M Train (Patti Smith)

Patti Smith

M Train

An extremely enjoyable read of Patti's musings on life, death, travel, books and coffee. It's a couple of years (I guess) of her life with excursions being the impetus for the musings with recurrent themes including dreams of various things especially the cowpoke cum philosopher cum pilot (as in life). The other recurrence is her love for, fond memory of and dreadful missing of here husband and obvious soulmate Fred Sonic Smith (also a pilot but of planes). It's difficult to describe the book that well as you need to read it but I'll try a bit more. A lovely introspective and meandering style takes you into Patti's life at least a brief moments in time and there's a certain comfortable repetitiveness in it whether it's feeding the cats, drinking coffee at the local cafe or waiting in hotels. All underpinned by watching detective crime episodes which I admit I've never understood. I don't like things too dark. There's a lot about authors who she's met or, yes, idolises and her visiting their graves with objects that fit with them. Yeah quite a lot is darkly nostalgic. Despite this the book is very sympathetic to the reader and comes across beautifully. It also got me into Haruki Murakami which the one story I've read I can understand why she likes him. By the end of the book there is a sense of further loss as a hurricane destroys Rockaway Beach boardwalk (I really need to visit there), her local cafes are gone and a couple of the cats pass away. Plus other things. But really this is a positive story as her new home on the beach escapes complete destruction and is renovated. Things come and go. And the new comes in.

South of the Border, West of the Sun (Haruki Murakami)

Haruki Murakami

South of the Border, West of the Sun

SPOILER. Don't read until you've read the book. It'll only take a train journey from Yorkshire to London then you can get into the following...

Read on way back from Arsene's last game in charge of The Arsenal so maybe feeling a little sentimental. This is a strange story about a man's obsession with women, well one in particular, throughout his life, or at least until we leave him. It's gripping and very well written, or translated, which explains why I read nearly all in one session. The last 10 pages had to wait until I reached home. It's uncomfortable at time and I wavered between feeling sorry for the guy and thinking that he's just a selfish tosser. The latter waned when SPOILER it seems that a lot of what he gets up to is fantasy as if he's schizophrenic or something. Interesting story but ultimately it's a little bit oh he got away with it and all's going to end well in his marriage. Not sure that would happen in real life. Excellent read and makes you think about a lot of things. Including have I damaged anyone along the way and how much have I been damaged. I guess I don't lose BIG SPOILER wads of cash that I received due to following someone around town. If I was ever given it.

The Mandibles (Lionel Shriver)

Lionel Shriver 

The Mandibles: A Family, 2029-2047

A good read following economic melt down and charting the experiences of one family. I won't say a lot more on the plot as don't like spoilers. A mix of social economic observations, a bit of futuristic musing (both societal and tech) with a whole load of human relationships between the different characters providing the main storyline. In a way it's very believable although there are some things which you do think "why would you let that happen". The story telling is fabulous and I didn't want to put it down. Although I took a couple of weeks to get through it (and carted it for 60 miles along the Devon / Dorset south coast path) by the end I just had to finish it and stopped in Victoria Park in the sunshine. I'm not sure that the ending is the climax that it should have been but I guess it's not really that sort of book. It's also proof that whatever else is going on in the world you can only be sure of two things, death and taxes. Appropriately variously ascribed to Franklin (US president), Defoe (Robinson Crusoe) and Bullock. Well worth reading if only in preparation for the inevitable.

