What I'm reading ...

I have started Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. I am not a big fan of the fantasy genre, but I like to stretch myself a bit and these authors are masters. Here’s the blurb:

What if, for once, the predictions are right, and the Apocalypse really is due to arrive next Saturday, just after tea?

It's a predicament that Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon, now find themselves in. They've been living amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and, truth be told, have grown rather fond of the lifestyle and, in all honesty, are not actually looking forward to the coming Apocalypse.

And then there's the small matter that someone appears to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .

The Madness of Grief - by Richard Coles

As expected, this is quite an emotional book. But at the same time, there is wit and lots of random bits of information, which pleased me. The book is well written with very good use of language, but took me a while to get through. Something about it resulted in my reading in small chunks.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Madness of Grief by Richard Coles. I enjoy hearing the author on the radio, so, when I was recommended his book, it was an easy choice. Here’s the blurb:

When the Reverend Richard Coles's partner died suddenly, shortly before Christmas in 2019, what came next took Richard by surprise. Despite his years of experience assisting his parishioners in examining life's moral questions, Richard now found he needed guidance himself. Much about grief was unexpected: the volume of 'sadmin' that must be undertaken, how much harder it is travelling solo for work, the pain of typing a text message to your partner - then remembering they are gone. This deeply personal account of life after grief will resonate, unforgettably, long after the final page has been turned.

The Speed of Light - by Elissa Grossell Dickey

When I read a fiction book, part from [hopefully] being entertained, I like to feel that I might learn something. I was interested in the fact that this book features a main protagonist who has MS, as does the author. I hope to be a little more educated on this topic.

The book is really two parallel stories on different timelines, organized so that the reader is never confused. I found that this structure gave good pace to the book. I guess it could be dismissed as “chick lit”, as there is a romantic thread, but I think that would be unfair and I don’t really like categorization of books anyway.

Overall, a very good read which kept me turning that pages - particularly towards the end. 

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Speed of Light by Elissa Grossell Dickey. Time for fiction again. I have no idea how I came to have this book, but it looks interesting. Here’s the blurb:

Simone is trying her best not to think of what she’s lost. Diagnosed with MS, she awaits the results of another anxiety-inducing MRI. She’s just walked away from Connor, “a fixer” but possibly the love of her life. And nearing the holidays, the sights and sounds of winter in South Dakota only prick memories of better years gone by. Then, on a December morning at the university where she works, jarring gunshots pierce the halls. In a temporary safe place and terrified, Simone listens and pretends this will all be over soon.

As she waits for silence, her mind racing, Simone’s past year comes into focus. Falling in love and missing it. Finding strength in family and enduring friendships. Planning for the future, fearing it, and hoping against hope in dark places. Her life has been changing at the speed of light, and each crossroad brought Simone here, to this day, to endure the things she can’t control and to confront those that she can.

Embracing the Wide Sky: A tour across the horizons of the mind - by Daniel Tammet

This book was an enjoyable read. As billed, it is mainly about the neuroscience around Savants etc. However, his illustrations are often quite detailed and cover many other interesting [to me] topics.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Embracing the Wide Sky: A tour across the horizons of the mind by Daniel Tammet. I seem to be in a bit of a “brain science groove” just lately. Having read this author’s first book, I thought that this might be interesting. Here’s the blurb:

Daniel's internationally bestselling memoir of living with Asperger's Syndrome and Savant Syndrome, Born on a Blue Day established him as one of the most original talents in contemporary non-fiction.

Now, in his new book, Embracing the Wide Sky, he combines meticulous scientific research with detailed descriptions of how his mind works to demonstrate the immense potential within us all. He explains how our natural intuitions can help us to learn a foreign language, why his memories are like symphonies, and what numbers and giraffes have in common. We also discover why there is more to intelligence than IQ, how our brains turn light to sight, and why too much information can make you stupid.

He illustrates his arguments with examples as diverse as the private languages of twins, the compositions of poets with autism, and the breakthroughs, and breakdowns, of some of history’s greatest minds.

Embracing the Wide Sky is a unique and brilliantly imaginative portrait of how we think, learn, remember and create, brimming with personal insights and anecdotes, and explanations of the most up-to-date, mind-bending discoveries from fields ranging from neuroscience to psychology and linguistics.

This is a profound and provocative book that will transform our understanding and respect for every kind of mind.

Wish You Were Here - by Jodi Picoult

I had high hopes this for this book and I was not even slightly disappointed - it was, IMHO, a cracking read.

