What I'm reading ...

I have started The World's Wife by Carol Ann Duffy.

I don't normally read poetry. I quite enjoy listening to it on the radio - I think of it as a performance medium really. But this is the upcoming Bookclub selection. So I'll give it a go.

But how do you read a book of poetry? Just start at the beginning and work through? I think of poetry as more like music. You don't just listen to a CD once and move on. You listen to music repeatedly until you engage with it or reject it. Should I approach poetry that way?

Popcorn - by Ben Elton

OK. I'll admit it. I had misjudged Mr. Elton. This is a great book and I enjoyed reading it a lot. It's a satirical look at the modern "blame culture", the unreal lives of many celebrities and the very mixed up values pervading modern US society. It's quite complex, with multiple timelines and viewpoints initially, but that builds the tension nicely. Elton's background comes through, as some of the use of English is very slick, ending up with phrases that read like one-liners. I'd recommend the book and I will be looking out for his other work.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Popcorn by Ben Elton.

I wouldn't class myself as a Ben Elton fan and have not read any of his books before. I am not big on satire, but this book had an irresistible attraction: it was free. Ottaker's bookshops are giving away free books and this was one of the options. I wanted something light ...

The Cancer Code - by Mike and Bettina Jetter

I was concerned that this book would be hard to read, as it was probably written in German - at least written by two people who have German as their first language. But it wasn't - it was easy to read and gripping enough to keep turning the page. Even though it is essentially an autobiography, it reads like a novel.

It is the story of the Jetters, Mike's fight against cancer and their development of the Mindmanager software package. He is very much an engineer - keen to understand all the details of his illness and the treatment and to explain them. Being of a like mind, I was enjoying all that information. At one point he was accused of being in denial of the seriousness of his condition, hiding behind those details, which I thought was an interesting perspective. As a user of [and often evangelist for] Mindmanager, I felt part of the story too, which is an odd feeling.

What I'm reading ...

I am reading The Cancer Code by Mike and Bettina Jetter.

This book has the subtitle "How a journey through leukemia led to software that changed the way how people work". Which says quite clearly what it's about.

My encounter with the book was odd. I have been a user of Mindmanager, mind-mapping software for a long time. I can confidently say that I use it every day and very much depend upon it. I only recently heard about this book, at just the time that leukaemia has been on my mind.

It's only a small book and may be exclusively obtained from the Cancer Code Web site. All profits go to appropriate charities.

A Short History of Nearly Everything - by Bill Bryson

I actually read this book a while back, when it first came out last year. I tend to get Bill Bryson's books when they first come out in hardback, as I am a great admirer of his work. So I was very pleased to hear that he would be featured in BBC R4 Bookclub in February next year and I applied to attend the recording, which is where I went earlier this week.

I travelled into London - it took a bit over 2 hours door to door [a drive, a mainline train, 2 underground trains and a short walk]. The recording was at Bush House, the home of the BBC World Service, but apparently the studios are used by other bits of the BBC, as their main site is being remodelled.

I met other people who were going to be in the audience. There were about 20 of us in total. We were escorted down to the studio. I headed down the passage first, hearing two familiar voices ahead: Bill himself and Jim Naughtie, the presenter, who is also familiar from the Today programme. There was also the producer, Dymphna, with whom I had been in email communication. This was an opportunity to chat informally with Bill and Jim, both of whom are very easy to be with.

I have no experience of how radio programmes are made. So there was lots to learn. The recording itself took something over an hour, even though the programme is less than 30 minutes. There were a few slight interruptions, but we were told that they put it all together later. Jim actually wrapped up the programme less than two-thirds of the way through and then explained that there was a natural flow that led to the finish, so he's grabbed at it. We then carried on for a while with more questions and discussion. I did ask a question, but I have no idea whether they will use it. I look forward to hearing how the final programme is assembled when it's broadcast.

When we had finished, Jim apologised because he needed to depart promptly, as he was going to interview a member of George Bush's cabinet, who was in town, for the Today programme. The following morning, I put the radio on at breakfast time and there was the interview. I listened with a "new ear", as now I know how it's done!

Bill stayed around, chatting and signing books. I got mine signed and shook his hand. My evening was complete.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will certainly go again, if the opportunity arises. I look forward to Bill's next book, which will be a biography of William Shakespeare.

Regeneration - by Pat Barker

This story gave some interesting insights into the world during WW1 - in particular the treatment of troops who were mentally affected by it. I remain unclear about where fact ends and fiction begins. I was also a bit frustrated not to know what happened to Sassoon in the end. [I observe that he died in 1967 - so any plans he had to get killed in France obviously failed.]