fourth edition

Do you think reality TV beckons me? I’m thinking of entering one of those “Britain’s Got Talent!” shows with my uncanny ability to acquire a massive amount of books without spending much money.

This week’s haul is pictured to the left. Fourteen books adding up to a whopping total of £4.50. Okay, so the top one was a bookmooch and the bottom four were purchased with a five-pound note I found on the street, but it is still not bad going.

The selection is suitably eclectic (for me, anyways): some bestsellers, some fluffy Georgette Heyers, a historical novel which had been recommended to me by my old mentor, some Booker nominees/winners, a bonafide classic and some slightly obscure novels.

I’m a chapter into Heyer’s Cousin Kate and will also start Crumey’s Mr Mee as soon as possible.

Some links for your perusal:

• When disability becomes superability: Aimee Mullins: “.. the myth of being dis-abled, the truth of being super-abled, why individual shifts in consciousness work and a new definition for wearable art. ” (thank you, David)
• The Forbidden Railway: Travelling from Vienna  to Pyonyang: “In September of 2008, two Europeans go by rail from Vienna to Pyongyang without asking permission or going through the official North Korean travel agency.” A fascinating travelogue with photos from inside North Korea. (via)
• My arty uncle finally has his own website. I grew up with his paintings on the walls and today David and I have one of his collographic prints in our living room.
• Nine Words You Thought Came From Science, But Actually Came from Science Fiction. Zero-gravity, anyone? Like the commentators, I’m slightly irritated that Karel Capek has not been given credit for “robot” (I did a secondary school project on early science fiction novels, you see).
• Finally, James Earl Jones recites the alphabet. As good as it gets.