Without spoiling the surprise, the “But not everything is as it seems . . .” in the blurb is an understatement; around the middle of the book is an amazing U-turn that almost made me gasp with surprise. It is the kind of book that could have had a predictable ending or just petered out, but that is not the JP style. The ending is a work of genius: a full stop made up of a couple of sentences.

Through the book there is much detail on COVID and its treatment. Knowing that the author does very thorough research, I am confident that I have learned stuff. There is also much discussion on the psychological effects of the pandemic, much of which sounded familiar to me.

I discovered that JP has written something like 27 novels and I have only read about three. The feeling that there is so much more of her work for me to get lost in is exactly what makes reading such a source of joy.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult. Time for fiction again and I have enjoyed this author’s work before. Initially, I had another of her books in mind, but then I realized that this one was particularly topical. Here’s the blurb:

Diana O'Toole's life is going perfectly to plan. At twenty-nine, she's up for promotion to her dream job as an art specialist at Sotheby's and she's about to fly to the Galápagos where she's convinced her surgeon boyfriend, Finn, is going to propose.

But then the virus hits New York City and Finn breaks the news: the hospital needs him, he has to stay. But you should still go, he insists. And reluctantly, she agrees. Once she's in the Galápagos, the world shuts down around her, leaving Diana stranded - albeit in paradise. Completely isolated, with only intermittent news from the outside world, Diana finds herself examining everything that has brought her to this point and wondering if there's a better way to live.

But not everything is as it seems . . .

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - by Maya Angelou

As I always hope for when I read a biography, this book took me to a world that was completely unfamiliar to me - a different time, different place and from the viewpoint of someone of different gender and race. Aspects off the story are shocking; others are heartwarming. The quality of writing is excellent and her voice as a poet is clear. I look forward to reading further volumes.

What I'm reading ...

I have started I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, a book that I have been meaning to get around to for many years. Here’s the blurb:

In this, the celebrated, bestselling first volume of her autobiography, Maya Angelou beautifully evokes her childhood with her grandmother in the American South of the 1930s. She learns the power of the white folks at the other end of town and suffers the terrible trauma of rape by her mother's lover. As a black woman, Maya Angelou has known discrimination and extreme poverty, but also hope and joy, celebration and achievement; loving the world, she also knows its cruelty.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz - by Heather Morris

No book about events during the holocaust can be anything less than shocking and this is no exception. The story is well structured and paced and written in very straightforward prose. I enjoy having read it and feel that I have learned more about this appalling time in history. I was surprised to read that the story is based on a true memoir. 

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. Time for fiction again and I’d heard good things about this book. Here’s the blurb:

In 1942, Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust.

Waiting in line to be tattooed, terrified and shaking, was a young girl. For Lale - a dandy, a jack-the-lad, a bit of a chancer - it was love at first sight. And he was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did, too.

So begins one of the most life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable and human stories of the Holocaust: the love story of the tattooist of Auschwitz.

Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon - by Rahul Jandial

I completed this book surprisingly quickly. This was partly as a result of having some time on my hands, but mainly because it is well written: clear, concise and well paced. I enjoyed the read and felt that I had learnt a lot and, being a new-ish [2019]  book, that the information was quite currently. The author makes it very personal, talking about his own experiences with patients and also including anecdotes about the rest of his life and his family. He comes over as someone I’d like to meet.

Overall a very good read and I look forward to reading the author’s latest book in due course.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon by Rahul Jandial. Time for some non-fiction and what better than a recent [2019] book on brain science? Here’s the blurb:

World-leading neuroscientist and neurosurgeon Dr Rahul Jandial draws on his years of work with patients suffering from the most extreme cases of brain damage, disorders and illnesses to reveal what they can tell us about the science of the mind.

From a languages teacher who has to choose whether to lose her ability to speak Spanish or English after brain surgery, to a former TV exec, now homeless, who discovers that his life-altering despondency is the result of a tumour, to a fainting teen who learns that deep breathing can mean the difference between life or death, these stories uncover the secret workings of the brain.

Blending cutting-edge research and beautiful storytelling, Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon is a vital resource on the best ways to boost your memory, control stress and emotions, minimize pain, unleash your creativity, raise smart kids and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. This is a deeply practical and readable book, which will take you on an expedition through the anatomy of the brain.

Grown Ups - by Marian Keyes

This book took a while, as it is long and rambling. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is believable, as are the characters. Overall, I felt that this book showed that the author is Maeve Binchy reincarnate; another Irish author who could hold my attention through a long book. I have several more of Marian Keyes’ books, which I look forward to reading.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Grown Ups by Marian Keyes. I recently saw a TV profile of this author, which piqued my interest in sampling her work. I wanted to read a straightforward novel now and this seemed to fit the bill. Here’s the blurb:

Meet Jessie, Cara and Nell.

