The London Marathon : The History of the Greatest Race on Earth by John Bryant

The London Marathon : The History of the Greatest Race on Earth by John Bryant (2006)
Read: November 2010

I read this leading up to the Pharoanic Run. It was a really good book to read at that time - getting me into the mind set of running a race!

It is a history of the London Marathon, but it also interspersed with a history of the marathon as a race in itself. The marathon as a race seems to have kicked off from the jogging boom and from a few city marathon races, the London Marathon was born. What was interesting is how it was really just a couple of guys who started the London Marathon off - their idea and persistance to get the permissions and get people on the streets. Each year of the race it got bigger and bigger leading to where it is today as a gold mine for sponsors and charities, as well as for top atheletes.

I've enjoyed reading sporting books before (the Bannister / one-minute mile one was good) and this was the same - getting you really into the zone and feeling the sport. I finished it just before the race and chapters that were about "the wall" and training and the crowds relaly got my heart pumping ready for my own race.

The Bethlehem Murders: An Omar Youssef Novel by Matt Rees

The Bethlehem Murders: An Omar Youssef Novel by Matt Rees (2008)
Read: March 2010

I bought this over Christmas too in the same batch as The Sphinx. When I was looking for The Sphinx on Amazon I had a list of "other people who liked this bought..." and this book was on there. It was billed as a detective-type novel, by a new writer, but set, very realistically apparently in Palestine and around Gaza.Sounds good to me, so I add it to the cart.

It's really very good this book. I got right into it straight away and almost had to slow myself down when reading it, so that I could keep enjoying it for longer. The story of the crime-to-be-solved by local-turned-detective isn't what is most gripping about this, but the setting and the character. I really feel that I know more about life in Palestine as the book is full of detailed, but not over-burndered descriptions of daily life there. In the book you see the people, hear them, see the scared landscape, feel part of their lives. You witness the small parts of life, like Omar Yussef's love of his wife's food and her concern to recieve every phonecall from her husband, you also witness corruption and confusion between rival gangs patrolling the areas and a police force that is trying to police an unsustainable situation.

I knew from the first few chapters that I would be buying more of these, and so now have ordered the three other books written in the series. It's reassuring that others have written about these books saying that they are well representative of life / society in Palestine.

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (1937)
Read: September - October 2010


This book was left with us by Laura and Effie when they visited in May. They were thinking along the same lines as us - when in Egypt, read books set in / about Egypt - and this suited them especially as they were going on a Nile cruise!
I've not read a Christie before (but did watch Miss Marple when I was growing up!) and so the whole detective story was new to me. I didn't know how it would be structured - would I know the clues the same time as Poirot? Would he spell it out to me or would I have to guess? I did try and guess - the way I do when watching Waking The Dead on TV - and thought I had it, but maybe not.
I read mainly in the evenings for a chapter or so before bed, but this month, since starting back at work, has been crazy busy. So I would read a chapter and then put it down to "rest my eyes", planning to read more in a moment, but totally fall asleep! Then when I'd pick it up the next night I'd find I had no idea what had happened and would flick back a good few pages to when I was last really conscious of the story!!!

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (2007)
Read: September 2010

You can't get away from the front-cover statement that this is by the same author as Kite Runner. Everyone raves about the book, so we pick this one up (found it about a year ago, but only just added it to the book shelf).
It sounds a silly thing, but the feel of this book is that it's going to be an easier read than some of the arabic translations I've read. It's a larger page, relaxed cover and not the smallest font size known to man(!)  This sort of thing does make a difference when reading a hard text, and some of the translations can be quite wordy. But this isn't actually a translation; it was written in English, so I feel it's very mich directed towards the Western world and giving them an insight; dispelling myths or calling for help I'm not sure.

The book is set in Afghanistan and the narrative follows at first a small girl, but as she is in her teens, the narrative slips into that of the young girl down the road and gradually their stories come together. This narrative device is good and gives a fuller story as it allows both women to show their frustration in their sitaution, even though it takes them longer to convey and share this frustration to eachother.

