Recommendation: Strange and Norrell

A discussion with faeriecween has reminded me. Book plug time.

Saturday, when walking back to the train station, we passed a Waterstones. Three bibliophiles and an open bookstore. Impressively, I managed to not buy anything, that's the first time I'd left a bookshop without getting the wallet out in a long time. It may be because I talked her into buying what was undoubtedly the best book I've read in the last year.

Susanna Clarke, Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell. It's now out in paperback (my sister got me the hardback for Christmas), and Waterstones has it as number one in their paperback chart (nice red cover, although I prefer the black of the hardback), and it's on 3 for 2. Do yourself a huge favour, go buy the book.

A bit of history, a bit of fantasy, a bit of English gentlemen's club mystery, a bit of war story and a lot of great stuff. The language is exceptionally good and for a first novel it's amazing, I look forward to reading her next.

Go on, go buy it. Honest, you won't regret it.

Greek hurricanes?

Decided to read a full thread on metaquotes, which is unusual. Glad I did.
Name the hurricanes after the gods! That's a link to the funny thread, which I only opened as it looked vaguely good...

I'm all for going with the classics!

"Tropical Depression Orpheus has turned back in its path and is now dissipating, but Hurricane Oedipus is still headed for the coast and looks like it's gonna be one motherf$#er of a storm!"

Police state?

I love London, I love visiting it, and I use the tube all the time while I'm there. But I also carry a bag a lot, have a non-standard appearance, tend to carry gadgets and frequently check my phone. Does this mean I'll get arrested as well?

By way of nosemonkey and perfectcouk, I gave up on the Guardian online when I set the Independent up.