What I'm reading ...

I have started The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us by Alice Roberts, my next book club book.An interesting change of pace and topic. Here’s the blurb:

Alice Roberts takes you on the most incredible journey, revealing your path from a single cell to a complex embryo to a living, breathing, thinking person. It's a story that connects us with our distant ancestors and an extraordinary, unlikely chain of events that shaped human development and left a mark on all of us. Alice Roberts uses the latest research to uncover the evolutionary history hidden in all of us, from the secrets found only in our embryos and genes - including why as embryos we have what look like gills - to those visible in your anatomy. This is a tale of discovery, exploring why and how we have developed as we have. This is your story, told as never before.

All the Light We Cannot See - by Anthony Doerr

Overall, I thought that this was an excellent book. I found the story engaging and well paced. I was having trouble putting the book down well before the end. The characters were well drawn and quite believable. Telling the story from essentially three viewpoints, but not being totally strict about this, worked well. Initially I was confused about the fragmented timeline, but, in due course, I found the non-linear presentation of the story increased the drama. The ending was not rushed and most loose ends were tied up.

When I read a novel, I like to learn something about the world. In this case, I gained some insight into the lead-up and outbreak of war in both Germany and France, which I found very interesting. The thing, that marred the book for me, were some [what I believe to be] factual errors:

• In 1942, a German office puts down his ballpoint pen. Biro patented the ballpoint in the UK in 1938 and they did not come into widespread use for another decade.
• In 1974, someone in France dials a number in Germany. In the UK, we did not get direct-dial for international calls until 1978; it seems unlikely that France was 4 years ahead.
• In 1942, Etienne is very excited about the radio broadcasts he has heard. He comments that he had even heard from a station in Pakistan - a country that came into existence 6 years later.

The book won the Pulitzer, so what do I know?

What I'm reading ...

I have started All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, my next bookclub book. I have heard good reports of this book. Here’s the blurb:

A beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II, from the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr.
When Marie Laure goes blind, aged six, her father builds her a model of their Paris neighborhood, so she can memorize it with her fingers and then navigate the real streets. But when the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure's agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall.
In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, is enchanted by a crude radio. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent ultimately makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure.
Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All The Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work.

Dead Simple - by Peter James

This book ticked all the boxes for me. It was a complex story, but not confusing, which took some very interesting surprise turns. I thought that the characters were well drawn for the most part. I reached the unput-downable phase very early and the story, with short chapters and very good pace, kept me turning the pages. The final resolution of the story was not clear until the very end.

Two things make this book somewhat unusual. The author did not rush the ending. In many books, one is left with the impression that, seven eighths through, the author had got bored and rushed to finish it. The other unusual thing is that the story is told in one, clear timeline and this is used surprisingly effectively from time to time.

I was pleased to see that there are a dozen or so more books in this series. I already have a couple on my Kindle and will be reading them in due course.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Dead Simple by Peter James. I wanted something entertaining to take me through a brief holiday before I need to start my next book club book and this one was recommended. Here’s the blurb:

It was meant to be a harmless stag-night prank. A few hours later Michael Harrison has disappeared and his friends are dead.
With only three days to the wedding, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace - a man haunted by the shadow of his own missing wife - is contacted by Michael's beautiful, distraught fiancée, Ashley Harper.
Grace discovers that the one man who ought to know Michael Harrison's whereabouts is saying nothing. But then he has a lot more to gain than anyone realizes, For one man's disaster is another man's fortune . . .

How Not to Be Wrong: The Hidden Maths of Everyday Life - by Jordan Ellenberg

Although this is essentially a technical book, it kept me engaged and it was not a hard read. There are lots of memorable stories [that are easy to re-tell], including “the missing bullet holes”, “the Baltimore stockbroker”, 2 states claiming 125% of the employment increase one month and a technique to send self-correcting data messages by repeating bits/characters [which is very analogous to safety critical system design]. The author is clearly enthusiastic about his topic and that is somewhat contagious.

Although I am totally OK with reading US English, I did find the extensive use of American football and baseball as examples tedious, as these games are a complete mystery to me. There is the odd bit of sloppy writing. For example, a reference to “3 alternatives” - surprising for a mathematician.

What I'm reading ...

