Da booker prize again and the appreciation of important things

I heard on the news that John Banville was nominated again for Booker Prize winning possibilityness this year. So, if you like to read with a dictionary beside you, then cross your fingers now. I refer to my previous review of his almost impenetrable writings (the Sea, a previous winner, was found to this reviewer to be difficult to read and overwordy)

I was also wondering, with the water situation the way it is in Galway, will people finally learn to appreciate engineers and the work they do for them? Obviously something went wrong in Galway, and I'm not suggesting that it's a Good Thing, but people might realise how much they rely on the stretched staff in local authorities for the provision of clean water, sewage treatment facilities, roads and a clean environment.

And no, before you start, I'm not suggesting that it's all perfect all over the country either.

A miscellany of reviews for your perusal

The first, in no particular order except this one, is a quick review of Ian Rankin's book, Hide and Seek. A continuation of the Rebus novels where a junkie death leads to yes, you guessed it, the dark underbelly of high flying Edinburgh society. Read and enjoy.

The second, being a review of the Eden Deli. You'll find this in Edenderry. A very tasty and indeed well-priced lunch (even if we timed it more like afternoon tea....) was enjoyed here on Saturday, but we barely had time to get there and back before M had to collect her sister and go on a road trip.

In third position, being another food type review. The Silken Thomas in Kildare was recently done up, and we made it there for grub on Sunday evening. We were going to go into their restaurant, Chapter 16, but decided bar food was the order of the evening and had a go at that menu instead. Well, I don't think I can tell you how much that was enjoyed. Great big tasty portions were served, from burgers, to mixed grills and cottage pie - every piled high plate was emptied greedily. Highly recommended for grub. (for 4 of us, starters, mains, 2 desserts, coffees, and a drink each - €100!!)

And in fourth, Zadie Smith's "On Beauty." Sometimes, you read a prize winning book and realise why it won. Other times, you win a prize-winning books shortlist competitor, and wonder what in the name of all things good in the world did the judges pick the winner for? I believe, and I may be wrong, that this book was a competitor of John Banville's "The Sea" in 2005 Booker prize. If so, why didn't it win? It's much more enjoyable, accessible, interesting, and engaging than "The Sea."

As the blurb says (and who am i to try to better blurb?) "Set in New England mainly and London partly, On Beauty concerns a pair of feuding families [...] and a clutch of doomed affairs. It puts low morals among high ideals and asks some searching questions about what life does to love...." It's well written and very engaging, and I recommend it above "The Sea" any day.

In other news, I brought the new (to me) car back to the dealer for NCTing today, and they gave me a loaner (not like some other dealers who charge for a replacement car). A 520i - armchair on wheels. Oh boy is it comfy!

Book Review - John Banville's "The Sea"

Winner of the Booker Prize 2005. "His prose gives continuous sensual delight" (only if you have a dictionary to hand). I understand why this won a literary fiction award. I understand why it didn't sell, and why i could buy it for 5.99.

It's verbose, and the wordiness left this reader bewildered as almost every 2nd paragraph required referring to the dictionary. I have not the greatest word power in the world, but to have to refer so often stemmed the flow of the book. There's no doubt that there's a power to the characters created by the author, but I couldn't enjoy them.

I did learn, however, that scurf is the word for the flakes of dry skin that are caused by dandruff. On that basis, I'll score it at 458 out of 1023. A Hard Read.