Links on a lazy morning

Putu was taking a nice looong Sunday morning snooze and has just woken up, and has decided to post a few links because Putu is too lazy to do anything else. First, there's the review for David Lodge's new book Author Author, and here's an extract from the book.

One of Putu's favourite authors less than favourable review. Dalhousie is apparently more predictable than Mma Ramotswe and much less charming. Putu is yet to read the book, but is hoping to remedy that sometime today after which Putu will post a much longer personal review.

And there's nothing better on a Sunday morning that a second childhood. So here's the Guardian's top four shortlisted book for this year's Children's Fiction Prize. The only scary bit is that if you read the blurbs none of them sound remotely child-like or childish to me? After complaining for years that children's books were way too patronizing are we in danger of going too far the other way?