I have started How Not to Be Wrong: The Hidden Maths of Everyday Life by Jordan Ellenberg. I wanted something different to read, away from fiction, and saw this at an airport and made a note. Here’s the blurb:

The Freakonomics of math--a math-world superstar unveils the hidden beauty and logic of the world and puts its power in our hands
The math we learn in school can seem like a dull set of rules, laid down by the ancients and not to be questioned. In How Not to Be Wrong, Jordan Ellenberg shows us how terribly limiting this view is: Math isn't confined to abstract incidents that never occur in real life, but rather touches everything we do--the whole world is shot through with it.
Math allows us to see the hidden structures underneath the messy and chaotic surface of our world. It's a science of not being wrong, hammered out by centuries of hard work and argument. Armed with the tools of mathematics, we can see through to the true meaning of information we take for granted: How early should you get to the airport? What does "public opinion" really represent? Why do tall parents have shorter children? Who really won Florida in 2000? And how likely are you, really, to develop cancer?
How Not to Be Wrong presents the surprising revelations behind all of these questions and many more, using the mathematician's method of analyzing life and exposing the hard-won insights of the academic community to the layman--minus the jargon. Ellenberg chases mathematical threads through a vast range of time and space, from the everyday to the cosmic, encountering, among other things, baseball, Reaganomics, daring lottery schemes, Voltaire, the replicability crisis in psychology, Italian Renaissance painting, artificial languages, the development of non-Euclidean geometry, the coming obesity apocalypse, Antonin Scalia's views on crime and punishment, the psychology of slime molds, what Facebook can and can't figure out about you, and the existence of God.
Ellenberg pulls from history as well as from the latest theoretical developments to provide those not trained in math with the knowledge they need. Math, as Ellenberg says, is "an atomic-powered prosthesis that you attach to your common sense, vastly multiplying its reach and strength." With the tools of mathematics in hand, you can understand the world in a deeper, more meaningful way. How Not to Be Wrong will show you how.

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep - by Joanna Cannon

I really enjoyed reading this book. It had almost everything I look for in a novel: a host of well-drawn characters and a sensibly complex story line with numerous interwoven threads. Two timelines is also a way to make the story more intriguing and I clearly remember the hot summer of ‘76. Telling large parts of the story through the eyes of a child is not 100% original, but it works well here, often adding a little humour as well as an interesting perspective.

I really enjoyed some of the language usage; examples:
“smell of scraped plates”
“I watched my mother’s face argue with a smile”
“Mrs Morton sat near the front so God could hear us better”
“rattling like a pebble in a life made for two”
“The front room and the sitting room are both ticking-clock empty”
“a quarrel of sparrows”

I look forward to future books by this author.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon, my next book club book. At a glance, it appears to have the kind of complex story that I enjoy. So I am optimistic. Here’s the short blurb:

Mrs Creasy is missing and The Avenue is alive with whispers. As the summer shimmers endlessly on, ten-year-olds Grace and Tilly decide to take matters into their own hands.
And as the cul-de-sac starts giving up its secrets, the amateur detectives will find much more than they imagined…

The Winter Ghosts - by Kate Mosse

I am not really sure what to make of this book. I enjoyed reading it and the quality of the writing was, IMHO, very good. The scene descriptions were extremely vivid. My challenge is being asked to accept something that resists rational explanation. I can stand back and accept that apparently irrational things happen in real life, so having this as a basis for a story is fair enough.

I was troubled by the perspective - initiated by the book’s title - that this is a ghost story. I do not believe in ghosts, but, if I did , I am not sure that I would expect them to speak in 20th Century English/French despite being alive so many years before, when the language [Occitane] was quite different.

Overall, I think the writing quality might induce me to sample other work by the author.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse, my next book club book. I have often heard the author on the radio, but not read her work before. Here’s the blurb:

The Great War took much more than lives. It robbed a generation of friends, lovers and futures. In Freddie Watson's case, it took his beloved brother and, at times, his peace of mind. Unable to cope with his grief, Freddie has spent much of the time since in a sanatorium.
In the winter of 1928, still seeking resolution, Freddie is travelling through the French Pyrenees - another region that has seen too much bloodshed over the years. During a snowstorm, his car spins off the mountain road. Shaken, he stumbles into the woods, emerging by a tiny village. There he meets Fabrissa, a beautiful local woman, also mourning a lost generation. Over the course of one night, Fabrissa and Freddie share their stories of remembrance and loss. By the time dawn breaks, he will have stumbled across a tragic mystery that goes back through the centuries.

The Card: A Story of Adventure in the Five Towns - by Arnold Bennett

This proved to be an enjoyable read overall. The story is not remotely believable and the same may be said of most of the characters, but I think that this was the author’s intent. I guess Denry is the kind of person who “if he fell down a drain, he would come up with a new suit”. The story is amusing and has some good twists and turns. Sometimes it was predictable, but I was also surprised from time to time.

I was surprised to find that, even though it never felt difficult to read, I made very slow progress and it took me quite a while to work through the 169 pages.

