Album

(Napier; Symonds Street, Auckland; Peace Hotel, Shanghai; Paris)

Quote of the year

"Literature is the ditch I'm going to die in."

-- Thomas McGuane

Rocking interview at the NYT. The image (L to R: McGuane, Tennessee Williams, James Kirkwood) courtesy of a more urbane interview here. McGuane is a friend of Jim Harrison, my French publisher's favourite old guy.

The Girl Who Played With Phwoar

A major production and Maria Sharapova? Fortune has smiled on my home country. I love Masha because she's emotional: she has to lose a little bit before she can start winning. Which is risky when you're playing for three sets and fatal with a bung shoulder but she's been looking pretty good this year. I can barely watch her play now - my nerves can't take it - but I'd have her over the Williams winning machines any day.

Now playing

OK kiddiewinkles... Single of the week / month / OMG 4EVA is Lykke Li's Get Some - bouncy, offensive, terrific, hi-rotate. I was reading in bed and this got me out. Yes, it really is that good. Lykke (She Is From Sweden) reportedly shows wisdom beyond her years but ignore that shit - that's just reviewer code for kids with good parents.

Back to work

Deconstruction time again.

Crashed

For international readers

Departure Lounge in the English language section of a bookstore in Florence.