How to be German in 50 easy steps
Thursday, December 28, 2017
How to be German (Adam Fletcher)
Adam Fletcher's
How to be German in 50 easy steps
Easily read guide to German foibles that my German friend Lutz gave me and found quite funny. Looking at random entries makes you realise that the English author knows his stuff. Best thing was that I was flicking through it whilst Lutz was opening beer bottles without a bottle opener. In fact managed with a pack of cards. As did Maya. I still struggle with a spoon or lighter which Germans seem to be taught in Kindergarten.
How to be German in 50 easy steps
Mr Norris Changes Trains (Christopher Isherwood)
Christopher Isherwood
Mr Norris Changes Trains
Odd little tale of our narrator befriending Mr Norris on the train to Berlin and subsequently helping him out. Gives a picture of between War Berlin and all it's excesses and the parallel rise of the Nazis and subsequent suppression of such like behaviour (at least driving underground) and socialist activists. Read on my way to and in Berlin but doesn't really give a flavour of the place. Snippets about what it was like to be moneyed in the 30s maybe but probably similar to many European large cities. Interesting.
Mr Norris Changes Trains
Odd little tale of our narrator befriending Mr Norris on the train to Berlin and subsequently helping him out. Gives a picture of between War Berlin and all it's excesses and the parallel rise of the Nazis and subsequent suppression of such like behaviour (at least driving underground) and socialist activists. Read on my way to and in Berlin but doesn't really give a flavour of the place. Snippets about what it was like to be moneyed in the 30s maybe but probably similar to many European large cities. Interesting.
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Keep the Aspidistra Flying (George Orwell)
George Orwell
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
A depressing book about one man's fight against money culture and avoiding selling his soul for it by working at what he's good at in advertising instead working in badly paid and unsatisfying jobs in bookshops. All whilst writing his long epic poem for which he switches between optimism, as he's had one poem publishes, and dire pessimism as he's had lots of other knock backs. Ultimately you feel that his position is pointless as he's both determined to sink into poverty whilst blaming all of his woes including that his girlfriend won't sleep with him on a lack of money. Eventually after nearly drowning in the mud, Orwell's metaphor, he sells his soul to mammon and settles down. You do wonder how long it will last. It's difficult to tell if Orwell supports this hatred of money and how to get it, he did work down and out in London and Paris, or if his view is that the position is pointless and self defeating.
The book has some pretty lazy characterisations, maybe that's from a modern viewpoint, such as a vile characterisation of a Scottish teetotal miser and an uneducated money grabber who is a dwarf with a horrible description. Also a whiff of homophobia going on about nancy boys. So slightly racist which comes across in the other Orwell book I'm reading the Decline of the English Murder. Nonetheless a good and thought provoking read.
Keep the Aspidistra Flying
The book has some pretty lazy characterisations, maybe that's from a modern viewpoint, such as a vile characterisation of a Scottish teetotal miser and an uneducated money grabber who is a dwarf with a horrible description. Also a whiff of homophobia going on about nancy boys. So slightly racist which comes across in the other Orwell book I'm reading the Decline of the English Murder. Nonetheless a good and thought provoking read.
Friday, December 08, 2017
Decline and Fall (Evelyn Waugh)
Evelyn Waugh
Decline and Fall
A book I borrowed from Bruce not really thinking that I'd enjoy but it's extremely readable and very funny in parts. A lot about ones lot in life related to social class and about our hero who is fairly naive but who takes the batterings of life on the chin and just gets on with it. Some pithy characters and funny scenes. Possibly an influence for Tom Sharp? Good and although I wanted to read more (it's short) a week later I'm not clamouring for further Waugh stories to be brought to me wrapped in Christmas paper. I'll read the next when I chance upon it as I did this one. And much like our hero did.
Decline and Fall
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Surviving the Future (David Fleming)
David Fleming (selected & edited Shaun Chamberlin)
Surviving the Future: Culture, Carnival and Capital in the Aftermath of the Market Economy
This is an extract of a much larger work by David Fleming which since his passing away Shaun has selected and edited. The basic premise is that the world's economies will collapse pretty soon, by the end of the century and probably a lot sooner, and that we therefore need to look at how to survive in that world rather than focussing on how to avoid the "climatic" or climate induced society (as we know it complete with market economy) breakdown. Whilst there are some great insights and focussed analysis of the current situation and how we can survive, they are offset by at times a naivety regarding how orderly society will be and an arrogance in the style of writing. Maybe you need a certain arrogance when telling a tale such as this? And without naivety the alternative is self centred survival at the expense of all else. But Fleming does stray down such as path as there is an underlying dig at the dangers of too much cultural homogenisation through migration which comes over as slightly xenophobic. He goes on about culture and how it's being eroded and whilst I'd agree with a lot of that it feels as he's bemoaning the loss of his culture rather than embracing a changing culture. Cultures can be very entrenched, I would argue at the expense of individualism or outsiders, but again can change extremely quickly when needing to or when hitting a critical mass. On entrenchment Fleming seems to long for years gone by when people had a structured village life, with lots of holidays, and where religion brought people together. He ignores the strait jacket of conformity and the weight of religious intolerance. Witches being burnt? Pogroms? Homophobia? And I need not note how badly treated most villagers were as they were basically owned by landlords. I feel that he picks and chooses his arguments without any reference to criticism.
There is a good point made about too much being made of transparency in modern life rather than placing trust in people. Whilst I don't think that this is strictly true his conclusion that we should shun transparency seems naive at the very best. And an argument for corruption and cronyism. His analysis of capitalism is poor economics. Saying that money only represents other forms of capital is patently untrue as in this screwed up world money does indeed reign supreme and that's the problem. Financial instruments such as hedge funds are not backed by other forms of capital. Fleming also has an odd view of the "tautness" of current capitalism. Whilst he's right in theory he's blatantly wrong in practice. His stating that in the future we should be slack is exactly what the rich do, and by that I include large parts of the developed nations, who do indeed waste their time in not making more money but in having fun. And he states that there are no ostentatious buildings resulting from industrial society. Take a look round most city centres. Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, London. The most ostentatious are from the 1800s excepting churches. And on the latter. They were built on the blood of those forced to pay for and build them.
His conclusion that we should prepare for the new world by creating transition towns is again naive. If society does break down to a massive extent then those without will take from those who have regardless of whether they are working together in a nicely arranged "village". And all countries won't break down at the same time and the powerful will win out if there is chaos. The way to prepare is to create the right society structures now, not to wait until it's too late.
On the positive side it's an interesting read and makes you think for yourself. And there's a great succinct warning of Green Authoritarianism. Worth reading. Prepare to disagree. Prepare to be challenged.
