I'm an avid reader - read pretty much all kinds of stuff but I've never found any science fiction I really enjoy. I'll be trying some of the recommendations below.

I'm just back from Prague and want to re-read Kafka after seeing how the claustrophibic backstreets might have influenced his fiction.

And when I get over my pretentious period I'll go back to reading trashy women's crime novels. I've just discovered Karin Salughter - a right rivetting read - and have read all of Patricia Cornwall's books.

Another recent discovery is Anita Shreve - who writes well and has slightly out of the norm story lines. I recommend her 'Light on Snow' and 'All he ever wanted'

One of my favourite novels is Donna Tartt's 'The Secret History' - but her next novel was a big disappointment.