willoyd

To War with Whitaker by Hermione Ranfurly ****(*) I picked this up after it was briefly reviewed on the Slightly Foxed podcast. It initially looks unpromising - almost a vanity project - but it proved a fascinating, thoroughly engaging read. Married just before the war starts, the author refuses to accept the ruling that wives of Yeomanry officers can't travel with husbands to the Middle East (unlike regular officers), and gets herself out there 'illegally'. She's later evacuated with others, but manages to get back to Cairo again, and spends the war as secretary, PA, even ADC to a string of military and civilian leaders including C-in-C Mediterranean. She meets and works with all the main 'influencers' and characters operating in and passing through the region, all seen through the eyes of a young woman civilian who has no particular drum to beat, dealing with all the stresses and strains of war (including deaths of friends and the capture and imprisonment of her husband for 3 years) with the immediacy that only a diary can bring. It's a highly personal and vivid account that surprised me in its grip from start to finish. Looking at the library loan dates, there was a flurry of reading when this first came out in the 1990s, but mine was the first loan for 19 years. It deserves a wider readership, which will hopefully come with its republication by SF. One of my surprising gems of the year.

Mister Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo ***** I absolutely loved Girl, Woman, Other when I read it last year - my top book for 2019 - so I was really looking forward to this book group selection, although I was also a mite wary of setting my expectations too high. In the event I needn't have worried. OK it wasn't quite at the stratospheric levels of enjoyment, but it came pretty close! Barrie (Barrington) is a 74-year old married father of two and grandfather of one, married to Carmel, both originally from Antigua He's also sustained a long term affair, since a teenager, with Maurice, and now wants to settle down with him. Trouble is, he's afraid his wife will kill him (literally!) and that he will become a social outcast. The novel is about the build up to his final decision - will he, won't he? As with GWO, Evaristo covers some seriously difficult issues with a remarkably light touch, and weaves a remarkably enjoyable, even funny, story given the nature of the plot. Her language is vivid and beautifully readable, characters strong and all too human in their strengths, weaknesses and contradictions, the plot always engaging, although one or two of the group were left a bit unsatisfied with the ending (not me!). The strength of the book shows in that we spent a full 90 minutes in concentrated discussion of the book and issues raised, yet could probably have gone on for longer! I promised myself after GWO that I would look out for more of Evaristo's work, and took almost 9 months to pick up my second book of hers. It won't be that long before the third, I promise!

Finished Raw Spirit by Iain Banks - an exploration of Scottish whisky! What was written about whisky was interesting, but too much on jolly japes with friends etc on his travels, which overall left me a tad disappointed. 3/6. Moved on to To War with Whitaker by Hermione Ranfurly.

First book of the month: Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. I absolutely loved Girl, Woman, Other - my book of the year for 2019 - and this wasn't a million miles behind. Maybe not quite a favourite, but Evaristo is rapidly achieving that status as an author. 5* (out of 6).

With one thing and another, I've not posted on this thread for a good 2 months, so have some major catching up to do! Thought I'd start off with a brief review of the book I finished tonight: Working With Nature by Jeremy Purseglove *** Shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize (the new one for environmental writing), I was expecting great things. Sadly, my expectations were unfulfilled. The subtitle explains the professed aim of the book - discussing 'saving and using the world's wild places', looking at how one can use the land whilst still conserving nature. Potentially a fascinating topic, and the author's career as an engineer specialising in the environment suggests someone who really knows what they're talking about. He gets off to a solid enough start, with some interesting chapters on mitigating mass palm oil planting and the impact of intensive farming in Britain, but even here, the discussion veered towards the superficial - lots of scene setting and atmosphere, rather short on detail. Later chapters actually felt even thinner, and at times it was actually hard to find where 'working with nature' actually came in. The last section, a piece of atmospheric writing set in a rural monastery in Bulgaria, rather summed up the weaknesses in this book for me - lots of style, little substance. As a read it was OK - I was always going to finish it - but as a book on the stated topic I came away rather disappointed, and surprised this had made the shortlist. More meat please!

Finished JK Galbraith's The Affluent Society tonight, my 50th book completed this year. I read it as part of our local library's summer challenge, being a book published in the year I was born. Short, but found it very tough going, as never really understood either much of the language or (partly as a result) what he was actually arguing. 3/6. I'm another Dune fan! I don't read much science fiction, but that was brilliant - on my 6/6 list. Stasiland was an interesting read too - real insight into life in East Germany.