Married to brothers Johnny, Ed and Liam Casey.

Three very different women tied to three very different men.

Every family occasion is a party - until the day the secrets spill out.

Playtime is over.

But where are the grown-ups?

Windswept & Interesting - by Billy Connolly

As I expected, this book was a good read - entertaining, often amusing and thought provoking. It has a very honest ring to it, which is what I hope for in an autobiography.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Windswept & Interesting by Billy Connolly. I always enjoy autobiography and likewise enjoy Billy Connolly, so what’s not to like? Here’s the blurb:

Born in a tenement flat in Glasgow in 1942, orphaned by the age of 4, and a survivor of appalling abuse at the hands of his own family, Billy's life is a remarkable story of success against all the odds.

Billy found his escape first as an apprentice welder in the shipyards of the River Clyde. Later he became a folk musician - a 'rambling man' - with a genuine talent for playing the banjo. But it was his ability to spin stories, tell jokes and hold an audience in the palm of his hand that truly set him apart.

As a young comedian Billy broke all the rules. He was fearless and outspoken - willing to call out hypocrisy wherever he saw it. But his stand-up was full of warmth, humility and silliness too. His startling, hairy 'glam-rock' stage appearance - wearing leotards, scissor suits and banana boots - only added to his appeal.

It was an appearance on Michael Parkinson's chat show in 1975 - and one outrageous story in particular - that catapulted Billy from cult hero to national star. TV shows, documentaries, international fame and award-winning Hollywood movies followed. Billy's pitch-perfect stand-up comedy kept coming too - for over 50 years, in fact - until a double diagnosis of cancer and Parkinson's Disease brought his remarkable live performances to an end. Since then he has continued making TV shows, creating extraordinary drawings... and writing.

Black Vodka: Ten Stories - by Deborah Levy

A short book, so it didn’t take long. Although I am reticent about short stories, I think this is a superb example of the form. Each one was complete and was a short story simply because the author writes with such great economy. There were a few subtle, common threads between some of the stories; so subtle that I wondered about whether they were actually intended.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Black Vodka: Ten Stories by Deborah Levy. I am not generally a fan of short stories - I like to get my teeth stuck into a good book - but it’s good to have a change and this author comes recommended. Here’s the blurb:

Kissing you is like new paint and old pain. It is like coffee and car alarms and a dim stairway and a stain and it's like smoke.' ('Placing a Call') How does love change us? And how do we change ourselves for love - or for lack of it? Ten stories by acclaimed author Deborah Levy explore these delicate, impossible questions. In Vienna, an icy woman seduces a broken man; in London gardens, birds sing in computer start-up sounds; in ad-land, a sleek copywriter becomes a kind of shaman. These are twenty-first century lives dissected with razor-sharp humour and curiosity, stories about what it means to live and love, together and alone.

Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living - by Glennon Doyle

I very rarely give up on a book, but, with this one, I came close. My main gripe was repetition, as with many American self-help books, the author has some great ideas but bangs on about them repetitively. She also claims to be a feminist, but initially I found her writing very sexist. I decided to give it a fair chance and make the call at 100 pages.

When I got that far, two things had changed. Firstly, she seemed to finally admit that many things that she had seen as challenges that only women experience are not really that gender specific. Second, she started talking a lot more about her life and experiences, which I found much more interesting.

Overall, I still feel that there is a great 125 page book in here. I think that her insights and ideas will stay with me.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living by Glennon Doyle. Time for non-fiction again and this book came recommended and looked interesting. Here’s the blurb:

Part inspiration, part memoir, Untamed explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet the expectations of the world, and instead dare to listen to and trust in the voice deep inside us. From the beloved New York Times bestselling author, speaker and activist Glennon Doyle.

For many years, Glennon Doyle denied her discontent. Then, while speaking at a conference, she looked at a woman across the room and fell instantly in love. Three words flooded her mind: There. She. Is. At first, Glennon assumed these words came to her from on high but soon she realised they had come to her from within. This was the voice she had buried beneath decades of numbing addictions and social conditioning. Glennon decided to let go of the world's expectations of her and reclaim her true untamed self.

Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanising wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. It is also the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honour our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts.

Truly Madly Guilty - by Liane Moriarty

Like most of this author’s work, this book is quite complex, with many intertwined threads. We are given the immediate hint that something dramatic occurred at a BBQ party. For a couple of hundred pages, we don’t know what the incident actually was, but we learn about the lead up to it and implications afterwards. Once we do know what happened, we gradually learn more nuances of the event and see them from different points of view. The twists and surprises continue right up until the end.

