Christopher Fowler's Blog, page 417

And Skulls, Of Course

It's not an anatomy model, it's a bedside table lamp. Another bizarre Parisienne shop. I'm now poking about in an ancient catering store that appears to be about two centuries old, and trying to figure out what various kitchen gadgets are for. In the dim and dusty basement I found pots big enough to boil [...]

Rats & Sand

I'm in Paris for a party, and as it's August the Paris-plages are back on the Seine, although this particular sandcastle was built to advertise Disneyland. But it's nice to see traditional shops surviving – like this shop selling traps for 'Les Animaux Nuisibles', filled with dead rats. One brand of mouse poison in the [...]

Looters: PM Speaks Out

The Joy Of English

During the bit of trouble we had earlier this week, friends from all over the world got in touch to see if I was all right.

How we laughed.

The only time my Mum called was after the 7/7 bombings (which were pretty much outside my home), and she called to ask me about a book.

In [...]

Re:View – The Globe Mysteries

It's been said that everyone should see The Mysteries once in their life, so when my friend Suzi Feay at the FT had a spare ticket for the new production at Shakespeare's Globe theatre last night, it seemed a perfect opportunity.

Based on a set of medieval dramas created by guildsmen in York, Wakefield, Chester [...]

Grey Piracy On The High e-Seas

According to PocketLint, older ladies are turning to piracy to download books. Almost one third of all tablet users download illegally, but the market is deepening as older adopters come on board and get to grips with book nickage. Personally I'm amazed anyone can be bothered to work out how to illegally download a book. [...]

Let's Disrespeck Looters!

From the accounts I've been sent (I loved the girl caught nicking from Currys who said she was 'taking back her taxes'!) it's clearly time to disrespect the looters. As the me-me-me site said about a girl running away with a dozen Primark outfits, 'You can feel the static from here'. Thanks to Fabienne for [...]

Gloves On!

Yowza! Thank you PS Publishing! The ARC of 'Red Gloves' is here, with 25 new stories, with two special Bryant & May stories and two introductions. And at over 400 pages I have to say it's a real whopper! There will be 100 signed and numbered slipcased hard-cover collectors' items at £49.99/ $80.00, and 500 [...]

The Riot Of The Dysfunctional

A headmaster has called the London riots 'a toxic mixture of dysfunctional parenting and a consumer and celebrity culture which tells youngsters they should have whatever they want.'

I'd like to think that the TV executives who are busy coming up with reality-trash might put down their coke-straws for a moment and consider that statement, but [...]

Other Shops Not Likely To Be Looted

You could probably add Waterstone's, The Caviar Centre and Moss Bros.