Is It Tomorrow Yet? (Ivan Krastev)

Ivan Krastev

Is It Tomorrow Yet?* Paradoxes of the Pandemic

A very topical essay on how the current Covid-19 pandemic may, or may not, fundamentally change the way that we live from a political perspective. Whether regimes will become more democratic or more tyrannical, how the population will respond through nationalism or embracing others, whether democratic regimes will force more decisions through the executive rather than through parliaments and how the European experiment will fare area all intelligently explored. Of course we don't know the answers as yet and although likely scenarios are covered the author does state that the roads we travel down are as yet unknown. An interesting angle is that whilst despotic regimes, if not all in power, like a bit of chaos to whip up public opinion in their favour it's usually manufactured or at least stage managed to ensure more power goes to those already in power. Give or take a political party but no revolutionary upheavals certainly in Europe. But the pandemic is different as it blind sided nearly everyone and all countries responses were broadly similar for fear of getting it wrong and being seen to have endangered many lives whilst it was obvious that we should be doing what other countries are. Which is why so much of the world is now under more stringent attacks on civil liberties that anyone could have imagined 12 months ago. Three quarters of the population of England are in Tier 4 as I write meaning that we are not allowed to leave our houses except for specific reasons including going to work in essential services, school or for limited exercise. It is illegal to be outside without a good reason. I'm sure that re-reading that in 5 years will seem incredible. As an aside the UK has left the EU as of 1st January 2020 and the transition period ends tomorrow (31/12/20). The EU nations showed their lack of commitment to their experiment by closing country borders in response to the pandemic and keeping all equipment including personal protection equipment (PPE) inside their borders indeed refusing to send any to the first affected countries such as Italy who were desperate. As per the Great Recession of 2008 the richer EU nations such as Germany and France have shown their scorn for the other EU nations and made it clear that they are only in the EU to further their economic interests. The pandemic has shone a spotlight on many areas of political and economic life across the world and as Krastev suggests may lead to de-globalisation (countries need to be able to resource themselves) whilst also paradoxically leading to de-localisation (as we see our neighbours less than those far from us through the media and video links). A thought provoking read.

The Man from London (Georges Simenon)

Georges Simenon
The Man from London

An odd little tale about someone accidentally witnessing a murder and ending up with a suitcase of money. The story is less about the action than the personality of the main character who sort of drifts along in a haze making seemingly random decisions. The ending is odd except that you sort of know that that is a likely outcome. Ultimately it seems to be about how what seems like a random act can affect people who are strangers but bound together in that act, although being strangers dealing with the consequences in their own ways and to a great extent having to deal with them alone. Worth a read.

The Rider (Tim Krabbé)

Tim Krabbé

The Rider

Meyrueis, Lozere, June 26, 1977. Hot and overcast. I take my gear out of the car and put my bike together. Tourists and locals are watching from sidewalk cafes. Non-racers. The emptiness of those lives shocks me.

Possibly the best opening lines to a book in capturing the essence of the read as much as that other epic opening of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The book is a brilliantly evocative description of a mountainous road race with breaks to describe the writer's cycle race history and snippets about other professionals. It's written with such passion and skill that you can feel the highs and lows and pain suffered in bike racing. One passage is of Tim racing with famous riders in surreal circumstances (lending Mercx a fork to each fried mashed potato is verging on the trippy and are obviously dreams. A great book worth a read whether a cyclist or not.

To the Lighthouse (Virginia Woolf)

Virginia Woolf

To the Lighthouse

An interesting read that jumps about different character's views without really tying them all up in a sort of stream of consciousness style especially in passages dedicated to one person. Sometimes it jumps about in a stream of different people's thoughts and perspectives that keeps you on your intellectual toes. There's not really a strong story line, apart from the thread of going to the lighthouse, which is hardly a spoiler. The story threads are more about feelings between the characters some of which are incidental and some more in depth. The relationships seem to be more about perception of others from each person's viewpoint which neatly mimics what most human relationships are as aren't our views on others mainly driven by our views rather than what they actually do? To some extent at least. Despite not being action heavy I was hooked at times and couldn't put it down. Better than Mrs Dalloway but maybe I should read that again in one stretch.