All in all, a great read that will attract me back to the author’s books. 

What I'm reading ...

I have started Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty. This is a favourite author of mine, as she has a great power to keep me turning the pages, tempting me with a glimpse of the next chapter but one. And there are always interesting twists and surprises. I have hear her writing described as formulaic, but I don’t care as I enjoy the result. Here’s the blurb:

Six responsible adults, two best friends - and one day that changes everything.

'This is a story which begins with a barbecue in the suburbs. . .'

By the end of it a lifelong friendship will be in tatters, a marriage on the rocks and an innocent bystander dead.

In just one evening six lives will change for ever . . .

This Much is True - by Miriam Margolyes

I enjoy autobiographies and memoirs, but I am always on the lookout for ghost-writing - I want to hear the genuine voice. In the case of this book, I was left in no doubt that the author is writing from the heart. There is a great honesty to the writing - no hole barred! It made me smile a lot, but also gave me pause for thought. I even took a cooking tip [making matzo flour to fry fish] from a self-confessed non-cook! All in all, a great read. 

What I'm reading ...

I have started This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes. Back to non-fiction, but I think that this will make good holiday reading. Here’s the blurb:

BAFTA-winning actor, voice of everything from Monkey to the Cadbury's Caramel Rabbit, creator of a myriad of unforgettable characters from Lady Whiteadder to Professor Sprout, MIRIAM MARGOLYES, OBE, is the nation's favourite (and naughtiest) treasure. Now, at the age of 80, she has finally decided to tell her extraordinary life story - and it's well worth the wait.

Find out how being conceived in an air-raid gave her curly hair; what pranks led to her being known as the naughtiest girl Oxford High School ever had; how she ended up posing nude for Augustus John as a teenager; why Bob Monkhouse was the best (male) kiss she's ever had; and what happened next after Warren Beatty asked 'Do you fuck?'

From declaring her love to Vanessa Redgrave to being told to be quiet by the Queen, this book is packed with brilliant, hilarious stories. With a cast list stretching from Scorsese to Streisand, a cross-dressing Leonardo di Caprio to Isaiah Berlin, This Much Is True is as warm and honest, as full of life and surprises, as its inimitable author.

The Nickel Boys - by Colson Whitehead

The good things that I’d heard about this author were correct. Although it is fiction, the book is based upon reports about a real reform school. The story is well paced and the descriptions of the world of the main protagonists are vivid. There is a surprise twist at the end, which bears out my policy of “always read the Epilogue”.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. I have heard good things about this author, so I have high hopes. I normally alternate between fiction and nonfiction, but I am on holiday, so a change seems reasonable. Here’s the blurb:

Elwood Curtis has taken the words of Dr Martin Luther King to heart: he is as good as anyone. Abandoned by his parents, brought up by his loving, strict and clear-sighted grandmother, Elwood is about to enroll in the local black college. But given the time and the place, one innocent mistake is enough to destroy his future, and so Elwood arrives at The Nickel Academy, which claims to provide 'physical, intellectual and moral training' which will equip its inmates to become 'honorable and honest men'.

In reality, the Nickel Academy is a chamber of horrors, where physical, emotional and sexual abuse is rife, where corrupt officials and tradesmen do a brisk trade in supplies intended for the school, and where any boy who resists is likely to disappear 'out back'. Stunned to find himself in this vicious environment, Elwood tries to hold on to Dr King's ringing assertion, 'Throw us in jail, and we will still love you.' But Elwood's fellow inmate and new friend Turner thinks Elwood is naive and worse; the world is crooked, and the only way to survive is to emulate the cruelty and cynicism of their oppressors.

The tension between Elwood's idealism and Turner's skepticism leads to a decision which will have decades-long repercussions.

Based on the history of a real reform school in Florida that operated for one hundred and eleven years and warped and destroyed the lives of thousands of children, The Nickel Boys is a devastating, driven narrative by a great American novelist whose work is essential to understanding the current reality of the United States.

Where the Crawdads Sing - by Delia Owens

It seems that the recommendations for this book were spot on. It is beautifully written, with vivid descriptions of people, places, wildlife etc. At the same time the story has a strong pace that kept me turning the pages. I believe that this is the author’s only work of fiction to date. I have hopes for the future.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I have been recommended this book by a number of people and moved to read it by the prospect of seeing the new film adaptation. Here’s the blurb:

For years, rumors of the 'Marsh Girl' have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life - until the unthinkable happens.

