One of my long-standing wishes, Penelope Fitzergerald's 1st fiction book...quite rare I had to order from Waterstones, a birthday gift to myself :)

Did I say, wrong cover

(22/09/10) This is not Fitzgerald's best, but then one of the reasons I like her writing is the variety and the pot luck, from the sublime Bookshop and Gate of Angels to the lightweight Offshore, challenging Blue Flower, and this oddity. The book revolves around the exhibition of rare Garamantian burial artefacts - the Golden Child - at a London museum. It fills very dated, post war, maybe the 1950's? The whole thing is very tongue in cheek, as the growing farce surrounds the various players involved in a mystery, conspiracy, murder, and tie-ing it all together the bewildered narrative of the innocent and hapless Waring Smith. I guess Fitzgerald modelled the politics and rich array of characters on her time at Oxford and then the BBC? Its not an unpleasant read...i'm glad to add another piece to PF's literary puzzle.

I'm taking this along to the London meet-up...not been to one of these for a while :)

This one fell into my bag as I was leaving The Camel and Artichoke. "Not an unpleasant read" doesn't sound like much of a recommendation, but I'll give it a go...

It took me a while to rescue this one from my heap of books to be read. I found it a fairly entertaining tale, though a touch uneventful in places. It was worth sticking with it for the excellent closing scenes.

Back to the Camel and Artichoke, to find its next reader :-)

Retrieved at May London meetup at the Camel and Artichoke. Looks like a book I will enjoy.

Finally got round to reading this after 8 years gathering dust on my shelves. I decided I should read something I already had, rather than buy yet another book. Anyway really enjoyed this, loved the humour and the London location. Bad news is that I went out an purchased "The Blue Flower" - I hope it does not turn out to be too challenging.

Plan to give it to a friend at Clapham Common...

Book was returned to me by my friend. She attempted to add a book crossing entry but none has appeared on the site. Comment on the book were it was a little slow apart from the ending.

Put in the post to BookGroupMan who asked for it back in order to reread it.

Thank you sesame-seven received quickly and safely :)