At first the situation that Hosseini describes is one that I take hope from; a story of a girl abadoned is one that could be taking place in any country. It says to me that religion and political situation don't matter and we are united in the feelings of hope in humanity. But culture and religion does then dictate the next step in the story as Mariam is married off as a young teenager and taken away from any connection she has with people. Here I really felt isolation and frustration for her situation as she is inhibited by her husband from living any sort of life and expression. She becomes functional and only performs routine.
As the narrative changes, so does Mariam, she is no longer the only woman and now has to compete for attention that she doesn't want and alter a routine and life that she doesn't enjoy. This section was a difficult read for me, as I could feel both women's frustrations with the other, their need to stake their territory, but also their terrible isolation. It is with relief that they overcome their divisions and unite, because together they are stronger.
Despite my initial skepticism of the books author, purpose and message I did feel that the story and writing conveyed a perspective that people outside this culture wouldn't otherwise see and should. How prevelent this as an exepereince is I still cannot comment on, but I feel that it is a story that should be read for us to begin to understand something about some women's experiences.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (2001)
 Read: September 2010

Our Eid holiday at the beach means I can get through a good few books and this is next on the list. We found this in a charity shop this summer and we'd never heard of the book or author before but the write up on the back looked good. It reminded me of the blurb for Aberystwyth Mon Amore so we thought we'd give it a go.

And it is sort of like Aberystwth Mon Amore, except instead of tongue-in-cheek crime it's crimes against literature. In this parallel universe of the 1980's everyone is literature obsessed and the story shows us that you can actually get inside a good book.

It's a very entertaining novel - and I don't always enjoy my fiction, but this really takes me. I think it's because I have to think about it; trying to remember the story of Jane Eyre and other classics helps understanding where the plot is going, but I' also engaged by figuring out how this parallel world works; Special Ops, Tuesday Next etc.

I've just seen that Fforde now has a series of Tuesday Next novels, so I'll def keep my eye out for them when back in the UK. Scotty hasn't read this yet - coz it's already been lent out!!

The Saladin Murders by Matt Rees

The Saladin Murders by Matt Rees (2008)
Read: September 2010

This is the second book in Matt Rees' Omar Yussef novels and I couldn't wait to get hold of it this summer. I'd now got all four in the series, but saved them until back from America and Canada and am still trying to space them out in my reading pattern.
This book follows on from the first book, but some time has elapsed for Abu Ramiz. He is still teaching, but is now an inspected and travelling into Gaza with a UN official to inspect a school there. He isn't actively looking to turn detective, but finds himself doing when a colleague is missing. Omar Yussef uses his position as a Palestinian (his other colleagues are American and Scottish) to delve into the intricacies of police, power and politics to find his colleagues.
Again what I love about these novels is the insight that I feel I get into everyday Arab life and the politics for the everyday people in the region. Seeing who he called "ustaz" and when, seeing who refers to him as Abu Ramiz (father of  Ramiz) and when. Omar Yussef is away from his wife as he is on this case, and he starts to show failings as he is attracted to one of the women in the book. But I think this is more that he is missing his wife and she reminds him of her, rather than actively looking for another woman to think about.
In the second half of the book they travel to a Commonwealth War Grave. The description really matches my experience here in Egypt, having visited that in Heliopolis and in El Alamain; a haven of green in a sea of grey.

The Weekenders: Travels in the heart of Africa

The Weekenders: Travels in the heart of Africa (2001)
Read: August - September 2010

We found this book in Buxton's biggest bookstore - it's on Brierlow Bar as  you leave Buxton on the Ashbourne Road. We've passed it a million times, but this was my first visit. We spent longer than planned in here, just browsing the titles, finding books that we liked the look of, then convincing ourselves that we don't really need them and putting them back on the shelves (we ended up bringing 20 books back from the UK this summer!)

