The US edition of my Kennedy book came out three weeks ago and when I heard the New York Times had given it a begrudging review I declined to read it. On the basis that most critics are not novelists themselves and finding fault is the easiest job in the world, I choose to disregard what they say. Except when they happen to recognise my stellar qualities. So a few days ago someone wrote to tell me that the NYT reviewer had remarked on my use of, and I quote, 'esoteric dialect', the words 'hoyden', 'paddy' and 'aerodrome' qualifying as esoteric, in a novel set in the first half of the 20th century and narrated by an Irishwoman.

For the longest time I've thought that publishers and those who swim in their wake underestimate the intelligence and curiosity of readers. Not only do they think they're dumb, they also think the ones who are dumb should be encouraged to remain that way by having authors spoon-feed them. Aerodrome? Esoteric dialect? Why it's nobbut the tip of the iceberg.

Of course, if you're Cormac McCarthy you're allowed to get away with anything. I just read No Country For Old Men - I realise I'm possibly the last person left on earth who hasn't seen the movie and I'm not going to because the book is superb - in which his editor allowed him to dispense with quotation marks. I mean. Talk about making your readers work for their pleasure.

And talking of being the last person left on earth, in this house we haven't yet discussed the death of Charlton Heston. The Second Amendment is one of those subjects on which Mr F and I don't quite see eye to eye. But hey, it's not my Constitution. Anyway I loved Chuck in The Omega Man and his passing reminded me of my favorite Frank Lloyd Wright quote.

'I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters.'