Ben Aaronovitch, Moon over Soho, Peter Ackroyd, Foundation: The History of England Volume One, Andrea Camilleri, The Shape of Water

The tent has arrived, the house is starting to take shape and the Christmas tree is now up. So happy in the new house, although until the books are recategorised I won't be able to sleep properly. All my shelves have been requesitioned for the kids' playroom, so there's going to need to be a trip to IKEA soon to get some more book storage.

Simon Sebag Montefiore, Jerusalem: The Biography, Peter Dennis, Pieter Plunker The Flying Tailor, Benerson Little, Pirate Hunting: The Fight Against Pirates, Privateers, and Sea Raiders from Antiquity to the Present, AS Byatt, Ragnarok, New Scientist, Does Anything Eat Wasps?: And 101 Other Questions, JRR Tolkein, The Hobbit, David Reynolds, America: Empire of Liberty, a New History

It's been a while, but we've been busy moving into the new place and although I've managed to find time for reading, I've not found time for writing about reading. We moved in five days ago, and everything is still in boxes. I had yesterday off to unpack, and by 14:00 had managed to unpack about half of the kitchen stuff; I'm going to be busy for a while yet.

I've just received a 5 man tent as a gift for 15 years' loyal service at CWW, and am very tempted to put it up in the Living Room before Helen gets home. The kids would love it, but she would kick my arse for not getting on with the unpacking. She sent a text this morning asking 'Where are the nappies?????'  They're in the bottom of a box, under a dozen other boxes, somewhere in the garage. Probably. Or maybe in the play room. . . .

Owen Jones, Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class and Håkan Nesser, Borkmann's Point

The horrible pejorative title put me off reading 'Chavs' for a while, but it was a fantastic polemic about the demonisation of the working class from the '80s onwards, and how those who have suffered most are being blamed for society's problems. Scornful of both Conservatives and New Labour for not addressing the needs of those at the bottom. Almost a rallying-call too for what Labour needs to do to reconnect, although of course that would be going against the prevailing wisdom of tacking to the centre and appealing to the Daily Mail readers of Surbiton (and Woking) in order to win elections.

It's shameful that in all those years of New Labour so few council houses were built and that the gap between rich and poor widened. I know I'm biased, but surely a platform based on building more houses and public facilities would be a vote winner? We don’t have to betray any principles for that and it's a good idea - boost for construction industry, houses for people, bring house prices down by increasing supply. . . Even those with houses will have children that they can see being pricef out. And punitive taxation on wealth and second homes in particular too. Oh, for a left wing alternative. . .

'Borkmann's Point' didn't really grab me, despite Colin Dexter's praise. Maybe I've just read too much Scandinavian detective fiction recently. It's not technically set in Scandinavia, of course, it's in an unnamed northern European country which most resembles the Netherlands or Frisia, but has elements in common with anywhere from the Hanseatic League. I'll read a few more, mind.

I went on Freddie's school trip to The Lookout in Bracknell on Monday and had a whale of a time. Had so much fun looking after the kids and they really enjoyed themselves. Fred's teacher Mrs Taylor is my new hero; she seems to effortlessly control the class, keep them engaged, remains cheery and upbeat and does so much. The organisation was really impressive, and today I've been into Fred's class for an open day; each pupil has a book full of their work and pictures showing everything they've done; the effort involved must be huge. Well done to teachers and teaching assistants everywhere.

Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms: The History of Half-forgotten Europe and Erich Kästner, Emil & The Detectives

Two very enjoyable books that were rattled through; although the 800 pages of Vanished Kingdoms took a fair few sessions on the exercise bike compared to Emil & The Detectives, which I devoured in a spare hour while Helen was out tap-dancing. I'm full of admiration for the breadth and confidence of Norman Davies after his Histories of Europe and Poland, although his idiosyncratic history of the British Isles, with his thesis that there really is a common 'British' identity rather than English, Scottish, etc didn't ring true. He's very good at placing contemporary Europe in context, and pointing out that the current configuration is far from immutable; Belgium, Italy, Spain or the UK could all split up in the near future. The referendum on Scottish independence has just been agreed so is in the headlines, so it was a very timely read. Lots of commentators are talking about the break-up of the UK and seemingly unaware, as Davies points out, that the breakup of the UK has already begun when the Irish Free State was set up - we're already on the path to the UK dissolving.

