Art & books, news and reviews, listings and best sellers from the Swindon Advertiser.

The Adver Book Worm loves nothing more than a good book. That's really the only rule when it comes to reading - did you enjoy it? Other than that, she's a bit of a floozy and will snuggle up with anything from Oedipus Rex to Ben Elton.

No tea on the lawn for EM Forster's Maurice

I WENT on a walk the other day with my sister (who's still nagging me about Adam Bede).

Tell us your best summer reads

LITTLE darling... it's been a long, cold lonely winter, doo-doo-de-dooh. Yep, the snow of February feels like years ago now and summer is on its way and rumour has it it's going to be a good one. So tell us your perfect summer reads...

An almost novel by Alice Sebold

THE Almost Moon by Alice Sebold (of The Lovely Bones fame) tells the story of a middle-aged woman who kills her ageing mother, no longer able to cope with her dementia.

100 magical years of solitude, love, death and betrayal

IF you’re going to read Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ One Hundred Years of Solitude, I recommend you set aside a week of solitude for the pleasure.

Touching The Void

It feels so good to have finally finished a book!

A chilly tale

OKAY, so I've been going through one of my non-reading phases over the last couple of weeks, hence the lack of posts on here.

George keeps distracting me from Adam

I feel slightly guilty and slightly ashamed. At least two years ago now, my sister told me the hero to beat all heroes in literature was Adam Bede - and she lent me her lovingly thumbed edition and made me swear not to damage it.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

SOMEHOW I managed to avoid reading Tess of the D'Urbervilles while I was at school. It also never came up on a reading list while I was studying A-level English Literature.

Trudging...but in a good way

IT'S taken me a few days but I've finally decided what book I am going to sit down and read next.

Blind Faith and Black Dogs

WELL my passion for an early night with a good book has taken a bit of a knock over the festive period - and not, as you'd expect, because of the late-night frivolity and boozing.

The trials and tribulations of Book Worm

AFTER a small distraction in the shape of Black Dogs I finally decided that it was time to grab Moll by her corset strings and discover whether she lives happily ever after or if she rotted in Newgate.

Handbags, bagpipes and Moll

Oh dear. Even Moll with her winsome ways doesn't always manage to keep a hold over her audience and so, alas, I must admit - I have strayed.