Foyles bookshop, yesterday evening. Highbrow talk about Roberto Bolano, given by three very intellectual men. One university professor, name of Rory something, liked the sound of his own voice rather a lot. Especially when speaking Spanish. One very nice gentlemanly older fellow name of Euan Cameron, who directed proceedings. And the other, William Skidelsky, whose aquaintance I made last week on the judging panel for Literary Death Match. It did throw some light on the doorstop that is 2666, which I enjoyed (is that the word?) but knew a great deal of had sailed right over my head. William was the best. Me, first hand up to ask rather tangled question about relentlessly long 'Part about the Killings'. Rory Something, quizzical look (which I may be attributing unfairly due to my own sense of intellectual inferiority) and part-helpful-part-guff answer. Benign smile from Euan. And then perfect summing up by William, who said "So, to get back to the question of what it's all about.." Which was just what I wanted to know but didn't want to say. So thank you to him for being particularly illuminating. I really could have listened to him speak for much longer than he did. He's taking part in some more talks, coming up, so if you like that kinda thing, there you go.