Surviving the Future: Culture, Carnival and Capital in the Aftermath of the Market Economy
This is an extract of a much larger work by David Fleming which since his passing away Shaun has selected and edited. The basic premise is that the world's economies will collapse pretty soon, by the end of the century and probably a lot sooner, and that we therefore need to look at how to survive in that world rather than focussing on how to avoid the "climatic" or climate induced society (as we know it complete with market economy) breakdown. Whilst there are some great insights and focussed analysis of the current situation and how we can survive, they are offset by at times a naivety regarding how orderly society will be and an arrogance in the style of writing. Maybe you need a certain arrogance when telling a tale such as this? And without naivety the alternative is self centred survival at the expense of all else. But Fleming does stray down such as path as there is an underlying dig at the dangers of too much cultural homogenisation through migration which comes over as slightly xenophobic. He goes on about culture and how it's being eroded and whilst I'd agree with a lot of that it feels as he's bemoaning the loss of his culture rather than embracing a changing culture. Cultures can be very entrenched, I would argue at the expense of individualism or outsiders, but again can change extremely quickly when needing to or when hitting a critical mass. On entrenchment Fleming seems to long for years gone by when people had a structured village life, with lots of holidays, and where religion brought people together. He ignores the strait jacket of conformity and the weight of religious intolerance. Witches being burnt? Pogroms? Homophobia? And I need not note how badly treated most villagers were as they were basically owned by landlords. I feel that he picks and chooses his arguments without any reference to criticism.
There is a good point made about too much being made of transparency in modern life rather than placing trust in people. Whilst I don't think that this is strictly true his conclusion that we should shun transparency seems naive at the very best. And an argument for corruption and cronyism. His analysis of capitalism is poor economics. Saying that money only represents other forms of capital is patently untrue as in this screwed up world money does indeed reign supreme and that's the problem. Financial instruments such as hedge funds are not backed by other forms of capital. Fleming also has an odd view of the "tautness" of current capitalism. Whilst he's right in theory he's blatantly wrong in practice. His stating that in the future we should be slack is exactly what the rich do, and by that I include large parts of the developed nations, who do indeed waste their time in not making more money but in having fun. And he states that there are no ostentatious buildings resulting from industrial society. Take a look round most city centres. Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, London. The most ostentatious are from the 1800s excepting churches. And on the latter. They were built on the blood of those forced to pay for and build them.
His conclusion that we should prepare for the new world by creating transition towns is again naive. If society does break down to a massive extent then those without will take from those who have regardless of whether they are working together in a nicely arranged "village". And all countries won't break down at the same time and the powerful will win out if there is chaos. The way to prepare is to create the right society structures now, not to wait until it's too late.
On the positive side it's an interesting read and makes you think for yourself. And there's a great succinct warning of Green Authoritarianism. Worth reading. Prepare to disagree. Prepare to be challenged.
Saturday, October 21, 2017
The World That Never Was (Alex Butterworth)
Alex Butterworth
The World That Never Was: A True Story of Dreamers, Schemers, Anarchists, and Secret Agents
A very compelling read charting the, mainly European, anarchist movement of the mid to late 19th century. There is loads of intrigue both within the various anarchist factions and with state police. Seems that most of the atrocities laid at the door of "anarchists" were either directly executed by agent provocateurs in the pay, or indeed part of, the various European police agencies or the anarchists involved were highly influenced by infiltrators wanting to see atrocities committed. These state agents were either motivated by their own greed for money or power, or possibly genuinely thought that the ends (discrediting anarchism) justified the means (killing mainly innocent people). Obviously some in the anarchist movement advocated violence and this was an ongoing point of disagreement. And as the movement had a violent image in the media it attracted violent people - much like football and hooligans. It's humbling to read how dedicated many were and what deprivations of freedom, safety and security they had to endure. The story is pretty optimistic going into the Paris Communards and solidarity of other nations' workers, including German, when under siege by the Prussians. With the subsequent unravelling of the gains made and crack down by security forces the movement splintered and made progress where it could. Britain, as ever, gave sanctuary to many exiled or under threat of arrest from the continent. Whether this was to further British interests is debatable although what does come out is that most other nations' files on how the security forces infiltrated and provoked violent anarchist behaviour have been opened up the Met Police still keep their records secret or redacted when published. Probably because they are still using the same methods to incite violence from within organisations as came out regarding their deep under cover officers in the 1970s and 80s green, peace and animal liberation movements and no doubt still are doing so today. Who knows whether they are inciting so-called muslim terrorist acts. Past experience would suggest that it's not unlikely.
The story ends of course with the Russian Revolution which many thought would lead to an individually liberated communist / soviet / socialist / anarchist society built around small self governing communes. Of course the Bolsheviks, who come in for a lot of criticism, won out by killing or imprisoning all opposition and implemented Marx's dictatorship of the proletariat although without any appetite to allow the state to wither away, in fact the opposite. The 20th century battles were thereby set with state control and little individual freedom on the one side and free market and seemingly individual freedom on the other. Although whether capitalism in the west is really a free market is very debatable. More like using state control to force workers to toe the capitalist line and to be available as cheap labour when required and dumped when not. With a large state controlled security service with supporting vested interest media machine to stop individual freedom from threatening the power and money of those gaining most from "the system". The roots of mid century fascism are also documented.
By the end of the book, 1930s, the anarchist movement is in decline and the future does not look bright but as is shown throughout, the flame of individual freedom will never die and the struggle continues either under that name or within other liberal and socialist movements. As an aside, I was rather dismissive of Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent (see blog) but it's mentioned a few times here as a thinly veiled documentation of what was happening in London with the ex-pat revolutionaries. So maybe my accusation that the plot was barely believable and lazy characterisation was unjustified. Having read this book you'd believe that anything went in those dark days. And how about now...?
The World That Never Was: A True Story of Dreamers, Schemers, Anarchists, and Secret Agents
The story ends of course with the Russian Revolution which many thought would lead to an individually liberated communist / soviet / socialist / anarchist society built around small self governing communes. Of course the Bolsheviks, who come in for a lot of criticism, won out by killing or imprisoning all opposition and implemented Marx's dictatorship of the proletariat although without any appetite to allow the state to wither away, in fact the opposite. The 20th century battles were thereby set with state control and little individual freedom on the one side and free market and seemingly individual freedom on the other. Although whether capitalism in the west is really a free market is very debatable. More like using state control to force workers to toe the capitalist line and to be available as cheap labour when required and dumped when not. With a large state controlled security service with supporting vested interest media machine to stop individual freedom from threatening the power and money of those gaining most from "the system". The roots of mid century fascism are also documented.
By the end of the book, 1930s, the anarchist movement is in decline and the future does not look bright but as is shown throughout, the flame of individual freedom will never die and the struggle continues either under that name or within other liberal and socialist movements. As an aside, I was rather dismissive of Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent (see blog) but it's mentioned a few times here as a thinly veiled documentation of what was happening in London with the ex-pat revolutionaries. So maybe my accusation that the plot was barely believable and lazy characterisation was unjustified. Having read this book you'd believe that anything went in those dark days. And how about now...?
