Mearso Male, Married. Pontypridd, United Kingdom

Charlie and Victoria set out to make a ethically sound porn film and this book details what they learnt about the industry, themselves and the people they encounter along the way.

They are cheery writers often wrestling with pretty dark subject matter, and as well as the laughs there's some genuine feeling for many of the people involved.

The Language of Things

A fascinating book. The author whilst obviously deeply thoughtful and educated about the cultural significance of the objects that surround us he wears his knowledge lightly and makes it very easy to follow.

Joe Clark wrote a great review, which is what made me pick it up. I agree with his assertion that it's full of great points that then get pushed out of one's head to make way for the next one. Really enjoyed the chapter on Fashion, which educated me about what a huge and voracious industry the fashion business is, and how it consumes so many other cultural activities. The chapter on Luxury was equally thought provoking.

A book about the adventures and lives of a group of late teenage girls, out on a wild spree in the Scottish capital.

The story rattles along, but the book is some much more than the hilarious language and scrapes the main group of characters get into. It's also about life in a small town, the ambitions (or lack of), and without sounding too cheesy the coming of age of the protagonists.

The heavy scottish brogue is a little tricky at first, but then feels so right for the book.

Laugh out loud with quite a few tender observations too.

Overall , though Iain Banks comes over as a likeable sort of fellow, with a nice life, the book was a little too rambling and repetitive for my taste.

All the talk about great wee roads and driving got a bit boring, being told in the same way in the same style. It seemed that just as a theme was being developed he'd pick up another thread and follow that for a bit, then eventually (and randomly) return.

Good enough for me to want to finish it, but quite relieved once I had

Found it pretty easy to get along with the Scottish dialect that the main character speaks in, though could imagine it'd a bit tough.

Thought that the pace was a little slow at first but was then glad of the build up because the adventures of Bruce Robertson really started gathering some pace.

At turns found myself laughing and horrified by Bruce and then Welsh manages a startling about turn that makes one really care about the character.

In passing, I thought it might make a compelling bit of controversial telly.

The second half of the book (writing from 'there') is very different from the first. Found they compliment each other well.

The first is the angrier and more acerbic, and the second slightly more philosophical, though still entertaining.

Highlights for me were the pieces on Golf, Exercise- which came under 'New York' and Capri.