Two universities, one in the USA (Euphoria State) and one in Britain (Rummidge) have an annual exchange scheme. Normally this exchange passes without a hitch, but this year the two ‘priviliged’ ones are Philip Swallow and Professor Morris Zapp and everything will be different. The two academics arrive in tumult and changing times in the academic world. Philip Swallow is hoping to renew his pleasant feelings for the USA from the time he was there over twenty years ago, but he soon realises twenty years is a long time ago and everything is different. Morris Zapp has never been in Britain and would have had no problems keeping it that way, but now that he is, his ironical and sarcastic ways aren’t much of use to him. Both men are in for the biggest shock of their lives.
this is a preview of changing places — david lodge
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Israel is fed up with being the mobile librarian for the Tumdrum district. He and his work aren’t respected and taken seriously. He is going to resign, and not like the countless previous times, but this time for real. He is going to announce it during the meeting and that’s that. Or so he thought…
During the meeting there is mention of a happening for mobile libraries that is going to take place in London. And where would Israel rather be than in London! So the resignation has to wait a little while longer and he and Ted should get on their way to the mainland…that is, if Israel gets Ted to come with him; not an easy task. When finally Israel and Ted, after a lot of bickering and driving, arrive in London at Israel’s mother’s house, disaster strikes (again). The Mobile Library, Ted’s pride and joy, is stolen and I can say one thing: Ted is not amused!
this is a preview of the delegates’ choice — ian sansom
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Israel Armstrong, the reluctant librarian in Northern Ireland is back for a new adventure. We have met Israel in the case of the missing books, but now the books are all save and sound in the van aka the mobile library. What (or better who) is missing this time is Mr Dixon, an influential department store owner. He vanishes right under Israel’s nose and when Israel is found at the ‘crime scene’ he is even arrested as a suspect of harming and kidnapping Mr Dixon. This unjust treatment to make him the obvious culprit makes Israel more determent to catch the real offender. Well.…determent.…Israel has to find him really, otherwise he himself will end up in the jail cell again. So, another job for our ‘hero’.
this is a preview of mr dixon disappears — ian sansom
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Frankie is a pediatrician in the Upper East Side of New York. Her clients are the high society of the city and throughout the book Frankie is the binding factor for all of the other characters we get to meet. There is Judy the wannabe, Samantha the accomplished and Barry the Hollywood movie-maker, amongst others. Per chapter we get to hear from them, about their struggles to get to the top or the tiresome task of staying there. At some point their lives aren’t as real anymore as they all might have thought and that is when everything starts to crumble down. How do they cope when their society as they know it seize to exist.
this is a preview of elements of style — wendy wasserstein
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