China Mieville's Un Lun Dun

no, not a real-time review. not even, really, a review. of any sort.

every now and then, i read a line or a phrase from a book that makes me blink for its valuably trivially brilliant throwaway insight.

i remember how Neil Gaiman repeated the opening lines of Neuromancer in American Gods, making a keen observation concerning change from the odd vantage point of a living room sofa. and now, China Mieville:

'I wish I had my phone,' Deeba whispered to Zanna. 'I want to take a picture.' (Un Lun Dun, p. 90.)

i see the grey in my hair is actually starting to mean something.