David Mitchell's been getting a lot of attention in the last few years - Cloud Atlas was shortlisted for the 2004 Booker. He deserves it. I read his first three books - Ghostwritten, Number9Dream and CA - in the space of a few months. His latest, Black Swan Green, is very different to his first three, a coming-of-age story set in 1982. Through bullying, parental arguments and against the background of the Falklands war, 13 year old Jason Taylor stutters his way to inner strength. Mitchell writes beautifully, and I devoured this book in two evenings with a grin of pleasure on my face. The musical references are good - particularly enjoyed Olive's Salami by Elvis Costello and the Attractions...