Sunday, September 17, 2017
A Clergyman's Daughter (George Orwell)
George Orwell
A Clergyman's Daughter
Interesting tale with believable characters following a pious young woman who's life is all about doing things for others with the only luxury she has being intellectual chats with an older lecherous man. A fall and rise story ensues prompted by memory loss which I can only deduce was due to glue sniffing albeit inadvertently. We span the mental horrors of being an unmarried woman in your late 20s stuck in a small gossipy town to the seemingly worse physical and life threatening horrors of complete poverty in London. There's much in between too reflecting on the awful social rules of society back then, and most likely that many still live under. Orwell's commentary on social and economic deprivations and differences within society foreshadow his later writings. Religion is also dealt with in a critical manner although in some ways fairly sensitively, maybe Orwell was losing his religion or recently had? The daughter's aversion to men's bodies suggests that she was either completely averse to physical contact with men due to religious views or perhaps she was gay and Orwell couldn't state that in those times. Men as predators also runs through the story. Excellent read that I found hard to put down.
P.S. After seeing a picture of Alice going Through the Looking Glass it struck me that this is Orwell's dystopian version of Lewis Carroll's Adventures in Wonderland which instead of consuming mind and body altering substances, including a mushroom, Orwell goes for the harsher drug of glue sniffing, albeit inadvertently, causing a black out whereby our heroine finds herself in the East End with a different set of clothes on. Lord only knows (or so she may have thought) what happened to her original clothes and how she came to be without them.
A Clergyman's Daughter
Interesting tale with believable characters following a pious young woman who's life is all about doing things for others with the only luxury she has being intellectual chats with an older lecherous man. A fall and rise story ensues prompted by memory loss which I can only deduce was due to glue sniffing albeit inadvertently. We span the mental horrors of being an unmarried woman in your late 20s stuck in a small gossipy town to the seemingly worse physical and life threatening horrors of complete poverty in London. There's much in between too reflecting on the awful social rules of society back then, and most likely that many still live under. Orwell's commentary on social and economic deprivations and differences within society foreshadow his later writings. Religion is also dealt with in a critical manner although in some ways fairly sensitively, maybe Orwell was losing his religion or recently had? The daughter's aversion to men's bodies suggests that she was either completely averse to physical contact with men due to religious views or perhaps she was gay and Orwell couldn't state that in those times. Men as predators also runs through the story. Excellent read that I found hard to put down.
P.S. After seeing a picture of Alice going Through the Looking Glass it struck me that this is Orwell's dystopian version of Lewis Carroll's Adventures in Wonderland which instead of consuming mind and body altering substances, including a mushroom, Orwell goes for the harsher drug of glue sniffing, albeit inadvertently, causing a black out whereby our heroine finds herself in the East End with a different set of clothes on. Lord only knows (or so she may have thought) what happened to her original clothes and how she came to be without them.
A Country Doctor's Notebook (Mikhail Bulgakov)
Mikhail Bulgakov
A Country Doctor's Notebook
A series of amusing and insightful anecdotes as Bulgakov has his first doctor assignment in the back of beyond. Great story telling and character building with a quirkiness that foreshadows his other longer works. How they kept people alive under such conditions lord only knows. Well worth reading.
A Country Doctor's Notebook
Tuesday, September 05, 2017
Nineteen Eighty-Four (George Orwell)
George Orwell
Nineteen Eighty-Four
An appropriate follow up to The Comedians in terms of having a not so secret police state. I don't think I'd ever read this classic and it was very different to what I thought it would be. Very cleverly written and chillingly prescient of technological advances (although I think Big Brother relied on manpower rather than computers) and the subjugation of many of us under the thumb of nationalism and a xenophobic desire to beat other in wars. Although I guess in 1948 some of that is not so prescient the desire for continuous warfare must have been at odds with the willingness to wage war just after WWII. After all, isn't that why Europe was formed as a virtual state. And the use of Britain as a US air base rang true in the 70s and 80s. One prediction which has seemingly come back in many areas of the world is the desire to see fellow humans suffer and die. Stonings and public executions in wide swathes although not so long ago really that we had that as an alternative to the telly. What surprised me most was the effort put into causing suffering for our hero (maybe he wasn't quite that) and although that is explained it seems like a hell of a lot of effort especially as he's not really seen again in his previous society. There again it makes the story and explains the ending and the very ending that is implied. Compelling reading both as a story and commentary on our times.
Nineteen Eighty-Four
An appropriate follow up to The Comedians in terms of having a not so secret police state. I don't think I'd ever read this classic and it was very different to what I thought it would be. Very cleverly written and chillingly prescient of technological advances (although I think Big Brother relied on manpower rather than computers) and the subjugation of many of us under the thumb of nationalism and a xenophobic desire to beat other in wars. Although I guess in 1948 some of that is not so prescient the desire for continuous warfare must have been at odds with the willingness to wage war just after WWII. After all, isn't that why Europe was formed as a virtual state. And the use of Britain as a US air base rang true in the 70s and 80s. One prediction which has seemingly come back in many areas of the world is the desire to see fellow humans suffer and die. Stonings and public executions in wide swathes although not so long ago really that we had that as an alternative to the telly. What surprised me most was the effort put into causing suffering for our hero (maybe he wasn't quite that) and although that is explained it seems like a hell of a lot of effort especially as he's not really seen again in his previous society. There again it makes the story and explains the ending and the very ending that is implied. Compelling reading both as a story and commentary on our times.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
The Comedians (Graham Greene)
Graham Greene
The Comedians
Never been a Greene fan but this is a very readable story about human foibles, love, religion, ties and the image that we project (as comedians) onto others. The stakes are upped significantly as set in the early days of Papa Doc in Haiti where anything you do can be dangerous. Great character descriptions and both funny and sad in places. However, a bit on the droll side. Maybe a bit too clever too. And although the characters are well written I didn't feel a lot of empathy with any of them and so not my type of novel. Maybe I'll give him another try in a few years time but not rushing out to buy Greene's very extensive back catalogue.
The Comedians
Never been a Greene fan but this is a very readable story about human foibles, love, religion, ties and the image that we project (as comedians) onto others. The stakes are upped significantly as set in the early days of Papa Doc in Haiti where anything you do can be dangerous. Great character descriptions and both funny and sad in places. However, a bit on the droll side. Maybe a bit too clever too. And although the characters are well written I didn't feel a lot of empathy with any of them and so not my type of novel. Maybe I'll give him another try in a few years time but not rushing out to buy Greene's very extensive back catalogue.
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Playing The Bass With three Left Hands (Will Carruthers)
Will Carruthers
Playing The Bass With three Left Hands
A very funny book about Will's late teenage years and how he became bass player for the Spacemen 3. Some passages are laugh out loud leading to people on the tube giving me weirdo looks and a couple deciding not to take empty seats next to me. Charts Will's entry in the band, the good times and the break up before becoming part of Spiritualized. Having not made much money at all to this point, in fact getting into debt, our intrepid bassist regales us with tales of building site work and other odd jobs he's had to do. A good insight into being in a band who are not massively famous and who are either ripped off by management or as you're not credited with the songs you get very little out of the band financially even over time. And yes, as the title suggests there is a fair amount about drugs. Not in a yeah man if you remember the 60s you weren't there maaan crass sort of way but in an amusing way (well, mostly, some is not so fun) that is both believable and funny. Towards the end the story gets more serious but still entertaining. You warm to Will and it makes me want to read a bit more of his stuff.
