Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall, Fraz Kafka, Metamorphosis, Martyn Rady, The Habsburg Empire: A Very Short Introduction

I think that's the third time reading Wolf Hall, and I'm still spotting new things, Little throwaway lines or comments that you realise with hindsight will have massive repercussions later on - the appearance of Mark Smeaton, of Jane Seymour, Cromwell's profound thoughts about what he will have to do or forego to survive and navigate his way through court politics, and the quiet, assured and competent way he goes about avenging Wolsey. Just about to start Bring Up The Bodies so I am ready for the release of the third book, The Mirror and The Light, in March. I've booked the day off work to read it. 'Metamorphosis' was darkly comic and more of a satire of bourgeois mitteleuropean morality than I had realised. Apparently the biggest issue about having a son turn into a cockroach is what the lodgers and neighbours will think. 'The Habsburg Empire' was perfect for me. Facts and quirks that could be read in an hour or so and provide the most superficial understanding of a subject. It was part of the Oxford 'Very Short Introduction' series, and I think this could well become a rich seam of reading material. Very close to finishing the '100 essential novels', although the thumping 1000+ pages of 2666 and Anna Karenina are intimidating me from the bedside chest of drawers.