Dorothy L Sayers, The Nine Tailors

 As is often the case with Detective Fiction, I made no attempt to follow the convoluted cluing and puzzling, and just went along for the journey. It was all ok and good fun, but the ending absolutely blew me away. It was so good. A fantastic way to end, which I hadn't seen at all and yet with hindsight was so obvious. I absolutely kicked myself. Masterful misdirection. Read most of this in Harmondsworth, as I went over to look after Mum while Dad was on a course learning how to look after people with Dementia. Luckily it was a nice sunny day so we could go for a walk in the village, but most of the time Mum was just sat in the conservatory listening to the radio. She seems happy and she ate a little bit at least, so I was happy i had coped. How Dad does it 24/7 I've no idea. mum doesn't recognise people anymore and can't communicate or understand much. It's just horrible.

Kim Taplin, The English Path

 Think this was an impulse purchase from somewhere, maybe based on the beautiful cover, a detail from 'Heading Home from Modbury', a painting by Henrietta Hoyer Millar. There were lots of illustration, another of which 'the Bridle Path, Cookham' by Stanley Spencer I had never seen before. It was really lovely and I've been looking at prints of it already. some of the other illustrations were a bit cheesy, lots of Victorian sentimentality with golden-haired children in smocks hanging around stiles. The book itself was written in the 70s, and not what I was expecting. Maybe I've become used to the modern trend for writing about one's own experiences in nature where you go on a journey with the author, but this was one step removed - lots of references to poems, literature and paintings about footpaths and country lanes. I never really got immersed into it as a result, I'm used to being mollycoddled and guided into these things apparently!

M.L. Wang, Blood Over Bright Haven

Bought a copy of this for Ella's birthday present, and then bought another copy to read for myself. It was very Ursula K. le Guin, about a magical world that draws lots of parallels to our own world with its treatment of minorities and a strict hierarchy controlling society and secret information. I did enjoy it, and it will hopefully give me something to talk to Ella about. It's getting chilly and dark now, I don't like this time of year at all. I'm trying to get out running as I'm way behind on running and outdoor cycling this year, but it's to cold to cycle. In the week i don't want to go running, so have to make the most of it at weekends.

Mark Cooper-Jones & Jay Foreman, This Way Up: When Maps Go Wrong and Why It Matters

 Very irreverent, more of a typed up humorous podcast than a book, and I'm hoping Freddie might read and enjoy it. Maybe not the time to ask him as he is going back to mocks now and is revising all the time, so will keep it for when he has a little more time. It would make a great birthday present if i thought he would read it voluntarily. As I suspect not, it would be a rubbish present! Odgy's funeral was last week, glad I went but felt so awkward as I didn't know his family at all and had only seen him once in the last 33 years. His poor wife and children

E.F. Benson, Mapp and Lucia

 Comfort reading over half-term. Never really managed to get away from real life completely and immerse myself in it, but snatched some reads here and there. I had last week off work as it was half-term, but the kids didn't want to go anywhere. Helen got a bit pissed off as I ended up going off by myself for long walks with the dog while the kids stayed on the screens. Managed to rebalance it a bit by the end of the week. they went back today (and I'm back at work) so everyone was a little grumpy this morning.

Robert Tombs, The English And Their History

 I'm sure I must have read this before! I was incredibly impressed with the author's ambition, breadth of knowledge and ability to make sense of such a complex subject, but I  raised a quizzical eyebrow or two as the tale got closer to contemporary times. At first I thought he was just being overly even-handed or trying to be objective as he put in a good word for Cecil Rhodes or the like, but then when he started to talk about privatisation as a great success, and the academisation of schools improving education, I thought 'hang on a minute'. Turns out he's a bit of a Tory and a regular writer for the Spectator and the Torygraph. Not sure what it means that I'm right with him up until the 18th Century and then our view of english history diverges. He's more likely to be right than me I guess

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.

Graham Greene, Travels with My Aunt

 Rather enjoyed that, the tale of a dull retired bank manager who gets sucked into a jet-setting life of intrigue by his eccentric aunt. At first I assumed it was set either in the '30s or '50s and couldn’t quite place it, and was shocked when there was a reference to Kwame Nkrumah (and then later the Beatles), and realised that it was written in 1969. At the weekend i fell over while walking Grogu on St Martha's Hill and really damaged my knee. at first i thought it was really serious as I couldn't move, but with pain i managed to hobble back to the car. Once the adrenalin wore off it was really painful and i couldn't put any weight on it at all. I'm walking round with a stick now but it does seem to be improving. Doesn't help that I have a dental appointment today and work is very stressful currently.

David C. Hanrahan, Colonel Blood: The Man who stole the Crown Jewels

 A short history of a seventeenth-century character, crying out for a dramatisation. All I really knew about him was that he unsuccessfully tried to steal the crown jewels, and was then pardoned by Charles II under mysterious circumstances. Those circumstances are still opaque, and it's not clear whether Blood was an informer, a spy or his motivations. The author seems convinced of his genuine commitment to non-conformism and sees him as more of a rebel than a thief, but undoubtedly a rogue and thrill seeker. Nice to read a history of the seventeenth century that isn't dense with battles and parliamentary intrigue.

Philip Pullman, The Book of Dust Volume II: The Secret Commonwealth

 Now I'm ready for Part III in a few weeks, two days booked off to read it. I enjoyed this more on the second read, maybe because the first was fresh in my head so I understood the character of Malcolm more, and also was able to follow the various characters as they all headed east across Europe and Asia Minor. Probably also helped that a society ruled by an authoritarian theocracy that opposes science, reason and will not put up with any dissent is not quite so other-worldly given the way out own civilisation is going. On the bright side, William seems to have settled into secondary school really well, already making new friends and going out with them in the evenings and weekends. So different from Freddie!

David McKie, Great British Bus Journeys: Travels Through Unfamous Places

 Very similar to Nige Tassell, but 20 years old now and in a world where you can't relay on the internet for all your information. So you have to wait for buses not knowing if they will come, etc. Quite sweet, full of quirky stories and a nice easy comfort read. I'm struggling at work at the moment, both with my own motivation and the changing world - AI and internal organisational changes. I feel like I have been taken out of a comfy familiar town where I knew all the back streets and short cuts and dumped into a new city which is completely unfamiliar to me. I'm doubting my own value to the company and also aware that I don't want to learn new things. I'm only 51, but it's like my heart is set on leaving and doing something completely different now the mortgage is paid off and we are relatively financially secure. Every day I watch my pension and ISA going up and the motivation to work isn't there when I could be doing something I love like working in a school. Of course the grass is always greener, and it would mean an 80% drop in salary. So for now I'm sticking it out, but some days I just don't want to be at work.