Berlin Calling (Paul Hockenos)

Paul Hockenos 

Berlin Calling

Very interesting account of post war Berlin (and a little about it before) focussing on the wall and the libertarians (anarchists, social experimenters and squatters) struggling to carve out space on both sides of the wall. The harder being on the east except for an oddity in housing rules. Excellently written and I assume researched as Paul was there all along. Although American and therefore you sort of feel he's not a native and maybe losing a bit of context I think it means that his view sees the overall context and not just from a Berliners viewpoint. Hard to tell if those involved really changed the world, or Germany, or even Berlin rather than just their own lives but you can't blame them for trying. The legacy is still up in the air as to whether Berlin will be completely gentrified (although I don't like that term - why not call out "bought up by global investors" as opposed to those who want to have somewhere to live and have made a bit of money and can afford to buy a place) or still keep it's anarchist charm. The risk is that the centre turns into a sort of tourist "alternative" cultural centre cum amusement park controlled by big businesses whilst the hinterland and high rise blocks are a bastion of right wing neo-Nazism with scatterings of anarcho-socialism driven out of the centre by land prices. Difficult for me to tell as although I've visited a few times and it seems a vibrant and exciting place there do seem to be a lot of tourists and cultural immigrants from USA and Europe (as opposed to  economic migrants or war refugees) which has a different feel to the mix of people in say London. Back to the book. A good read and worthwhile searching out especially before visiting Berlin. Wish I'd read it before I had especially as my mate is about to move out. And a much better overview of a city than the last book I read which was This is London.

This Is London (Ben Judah)

Ben Judah

This Is London

One dimensional worst case bordering on racist. Sometimes not even bordering on. No success stories - all immigrants shown at their worst. Weird interlude of rich arab princesses - but why focus on them as the only ones who are not in poverty. Even more surreal description of a rich Arab's child birth and if it was related to the book I can't see how. Hardly represents Londoners who are working and not in poverty. Yes it's there but feels like this is sensationalising it. Many of the immigrants complain that there are too many other immigrant groups and the only references to multiculturalism are negative, despite the obvious mix of cultures within London life. Probably no coincidence that the three papers quoted on the jacket are the Telegraph, FT and Sunday Times - just the papers that promote division and the government policies that are worsening poverty and equality. And doing their best to bring about their self prophesies of inter racial strife but Londoners time and again have shown that this won't happen. The plus side is Ben's descriptions many of which are very readable if a little fanciful. Cats fights on the rooftops of Harlesden. Really? I guess give him the benefit of artistic licence. I'm sure he'd make a very good story teller (maybe he is?) but this as a factual book is too mired in examples that Ben thinks prove the rule but don't. Other immigrant groups have been through this over the centuries and Britain has always found a way to incorporate incoming and colliding cultures. Not always without some friction but compared to many other places it's pretty welcoming. The issue is less immigrant poverty and more inequality in society which is what Britain hasn't yet tackled. Post War Labour tried but was sidetracked into having to please the unions who had their own agenda often at odds with equality for all but I guess the Post War Labour Movement is a whole different topic to address. His description of white British is equally generalised and dismissive. The book feels that Ben isn't a native Londoner - the jacket says he was born here but I doubt he's spent his life here. The comparisons on the jacket to Orwell and Down and Out are embarrassing. Whether you like Orwell or not he was down and out (OK, I guess he could bring himself up but he lived it for ages) and on the front line in Spain. Judah dips into the world he's describing often paying cash for stories which, as shown by the red tops, is hardly the best way to get a truthful story. There is a particularly offensive passage at the end describing Brixton as the "end of the line" and saying that you even see white people rushing out of the tube these days. As if whites didn't always live in Brixton. Whilst he may be right that some of Brixton housing is going up in value pushing some out (isn't it in most places in London) the description of whites crossing the road to avoid anyone who is black is both laughable to anyone who lives in south London and offensive. The ending is a bit bizarre as if Ben's been commissioned to write 400 pages and needs some filler. He laughably drops into what he obviously thinks is street language, e.g. using the F word, referring to women working the streets "whores" and going on and on about "hoodies". Maybe save that for a novel Ben which I'm sure would be great if you could ease up on the racial stereotyping. I did persevere to the end after all.

