Michael Lewis, The Fifth Risk

More preaching to the converted, a journalistic enquiry into the horrors of Trump's first presidential term, his complete lack of preparation and understanding of what government departments do. A timely reminder of the benefits of big government and the dedication and expertise of public servants. It will, of course, be completely ignored and there's a fair chance this dunce and his confederacy will be back in power this time next year.

Noah Hawley, The Good Father

A pre-Fargo novel by Noah Hawley, about a father trying to make sense of his son's apparent assassination of a Presidential candidate. Very sensitive and touching as it explores a father's love, grief and denial and a desperation to understand. The European Championships kick off tonight with  Germany playing Scotland. The kids aren't too interested at the moment, let's see if that changes. I hope they do get involved. I'll put the wallchart up anyway.

Rodric Braithwaite, Russia: Myths and Realities

A very slim volume that packs a lot in. Catherine the Great whizzed by in a few pages and before I knew it Napoleon was retreating from Moscow. Very good on explaining the rise of Putin and his own way of thinking, and also even-handed in explaining how the West managed to exacerbate the situation through the perceived threat of NATO expansion and forcing disastrous market-based reforms on Russia. 

Angela Carter, The Bloody Chamber

 Angela Carter has passed me by, but seeing a review of JS&MN as being similar to a Jane Austen novel written by Angela Carter, I thought it'd be worth giving her tales a go. Very modern, quire dark versions of well-known fairy tales, often with a feminist twist or, at least, seen from the perspective of female characters who often have a lot more agency than the passive princess traditionally has.  i had big plans this weekend to tidy up and organise, but the weekend slipped away in pottering, pirate golf, shopping and reading. There's always next weekend. . . 

John Shepherd and Keith Laybourn, Britain's First Labour Government

Rather ungrateful of me not to know, but I think Dad bought me this for my birthday as he knew I would like it. Absolutely exhaustive in detail, and interesting on how the short-lived  1924 government set the tone for Labour in the future - the decision to choose showing they could be trusted to govern over enacting radical measures, the prioritisation of the Union Jack over the red flag in foreign policy, and the need to distance themselves from communism and (to a much lesser extent) the Trade Unions to show they could be trusted. all of these still being points of disagreement in the Labour movement today. A general election has been called for a month's time, and at the moment it points to an absolute wipeout for the Tories, reducing them to a handful of seats and potentially dipping under 20% of voters. Labour on the other hand, could end up with 80% of seats on 40% of the votes thanks to our crackers electoral system. There's a good chance Labour will get a lower percentage than their electoral loss in 2017 and still have their biggest ever majority.

Robert Harris, Act of Oblivion

A fictionalised version of real events and people after the restoration of Charles II. Two of the regicides go on the run and spend decades in hiding in New England, enduring horrors and degradations just trying to survive while constantly worried about being exposed and what is happening to their families in the meantime. Very enjoyable if difficult to believe that anyone could endure years hiding in a basement.  My toothache is a little better if not fixed, and my handwriting has now completely deteriorated. I've got a task written down for today that looks lie 'V-apila' . No idea what it is.

Susanna Clarke, The Ladies of Grace Adieu, Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World: A New History of Revolutionary England

A comfort read to start, as I've just finished rewatching the magnificent Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and wanted more. Not quite enough to reread the massive JS&MN though, but that'll come sooner or later. Susanna Clarke is scheduled to have a new book out in the Autumn too. i managed to read some of this in a chair under the tree in the garden, as it's finally been sunny and warm enough. It's been a very miserable spring. 'The Blazing World' was a history of 17th century England, but mostly wars and politics. It kept me reading, and for once some of it seems to have gone in. I understand a bit more about Laud and Arminianism now anyway.