I have to say I was disappointed by William Boyd's The Dream Lover, a collection of short stories from the past couple of decades. One or two gems but no real sense of any coherence or theme - and a slightly pretentious introduction. Perhaps I just wasn't in the right mood...!
FAR better, in fact absolutely brilliant, is his Brazzaville Beach, in my view one of the finest novels of the 20th century. It's a great journey that brilliantly describes not only places (the African coast and interior, Dorset woods and central London) but big themes (animal and human behaviour, advanced mathematics) and sets it all beautifully in the context of a key character (the wonderfully named Hope Clearwater) and various other people involved in her life, especially husband John.
It's funny yet edgy, one of the few really well-crafted books that it also a compelling page turner. Read it NOW!
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