have the book available at the right location for pickup, so fingers crossed that all goes well tomorrow. In other Bond-related news, my new editions of the John Pearson biography and Colonel Sun arrived whilst I was away. So, just the signed copy of 'ZMT' to co...

Disappointing to discover that what has been described as one of the world's largest James Bond collections (apparently mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records) was up for auction at the end of September, and judging from the Omega Auctions results page , there were some bargains to be had. However, all is not lost. As it also says, this was only part 1 of auctioning off a very large collection, and a call to the auction house today revealed that there are several more parts of the sale still to come (and there should be more of everything, including books, to be had). The next part of the auction is expected to be in March, so the key thing is to start keeping an eye out in February for details of lots ...

Should have had a haircut before going to Indonesia, so definitely in need prior to our upcoming trip to the US, hence a visit to the barbershop. Happily the one in the village is just along from a decent charity store, where I was able to secure 3 for £4 - one of the missing Galbraiths and 1989 (to go with 1979 already on the shelf) both in first edition, along with a paperback collection of Agatha Christie short stories.

Whilst I didn't get it in Singapore, it didn't take long after return to secure the new Michael Lewis, 'Going Infinite', as I continue to work on the principle that pretty much anything that he writes is worth reading. A quick stop into Waterstones after lunch in town secured this plus another signed copy (), although it has to be said that muggins here paid full price to secure the signed version when Mr Lewis' signature is little more than a couple of pen-strokes. I'm sure he has lots to sign, but a little disappointing.

To match the airport post at the start of my trip, here are a couple of pictures from the airport in Jakarta as I started my way home. A good selection in Periplus and some that I was tempted by, as was the case in the Changi bookstore as well (including a stand with the new Michael Lewis, as well as some of his older books), but this time I managed to resist temptation and stick with my Libby reading for the return journey.

Finished 'Based on a True Story' by Anthony Holden today, which has been keeping me going for a good few days now, especially with the lack of flights. I didn't know a whole lot about him, other than having read 'Big Deal' many years ago, and a fine book that was too, read during impressionable years when playing cards for money seemed just impossibly exotic. The fact that J and I enjoyed sitting down to play together in Vegas - albeit blackjack - was an absolute joy. Mind you, we passed up on the potential to buy in relatively cheaply to a poker tournament, partly out of nervousness and fear of being made to look like chumps, and partly because compared to the blackjack tables, it all looked extremely serious and dull. Anyway, back to Mr Holden - what a varied and interesting life he's led, getting to know all sorts of people along the way. I may have to seek out one or two of his other books (although a re-read of Big Deal must surely be quite high on the list...

I may still be far from home (Jakarta as I type this), but that doesn't stop me from ordering more books. Earlier today (from South Sumatra before flying here), I purchased a couple from the Waterstones app, handily tipping the scales of £30 and therefore securing free postage, although it will be interesting to see if they send them separately as one is out now, the other not for a couple of weeks. First up is the new 'Galbraith', 'The Running Grave' which they have for half price and is, amazingly, already the seventh Strike novel. I thought I had the lot, but actually suspect a couple are missing, so will have to investigate that. The other addition in today's order is the Grisham due out later this month, and very unusually, UK edition signed copies are available, so of course I had to grab one of those. Who knows, maybe I'll end up with a US copy as well in a few weeks.