Doris Lessing, The Golden Notebook, George Orwell, Collected Essays, Bernard Cornwell, Enemy of God, Ralph Ellison, The Invisible Man, Matthew Kneale, Rome: A History in Seven Sackings, Stuart Turton, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Simon Winchester, The Men Who United The States

That was a good workout. After The Golden Notebook and The Invisible Man, I couldn’t face another 'essential novel' so skipped one.  I'm not sure why 'The Golden Notebook' is considered an eseential novel, but that's down to my ignorance. The subject matter - feminism, left wing politics and decolonisation seen through the eyes of an englishwoman doesn;t fit so well with the general thrust of the very American list I have. I wonder if they had one rogue patriotic English contributor who insisted Mrs Dalloway, The Golden Notebook, Under The Net and White Teeth simply MUST be included on any serious list. Orwell was still fresh and relevant, I should reread Homage to Catalonia, which i remember throughly disillusioning me about anarchism and the glorious cause as a teenager. I enjoyed The Invisible Man, and it was good to see another view of the darker side of the American experience - the ubiquitous racism and how it informs the attitudes and actions of all. Stuart Turton's book has just won the Costa Prize, and there seems to be a competition amone reviewers for who can come up with the best cocktail of influences - Agatha Christie meets Christopher Nolan's Memento by way of the Instance of The Fingerpost or Gosford Park time travelling locked room murder mystery Groundhog Day. Whatever, it was a great read, perfect for Book Club.