[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by Mercury

I'm from London, and while I love being here, I find so many of the books which have 'London as the biggest character' really awful. I suppose if something has its own reviewing cliche, it's a sign to give that book a miss. Additionally if the blurb on the back has the words 'sprawling' 'underbelly' or beating heart' in relation to ANY city, the book would swiftly be put down, unread.

I react very badly to clichés, too.

Originally Posted by Mercury

Two recommendations I would make to anyone wanting a flavour of London would be Peter Ackroyds London: The Biography, which I have used as a guidebook, learning and visiting many new and previously unheard of interesting places, and anything by Robert Rankin, especially the Brentford Trilogy (which now contains about 10 books). His books just seem to sum up the best qualities of Londoners.

Thanks, these sound interesting, I will check them out.

Originally Posted by Mercury

So where do you live and which books best sum up your feelings for the place?

Well, I live in Paris, and there are so many books set there that I'm not sure I could pick one. I haven't really given it much thought, except that if Dan Brown ever visited Paris, he didn't step off the tourist bus