This is a compilation of stories written for the Daily Telegraph to raise awareness about the situation in Sudan. The Telegraph took a group of writers to Sudan to inspire them to write a short story and these were published weekly in paper. The writers are very diverse, as our their approaches to the task; Irving Welsh, then Tony Hawkes, Alex Garland and then WF Deedes.

I do like Tony Hawkes' contribution. Maybe because I already like his writing style and non-fiction, reality approach in general. He's brought his guitar to Sudan and plans a collaborative music project. Great idea! Except first he has to convince their guide to take them to places where people hang out, like bars, rather than on a strict itinerary route. This happens and they try the local brew with the locals - my kind of holiday! Before his mission has really started Tony is struck down by the (Nubian) Pharaoh's Revenge and he suffers for the rest of the trip. It's kind of reassuring, as when  Rory Stewart was struck down on his journey, that other people get sick like we do!

I enjoy the other short stories too, but get myself a little stuck as I'm not used to reading short stories in quick succession and so find myself needing to turn back a few pages to check the narrative of the one I'm reading and that I'm not getting confused between separate entries! They cover issues of politics, culture and fighting for survival. The messages are the help is needed from outside, but that the help received from outside isn't always what's needed.

I think this book does achieve what it sets out to do, by raising awareness of the culture in Sudan, and importantly the political situation there that needs understanding to begin resolving.

Why my hand luggage is so heavy....

All the books we brought back to Cairo with us....

any guesses about when I'm going to get through them all???

Overland to India by Gordan G May

Overland to India by Gordan G May (2008)
Read: August 2010

We'd been following Gordan's Overland to Cairo blog since Kevin altered us to this crazy Kiwi now living in Manchester who was planning to ride to Cairo from Manchester on an old BSA Bantam motorcycle. We got in touch with Gordon and were planning to meet him when he arrived in Cairo, so we decided we really ought to buy his book to get an idea of his other travels and adventures.We were really pleased then that this book was waiting for us when we returned to the UK this summer.We decided that it would be one of the three books we took to America and Canada with us on holiday as we wanted travel books to read as we were travelling around. Scotty read it first and really enjoyed it so I was pleased to get hold of it and have a read.

Gordan's writing style is great; really accessible, just like his blog that we've been reading. As I'm reading this after having met him in Cairo, it's got a really personal feel - as if he's retelling his tales to us over a Stella or two in a back street baladi, or faded glory hotel, bar.

There are so many examples of the kindness of strangers throughout his tale, and I know that I'll be reading similar stories when he publishes his most recent journey to Egypt. They are heartening to read and Gordan's gracious and kind acceptence of help, and his offerings in return, are also touching. I'm not a "bike" person and so I don't get all of the technical aspects of the bike going wrong. This doesn't matter though as Gordan's writing isn't as technically-based as Long Way Round / Long Way Down / Dakar Rally, and it shouldn't be - because Gordan's tale is about the journey and the people and the time he shares with them.

A really great read - can't wait to read Overland to Egypt when it's out!