Passion is a Fashion (Pat Gilbert)

Pat Gilbert

Passion is a Fashion: The Real Story of the Clash

An insider story of The Clash which has lots of interviews with those in and close to the band carried out recently (i.e. this century) plus references to others' contemporary interviews and reports. Makes an excellent story and gives a deep insight in the workings of a punk band, their crew, management (under the extraordinary Bernie Rhodes, who apparently got John Rotten / Lydon to audition with the Sex Pistols whilst McLaren was in NYC, which is my only story spoiler) and the rest of the music industry. I say "the rest" as The Clash seem to have had a gang mentality of us against the rest. Gives a potted history of the band before they came together and references the rest of the punk scene. It's comprehensive going from when the catalyst of Rhodes formed the band through to the various fallings out and departures until the end after the, in my opinion, terrible Combat Rock. In many ways the story is inevitable but I along with many others do wonder what if...  Topper hadn't gotten into hard drugs and the foursome who were undoubtedly some of the best musicians around had continued as such. Maybe the outcome would have been the same. Not many groups churn out more than a few decent albums. Some notable exceptions of course including those The Clash had a stand off with in Camden Lock.

Having said it's a great story it does seem as if written by a real fan and although it's warts and all regarding the individuals The Clash as a band comes out as real trailblazers. In some ways they were but one thing missing is much context. From their beginnings, sure the music scene as we saw on TOTP (which The Clash refused to play) was crap except for a few disco tracks that slipped through, but the scene wasn't completely devoid of talent or energy. Throughout the story a bit of context would have been good whether the 70s underground psychedelia (Gong, Hawkwind), where punk went (it didn't end in 1977 - Crass, Exploited, and the diversions of Damned, Stranglers and the seemingly hated Jam / Weller), the 2-Tone Ska story or indeed who else jumped onto rap music (Blondie for one).

So not sure it gives the full picture of The Life and Times (particularty) of The Clash. I guess it isn't billed as that though. But nevertheless a Great Rock n Roll Story (to paraphrase Bernie's collaborator / rival McLaren). Probably entertaining enough as a story whether you like The Clash or not. A must read if you are a Clash fan and especially if you caught their extraordinary live performances it brings back a bit of excitement. I was lucky enough to see them at Bath Pavillion in December 78. Simon's diary confirms that is was on December "12, with the Innocents (?). We got wet waiting outside but it was worth it....  all mates who went to Clash concert knackered out."  Knackered out indeed. I'm damn sure we were after 90 minutes of pure punk power. I'm sure we leapt about like banshees. Now, that's another band bio I should track down. Birthday coming up....?

Decline of the English Murder (George Orwell)

George Orwell

Decline of the English Murder and other essays

Interesting collection of essays by Orwell where you get to know him and where he's coming from a little better. I never tend to intellectualise books, or music, or art, but I can see why people do and this is it. A range of subject matter from the newspaper's coverage of crime through to saucy picture postcards and on to various artists. There's long interludes critiquing Kipling and Dickens which are less interesting in their own right rather than Orwell's view of them and supposedly the view of the liberal educated classes (as Orwell would identify them) around the time of WWII. Reading this whilst reading Kate Tempest did make me analyse the latter a bit more (see review) but not whilst actually reading it. I'm not sure that overthinking the themes of a book is good for you if you then miss the feel of it for looking for deep meaning in every line. As Orwell identifies, Dickens can stray from the plot a great deal and delve into irrelevant detail at times. But if it's enjoyable to read so what as the Anti Nowhere League once said. And I doubt they spent a lot of time angsting about whether their lyrics were meaningful. Just listen to So What. They sounded bloody good though back in the day. Must update Kate T blog so you's know why it was such an intellectual write up.

