It's quite frustrating when you find a good novel, start to read it, get hooked and then have to stop for some reason. This happened to me the other day with Philip Hensher's The Northern Clemency. I borrowed a copy from a colleague but she needed it back sharpish, and I've only read about 40 pages. But it's so well written I was completely hooked, so I strolled up to the central library at Westgate to see if the librarians could put me out of my misery. I didn't need to bother them. There was a copy of the chunky hardback waiting for me on the shelf. When I got back home from the office, I noticed to my dismay that the book was not in the plastic bag I use as a daily book depository, so I hope I have left it on my desk. Otherwise I face further frustration and a hefty bill. I was also deeply frustrated when I found out that William Boyd has a new novel out - but it is not on sale until September. I might be able to get a review copy before publication date but it's still a long time to wait. The novel is called Ordinary Thunderstorms. From a brief synopsis on Amazon, the story appears to be set in this country and reveals what happens when something goes horribly wrong for a chap called Adam Kindred, who comes to London from America for a job interview. I suppose I'll just have to be patient. Boyd wrote a column in this week's Observer newspaper in which he told his fans that he has taken himself off to Vienna to research his next novel. Apparently there is always a bit of a lull before the fanfare of publicity for his next book, and the wait has left him feeling a bit apprehensive. I hope he found Vienna inspiring, and now I'm intrigued about the novel after next. I popped into Tesco the other night to pick up a copy of Marian Keyes' latest bestseller This Charming Man and the store was completely sold out. My wife likes the odd Keyes, although she is now reading the rather fearsome-looking The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. Not being connected to the Zeitgeist myself, I have asked her on a few occasions: "Have you reaching the tipping point yet?" She hasn't thrown the book at me yet but it's only a question of time.