Reading not Writing 2009 #5
Yet more catch up. I've been very bad at writing these up this year for some reason.
41. Revelation by CJ Sanson. As so ably reviewed by quippe the other week, this is a thoroughly enjoyable book. I do like the Matthew Shardlake series, set in the latter part of Henry VIII's reign. This one deals with heresy, and like all Sanson's novels is intricately plotted and well researched. Very good.
42. The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler. I bought this a few years back having heard it discussed on the Book Programme on Radio 4. They weren't wrong to recommend it. Many Victorian novels these days aren't particularly readable, but this one was. Not so much a poor boy made good story which is usually nauseating, but a rich boy gone bad which is much more fun.
43. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Another Spanish historical novel, this time set in post civil war Spain. This one involves a dead author whose books all seem to have disappeared, even from copyright libraries, and a young boy's attempt to solve the mystery. I did enjoy it and the translation was good.
44. Scottish Woodland History ed by TC Smout. A collection of papers discussing various aspects of woodland in Scottish history, covering all periods. Really one for this with an interest in the subject.
45. Nausea by Jean Paul Sartre. Well I have to say this is pretty much what this odiously pretentious novel induced in me. Tedious beyond belief.
46. The Triumph of the Political Class by Peter Oborne. The fabulous one lent me this, and it was a very disturbing read. It may not mean much to those on the western side of the pond but it meant a lot to me. Of course Oborne writes for the Telegraph so there is an agenda here, however he did not limit his discussion to the Labour party. Basically his thesis is that politics in Britain has been taken over by a professional political class whose only interest is power and money rather than ideology. It's easy enough to see - all these young politicians who've never had proper jobs in the real world, and it's perhaps not apocalyptic to suggest that it could be the death of our democracy. Well worth a read.
47. The Motivated Mind by Raj Persaud. Another one for the self helpers. I was reading it to see if it could help me with my weight loss. It has a bit, but most of it was devoted to other subjects.
48. The Unbelievers by Alastair Sim. Murder and mayhem in 19th century Edinburgh! With a plot revolving around a loosely disguised Duke of Sutherland and much more, a nineteenth century challenge to Inspector Rebus perchance? Time will tell.
49. Darwin's Lost World by Martin Brasier. I bought this after seeing Brasier at the Edinburgh Book Festival in August. He was a thoroughly entertaining and informative speaker, and so too is his book. He has a well researched theory as to why there are so few fossils prior to the Cambrian period that I found convincing, and it will be interesting if further research bears it out. I enjoyed it, but don't bother if you're not interested in fossils or evolution.
50. Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg. According to some extreme forms of Calvinism, the Elect can do no wrong, whatever they do. This early 19th century gothic novel takes this theme, adds some Faustian overtones and delivers an entertaining read. It may surprise you.
41. Revelation by CJ Sanson. As so ably reviewed by quippe the other week, this is a thoroughly enjoyable book. I do like the Matthew Shardlake series, set in the latter part of Henry VIII's reign. This one deals with heresy, and like all Sanson's novels is intricately plotted and well researched. Very good.
42. The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler. I bought this a few years back having heard it discussed on the Book Programme on Radio 4. They weren't wrong to recommend it. Many Victorian novels these days aren't particularly readable, but this one was. Not so much a poor boy made good story which is usually nauseating, but a rich boy gone bad which is much more fun.
43. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Another Spanish historical novel, this time set in post civil war Spain. This one involves a dead author whose books all seem to have disappeared, even from copyright libraries, and a young boy's attempt to solve the mystery. I did enjoy it and the translation was good.
44. Scottish Woodland History ed by TC Smout. A collection of papers discussing various aspects of woodland in Scottish history, covering all periods. Really one for this with an interest in the subject.
45. Nausea by Jean Paul Sartre. Well I have to say this is pretty much what this odiously pretentious novel induced in me. Tedious beyond belief.
46. The Triumph of the Political Class by Peter Oborne. The fabulous one lent me this, and it was a very disturbing read. It may not mean much to those on the western side of the pond but it meant a lot to me. Of course Oborne writes for the Telegraph so there is an agenda here, however he did not limit his discussion to the Labour party. Basically his thesis is that politics in Britain has been taken over by a professional political class whose only interest is power and money rather than ideology. It's easy enough to see - all these young politicians who've never had proper jobs in the real world, and it's perhaps not apocalyptic to suggest that it could be the death of our democracy. Well worth a read.
47. The Motivated Mind by Raj Persaud. Another one for the self helpers. I was reading it to see if it could help me with my weight loss. It has a bit, but most of it was devoted to other subjects.
48. The Unbelievers by Alastair Sim. Murder and mayhem in 19th century Edinburgh! With a plot revolving around a loosely disguised Duke of Sutherland and much more, a nineteenth century challenge to Inspector Rebus perchance? Time will tell.
49. Darwin's Lost World by Martin Brasier. I bought this after seeing Brasier at the Edinburgh Book Festival in August. He was a thoroughly entertaining and informative speaker, and so too is his book. He has a well researched theory as to why there are so few fossils prior to the Cambrian period that I found convincing, and it will be interesting if further research bears it out. I enjoyed it, but don't bother if you're not interested in fossils or evolution.
50. Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg. According to some extreme forms of Calvinism, the Elect can do no wrong, whatever they do. This early 19th century gothic novel takes this theme, adds some Faustian overtones and delivers an entertaining read. It may surprise you.