The Bricks That Built the Houses (Kate Tempest)

Kate Tempest

The Bricks That Built the Houses

Hotly anticipated by myself having seen Kate at Glastonbury last year deliver a truly captivating set which at times quieted the thousands in the audience so you could hear a pin drop. On grass. Or mud. This is a gripping book which is written in a style that Kate uses for lyrics (and I assume her poems although that's another step for me) wherein the descriptions of people and places have a gritty realism viewed from the gutter rather than from lofty spires. I guess you could say viewed from the street rather than penthouses or City skyscrapers. Or perversely from tower blocks rather than bijou cocktail bars. Anyways I digress with facile similes. Although it seems that this is the world that Kate knows there are some bits that make you wonder if she's been right down there and through it all. Her descriptions are full and wide in that everyone involved, and a few that aren't really, have pages dedicated to them in detail which builds up the picture without progressing the plot a great deal. It's a bit like Dickens where he spends pages on people who then fade away. He also described the hectic life of those who struggle to get a footing in life without having lived it himself. At least not to the same extent as many of his characters. Kate also gives us the life history of everyone her hero(ines) pass in the street just about. The plot thickens until it's randomly engineered climax which is where the book starts. After that we don't really get an idea of what's happened to our various friends but I guess that leaves Kate open to a sequel. Definitely would read that. At times I laughed and at times had tears in my eyes. Then there are the passages which you really don't want to know what happens but you just gotta keep on reading. The acknowledgements I guess acknowledge that Kate reached out to many friends for authenticity and to get under the skin of her characters. Gripping. Awkward. Uneasy. Insightful. Read it.

As an aside my music blog aka my memory tells me that I saw her at Glastonbury in 14 (Crows Nest when I didn't know who she was) 16 (Shangri La, somewhere I happened upon) and 17 (deliberately went to see her).

P.S. I got thinking about Dickens because I've been reading George Orwell essays. See next book blog.

P.P.S. I must admit that Orwell's essay also make me think a lot about KT's use of language especially in relation to CD.

Sweet Thursday (John Steinbeck)

John Steinbeck

Sweet Thursday

The sequel to Cannery Row. Follows our friends through a bit of torment and also has a few odd chapters thrown in as if Steinbeck wrote a characterisation and didn't want to make a book of it. The story is a bit corny and the whole thing is not as convincing as the brilliant Cannery Row, or his other books that I've read, but very enjoyable nevertheless. For a lot of books you can forgive slack characterisation and plot details if the story is compelling. In this case it's the reverse. A lot longer than Cannery Row and not sure that adds to it either. But worth reading.

Cannery Row (John Steinbeck)

John Steinbeck
Cannery Row

As I said last time... I've read this a few times and it's one of my favourite books:
https://psibooked.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/john-steinbeck-cannery-row-ive-read.html

I lent my last copy to Pete who leant it to his dad in hospital in Cardiff so hopefully it's doing the rounds and cheering a few folk up. Every time I read it a new angle comes out. Those major events which you thought took half the book are in fact short passages and you notice other things. Maybe I should re-read a lot of books. So little time...  Click the link to see the rest of what I wrote on it. Now reading Sweet Thursday the sequel. Watch this space.

Zero Carbon Britain (Centre for Alternative Technology)

Centre for Alternative Technology
Zero Carbon Britain: Rethinking the Future

Another book I've been reading for ages and not gripping me. OK it's not a thriller although it may have a very unhappy ending if we don't go with what's contained within. It's a bit too scientific and statistical for me. Most who read it for interest probably already know that the environment is going down the pan and we got to do something fast. It's a bit like the books in the 70s giving forecasts of resource depletion and climate change. But they were seen as mad prophesies of doom whereas nearly all of us accept the prophesy these days. So although I heartily agree with the content about half way through I just stopped. I think I'll give it to someone who will make use of the facts and figures to support their work.

Sober (Tony Adams)

Tony Adams
Sober: Football. My Story. My Life.

