Can anyone please help? I have been addicted to Robert Rankin for many years but have recently been shown the error of my ways by my son. My problem is that I just don't want to get to the end of TEA but can't seem to stop myself. Any ideas, anyone?

Slow yourself down by forcing yourself to read each letter out loud.

Tear out the last page and burn it. (Please mrs SkidMarks, I am not really advocating damaging a book)

That way at a later time you can enjoy buying the book again!

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My computer beat me at chess, but I won at kickboxing

Many thanks MuseSusan, that seems to be an admirable suggestion - but flawed. I'll give it some thought as I'm not sure how to differentiate between spaces between words as if I spell out S - P - A - C - E it could give an entirely different Victor

Clearly, the solution is to purchase LiaGB.

Buy it in a language you don't speak and learn the language first!

Ooh, I like that one!

Why do you not want to finish the book?

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Metaphors be with you!

I suspect it's because it's too good to put down.

Oh - I was going to say that, I think - unless it should be too good NOT to put down! Hoist by my own petard (That sounds pretty literary in itself doesn't it?) But on the other hand, it may give Jasper some new ideas for character names - Petard Hoist might be one place to start. Food for thought?

Hmmm…I like it! But hey, at least you have five more books to read afterward, and if you read them slowly enough, you can make them last until the next one comes out in July!

Now THAT'S given me hope for the future. I'm off on winter hols next Friday and have Lost in a Good Book ready and waiting for the flight. Many thanks for all your help.

Can I backtrack to ask Nicky what LiaGB is? Sorry to be dumb. And thanks Tieff for the suggestion about buying it in a foreign language. I suspect, however, that my upcoming travels around the globe may exclude one or more of Mandinka,French and Mandarin may present a bit of a problem. And finally to skidmarks - VANDAL!! Sort him out Mrs S

Oh - pillock! Sorry Nicky, I've just tumbled to LiaGB by re-reading my posting. Forgive me!

No problem. You have four TN sequels to look forward to. It shouldn't be too much of a problem ... at least, until you've read them all.

(TN5 comes out in July, btw.)

Ah, but if you rip out the pages as you read a book, there is no need to risk damaging it by using an inappropriate bookmark..........

Good point--after all, you wouldn't want to be reading at breakfast and use a piece of toast with jam as a bookmark. I like your idea much better.

Grilled bacon is o.k. Fried is too greasy; if you don't come back to the book in a very short period of time, the fat causes the paper to go translucent and the letters from the other side of the page to show through.

Fried eggs are right out.

I will go back to Nextian now.

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My computer beat me at chess, but I won at kickboxing

I think I'm glad I'm going on holiday. Anyway, I've just finished TEA and started Jane Eyre!!

Good for you :-) Hope you enjoy Jane Eyre... oh and your holiday too.

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'Who looks after the animals?'

Thanks - back to the Antipodes next - I'll wave as we go over wherever you are! Or maybe not - probably going via that seriously yucky LA airport