My late summer 2019
reading. I wasn't expecting much from Middlesex, but I loved it. I was
vaguely aware it was something to do with an androgynous person, but didn't
realise it was an epic encompassing the
American immigrant experience, the clash of cultures and lifestyles. 'Last of
the Celts' was a tour round those last remaining outposts of celticness on the
north-western fringes of Europe, and a lament for a dying but romanticised
world. 'League of Spies' was the 4th in the series, and was read on holiday in
Brittany and Normandy, as were the next few books. It was a lovely holiday,
William in particular was charming and is coming into his own as a person. He
loved playing with the dog at the farm, and I even had to run off after them in
my slippers when they disappeared into the bocage up to some mischief of
others. We also wrote sawyer lyrics to his favourites song, 'My favourite
things' from The Sound of Music:
Daddy likes crosswords and Harry Kane hat tricks
Reading ‘bout castles, and Tintin and Asterix
Sleeping in tents and correcting spelling
These are a few of his favourite things
National Trust Tea Rooms and Tap Dancing classes
Cake decorating and free entrance passes
Skiving off boot camp and hoarding savings
These are a few of mum’s favourite things
Swimming and cycling and brick-wall defending
Puzzles and board games that are never-ending
Clash of Clans, parsnips and lots of pudding
These are a few of Fred’s favourite things
Libby likes milkshakes and singing out loudly
Doing gymnastics and dancing quite proudly
Swimming and make-up and a class for teaching
These are a few of her favourite things
Doing gymnastics and cuddling my mummy
Going to softplay with cake in my tummy
Dinosaurs, robots and going on swings
These are a few of my favourite things
When I’m told off
When I fall down
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember by favourite things, and then I don’t feel
so bad.
Zweig’s ‘The World of Yesterday’ was another lament for a
lost world, but poignant as it was, I’m not sure the author fully realises that
the wonderful world of tolerance and openness he remembers was nothing of the
sort for most people in Europe who were downtrodden, denied a say in government
and living in squalid conditions. Hemingway was meh, a failed romance from all
I could tell, Laurus was a Russian novel I picked up from Daunt’s, and set in
medieval times. Explored the themes of faith and human compassion. I remember
Never Again as being an epic social history, full of chapters on the floods of
1947, or Compton’s exploits at the crease. Rereading it, it’s actually far more
of the story of high politics and foreign policy at the time, so I’ve misremembered
it completely. Maybe my perspective has changed, and the social history stayed
with me as it was so novel for me when I read it. I can’t remember anything
about Their Eyes Were Watching God, I’ve just had to google it to trigger the
memory of Janie Crawford and her life in Eatonville. I should be ashamed of
myself. Second Sleep was set in a future England after some great calamity when
the world has returned to a pre-industrial civilisation where discussion of
anything technological is forbidden and the church are running things. The fragility
of civilisation can be terrifying. Pegasus Bridge was a straightforward Boy’s
Own tale of derring-do and British stiff upper-lip behaviour on the
battlefield, and Native Son was a cracking read, a rare ‘essential novel’ that I
could read for pleasure (again, I should be ashamed of myself). The story of a
black man, Bigger Thomas, a cruel, vindictive, violent man and the society that
made him that way. The biography of JRJ was very light stuff, mostly read on a
flight back from Dusseldorf, and ‘Mortal Engines’ a kids book that I’m trying
to encourage Fred to read. Fred has just started secondary school, and while he
is enjoying it, it’s been a big transition. He’s given up football and wants to
give up swimming too as he is finding it so hard after coming back from a
broken wrist and the summer break. Hopefully he’ll stick with it as it’s so
good for him to be getting regular exercise.
