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!

Lee Brilleaux (Zoë Howe)

Zoë Howe

Lee Brilleaux: Rock 'n' Roll Gentleman: The Adventures of Dr Feelgood's Iconic Frontman

Excellent read of the life of Lee and his Canvey Island mates. More of a romp through the musical aspects of his life than really digging into his personal life and personality although he gigged so much maybe there wasn't a lot else. The difference between driven on the road Lee and at home with kids Lee is explored but not so much as, say, the Ian Dury biography I've just read. Zoë wrote the Wilko book so is well placed within the scene to guide us through the life of Lee according to his nearest and possibly not so dearest. Very entertaining and you come away liking Lee as much as you did before you started. Which isn't the same for Ian! Worthwhile time spent if only to nudge you into watching some of the Wilko era live footage on YouTube.

The Brothers Karamazov (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The Brothers Karamazov

An epic novel in the 19th century style where we really get under the skin of the main characters whilst having analysis of the minor characters to a depth that most modern novels struggle to get to for their main characters. The Russian character itself and it's change during the turbulent years of the end of serfdom is analysed indeed the book is a parallel to the author's view of that shift. And prescient of the upheavals of the early 20th century. Of course there are pages and pages of the authors views on various subjects mainly related to ethics, Russian culture, family and religion some of which go on a bit but which is why I like these long novels. At least I didn't have to read 50 pages about the Parisian sewers as in Hugo. It's is very modern in many ways as much of the conflict, which our characters display to extremes, is about society and it's structure supported by values (not necessarily good values such as serfdom) and how we are moving to an age of individualism where we decide ourselves what is right and wrong ignoring societal structures (family, class system) and it's values. This rings true today. Maybe it does at all times in history? This story has the differences in extremes to the extent that all is legal and should not be subject to laws. An anarchism of the less helpful sort in this case. Of course the romantic and personal relationship struggles are dominant making the story more interesting. A bit of luck me buying this as I found an Everyman edition in the 20p shop in Otley then realised it was only the 2nd volume so had to buy the matching first volume (obviously wanted the same translator) for a whole £3.89 (incl. P&P) from an on-line "rare" books shop. Well worth just over 4 quid.

The Reader (Bernhard Schlink)

Bernhard Schlink

The Reader

Excellent read (translator must take some credit) and story about a young man who, well comes of age and gets into an interesting relationship which forms the story. Won't say more as there are interesting twists and turns. Gets philosophical in the self analysis and ultimately extremely thought provoking not just of the immediate subject matter but in more general terms. Well worth reading. 

Ian Dury: The Definitive Biography (Will Birch)

Will Birch

Ian Dury: The Definitive Biography

Well researched and written story of Ian's life and his idiosyncrasies. A lot of very funny stories but underpinned by someone who was a bit fucked up mentally and possibly went through a lot more trauma at school than he lets on. I can only go by this book but it seems like he was a right cunt which is a label he seemingly spread liberally to others. I guess like a lot of people who make it in show business - lovely to see them up on stage but would you want them as a friend. Maybe I should only read biographies of those I don't like. Shame Ian never wrote that autobiography, his only two words in it being "Hallo sausages" as maybe that would set a better context for his behaviour. Worth reading, but not if he's an idol of yours.

Murphy (Samuel Beckett)

Samuel Beckett

Murphy

Excellent story centred around someone who is beloved by all, well, lusted after, and his self fulfilling prophecy that him having to work to please his squeeze will result in her losing him. Wittily written with more than a few passing references to either expressions, languages, events or simply words that I'm not familiar with so probable even more witty and enjoyable to either those living in the 1930s who were better educated than what I am and have lived in Paris and other exotic locations. Nevertheless a very enjoyable read ranging from a serious analysis of what is deemed madness to laugh out loud situations and pathos. There you go. I do know Greek.

Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451

Classic I've not read before harking back to the Nazi's book burning and also the more current American reds under beds witch hunts of the McCarthy era. Still going on in a lot of the world whether by public burning or simply closing down internet sites. The story follows a "fireman" (as in one who burns houses containing books rather than saving houses) who comes round to a different way of thinking. It's a dystopian world that we seem to be at least half way into where the population are encouraged to enjoy their trite entertainment (now a hell of a lot worse than in the 50s) and not to worry themselves about thinking too much. Or not at all. Hence the banning, and burning, of all books. Sound familiar? As in other similar books we follow one person who's fighting the system although not too sure why or how. An interesting ending. One scary bit is the mechanical dog which is now a reality if you've seen the MIT cheetah robotic dog jumping. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Utopia (Thomas More)

Thomas More

Utopia

Classic text on government which sets out the advantages of a co-operative way of living where each takes according to need rather than greed, or production. Some would call it anarchy and others communism. Same difference taken to their natural conclusions. Not that Utopia as described is free of government but it's the way it's implemented. Utopia is interesting as it was written when there was still a lot of common land in Britain but it was being taken away from "the people" and given to landlords under acts or by violence. Today's local government owned land is not the same. From More's time onwards industrialisation hand in hand with capitalism has pushed people from community living to large cities where community is difficult to maintain especially related to governance. Or not. The latter parts go into great detail about enforced social regulations and it does tend to stray from the anarchist idea of utopia. Whether this particular society is utopia or dystopia or a bit of both is open to question and dependent on viewpoint and this aspect is covered in the essays included in the book. A good read.

