Sandhurst, Pardon the intrusion into a thread that seems to be littered with close friends and acquaintances but, I had to agree with you in your recommendation of Zadie Smith as an author. Magnificiently gifted with a sardonic wit and eloquence, her first novel, "white teeth" is an alltime favourite. I know she has recently published her second which is set in New England but have not had a chance to read it yet, have you?