Yet more trouble with reading

No, I don't mean having trouble with reading - I'm having trouble finding good stuff to read. I want books that absorb me into their world completely. I want to feel that nothing else matters except the story I'm reading. I want to find books (just one would do for a start) that make me feel that I don't want to do anything else but revel in their story.

But the more I look, the more difficult it becomes to get this feeling.

I want the outside world to stop. I want the only thing that matters to be between the pages of a book. And I want to stretch out on my leather settee (it could do with being a bit longer actually becauue I'm 1.85 metres or 6'1" in old money) and read beside my open fire during these cold dark nights.

How is it that with so many books being published these days, so little interests me?

I went to the library today and nothing appealed. In these circumstances, how can I realistically expect to go into a bricks and mortar bookshop and see a book I like?

I perused the sci-fi/fantasy section and instead of names or title leaping into my eager hands to be read, every volume just stared back at me blankly.

I obviously wasn't the kind of reader that these books were hoping for, either.

I could consult my copy of 100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels mentioned in an earlier blog entry for the 8th October but what I really want to do is find a book club that can weed out the rubbish and recommend to me only books that I'd like - guaranteed.

I could also do with a radio station that only plays music that I'm guaranteed to like but I can't find one of those, either.

The only thing to do, it seems, is write my own book to read.

Playlist for The Wormton Lamb

Here's the playlist for The Wormton Lamb out Spring 2009. Like the last one for The Horsepower Whisperer, here's more high octane rock'n'roll for your musical edification (good word).

And out from obscurity it comes.



During the creation of The Wormton Lamb, I discovered New Rock'n'Roll. For too long had people been saying that the new rock'n'roll was gardening. Obviously it never was and this was a very silly thing to say. I just showed that these people didn't understand what the New Rock'n'Roll was. You can't dance to gardens. And it has nothing to do with cookery either even if you are always in the kitchen at parties.

On the recommendation from a friend, I acquired a few jolly good compilations of New Rock'n'Roll and a number of tracks from these albums had a significant influence on the final shape of The Wormton Lamb.

After carefully working out the running order, I found that this playlist for The Wormton Lamb began with several 30 second samples, since these particular songs are not licensed for playing any longer on the internet. Unfortunately, this made The Wormton Lamb's playlist sound like outbursts of raw noise. Some of you who already know of my taste in music might say, "So what's new?" To avoid this knee jerk reaction, I've re-ordered the playlist. It's still not easy listening but at least the playlist begins with complete songs. The story really begins with Temptation Island from Love As Laughter and when (note not if) The Wormton Lamb gets made into a film I'm sure the music execs will agree to these songs being include din full.

Anyway, these little bursts should tempt you into getting the full version. And the more obscure tracks are full length so I hope these bands drum up some business from you.

There's quite a Gothic feel to this list as well. Well, The Wormton Lamb does feature a Frankensheep, some mysterious blood sucking agencies and a weresheep that bleats at the moon.

I suppose the book ought to carry a warning for people of a nervous disposition, those who are easily upset and any other wets and weeds that might dip into it. To these people all I would say is "It's only a story." And, "Pull yourselves together."

To those who like to be scared I would lie and say "Believe me - nothing like this could ever happen in real life."

Playlist for The Wormton Lamb

Here's the playlist for The Wormton Lamb out Spring 2009. Like the last one for The Horsepower Whisperer, here's more high octane rock'n'roll for your musical edification (good word).

And out from obscurity it comes.



During the creation of The Wormton Lamb, I discovered New Rock'n'Roll. For too long had people been saying that the new rock'n'roll was gardening. Obviously it never was and this was a very silly thing to say. I just showed that these people didn't understand what the New Rock'n'Roll was. You can't dance to gardens. And it has nothing to do with cookery either even if you are always in the kitchen at parties.

On the recommendation from a friend, I acquired a few jolly good compilations of New Rock'n'Roll and a number of tracks from these albums had a significant influence on the final shape of The Wormton Lamb.

After carefully working out the running order, I found that this playlist for The Wormton Lamb began with several 30 second samples, since these particular songs are not licensed for playing any longer on the internet. Unfortunately, this made The Wormton Lamb's playlist sound like outbursts of raw noise. Some of you who already know of my taste in music might say, "So what's new?" To avoid this knee jerk reaction, I've re-ordered the playlist. It's still not easy listening but at least the playlist begins with complete songs. The story really begins with Temptation Island from Love As Laughter and when (note not if) The Wormton Lamb gets made into a film I'm sure the music execs will agree to these songs being include din full.

Anyway, these little bursts should tempt you into getting the full version. And the more obscure tracks are full length so I hope these bands drum up some business from you.

There's quite a Gothic feel to this list as well. Well, The Wormton Lamb does feature a Frankensheep, some mysterious blood sucking agencies and a weresheep that bleats at the moon.

I suppose the book ought to carry a warning for people of a nervous disposition, those who are easily upset and any other wets and weeds that might dip into it. To these people all I would say is "It's only a story." And, "Pull yourselves together."

To those who like to be scared I would lie and say "Believe me - nothing like this could ever happen in real life."

Playlist for The Horsepower Whisperer

I have created a playlist for The Horsepower Whisperer on imeem, the social networking site. These are the songs that have inspired me to write The Horsepower Whisperer. I hope you enjoy this list as much as I do.

See how it emerges from the blackness!



Who could resist a track entitled Explosion on Uranus? I couldn't. But it's such a great track I didn't try very hard.

Think of this playlist as a movie soundtrack. It's all part of the multi-media Soul Trader experience.

Most tracks play full length but some are only 30 second samples due to licensing restrictions. However, I can recommend that you get the full version from itunes or on CD even. Then you can have the full length version of The Horsepower Whisperer playlist.

You can always make your own. It's incredible but not everyone has the taste as me.

I like this stuff so much I want to share it with you. I envy those of you who are about to discover this music for the first time. What a treat you'll have! Some of this stuff may be a bit obscure. Okay most of it is very obscure but I can't understand why artists like The Prisoners, The Hellacopters or The Flaming Sideburns are not world famous.

In the parallel universe of Anarchadia, they are are hugely popular and very successful. We all new there was something wrong with this universe but we can put this aspect right. So seek out their other tracks, albums and back catalogues.

Playlist for The Horsepower Whisperer

I have created a playlist for The Horsepower Whisperer on imeem, the social networking site. These are the songs that have inspired me to write The Horsepower Whisperer. I hope you enjoy this list as much as I do.

See how it emerges from the blackness!



Who could resist a track entitled Explosion on Uranus? I couldn't. But it's such a great track I didn't try very hard.

Think of this playlist as a movie soundtrack. It's all part of the multi-media Soul Trader experience.

Most tracks play full length but some are only 30 second samples due to licensing restrictions. However, I can recommend that you get the full version from itunes or on CD even. Then you can have the full length version of The Horsepower Whisperer playlist.

You can always make your own. It's incredible but not everyone has the taste as me.

I like this stuff so much I want to share it with you. I envy those of you who are about to discover this music for the first time. What a treat you'll have! Some of this stuff may be a bit obscure. Okay most of it is very obscure but I can't understand why artists like The Prisoners, The Hellacopters or The Flaming Sideburns are not world famous.

In the parallel universe of Anarchadia, they are are hugely popular and very successful. We all new there was something wrong with this universe but we can put this aspect right. So seek out their other tracks, albums and back catalogues.