Liar - oh everybody deceives me; liar - ooh, why don't you leave me alone? (Queen)

Wie gehts?

This is a public safety warning: don't be sucked in, as I was, by clever advertising for James Patterson's Liar Liar.

Constantly walking past London Underground billboards proclaiming Liar Liar features the female Jack Reacher did me in big time.

Unfortunately I had nothing to read on a return journey, so when LOML needed a comfort stop between the London Bridge tube station and the Southern rail service to Caterham, I ducked into a WHS Smith and bought Liar Liar too quickly.

Bad bad bad mistake.

My heart started sinking on the train and then I went through a bloody minded phase - I paid 8 quid for this so by crickey I'm going to read it - that lasted until an hour ago, when I stuffed it into the bag of stuff to go to the charity shop tomorrow.

Why is it so bad? 

• The writing fails abysmally compared to Lee Child  
• Juliet Blue is NO JACK REACHER
• It's a serial killer story (I avoid them)
• It's set in Australia

Yes, my expectations were high thanks to the advertising, but that's not my fault is it?

But, yes, I agree, I should have taken some time on due diligence before handing over my debit card. Mea culpa.

So: don't get sucked in like I did and avoid this novel (and James Patterson) like the plague.

Love and peace - WNP

I think I want to reconnect with the self I left behind (Tracey Thorn)

Wie geht's?

If you look closely, you'll notice Tracey Thorn's third book (Another Planet) in my 'to-be-read-before-we-leave-England' pile pictured above.

This pile is constantly being added to (Liar Liar by James Patterson - got sucked into the advertising: meet the female Jack Reacher) and having items removed (finished the underwhelming Eric Idle Sortabiography - he spends more time documenting parties and name dropping famous friends for my liking).

Tracey Thorn is the real deal though.

Here she is in the preface (the preface!) nailing my current feelings precisely:

I think I want to reconnect with the self I left behind. It's partly that common impulse of curiosity - which informs a TV programme like Who Do You Think You Are? or a song like 'Where Do You Go To My Lovely?' I want to look inside my head and remember just where I came from.

Love and peace - Wozza