Finished The 100-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, read for one of my book groups. The longest titled book I can recall reading, and, even though it only took a couple of days to read, it felt like an awfully long time too. I can sort of see why it proved so popular; but,I found it ineffably dull. However, I'm rarely a fan of picaresque novels - they all too often seem to try too hard, and this fitted the norm, so I'm probably not the best person to judge. Glad to have got it out of the way. 2/6.

Finished A Month In The Country by JL Carr, a reread for one of my book groups. This has long been my favourite book, and a reread confirms why - simply but beautifully written (although intricately structured), Carr uses only 100 or so pages to say as much about the human spirit as many authors can't manage in three times the space. For me, one of the greats of English literature. 6/6.

Nothing posted here for a couple of weeks as, unusually, have been reading several books in parallel. Finished the first of them tonight, Travels with a Donkey by Robert Louis Stevenson. Beautifully written, as ever, but don't really feel I did it justice. Got a little bit bogged down in his religious discussions and history of the Camisards. Good read though, 4/6. Hopefully others soon to follow: currently reading JK Galbraith's The Affluent Society, Tim Dee's Greenery, and Andrew Jefford's The Whisky Island, as well as dipping into various books about Islay (guess where we went on hoiday!). Loved this (and really enjoyed Monte Cristo too - worth the effort!).

Completed The Outrun. Slightly different to the way I remember it. It's a memoir splt between the author's time in London (and her descent into alcoholism) and in Orkney (recovery and rehabilitation), and I remember the London section as being fairly brief. It's certainly shorter than the later period, but felt to be a bigger part of the book than last time round. It's physically around one-third of the book - and that's roughly what it felt like this time. The author's writing is straightforwardly lucid and eminently readable, her style adapting to the context. Well received my the group as a whole, with one or two caveats, but remains a favourite of mine. 6/6. Moving on the JK Galbraith's The Affluent Society, part of a reading challenge at my local library. I don't think I'll be reading this on its own though, as it's not exactly light or easy reading (economics never is for me!) so am aiming to take it a chapter at a time.

Finished Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, a reread of a much loved book for one of my book groups. As good as ever! 6/6 Moving on to another favourite for another book group: The Outrun by Amy Liptrot.

Having read The Well of Loneliness, I found your review particularly interesting. I can't disagree with any of it, other than, perhaps, the score at the end! I have to agree with Mary Renault - I found it very earnest, utterly humourless, and (although she doesn't say this?) as dull as ditchwater; I can't say I can describe myself as actually glad to have read it. Your description of it as more like an historical document rather nails it for me. I gave it 2/6.

Gold by Chris Cleave * This was a book group choice, and whilst we often read some excellent books, even ones that rapidly establish themselves as favourites, every now and again the odd clunker rears its head - the last one in this league was House by Simon Lalic, earlier this year. Well, I've just finished one of this month's choices, and, yes, it was a clunker - one of the all-time greats in fact. I say 'finished', because I didn't actually complete the book, simply finished with it - after about 25 pages. I knew I was in trouble by the top of page 2: She tried to smile back. The smile came out like a newborn foal - its legs buckled immediately. OMG, did an editor really allow that? I carried on, but after another couple of dozen pages I realised this was really going to be par for the course, so I carried out a quick exercise: open the book at a random place and see what it's like. And, yes, I was pretty much guaranteed more of the same, or worse. I've reached a point in life where I won't waste precious reading time on stuff like this, so I stopped reading properly and went into skim read mode which means that I at least know where the plot went, ready for the book group (it also confirmed my first impressions). The story is a cliche too. Overall, I think I'm being reasonably generous at rating it 1/6. What totally gobsmacked me on later investigation is that this effort actually received rave reviews back in 2012 when it first appeared in papers like the Independent and the Guardian. All I can say is that the individuals concerned must have taken leave of their senses or been high on something. I've now gone back to the book I was previously enjoying, Greenery by Tim Dee. It's lost it's way a little bit, but the writing is infinitely better.

