I never read the adventures of Tom Sawyer and so started Huckleberry Finn not knowing how Huck made his fortune. As it turns out, it doesn't matter. Huckleberry Finn runs away from home and leaves that fortune behind him as he goes sailing down the Mississippi on a raft with a runaway slave, Jim.

I've decided to create posts for contemporary writing which I encounter which seems to me to be an example of particularly good writing, for whatever reason. It is, of course, entirely subjective (me being the only judge of the writing's worth) and half-random in that if it doesn't cross my path, it won't get mentioned.

This book requires perseverance at first, as Atwood layers plot line upon plot line. It is the story of an elderly woman reminiscing about her life, it is also a science fiction / fantasy story, it is also the tale of two lovers who meet in secret. Atwood writes like the poet she is, her words are lyrical and beautiful and she manages to say so much by mere suggestion and allusion. She has no need for lurid love scenes - your imagination will tell you all the things the lovers get up to and, in true Atwood style, the three plot lines finally drop together startlingly. An excellent read which you may want to read twice to fully appreciate the plot.

Perhaps this book will only carry a special appeal to South Africans, littered as it is with names which many would not have heard of outside of our country. But for anyone who wishes to understand the mental and physical journey of a great leader, this is the book.

I was led to this book because it was supposed to be so brilliant, but let me confess right now that I am relieved I am done with it. I found it tedious and long-winded. The main character's indecision and rambling soliloquies irritated me. I am a meanie and have neither time nor patience for self-wallowing depression.

Words fail me: What everyone who writes should know about writing by Patricia T O'Conner

As if I am not short of time enough already, Bandersnatchi, a mod over at TUF asked me in a PM whether I didn't have a blog or some other internet presence. I don't.

I have no MySpace, no Facebook, no YouTubiness and, thanks to SA foot-dragging a DIAL-UP INTERNET CONNECTION! I kid you not. So Bandersnatchi's PM, apart from being just a little bit like a missive from God, seemed like a sensible solution while I await South Africa's sloth-footed entrance into the digital age.

No idea what I'll put here. I think I'll begin by posting some old book reviews of mine over the next few days.