Black Routes (Brian Belton)

Brian Belton

Black Routes: Legacy of African Diaspora

Recommended by my work colleague who was taught by the author at college. A run through of a number of Black activists and authors. Very interesting and led me to find out more and read some of the people he chooses. It does seem very personal and random with no real thread running throughout. The commentary is from a personal point of view and it's often difficult to know if you are reading the author's views or the person he's writing about. This personal angle is taken to extremes in writing about an ex West Ham player who becomes a very successful coach in the USA. We are then led into a long list of games played and successful players that he's coached which is not really that interesting, unless you are a fan of MLS, and this chapter takes a quarter of the book. To be honest it feels like a massive filler. But the most disappointing part of the book is the very short chapter on Louis Farrakhan who whilst undoubtably has a very large following is not condemned by the author for his views (widely extremely conservative) and as someone who has endorsed Trump sits very uncomfortably alongside the others in the book.

The essential Nawal El Saadawi: a reader (Nawal El Saadawi)

Nawal El Saadawi

The essential Nawal El Saadawi: a reader

A collection of articles, essays, non fiction, fiction, poetry drama and interviews about a feminist, socialist, libertarian (as in wanting liberty for people, not in the modern free market sense which serves to enslave) activist. That probably sums it up. Just go read it. Makes me want to read more of her stuff.

Leaving the Yellow House (Saul Bellow)

Saul Bellow
Leaving the Yellow House

A short story about a woman who probably needs to (according to others) but doesn't want to leave her house. Punchy and witty it's a great read with a serious underlying theme, more so in these days, and a great ending.

Black and British: A Forgotten History (David Olusoga)

David Olusoga

Black and British: A Forgotten History

Read for my work Black History Book Club this is a very readable history from Roman times up to the present day. It covers the ebb and flow of black history within the UK itself which is not just related to the slave trade and subsequent migrations from the West Indies and latterly Africa. Obviously the trade between the UK, Africa and the Americas is a large part of the history but by no means all. Current issues around racism and integration are covered. An excellent read being thought provoking as to how we got to where we are today and what the future may bring.

Complete Fairy Tales (Brothers Grimm)

Brothers Grimm

Complete Fairy Tales

An entertaining and interesting collection of folk tales. Lots of recurring themes and some fairly gruesome endings for people - the standard punishment for malevolent behaviour seemingly to be put in a barrel with nails hammered into it and rolled down a hill. A very interesting commentary on the tales is at the back which is a shame as would have been even more interesting if read before the tales to put them in context.

Frankenstein (Mary Shelley)

Mary Shelley
Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus

We all know the story right? But what you see in the films and the quick summary "man makes man cobbled together with other bits of men and brings to life with electricity whilst laughing manically then monster goes on rampage scaring young women resulting in a mob with flaming torches running him out of village". Not at all. Indeed the bringing to life bit is in a way disappointingly brief and with no detail. I guess so we don't copy and make our own "monster". By the way, the "creature" is never named - Frankenstein is the creator. It's a harrowing tale with stories within stories and this edition has a long introduction that gives various angles on the book. Whatever you want to read into it the story is excellently written and although, as with all horror stories, there are moments of "why on earth would you do that". As in all good novels the characters are complex and their thoughts and actions make you think about your own. As well as a comprehensive introduction this edition also has two other short pieces that were written at the same time as this was conceived one evening by Shelley, Shelley, Byron and his doctor.

Anyone But England (Mike Marqusee)

Mike Marqusee
Anyone But England : cricket and the national malaise

Interesting run through of the history of cricket focusing on England (or should that be England and Wales?) with a comparison to the wider political and economic changes in the UK and it's empire.