Just 'finished' Gold by Chris Cleave. I say 'finished', because I've not actually completed the book, simply finished with it - after about 25 pages. It's a book group choice (not mine), and I struggle to recall when I last tried reading anything quite so badly writtenl. I knew I was in trouble by the top of page 2: She tried to smile back. The smile came out like a newborn foal - its legs buckled immediately. OMG, did an editor really allow that? As a quick exercise, I stopped reading a couple of dozen pages or so later, and did some random openings and, yes, I was pretty much guaranteed more of the same, or worse. So I stopped, or at least I went into skim read mode, which confirmed my first impressions. The story is a cliche too. A generous 1/6. I've gone back to the book I was previously enjoying, Greenery by Tim Dee. It's lost it's way a little bit, but the writing is infinitely better.

Brilliant book, bought through this offer. Best book so far this year.

That comment suggests this is your first Cather book? If so, I'd suggest reading My Antonia or O Pioneers, both books in the Plains trilogy, before coming to a conclusion.If, however, part of the problematic issue is the exclusion of Native Americans, then they probably won't help, as the focus is completely on the pioneer settlers, and Native Americans simply don't feature.

That's a monumental read - well done. I've been intrigued by this for some time. I was put off actually reading by several reviews from people whose judgement I respect, who said that it was like a lot of myths/legends, telling what happened without much development of character or much else. But then, I respect your reviews too - they've so often been right on the nail in how I think. Several doorstoppers to tackle - better make a start soon!

Book acquisitions I've not updated on these for almost exactly three months, so a bit of a list given my acquisitive propensities! I've only listed books for reading that I haven't already read and commented on here. Fiction The Motion of the Body through Space - Lionel Shriver (E) The Accidental Tourist - Anne Tyler (E) The King Must Die - Mary Renault (E) The Children of Jocasta - Natalie Haynes (E) That Old Ace in the Hole - Annie Proulx (C) The Balkan and Levant trilogies - Olivia Manning (E) Non-fiction The Bird Way - Jennifer Ackermann Natives - Akala (E) Life on the Edge - Jim Al-Khalili (E) The Fontana History of Gemany 1780-1918 - David Blackbourn (C) Reach for the Sky - Paul Brickhill (free!) Murderous Contagion - Mary Dobson (E) Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge (E) Wilful Blindness - Margaret Heffernan (E) Winds of Change - Peter Hennessy (E) The Histories - Herodotus You Are What You Read - Jodie Jackson (E) Rebirding - Benedict Macdonald The Snow Leopard - Peter Matthiessen Liquid - Mark Miodownik (E) Nine Lessons in Brexit - Ivan Rogers (E) Joseph Banks, A Life - Patrick O'Brian Three Years in Hell - Fintan O'Toole (E) The Fens - Francis Pryor (E) Doughnut Economics - Kate Raworth (E) The Last White Rose - Desmond Seward (E) Square Haunting - Francesca Wade (E) E = e-book; C = charity shop purchase

Me too! Actually, I've felt that for a while, but have got over that by allowing my reading to be largely driven by the 'need' to read particular books for book groups (eg Hamnet) or a couple of challenges I'm doing (eg latest book). Seems to have been keeping me going, not least because the book group selections have generally been OK. I also have a stack of library books I took out at the start of lockdown, so am steadily ploughing through them without a lot of thought as to 'which one next?'. I can totally understand those reactions. I'm not normally an emotional reader (far from it), but I found Hamnet very moving - beautifully written on that front. I wouldn't let that put you off though - I also found it very life affirming. Have just finished Jill Paton Walsh's Thrones, Dominations, the book she finished off based on Dorothy Sayers' unfinished Peter Wimsey manuscript. Really engaging read - more to do with the characterisation and relationship between Wimsey and his new wife than the mystery, which was more a howdunnit than whodunnit - no less enjoyable for that. Walsh definitely in the Sayers mould - the Wimsey books are a distinct cut above the crime novel norm 5/6.

I really enjoyed Slade House too. In terms of enjoyment, David Mitchell is one of the most varied authors I've read. I absolutely loved The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (a rare 6/6), and also enjoyed The Bone Clocks, but came completely unstuck on Cloud Atlas. There are some strong links between his books, so if you try any of the others, watch out for some common characters and themes, even if the nature of each book is different (Thousand Autumns is, for instance, ostensibly an historical novel, whilst Bone Clocks is contemporary literary fiction, with a distinct twist).

