When a friend and I were denied entry to the Martin Amis reading (no tickets), we knew it was time to try Plan B (red wine, lots of it) at the nearest Italian restaurant, but later we went back to the reading and stood at the door looking pathetic until the Chapters rep waved us in. It was unlike most readings I have attended, in that Amis told anecdotes rather than simply reading from the book. He is funny, charming and self-deprecating in person, with less ego than his author persona, but with the same incisive and luminous prose. For those unfortunates who missed the reading (and I encountered a number on the sidewalk after the event), Amis's book, Experience (Knopf Canada), is comparable: very well written, amusing enough to make you laugh out loud, thoughtful, interesting and complete with drunken shenanigans.