h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I quite like Wicked, I've seen it in London. Would be tempted to go and see the Dublin production - have the cast been announced yet?

Dancing daughter always puts on her CV that her ambition is to be one of the flying monkies

Thurber is someone I feel I should know more about. I *know* I must have read stuff of his, and the 'O' story seems familiar, now you describe it. I just googled, and he is the author of Walter Mitty. I shall stash this little factoid in case I ever need to recall it.

Oh, and changing tack slightly, one of the books I tried to read and re-read was 'The Glass Bead Game'. I guess I've read it a dozen times, trying to gain some sort of understanding of the premise of it. It's like I can read all the words, and enjoy various scenes and episodes, but the main thrust of it defies me to get close to the purpose of the book. It was featured as a radio play this week, with Derek Jacobi. I still didn't 'get it'.

That Glass Bead Game sounds interesting, but heavy going. Reminds me of "The Castle" by Kafka, which I fought my way through because I started it so I was determined to finish it. I think it was that book that persuaded me I should not start a book unless I really liked the look of it.

Thurber would be well worth reading -- he was popular in the 1950s. Sadly, he no longer seems to be in public's consciousness, though a new movie based on "The secret life of Walter Mitty" will be out soon. Ben Stiller stars. I hope it'll be good. There was a musical stage version in the late 50s or early 60s. The song "Confidence" came form that show -- you sometimes still hear the song during televised football games.

Sorry, I meant American football games. I keep forgetting that football means different things in different countries.

You don't have to apolgise. Here in Ireland, football can mean Gaelic, Rugby or Soccer.