The Places in Between by Rory Stewart

The Places in Between by Rory Stewart (2006)
Read: July - August 2010

We were introduced (not literally - but that'd be cool!) to Rory Stewart when watching a programme he produced about Alexander the Great and his legacy in the Middle East. The perspective he offered on the situation; both historically and contemporary was really enlightening and so we dug around to find out more about him.
This is his first book and chronicles his time walking across the Middle East and Asia; which he seemed to just do for fun! It specifically focuses on the section of his walk through Afghanistan which he had to postpone due to the war in early 2000's. After he completed his walk he went on to become one of the youngest governors in Iraq and has since been a prominent commentator on the situation.
We ordered a whole bunch of books through Amazon to be waiting for us in London when we returned for the summer and this was one of the three or four we took with us on our summer tour of America and Canada.
It is simply an amazing book telling a truly unique and amazing story. Stewart is travelling alone (or attempting to) and has his money and passport hidden at the bottom of his bag which is thrown over his back as he wears rugs and shawls that the locals do. He isn't local though and hence the constant followers he has for his own safety. He is obviously skeptical about their presence and does not think it necessary, but there are a few occasions when he is alone and does get into trouble; rocks being thrown, dogs set on him, hospitality refused.
His journey is based on the understanding that in these tribal communities families should always welcome and care for visitors and travellers. Stewart's ability to communicate in the native dialects is amazing and gets him into and out of many situations. His understanding of the tribal hierarchy too is a phenomenal insight.
I'm almost grateful at times to read that he becomes unwell on his travels - as someone who regularly gets ill from the smallest thing here in Egypt I'm glad that hes not one of those people with a lead stomach! Although he doesn't mention being ill every day, you get the impression that he was most of the time and although he is very gracious to his hosts he really laments giving away his last set of medicines.
There are times that I found the narrative lacking emotion. Stewart writes in quite a matter-of-fact way at times and doesn't really let you into what he is thinking of the people or the places. He describes the scenery and the situation; but am I unsure how he feels about the wider implications of his journey.

Stories We Could Tell by Tony Parsons

Stories We Could Tell by Tony Parsons (2006)
Read: June - July 2010

Now I wasn't a huge fan at all of Tony Parsons when I read a few of his last year that were passed onto us, so I guess you're wondering why I'm reading him again. Well in Dahab way back in April I think it may have been Scotty was caught short without a book to read. OK in Dahab you can just chill and no need to read, but we were about to get on the public bus home -a ride that takes at least 8 hours - and he needed something to entertain him. This was the pick of the two second-hand bookstores in Dahab as it was about music journalists and going to gigs in the 70's
I've picked it up now at the end of the school year to fill in the gap before getting to a new load of books we've ordered into the UK. I'm hoping to finish it before we fly back, and I don't, so then I hope to finish it in London before we fly to America, but I don't. I think I finish it after nearly 2 weeks in America, because once the holiday started we really didn't have time to read much as we'd flop straight into bed after busy, awesome, days.
I definitly enjoy this more than the other two books of his I read. It's written from the point of view of three guys who all work for a music magazine. Their antics getting to, into, and kicked out of gigs are entertaining and the scene that they work and live in is set very well in the mods and rockers. The three stories are woven together, then torn apart and finally collide towards the end. This narrative at times was difficult to follow, but as the book closed I could see how it had been cleverly written to tie the characters together.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (2005)
Read: May-June 2010

We bought this book in the UK at Christmas time as we'd seen numerous copies in charity shop, after charity shop and so deduced that it must be popular. Also the title was obviously a draw for Scotty!

Scott read it first a few months ago and I finally got onto it last month and only had to put my mind to it slightly these last two weeks to make sure I finished it before the summer. I wanted to make sure I had it finished because at 704 pages it is quite a tome!

There were only a few times when I picked it up that I was confused by the narrative - otherwise I enjoyed the dual story-telling devise that Kostova uses. Part of the story is told by the daughter of an academic, the other part of the story is told by the acadmic himself as he speaks to his daughter. This is interspersed with letters and extracts from texts written by, about, or being read by other characters.

There are two parts to the novel, and within these two parts there is obviously the two different narratives. For me, this meant it didn't feel like I had over 700 pages to get through. This was quite impressive for a book of this lenght for the story to keep going at a good pace and the reader not be lost. What keeps the book together is the reader themselves trying to solve the mystery and follow the story as the narrative and narrators move about. The changing narrative was a great device and allowed the reader to see both the father and daughter as they grew up with the dracula puzzle.

Somehow it's not totally predictable that dracula is found in a hidden tomb, as again the story keeps moving and feels modern and new, rather than old and repeated.

