What I'm reading ...

I have started Small Island by Andrea Levy.

This is the next Bookclub selection. The book is about immigrants to the UK from Jamaica in the late 1940s. Since my knowledge of 20th Century history is limited, I guess I have something to learn. I am daunted by the 500+ pages, but it is not too hard to read. I like the structure of the book - each chapter is written from a specific person's viewpoint and there are something like 4 or 5 people represented. I guess the book must be good, as it won both the Orange and Whitbread prizes this year.

Up and Down in the Dales - by Gervase Phinn

I was not disappointed. This book is well up to the standard of the previous three in the series. It manages to be amusing and uplifting without being trivial. It's an easy read, but I wasn't keen to rush through, as I didn't really want it to end. I feel I have had another genuine glimpse into other people's lives.

At the end the following prayer is quoted. I found it very moving and would like to share it:

A Parent's Prayer

Always believe in yourself.

Promise always to be compassionate.
Appreciate that you make mistakes.
Recognise that I do too.
Entrust me with your worries.
Never doubt that I will support you when you need me.
Talk to me about things you find difficult.
Share your dreams.

Please understand that I can have moods just like you.
Receive a little advice now and again.
Accept that I sometimes get things wrong.
You need to help me to get things right.
Enjoy your life.
Realise that I love you without reservation.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Up and Down in the Dales by Gervase Phinn.

Having read the previous three books in this series, I have been looking forward to the appearance of this one in paperback. The books are autobiographical, which is probably my favourite kind of reading material. They are also very humorous, which makes them an easy read. Phinn has bee described as the James Herriot of school inspectors, which I think sums him up rather well.

Independence Day - by Richard Ford

This book is about an ordinary American guy, Frank Bascombe, who is an estate agent in New Jersey. The story is really about his reappraisal of his life and his transition into the next stage, putting various traumatic events behind him.

I found it easy enough to read, even though it's quite long [450 pages]. The language could be hard, as house buying and selling is a very different process in the US. I am also not really very familiar with the geography and the use of various states' nicknames didn't help. There were new words - like "conniption", which means "a fit; a display of bad temper". Also, new concepts: garbage collection three times per week [why?].

The book is a sequel to another and maybe I would have felt more connected to Frank if I'd read that first. But the book has a satisfactory beginning - I didn't feel dropped into it. I like books to have an ending. In this case there is one, but I found it unsatisfying. Instead of moving on to the next stage in his life, we leave Frank ready to do so and speculating upon what it might be.