Walls Come Tumbling Down (Daniel Rachel)

Daniel Rachel
Walls Come Tumbling Down: The Music and Politics of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge

History of what it says on the tin by only using quotes from the people involved so no surrounding narrative although that's not really needed given the quotes used. Very interesting but probably of most interest to those of us who lived through those times and can relate to the prevailing society and the bands and their place in changing (did they?) that society. I picked it up on the off chance whilst visiting the Penderyn distillery in Wales and have taken years to read it as was at work to read in my lunch break and since Covid times now dipped into at home. Finally finished but as not a story as such and I know the background easy to dip in and out of.

As I Walked Out One Summer Morning (Laurie Lee

Laurie Lee
As I Walked Out One Summer Morning

The sequel in Laurie's life to Cider with Rosie in which, as you may guess, he leaves his village of Slad in the Cotswolds and walks through southern England before getting a ferry to Spain. Which he then walks the length of staying in cheap posadas, or dossing at the side of the road, and gets by on friendliness and playing his violin. It's the description of character, place and wildlife which are so evocative and make this such a joy to read. You really are transported to a sunset in the Sierra mountains or wake sodden with dew in a wheat field. His description of Gibraltar as covered in clouds like the West Country (I grew up at the southern end of the Cotswolds Way) made me dig out my photo album of when me and Simon travelled to London then hitched through France and trained through Spain into Morocco and yes my photo is a big rock with the upper half covered by cloud rising above it in a big ball. No other clouds around. A photo of the same ferry journey looking back to Morocco is of a shimmering sea without a cloud in the sky. The time in Spain is abruptly ended by the Spanish Civil War to which he returns in the epilogue.

East of Eden (John Steinbeck)

John Steinbeck
East of Eden

An epic classic along the lines of, well, the epic classics where families and stories are intertwined, places are key to the novel and space is made to comment on social, religious and the human spirit and soul. It's the descriptions of places and people that make Steinbeck's novels so special. It's rare to find such love of, and perhaps tiredness of, places in writing. Interesting reading given the setting is a century ago and at times views are uncomfortable and, as often, difficult to know what are Steinbeck's view and language as opposed to how his characters would have thought and spoke. A great thought provoking ending.

To Throw Away Unopened (Viv Albertine)

Viv Albertine
To Throw Away Unopened

An autobiography of Viv's middle age with the running theme of her mother's death. It's extremely soul baring, along with a lot of physical baring, and although a gripping read it's slightly uncomfortable viewing. Some very funny bits in it too especially at very inappropriate moments. Not clear whether they are meant to be funny but given Viv's dark humour I'm sure they are. Having just read Poly Styrene's biography and just after finishing this book watching the film made by Poly's daughter it does make we wonder if having a fairly conventional child will disbar you from becoming an artist or rock star. Makes me want to read Viv's first book about her time in the Slits...