Bruce gave me this having found on the underground when visiting. It was part of the Books on the Underground where they are left for people to pick up. His Addicted was very interesting especially around the Arsenal dressing room. This book is less so. It's part what he did after Arsenal and his getting into management and part battling his demons and setting up his counselling service. Whilst I guess both are his later years bio there's too much, for me, banging on about the spiritual side and it all seems a little defensive and pious at the same time. I can't fault TA6 for keeping off the booze which must be painfully hard and he seems to have handled it brilliantly. But it's not gripping reading and it's one of the few books I've not been bothered to finish. Oh, and the next one I'm about to write about.

No is Not Enough (Naomi Klein)

Naomi Klein
No is Not Enough: defeating the new shock politics

Excellent analysis of why it shouldn't be a surprise that Trump is in power and how he, and others like him, i.e. those running our capitalist systems, will continue to engineer massive shocks (economy, wars, environment) as it's precisely those that allow them to implement draconian laws (austerity whilst bailing out bankers, the war on terror and increased "security" aka police state at home, build nuclear power stations as low carbon alternative whilst also pushing further fossil fuel extraction). I was wondering at the time of Trump's triumph if I was a bit paranoid - maybe he is just a complete twat who accidently got into power. A bit like Johnson. But this book tells me it's not paranoia. Whilst most of the book is a depressing validation of how the world is going it ends on a positive note in that history tells us that some massive shocks can unite people and push for social justice - such as the introduction of the welfare state, NHS and nationalisation of industries in the UK after WWII. I tend to think that the march of history is towards a collective society although we sometimes have (major) set backs. I guess that's Marx in the background. Klein's view is that due to environmental melt down the next push forward must be a Leap (sounds a bit Maoist!) as we've no time to lose. Various pressure groups need to combine to push a wide agenda that covers all their wants. Whilst an excellent analysis I don't think that Klein gets to the logical conclusion in that if the wrongs of the world are due to the capitalist military industrial system then that needs to be replaced. With what isn't really articulated apart from greater democracy and local decision making. Maybe a book for the American market is going to far in stating that a collective, communist, anarchist model of society is the alternative to capitalism if you agree that the latter is bound to stamp on everyone and everything (environment) as that's what it's ethos is.

A few topics I think should have been covered, at least in passing, which I don't recall. The whole medical system built up to sell expensive drugs for ailments that are better tackled at source (our poor diets) often meaning that the taxpayer further subsidises big business whilst pricing poorer countries out of the market. On diet, the major contribution to poor health and poor environment is the animal husbandry / exploitation industry (I can't call keeping thousands of hens in a warehouse "farming") producing poor quality hormone and chemically laden foods, releasing poisonous chemicals into the environment, contributing massive CO2 transport costs and putting the means of production of foods into the hands of big business through genetically modified, and therefore patented, seeds. Brexit is also mentioned as an example of a xenophobic backlash of populism. Although a lot of the campaign that was high profile in the media was of that ilk and no doubt contributed to the vote outcome it's not as simple as Klein glosses over. She often references the way that the EU banks force austerity and privatisation of state assets onto faltering economies and indeed states that Germany post 2008 invested in it's economy including local energy production whilst forcing other EU countries (Greece, Italy, etc. etc.) down the detrimental "austerity" road. That's the reason why a lot of people voted to leave the EU - due to the unfairness in the powerful north European states butchering the southern states in a neo-colonialist manner. It's an irony that many saw Labour as pro EU and the Tories as anti EU whereas in fact many on the far left think of the EU as yet another institution supporting a failing capitalist system and the far right (economically if not politically) use it to artificially support failing industries through taxpayer subsidies, including large "farming" companies. Did the City of London want Brexit? I think that says it all. I hope that Klein hasn't made the classic mistake of thinking that UK citizens, or rather subjects but that's a topic for another day, are confusing being part of Europe with being part of the EU. One is a feeling of community and kinship with neighbours, the other an artificial institution that is bloated, full of red tape and at best wastes money and worse subsidises those that don't need it/

Having given my two cents worth this is an excellent book and the Leap Manifesto at the back is great.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...?

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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....

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 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.

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.....

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.

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...