The writer of originality, unless dead, is always shocking, scandalous; novelty disturbs and repels.

I walk the line. Howrah Bike Path, Howrah. August 2012.

Toby's Room by Pat Barker. Revisits the characters of Life Class, the big reveal happens within the first ten pages, and everything else falls out from that. The story happens to also track the emergence of facial re-constructive surgery during World War One, and the role of artists in the process. More interesting that it might sound... B.

The Pigeon by Patrick Süskind is an odd little number. Essentially the tale of an existential crisis triggered by the unexpected appearence of a pigeon in a hallway. Very French, despite the fact that it was written by a German. Surprisingly effective. B+.