If you're new here, why not subscribe to our email updates or follow us on Facebook? You can also add us to your Google Reader. Thanks for visiting! I picked up Susan Hills'A Change for the Better from the shelves of the Little Library, a literary free-for-all thanks to which Ive stumbled across all manner of elderly, fusty little books. The sorts...

  Venice is the only place in Italy Ive been tounless the countryside scudding along outside the train window countsand its a city that straddles so many realities. With a foot on land and one in the ocean, its physically an in-between city; with its car-less streets and ancient architecture, its a place that...

  I have a friend whos a former chef. The only thing he loathes more than poor-quality coffee is the current trend of amateur food photography. Wouldnt you rather enjoy the food that someones prepared for you, and spend some time hanging out with your friends rather than fiddling around with the filters on Instagram? he...

  My father is a small man. He is small in stature. He is small in emotions. And he is also small in achievement. My fathers greatest achievement is the PhD he obtained just after I was born. When I turned eighteen, he gave me a copy of his PhD. When I turned twenty-one, he asked when I would be obtaining a PhD of my own. My father is a scientist....

My primary school was a tiny place, one so small that it had no play area to speak of. It did, however, look on to a vast park that wasand still isa favourite landing place for the citys hot air balloons. If Im up early enough, I often see them scudding along overhead before sinking into slumber in the park. But as much as I...

(Contains spoilers, but the narrative of this book is circular, so its difficult to discuss without them) And the frontier in here? the North American had asked, tapping her forehead. And the frontier in here? General Arroyo had responded, touching his heart. Theres one frontier we only dare to cross at...