Social Mobility and Its Enemies (Lee Elliot Major and Stephen Machin)

Lee Elliot Major and Stephen Machin

Social Mobility and Its Enemies

An interesting read but with some big omissions such as no discussion about immigration and income as a measure of happiness. Much would lead to an outcome of socialism and it's a shame that the book doesn't make that radical yet obvious leap. There are also trite connection like why mention in a throwaway line with no backup football hooligans in the 70s. Other better analysis out there.

Cycling to the Ashes (Oli Broom)

Oli Broom

Cycling to the Ashes

A straightforward tale of cycling from London to Australia with a lot of cricketing on the way. Fairly readable although faintly irritating especially as firstly you wonder why he's putting himself through so much misery, second he's not just jumped on a bike Oli's got a lot of sponsors presumably through contacts probably through his well off parents and third he keeps on going on about pretty girls in a pretty creepy way. I nearly put it down but hate doing that and it's not too long or taxing to read. I picked it up from a Herne Hill Velodrome rummage sale and think it's signed. 

Humankind (Timothy Morton)

Timothy Morton

Humankind: Solidarity with Non-Human People

What turns out to be a very academic book - i.e. expects a certain knowledge of the subject matter being philosophy and the history of economic philosophy so leads to a lot of looking up references on Wikipedia and subsequent and inevitable browsing around that particular subject. Therefore what is a short book is going to take a long time to read. Summary seems to be an analysis as to how non humans should be brought into left thinking thought - and for that read what most would call radical left but for some just socialist rather than the neo liberal capitalist left - and how Marx and subsequent theories addressed human vs non human - and how to not view non humans equally as humans has an inevitable ending of capitalism and fascism - which is what is happening most notably in the USA and increasingly in Europe. Excuse the poor punctuation. Morton flips between very serious analysis which has me reaching for my on-line encyclopedia and jokey references. One I like particularly is when he references a social media storm (US dentist kills lion in Zimbabwe) "flash-mob moralism can descend on anyone at any time, like Hitchcock's birds (it's called Twitter for a reason)". Nice. The basic premise seems to be that we lost our way when we started farming which led to The One God religions and humans treating ourselves as god like and above all animals, and indeed above all non animals, which inevitably led to the type of capitalism that the world is threatened with today and that the climate change environmental movement(s) need to focus on how to get back to that pre agricultural state, at least in mindset, and start treating everything with equal value to humans. Or at least to have solidarity with what we share the earth with. This isn't just because we need to "save the planet", although I'm sure Morton would scoff at that phrase, save it from whom and for whom? without humans things would settle back down again probably, but because we are not just human as we're made up of millions, billions?, of parasitic critters who help us digest food and everything and also who we are is determined by our relationship with others including non humans like cats and indeed mountains and rocks and dirt. It's hardly a handbook for how to live your life, unless you're deeply into philosophy and teach it, but fascinating reading even if I was struggling to keep my head above water. There's a bit about Marx's dancing tables and I'm not 100% certain whether Morton believes that they can dance, I think he goes for at least rocking about a bit. He's obviously an ageing raver as he has a lot of references to dance culture and the effects of what were known as disco biscuits. At least I now have a philosophical dance tune playlist and I now need to re-read Das Kapital (OK, Morton isn't pretentious enough to call it that and refers to Marx's Capital but I am pretentious) and Kropotkin's Mutual Aid. Jeez I got a lot to read I really need to retire!

The Death of Marco Pantani (Matt Rendell)

Matt Rendell

The Death of Marco Pantani: A Biography

Excellently written book of Il Pirata's career focussing on his relationships and what drove him with associated latter mental health and addiction issues. Goes from his birth, indeed before, up to his untimely death by cocaine. The book is a sympathetic analysis of his life whilst making clear that his successes, probably since amateur status, were fuelled by doping. There is a lot of analysis of doping in general and Pantani in particular which at times makes the book fairly dry reading but is needed if the author's arguments are to have substance. There are more scathing words about those who are around Pantani whilst also picking out many who tried to help him. The old story emerges of money vs welfare of the money maker. There again Pantani certainly doesn't come out of it as a saint. Far from it. Whilst Pantani was never suspended for doping he was for health reasons following blood tests suggesting doping. This book was written just before Lance Armstrong's fall from grace and his stripping of 7 le Tour de France wins. Pantani kept his 2 major wins from 1998 le Tour and the Giro. The book is full of recrimination (second hand as Pantani's rather than the author's) and some technical detail which is odd as I read whilst on holiday in Portugal and last year read George Clinton's autobiography which has similar themes of being done wrong by the music business and associated fairly technical descriptions of the facts. Of course Pantani is still revered as a cycling icon and why not. He was entertaining, brilliant in the mountains and although a cop out, as Matt's Epilogue so eloquently covers, who wasn't doping at that time? Well worth a read. 