The language of the book is rather old-fashioned, but that is inevitable, given its age. I made much use of my Kindle’s built-in dictionary, but it was stumped from time to time. After a while, I “got my ear in” and enjoyed the style. Some language that I found interesting:

“He was not only regarded by the whole town as a fellow wonderful and dazzling, but he so regarded himself.”
“He spent far more on clothes alone than Denry spent in the entire enterprise of keeping his soul in his body.”
The use of the word “realty”, meaning “real estate”; no longer used here, only in the US.
The use of the word “tatterdemalions”. [It means tattily dressed people.]
A reference to an untidy person being “anyhow”. That is what my grandmother used to say.
A comment on chocolate manufacturers imprinting their “Quakerly names” on their products.

I am not sure whether I will explore more of the author’s work, as I am not sure what I might learn from his books [and I do like to learn stuff, even from fiction]. But, I guess if I feel like an easy, nostalgic read, I might.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Card: A Story of Adventure in the Five Towns by Arnold Bennett, which is my next book club selection. I think that this will be a change of pace! Here’s the blurb:

The Card is a short comedic novel written by Arnold Bennett in 1911. It was later made into a 1952 movie starring Alec Guinness and Petula Clark. It chronicles the rise of Edward Henry ("Denry") Machin from washerwoman’s son to Mayor of Bursley (a fictitious town based on Burslem).

Stranger in a Strange Land - by Robert Heinlein

It was interesting to read this book again after so many years. The book is somewhat dated in its assumptions about future technology [it is set about now, I think] and social mores [like a lot of smoking seems to be happening]. That aside, I was impressed by the core idea, which was to introduce a very alien culture, but without the need to introduce bug-eyed monsters. As Mike is Human, but raised by Martians, he slowly introduces all the novel ideas. Although it is a sci fi book, I think it is really a study of Human nature.

The Circle - by Dave Eggers

This was quite a remarkable book. The writing style is unsophisticated, but not clunky. I found it quite easy to read and got through the nearly 500 pages in very good time. The characters were well enough drawn. I did not necessarily like any of them, but that is not the point. Indeed, on a certain level I found Mae quite annoying and would question some of her decisions.

The book is really all about a concept - the Circle. It is a very logical extension of social networking as it stands today. I guess that the story is set in the near future - maybe 2020 - as none of the technology is far fetched. Oddly, I cannot decide whether the story is dystopian or utopian - the open future that is envisaged has some great attractions, but, at the same time, I am not sure how comfortable I would be to live in this world.

The book is thought provoking, making one consider the real status of data/information and how privacy [if there is such a thing] jars with human nature. I have often joked that people who complain that there are too many CCTV cameras should be arrested as a preventative measure, as they are clearly planning to commit a crime. In this story that is almost exactly what occurs.

Occasionally, parts of the story are predictable - like the fate of Mercer. But other events - like the revelation of the true identity of Kalden - caught me on the hop. I felt that the ending was a little weak. I was expecting something dramatic, but felt somewhat as if the author had become bored and wanted to move on to something else.

I will now be interested to see the film.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Circle by Dave Eggers. This is my next book club book, so I was feeling the pressure to read it and put the previous book on temporary hold. Here's the blurb:

When Mae is hired to work for the Circle, the world's most powerful internet company, she feels she's been given the opportunity of a lifetime. Run out of a sprawling California campus, the Circle links users' personal emails, social media, and finances with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of transparency. Mae can't believe her great fortune to work for them - even as life beyond the campus grows distant, even as a strange encounter with a colleague leaves her shaken, even as her role at the Circle becomes increasingly public ...

What I'm reading ...

I felt that it was time for something different. I rarely re-read books, but I felt that a book, that left an impression on me in my late teens, might be interesting to re-visit 40+ years later. So, I have started Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein. It seems that this new edition contains more material, which was cut from the original. It will be interesting to see whether I notice.

Here’s the blurb:

Twenty-five years ago, the first manned mission to Mars was lost, and all hands presumed dead. But someone survived...
Born on the doomed spaceship and raised by the Martians who saved his life, Valentine Michael Smith has never seen a human being until the day a second expedition to Mars discovers him.
Upon his return to Earth, a young nurse named Jill Boardman sneaks into Smith's hospital room and shares a glass of water with him, a simple act for her but a sacred ritual on Mars.
Now, connected by an incredible bond, Smith, Jill and a writer named Jubal must fight to protect a right we all take for granted: the right to love.

On the Move: A Life - by Oliver Sacks

I sometimes ponder the idea of my “fantasy dinner party”, where I get to sit at a table with a handful of people, whom I find interesting, but who may be alive or dead. The idea is to assemble the ultimate group, where the conversation would leave a life-long impression. Oliver Sacks is now on my list.

This book was a wonderful insight into a life well lived. On one level, he was a name dropper. The number of well-known scientists and other celebrities, with whom he was close friends, is phenomenal. But also believable. Sacks achieved so much in his life, that it leaves me very humbled. Then, having achieved a lot, he also found time to eloquently write about it. If I write 1000 words in a day, I think that I am doing OK; for Sacks, 10,000 seemed to be a starting point.

