Are you the kind of person who saves up something you love – say, chocolate – for later? To be eaten as a kind of reward or treat after a bad day, or just to savour the infinite pleasure of anticipation?
Read more

Just back from Delhi – and about 20 pages away from sending the second edition of Brunch Quarterly to press. (Kindly put on your running shoes and get to the starting line NOW so you can sprint to your nearest magazine stall when I sound the starting gun. Thank you.) Read more

To all those who have complained on this blog about having more books at home than they’ve read, and yet they are still buying more, I have something to say. Read more

I’ve been incredibly grouchy the last two weeks. Filled with anger at the world and everything in it, scowling at the unbearable dreariness of life – go to work, come home, perhaps go out for a meal, come home, go to work again, come home again… Read more

On books.guardian.co.uk, I recently read a story about the US bookstore chain, Borders. Its UK outfit is up for sale.

So ho hum. I’ve never been to a Borders, so I’m not particularly concerned. But I read the story anyway and came upon this distressing information: Read more

I was about to begin this post with a line I just remembered I’ve used before – ‘One of the happiest things about being a journalist is…’

So I stopped and thought I’d think of another opener, but I’ve changed my mind again. Because it’s 4 am by my computer clock, I’ve just sent the May 10 edition of Brunch to press, I’m waiting for the office car to return from dropping other late night workers home so I can go home, and I’m tired, okay? Read more