Let's Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood - by Jasper Rees

I always like biographies (and autobiographies), but they vary so much in quality and honesty. Biographies are often less well researched and can paint a distorted view of their subject. This book seemed to be written with integrity on the basis of some very solid research. 

I am not a fast reader, so this long book took a while, but it kept me turning the pages. The strongest impression was that VW was a very different and more complex character than her public persona appeared. Even though I knew the book was not going to have a happy ending, I found it more emotional than I might have expected.

A tiny reservation was that I felt that the book could use a little more editing. I saw a couple of typos and there are a few facts/events that we are told about more than once for no clear reason.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Let's Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood by Jasper Rees. I always enjoy biographies and the subject of this one was for many years a firm favourite on TV etc. It is a blog book, so it may take me a while … Here’s the blurb:

'I was born with a warped sense of humour and when I was carried home from being born it was Coronation Day and so I was called Victoria but you are not supposed to know who wrote this anyway it is about time I unleashed my pent-up emotions in a bitter comment on the state of our society but it's not quite me so I think I shall write a heart-warming story with laughter behind the tears and tears behind the laughter which means hysterics to you Philistines...'

From 'Pardon?' by Vicky Wood, Aged 14. Bury Grammar School (Girls) Magazine, 1967

In her passport Victoria Wood listed her occupation as 'entertainer' - and in stand-up and sketches, songs and sitcom, musicals and dramas, she became the greatest entertainer of the age. Those things that might have held her back - her lonely childhood, her crippling shyness and above all the disadvantage of being a woman in a male-run industry - she turned to her advantage to make extraordinary comedy about ordinary people living ordinary lives in ordinary bodies. She wasn't fond of the term, but Victoria Wood truly was a national treasure - and her loss is still keenly felt.

Victoria had plenty of stories still to tell when she died in 2016, and one of those was her own autobiography. 'I will do it one day,' she told the author and journalist Jasper Rees. 'It would be about my childhood, about my first few years in showbusiness, which were really interesting and would make a really nice story.'

That sadly never came to pass, so Victoria's estate has asked Jasper Rees, who interviewed her more than anyone else, to tell her extraordinary story in full. He has been granted complete and exclusive access to Victoria's rich archive of personal and professional material, and has conducted over 200 interviews with her family, friends and colleagues - among them Victoria's children, her sisters, her ex-husband Geoffrey Durham, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Dawn French, Anne Reid, Imelda Staunton and many more.

What emerges is a portrait of a true pioneer who spoke to her audience like no one before or since.

The Heart's Invisible Furies - by John Boyne

This was [for me] quite a big book, so it took a little while. However it was well worth the effort. It is a long, complex story about one man’s life, with numerous other little back-stories about the other characters. As with any good novel, I learned a lot, particularly what it was like to be a homosexual in 1950s/60s Ireland. Although there are shocking occurrences, the are also moments of humour. The author doesn’t spoon-feed the reader - there are times when you need to think [or even research] to get what is happening. Overall, a great read that will attract me back to this author.

One tiny gripe: At one point, sometime around 1960, no later, there is a reference to someone receiving 50p. This coin was not introduced until 1969 in anticipation of decimalization in 1971. I am winding if someone [stupidly] translated “ten shillings” to “50p” for the benefit of modern readers.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne. I am not sure how I came to have this book, but it looks like a good solid read to keep me going for a while. Here’s the blurb:

Forced to flee the scandal brewing in her hometown, Catherine Goggin finds herself pregnant and alone, in search of a new life at just sixteen. She knows she has no choice but to believe that the nun she entrusts her child to will find him a better life.

Cyril Avery is not a real Avery, or so his parents are constantly reminding him. Adopted as a baby, he’s never quite felt at home with the family that treats him more as a curious pet than a son. But it is all he has ever known.

And so begins one man’s desperate search to find his place in the world. Unspooling and unseeing, Cyril is a misguided, heart-breaking, heartbroken fool. Buffeted by the harsh winds of circumstance towards the one thing that might save him from himself, but when opportunity knocks, will he have the courage, finally, take it?

Cops and Horrors - by Matt Calveley

This was an enjoyable read. As billed, it covers lots of stories from the author’s time in the Met. It is informative, interesting, sometimes quite shocking, but often amusing. It is written quite straightforwardly and kept be moving on from one chapter to the next. 

What I'm reading ...

I have started Cops and Horrors by Matt Calveley. I enjoy memoirs and biographies. I know Matt and, when he told me about his book, I knew I’d need to read it. Here's the blurb …

As a decorated officer on the police front line, Matt Calveley saw it all.

