What I'm reading ...

I have started The Book of Fame by Lloyd Jones. I am not sure where/how I got this book; I am sure that someone recommended it, but can’t remember whom. I thought that the book was mainly factual, but I observe that it has won awards for fiction. Here’s the blurb:

In August 1905 a party of young men set sail for England. Amongst them were ordinary farmers and bootmakers, a miner and a bank clerk. Together they made up the All Blacks, an unknown rugby team from Auckland, New Zealand. And they had come to show the world what they could do. What they didn't know was that they were bound for fame.

The first game was in Devon, 'played in golden farm light, a surprising victory'. By December they had become the 'wonderful All Blacks' who had beaten Yorkshire 40-0, England 15-0 and Ireland 15-0. People stopped them in the streets. In this melding of true history and imagination, Lloyd Jones has recreated an unforgettable journey from innocence to celebrity.

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics - by Carlo Rovelli

This book “did what it says on the tin”. I did not receive any great insights, but some good clarification of stuff hat I knew about. It is a good, short read on the topic. The last few pages are rather philosophical, but I forgive the author. 😀

What I'm reading ...

I have started Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli. A short book and a complete change of pace. Here’s the blurb:

Everything you need to know about modern physics, the universe and your place in the world in seven enlightening lessons

These seven short lessons guide us, with simplicity and clarity, through the scientific revolution that shook physics in the twentieth century and still continues to shake us today. In this beautiful and mind-bending introduction to modern physics, Carlo Rovelli explains Einstein's theory of general relativity, quantum mechanics, black holes, the complex architecture of the universe, elementary particles, gravity, and the nature of the mind. In under eighty pages, readers will understand the most transformative scientific discoveries of the twentieth century and what they mean for us.

Hamnet - by Maggie O’Farrell

This was a very enjoyable read. The author’s descriptive skills are amazing. I have rarely seen metaphors used so effectively. Beyond the story, I felt that the book gave a strong feel for what life was like in the 16th Century. A surprisingly familiar concept was the occasional shut down of all the theatres etc. in London to contain the spread of plague.

The story is fairly simple, but has multiple layers of significance, which leans to the abrupt, but logical ending to the book.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Time for some fiction and this came highly recommended. Here’s the blurb:

On a summer's day in 1596, a young girl in Stratford-upon-Avon takes to her bed with a fever. Her twin brother, Hamnet, searches everywhere for help. Why is nobody at home?

Their mother, Agnes, is over a mile away, in the garden where she grows medicinal herbs. Their father is working in London. Neither parent knows that one of the children will not survive the week.

Hamnet is a novel inspired by the son of a famous playwright. It is a story of the bond between twins, and of a marriage pushed to the brink by grief. It is also the story of a kestrel and its mistress; flea that boards a ship in Alexandria; and a glovemaker's son who flouts convention in pursuit of the woman he loves. Above all, it is a tender and unforgettable reimagining of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, but whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays ever written.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - by Yuval Noah Harari

Overall, a really interesting, well-written and well-organized book. It took me a long time to read simply because there is so much in there. Every chapter introduced some new ideas. The blurb says that the book is “provocative” and I agree; quite a few people would be offended or annoyed by some of the assertions, particularly about some religious and political matters. I think that I can truly say that I will never look at the world and our place in it quite the same again.