Written in 1994 by an American who is obviously pretty left wing and gives a corresponding analysis. I don't agree with everything written in the book and I must confess whilst it's uncomfortable having some home truths thrown at you by someone who has settled here of their own volition (i.e. not a refugee in any way) I do feel a bit like asking whether your native country is any better - or indeed much worse. Nevertheless a thought provoking book. I wonder what Bruce will think of it.

Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)

Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre

Very readable story about a young woman's fight to get on in the world whilst preserving her self respect. Beautifully descriptive and a gripping story. Spoiler alert... The long section about her cousin gets a bit tedious and seems very uncharacteristic of Jane in her offer to her cousin. I wonder if that was put in to suit contemporary tastes as to the place of women given religious sensibilities although that seems very odd given the rest of the book. The ending is pretty standard for novels of this time although still very satisfactory as our heroine wins out. Now to read the introduction by a scholar to find out the hidden meanings I missed or misinterpreted! 

Mutual Aid: A Factor in Evolution (Peter Kropotkin)

Peter Kropotkin

Mutual Aid: A Factor in Evolution

A riposte to philosophers and political economists who assert that Darwin's theories on survival of the fittest lead to a dog eat dog society where every man is out for himself. Which is unfair on dogs and indeed ignores women. This philosophy has justified and supported the capitalist system and whilst times have changed since 1902 when this was first published much is the same. Some of the statements could be made by the media and politicians today such as the poor are only there because of their vices and shouldn't be helped, or at least only enough to stop widespread social unrest. Kropotkin asserts that survival is based on mutual aid rather than individuals fighting each other and starts by giving examples in the animal kingdom (including the much maligned dog) then through the various stages of human society from "savages" in tribes to "barbarians" in villages. The removal of common land in medieval times has led to the decrease in mutual aid as a way of life but despite the state and religions attempts to remove mutual aid (including outlawing gatherings in societies) it still continues across the globe and within various class boundaries. He is obviously hopeful that mutual aid will replace central state control of our lives and that common ownership of land and industry will develop and rise across the world. Although an anarchist Kropotkin's mutual aid is very close to theoretical communism and indeed that's a term he uses a lot to describe societies run on mutual aid lines (rather than calling it anarchism). Kropotkin is very clear that the state cannot be trusted and is ineffective in the further evolving of humans but that individualism is also dangerous as this is what capitalism is based on. Indeed his view of a state being used to keep certain individuals rich and the mass of people poor is exactly the direction that we are going in our current societies globally. There again the willingness of most people to help each other (i.e. mutual aid) has been, once again, highlighted in a moment of crisis the current one being Covid-19 where even the Tory MPs who voted down an increase in nurses pay have had to show solidarity by clapping the NHS key workers on a Thursday. Whilst that is obviously paying lip service for media photo ops it shows that mutual aid is not dead and indeed is expected within societies. There is yet hope...

Three Hours (Rosamund Lupton)

Rosamund Lupton

Three Hours

After the first 20 odd pages where I thought "am I enjoying this" it suddenly becomes a thriller that I couldn't put down. The basic plot is a terrorist attack on a school that focuses on who the attackers are and the personal heroics of a refugee and his younger brother. Various plots are weaved into the thriller and much to analyse our view of refugees and those who help them. Good read.

Capital (Karl Marx)

Karl Marx

Capital

I thought I'd get back into my academic economics with a nod to my formal education but it's tough going and you know where it's leading and why it's leading there and how right Marx was. But with hindsight you don't need to be taught all the reasons why we're in the state we are due to capitalism. I guess at the time it was fairly new and many countries were still struggling to come out of feudalism but 150 years on it's been too long living under the supposed rule of markets and this text seems like an awfully long way of telling us what we can see all around. I was reading whilst working my way through my vinyl and at Crass I just thought there are other things to read that I would learn more from. Laid down just past page 100.

