Owen Jones, Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class and Håkan Nesser, Borkmann's Point

The horrible pejorative title put me off reading 'Chavs' for a while, but it was a fantastic polemic about the demonisation of the working class from the '80s onwards, and how those who have suffered most are being blamed for society's problems. Scornful of both Conservatives and New Labour for not addressing the needs of those at the bottom. Almost a rallying-call too for what Labour needs to do to reconnect, although of course that would be going against the prevailing wisdom of tacking to the centre and appealing to the Daily Mail readers of Surbiton (and Woking) in order to win elections.

It's shameful that in all those years of New Labour so few council houses were built and that the gap between rich and poor widened. I know I'm biased, but surely a platform based on building more houses and public facilities would be a vote winner? We don’t have to betray any principles for that and it's a good idea - boost for construction industry, houses for people, bring house prices down by increasing supply. . . Even those with houses will have children that they can see being pricef out. And punitive taxation on wealth and second homes in particular too. Oh, for a left wing alternative. . .

'Borkmann's Point' didn't really grab me, despite Colin Dexter's praise. Maybe I've just read too much Scandinavian detective fiction recently. It's not technically set in Scandinavia, of course, it's in an unnamed northern European country which most resembles the Netherlands or Frisia, but has elements in common with anywhere from the Hanseatic League. I'll read a few more, mind.

I went on Freddie's school trip to The Lookout in Bracknell on Monday and had a whale of a time. Had so much fun looking after the kids and they really enjoyed themselves. Fred's teacher Mrs Taylor is my new hero; she seems to effortlessly control the class, keep them engaged, remains cheery and upbeat and does so much. The organisation was really impressive, and today I've been into Fred's class for an open day; each pupil has a book full of their work and pictures showing everything they've done; the effort involved must be huge. Well done to teachers and teaching assistants everywhere.

Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms: The History of Half-forgotten Europe and Erich Kästner, Emil & The Detectives

Two very enjoyable books that were rattled through; although the 800 pages of Vanished Kingdoms took a fair few sessions on the exercise bike compared to Emil & The Detectives, which I devoured in a spare hour while Helen was out tap-dancing. I'm full of admiration for the breadth and confidence of Norman Davies after his Histories of Europe and Poland, although his idiosyncratic history of the British Isles, with his thesis that there really is a common 'British' identity rather than English, Scottish, etc didn't ring true. He's very good at placing contemporary Europe in context, and pointing out that the current configuration is far from immutable; Belgium, Italy, Spain or the UK could all split up in the near future. The referendum on Scottish independence has just been agreed so is in the headlines, so it was a very timely read. Lots of commentators are talking about the break-up of the UK and seemingly unaware, as Davies points out, that the breakup of the UK has already begun when the Irish Free State was set up - we're already on the path to the UK dissolving.

'Emil & The Detectives' was a great yarn, I think I nearly cheered out loud when Emil foiled the thief. What a great read for an 8-11 year old, I'll be recommending it! 

Helen had a day out at the spa on Saturday so I took F&L into town. Hamley's in the morning, where Libby did her best to destroy the Lego statues and then the British Museum in the pm, which they loved. Not for the exhibits, which didn't register, but for the opportunity to run around an enclosed space. It's Book Week at Freddie's school this week, and on Thursday he is to go dressed as his favourite character from a book - he's chosen Asterix, which obviously makes me happy, bless 'im. Not sure school will allow him to take his sword in though

Catherine Wendy Bracewell, Uskoks of Senj and and Andrea Camilleri, The Terracotta Dog

'Uskoks of Senj'  was hard-going. I didn't give it the attention it deserved, but the shifting alliances between the Habsburgs, Venice and the Ottomans and the crazy and lawless frontier they created should have made for a really interesting book, but it just didn’t grab me.

I'm running the Windsor Half Marathon on Sunday, which will be the first big test for my knee. Hopefully I'll be faster than last year and can break 2h10.

'The Terracotta Dog' was much easier to read, an Inspector Montalbano novel which is flavour of the month at the moment as BBC4 are showing it. Our usual Scandi-appreciation society of the Hansom-Lugaros and the Falcone-Jenningses has migrated south for the autumn to wonderful Sicily. It looks so achingly beautiful, we've started having vague conversations about a big holiday there and hiring a villa. . .

I managed the Windsor half in under 2 hours, which made me so happy given that I was 2h20 last year and aiming for 2h10. First half-marathon under 2 hours though! Fantastic! Carter's Steam Fair was on Englefield Green so I went there afterwards to meet all the Sawyers. I was already dehydrated and exhausted from the run, and then scoffed Vimto, popcorn and nougat and then went straight on to the Octopus with Ella. I felt so sick afterwards, what an idiot