BOOK REVIEWS Continued

Blast From The Past delves back to the musical sleuth's first case to answer a few outstanding questions. It does and it doesn't, but then what is life if not an eternal search for that girl in the peach dress? (RE)

PAPERBACK FICTION The Peculiar Memories Of Thomas Penman

Bruce Robinson (Bloomsbury £6.99) ****

like any other thirteen-year-old lad. Inquisitive about sex (specifically his grandpapa's porn stash), infatuated With a girl (Gwen Hackett, a year younger but Well on the way to womanhood) and increasingly unable

bookstop cafe

drink the latte eat the muffin read the book

Chew the cud

never has retail been so good for the soul

4 teviot place. edinburgb 0131 - 225 5298

opei'iirig times 10 - 8 mon sat '12 - 8 sum

118 THELIST 19 Nov 3 Dec 1998

Thomas Christopher Penman is almost

to control his excremental functions, he is further hampered by being an ’asthmatic short-arse With big ears’. Yet, something very dark is lurking beneath the surface and discovering what lies Within his family’s roots proves less savoury than even he can antICIpate.

Perhaps surprisingly, this is Bruce Robinson's first published novels havmg made his name in film screenwriting and directing, most notably With Wit/mail 81 l and Jennifer 8. Less astOnishing is his ability to capture a sense of place (rural England) and time (the 50s) With Wit and sympathy. They call this thing bitter-sweet. We call it dead good. (80)

CRIME NOVELLA Death Is Not The End Ian Rankin (Orion £5.99) air it *

There is little doubting that Ian Rankin is the current King of Scottish crime writing. He consistently occupies most of the slots in the Scottish book charts, so perhaps only he could get away With publishing 72 pages of prose and charging six QUId for It. Still, there are much worse ways to spend a couple of your hours.

Inspector John Rebus is on the case of a missing person back in his home town, Naturally, this evokes much nostalgia and regret, particularly With an ex-sweetheart, the mother of the missing boy. Through close-circjtiit footage of the club Where he was last seen, Rebus stumbles over something much, much bigger.

Tight plotting and real characterisation are among Ian Rankin's chief attributes and it's all here. Yet, as this story acts as a sub- plot for his next full-length Rebus adventure, Dead Sou/s due out in February, only ardent Rankin-philes Will be expected to rush out for this. (BD)

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE:

Simone Baird, Ellie Carr, Brian Donaldson, Rodger Evans, Alan Morrison, Denyse Lyon Presley, Peter Ross, Brendan Wallace

STAR RATINGS

* x t * * Unmissable

a ir * it Very good

i t it Worth a shot

tr iv Below average

it You've been warned

THURSDAY 19

Glasgow

Colin Baxter Waterstone's. 153457 Sauchiehall Street. 332 9105. 7pm. Baxter launches his new book l’ronee ((‘olin Baxter Photography £20).

Toby Musgrave John Smith. 57 St Vincent Street. 221 7472. 7.30pm. Musgrave presents a slide show and signs copies of his new book I’lunt Hunters: Two Hundred Years ()l‘l)i.veoi'erjv Around The World (Ward Lock £20).

' FRIDAY 20

Glasgow

Rob Newman Waterstone‘s. 153457 Sauchiehall Street. 332 9l05. 1 72pm. The former Marv ll'ltiteliouse Experience and Nemnun & Buddiel star whose debut novel Dependence Dov became a best- seller. signs copies of his latest comic thriller Manners (Penguin £9.99).

Edinburgh

Martin McLaughlin Italian (‘ultural Institute. 82 Nicolson Street. nos 2232. (i.30pm. Bruno l-‘alcetto introduces Martin McLaughlin. author of Ito/o (‘olrino (lidinburgh llniversity Press) who will be giving a talk on ('alvino and the 20th century ltalian narrative.

SATURDAY 21

Glasgow

Lost In Space Storytime Borders Books. Music And ('al‘e. 283 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. l lam. See Kids listings. page 94.

Scottish Fiction Discussion Group Borders Books. Music And (‘ale 283 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. l lam. An introductory meeting of this discussion group. which this week looks at ('hristopher Brookmyre's Quite (lg/y ()ne Morning.

Contemporary Fiction Reading Group Borders Books. Music And (‘al‘e. 283 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. l2.30pm. The introductory meeting of this new reading group. with a discussion of Captain ('orel/i's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres.

lain R. White John Smith. 57 St Vincent Street. 22l 7472. l ~3pm. White presents a new (‘l)-Rom. Munros Through ll’indoii's' (P(‘ l’ormat £49.95).

Edinburgh

Munro's CD-Rom Demonstration Waterstone‘s. I28 Princes Street. 226 2606. l 4pm. Representatives from the Scottish Mountaineering (‘ltib demonstrate this new (‘l)-Rom (P(‘ Format £40).

Glasgow

Patrick Moore Borders Books. Music And Cale. 283 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. 2pm. The Sky At Night‘s Patrick Moore not only signs copies of his new book l’utrit'k Moore On Mars ((‘assell

£ l (v99) btit also showcases his xylophone playing.

Science Fiction Writing Group Borders Books. Music And Cafe. 283 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. 4.30pm. The first meeting of the science fiction group. featuring a discussion of' an original piece of sci-ti writing.

Patrick Moore John Smith. 57 St Vincent Street. 22l 7472. (rpm. £2. Host of the long-running The Sky At Night. Patrick Moore presents and slide show based around his new book Patrick Moore On Mars ((‘assell £16.99).

m ,

Glasgow

Uri Geller with Jonathan Margolis Waterstone's. 153 l57 Satichiehall Street. 332 9l05. 7pm. £2 (L'l ). Is [Fri (ieller a psychic genius or is he just having a laugh'.’ Biographer Jonathan Margolis attempts to answer the question in his new book ll'ri (ieller: .lltrgit'iun ()r .l/I'vstic (Orion £18.99) which uncovers 30 years ol‘ evidence. (ieller will also be here to convince any sceptics among you.

Edinburgh

Patrick Moore \V'aterstone’s. I28 Princes Street. 226 2(i(i(i. 7pm. See Sun

TUESDAY 24

Glasgow

Sir Edward Heath John Smith. 57 St Vincent Street. 22] 7472. lpin. (‘."\l\'(‘lil.l.lil) due to the opening of Parliament on the same dav.

An Evening With Ian Hislop Waterstone’s. l53 157 Sauchiehall Street. 332 9105. 7pm. £2 (£1). liditorol l’rii'tne live and team captain of [love I (Io! .‘y'eit's For You [an llislop shares some of the satirical highlights of" the year and signs copies of. the new I’rii'ute [aye Annual (£7.99). The St Alhion ‘s l’urish Neil's (£4.99) and ('olemunlmlls 9 (£3.99).

Edinburgh

Ursula Ferrigno and Eric Treuille James Thin. (ieorge Street. 225 4495. b.30pm. Demonstrations and tastings l'rom lierrigno and 'l‘reuille‘s new cook book Bread (1’7).

Cameron McNeish \\';iterstoiie‘s. 13 J4 Princes Street. 556 3034. 7pm. McNeish talks about his new book and current BBC series More ll'ilderness Hit/ks (BBC Publishing £18.99).

Patrick Moore investigates the red planet in Glasgow. Sun 22 Nov 8.

Edinburgh, Mon 23 Nov