How Democracies Die (Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt)

Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future

A coherent and interesting analysis of how democracy within the USA has been eroded over the last few decades culminating in the way that Trump is acting as president. My problem with the book is that although it mentions apassing how the USA wasn't really that democratic internally and definitely not externally given all the non democratic regimes the USA supported and indeed initiated it misses the point that USA governments have never ideologically supported democracies. The authors stating that Chile was an example of a lasting democracy in 1989 when Pinochet was still in charge?! There are loads of such instances. Examples of American politics stopping potential totalitarians but in fact they were assassinated or nearly so rather than stopped by politics. They ignore USA & USSR & others meddling in other's politics with only a passing reference to CIA funding of Pinochet and no list of all the other elected regimes toppled by the CIA. In fact that's the main reason democracy fails. Because it's not working in the present western system for most citizens of the west and certainly not for developing nations. Why should we keep western democracies when they fail citizens through capitalist exploitation and this book seems to be a reason for keeping society as it is i.e. increasing inequalities in the west and exploitation of the rest of the world through supporting undemocratic regimes which is highly hypocritical of both regimes and to some extent the authors. They only see good democracies as two party states and don't say much about the "forbearance" of politics when crushing democratic left leaning and environmental organisations. There is no analysis of the economics of USA i.e. capitalism wanting to keep a two party system keeping most citizens in check and how due to globalisation big business will want to exploit Americans like any others. Which is what is driving Trump and his supporters. Overall this seems like a capitalist apology to keep the status quo with no coherent analysis of the overall system. So maybe the book isn't that coherent - at least lacking a high level view.

Anthem (Ayn Rand)

Ayn Rand

Anthem

A shortish story I read in an evening somewhat similar in plot to Fahrenheit 451. Future dystopian society with rebellious individual seeing the reality of the life he leads. Without giving the plot away you do wonder if our hero would build a much better society themselves given his views and actions. Worth reading though. 

Lorna Doone (R. D. Blackmore)

R. D. Blackmore
Lorna Doone

A romance of Exmoor which weaves in traditional ways of life, social standing analysis, wider political upheavals such as the Monmouth Rebellion and the Bloody Assizes plus robbery and worse. Can't remember why I chose to read this (was a recommendation in another book I think) and as a mate said "Why the hell are you reading that?!". But an excellent read with the right amount of descriptive detail and action. Written at the time that Thomas Hardy was writing and both very similar in style and content. Good plot and you are left wondering about the fate of Lorna until the last few pages so don't read the introduction first!

The First Gunners (Brian Belton)

Brian Belton
The First Gunners : Arsenal from Plumstead to Highbury

A history of the first years of The Arsenal from their formation at the Woolwich Arsenal and first game on the Isle of Dogs. All the way to their move to Highbury which at the time seemed to be as controversial as Wimbledon going to Milton Keynes. However going north of the river was only 10 miles and Plumstead has never produced the equivalent of AFC Wimbledon to replace Woolwich Arsenal. An interesting read both for Gooners (I recently cycled to every Arsenal home ground except for their one match in Gillingham) and for those interested in the early formation of football clubs especially those in the south. A shame not more pictures except for the fantastically posed front cover.

Mrs Dalloway (Virginia Woolf)

Virginia Woolf
Mrs Dalloway

A stream of prose that is almost poetic in it's structure and descriptions. Follows an ageing (well, older) woman who's hosting a society party and various old acquaintances who turn up. Parallel story of a war veteran going mad. Always running through it is whether the characters have made the right choice in life (most seem to have) but the most sure seems to be be war veterans young wife. A good read but if you put down for a few days difficult to remember where you are. Worth reading if just for the descriptions of London life.

