For more than 10 years Rose has worked as "the angst-devouring love-conduit through which Britain's most romantically awkward eggheads play out their weird and disturbing sex rituals", compiling personal ads at the LRB. This affectionate collection of their unconventional statements gives an entertaining peek into the lives and aspirations of men and women of all ages and backgrounds who have largely given up trying to appear more attractive and personable than they actually are. As one man confesses, on the first few dates he normally borrows mannerisms from more interesting people and often steals phrases and anecdotes from them together with ideas from obscure books. "With you, however," he promises, "I'm going to be a belligerent old shit from the beginning  because I like you and feel ready to give you honesty." With a specific style and a hint of bitterness that sets them apart from personal ads in other publications, they're strangely addictive. Be warned, though  the box numbers listed at the end of each ad are, alas, no longer active.