Face It (Debbie Harry)

Debbie Harry
Face It: A Memoir

A very readable and interesting account of Debbie's time in early 70s New York and the start of the punk scene. As much about her feelings and looking back from the present as about the facts of what went on. Written in anecdotal form starting way back as an adopted child. A lot more interesting that I thought it would be as I guess I never realised quite what her background was and to be honest not really followed her since the late 70s. Maybe I should have. The only time I saw her was relatively recently at Glastonbury as I passed Blondie playing on one of the stages. Well worth a read.

Lady Susan (Jane Austin)

Jane Austin
Lady Susan

An interesting tale about a near shameless woman who neglects her daughter, indeed seems to dislike her, and plays men, and women, off against each other with skill and selfishness helped by her charm and extreme good looks. It's another in the long line of stories about women and what they have to do to survive especially in times when it was extremely hard to without a man by your side. All the more interesting as Jane was very young when this was written (thought to be 19) although it wasn't published for over 50 years after her death. Possibly because it seems to not to make a moral indignation about Susan who is treating people badly and having an affair with a married man whilst stringing others along. My theory that. A great short story.

The Gambler/Bobok/A Nasty Story (Fyodor Dostoevsky)

Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Gambler/Bobok/A Nasty Story

Three different angles of Dostoevsky. The Gambler is a long story about addictive gambling with the highs and lows that it brings. Brilliantly written. Bobok is a strange little tale listening in on the dead whilst A Nasty Story is just that. An excellently written piece about good intentions, albeit extremely condescending, gone wrong in spectacular fashion. Three good reads.

Woolwich Arsenal FC: 1893-1915 (Tony Attwood, Andy Kelly, Mark Andrews)

Tony Attwood, Andy Kelly, Mark Andrews

Woolwich Arsenal FC: 1893-1915 (The Club That Changed Football)

One for die hard Gooners no doubt but nevertheless very interesting as the club moved from amateur status to professional, moved grounds ultimately to north London and whilst being the first London club to join the League proper being promoted to the top flight and then demoted for the only time which is unique. Those who aren't Gooners may be interested in how many players came from up north and Scotland, partly due to the armaments factory and partly as professional players, and the life expectancy which was pretty high all things considered. A good read for the fan.