I always enjoy reading autobiographies. Sometimes, I do not really like the person, but that does not stop it being interesting. In this case, I know that I would like the author, even though we have somewhat different backgrounds and slight deviations in interests. I find myself very sad in the knowledge that he is no longer with us, but excited by the legacy he left. There are so many more books to read…

What I'm reading ...

I have started On the Move: A Life by Oliver Sacks. Time for some biography again, I thought. Having read the author’s first memoir, I thought that the second volume would be interesting. Here’s the blurb:

When Oliver Sacks was twelve years old, a perceptive schoolmaster wrote in his report: 'Sacks will go far, if he does not go too far'. It is now abundantly clear that Sacks has never stopped going. From its opening pages on his youthful obsession with motorcycles and speed, On the Move is infused with his restless energy. As he recounts his experiences as a young neurologist in the early 1960s, first in California and then in New York, where he discovered a long-forgotten illness in the back wards of a chronic hospital, as well as with a group of patients who would define his life, it becomes clear that Sacks's earnest desire for engagement has occasioned unexpected encounters and travels - sending him through bars and alleys, over oceans, and across continents.
With unbridled honesty and humour, Sacks shows us that the same energy that drives his physical passions - bodybuilding, weightlifting, and swimming - also drives his cerebral passions. He writes about his love affairs, both romantic and intellectual, his guilt over leaving his family to come to America, his bond with his schizophrenic brother, and the writers and scientists - Thom Gunn, A. R. Luria, W. H. Auden, Gerald M. Edelman, Francis Crick - who influenced him.
On the Move is the story of a brilliantly unconventional physician and writer - and of the man who has illuminated the many ways that the brain makes us human.

Dissolution - by C J Sansom

I am never quite sure about historical fiction and don’t always enjoy murder mysteries and this book is essentially both of those. However, as the author is a professional historian, I had some confidence about the accuracy of the context and hoped to learn something about the world in the 16th Century. Overall, I enjoyed the read and found the book to be well paced - it kept me turning the pages. I was mostly impressed by the descriptions of the places and felt the characters were quite well drawn. I think it would make a good movie. I think that I might consider reading more of the Shardlake series.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Dissolution by C J Sansom, which is my next book club book. Here’s the blurb:

It is 1537, a time of revolution that sees the greatest changes in England since 1066. Henry VIII has proclaimed himself Supreme Head of the Church. The country is waking up to savage new laws, rigged trials and the greatest network of informers ever seen. And under the orders of Thomas Cromwell, a team of commissioners is sent throughout the country to investigate the monasteries. There can only be one outcome: dissolution.
But on the Sussex coast, at the monastery of Scarnsea, events have spiralled out of control. Cromwell's Commissioner, Robin Singleton, has been found dead, his head severed from his body. His horrific murder is accompanied by equally sinister acts of sacrilege.
Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform, has been sent by Cromwell to uncover the truth behind the dark happenings at Scarnsea. But investigation soon forces Shardlake to question everything that he hears, and everything that he intrinsically believes . . .

The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch - by Richard van Emden

This book was, as expected, a very straightforward read. Some text is written by the author, so Harry is mentioned in the third person, and the rest is quoting Harry himself. I found this confusing occasionally, as the viewpoint is not clearly labelled, but this was not a big problem. Overall, my goal in reading the book was met: learned quite a lot. Apart from discussion of both world wars, I found the description of life between the wars etc. very interesting. As I lived in Bath for some years, I was particularly interested in Harry’s account of the bombing there. There were a few, easily-fixable, factual errors in some of Harry’s words. I am unsure whether the author didn't notice, didn’t care or left them in for the sake of authenticity.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch by Richard van Emden, my next book club book. Here’s the blurb:

Harry Patch, the last British soldier alive to have fought in the trenches of the First World War, is one of very few people who can directly recall the horror of that conflict.

Harry vividly remembers his childhood in the Somerset countryside of Edwardian England. He left school in 1913 to become an apprentice plumber but three years later was conscripted, serving as a machine gunner in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Fighting in the mud and trenches during the Battle of Passchendaele, he saw a great many of his comrades die, and in one dreadful moment the shell that wounded him kill his three closest friends. In vivid detail he describes daily life in the trenches, the terror of being under intense artillery fire, and the fear of going over the top. Then, after the Armistice, the soldiers' frustration at not being quickly demobbed led to a mutiny in which Harry was soon caught up.

The Second World War saw Harry in action on the home front as a fire-fighter during the bombing of Bath. He also warmly describes his friendship with American GIs preparing to go to France, and, years later, his tears when he saw their graves.

