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.