He fought violent criminals, arrested hundreds, dealt with numerous horrific incidents – and got bitten by a squirrel monkey called Clive.

In Cops And Horrors, Matt recalls the hair-raising highs and harrowing lows during

30 dedicated years of Metropolitan Police service in which two days were never the same.

During his time, Matt worked at the sharp end as a custody sergeant, provided jury protection during a huge corruption trial and was involved in countless white–knuckle car chases – including one involving a rogue Santa Claus driving a flashy limo.

From confronting a machete-wielding maniac, working undercover to catch the Mardi Gras bomber, dealing with grieving relatives and catastrophic road death scenes, it wasn’t a job for the faint-hearted.

But Matt survived it all – and now is ready to tell the tale.

Munich - by Robert Harris

As I expected, this book delivered. Robert Harris has never let me down.

The story is very tight - taking place over three days - and is set against the backdrop of some historic events that I was keen to learn about. It is complex, with quite a lot of characters, but I never found it confusing. A good read with twists right up to the end.

As I like to learn things when I’m reading fiction, I tend to favour authors with integrity and Harris is well known for getting the details right. I enjoyed Lear the random fact that Hitler required documents to be typed using a special typewriter which used a very large font. I think he was vain about weary spectacles. 

I was worried by a reference to British Airways in 1938, as I knew that the company was formed as a result of the mergers of BEA and BOAC (in the 70s). I needn’t have worried. I checked and there was indeed a company with this name back then.

What I’m reading …

I have started Munich by Robert Harris. As this is a favourite author's work, I have high hopes for this book. Here’s the blurb:

MUNICH, SEPTEMBER 1938

Hitler is determined to start a war. Chamberlain is desperate to preserve the peace.

They will meet in a city which forever afterwards will be notorious for what is about to take place.

As Chamberlain's plane judders over the channel and the Fuhrer's train steams south, two young men travel with their leaders. Former friends from a more peaceful time, they are now on opposing sides.

As Britain's darkest hour approaches, the fate of millions could depend on them - and the secrets they're hiding.

Spying. Betrayal. Murder. Is any price too high for peace?

The Power of Geography: Ten Maps that Reveal the Future of Our World - by Tim Marshall

This book did what it said on the tin, as I expected from this author. The main things I learned were the modern history of some key countries/regions, which is a great help in understanding the world as it is today. The book is very up to date, with Biden and Johnson being mentioned. The writing style is very accessible, with some of the language being quite humorous. For example, I enjoyed the numerous abbreviations of UN initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa being referred to as an “alphabet souk”. 

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Power of Geography: Ten Maps that Reveal the Future of Our World by Tim Marshall. I often feel that a number of subjects that I was taught at school were not covered well and/or need updating. Geography was one. Maybe this book will help. After reading the author’s previous book, I am optimistic. Here’s the blurb:

Tim Marshall's global bestseller Prisoners of Geography showed how every nation’s choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Since then, the geography hasn’t changed. But the world has.

In this revelatory new book, Marshall explores ten regions that are set to shape global politics in a new age of great-power rivalry: Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain and Space. Find out why Europe’s next refugee crisis is closer than it thinks as trouble brews in the Sahel; why the Middle East must look beyond oil and sand to secure its future; why the eastern Mediterranean is one of the most volatile flashpoints of the twenty-first century; and why the Earth’s atmosphere is set to become the world’s next battleground.

Delivered with Marshall’s trademark wit and insight, this is a lucid and gripping exploration of the power of geography to shape humanity’s past, present – and future.

The Island Home - by Libby Page

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story had enough complexity to keep me interested and the characters were well drawn and, for the most part, likable. The telling of the story through the voices of two women was, IMHO, very effective.

I was very surprised by the strength of my emotional reaction to parts of the book; not a problem - just a surprise. I do not think that I really identify with any of the events and situations in the book; I guess I was mostly touched by people’s kindness.

It might be argued that the arc of the story was predictable. However, whilst that may be true, I felt that there were enough twists to keep me turning the pages. It might also be categorized [dismissed!] as “chick lit” as it has a strong emotional content and almost all the main characters are female. I saw these features as positives. When I read fiction, I want to be transported to another world and see other people’s perspectives. A story about and told by women seems to fit the bill.

