Thank goodness

I finally finished The Sea on Friday. Thank goodness. It wasn't a book I felt any compulsion to pick up, so consequently it took me a lot longer to get through. There's a lot to say about this book, but I'll save it for Thursday evening. I don't think it's a bad book, it's beautiful in many ways. But call me needy, but I like a book with a bit more of a gripping plot.

Anyway, I'm currently reading 'Rebecca's Tale' by Sally Beauman, a sequel to De Mourier's wonderfully creepy mysterious novel. I read a previous book by Beauman and was suprised to find I couldn't put it down - it had the dubious title of 'The Landscape of Love' which made it look like a rubbish romance, but in fact it was nothing of the sort. It was in some ways a love story but wasn't soppy. An example of 'don't judge a book by its cover' - or indeed its title. So, I'm reading this other novel by her, which is a huge thick book (again, chick-lit thick but not chick-lit-like). I did unfortunately drop it in the bath, so it's gone a bit wibbly.

Completely unrelated...I went to the cinema last night and saw The Illusionist which I thought was great. I thoroughly enjoyed The Prestige, and this was less complex but equally engrossing, and very beautifully filmed. It also had a great soundtrack by Phillip Glass. I seem to have a fascination for stories about 19th/early 20th century magicians. I recommend the novel 'Carter Beats the Devil' by Glen David Gold. Julian, did you ever read it?