The Holiday (Stevie Smith)

Stevie Smith

The Holiday

Rather downbeat story set firstly in WWII then apparently updated to post war as it wasn't published until then. Follows a woman who's emotions jump up and down both in feelings to life and her relationships with others. You feel sorry for her as there seems to be a lot of bottled up emotion (although it does come out at times) but also that if she could let herself leave what is a fairly restricted and boring life then she'd blossom. It is autobiographical so I wonder if the author also didn't let herself follow a path better suited. There's a lot of inference as to her sexuality and I'm unsure as to whether some of the implications were taken as having sexual experiences back in most austere days. The author is mainly a poet and that comes through in the style and also she puts in snippets of poems into the plot. Has quite a few insights into post war politics including world wide changes such as independence for what was British India. Readable and enjoyable but I wouldn't say a classic.

Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)

Victor Hugo (translated Norman Denny)

Les Miserables

Very daunting when I picked it up and reading about how much Hugo digresses from the main story, indeed it starts by telling you that the first part (i.e. 50 odd pages) are not strictly relevant to the story. However, from page one I'm hooked on the descriptive writing and don't mind reading about a bishop who's only purpose seems to be to introduce one of the main characters. Having now finished this epic I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the digressions. The story is an epic covering generations of various characters with the inevitable interweaving of lives. From that point of view it's a cross between Tolstoy and Dickens. The former's family characterisation and romantic (in both meanings) descriptions and the latter's analysis of the human character especially those who have been dealt a poor deal by society and the troubles that they face including how turning to crime is not as evil as one might assume. Of course as in Dickens there are those who you think are truly evil (if you believe in that) with the main protagonist with that label turning out to be truly evil. There is a strong philosophical thread throughout the novel both directly related to the characters and also in the long digressions. I won't give any spoilers lets just say that there was a lot less story related to the cover than I'd expected. There again it is over 1,200 pages. Digressions seem to be where Hugo wants to give his opinion on, or show his knowledge of, various topics which he's included in a novel as otherwise few would read them. A couple have been relegated to the back of the book as appendices in this edition but I read them where they were in the book anyway as they are only a few pages (comparatively) and other less relevant digressions were included in the body of the story. For instance there are 15 pages about the history of the sewers of Paris. Not many pages in this book but by my calculation about a fifth of the length of Animal Farm. The ending is full of pathos, as would expect for the period, and to my mind a little too sentimental for my liking but, again, typical of the period.

Matt. You would have been proud of me. And we would have laughed about it. Did you ever read it? Better than Moby Dick. RIP.

A Short History of Philosophy (Robert C. Solomon & Kathleen M. Higgins)

Robert C. Solomon & Kathleen M. Higgins

A Short History of Philosophy

Is what is says, at least to publication date in 1995, being a readable canter through the subject mainly western but tying in some eastern. Difficult, as they say, to see where philosophy ends and economics, politics, sociology, theology etc. etc. start. But a good introduction. Ends with some musings of the authors and whilst they include some modern thought such as environmental philosophy but oddly doesn't mention the elephant that was charging into the room in the mid 90's being the explosion of communications technology detonated at that time. Worth reading, if only to understand my daughters. Thanks Rob.

Another Planet (Tracey Thorn)

Tracey Thorn

Another Planet: A Teenager in Suburbia

A follow up, or predecessor, to Disco Queen which maps her teenage years through her self admittedly not always 100% accurate diaries. Always entertaining, often poignant and mostly mirroring my teenage years and good proportion of others'. Why didn't I keep my diaries? That's another story involving teenage angst and kicking against the system.

Demian (Hermann Hesse)

Hermann Hesse

Demian

Excellent read about a boy growing up feeling at odds with the world and meeting like minded people one in particular who seems to have supernatural powers. No, not kryptonite! On the one hand it seems to be (I would not presume to know what such a great writer was thinking when he wrote his novels) a standard story about pre pubescent coming of age through teenage rebellion and on into a more considered and thoughtful early manhood. But there is that typically Hesse spirituality threaded through the story which suggests that we are part of a wider (or narrower in this case?) (other- / higher-) worldly forces and associated symbolisms. And the search for meaning in life given life's contradictions - and these light and dark, yin and yang, body and mind, good and evil are explored throughout. Not to give too much away but as many of us who feel out of kilter and keep to our own realise after maturing a bit that humanity runs through all of us. The ending is obviously symbolic of passing into another stage of life. Have I really not ready any Hesse for 6 years? Must reread although I've just given the 3 novels on my book shelf to Bruce to borrow...