The author has written three books so far. I have already read and enjoyed one [The Lido], but I am pleased to look forward to the other.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Island Home by Libby Page. It is time for some straightforward fiction and I have enjoyed this author’s work before. Here’s the blurb:

Lorna's world is small but safe.She loves her daughter, and the two of them is all that matters. But after nearly twenty years, she and Ella are suddenly leaving London for the Isle of Kip, the tiny remote Scottish island where Lorna grew up.Alice's world is tiny but full.She loves the community on Kip, her yoga classes drawing women across the tiny island together. Now Lorna's arrival might help their family finally mend itself - even if forgiveness means returning to the past...

I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? - by Mortada Gzar

This book delivered what I had hoped for: a look at an unfamiliar world. I was surprised and sometimes shocked by what I read about the treatment of homosexuals and others who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time in Iraq.

As the book is translated, it is hard to comment on the writing style, but there was a somewhat foreign “voice”. This did not make the book hard to read or less enjoyable.

What I'm reading ...

I have started I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? by Mortada Gzar. As the last book I read was so short, I thought I’d continue working down my non-fiction list. I always like biographies and memoirs and this promises to show me another unfamiliar world. Here’s the blurb:

As the US occupation of Iraq rages, novelist Mortada Gzar, a student at the University of Baghdad, has a chance encounter with Morise, an African American soldier. It’s love at first sight, a threat to them both, and a moment of self-discovery. Challenged by society’s rejection and Morise’s return to the US, Mortada takes to the page to understand himself.

In his deeply affecting memoir, Mortada interweaves tales of his childhood work as a scrap-metal collector in a war zone and the indignities faced by openly gay artists in Iraq with his impossible love story and journey to the US. Marginalized by his own society, he is surprised to discover the racism he finds in a new one. At its heart, I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? is a moving tale of love and resilience.

The Missing: The True Story of My Family in World War II - by Michael Rosen

Given that this book was aimed at children, it is unsurprising that I read it very quickly. Although I think it would be great as an introduction to WW2, Holocaust etc. for a, say, 10 year old, I found it a very interesting and informative read. I think I’ll hang on to my copy and inflict it on the first grandchild who seems old enough.

What I'm reading ...

I have started reading The Missing: The True Story of My Family in World War II by Michael Rosen. This small book caught my eye in an Oxfam bookshop a few days ago. I have enjoyed the author’s work, particularly on the radio, and thought that this book might teach me something. Here’s the blurb:

By turns charming, shocking and heart-breaking, this is the true story of Michael Rosen’s search for his relatives who “went missing” during the Second World War – told through prose, poetry, maps and pictures. When Michael was growing up, stories often hung in the air about his great-uncles: one was a clock-mender and the other a dentist. They were there before the war, his dad would say, and weren’t after. Over many years, Michael tried to find out exactly what happened: he interviewed family members, scoured the internet, pored over books and traveled to America and France. The story he uncovered was one of terrible persecution – and it has inspired his poetry for years since. Here, poems old and new are balanced against an immensely readable narrative; both an extraordinary account and a powerful tool for talking to children about the Holocaust.

Should We Stay or Should We Go - by Lionel Shriver

This is an outstanding book that really delivers on the promises of the blurb. Although it appears to be about a gloomy subject - i.e. death - there is so much more to it. It made me think about the meaning of life, of death, of relationships and priorities and choices. The structure of the book is so creative and gives the author a great vehicle to explore ideas.

It is very contemporary, including events related to Brexit and COVID. The quality of writing is everything that I expect from this author. There is even the odd bit of humour!

What I'm reading ...

I have started Should We Stay or Should We Go by Lionel Shriver, a recent book by one of my favourite authors. Although I find any discussion about end of life issues uncomfortable, the concept of this book is fascinating. Here’s the blurb:

When her father dies, Kay Wilkinson can’t cry. Over ten years, Alzheimer’s had steadily eroded this erudite man. Surely one’s own father passing should never come as such a relief?

Both healthy and vital medical professionals in their early fifties, Kay and her husband Cyril have seen too many of their elderly NHS patients in similar states of decay. Determined to die with dignity, Cyril makes a modest proposal: they should agree to commit suicide together once they’ve both turned eighty. When their deal is sealed in 1991, the spouses are blithely looking forward to another three decades together.

But then they turn eighty.

By turns hilarious and touching, playful and grave, Should We Stay or Should We Go portrays twelve parallel universes, each exploring a possible future for Kay and Cyril, from a purgatorial Cuckoo’s-Nest-style retirement home to the discovery of a cure for ageing, from cryogenic preservation to the unexpected pleasures of dementia. 

Weaving in a host of contemporary issues – Brexit, mass migration, the coronavirus –  Lionel Shriver has pulled off a rollicking page-turner in which we never have to mourn deceased characters, because they’ll be alive and kicking in the very next chapter.

