Pat Barker, The Ghost Road

The Booker Prize winner in 1995. For a long time I avoided reading books just because they'd won the Booker, as I thought they'd be a bit much for me - hard work and a bit worthy. Having read some really brilliant ones though such as Wolf Hall, Shuggie Bain and Lincoln in the Bardo I've become more open to them. I couldn't get into the Ghost Road though. It's a WWI set novel dealing with some officers suffering from injuries and shellshock who have also spent time with headhunters as anthropologists and are gay. I didn't know who was who though and didn't really follow it. My loss It's the third part of a trilogy, perhaps I should have started at the beginning.

Bernie Sanders, It’s OK To Be Angry About Capitalism

Preaching to the converted, really. Very little that Bernie Sanders says that I don't wholeheartedly agree with, although it was a shock to find him quoting Yvette Cooper positively. Interesting to see the comparison to the UK, where just like the Democrats, the Labour Party has moved from being a party of the working people to being a party of career politicians working for corporate sponsors, and with an increasingly middle-class and well-off membership. Can't see that changing any time soon, but it was so refreshing to hear from a politician that always supports striking workers, is prepared to point out the massive inequality in our societies for what it is and ask why policies that are popular and beneficial to the many are not enacted and opposed by the media, the establishment and all mainstream political parties.

Mark Twain, American Drolleries: Selected Stories

A collection of short stories, most whimsical and witty, but some glossed over me. I read from cover to cover though, which is not the right approach. Have added 'Life on The Mississippi' to my list of books to read. The front room library cataloguing is completed, have moved onto the tsundoku piles in our bedroom. Nearly there now -just the garage and the kids' books to go. Went to the dentist yesterday for a root canal. The pain today has been lessened by the news that BUPA are going to cover some of the costs.

Ryan Gingeras, The Last Days of the Ottoman Empire

Covered what happened in the lands of the Ottoman empire 1918-1922, including the civil wars, population exchanges, clashes between Greeks, Armenians, Kurds, Arabs, Turks and probably most importantly the rise of Turkish (as opposed to Ottoman) Nationalism. Another awful story full of regret for a lost, more civilised, pre-war age (a myth, too, of course). I need to go to the dentist today for a root canal, hopefully the last trip for a while but blimey it's bringing me down.

William Boyd, The Romantic

 A biographical novel spanning the 19th century and very enjoyable. I kept sneaking off to read a bit more, and given  some of the slogs through books I've had recently it was good to have a book that gave me such pleasure. The main character is ruled by his heart and who makes very rash decisions true to his nature but that lead to adventure, regret and complications. Absolutely lovely though, it's going into Helen's pile. In my quest to catalogue all the books in the house, the living room is nearly finished, just European History to go. I'll try and get that done this weekend and then move on to other rooms - next up, our bedroom. . . 

Mike Parker, All the Wide Border: Wales, England and The Places Between

I was always going to enjoy this.  A middle-aged man tramping along Offa's Dyke full of little bits of history, quirks and lamentations for a lost, simpler life. Split into three parts corresponding to the three river valleys that make up the border - the Severn, The Dee and the Wye. Made me want to get out there and see these places for myself, the only one I'm really familiar with is the southern section and even then I'm limited to the market towns - Hay, Chepstow, etc. He is a little rude about Hay, which he obviously loves but has mixed feelings given it's international renown and Disneyfied/theme park version of a small border town. I'll be there myself quite soon if my birthday cycling quest goes according to plan

Umberto Eco, The Prague Cemetery

 Very complex and convoluted, but I decided to just go with the flow and keep with it, even though I wasn't sure who was who and what they were doing. Eco acknowledges this in the endpiece and humbly says he often has the same problem. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable, he writes so well and the story of an anti-semite conspiracy theorist inserting himself into and shaping major events and scandals in the 19th century was very well done, and chilling given the propensity of people even today to believe such dangerous and pernicious attacks and slurs.