What I'm reading ...

I have started Behave by Robert Sapolsky.  I heard a long, captivating interview with the author on a favourite podcast. One of the podcast presenters recommended this book, which was reasonably priced on Kindle. So, despite its great length >1100 pages!, I thought I’d give it a go. Here’s the blurb:

We are capable of savage acts of violence but also spectacular feats of kindness: is one side of our nature destined to win out over the other?

Every act of human behaviour has multiple layers of causation, spiralling back seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, even centuries, right back to the dawn of time and the origins of our species.

In the epic sweep of history, how does our biology affect the arc of war and peace, justice and persecution? How have our brains evolved alongside our cultures?

This is the exhilarating story of human morality and the science underpinning the biggest question of all: what makes us human?

My Father's House - by Joseph O'Connor

This book was very far from a disappointment In terms of quality of writing, the author has not lost his touch. Well drawn characters and a well paced story, as you might expect. There are quite a few characters, but I never lost track of who somebody was.  Some of the events described are quite shocking, but that’s war for you.

I liked the way snippets of Italian language are included, with no translation being provided. Most of them I could understand - I guessed at the others well enough.

I will try to not have such a long delay before I read any more of Joe O’Connor’s work.

What I'm reading ...

I have started My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor. I read and enjoyed several books by this author some years ago. I cannot explain why I have taken so long to return to his work, but I look forward to it. Here’s the blurb:

When the Nazis take Rome, thousands go into hiding. One priest will risk everything to save them.

September 1943: German forces occupy Rome. SS officer Paul Hauptmann rules with terror.

An Irish priest, Hugh O'Flaherty, dedicates himself to helping those escaping from the Nazis. His home is Vatican City, a neutral, independent country within Rome where the occupiers hold no sway. He gathers a team to set up an Escape Line.

But Hauptmann's net begins closing in and the need for a terrifyingly audacious mission grows critical. By Christmas, it's too late to turn back.

Based on a true story, My Father's House is a powerful thriller from a master of historical fiction. It is an unforgettable novel of love, sacrifice and what it means to be human in the most extreme circumstances.

Great-Uncle Harry - by Michael Palin

As expected, this was a very enjoyable read. Palin’s writing is very unpretentious and well paced - I kept turning the pages. The story of Harry’s life is interesting and well researched. I plan to visit his birthplace sometime soon, as it’s not far away. I always like to learn stuff when I’m reading and this book delivered. I really knew very little about WW1 and now I know a whole lot more. Some of that was not easy reading, but I appreciate being informed.

I look forward to reading more of the author’s work and already have one book in stock.