Late in life Harry achieved fame, meeting the Queen and taking part in the BBC documentary The Last Tommies, finally shaking hands with a German veteran of the artillery and speaking out frankly to Prime Minister Tony Blair about the soldiers shot for cowardice in the First World War.

Boneland - by Alan Garner

I went straight on to read this book and read it quickly, as it was my next book club book and I had very little time. Here’s the blurb:

‘A woman was reading a book to a child on her knee.
‘“So the little boy went into the wood, and he met a witch. And the witch said, ‘You come home with me and I’ll give you a good dinner.’ Now you wouldn’t go home with a witch, would you?”
‘Colin stood. “Young man. Do not go into the witch’s house. Do not. And whatever you do, do not go upstairs. You must not go upstairs. Do not go! You are not to go!”’
Professor Colin Whisterfield spends his days at Jodrell Bank, using the radio telescope to look for his lost sister in the Pleiades. At night, he is on Alderley Edge, watching.
At the same time, and in another time, the Watcher cuts the rock and blows bulls on the stone with his blood, and dances, to keep the sky above the earth and the stars flying.
Colin can’t remember; and he remembers too much. Before the age of thirteen is a blank. After that he recalls everything: where he was, what he was doing, in every minute of every hour of every day. Everything he has read and seen.
And then, finally, a new force enters his life, a therapist who might be able to unlock what happened to him when he was twelve, what happened to his sister.
But Colin will have to remember quickly, to find his sister. And the Watcher will have to find the Woman. Otherwise the skies will fall, and there will be only winter, wanderers and moon…

Overall, although I found the book interesting, I really did not understand all the layers of the story. I believe that some ambiguity is intentional. I am slight curious to read the first two books in the trilogy [but I have been warned that they might not elucidate matters much].

Allegiant - by Veronica Roth

This book follows on very well from its two predecessors, with a pace that kept me turning the pages. I was initially curious about the change of viewpoint. The first two books are seen through the eyes of Tris; this book is told partly from her viewpoint and partly from Tobias’ perspective. here were minor logistical reasons for this, but a major one became apparent later in the book. A very strong aspect of this book, in my opinion, is that the dystopian world, that they live in, is mostly explained. It has a history that links it with the present quite satisfactorily. I will investigate other work by this author.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Allegiant by Veronica Roth, not pausing after reading Insurgent. Here’s the blurb:

What if your whole world was a lie?

The thrillingly dark conclusion to the No. 1 New York Times bestselling DIVERGENT trilogy.

What if a single revelation – like a single choice – changed everything?

What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered – fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature – and of herself – while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Insurgent - by Veronica Roth

When I read Divergent - long before I got to the end - I knew that I would end up reading the rest of the trilogy. So, after a quick re-read of a book book for my book club, I was on to this one. Here’s the blurb:

Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.
The Thrillingly Dark Sequel To No. 1 New York Times Bestseller, Divergent.
I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.
Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.
Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

The pace set in the first book is maintained and I was swept along, reading the 500+ pages in what was, for me, very good time. By then end, my curiosity about how the city came to be as it was and what was outside was thoroughly piqued.

Divergent - by Veronica Roth

A really enjoyable read. I was sucked in to the story and found the chapter lengths were just right to have satisfying bursts of reading. The pace of the story is well tuned and the surge of drama towards the end moved me from “maybe read books 2 and 3” to downloading them ready to read. I liked the fact that the story was set in the near future - I guess - but there was very little reference to new technology. I enjoyed recognising the city as being Chicago, even though that isn’t mentioned. I finished wishing that I knew the back story - how had society reached this point?

What I'm reading ...

I have started Divergent by Veronica Roth. I wanted to read some fiction that was a bit different and this book, which has been recommended to me by several people, seemed to fit the bill. Here’s the blurb:

In the world of Divergent, society is divided into five factions – Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity and Erudite. Every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice Prior, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is. Her choice shocks everyone, including herself.

During the initiation that follows, Tris and her fellow initiates undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them, Tris must determine who her friends really are – and whether she can trust the man who both threatens and protects her.

Because Tris has a deadly secret. And as growing conflict threatens to unravel their seemingly perfect society, this secret might save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need To Know About Global Politics - by Tim Marshall

This book was a remarkably straightforward read, considering it is potentially a very dry subject. The author has a very easy style and the text is jammed with interesting facts and details, with the odd bit of humour for good measure. I learned a great deal and felt that the book delivered exactly what it said it would.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need To Know About Global Politics by Tim Marshall. It was time for some non-fiction and this was highly recommended by a friend, who said that it had given him a much better understanding of current politics and recent conflicts. Here’s the blurb:

All leaders are constrained by geography. Their choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Yes, to follow world events you need to understand people, ideas and movements - but if you don't know geography, you'll never have the full picture.

