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.