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Books addict Andrew Ffrench wants to know what you are reading - if you've got a recommendation then let him know

Reviewing the situation

It's an unwritten rule among theatre critics that they never write about preview performances, but I've been reviewing the situation and I wanted to say this at the very least.

We need to talk about book groups

This week I was asked to read Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin in order to attend the inaugural meeting of a newly-formed book group.

A glimpse of the past

I hope you all got plenty of books in your Christmas stockings, like I did in mine.

Shadowing Carlos Ruiz Zafon

It is now almost 10 years since I took a two-week vacation in Barcelona, dragging the slightly-miffed missus to a number of dingy backstreet bookstores.

An embarrassment of riches in the basement

There was an embarrassment of riches the other day when I descended into the basement of the Oxfam bookshop in St Giles to put a price on some old donations.

Hunting for Kipling in Blackwell's

The efforts of volunteers and staff at the Oxfam bookshop in St Giles have been rewarded.

Thawing out in Blackwell's

After finishing Absolute Friends by John le Carre, and being blown away by the grandstand finish, I was desperate to read more of his engrossing spy thrillers.

A steep climb to Huntingtower

After covering the Queen's visit to Magdalen College last week, I filed my copy from the local Subway outlet in St Clement's and found myself with a little time on my hands before Her Majesty's visit to the John Radcliffe Hospital I popped into the ramshackle Age Concern shop to check on the stock, and although the Summoned By Bells Betjeman first edition had been sold, there were other treasures on display.

The Twinkling of an Eye

The other day, I did another stint volunteering in the basement in the Oxfam bookshop in St Giles.

Joy In The Morning

It was a hive of activity in the basement of the Oxfam book shop in St Giles the other day, when I dropped in for a spot of volunteer valuation work.