Bertie, for what it's worth, I did my aeros training in a Pitts S2A having had a go in the other types, and although it's more per hour you get vastly more bang for your buck in a Pitts that say a 152 which in the long run saves time and therefore money. If I had to do it again I wouldn't bother with the underpowered compromise stuff, go directly to an aerobatic a/c do not pass go do not waste money.
As far as reading is concerned, especially if you do it in a Pitts, get Bill Thomas's Flying for Fun and Flying for Fun to Win, brilliant stuff.