The Man Who Saw Everything (Deborah Levy)

Deborah Levy

The Man Who Saw Everything

A book I read in a day on Easter Saturday during Coronavirus Lock Down. It's interesting with quirky themes and good descriptive writing which makes you concentrate on what's going on. But sometimes a little too artificial putting in unlikely situations just to make a point. There's a lot of flash backs and forwards and what seems real turns out not to be or maybe not. There are a few things that don't quite make sense to me at the end but to be honest the story itself and the characters don't make me care that much so I don't bother to re-read sections that may give a little light to my questions. Good while it lasted forget and move onto a classic.

Broken Greek (Pete Paphides)

Pete Paphides
Broken Greek, A story of chip shops and pop songs

A very readable and entertaining coming of age (well, nearly) story focussing around this music critic's Greek heritage and how he breaks away from that heritage as a boy growing up in Birmingham. Of course music is the big theme throughout focussed very much on pop songs and the Top 40. There's the rub. To be fair Pete is very young throughout the story and I guess you can forgive a 9 year old thinking that the Barron Knights are gods (well, possibly) but he seems to have invested so much into bands who are really there to make money that the underground seems to have missed him. Even his older brother's and friends less poppy tastes are within the context of whether they're on TOTP. Nevertheless a very entertaining book taking you back to your childhood and indeed some of the sights and sounds of Birmingham where I lived in the early to mid 80s when Pete was at senior school. Memories of Reddingtons Rare Records (long since gone with new retail developments) and the circular bus route that takes 2 hours to go round Birmingham. I'd like to read the next installment and see how his musical tastes develop...

David Bowie: The Last Interview

David Bowie: The Last Interview: And Other Conversations

Series of interviews which show an excellent insight into Bowie's work the one with William Burroughs being the most interesting. Bowie is prescient of the age of internet downloads (although not articulated as such) and his self confessing contradictions are also evident between early and later interviews. A good read.

The Holy Sinner (Thomas Mann)

Thomas Mann

The Holy Sinner

Fascinating story about sin both premeditated and unknowingly committed. All fairly believable, just about, but stretched a bit towards the end. Descriptions are marvellous.

A Room of One's Own (Virginia Woolf)

Virginia Woolf

A Room of One's Own

A long essays from two readings about how difficult it has been for women to make a mark in literature. I won't try to summarise here suffice to say that it's an interesting read especially looking at how much has changed, and not, since 1928. Many of her predictions have come true mainly based around women needing a room of their own to write in and £500 a year (take inflation into account!) to give them time to write. Some of her views as to women playing football are a little odd as it was very popular after WWI but maybe someone from her upbringing didn't go see football. Worth a read and I must read more of her stuff.

In Search of Robert Millar (Richard Moore)

Richard Moore

In Search of Robert Millar

An in depth write up of Millar's stellar career, well compared to those Brits who had come before, and the disappointing ending of it. Written by a keen nearly-was cyclist who has a real feel for the sport and those in it. Millar comes over as a mixed up sort of guy who some think is lovely, funny (albeit darkly humorous) and committed. Others think it's a complete twat and to be fair some of his actions (throwing away a young autograph hunters paper and pen) support this view. He was both. He didn't like the pressures of pro cycling and refused to play along. There again, that's the world he wanted to be in. He was undoubtedly a brilliant climber possibly the best we've ever produced. The book is written after Millar's career has ended and he's vanished from both public view and those who knew him. There are stories that he's going through a change into a woman and his few statements not denying that fuel the tabloid media fire. Some of his close friends think it's ridiculous and others think it's been obvious for ages. Both sets seem to have a view of "so what - let him be what he wants" which is odd given that in sports there are so few that are not seen as straight - at least among men. Millar's analysis of the use of stats and science on the track can never be translated to road racing has been undone by Sky's success in the grand tours. As a final note here's an article about Millar after he's come out as transitioning...

