Noah Hawley, Anthem

 'A Great American Novel for these tumultuous times' is the quote on the front, and it lives up to that. An epic set in a crumbling world, divided between the supporters of the truth party and the supporters of the liars party (both think the others are the liars). mass suicides, roaming militias, unconstrained billionaires, natural disasters and through it all a small group of people trying to navigate through and make sense of the new reality. I really enjoyed it, but blimey it was bleak. Libby and I have finished watching 'Superstore' a so-so ensemble sitcom which meant we spent some time together at least - we need to find something new to do together - I suspect something similar as our interests sadly don't overlap much beyond that and cubs. I'm so pleased we have cubs though, time we spend together each week - she will make a wonderful leader one day

Alan Palmer, Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis Joseph

 'Quirkily he was 'Francis Joseph' throughout rather than 'Franz Josef', but I guess that might be the best, most neutral, name  for the ruler of a multilingual empire. It gave me a greater appreciation of the dutiful but limited emperor, and provokes the thought of how long the empire would have stayed together without him - would it have disintegrated after 1848 and reshaped Europe completely before the golden period for the Habsburgs? What would this have meant for Italian and German unification? It was my birthday two days ago and I ran to Mum and Dads and back (well not quite back, I got as far as The Kingfisher in Chertsey and then Dad gave me a lift home). Gave me time to think and get out which was needed, and was nice to see Harmondsworth again. I stopped at Gable Stores for a Yorkie and a Tizer too. Mum's dementia is not improving and she doesn't know what is going on most of the time and is completely reliant on Dad, but she seems happy at least pottering about. she enjoys sweeping and making patterns with stones and flowers. Freddie is off in Dorset on his Silver DoE Expedition at the moment, and I miss him very much. The weather hasn't been good, but hopefully he is ok. He'll be back tomorrow

Zoe Gilbert, Mischief Acts

 I read a previous book by Zoe Gilbert, Folk, but it didn't really register. This book had very good reviews though, and the idea of a retelling of the myths of Herne the Hunter throughout the ages was irresistible. Similar to Cuddy, a series of poems and short stories though time held together by a supernatural thread, in this case the mischievous woodland spirit of Herne the Hunter. reminded me very much of Jez Butterworth's 'Jerusalem' too, with the encroachment of society both physically and morally on the free-spirited, free-ranging creatures of the woodlands and their resistance to that encroachment. Helen and I went to see ABBA Voyage last night, a technological marvel in which a youthful ABBA genuinely appear to be on stage in front of you. It was quite a sight and Helen loved it, but I'm not the biggest ABBA fan. I was hoping she'd take a friend! She's not keen to go to see Lloyd Cole in October though, but we compromise 'cause we love each other

Benjamin Myers, Cuddy, Ben Robinson, England's Villages: an Extraordinary Journey Through Time

 'wo books I really enjoyed, although this was probably helped by them being my holiday reading on a very nice break in the Peak District. We stayed in an Airbnb in Hollinsclough, the wing of the old Vicarage which was very cosy and higgledy-piggledy it looked out on Chrome Hill and we were able to walk around the valley from the doorstep, and just had a lovely time. Cuddy is the story of the bones of Saint Cuthbert, and his influence throughout time on a number of people in Durham. In effect a series of linked short stories with a supernatural element. Nice to get immersed in reading again

Geert Mak, In Europe: Travels Through The Twentieth Century

 'That got me back into reading, an incredible interesting and well-written book by a clever, thoughtful writer. At the turn of the century Mak set off to explore Europe, exploring the events of the twentieth century broadly chronologically if he went. A reminder of the horrors Europe has faced, but delivered compassionately and articulately. i really enjoyed Mak's travels around America too, so am now looking for other things in translation by him. we are off to the Peak District tomorrow for a holiday, I really need it, but lots of work to do first

Samuel Fisher, Wivenhoe

 Set in an alternative England which has suffered an ecological catastrophe and is being abandoned by the population. Fascinating to read as those remaining in a small Essex town by the sea are not panicking, they have adjusted to life under several feet of snow and are going about life in an orderly way trying to make sense of the surroundings and stick to established social norms - very difficult when there has been a murder. Nice to enjoy a book again. The clocks have just come back and Spring may be here, although the weather has been rotten. I need to get out running more but lack the motivation in the mornings. I've started doing yoga which helps me with my flexibility at least. THFC sacked Conte yesterday and it looks as if the NEC will ban Corbyn standing as a Labour candidate

Malcolm Gaskill, Between Two Worlds: How The English Became Americans

 A social and cultural history of Britain's American colonies in the 17th Century. Very in-depth and copious use of contemporary records, and very good at tying in events to what was happening back home with the civil way and religious conflicts. Still I struggled to concentrate and slogged through it. Work is very busy and stressful as it is the financial year end, but hey. William has been off on his first residential with the school this week and arrives back this afternoon. He's been excited for ages, but got a little worries leading up to it. Hopefully he will have enjoyed it and it will help make him more independent. At home he still has help getting dressed and eating his tea. He can do both, but without chivvying and cajoling it doesn't get done. He's coming to Cubjam in May so needs to get used to looking after himself!