Khufu's Wisdom by Naguib Mahfouz

Khufu's Wisdom by Naguib Mahfouz
Read: May 2010

Rather than a novel this feels more like an extended moral. The story does start with a foreshadowing that then plague Khufu's reign. The reader knows the secret and wonders how long the pretence will last and will it ever be found out. The story is really one of nature vs. nurture; what does "parent" mean, and I think that this tale shows that for the individual biological is only a small aspect of who you are compared to how you are raised. For Khufu though biological and foreshadowing is everything and he cannot see beyond this.

This was one of Mahfouz's earliest novels. I understand that he wrote tales about ancient Egypt, to gain a steady footing as a writer, before moving into the more contentious modern world.

Karnak Cafe by Naguib Mahfouz

Karnak Cafe by Naguib Mahfouz (1974, translated 2007)
Read: May 2010

A short story, retold to the narrator from three different perspectives.
Karnak Cafe hosts the young and the old, those who sit and drink tea, those who come for shisha, those who come to talk, those who come to look and those who come to be alone. Mahfouz's descriptions takes me to any number of cafes that I see along the streets (those of real Cairo) as the locals while away their time their. The characters too are fascinating to read. I think I see them in the cafe's themselves, but to have them translated into print means I do know when I am looking at the hostess, the lady who runs the cafe and then the man who runs after her, the quiet and regular and the outspoken. But the outspoken can't stay for long and soon the cafe's dynamic is turned upside down after police raids. Young friends and lovers aren't the same and its' only once we get the second story starting do we begin to understand why. It is then the final story that lets us see the full picture of the cafe. Everyone has a different desire and a different price they can pay.
A really great book here that paints a stunning picture of this cafe and the life that takes place in, around and through it.

Playing the Moldovans at Tennis by Tony Hawks

Playing the Moldovans at Tennis by Tony Hawks
Read: April 2010

A final Dahab read that was mostly devoured on the bus home. We decided at the end of this break to get the public bus back as flights were getting too expensive So with five hours of reading time ahead of me I got stuck into this (journey was longer than five hours, but darkness led to looking out of the window rather than trying to squint at the text).
You can't go wrong with Tony Hawks to be honest. He's just a normal guy who does random things and writes about them. Now there are a few of those around (Danny Wallace, Dave Gorman etc) but Hawks is surely the original. He decides (in a bet of course) to try and find the Moldovan football team and play them all at tennis. The story is fun and entertaining but as it's Moldova he's exploring you get to find out more than say he was travelling across America (although reading about all the arse-end-of-nowhere towns that DG visited was pretty cool). The book was written a fair few years ago and so Tony seems to have bagged himself the only translator and tourist visa to get there. Getting around is fun and reminds me of Cairo as he walks pot-holed streets in the dark to get home. He struggles with public transport, boarder bureaucracy and jobsworth officials. Reminds me of Egypt again, but with a Eastern Europe flavour.

Aberystwysth Mon Amour by Malcom Price

Aberystwysth Mon Amour by Malcom Price (1991)
Read: April 2010

Another one started/finished in the Dahab break - holidays and bus rides are great for reading :)
Now the cover of this really reminds me of the books my dad has; pulp-y. It's intentional as the book is a pulp crime novel...it just happens to be set in Aberystwyth in the 1980's! Sounds dubious, I know, but it actually turns out to be very good.

 The writing style is really mmy thing here. It's just so tongue-in-cheek and totally serious about the crime in question, being a detective etc which might be otherwise difficult when it invovles ice cream and kids! It's got the right number of twists and turns too. So easy to read, but not simple, just engrossing. Funny in many places and really funny in more.

