It's become a bit of a family tradition that when our family is all in Bangkok together Saint Mick treats us to a delicious brunch. Nice. The splendid Sheraton Grande on Sukhumvit in Bangkok is our preferred eatery, but I have to say, though, that of late the experience is starting to feel just a little surreal. Whilst we are inside the hotel, living the high life, enjoying the jazz and sampling the delights, the sky-train is literally a stones throw away outside and you don't need to look very far to see plenty of poverty. 

I haven't read Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale for a long time, but I'm sure  there is a scene in it of the 'haves' living their privileged, five star lifestyle - enjoying forbidden fruits in a hidden location, whilst everyone else, the 'have not's, go without. The brunch feels just a little bit like that. I felt the same the first time I went in a Business Class Lounge in an airport. Sectioned off, exclusive and completely undeserving - I guess the metaphor can extend infinitum. 

Typical me that I can't even enjoy a brunch without a healthy dose of guilt and angst. Yet,  full of contradictions as ever, I still tuck in. At the Sheraton the desserts are exquisite, the lattes and teas scrumptious and the elephant (someone dressed up in an elephant suit for the kids) as entertaining as ever, I wonder how many incarnations of the elephant we've encountered over the last dozen years or so? Brunches are definitely a treat which I really look forward to, yet despite this, I'm not sure if they are my favourite style of dining, 

I have just finished reading Paula Hawkins' Into the Water; thriller of the year according to the badge on the front cover of my copy. I think it certainly must be one of the bestsellers of the year as it is dominating the shelves of high street, shopping mall and airport bookshops. It's definitely good and I would recommend unreservedly for thriller and crime writer lovers.

What the book reminded me of was a very complex episode of A Midsomer Murders (which it actually, a bit cheesily to my mind, cites) or, being generous, a well constructed episode of Morse. The plot is complex and and tied together effectively, but there wasn't a lot of suspense and it never really felt like a 'whodunnit', though it was. It's told in short chapters and pulls in all the different characters' roles in the unravelling of the crime to a satisfactory conclusion. To be fair, it's really well constructed, but I do struggle with intricate plot lines. Even the later Harry Potter books had me pretty confused.

I only started reading crime and thriller books when I became a librarian, (I needed to keep up to date) and now I'm not a librarian anymore I don't 'have to'. Thrillers are probably not my thing, but I was swayed by all the hype of Into the Water and did enjoy The Girl on the Train. Generally speaking I do find the writing sparse and a bit too plain for my taste. Also, the jump between the first and third person is a bit jarring, although perhaps necessary to create character understanding whilst getting the plot moving forward. Having said all that, what wouldn't I give to be able to write anything even a teeny fraction as good!