In Black and White: A Young Barrister's Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System - by Alexandra Wilson

As I hoped, this was a book that taught me a lot about worlds to which I am never normally exposed. Some of it is quite frightening, when you see how easily someone can end up in court even when they have done something very minor or even be completely innocent. The book is written in a simple way, clearly describing the events and the author’s feelings as she progressed through pupilage. By the end, I was quite clear that, if I ended up in an appropriately unfortunate situation, I’d want her on my side.

What I'm reading ...

I have started In Black and White: A Young Barrister's Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System by Alexandra Wilson. Time for some non-fiction and this looks like a book that I might learn from. Here’s the blurb:

Alexandra Wilson was a teenager when her dear family friend Ayo was stabbed on his way home from football. Ayo's death changed Alexandra. She felt compelled to enter the legal profession in search of answers.

As a junior criminal and family law barrister, Alexandra finds herself navigating a world and a set of rules designed by a privileged few. A world in which fellow barristers sigh with relief when a racist judge retires: 'I've got a black kid today and he would have had no hope'.

In her debut book, In Black and White, Alexandra re-creates the tense courtroom scenes, the heart-breaking meetings with teenage clients, and the moments of frustration and triumph that make up a young barrister's life.

Alexandra shows us how it feels to defend someone who hates the colour of your skin, or someone you suspect is guilty. We see what it is like for children coerced into county line drug deals and the damage that can be caused when we criminalise teenagers.

Alexandra's account of what she has witnessed as a young mixed-race barrister is in equal parts shocking, compelling, confounding and powerful.

How to Kill Your Family - by Bella Mackie

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. There’s a good story, with a fair amount of complexity and ingenuity and quite a few surprises right up to the end. The author has a great way with words and manages to slip in the odd bit of humour. The characters are well drawn; few of them are at all likable, but that is the intention.

I hope that this author writes some more fiction - I will be on the lookout.

What I'm reading ...

I have started How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie. It was time for fiction again and apparently this is not actually a “How to” manual. 🙂 It seems to be quite popular at this time and it’s good to be current. Here’s the blurb:

Meet Grace Bernard.

Daughter, sister, colleague, friend, serial killer…

Grace has lost everything. And now she wants revenge.

How to Kill Your Family is a fierce and addictive novel about class, family, love… and murder.

Underland: A Deep Time Journey - by Robert Macfarlane

This book took a while. Apart from me being a slow reader, there was a lot to read and take in. The author has a wonderful way with language. His descriptive passages really make you feel like you’re there and also get a clear impression of his thoughts. An interesting example is the discussion of the coastline of Greenland, which was once joined to Europe. He refers to it making a “torn-page match” with the gneiss of the Outer Hebrides, which is a beautiful analogy IMHO.

He went to places that I will never go to [and many that I wouldn’t want to go to] - it is a privilege to travel there vicariously via this author.

I enjoyed the many bits of random information, for example:

• Potawatomi, a Native American language of the Great Plains region, includes the word puhpowee, which might be translated as ‘the force which causes mushrooms to push up from the earth overnight’.  Potawatomi is a language abundant with verbs: 70 per cent of its words are verbs, compared to 30 per cent in English.
• In Norway there is a tiny village called Å.
• A moulin is hole in a glacier into which meltwater pours. They make interesting sounds

I will be reading more works by this author.

What I'm reading ...

I have started Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane. Time for non-fiction and this book is well thought of, so I will give it a go. Here’s the blurb:

In Underland, Robert Macfarlane takes us on a journey into the worlds beneath our feet. From the ice-blue depths of Greenland's glaciers, to the underground networks by which trees communicate, from Bronze Age burial chambers to the rock art of remote Arctic sea-caves, this is a deep-time voyage into the planet's past and future. Global in its geography, gripping in its voice and haunting in its implications, Underland is a work of huge range and power, and a remarkable new chapter in Macfarlane's long-term exploration of landscape and the human heart.

Conversations with Friends - by Sally Rooney

Overall, an enjoyable read. I always hope that, while reading a novel, that I will learn something. Seeing the world through the eyes of a twenty-something old Irish woman [the age of the author and the main protagonist] should fit the bill and I think that it did. I thought that all the main characters were well drawn, but I really did not warm to any of them. A lot of their behaviour seemed illogical and self-destructive [to me].

An odd thing about the book is that there are no speech marks - i.e. quotation marks around dialogue. This felt a bit uncomfortable. However, as I do not think that I ever got lost, there was clearly no ambiguity, so maybe the punctuation is redundant and I am just being old fashioned.