If you've ever wondered why Putin is so obsessed with Crimea, why the USA was destined to become a global superpower, or why China's power base continues to expand ever outwards, the answers are all here.

In ten chapters (covering Russia; China; the USA; Latin America; the Middle East; Africa; India and Pakistan; Europe; Japan and Korea; and the Arctic), using maps, essays and occasionally the personal experiences of the widely travelled author, Prisoners of Geography looks at the past, present and future to offer an essential insight into one of the major factors that determines world history.

It's time to put the 'geo' back into geopolitics.

The Pillars of the Earth - by Ken Follett

When I started on this book, both the size and the subject - historical fiction - seemed daunting. Fortunately, I had some good reading time ahead of me - long flights and a holiday - so I got stuck in. After 200 pages or so, I was thoroughly hooked. It still took me quite a while to finish, but I enjoyed the journey.

My concern about the size was that the author would be verbose. In fact, his writing style is quite economic and he has a very straightforward way with words. He used all the space to go off on occasional tangents, which always added to, instead of distracting from, the story. The story is complex, over quite a long period, with many characters, but I never felt lost.

I always hope that, when I read a novel, apart from being entertained [which I was], I will learn something. Although I have yet to do any fact checking, I did have the impression that I learned much about everyday life in 12th Century England and the historical context.

I will be tempted to read the sequel at some point - it has a similar page count. I discovered that a 3rd volume will be available later in the year.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, my next book club selection. I am daunted by the size of the book - over 1100 pages - but I am assured that it is not a tough read. Here's the blurb:

The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect - a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother.

Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood - by Oliver Sacks

This was an excellent example of a book that can be judged by the cover. A good mix of autobiography, where the author talks about life in a Jewish family in London in the 1940s, and science, where, even though I feel that I am quite well informed, I learned lots of interesting details. Overall, an excellent read. I look forward to getting the next volume of his autobiography, which, sadly, appears to be as far as he got before his death.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks. It was time for some non-fiction and this was recommended by a friend with similar interests to myself. A combination of autobiography and science sounds right up my street. Here’s the blurb:

In Uncle Tungsten Sacks evokes, with warmth and wit, his upbringing in wartime England. He tells of the large science-steeped family who fostered his early fascination with chemistry. There follow his years at boarding school where, though unhappy, he developed the intellectual curiosity that would shape his later life. And we hear of his return to London, an emotionally bereft ten-year-old who found solace in his passion for learning. Uncle Tungsten radiates all the delight and wonder of a boy’s adventures, and is an unforgettable portrait of an extraordinary young mind.

Midwinter of the Spirit - by Phil Rickman

This is, for me, a really good example of a book club book. It is something that I would never normally be attracted to, but I found that I enjoyed reading it. From looking at the blurb, I would have assumed that some knowledge, belief and interest in the supernatural would be necessary to enjoy the book. This is not the case. The book is about a complex web of human relationships and illustrates the darker side of human behaviour. Many of the characters believe in the supernatural phenomena, but the book itself does not take a stand; the reader is free to decide.

I found the writing style a little clumsy. Often too many words are used and we are given more silly details than we need. But I still found it a straightforward read and the story maintained my interest. I am always wary of authors trying to write a main character of the opposite gender. This book is written from a number of viewpoints, but Merrily is the prime protagonist. To me, she sounded somewhat like a man’s idea of how a woman might think and act. I also thought that calling her daughter “Flower” did not sound natural; rather East London IMHO.

I liked the reasonably local setting for the book, even though they are not places that I am very familiar with. I observe that this is the second in a series of books; the 15th is published shortly. I do not think I missed anything vital by not reading #1. I am not sure that I will be rushing to devour the rest of the series, but, then again, I might.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Midwinter of the Spirit by Phil Rickman. This is our next book club book, which is a particular favourite of one of the members and not a book that I would otherwise have picked up. here’s the blurb:

Diocesan Exorcist: a job viewed by the Church of England with such extreme suspicion that they changed the name.

It's Deliverance Consultant now. Still, it seems, no job for a woman. But when the Bishop offers it to Merrily Watkins, parish priest and single mum, she's in no position to refuse.

It starts badly for Merrily and gets no easier. As an early winter slices through the old city of Hereford, a body is found in the River Wye, an ancient church is desecrated and signs of evil appear in the cathedral itself, where the tomb of a medieval saint lies in pieces.

A God in Ruins - by Kate Atkinson

As usual, this author delivered a very good read. It took a little while to gather momentum, but I was sucked in. As is commonly the case with her work, the timelines are all over the place, but I was never lost. The accounts of events during and around WW2 bombing raids were particularly interesting. the author’s attention to detail brought them alive for me. The ending, which I won’t “spoil” here was really unusual. I will continue to look out for more books by Kate Atkinson.

