Some books I've read recently

(BTW some info on Rome is being prepared behind the scenes, watch the space above this one...)

"Arthur and George" - Julian Barnes. I went through a brief phase of reading some of the shortlist of the Booker Prize. This one was there too, and for good reason. Again, like On Beauty it's well-written and engaging. Cleverly, the book starts with separate stories for Arthur (Arthur Conan Doyle) and George (George Edalji) but dovetails them elegantly about halfway through. The plot revolves around the conviction of George for crimes carried out in his village, but he protests his innocence - Arthur takes up his case and fights to clear his name. Justice, evidence, and human rights are all themes running through this story, and like the above, I really got involved in the book and found it very hard to put down. Top marks again for this one!

"Use of Weapons" - Iain M. Banks. Another of Banks' thrilling sci-fi outings, this one deals more closely with the Special Circumstances and Contact sections of the Culture, the organisations that try to "influence" the fates of other worlds and races. It's less technology-focussed than others of his books, - not that that would take away from the story, it's still set in the same universe - it concentrates instead on the subterfuge involved in trying to pre-arrange events on alien worlds (which we are all, no doubt, familiar with...!?). Thoroughly enjoyable, if (for me anyway) a little less so than Excession by the same author.

I went for a walk yesterday, along Glenbarrow and the ridge of Capard, in the Slieve Blooms. With fantastic weather and lovely scenery, I had a lovely couple of hours. Found the route here. And, the Slieve Blooms are much closer than the Wicklow Mountains. There's a full programme of walks starting in May, and I hope to tag along with at least one or two. (Some piccies below!)

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!