The farthest-flung review so far has come in - by Philip Cu-Jieng in the Philippine Star. Can't link it as the page has disappeared - but trust me, it was a good review - in some ways the best so far, despite some cross-cultural glitches - very enthusiastic.

Philip makes up for the lack of appreciation in Leeds.

Jim

Jim, what happened in Leeds?

Dee - there's a mag - with a name something like 'What's on in Leeds' - the guy who reviewed it didn't like it at all. Still, I'll offset the Philippine Star against that one and call it karmic quits!

Awra best

Jim (who never expects to please 'em all)

Wow, the Guardian review is excellent! I have my copy yet but have not read it, I am ashamed to say. (I've got several hundred unread books, so each time I go to choose a new read I'm overwhelmed.) But I will, so I will be able to chime in with my reactions later....

Perhaps you'll be big in the Philippines, Jim! The thing you have to remember about reviews is that the people who write good ones are extremely perceptive and astute, and the people who write bad ones are frikking idiots. It's as simple as that, really. You're doing well, though.

(Bizarrely, one of my best reviews was in the Glasgow Herald, which seemed a bit random, but I'm very grateful for it now, in retrospect. I don't know if it sold a single book though!)

Nothing to be ashamed about, Anne Marie. It'll still be there when you're ready.

And Roger - I've noticed that too about reviewers.

Jim