Philip Pullman, The Book of Dust Volume III: The Rose Field

Took two days off work (only needed one in the end) and was at Waterstones when it opened to pick up my copy on the day of release. Not sure if was the spellbinding read I was hoping for, but it was enjoyable, and I love the world Pullman has created, and it gave me a couple of days off work to read, mooch and relax so definitely worth it. Fred has now had an offer from Nottingham to go with his one form Birmingham, so it is looking good for uni. he's busy at the moment doing his Geography fieldwork on Wheatsheaf Common, although after 4 days of it his enthusiasm is waning.

Helen Carr, Sceptred Isle: A New History of the Fourteenth Century

 Just the right level of detail for me, and managed to more or less follow all the bloodthirsty dynastic struggles from Edward I's death to Henry IV coming to the throne. It was mostly a history of the monarchs, the aristocracy and their machinations and feuds, with a little bit on the Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt. Currently I'm trying to organise a Ninja Warrior Sleepover for Horsell Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, which has grown from a nice idea for my cub pack to 77 children and 19 adults, with a huge amount of admin involved. Hopefully it'll all be worthwhile. We also have a Night Hike and Sleepover this Friday so need to get through that first. I have Thursday and Friday booked off this week (new Philip Pullman book released) so that should help, assuming I can drag myself away from the further adventures of Lyra Silvertongue.

Magnus Mills, All Quiet on the Orient Express

 At least the third time I've read this but I needed a comfort read. A lot of this was read on the Railair coach from Woking to Heathrow to meet up with old friends in The Bunk to raise a glass to Odgy. There were only three of us in the end, but it was the first time Ash had been back to the pub where he lived all those years ago. We had a good long chat, and there was so much I hadn't realised about this family life. He sent me a really nice message afterwards, it's so sad that it takes a tragic event to bring us all together, but I'm very glad it has.

Nick Hunt, Walking The Woods and The Water

 Inspired by Patrick Leigh Fermor's classic, and while not in the same class, and walking a very different Europe from the aristocratic one Paddy Fermor passed through, still enjoyable and you have to admire his determination to follow his inspiration and walk the length of the continent.

Stefan Zweig, The Last Miracle: Jewish Stories

The first few stories were familiar territory - late Habsburg Vienna, cafes, and protocol. The later stories though had very different settings; Ancient Rome, Reformation Flanders and more. What held them altogether was the emphasis on Jewishness - a part of Zweig that I often forget. once more he writes with feeling and compassion and you go along with the story. Heard yesterday that my friend Odgy has passed away. He only found out a few weeks ago he had Cancer, poor guy. I've known him since nursery, although sadly I think we've only met up once or twice in the last 30 years after seeing each other just about every day from the age of 3 to 18. He was married with a son, it's just awful. I went back to Harmondsworth last weekend to dig out some old photos of us, am very glad I found some and could send them on to him. 

Harry Mount, How England Made the English

 Not sure I learnt anything new, but a readable review of how the english have been shaped by their geography. Finished it off in a very fine Library on the University of Nottingham camps while Fred was looking around the Maths department. I sacked off a lecture that assumed basic familiarity with differentiation in single-variable calculus, so i wasn't getting through the door. i went over to the History Department instead and sat in on an excellent class on the position of Jewish women in medieval society. Later that day, in a coincidence that still leaves me dumbfounded, I sent a picture of Fred in Nottingham City Centre to Susie, as i was last there with her over 30 years ago. she pinged back to say she was in The Alchemist with her family. Fred and I googled that, and then realised we were stood outside it - and there was Susie on the doorstep. Mad. Felt a bit awkward as all her family were there for Alex's 18th birthday, and it was very posh. We politely stayed for a dink and wished Alex a very happy birthday

Kate Atkinson, Behind The Scenes At The Museum

 Kate Atkinson gets incredible reviews; on the front of this is 'Outrageously funny' from Hilary Mantel. However, I struggle to follow the complex family histories across generations that seem to characterise her books. They are full of emotional depth, but I can't keep track of who is who, how they are related and the importance of events in the past on events in the future. I might try more of her detective fiction, but these doorstop epics are too challenging for me.

Mark Mazower, On Antisemitism: A Word In History

Absolutely superb, level-headed and thoughtful study of how the meaning of antisemitism has evolved, and how we have got into the current situation where any criticism or opposition to Israel is considered antisemitic. Moreover, the author makes the point that this has even extended to non-Jewish defenders of Israel claiming to be the victims of antisemitism, and even criticism of the US or capitalism itself has been branded antisemitic (the former as they are steadfast supporters of Israel and the latter as there are similar tropes used for capitalist financiers and bankers as there are for Jewish people). A welcome contribution to an emotive topic, and only yesterday there was a horrific attack on a synagogue in Manchester with two people murdered. Right now it looks to be very definitely an antisemitic attack, with Jewish people being held accountable for the actions of Israel, simply because they are Jewish. The worry is so many bad actors are using support for Israel and playing the antisemitism card to stifle free speech or any opposition to their own agenda. What a mess.

Wu Cheng'En, Monkey King: Journey To The West

 Surprised how much came back to me from the kids TV show in the '80s - the cloud to transport him, the crown that controls Monkey by giving him a headache, the staff that can change size, Pigsy, Sandy and Tripitaka of course. The book is very playful and joyous, and not at all serious as the pilgrims get into ridiculous scrapes and adventures. Tripitaka is not the saintly monk I remember, he's scared, venal, selfish and a little tetchy at times. a very humane story with flawed characters on a quest. The Chinese idea of heaven as a bureaucracy intrigues me and always makes me think of the marvellous A Matter of Life and Death

Alice Roberts, Domination: The Fall of the Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity

Found the first sections on Roman Britain and Gaul interesting, but once the action moved east to how christianity took a grip on the elites of the empire my mind started wandering a bit. Found the idea that christianity  spread throughout the empire as a means of the elite continuing in power rather than a revolution very persuasive.