Heather Cox Richardson, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America

HCR is the best, most accessible writer on the history of the US I can think of and is such a hard worker. Every day an email placing current events in their historical context comes out - always interesting, always balanced. HCR (and many others) are a lot more optimistic about the state of US democracy than me given the current attacks from the MAGA right, let's hope they are right to be so

Lauren Groff, The Vaster Wilds

I picked this up for its lovely cover and interesting title as much as anything, saw it had good reviews and then bought a copy which I gave to my niece Ella as a christmas present. Then I bought another copy to read for myself. It's the story of a mistreated servant girl at the doomed and starving James River colony who murders her master and escapes to the wilderness. She manages to endure with great struggles away from humanity living alone until finally she falls down a cliffside, and is left injured and having visions until finally she passes away and returns to nature. A sad story, but one that shows humanity's capacity to endure. Not all humanity of course, I wouldn't last 5 minutes in the wilderness for starters.

The National Archives, A History of Treason: The Bloody History of Britain through the stories of its most notorious traitors

 Very dry, and the result of the team at the National Archives using their resources to investigate the stories of treason. It charts how the concept of treason has changes since Edward III, when it was a physical threat or disloyalty to the king as a person to the idea of treason against a state/community that one is part of.  today is the fist day back in work after the holidays, but most people appear to be on leave still so it looks like it will be a quiet week.  Fred and Libby go back to school today and William tomorrow. Not the happiest time of year, but as it starts to get brighter we should all cheer up too!

Beth Revis, Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel

I bought this for Helen as a Valentine's present, it's the story of Han and Leia after they marry. It's just what you expect - they go off on honeymoon but are torn between duty and love as Leia negotiates with interplanetary diplomats, Han gets sucked into a gambling den and then it turns out the idyllic plant they visit has a secret imperial base that they have to destroy. Another undemanding, pleasant read, it's going to be tough to get back into things that require some work in the new year!

Pete Jordan, In the City of Bikes: The Story of Amsterdam Cyclists, Janice Hallett, The Christmas Appeal, Katherine Rundell, The Golden Mole

 My Christmas reading, and all nice easy reads. A history of bikes and cycling in Amsterdam by an American cyclophile who moved to Amsterdam and has a great love of cycling, Janice Hallett's latest is exactly what you'd expect, but a fun couple of hours turning pages and the Golden Mole was a series of short chapters about interesting animals species, all of which are endangered of course. Christmas was very quiet, lots of sitting round, eating and watching TV. Today is my first day back at work, but for only two days and it should be very quiet. We're planning on travelling up to Derby to see Helen's folks tomorrow after work. Hopefully we'll be able to get into the Peaks so Fred can scratch off a few more of his places on his Peak District Map.

Antal Szerb, The Pendragon Legend

I picked this up in the Hungarian section in Daunt Books assuming that something called 'The Pendragon Legend' had been put in the wrong place. Very glad I did because I took a look at the blurb and it was straight into my shopping bag. It's written by a Hungarian Jew born at the end of the 19th century who fell in love with England and the English. Parts of it read as a parody of Buchan, some of Wodehouse, some of Agatha Christie and some of Wilkie Collins. a really enjoyable adventure. apparently his masterpiece is more serious, so maybe not such a rollicking read, but it's on my list now.

Matthew Green, Shadowlands: A Journey Through Lost Britain

 A travelogue through abandoned places in Britain - Skara Brae, Dunwich, the villages lost to the Ministry of War during the world wars and so on. Pleasant enough and encouraged me to visit some of these places myself, but no great revelations or new knowledge. The kids have now broken up for Christmas so we have to try and keep them entertained. I have to work most of this week so it is all on Helen - I can just shut myself away and get on with work, emerging briefly for biscuits and twixes.