I'm in Two Minds...

...about whether to read it. "Rhino, enough already with the cheap schizophrenia jokes!" I hear you cry, dear reader, and rightly so. Because today's post concerns those two most serious of bedfellows, literature and politics. My friend Emma has written a book (slight digression: is everyone I know writing a book, apart from me? Because it's STILL all about ME) which is impressive enough but wait...it's in French! Now, I haven't actually read it yet - I'm going along to pick up a signed and possibly wine-stained copy at the launch this evening (in a Scottish pub - sounds promising) but given that she's a funny lady and that she really does have first-hand experience of Ségo, Sarko and Jacques, I'm hoping for great things. Wary French speakers click here to see what her publishers have to say, while reckless spendthrift French speakers should click straight on the pic and order from Amazon. And English speakers, pop along to her blog for a taster of Emma in VO. And there you have it, yet another shameless plug for one of my mates, brought to you by Bookpacker. Will it never end?

Riot at the Gare du Nord

It's true!! Some 200 protesters clashed with police in the shopping mall linking the metro with the main line station (it says here). And, more importantly, I was there (my italics), picking up Rhino Senior and Mrs. Rhino who are visiting the City of Light for a few days. In fact, I was wandering around looking for an ATM when I heard a lot of shouting and there did seem to be quite a lot of people milling about, but I couldn't work out what was happening without turning my iPod off and I'd just got to the Sugababes "Lost in You," so THAT wasn't going to happen. Anyway, showing true British pluck, we decided to stick around and have a cup of tea in the station before heading off to their hotel, riot or no riot. Join us next week for a picnic on the Golan Heights.