'A non-fiction essay by Margaret Atwood, written in response to the financial crisis of 2007. a really easy, engaging and entertaining read about the concept of reciprocity, co-operation, obligations and their effects. Lots of moral elements to it for Atwood, tying debt with sin and redemption and good works
Thursday, 31 March 2022
Wednesday, 30 March 2022
A.K. Blakemore, The Manningtree Witches
A debut novel which received some very good reviews, and has a wonderful use of language, as perhaps you would expect from a poet. Set in the civil way in the Essex of Matthew Hopkins and witch-finding. Very interesting on how society allows and encourages the mistreatment and intolerance of independent females who by their very existence seem to threaten the existing (and tenuous due to the civil war) social structures.
Monday, 28 March 2022
James Rebanks, English Pastoral: An Inheritance
'Two sides to this, firstly, and very uncharitable, it's nature-indulgence for townies like me who yearn to be horny-handed sons of the soil and escape to a simpler time and place working four ourselves and seeing the fruits of our labours. An entirely impractical dream, and it's clear from all these books and programmes that it is only sustainable for the authors or presenters as they have an outside or independent income. Occasionally there are allusions to this in the book and the enchanted mirror image of an independent traditional farmer relying only on his own hard work on the farm is tarnished. On the other hand, a very important critique of the way we have over-developed, over-farmed and destroyed the landscape and environment to industrialise unsustainable farming - in the short-term more people can be fed and cheaper, but in the long run we risk destroying the fertility and productivity of the landscape.
Freddie is back from his expedition - he survived, but he found it really tough and is truly exhausted. He's not had blisters before, and he was so nervous on this hike he couldn't eat properly, bless him. But he made it through, and it was a higher level than he is doing and he was with the older explorers. He will learn a lot from it, I just hope it doesn't put him off. He managed to put the trangia together and safely cook an evening meal, and put the tent up and sleep out in freezing temperatures, I know i couldn't have done that at his age.
On Saturday I got roped into helping out at William's Beaver Science Day. i was in charge of density, acids and alkalines and didn't have a clue at first. By the 9th group though I had got into my showman's patter and was able to bullshit with the best of them about what was happening. Is that all science is?
Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Matthew Kneale, Pilgrims
More light reading, the tale of a chaotic bunch of medieval pilgrims making their way to Rome for a wide variety of reasons, from the pious to the proud to the opportunistic. Kept a smile on my face throughout and was glad of a happy ending. Freddie is off on an overnight hike with the Explorers this weekend with a spot of wild camping, so we are busy preparing for that. Helen, Freddie (and me if I'm honest) are a little worried with how he is going to cope sleeping out, fending for himself and so on, but let's see. It will be a challenge but hopefully he will enjoy the experience
Friday, 18 March 2022
Penelope Corfield, The Georgians: The Deeds and Misdeeds of 18th Century Britain
I'm naturally biased about a book by one of my own tutors, but it was so wide-ranging, erudite and readable, it's a shame she hasn't written more. She wears her knowledge and learning so lightly and it is full of interesting little snippets coming right up to the present day about the influence of Georgians on our current customs and way of life. Here at home, spring has arrived, I'm still avoiding the doomscrolling of the newsfeeds and Twitter and writing this on a Friday afternoon when I have had quite enough of work and just want to log off. I still have to get through Cubs though, and I'm on my own tonight. . .
Monday, 14 March 2022
Francis Spufford, Light Perpetual
A very lovely novel based on the conceit that 5 children's lives that were extinguished when a V2 rocket landed on Woolworths in the fictional Bexford in SE London had continued - the lives the 5 led, how they would have developed and suffered tragedy and impacted on others. I really enjoyed it and found myself caring for the characters. This weekend I took Libby up to the British Museum for a sleepover, the first time we have been able to go in over 2 years due to Covid-19. We had a lovely time, although Libby was a bit bored being with her dull dad until her friend Martha showed up. It was good to spend some time with her though, the teenage years will be hitting soon and she might not be so happy to spend time with me then
Tuesday, 8 March 2022
Bart Van Loo, The Burgundians: A Vanished Empire- A History of 1111 Years and one day
A great big doorstop and a fun read by an irreverent historian, will have to look out for more from Bart Van Loo. The list of characters was overwhelming though and mostly new to me, but so interesting to see a different view of medieval history. Spring appears to be here, I was 29 seconds off a PB in the Surrey Half on Sunday when I only really wanted to get round in under 2 hours, so really happy about that
Wednesday, 2 March 2022
Christopher Wilson, Hurdy Gurdy
Adrian Mole in the 14th Century - the story on one young innocent's adventures as he unwittingly spreads the Black Death around the villages and monasteries of the Midlands. Very funny and pure light relief which is all I need right now. Have stopped scrolling through Twitter and the News feeds (not even 24 hours yet, and I still read the paper) to try and calm myself down.
Tuesday, 1 March 2022
Vives/Ruppert/Mulot, The Grande Odalisque
Can't remember why I bought this, must have been recommended somewhere. A French graphic novel about three female master criminals and assassins. Very adolescent stuff, not a patch on Tintin and Asterix. The invasion of Ukraine continues but seems to have slowed. Europe seems to be uniting and Putin appears to have miscalculated, but the danger now is what will he do next. How will he escalate and will it involve god forbid nuclear weapons?