Can I second that? Fascinating book where he interviews all those who visited the moon still alive at the time of writing. Another, which might answer your issue of more detail on what went wrong, is the excellent A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin - detailed narrative history of the Apollo missions. A different take, and perhaps only tangentially related to the above two, Margot Lee Shetterley's Hidden Figures, which, given your other reading too, if you haven't read I think you would enjoy - the story of some of the women behind the maths that enabled the space missions, particularly Katherine Johnson. Good film too if you haven't seen it, although this was definitely fictionalised.

Catching up on the first part of July, I've completed 4 books: The Library of Ice by Nancy Campbell **** The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood *** Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell ****** The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd ***** As the star ratings show, absolutely adored Hamnet - the best book I've read so far this year. The Living Mountain was excellent too - wonderfully lyrical writing about the Cairngorms. The Library of Ice was as well written, but was just a wee bit random at places, lacking the tighter focus and structure of Living Mountain. The only, mild, disappointment was The Penelopiad. OK, but lacking depth - it felt like it was written to order.

June Reviews In danger of getting behind again with reviews - the problem with picking up the pace! Can't remember the last time I read this much so consistently; think it must have been in childhood! So, another catch up, more brief comments than proper reviews. This batch should at least take me to the end of the first half of the year. Wing by Matthew Francis **** My first pure poetry book in years, and the first collection of poems I can remember reading for even longer. As with any collection a mixed bag, but very much enjoyed the style and themes, particularly the thread on Robert Hooke's Micrographia. Probably should gain a star for the fabulous cover! Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler *** I've enjoyed Anne Tyler before, and this is meant to be her masterpiece, even chosen by Robert McCrum for his 100 Best Novels in English. Rather surprised then to actually find it rather disappointing, populated by a family that I really didn't much care about, and distinctly disjointed in its narrative. However, it provided plenty of material for a book group meeting, and there was no gainsaying the quality of the writing. RSPB Focus on Swifts and Swallows by Mike Unwin **** Interesting slim volume - learned much. We have a colony of swifts under neighbours' eaves, and they are, for me, the sound of summer. I dread the first week of August! This is a good value series - the photos are particularly attractive, but the text is eminently and readable and concise. The Twelve Birds of Christmas by Stephen Moss **** Christmas?! Stephen Moss takes a different perspective on the traditional carol, and matches each gift up with a bird. The first four are obviously straightforward (although he suggests that 'calling birds' are in fact 'colley birds', ie blackbirds), after that there are a few that require a bit more imagination, but he argues some well, and makes a credible argument. Whatever, it makes for an intriguing read and plenty of interest as he discusses each bird in ornithological, historical and social terms. One, maybe, to go back to in a few months time. The Hollow Crown by Dan Jones **** A narrative history of the Wars of the Roses - really good mix of the rigorous and the rumbustious, providing a clear overview of a very complex period of history. Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8 by Naoki Higashida *** Autobiographical series of what are effectively short essays by a non-vocal autistic young man, painstakingly written using an alphabet grid (hence partly the shortness of the essays). I have to admit I found it difficult to relate to and strangely flat, but it provided for a superb book group discussion, and was very illuminating in places - certainly added to my understanding (some developed working as a teacher), and left me determined to read up further. The War of the Worlds by HG Wells ***** One of those books with which we culturally feel familiar with, but which most people have not actually read. A much better read than I expected, deeper and more philosophical than I had anticipated, whilst retaining the fundamentals of an enthralling work of fiction. Surprisingly concise for a book of this era, but all the better for it. Makes the Tom Cruise film look particularly shallow! July books to follow! That took the first half of the year to 37 books, my second highest first half total ever (I usually read more in the second half), quite amazing after one of my slowest first quarters ever. The effect of lockdown! Proper first half review to follow.

I seem to have been reading a lot more lately. Struggled to get stuck into anything too big, my usual penchant, but plenty of shorter material. Unlike much of the rest of the UK, I'm still very much in lockdown mode, by choice. Just finished one of my book group reads for this month: Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight by Naoki Higashida. Ranges from the massively insightful to the banal. 3/6, but some bits worth 5 or 6 stars, others 1 or 2. Good book for a book group though!

Gosh, it's quiet here, but then I've not exactly been very active! Just finished The Hollow Crown, a fascinating history of the Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones. Good, solid, narrative history. Certainly helped me sort out my understanding. 4/6 stars.