There's some funny bits though, aren't there? The boxing match with the gorilla? Okay, just one funny bit.

Funnily enough, I just bought Strangers On A Train cheap the other day. I've seen the film, though I expect this to be different and darker.
I've got two of the other Ripley books, but haven't read them yet: Ripley Under Ground and Ripley's Game. The Malkovich film of the latter is superb.

Not to be pernickety, but 'have a slash' or 'go for a slash' are more British - 'take a slash' sounds like hybrid American.

Soon to start I, Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan, which I've heard good things about, but which I'm wary of - can the joke be stretched over 300 pages?

Don't do it if it makes you unhappy, son.

I saw this a few years ago - 20 minutes or so of silence during the robbery scene, isn't that the one? Been meaning to track it down since then.

Only a few of us could live up to that.

Leonardo Bettencourt would make a good porn name.

I have a cousin called Lyn(n) Marshall. She's not in porn.

In this case, mine would be Sparky Newton.

John Stoneleigh.

Many Happy Returns.

The Pixies - Gigantic
The Gun Club - For The Love Of Ivy
Spiritualized - Medication
The Faces - Stay With Me
Dylan - Isis

Kickstarter Spawned A Monster.

I'm just going to refuse to believe you, I'm sorry.

Have you read any of his others? It's difficult to suggest any as entry-level works, but maybe a short story collection will do it: Tough Tough Toys For Tough Tough Boys.

I also like it. Hit a C chord on the guitar and slide it up a couple of frets.

Find The River being my nomination for his finest moment.

… Pefect Circle, (Don't Go Back To) Rockville, Radio Free Europe, Find The River …

I managed 10 minutes of it last night and found myself increasingly angry, so I switched it off and put some royal baby news on instead.