Playing The Bass With three Left Hands
A very funny book about Will's late teenage years and how he became bass player for the Spacemen 3. Some passages are laugh out loud leading to people on the tube giving me weirdo looks and a couple deciding not to take empty seats next to me. Charts Will's entry in the band, the good times and the break up before becoming part of Spiritualized. Having not made much money at all to this point, in fact getting into debt, our intrepid bassist regales us with tales of building site work and other odd jobs he's had to do. A good insight into being in a band who are not massively famous and who are either ripped off by management or as you're not credited with the songs you get very little out of the band financially even over time. And yes, as the title suggests there is a fair amount about drugs. Not in a yeah man if you remember the 60s you weren't there maaan crass sort of way but in an amusing way (well, mostly, some is not so fun) that is both believable and funny. Towards the end the story gets more serious but still entertaining. You warm to Will and it makes me want to read a bit more of his stuff.
Friday, August 18, 2017
Sex, Lies & Handlebar Tape (Paul Howard)
Paul Howard
Sex, Lies & Handlebar Tape: The Remarkable Life of Jacques Anquetil
Extremely well written and entertaining account of this cycling hero who was an uncompromising hard living star with an interesting family life to say the least. Charts his rise to the top with input from family, friends and colleagues. And a few rivals. Mostly about the cycling and how he came to dominate the sport with what seems like natural flair and stamina. Later in the book we get into the detail of his family life including fathering his step daughter's child and then taking off with his step son's wife. That's just the start of it. A good read of a time that the best cyclists were often maverick rebels in a way that they probably just couldn't be now with the focus on team tactics. A fascinating read.
Sex, Lies & Handlebar Tape: The Remarkable Life of Jacques Anquetil
Extremely well written and entertaining account of this cycling hero who was an uncompromising hard living star with an interesting family life to say the least. Charts his rise to the top with input from family, friends and colleagues. And a few rivals. Mostly about the cycling and how he came to dominate the sport with what seems like natural flair and stamina. Later in the book we get into the detail of his family life including fathering his step daughter's child and then taking off with his step son's wife. That's just the start of it. A good read of a time that the best cyclists were often maverick rebels in a way that they probably just couldn't be now with the focus on team tactics. A fascinating read.
Sunday, August 06, 2017
War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy)
Leo Tolstoy
War and Peace
An epic novel that needs no introduction as I'm sure you've read it. OK, it's all about Russian life from a nobility perspective centred around Moscow and St Petersburg as Napoleon and his armies (where did Napoleon keep them? up his sleevies) make their way to and into Moscow in the early 1800s (unfortunately no jokes like that by Tolstoy, ah well I guess he didn't have room). It follows a few main characters and their families during this disruptive period and the amazing thing about this classic is the number of characters that Tolstoy incorporates into the story each with a description worthy of the main characters in many other novels including peasants, servants, soldiers and others. I won't attempt to summarise the storyline(s) of the characters as they weave in and out of each other tossed together and apart by the vicissitudes of war. But that seems to be the point that Tolstoy is making and that he explicitly states in chapters where he gives his view on history, monarchs, wars and generals: these massively influential actions are not the result of decisions by individuals rather that their actions are the result of and determined by immeasurable and various factors influencing the millions of people across countries as a whole. So battles are not won by generals standing on hills unable to see the detail or make decisions on that lack of knowledge as the battlefield is shrouded in cannon smoke. Rather that if a few infantrymen panic and shout All Is Lost and run backwards then the battle could be lost, whereas they could have shouted All Is Won and pressed onwards to victory. So wars are won or lost through millions of individual actions going back through history rather than under the control of monarchs, revolutionary figures and generals. Tolstoy shows this in the way that Napoleon gets to Moscow following the Russian retreat and then as there is no resistance and nowhere else to go he needs to retreat himself through a Russian winter and through countryside that's been scorched with the loss of nearly the entire army. Maybe that's a little simplistic and to get the full effect of that argument start reading the half million pages that make up War and Peace in this edition. At least I've got the hang of the changing Russian names that crop up in Russian novels. The theme of mass movements not being due to single people throughout the novel is analysed outside of the novel in the 2nd epilogue, which itself is the size of a decent novel. It depersonalises our heroes' ability to influence their situation and gives Tolstoy's theory on history, as well as other sciences, regarding the personal choice of action which goes back to the novel suggesting that our heroes end up in predictable situations due to this inevitability, rather than Tolstoy being sentimental and wanting a happily ever after ending. The reasons for their situations are due to what previous situations decreed, and their destiny although he doesn't use that word. This goes into the philosophy of man's freewill and how that sits with the inevitability of life and history. I think that's what the novel and epilogue are all about anyway. I'm sure there are a lot of theories and readings of the book that I've not read. It's the sort of novel that I'll put on the bookshelf for posterity but how likely am I to pick it up again.
As an aside, there seem to be a lot of references and phrases that have been used in modern culture throughout the novel although it's difficult to know if they were also in use before the translation which must be from a while ago as it had Tolstoy's approval. The standout one for me is the the prediction of the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses. See Book X, Chapter XVII second paragraph.
Matt would have been proud of me. WAP ticks all the boxes for a good novel that we used to joke about. Very long. Classic. Russian is the cherry on top. RIP.
War and Peace
An epic novel that needs no introduction as I'm sure you've read it. OK, it's all about Russian life from a nobility perspective centred around Moscow and St Petersburg as Napoleon and his armies (where did Napoleon keep them? up his sleevies) make their way to and into Moscow in the early 1800s (unfortunately no jokes like that by Tolstoy, ah well I guess he didn't have room). It follows a few main characters and their families during this disruptive period and the amazing thing about this classic is the number of characters that Tolstoy incorporates into the story each with a description worthy of the main characters in many other novels including peasants, servants, soldiers and others. I won't attempt to summarise the storyline(s) of the characters as they weave in and out of each other tossed together and apart by the vicissitudes of war. But that seems to be the point that Tolstoy is making and that he explicitly states in chapters where he gives his view on history, monarchs, wars and generals: these massively influential actions are not the result of decisions by individuals rather that their actions are the result of and determined by immeasurable and various factors influencing the millions of people across countries as a whole. So battles are not won by generals standing on hills unable to see the detail or make decisions on that lack of knowledge as the battlefield is shrouded in cannon smoke. Rather that if a few infantrymen panic and shout All Is Lost and run backwards then the battle could be lost, whereas they could have shouted All Is Won and pressed onwards to victory. So wars are won or lost through millions of individual actions going back through history rather than under the control of monarchs, revolutionary figures and generals. Tolstoy shows this in the way that Napoleon gets to Moscow following the Russian retreat and then as there is no resistance and nowhere else to go he needs to retreat himself through a Russian winter and through countryside that's been scorched with the loss of nearly the entire army. Maybe that's a little simplistic and to get the full effect of that argument start reading the half million pages that make up War and Peace in this edition. At least I've got the hang of the changing Russian names that crop up in Russian novels. The theme of mass movements not being due to single people throughout the novel is analysed outside of the novel in the 2nd epilogue, which itself is the size of a decent novel. It depersonalises our heroes' ability to influence their situation and gives Tolstoy's theory on history, as well as other sciences, regarding the personal choice of action which goes back to the novel suggesting that our heroes end up in predictable situations due to this inevitability, rather than Tolstoy being sentimental and wanting a happily ever after ending. The reasons for their situations are due to what previous situations decreed, and their destiny although he doesn't use that word. This goes into the philosophy of man's freewill and how that sits with the inevitability of life and history. I think that's what the novel and epilogue are all about anyway. I'm sure there are a lot of theories and readings of the book that I've not read. It's the sort of novel that I'll put on the bookshelf for posterity but how likely am I to pick it up again.
