Why did this get rave reviews? I suspect because all the reviewers were part of the same, almost luvie, media world who could relate to these middle-class musings on aging but not being dead yet. OK, it's a memoir, so one expects it to be self-referential, but Gray's canvas still seems very narrow. If a memoir is to be readable, to my mind it needs to either go right inside someone's psyche and be wise (or horrifyingly shallow), or reflect on the author's life in time and context. But Gray lives in a world well insulated from the problems of his time - he has his almost, but not quite, revealed tax dodge and his friendship with the Pinters, and I think its the overwhelming smugness of it all, as well as the lack of order that turned me against it.

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Picked up for the book table at Birmingham Secular Fellowship (see http://secularfellowship.org.uk/)

I am bringing this book to the BCBrum meet-up this afternoon. You can find us at @bxbrum on Twitter! If not taken by one of the attendees, it will end up on the bookshelves in the cafe.

If this is your first experience with BookCrossing, thanks so much for picking up this book and coming to the BookCrossing website to find out what it's all about. Welcome to the addictive world of BookCrossing!

I look forward to hearing what you thought of this book, and of your plans for it.

This book has been on my wishlist for a while - I think I heard about it on A Good Read on Radio 4 - so I was pleased to see it at today's meetup. Thanks for bringing it, wyldetwo!

Placeholder review: I liked this book. It was good.
Taking to Leeds meetup tomorrow.

Thank you for visiting the website. If this is your introduction to Bookcrossing, welcome.
Please make as few or as many comments about the book as you wish. The book is now yours to do with as you choose.
Keep it, pass it on, but please leave the label, so it can keep in touch with us.
If you would like to know what happens to the book after you have passed it on, then do join - it's free, private and it's fun.

I brought this home from the gathering of BookCrossers in Leeds this afternoon because I try to read at least two nonfictions a month so am always open to finding more and because the author seems to be similar in age to me .... and because the colourful cover caught my eye (oh how shallow! judging a book by its cover!) ....
Good to see you again, shnedwards :-)

The weird musings of a weird bloke, probably best appreciated by another bloke - not necessarily a weird one, although that might help ....
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16.5.16: Despite being seriously underwhelmed by these Diaries, I brought Coda by this author home from the Trinity Official BookCrossing shelves this afternoon! There's no accounting for taste!!! LOL!

This is one of the books I'll be taking to the Leeds Meet Up this afternoon, when several BookCrossers from across the North will be getting together to discuss and swap books while partaking of some liquid refreshment .... :-)

If not claimed, it may well be relocated to the Official BookCrossing Zone within the Customer Services Lounge at the Trinity Shopping Centre!

* * * * * * * * * *

Well over a million people around the world give their books a unique BookCrossing IDentity number (BCID) before sending them out to find new readers. Since the start of the scheme in April 2001 more than eleven million such books have been put into circulation. This is one of them!

Our hope is that we can track the progress of our books once they've left our hands - and that's possible if finders like you visit the website, key in the BCID and leave a comment, however long or short. It's fun, it doesn't have to cost anything, although the site always appreciates donations towards running costs, and you can remain anonymous if you wish. You don't have to join but if you do you'll be able to number and track your own books!

Caught at the October bookcrossing meetup at The White Swan. Added to 'the pile'!