What I'm reading ...

I have started A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson. Another favourite author, I have been monitoring the price of the Kindle edition of this book and it recently came down to what I thought was an acceptable price [probably because of paperback publication]. As I have a bit of time until my next book club meeting, I thought I’d treat myself. Here’s the blurb:

A God in Ruins relates the life of Teddy Todd – would-be poet, heroic World War II bomber pilot, husband, father, and grandfather – as he navigates the perils and progress of the 20th century. For all Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge will be to face living in a future he never expected to have.
This gripping, often deliriously funny yet emotionally devastating book looks at war – that great fall of Man from grace – and the effect it has, not only on those who live through it, but on the lives of the subsequent generations. It is also about the infinite magic of fiction.Those who loved the bestselling Life After Life will recognise Teddy as Ursula Todd’s adored younger brother – but for those who have not read it, A God in Ruins stands fully on its own.

Slaughterhouse-Five - by Kurt Vonnegut

This book was quite a surprise. I had always had the impression that the author was “just” a sci fi writer and, whilst that would not mean that I would never read his work, this is a genre that I only dip into from time to time. However, although aspects of this book might be labelled as sci fi, the story as a whole is very down to earth.

I found it s straightforward read and was never confused by wandering in time. So many books nowadays have multiple timelines, that this feels quite normal. I guess it was ahead of its time, as it was written 60+ years ago. I am still not quite sure what to make of Billy Pilgrim, even though his character is examined quite broadly in the book. The story as a whole was thought provoking, looking at “man’s inhumanity to man” type issues and the wider meaning of life (and death) etc. As the author would say, so it goes.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. The author of the last book I read was clearly a Vonnegut fan and the main characters in the book seemed rather obsessed with his books. So I thought that I would give this one a try. Here’s the blurb:

Adapted for a magnificent George Roy Hill film three years later (perhaps the only film adaptation of a masterpiece which exceeds its source), Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) is the now famous parable of Billy Pilgrim, a World War II veteran and POW, who has in the later stage of his life become "unstuck in time" and who experiences at will (or unwillingly) all known events of his chronology out of order and sometimes simultaneously.
Traumatized by the bombing of Dresden at the time he had been imprisoned, Pilgrim drifts through all events and history, sometimes deeply implicated, sometimes a witness. He is surrounded by Vonnegut's usual large cast of continuing characters (notably here the hack science fiction writer Kilgore Trout and the alien Tralmafadorians who oversee his life and remind him constantly that there is no causation, no order, no motive to existence).
The "unstuck" nature of Pilgrim's experience may constitute an early novelistic use of what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; then again, Pilgrim's aliens may be as "real" as Dresden is real to him. Struggling to find some purpose, order or meaning to his existence and humanity's, Pilgrim meets the beauteous and mysterious Montana Wildhack (certainly the author's best character name), has a child with her and drifts on some supernal plane, finally, in which Kilgore Trout, the Tralmafadorians, Montana Wildhack and the ruins of Dresden do not merge but rather disperse through all planes of existence.

The Universe versus Alex Woods - by Gavin Extence

I did not know what to expect from this book. The initial precepts are unlikely, but far from impossible. The style of writing engaged me straight away. The book starts nearly at the end of the story and then Alex fills us in on the events that led to the conclusion. He is very likable, I felt, as he is so honest and well meaning, if often rather naive.

I found the book a thoroughly enjoyable read. I was entertained, amused, moved and educated - what more can one ask from a book? I progressed through the book at a good pace and reached that interesting ambivalence towards the end: I did not want the book to end, but I did want to know the conclusion of the story.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Universe versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence, my next book club book. I have heard positive comments about the book from many quarters, so I am looking forward to the read. Here’s the blurb:

Alex Woods knows that he hasn't had the most conventional start in life.
He knows that growing up with a clairvoyant single mother won't endear him to the local bullies.
He also knows that even the most improbable events can happen - he's got the scars to prove it.
What he doesn't know yet is that when he meets ill-tempered, reclusive widower Mr Peterson, he'll make an unlikely friend. Someone who tells him that you only get one shot at life. That you have to make the best possible choices.
So when, aged seventeen, Alex is stopped at Dover customs with 113 grams of marijuana, an urn full of ashes on the passenger seat, and an entire nation in uproar, he's fairly sure he's done the right thing.

So Much for That - by Lionel Shriver

My faith in Lionel Shriver keeping me turning the pages is intact. This book is, at times, an uncomfortable read, but that is intentional. I was aware that the healthcare system in the US is rather inhumane, but I was unaware of quite how bad it is. Describing it as “survival of the fittest” would not be unreasonable. That is OK - if you are fit. If I bring one thing away from the book, it is gratitude for living in a civilized country - i.e. one with a social healthcare system that actually works [imperfect sometimes, but amazing at others].