As an aside, there seem to be a lot of references and phrases that have been used in modern culture throughout the novel although it's difficult to know if they were also in use before the translation which must be from a while ago as it had Tolstoy's approval. The standout one for me is the the prediction of the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses. See Book X, Chapter XVII second paragraph.
Matt would have been proud of me. WAP ticks all the boxes for a good novel that we used to joke about. Very long. Classic. Russian is the cherry on top. RIP.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
The Rise The Fall & The Rise (Brix Smith Start)
Brix Smith Start
The Rise The Fall & The Rise
The life of Brix Smith who became the bassist for The Fall for quite a while including when I saw them perform a great set at the Elephant Fayre in 1984 with Simon. Remember climbing up a big wicker elephant when under the influence? Anyway Simon gave me this to read. Interesting start charting what seems to be a fairly typical disrupted and dysfunctional childhood of someone brought up in the American west coast media zone. Somewhat self publicising and navel gazing but I guess it is an autobiography of a self obsessed self publicist so what did I expect. There are some funny stories here, although I can't quite believe all of them, and an interesting insight into a world I'm bloody glad I don't inhabit. Then from there to an almost nun like life of solitude in Manchester, if you believe what Brix says which I do find very odd, and if you can imagine a nun living with Mark E Smith. And with no other nuns to chat to. OK not like a nunnery. And again, some of what is written about living in England are plain wrong but maybe Brix's memory is as good as mine so I let that pass. We don't really get a deep insight into either The Fall or Mark E Smith and you feel that all you get is opinions to back up how hard done by Brix is feeling, still. But fair dues for getting involved with them anyway. After her break up with Mark E the interest in the story is somewhat lost for me and I ran out of the will to spend time on this when she meets Nigel Kennedy as I've absolutely no interest in his jazz parties, their affair (I'm assuming they have one given how she builds it up) or the rest of Brix Smith's life. Not often I close a book half way through but I've got War and Peace to read which is far richer and believable.
The Rise The Fall & The Rise
The life of Brix Smith who became the bassist for The Fall for quite a while including when I saw them perform a great set at the Elephant Fayre in 1984 with Simon. Remember climbing up a big wicker elephant when under the influence? Anyway Simon gave me this to read. Interesting start charting what seems to be a fairly typical disrupted and dysfunctional childhood of someone brought up in the American west coast media zone. Somewhat self publicising and navel gazing but I guess it is an autobiography of a self obsessed self publicist so what did I expect. There are some funny stories here, although I can't quite believe all of them, and an interesting insight into a world I'm bloody glad I don't inhabit. Then from there to an almost nun like life of solitude in Manchester, if you believe what Brix says which I do find very odd, and if you can imagine a nun living with Mark E Smith. And with no other nuns to chat to. OK not like a nunnery. And again, some of what is written about living in England are plain wrong but maybe Brix's memory is as good as mine so I let that pass. We don't really get a deep insight into either The Fall or Mark E Smith and you feel that all you get is opinions to back up how hard done by Brix is feeling, still. But fair dues for getting involved with them anyway. After her break up with Mark E the interest in the story is somewhat lost for me and I ran out of the will to spend time on this when she meets Nigel Kennedy as I've absolutely no interest in his jazz parties, their affair (I'm assuming they have one given how she builds it up) or the rest of Brix Smith's life. Not often I close a book half way through but I've got War and Peace to read which is far richer and believable.
Friday, May 12, 2017
Memoirs of a Revolutionist (Peter Kropotkin)
Peter Kropotkin
Memoirs of a Revolutionist
Starts with an early autobiography in various selected chunks relevant to Kropotkin forming his political views and then goes on to detail his activist activities and imprisonments. The first part is very interesting from the point of view of the life of a young Russian aristocrat who is involved in the very highest circles of the Tsarist machine. We glean a fair bit of Russian history too from a fairly personally connected angle. Kropotkin is obviously very intelligent and driven his first love being geography. His adventures take him to re-discover new routes along the Russian Chinese (Sino–Russian) border with exciting journeys down rivers on rafts. Should have been a travel writer. Maybe he was I'll have to check it out. He then becomes more politicized and the story flips between his political views, the socialist / anarchist movements of the time including ructions, personal accounts of his political adventures and escaping from jail. All of which is fascinating in different ways. His life swings between Russian cities and exile in western Europe flitting between Britain, Switzerland and France. The latter of whom lock him up again which towards the end of the book he uses to compare different methods of punishment / rehabilitation between Britain and France (the former is all about punishment, the latter less) concluding that prisons, for criminals rather than political prisoners, are excellent breeding grounds for learning your trade from other inmates, giving you a chip to put on your shoulder in readiness for release and generally being exactly the opposite to ensuring that the prisoner goes the straight and narrow on release. Throughout his political activism and imprisonment Kropotkin continues with his geographical work often having national geographic societies petition the authorities to either release him or at least let him carry on his research and writing in prison. He seems to have been treated pretty well in prison if you disregard the incarceration element. There are aspects that don't sit quite comfortably with me; his privileged upbringing and contacts, the dismissive attitude to others in the socialist camp who don't agree exactly with his views (surely that's the point of true anarchism) and on prisoners he weirdly, at least to modern eyes, dismisses a certain class of prisoner as being immoral by looking in their eyes. And that intelligence is measured by weight of the brain. But I guess these moans are due to me looking at his life and writings through my modern eyes. I think he's written a whole book about prisons and how they are counter productive. Despite this the memoirs are thoroughly readable and fascinating. Even more so as I was also reading Bulgakov's The White Guard which takes place just 18 years after these memoirs were published. The ending is an analysis of the difference between various countries paths to socialism particularly Britain where we seem to evolve rather than revolt. With Corbyn's manifesto nationalising private industry, again, maybe he was right....
