Alfresco Booksellers #1 The Spanish dude who smokes roll-ups underneath the overpass on Oxford Road, Manchester, UK (at least I think he’s Spanish, he might just be drunk) Selling anything outdoors in Manchester is a bit of a gamble. Just being outdoors is a bit of a gamble, as we generally have 48 weeks of rain-sodden winter, broken only by our current 30 degree heat and its full complement of Biblical storms. For those brave enough to take their eyes off the passing clouds for long enough to browse the trestle tables though, there are some decent bargains to be had. Being right by the universities, there are plenty of textbooks from the 1980s featuring out-dated theories on climate change, as well as the obligatory collection of sci-fi serialisations; Star Wars and Discworld books and things with guilt edging that mention “vulcans” and “temptresses from Lizard Island”. There was also a sweet-looking kids book from the 60s about cowboys and Indians which I nearly bought for the fluoro-shirt the dude on the cover was sporting, but then I thought that just would have been silly. Anyhow, Mr Spanish Smoker appears to have stumbled across a local skip positively heaving with quality modern fiction recently, so I came away with an impressive haul, and only £20 lighter. Isaac Asimov - Buy Jupiter (1988 edition) I’ve never read any Asimov before but my Dad reckons he’s worth a go for more cerebral sci-fi. He was also President of the American Humanist Association before Kurt Vonnegut took over, so I’m guessing he’s alright. Roald Dahl - Kiss Kiss (1977) The blurb on the back says you’ll like these stories if you have “a taste for the sick”. That’s me! Joshua Ferris - Then We Came To The End (2008) I’ve already read this book, but it was borrowed and I totally fucking loved it, so I’ve decided to take the plunge and invest in my own copy. It feels like I’ve got custody of the kids back after the divorce. A.M. Homes - This Book Will Save Your Life (2007) What will I do, I wonder? Jump in front of a bus before me? Gobble up the poisoned fairy cakes? Nick Hornby - Fever Pitch (2000) I’ve never been that big on Nick Hornby, but I did come fourth in our Fantasy Football League last season so I’m assuming I’ll connect on some level. Arthur Miller - Death Of A Salesman (2000) Full of someone’s GCSE notes. Fascinating use of symbolic inferiority and auditory cues, so I hear. Rick Moody - The Ice Storm (2004) I’ve seen the film several times, and adored it, so I’ll probably hate this book. DBC Pierre - Vernon God Little (2004) A Booker winner, and set in Texas. Incapable of being crap. Ali Smith - Hotel World (2002) I love love LOVE Ali Smith. The Accidental is one of my favourite books ever, so I’m looking forward to this. She was born in Inverness and I was born in Inverness, so we’re pretty much like sisters. Zadie Smith - On Beauty (2006) I’m reading White Teeth at the mo, so it’ll be nice to see where she decided to go after all that hype. Evelyn Waugh - Black Mischief (1980) I’ve read a couple of Waugh books now. I fell for Brideshead Revisited in a big way, but then Vile Bodies wasn’t so hot. This one looks like it’s been soaked in unapologetic racism for several centuries. Edmund White - A Boy’s Own Story (2002) Anything about *affects Orson Welles grave yet hopeful voice* the GREAT AMERICAN DREAM pricks my ears up. Especially when it all comes crashing down horribly.
Alfresco Booksellers #1


The Spanish dude who smokes roll-ups underneath the overpass on Oxford Road, Manchester, UK (at least I think he’s Spanish, he might just be drunk)

Selling anything outdoors in Manchester is a bit of a gamble. Just being outdoors is a bit of a gamble, as we generally have 48 weeks of rain-sodden winter, broken only by our current 30 degree heat and its full complement of Biblical storms. For those brave enough to take their eyes off the passing clouds for long enough to browse the trestle tables though, there are some decent bargains to be had.

Being right by the universities, there are plenty of textbooks from the 1980s featuring out-dated theories on climate change, as well as the obligatory collection of sci-fi serialisations; Star Wars and Discworld books and things with guilt edging that mention “vulcans” and “temptresses from Lizard Island”. There was also a sweet-looking kids book from the 60s about cowboys and Indians which I nearly bought for the fluoro-shirt the dude on the cover was sporting, but then I thought that just would have been silly.

Anyhow, Mr Spanish Smoker appears to have stumbled across a local skip positively heaving with quality modern fiction recently, so I came away with an impressive haul, and only £20 lighter.



Isaac Asimov - Buy Jupiter (1988 edition)

I’ve never read any Asimov before but my Dad reckons he’s worth a go for more cerebral sci-fi. He was also President of the American Humanist Association before Kurt Vonnegut took over, so I’m guessing he’s alright.

Roald Dahl - Kiss Kiss (1977)

The blurb on the back says you’ll like these stories if you have “a taste for the sick”. That’s me!

Joshua Ferris - Then We Came To The End (2008)

I’ve already read this book, but it was borrowed and I totally fucking loved it, so I’ve decided to take the plunge and invest in my own copy. It feels like I’ve got custody of the kids back after the divorce.

A.M. Homes - This Book Will Save Your Life (2007)

What will I do, I wonder? Jump in front of a bus before me? Gobble up the poisoned fairy cakes?

Nick Hornby - Fever Pitch (2000)

I’ve never been that big on Nick Hornby, but I did come fourth in our Fantasy Football League last season so I’m assuming I’ll connect on some level.

Arthur Miller - Death Of A Salesman (2000)

Full of someone’s GCSE notes. Fascinating use of symbolic inferiority and auditory cues, so I hear.

Rick Moody - The Ice Storm (2004)

I’ve seen the film several times, and adored it, so I’ll probably hate this book.

DBC Pierre - Vernon God Little (2004)

A Booker winner, and set in Texas. Incapable of being crap.

Ali Smith - Hotel World (2002)

I love love LOVE Ali Smith. The Accidental is one of my favourite books ever, so I’m looking forward to this. She was born in Inverness and I was born in Inverness, so we’re pretty much like sisters.

Zadie Smith - On Beauty (2006)

I’m reading White Teeth at the mo, so it’ll be nice to see where she decided to go after all that hype.

Evelyn Waugh - Black Mischief (1980)

I’ve read a couple of Waugh books now. I fell for Brideshead Revisited in a big way, but then Vile Bodies wasn’t so hot. This one looks like it’s been soaked in unapologetic racism for several centuries.

Edmund White - A Boy’s Own Story (2002)

Anything about *affects Orson Welles grave yet hopeful voice* the GREAT AMERICAN DREAM pricks my ears up. Especially when it all comes crashing down horribly.