David Grann, The Wager: A tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

 'Lots of hype around this and it is on all the 'Best Summer Reads' lists. A grisly tale of a disastrous seafaring expedition in the 18th Century reconstructed in incredible detail and dramatised. Would probably be best read in a lighthouse or a cabin by the sea with the waves crashing and storms blowing rather than in a deckchair under the apple tree in the garden on a balmy July afternoon. Libby and Freddie both survived their camps this weekend, and Libby in particular really enjoyed it, which is great as she was reluctant to go for so long. I think she has the makings of a great scout, i hope she keeps it up. the fact that she is already helping out with the cubs is brilliant. While they were away, Helen and William came to Bentley Copse with me to scout the route for the hike next week when I'm taking the cubs away. William volunteered to come, which also made me very happy! A few things remain to get sorted for next week, but hopefully all will be ok. William is also really getting into playing football, we might need to look for a club for him for next year.

Willa Cather, O Pioneers!

 I read 'Death Comes for the Archbishop' a few years ago as part of the 100 Essential Reads, and it's one of the few I have positive memories of. I'd never head of Willa Cather before, and enjoyed the book, and this is more of the same - brave moral people confronting their own failings and making the desert bloom. I think I preferred 'O Pioneers' of the two. I'm just back from a trip to the NHS drop-in centre where they took a ceramic shard out of my foot that had been causing me a lot of pain since tuesday. We think it was from Libby's moneybox. I feel a lot better now it is out and in the urine sample jar the nurse gave it to me in to keep as a souvenir! Libby is off camping with the scouts later today, Fred with the explorers tomorrow, and me and William next week with the cubs.

Tom Nancollas, The Ship Asunder: A Maritime History of Britain in Seven Vessels

 A sort-of history and tour of Britain's maritime locations and artefacts, with lots of stories and asides, it'd make a great series on BBC4. Fred is now three days into work experience, and has been sick every morning with nerves, bless him. I hope underneath he's enjoying it, but he just seems a very negative, quiet teenager about it all at the moment. I remember my work experience though and how shy and self-conscious I was. I still have strong memories though, of the bits I enjoyed (being brave enough to talk to others, going out and about looking at houses and showing them to people) and the bits i hated (photocopying, filing, and sitting with the chain-smoking mortgage adviser).  Libby and I are still sleeping out in the tent each night, it must be nearly a month now, but it's so cool out there, it's far too hot in the house and it's lovely to hear the birdsong each morning.

J.G. Farrell, The Siege of Krishnapur, Paul Thompson & John Watterson, Beware of the Bull: The Enigmatic Genius of Jake Thackray, Magnus Mills, The Trouble with Sunbathers

 'A big glut of reading, it's too hot to do anything else really so most of these were read in a chair in the garden in the shade trying to cool down. The Siege of Krishnapur is very highly regarded, but I found it a bit of a slog. The book on Jake Thackray was very interesting, such a reluctant performed who met a sad end, but he had a wonderful way with words. I'll read anything by Magnus Mills, and though this one was v short it's the first in a trilogy so there' s more to follow. Fred had gone into town with Helen today for his first day of Work Experience. He's very nervous, bless him, and having only just got back from his DofE expedition on Saturday, which followed on from his first GCSE it's an active time for him. I hope he gets on well, Helen has already sent a picture of him on the commuter train looking bored out of his mind

Stuart Stevens, It Was All A Lie: How The Republican Party became Donald Trump

 Incredibly and presciently written before the Jan 6th insurrection, and a fantastic analysis of the poison of Trump, what he represents and how he has been able to dominate the Republican party, even while they know him to be a dishonest, stoopid, adulterous charlatan. Stevens makes the point that Trump is not an anomaly, he is the logical result of the way the Republican Party has been heading since Goldwater by concentrating on retaining power and the loyalty of white protestant voters. How will this end? Either the Republican party out of power for a generation while a new democrat majority coalition  of ethnic voters, the young and the educated holds sway or the attempts to retain power by any means, including gerrymandering, voter suppression and intimidation etc will lead to a Republican anti-democracy keeping power.

Max Porter, Lanny

 'More english folk tales in a modern rural setting, but just like Max Porter's 'Grief is  the thing with feathers' I really enjoyed this, and it hit like a gut punch at the end when the wee lad Lanny at the centre of the story got trapped in a storm drain. He was saved by the spirit of the forest, which sounds twee, but wow, it was really well done.

Christian Wolmar, British Rail:The Making and Breaking of our Trains

 Christian Wolmar crops up a lot as a transport journalist who really knows his stuff, and a rail enthusiast. He sets the record straight on BR, which while very far from perfect, did some things right and was certainly a lot better than the current mess we have. Labour are still committed to bringing rail back into public ownership if they win the election, but so many other pledges have been jettisoned it's hard to know what the next Labour governement will do. they are riding high in the polls at the moment due to the abject failings of the other lot, but I'm still not sure that being better managers than the Tories of the current economy is enough to get the party elected. There are millions like me that need more and want a reason to vote that goes beyond being a bit better than the conservatives at doing conservative things