Memoirs of a Revolutionist
Starts with an early autobiography in various selected chunks relevant to Kropotkin forming his political views and then goes on to detail his activist activities and imprisonments. The first part is very interesting from the point of view of the life of a young Russian aristocrat who is involved in the very highest circles of the Tsarist machine. We glean a fair bit of Russian history too from a fairly personally connected angle. Kropotkin is obviously very intelligent and driven his first love being geography. His adventures take him to re-discover new routes along the Russian Chinese (Sino–Russian) border with exciting journeys down rivers on rafts. Should have been a travel writer. Maybe he was I'll have to check it out. He then becomes more politicized and the story flips between his political views, the socialist / anarchist movements of the time including ructions, personal accounts of his political adventures and escaping from jail. All of which is fascinating in different ways. His life swings between Russian cities and exile in western Europe flitting between Britain, Switzerland and France. The latter of whom lock him up again which towards the end of the book he uses to compare different methods of punishment / rehabilitation between Britain and France (the former is all about punishment, the latter less) concluding that prisons, for criminals rather than political prisoners, are excellent breeding grounds for learning your trade from other inmates, giving you a chip to put on your shoulder in readiness for release and generally being exactly the opposite to ensuring that the prisoner goes the straight and narrow on release. Throughout his political activism and imprisonment Kropotkin continues with his geographical work often having national geographic societies petition the authorities to either release him or at least let him carry on his research and writing in prison. He seems to have been treated pretty well in prison if you disregard the incarceration element. There are aspects that don't sit quite comfortably with me; his privileged upbringing and contacts, the dismissive attitude to others in the socialist camp who don't agree exactly with his views (surely that's the point of true anarchism) and on prisoners he weirdly, at least to modern eyes, dismisses a certain class of prisoner as being immoral by looking in their eyes. And that intelligence is measured by weight of the brain. But I guess these moans are due to me looking at his life and writings through my modern eyes. I think he's written a whole book about prisons and how they are counter productive. Despite this the memoirs are thoroughly readable and fascinating. Even more so as I was also reading Bulgakov's The White Guard which takes place just 18 years after these memoirs were published. The ending is an analysis of the difference between various countries paths to socialism particularly Britain where we seem to evolve rather than revolt. With Corbyn's manifesto nationalising private industry, again, maybe he was right....
Thursday, May 04, 2017
The White Guard (Mikhail Bulgakov)
Mikhail Bulgakov
The White Guard
A gripping tale of Kiev at the time of the Russian revolution following the fortunes of a once wealthy family who are now holed up in a small apartment. The story follows the taking of Tsarist Kiev by the Ukrainian nationalists around which most of the action revolves as our family and their friends are Tsarist. It's a very personal account of the action referencing the disappearance of the Germans, who are meant to be guarding the city, and the subsequent efforts of the nationalists to track down and wipe out all those who oppose them. It's a bit complicated but I guess that the White Guard are the Tsarists resisting the nationalists who want to break away from Russian domination. The brutality of war is shown to some degree and we have little snippets of the ordinary folk who are involved. Kiev citizens are overjoyed that they now have a nationalist in control but all too soon that is replaced by the Bolsheviks, who everyone seems to be against except for those who are at the bottom of the wealth ladder. Our story ends as they sweep into Kiev to everyone's surprise as they'd been told the Reds had only a handful of soldiers. As a note the translator (Michael Glenny) references a "bunch of punks" and this was back in 1971 I think. Also noticed "heavy metal" so I was wondering if those who allocate musical genres have read this book back in the 70s. A book well worth reading and whilst by no means so epic as War and Peace it does in some ways follow violent turmoil from a family viewpoint.
The White Guard
A gripping tale of Kiev at the time of the Russian revolution following the fortunes of a once wealthy family who are now holed up in a small apartment. The story follows the taking of Tsarist Kiev by the Ukrainian nationalists around which most of the action revolves as our family and their friends are Tsarist. It's a very personal account of the action referencing the disappearance of the Germans, who are meant to be guarding the city, and the subsequent efforts of the nationalists to track down and wipe out all those who oppose them. It's a bit complicated but I guess that the White Guard are the Tsarists resisting the nationalists who want to break away from Russian domination. The brutality of war is shown to some degree and we have little snippets of the ordinary folk who are involved. Kiev citizens are overjoyed that they now have a nationalist in control but all too soon that is replaced by the Bolsheviks, who everyone seems to be against except for those who are at the bottom of the wealth ladder. Our story ends as they sweep into Kiev to everyone's surprise as they'd been told the Reds had only a handful of soldiers. As a note the translator (Michael Glenny) references a "bunch of punks" and this was back in 1971 I think. Also noticed "heavy metal" so I was wondering if those who allocate musical genres have read this book back in the 70s. A book well worth reading and whilst by no means so epic as War and Peace it does in some ways follow violent turmoil from a family viewpoint.
Wednesday, May 03, 2017
The Bible
The Bible
The bible... Office CofE King James version. Gospel. Not a bad start but snakes alive it gets boring with all that repetition. Worse than the old Greek stories and their endless burning of flesh offerings to the gods. And the exciting bits take up about 2 pages whilst building of the covenant take up about 50 so we know in intimate detail how to build our own. Gave up once again pretty early on. Note to self - don't try this again.
The bible... Office CofE King James version. Gospel. Not a bad start but snakes alive it gets boring with all that repetition. Worse than the old Greek stories and their endless burning of flesh offerings to the gods. And the exciting bits take up about 2 pages whilst building of the covenant take up about 50 so we know in intimate detail how to build our own. Gave up once again pretty early on. Note to self - don't try this again.
Tuesday, April 04, 2017
Land of Second Chances: The Impossible Rise of Rwanda's Cycling Team (Tim Lewis)
Tim Lewis
Land of Second Chances: The Impossible Rise of Rwanda's Cycling Team
The rise of cycling in Rwanda following the awful years of genocide. Very readable and fascinating but probably more so if a cyclist. I'm sure that there are much better books relating the aftermath of the civil war both factual and fiction. Starts with the attempted redemption, or escape, of an American in setting up a Rwandan cycling team but as the story goes on turns into how much is due to the drive of the Rwandan cyclists themselves. It unravels a bit at the end somewhat especially as the special efforts in creating the Rwandan team seem to be happening all over Africa so they are not really so far ahead as neighbouring countries with similar challenges. To be fair to the author this is covered and it is billed as about Rwanda so not really a criticism. Just makes you want to read more around the subject which I guess is a positive from a factual book. What seems to be extraordinary is in face commonplace and the heroes are mainly not so but just trying to do their best under extremely difficult circumstances. One criticism is the sweeping generalisations about an entire nation (if it can be called that), if not a continent, but I guess that is part of building up a picture to explain events. I'm sure many authors explain events in the UK referencing our addiction to queueing and huffing under our breath at those who push into lines. Back to the book. Despite a certain whiff of condescension which it's not obvious if from the author or his relaying of this from others the book is a very interesting read and African riders are certainly breaking through into elite cycling. The fact it's taken so long is astonishing on the one hand but there again the challenges detailed in the book document why there are not the 100s of thousands of young keen road cyclists that you get on many continents compared to Africa. The story is book ended by the story of Adrien Niyonshuti (quite a bit in the middle too!) competing in the Olympics in London. An extraordinary story in itself and one which us in our safe european homes can't imagine. Anyways, after all that reading methinks it's time to get off my butt and clip into my pedals in the universal joy of struggling up a hill and freewheeling down.....
