No Logo - Naomi Klein. Finally finished reading this (thanks to Louise for the loan). Great book with lots of fascinating insight into both multi-nationals and their brand images and the grassroots movements helping keep them in check. Real eye opener on what goes on behind the scenes of big business, even at the simple, manufacturing levels.

Even cowgirls get the blues - Tom Robbins. Wow. Another great book. I've only read Still Life with Woodpecker before this and wasn't hugely impressed (although it was a good read). Blues on the other hand is an wonderful romp through Robbins' imagination and philosophical outlook on life. Large thumbs, philosophy, sex and hitch hiking all blend together easily within Robbins' poetic style to make a book that transcends a simple description. It also is in no way properley represented by the film of the same name... Read it. NOW! Unless you don't want to of course.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World: A Novel - haruki murakami. An organisation that encrypts information by using people's own brains? A professor and his plump, pink wearing daughter in a sound removed underground lab? The main hero is mid-30s, divorced and a bit of a loner with a habit of random sexual encounters with librarians? It could only be a Murakami book. This story reads a lot like Iain M Banks, although it transpires that Murakami wrote this long before the Internet was popular and before Banks got his act together to write quality sci-fi prose. With that background it makes the book even more impressive, with a very contemporary air. As usual, the ending is less than conclusive though, leaving you wanting much much more!

delusions of grandma - carrie fisher. Having read a few of Fisher's books this one came as no real surprise. The story basically follows Fisher's own pregnancy with some fictional elements woven around it. Her characters drip wit, especially the main character - ie, herself, and many lines are extremely funny. Ended up feeling a bit like the plot was grafted onto the funny one-liners though. Good holiday read.