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/06/philippa-york-gender-transition-cyclist-robert-millar

Everywhere We Go (Dougie and Eddy Brimson)

Dougie and Eddy Brimson

Everywhere We Go

This was recommended by one of my mates but a bigger load of crap I've not read about football. Starts off by saying that if you don't agree with what's written then you're a middle class intellectual which is a sure sign that you're about to read a load of sexist, racist and / or homophobic nonsense. The sexism starts immediately saying that women can't enjoy football as much as men. I assume the same goes for fans who are transgender but I doubt that these boys have any contact with anyone who isn't a straight "red blooded" male or a straight woman. I didn't read far enough to read anything racist so maybe I'm being unfair but I doubt it. What I did read seemed to be about the author - or authors? as seems to be written in the first person as if the brothers are the same person - running towards or away from opposing hooligan fans. I don't think I read about him (them) hitting anyone. Maybe that comes later. Getting bored with what seems to be an excuse to let us know how hard he (they?) are by running towards or away from people I skipped to the bit about Bath City thinking that it may be about a couple of the skin heads I knew at school but which was nothing to do with violence. It was some bloke telling us he's not on the spectrum although he visits every non league ground on his way on holiday to Devon - not to watch a match mind just to say he's been there. Christ knows how his wife put up with it before leaving after 5 years. He also writes an incorrect account of when Bristol City fans set fire to Twerton Park. I then gave up. Having a Daily Mail quote on the cover says it all. Titillation about bad boys for those who were too scared to stand on the terraces themselves.

Cider With Rosie (Laurie Lee)

Laurie Lee

Cider With Rosie

An evocative memory of life growing up in rural Gloucestershire Cotswolds as life changed from century old ways into the modern world. It was a time when villages and communities policed themselves which I guess can be good or bad dependent on the whims of those communities but seems far better than the centralised policing of today. It's edgier than I remember but maybe that's a reflection of how times have changed over the last few decades than my memory. So well written that I found it difficult to put down. "It is not crime that has increased, but its definition. The modern city, for youth, is a police-trap."  That was written 60 years ago and is even more relevant now.

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race (Reni Eddo-Lodge)

Reni Eddo-Lodge

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

A challenging read and therefore a difficult book to review. Basis is about structural racism and how in particular white people don't realise how much it's in place and suffer from colour blindness or at least think that they do whilst still being part of the structurally racist society. And white people's inability to see that is why the author got tired of talking to white people about race. I think that's her reason. I can see the reasons for the structural racism viewpoint which are very strongly laid out in the book. However, there were times when I didn't agree with everything that was written but the come back is that things that I don't agree with is due to my bias and that someone who isn't white would see things from a different perspective leading to a different view. Maybe. It's a sort of Catch 22 situation for anyone who doesn't agree with the author. Having said that who am I to say she's wrong given that I am white British. Interesting and provocative chapter on feminism and also another on class which in my view is what is at the core of those agents in society who are happy to play the racist card and to encourage others to be racist. Keeping people down gaining little of the rewards that we should and could enjoy as a society, whilst letting a few up, is the underlying structure of our society. A very thought provoking book. I'm sure there's a reason but after reading all this the publishes have decided to put recommendations from those two media organs that have done more than most to perpetuate the systemic fault lines in society indeed have both been unashamedly and openly racist which seems a little odd.

Beastie Boys Book (Ad-Rock and Mike D)

Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz‎

Beastie Boys Book

A series of anecdotes and tales of being a Beastie Boy from the two surviving members. Well, the two surviving members of the trio that are the best known Beastie Boys. The others who fell by the wayside are documented in what seems like an honest and reflective manner. This isn't a definitive "and then we played London" biography of the band but dips into their lives and records giving a really good flavour of what makes them tick, the differences between them and how they made records. The chapters are written by one or the other often with the other putting in side notes to contradict what's written. It also has input from others such as their sacked female drummer all of which gives and insight into the band. It's a great read. I thought it would be a great book to dip into especially as it isn't strictly chronological and has loads of great photos but it was so compelling I couldn't put it down. Now I've finished it. Damn!