Land of Second Chances: The Impossible Rise of Rwanda's Cycling Team
The rise of cycling in Rwanda following the awful years of genocide. Very readable and fascinating but probably more so if a cyclist. I'm sure that there are much better books relating the aftermath of the civil war both factual and fiction. Starts with the attempted redemption, or escape, of an American in setting up a Rwandan cycling team but as the story goes on turns into how much is due to the drive of the Rwandan cyclists themselves. It unravels a bit at the end somewhat especially as the special efforts in creating the Rwandan team seem to be happening all over Africa so they are not really so far ahead as neighbouring countries with similar challenges. To be fair to the author this is covered and it is billed as about Rwanda so not really a criticism. Just makes you want to read more around the subject which I guess is a positive from a factual book. What seems to be extraordinary is in face commonplace and the heroes are mainly not so but just trying to do their best under extremely difficult circumstances. One criticism is the sweeping generalisations about an entire nation (if it can be called that), if not a continent, but I guess that is part of building up a picture to explain events. I'm sure many authors explain events in the UK referencing our addiction to queueing and huffing under our breath at those who push into lines. Back to the book. Despite a certain whiff of condescension which it's not obvious if from the author or his relaying of this from others the book is a very interesting read and African riders are certainly breaking through into elite cycling. The fact it's taken so long is astonishing on the one hand but there again the challenges detailed in the book document why there are not the 100s of thousands of young keen road cyclists that you get on many continents compared to Africa. The story is book ended by the story of Adrien Niyonshuti (quite a bit in the middle too!) competing in the Olympics in London. An extraordinary story in itself and one which us in our safe european homes can't imagine. Anyways, after all that reading methinks it's time to get off my butt and clip into my pedals in the universal joy of struggling up a hill and freewheeling down.....
Under the Skin (Michel Faber)
Michel Faber
Under the Skin
A compelling book on a number of levels. The first few pages suggest a certain path which soon makes way for another before the reality creeps up on you. This is all within a couple of chapters and from then on in it's a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Some of the writing is a little predictable, in complete contrast to the storyline, and at times you feel that if it wasn't for the subject matter then it would be pretty lightweight. Having said this I did get into the characters mindsets and had a certain amount of empathy for them. This was recommended by my friend Beckie who thought that it would appeal to a vegan and the comparisons are obvious. There is comedy at times and pathos in heaps for all concerned. Ultimately there is an unsurprising climax, or rather an anti-climax, leaving you a little disappointed but on reflection it's a fitting end for both protagonist and storyline. The scary part is what big business are planning next but there again it's nothing compared to what goes on in the real world. If I'm a little coy with the facts it's because I don't want to ruin the shock of the storyline. Go read.
Under the Skin
A compelling book on a number of levels. The first few pages suggest a certain path which soon makes way for another before the reality creeps up on you. This is all within a couple of chapters and from then on in it's a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Some of the writing is a little predictable, in complete contrast to the storyline, and at times you feel that if it wasn't for the subject matter then it would be pretty lightweight. Having said this I did get into the characters mindsets and had a certain amount of empathy for them. This was recommended by my friend Beckie who thought that it would appeal to a vegan and the comparisons are obvious. There is comedy at times and pathos in heaps for all concerned. Ultimately there is an unsurprising climax, or rather an anti-climax, leaving you a little disappointed but on reflection it's a fitting end for both protagonist and storyline. The scary part is what big business are planning next but there again it's nothing compared to what goes on in the real world. If I'm a little coy with the facts it's because I don't want to ruin the shock of the storyline. Go read.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Intercept (Gordon Corera)
Gordon Corera
Intercept
As the subtitle says - a fascinating history of how spies have developed and used computers and the internet for nefarious purposes including commercial espionage. Shows the strong link from when Britain leveraged the fact that undersea comms cables landing in Britain to intercept communications through to the US's blanket analysis of virtually all internet traffic going through the States (i.e. most of it) and indeed it's companies where they have installations abroad. And that disregards them hacking into other countries systems - it's sort of for free. A good journalistic mix of fact, supposition and political analysis. The latter is the ongoing fight between state and individuals and companies regarding the freedom for individuals to have privacy vs the state's role in protecting us from those who would do us, and our children, harm. Discuss...
Intercept
As the subtitle says - a fascinating history of how spies have developed and used computers and the internet for nefarious purposes including commercial espionage. Shows the strong link from when Britain leveraged the fact that undersea comms cables landing in Britain to intercept communications through to the US's blanket analysis of virtually all internet traffic going through the States (i.e. most of it) and indeed it's companies where they have installations abroad. And that disregards them hacking into other countries systems - it's sort of for free. A good journalistic mix of fact, supposition and political analysis. The latter is the ongoing fight between state and individuals and companies regarding the freedom for individuals to have privacy vs the state's role in protecting us from those who would do us, and our children, harm. Discuss...
Saturday, February 25, 2017
The Romford Pele (Ray Parlour & Amy Lawrence)
The Romford Pele : It's Only Ray Parlour's Autobiography
Fairly run of the mill auto bio of a footballer. No amazing insights into the game or the team. But if you're a Gooner of a certain vintage you'll enjoy the read spanning Stroller's (George Graham) successful reign and then Arsene's from our first title for ages (when I was up a mountain in South America and missed all the excitement) until our fabulous Double seasons and The Invincibles. All the fun of the fair is described including Tony Adams' fall from grace, and then rise again, (although his auto bio is a far more insightful glimpse into the game) and the fact that the Non-Flying Dutchman aka Dennis Bergkamp was a compulsive practical joker. All the other Arsenal favourites are mentioned and for Gooners this will be a very enjoyable read. Not so sure whether those not enlightened by the best football team that the world has ever seen will enjoy reading it but hey, it's not written for them it's written for us who believed that Ray was our Pele. The sub title refers to a Chelsea fan commentator in an FA Cup Final where our hero picks up the ball and the famous words are uttered only for Ray to let fly into the top corner. Amy is a Gooner and writes a lot about the club so it's hardly going to be an unbiased book. But who in football wants objective opinions...
Fairly run of the mill auto bio of a footballer. No amazing insights into the game or the team. But if you're a Gooner of a certain vintage you'll enjoy the read spanning Stroller's (George Graham) successful reign and then Arsene's from our first title for ages (when I was up a mountain in South America and missed all the excitement) until our fabulous Double seasons and The Invincibles. All the fun of the fair is described including Tony Adams' fall from grace, and then rise again, (although his auto bio is a far more insightful glimpse into the game) and the fact that the Non-Flying Dutchman aka Dennis Bergkamp was a compulsive practical joker. All the other Arsenal favourites are mentioned and for Gooners this will be a very enjoyable read. Not so sure whether those not enlightened by the best football team that the world has ever seen will enjoy reading it but hey, it's not written for them it's written for us who believed that Ray was our Pele. The sub title refers to a Chelsea fan commentator in an FA Cup Final where our hero picks up the ball and the famous words are uttered only for Ray to let fly into the top corner. Amy is a Gooner and writes a lot about the club so it's hardly going to be an unbiased book. But who in football wants objective opinions...
