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.