Colin Woodard, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America

Expanded on one of my favourite works of history, David Hackett Fischer's Albion's Seed. Rather than considering just the 4 British folkways in developing the nations of America, Woodard looks at the other elements  and how they developed - French and Hispanic influences, for example, and how Yankeedom mutated into 'the left coast' on the Pacific. Very readable, and a great explanation of the divides in US culture today; very pertinent with the mass, inexplicable support for Trump (well, inexplicable to the Yankees, which apparently includes me)

PG Wodehouse, The Mulliner Omnibus, Ulrich Hesse-Lichtenberger, Tor! The Story of German Football, Roald Dahl, Danny The Champion Of The World

Wodehouse's prescription was to only read 2 or 3 stories a day, which is why it took so long. He was right, what should be a delight easily becomes a slog through keen curates, game debutantes and blumptious Hollywood producers. I can remember reading a Mulliner omnibus when I was 17 or so, and at the time, mostly enjoying the few paragraphs at the beginning where Mulliner is holding court in the Angler's Rest before the story begins - the same still holds true.

I read Danny The Champion Of The World as Freddie was reading it for school and I wanted to talk to him about it. He seems to be slowly taking to reading now, having acquired a taste for Harry Potter (We, and more specifically, Helen, read it to him rather than him read it himself), and Roald Dahl. I'm not sure I've read it before, and think I can remember being put off as it seemed a very wordy book when I was in Primary School with no pictures. I can’t remember when I made the leap to being a voracious reader, but I hope it happens for Fred.

Evelyn Waugh, Put Out More Flags, Thomas Dixon, Weeping Britannia: Portrait of a Nation in Tears, Tonke Dragt, A Letter For The King, Serhii Plokhy,The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine,Mick Herron, Slow Horses, Edmund De Waal, The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance, Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend, Stephanie Barczewski, Heroic Failure and the British, Tim Marshall, Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics

Another long gap. I've voted for Corbyn, my opinion having crystallised folliwing so many attempts to smear and besmirch him by members of the PLP and their supporters. Also the fact that Owen Smith is just utterly uninspiring. Like so many before, he seems to take which ever position is popular rather than being a politician of conviction. There is much I do not agree with JC about, particularly on foreign policy, but at least he says what he believes.

Just back from another lovely holiday in Wales too (Celtic Haven in Lydstep again), and today is the kids' first day back in school. Fred and I are spending far too much time at the moment catching Pokemon on my iPhone. Gotta catch 'em all. . . .