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Morrissey Autobiography (Steven Morrissey)
Morrissey Autobiography
A thoroughly entertaining account of Moz's life from childhood through to about 2010. Early sections bring back memories of how abusive schools were back in the 70s. Today about half the teachers would be up on child abuse charges - both physical and sexual. God only knows what went on which we didn't know about and I feel sick to my stomach when thinking about our Cub Scout troop activities. Anyways we're soon into Morrissey as a young man and getting into music and the formation of the Smiths. And then the acrimonious break up. The book is written in different sections and styles. But with a cynical and defensive, verging on paranoid, thread throughout. Not many who Morrissey comes into contact with come out shining and indeed even those who he seems to value and is close to he gives warts and all details of their foibles. Himself included in a gentler manner to be fair. Those he doesn't like come out looking like demons from hell, or simply complete losers. Geoff Travis of Rough Trade comes in for some stinging treatment which epitomises Morrissey's view that he is brilliant and everyone associated with him is simply leeching off him. The Smiths being helped by RT is simply not entertained. I didn't like the dig at The Raincoats either who I thought were far better than The Smiths but hey. The long passage about his court case rails against the legal system and all who sail her and as for his former band mates... dismissive is an understatement. Although this section is repetitive it's also extremely funny as Morrissey lets us inside his head - ranting people are repetitive aren't they? The rest of the book is about how he becomes the best live band since, well, ever and how much his fans love him and how his record sales are sabotaged by terrible management and a vindictive press. Some of the latter parts are a bit too much of a list of gigs played and how loved he is at them which seems a bit lazy and skips over a chunk of time. Likewise his relationships, platonic and not, which are not delved into in any great detail apart from Morrissey's feelings. But I guess this book is about how he feels in situations rather than facts about them. To be honest I guess we could google those. NME is often in the firing line - and he makes the distinction between the NME and the old New Musical Express, which is well made. I'm not certain that he's completely in the real world (and maybe he doesn't want to be in my version of that) or he's artificially bumping up his unique value to the world. Whatever, it's a brilliant read. Some parts I took as being completely his view and I read it a bit like fiction and who knows the truth. What I love is his single minded belligerence and faith in himself and his laugh out loud cutting down of those he has a pop at. An excellent read that at times is beautifully written especially when opening up his heart to us. Very different from your usual autobiography especially of those in the music business. I'd have like to have seen more about his veganism, which is mentioned in passing a number of times, and about his gladioli. Well worth reading - although you sort of glad that you don't have to spend a lot of time with him.
A thoroughly entertaining account of Moz's life from childhood through to about 2010. Early sections bring back memories of how abusive schools were back in the 70s. Today about half the teachers would be up on child abuse charges - both physical and sexual. God only knows what went on which we didn't know about and I feel sick to my stomach when thinking about our Cub Scout troop activities. Anyways we're soon into Morrissey as a young man and getting into music and the formation of the Smiths. And then the acrimonious break up. The book is written in different sections and styles. But with a cynical and defensive, verging on paranoid, thread throughout. Not many who Morrissey comes into contact with come out shining and indeed even those who he seems to value and is close to he gives warts and all details of their foibles. Himself included in a gentler manner to be fair. Those he doesn't like come out looking like demons from hell, or simply complete losers. Geoff Travis of Rough Trade comes in for some stinging treatment which epitomises Morrissey's view that he is brilliant and everyone associated with him is simply leeching off him. The Smiths being helped by RT is simply not entertained. I didn't like the dig at The Raincoats either who I thought were far better than The Smiths but hey. The long passage about his court case rails against the legal system and all who sail her and as for his former band mates... dismissive is an understatement. Although this section is repetitive it's also extremely funny as Morrissey lets us inside his head - ranting people are repetitive aren't they? The rest of the book is about how he becomes the best live band since, well, ever and how much his fans love him and how his record sales are sabotaged by terrible management and a vindictive press. Some of the latter parts are a bit too much of a list of gigs played and how loved he is at them which seems a bit lazy and skips over a chunk of time. Likewise his relationships, platonic and not, which are not delved into in any great detail apart from Morrissey's feelings. But I guess this book is about how he feels in situations rather than facts about them. To be honest I guess we could google those. NME is often in the firing line - and he makes the distinction between the NME and the old New Musical Express, which is well made. I'm not certain that he's completely in the real world (and maybe he doesn't want to be in my version of that) or he's artificially bumping up his unique value to the world. Whatever, it's a brilliant read. Some parts I took as being completely his view and I read it a bit like fiction and who knows the truth. What I love is his single minded belligerence and faith in himself and his laugh out loud cutting down of those he has a pop at. An excellent read that at times is beautifully written especially when opening up his heart to us. Very different from your usual autobiography especially of those in the music business. I'd have like to have seen more about his veganism, which is mentioned in passing a number of times, and about his gladioli. Well worth reading - although you sort of glad that you don't have to spend a lot of time with him.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Bleak House (Charles Dickens)
Charles Dickens
Bleak House
An epic novel beautifully written with a compelling storyline incorporating many sub plots, which include farce, tragedy, comedy and a proto whodunit murder mystery. This makes it an extremely readable book as we flit between the different styles. The main message is one of love and dependability. One of the most interesting aspects is that much of the book is Esther's Narrative whereby the story is told from a girl's view. There are some stand out passages especially Dickens at his best in describing the appalling poverty of the poor in London. The Tom-All-Alones chapter is one of the most moving descriptions of the dehumanising nature of poverty which you can imagine which is still applicable today both in London and in the world's slums.
I was given this for Xmas 2017 by our lovely close friend Lucienne who is from Belgium but whose grandfather was a regular in London and patronised Simpson's Restaurant in the Strand. The book is a Xmas 1924 gift from Simpson's manager to Lulu's grandad. This is particularly apt as Dickens starts the novel by describing the thick London fog calling it the London Particular. The usual name for the smog was a Peasouper after green pease pudding or pottage or soup. In a typical London slang turnaround the Simpson's chefs nicknamed their pea soup the London Particular after Dickens' description in Bleak House and then this name found it's way onto the official menu. As an afterward Lulu was landlady at another famous London hostelry the Camden Head in Islington. which I used to frequent way back before I'd ever met Lulu. In fact I have a suspicion that she told me not to swear once when I was standing at the bar then back when I was young and foolish.
Bleak House
An epic novel beautifully written with a compelling storyline incorporating many sub plots, which include farce, tragedy, comedy and a proto whodunit murder mystery. This makes it an extremely readable book as we flit between the different styles. The main message is one of love and dependability. One of the most interesting aspects is that much of the book is Esther's Narrative whereby the story is told from a girl's view. There are some stand out passages especially Dickens at his best in describing the appalling poverty of the poor in London. The Tom-All-Alones chapter is one of the most moving descriptions of the dehumanising nature of poverty which you can imagine which is still applicable today both in London and in the world's slums.
I was given this for Xmas 2017 by our lovely close friend Lucienne who is from Belgium but whose grandfather was a regular in London and patronised Simpson's Restaurant in the Strand. The book is a Xmas 1924 gift from Simpson's manager to Lulu's grandad. This is particularly apt as Dickens starts the novel by describing the thick London fog calling it the London Particular. The usual name for the smog was a Peasouper after green pease pudding or pottage or soup. In a typical London slang turnaround the Simpson's chefs nicknamed their pea soup the London Particular after Dickens' description in Bleak House and then this name found it's way onto the official menu. As an afterward Lulu was landlady at another famous London hostelry the Camden Head in Islington. which I used to frequent way back before I'd ever met Lulu. In fact I have a suspicion that she told me not to swear once when I was standing at the bar then back when I was young and foolish.
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