3 NOVEMBER 1984, page 27

Alias Doris

Neasa MacErlean The Diaries of Jane Somers Doris Lessing (Michael Joseph £9.95) 'The Diary of a Good Neighbour is a I quite remarkable novel that will con- tinue to haunt you......

Pretty Polly

Mary Hope Flaubert's Parrot Julian Barnes (Jonathan Cape £8.50) T he trouble with dealing with Flaubert's Parrot is that Julian Barnes, clever fellow, has usually beaten you to......