'Emil & The Detectives' was a great yarn, I think I nearly cheered out loud when Emil foiled the thief. What a great read for an 8-11 year old, I'll be recommending it! 

Helen had a day out at the spa on Saturday so I took F&L into town. Hamley's in the morning, where Libby did her best to destroy the Lego statues and then the British Museum in the pm, which they loved. Not for the exhibits, which didn't register, but for the opportunity to run around an enclosed space. It's Book Week at Freddie's school this week, and on Thursday he is to go dressed as his favourite character from a book - he's chosen Asterix, which obviously makes me happy, bless 'im. Not sure school will allow him to take his sword in though

Catherine Wendy Bracewell, Uskoks of Senj and and Andrea Camilleri, The Terracotta Dog

'Uskoks of Senj'  was hard-going. I didn't give it the attention it deserved, but the shifting alliances between the Habsburgs, Venice and the Ottomans and the crazy and lawless frontier they created should have made for a really interesting book, but it just didn’t grab me.

I'm running the Windsor Half Marathon on Sunday, which will be the first big test for my knee. Hopefully I'll be faster than last year and can break 2h10.

'The Terracotta Dog' was much easier to read, an Inspector Montalbano novel which is flavour of the month at the moment as BBC4 are showing it. Our usual Scandi-appreciation society of the Hansom-Lugaros and the Falcone-Jenningses has migrated south for the autumn to wonderful Sicily. It looks so achingly beautiful, we've started having vague conversations about a big holiday there and hiring a villa. . .

I managed the Windsor half in under 2 hours, which made me so happy given that I was 2h20 last year and aiming for 2h10. First half-marathon under 2 hours though! Fantastic! Carter's Steam Fair was on Englefield Green so I went there afterwards to meet all the Sawyers. I was already dehydrated and exhausted from the run, and then scoffed Vimto, popcorn and nougat and then went straight on to the Octopus with Ella. I felt so sick afterwards, what an idiot

Ben Aaronovitch, Rivers of London

Very similar to Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, as many reviews point out. Set in a supernatural London and written by a chap who works in the Covent Garden Waterstone's, as the very proud lady pointed out to me when I bought it. I now feel duty-bound to go back there to but the sequel. As luck would have it, it's right near to the fantastic Gelateria on New Row so I can have a decent ice cream and coffee too.

Maybe this weekend I can head up there as I need some new shoes and jeans. My current pair have been destroyed through all the rough and tumbles. Freddie caught me out last night. 'Daddy, please can we lie on our backs and look at the stars?'

'But we're inside , Fred'

'I know, it's just pretend.'

So I lie on my back and as I start to pretend Ursa Minor is on the ceiling, Freddie and his auxilary Libby dive bomb me and Freddie performs his favourite trick of popping on my face.

Alan Huffman & Michael Rejebian, We're with Nobody: Two Insiders Reveal the Dark Side of American Politics

Rather disappointing; all anyone wants from these guys, who are professional dirt diggers, is to dish the salacious gossip about public figures. This is no expose though, it's a romanticised version of their dull lives trawling through public records looking for inconsistencies and controversies. They're on the side of the angels  (the Democratic Party), and what they're doing is necessary in American politics where the stakes and the corruption levels are so high. Our political controversies always seem so quaint by comparison. No billion dollar wildlife refuge destroying town polluting scams here; just MPs claiming for moat cleaning and duck islands.

I read this as the authors appeared on the magnificent 'Daily Show', and that's where they were at their best; hinting about who they know things about and giving their opinions on public figures. They'd be great to go for a drink with, but the book is so tame.