What I've been reading

A History of Britain: The Wars of the British 1603-1776
by Simon Schama

narrated by Stephen Thorne

"The beginning of the 17th century promised that England's golden age would long outlast its Elizabethan namesake. Within a few years, that promise would end in civil war, political unrest, and international conflict, a period of strife that would last for two centuries, but produce the modern British nation."

The second volume of this comprehensive history, and I learned a lot that I suspect most students who were interested in history learned at school. Charles I and II and the English Civil War, the loss of America to independence, the slave trade and colonial India all within the space of just over a century. I'm lining up the third volume after I've had a bit of a break with some lighter fare.

Tears of the Giraffe
by Alexander McCall Smith

"Mma Ramotswe's impending marriage to that most gentlemanly of men, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, the promotion of her secretary to the dizzy heights of Assistant Detective and new additions to the Matekoni family, all brew up the most humorous and charmingly entertaining of tales."

Another light read to break up the heaviness of the other books under way. I find that as well as enjoying the stories I am impressed by the author's ability to structure the book, interweaving different parallel strands but keeping up the momentum of the narration.

Ramble Book
by Adam Buxton

narrated by Adam Buxton

"A very funny and at times incredibly poignant memoir, taking in Adam’s burgeoning love of pop culture as a teenager, his feelings about childhood and parenthood, coming to terms with the death of his father and lots more besides."

I've been listening to Adam Buxton's output for a long time, from when he had a radio show with Joe Cornish on BBC 6 Music, and more recently his podcasts where he interviews interesting people, some of them his friends. He is a tortured soul, full of insecurities, but funny and personable and always doing his best to do the right thing, even if he doesn't always succeed (arguments with railway officials being an outstanding example). Immediately after I had finished this book and mourned the death of his father with him, I listened to his latest podcast in which he talks to his close friend Joe about the unexpected and sudden death of his mother.

Fox & Cameron's Food Science, Nutrition & Health
by Michael E. J. Lean

"The book deals with a wide range of topics, from food microbiology and technology to healthy eating and clinical nutrition. It also tackles the more difficult area of biochemistry and makes the chemical nature of all the important food groups accessible."

I found this book at work during a clear-out and it's the sort of thing that I find interesting - well, it was OK. It suffered from poor editing so I was frequently distracted by wording that didn't flow or mistakes in the text - surprising in a 7th edition. I expect it's a key textbook for some course somewhere though.

Morality for Beautiful Girls
by Alexander McCall Smith

"With her detective agency in financial difficulty, Mma Ramotswe takes the hard decision to share offices to her husband-to-be, Mr J. L. B. Matekoni. But even through Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors could do with a little help, it is Mr Matekoni himself who requires her attention."

What can I say, the next in the series, and a very pleasant read. He beautifully evokes the cadences of African speech and a love of Botswana.

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
by Roddy Doyle

"Paddy rampages through Barrytown streets with like-minded hooligans, playing cowboys, etching names in wet concrete, setting fires. The gang are not bad boys, just restless."

Another book that really lets you hear the voices of Irish lads making mischief, as well as the pain of being helpless in the face of events that are bigger than you. Children are very cruel, but so are adults in this book - some on purpose, some not.

Lady of Quality
by Georgette Heyer

narrated by Eve Matheson

"When spirited, independent Miss Annis Wychwood embroils herself in the affairs of a runaway heiress, she is destined to see a good deal of her fugitive's uncivil and high-handed guardian, Mr Oliver Carleton. And, chafing at the restrictions of Bath society, Annis has to admit that at least Mr Carleton is never boring."

Another from the Queen of the Regency Romance, the only sort of chick-lit I can tolerate. I think it's because Georgette Heyer makes her female characters such strong, sensible heroines, and so sure of themselves, even though this one did seem to give up a bit of that feisty independent spirit when the swain proposed.