Oliver Moody, Baltic: The Future of Europe

 A geopolitical study of the nations that border the Baltic, overshadowed throughout by the threat to them all of invasion from Russia and how they are preparing for that eventuality. Hard to think of a more serious read. Reinforced my belief in NATO as an absolutely necessary alliance to hold the west together and the need for free nations to stand united. Amongst it all, one insight I took away was that as long as the war in Ukraine continues, the chance of Russia extending the conflict to the Baltic is unlikely, but if a ceasefire is reached and Russia has chance to regroup, it could be on. Also, interesting to hear that the military power of Poland and Finland (for example) would appear stronger and more battle-ready than the UK, France or Germany, let alone smaller western states

Colm Toibin, Brooklyn

 Not been on my radar before, but the sequel is out now and getting good reviews, so thought I should give it a go, and it was lovely. A simple story of a young Irish émigré to New York and her dilemma between duty and desire. So well written, straight onto Helen's tsundoku pile

John Elledge, A History of the World in 47 Borders

 A pop-Geography book written in a very jokey, irreverent way, almost like a podcast. Lots of funny asides and diversions. Not sure I learnt anything new, but a nice enjoyable read at a time when I needed that as work has been so stressful the past few weeks. I'm having an inner debate about whether to keep books like these. I've always kept non-fiction, but I know I'm never going to read this again so why keep it? A decision may need to be made as my shelves are double-stacked. . . 

Graham Swift, Waterland

 Took me a while to get into it as it seemed disjointed, hoping around the centuries, but always set in a soggy, oppressive fenland that is evocatively described. It soon all came together and although the East Anglia Tourist Board probably don't want to use it as it's got murder, incest and muddy ditches, it made me want to go out to the fens. Parts of it were read in Bristol and Bath as Freddie was looking around the universities there. He seems to like both, but it's difficult to tell with Fred as he doesn't seem to get enthusiastic about anything or make any decision. Maybe that's just teenage boys for you.

Jack Cornish, The Lost Paths

 Left it a little late to write this after reading, and it didn't make much of an impression anyway. It's a book by a keen walker, but I couldn't really workout how it was structured, and the themes seemed odd. More a series of anecdotes and stories that weren't really linked and only loosely connected to paths. Fully behind any extolation (is that a word?) of footpaths, but a bit meh. 

John Fowles, The Magus

That was a bit of a mindbender. 700 pages of psychological experimentation, not knowing what was real and what wasn’t - I stuck with it and really enjoyed it, although at times was totally lost, just like the main character. It's set mostly on a greek island after the waw and revolves around a young English teacher, who is looking for an escape from a failed relationship and takes a job on the island. there he meets a strange character who proceeds to draw him in to a web of fantasy and lies where no-one is what they seem. the scale of this illusion and the reasons for them haunt the main character as he struggles to distinguish between reality and the facade. It turns out that very little he though of as true was real and everyone he know has been part of the simulation in some way. a novel written by a young man alone on an island with too much time on his hands, but still great.

Fred had  his first A level exam this week, in Maths. He's very taciturn, so it's difficult to understand how worried or concerned he feels, but he seems to be coping. Nest week we are off to look at Bristol and Bath university. . .