The story in the book is quite complex with a rich selection of characters. It is not told from a single viewpoint, though it is largely from Shep and Jackson’s perspectives. There are some nice twists, which kept me interested all the way to the end.

What I'm reading ...

I have started reading So Much for That by Lionel Shriver. I needed some solid holiday reading, so turned to a firm favourite. Here’s the blurb:

What do you pack for the rest of your life?
Shepherd Knacker is bored with his humdrum existence. He's sold his successful handy-man business for a million dollars and is now ready to embark on his 'Afterlife' - a one way ticket to a small island off the coast of Africa. He tries to convince his wife Glynis to come with him, but she laughs off the idea as preposterous. There's no way she'll let Shepherd uproot the family to some far-flung African island.
When Glynis is diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer, Shepherd's dreams of an exotic adventure are firmly put on hold. He devotes himself to caring for his sick wife, watching her fade before his eyes.
Shepherd's best friend Jackson knows all too well about illness. His sixteen year old daughter has spent her life dosed up on every treatment going while he and his wife Carol feed their youngest daughter sugar pills so she won't feel left out. But then Jackson undergoes a medical procedure of his own which has devastating consequences …
So Much For That is a deeply affecting novel, told with Lionel Shriver's trademark originality, intelligence and acute perception of the human condition.

The Shack - by William P. Young

I am really not sure what to make of this book. The quality of writing was, I felt, excellent. The characters were quite well drawn and the description of places and event quite vivid. However, ultimately I do not know what it was about. My interpretation is that Mack headed for the shack, had the serious road accident and his brain invented a set of false memories, synthesised from his sketchy religious beliefs and emotional turmoil. In the end, this is not such a bad thing, as it made him a better person.

I think that the book is simply a vehicle for the author to describe and publicise about their person perspective on God, the meaning of life, etc. It made for an OK, and sometimes entertaining, read.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Shack by William P. Young, my next book club book. Here’s the blurb:

Mack's youngest daughter, Missy, was abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, still trapped in his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack. Against his better judgement Mack arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon. What he finds there will change his life forever.
The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, 'Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?' Mack's experiences when he faces up to his darkest nightmares will astound you, and perhaps transform you as much as it did him.

Big Brother - by Lionel Shriver

The topic and initial premise of this book sounded interesting and I was confident that the author would do it justice. My interest in the book was piqued when I learned that the subject was very much a reflection of the author’s life. It is not autobiographical - she wrote it partly to help her process her own experiences.

All the themes around eating disorders, body image issues and prejudices are addressed in a typical no-holes-barred way. The story has a great pace and, although it is covering serious issues, manages to have its humorous moments. I was interested to know how the author would manage to tell a story of what might have been - with a different outcome than that in her own life - without it being an obvious “if only real life had turned out this way” story. Re-writes of history rarely succeed. This book, however, handles this matter very well and is wrapped up in good Shriver style with a great twist.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Big Brother by Lionel Shriver. With a couple of trips coming up, I wanted some “holiday reading” - not something light, but a book that I can get lost in. Shriver has become one of my favourite authors, so I was delighted to find that I had two of her books on hand, unread, and chose this one. Here's the blurb:

When Pandora picks up her older brother Edison at her local Iowa airport, she literally doesn’t recognize him. The once slim, hip New York jazz pianist has gained hundreds of pounds. What happened?
Soon Edison’s slovenly habits, appalling diet, and know-it-all monologues are driving Pandora and her fitness-freak husband Fletcher insane. After the brother-in-law has more than overstayed his welcome, Fletcher delivers his wife an ultimatum: it’s him or me.

Night Train To Lisbon - by Pascal Mercier

While reading this book, a couple of people asked me what it was about and I was unable to answer. I figured that, by the time I finished it, I would know the answer. But I was wrong. On one level, it is all about Gregorius and his sudden change of lifestyle. On another, it is about Prado - or Gregorius piecing his story together. Or perhaps it is just a study on life, the Universe and everything. I remain uncertain.

This does not mean that I did not enjoy the book - I did on many levels. The description of the places and Gregorius’ impressions of them was often quite beautiful. I loved the vast array of characters and their nuances and foibles. The quality of writing is excellent. Overall, I did not really feel that I got to know Gregorius and I have no understanding of why he suddenly dropped everything. As far as I could see, this was totally out of character - not a natural development. In summary, can see through his eye, but not get into his head.

Like so many books, I thought that the ending was rushed and disappointing. Gregorius’ dizziness was reported time and time again, along with his worries about it [with the obvious reference to Prado’s illness], but we never learned what his diagnosis was. That was left hanging. I wanted to know.