What I'm Reading Wednesday
I don't seem to have done this for a while. I would have done it last week but last Wednesday I was in London having a very jolly lunch with archaeologist_d and camelittle and then on Thursday I was having a less jolly time at the optician. My short-sightedness is actually getting better, which ought to be a good thing, but isn't as it means I need new glasses. I had the choice of three pairs of expensive glasses or one pair of very expensive glasses. I've gone for the most expensive option as I didn't fancy changing glasses all the time but...ouch! Anyway, back to the meme.
What I Just Finished Reading
Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill by Michael Sheldon. This is not a book I would ever have thought to read if I hadn't been lent it by my cousin. As it turned out I found it very interesting. The book covers the less well-known period of Churchill's life between 1901 and 1915 when he was an aspiring and later very successful politician up until the disaster of Gallipoli. I knew very little about Churchill's life at this time and found this entertainingly written book fascinating. The author paints a well-rounded picture of Churchill, both endearing and annoying, with all his arrogance, exuberance and massive energy. The book does a good job of explaining the politics of the time, though the author possibly takes Churchill a bit too much at his own estimation. It's particularly strong on Churchill's relationships with women, from his mother Jennie to Asquith's daughter Violet (later Violet Bonham Carter, grandmother of Helena) and his eventual wife Clementine. It made me want to find out more about all these people and the Edwardian period in general.
What I'm Reading Now
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. I've just torn myself away from the 16th century to write this entry as I'm finding Bring Up the Bodies just as immersive as I found Wolf Hall. It feels a leaner book and less stylistically difficult than Wolf Hall and it's fascinating to watch Cromwell, at the point I've reached, start to consider moving against Anne Boleyn.
What I'm Reading Next
It could be The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman, which seems appropriate, or it could be Now All Roads Lead to France by Matthew Hollis or it could be something completely different like an Agatha Christie. Who knows, I don't!
What I Just Finished Reading
Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill by Michael Sheldon. This is not a book I would ever have thought to read if I hadn't been lent it by my cousin. As it turned out I found it very interesting. The book covers the less well-known period of Churchill's life between 1901 and 1915 when he was an aspiring and later very successful politician up until the disaster of Gallipoli. I knew very little about Churchill's life at this time and found this entertainingly written book fascinating. The author paints a well-rounded picture of Churchill, both endearing and annoying, with all his arrogance, exuberance and massive energy. The book does a good job of explaining the politics of the time, though the author possibly takes Churchill a bit too much at his own estimation. It's particularly strong on Churchill's relationships with women, from his mother Jennie to Asquith's daughter Violet (later Violet Bonham Carter, grandmother of Helena) and his eventual wife Clementine. It made me want to find out more about all these people and the Edwardian period in general.
What I'm Reading Now
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. I've just torn myself away from the 16th century to write this entry as I'm finding Bring Up the Bodies just as immersive as I found Wolf Hall. It feels a leaner book and less stylistically difficult than Wolf Hall and it's fascinating to watch Cromwell, at the point I've reached, start to consider moving against Anne Boleyn.
What I'm Reading Next
It could be The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman, which seems appropriate, or it could be Now All Roads Lead to France by Matthew Hollis or it could be something completely different like an Agatha Christie. Who knows, I don't!