Bijan Omrani, God Is An Englishman: Christianity and the Creation of England

Great title, but very disappointing read. The author was setting out to show how instrumental in a positive way Christianity has been to the shaping of English culture and identity and bent over backwards to make his case. Because Christianity and Englishness are both so wide-ranging, it's possible to cherry pick examples that prove the opposite of another - for example, he makes the points that Christians were instrumental n the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire, but not that for the previous 1500 years they had been perfectly ok with it, and many opposed the abolition. There was one point where he claimed that the common belief that Christian festivals like Easter are based on pre-christian traditions is not true. This was based on the fact that there is no documentary evidence for there being a pre-christian god called Eostre, other than Bede saying there was. So we can leave aside all the fertility/spring imagery of eggs, bunnies, overindulgence etc which has nothing to do with Christianity, and also leave aside that one of the most partisan Christians in English history said it was based on a pre-Christian festival. I'm not denying that Christianity has had a profound impact on English culture, it certainly has, both in a negative and positive way. some of the greatest social reforms and civilising measures have been driven by Christians - but they've also been opposed by them. Some of the worst atrocities and shaming episodes in English history have been opposed and denounced by some Christians - but also supported fully by others.

Marina Lewycka, Two Caravans

 Crikey, only 3 months since I reread Marina Lewycka's debut novel and I've forgotten a lot of the plot already. I +think+ the two books interlink and characters from the debut have cameos in this book, but I could be wrong. I enjoyed this old-fashioned boy-meets-girl story in a novel setting - amongst migrant labourers trying to scratch out a living in a foreign, unwelcoming country. Tonight I'm helping out at the Squirrels sleepover, not sure how it will go. Have also been landed with the organisation of the Scout trip to Ypres next week month and trying to make sense of it - we should have paid some months ago and owe £3k apparently

Oliver Moody, Baltic: The Future of Europe

 A geopolitical study of the nations that border the Baltic, overshadowed throughout by the threat to them all of invasion from Russia and how they are preparing for that eventuality. Hard to think of a more serious read. Reinforced my belief in NATO as an absolutely necessary alliance to hold the west together and the need for free nations to stand united. Amongst it all, one insight I took away was that as long as the war in Ukraine continues, the chance of Russia extending the conflict to the Baltic is unlikely, but if a ceasefire is reached and Russia has chance to regroup, it could be on. Also, interesting to hear that the military power of Poland and Finland (for example) would appear stronger and more battle-ready than the UK, France or Germany, let alone smaller western states

Colm Toibin, Brooklyn

 Not been on my radar before, but the sequel is out now and getting good reviews, so thought I should give it a go, and it was lovely. A simple story of a young Irish émigré to New York and her dilemma between duty and desire. So well written, straight onto Helen's tsundoku pile

John Elledge, A History of the World in 47 Borders

 A pop-Geography book written in a very jokey, irreverent way, almost like a podcast. Lots of funny asides and diversions. Not sure I learnt anything new, but a nice enjoyable read at a time when I needed that as work has been so stressful the past few weeks. I'm having an inner debate about whether to keep books like these. I've always kept non-fiction, but I know I'm never going to read this again so why keep it? A decision may need to be made as my shelves are double-stacked. . . 

Graham Swift, Waterland

 Took me a while to get into it as it seemed disjointed, hoping around the centuries, but always set in a soggy, oppressive fenland that is evocatively described. It soon all came together and although the East Anglia Tourist Board probably don't want to use it as it's got murder, incest and muddy ditches, it made me want to go out to the fens. Parts of it were read in Bristol and Bath as Freddie was looking around the universities there. He seems to like both, but it's difficult to tell with Fred as he doesn't seem to get enthusiastic about anything or make any decision. Maybe that's just teenage boys for you.

Jack Cornish, The Lost Paths

 Left it a little late to write this after reading, and it didn't make much of an impression anyway. It's a book by a keen walker, but I couldn't really workout how it was structured, and the themes seemed odd. More a series of anecdotes and stories that weren't really linked and only loosely connected to paths. Fully behind any extolation (is that a word?) of footpaths, but a bit meh.