We were lent this by JT and after I'd finished I did email dad to see if he'd heard of it. I think dad would approve as it's pulp but very tongue-in-cheek. It turns out that dad has actually got this (amybe I've subconsciously already seen it on the bookshelves) and knows that there are a few others in the series. He'll keep an eye out for them at car boots / jumbles for us. It's also be turned into a radio play too....I feel we're behind the times in Cairo.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Read: April 2010

Mum bought me this for Christmas as she'd read it and really enjoyed it. I think it was a few years ago and remember seeing it around...and often getting confused between this David Mitchell and the other David Mitchell (from Mitchell and Webb). Having seen the title around, and front cover, I had misconceptions about what the book was about. Now that I've read it, can I say what it's about? (now feeling bad for writing this review months after having read it) but generally it's hard to say exactly what the book is about.

Cloud Atlas is a series of stories that at first make sense individually and seem to have things in common, but it is only when you are a few stories in that the links really become clear. To my reading (and maybe I missed something here) they aren't overly connected, but there is a tie between each consecutive story. I really got into the book in the second half where the stories start going back on themselves. A bit complicated to explain, but somehow it works.
The story I enjoyed most was that of Somni - who is discovering the world for the first time through new eyes so to speak. One of the stories was written in a regional dialect type thing and this was difficult to read - probably like Trainspotting is. I really enjoyed the Louisa Ray story which was that of a whistle-blower-cum-detective. Great read.

Sphinx by T.S Learner

Sphinx by T.S Learner
Read: March 2010

This book inspired an article in the Grauniad Travel section about the sites in Alexandria. We were feeling pretty pleased with ourselves as we've done most of those mentioned in the paper. There was a competition, which we entered, but didn't win (to get tickets from London to Cairo), but we thought we should go and buy the book to see what the hype was about - if the Grauniad like a book this much, surely it's good?
Sadly not. It was OK, but nothing special. It was likened to The Da Vinci Code but for Egypt and I can see where this has come from as the central character is running around the country trying to solve a mystery. It is rather like the Da Vinci Code in that an artifact is discovered, everyone wants it and one man is trying to solve it. Instead of clues in paintings and museums though, the clues are around Alexandria and ancient Egyptian texts.
For me the most interesting parts of the book are in the early section to do with scuba diving (the protagonists wife discovers said artifact on a dive), and the city of Aexandria in the 1970's...which is not so different from the Alexandria we know.
The story moves at a pace enough, but the ending is dissapointing; wrapping up the story in a mysticism that was unsolvable earlier on.
Never-the-less this books has unwittingly started our collection of Egypt/North Africa/Middle Eastern-based fiction. We're not being fussy about quality (although maybe we should be), but will now pick up books in charity stores that fall along our theme.

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve (1998)
Read: March 2010

We were left this book by MJ when she came to visit. I was thankful that although it was fiction it wasn't the trashy kind, but looked more thoughtful than that.
The story follows a photographer on assignment to document the site of a murder in the 1870's on a small island. As she composes her shots, her story is intertwined with that of the survivor. Their family situation different, but similar themes emerge.
The scenes on the island, both in present day and in the survivors' letters, describe a bleak place where you have to work to survive. Maybe that is why the murders were motivated and why this group of five are drawn to it.
I feel sorry for the protaganist who gradually feels that she is being sidelined by her husband for another women. She often describes a scene implying she is just an observer, not active in it, and this is all happening around her. But then I also feel frustrated that she has let it come to this and wonder why she doesn't work harder at staying together for their daughter's sake.
But actually I realise that she is herself lost. Lost in emotion, lost in memory.
I surprised myself by generally enjoying this book - maybe it has helped put some of my faith back into reading fiction. As long as I need to think a bit then fiction is an option.

Cairo Swan Song by Mekkawi Said

Cairo Swan Song by Mekkawi Said (2006, translation 2009)
Read: February 2010

Scotty bought me this for valentines day as he knows I love reading translated modern arabic literature.

This was a swan song for Cairo as the central character loves it yet is leaving it and his friends behind. You see how as he has gown up he is now torn between friendship and the girl he loves. But she is still leading him on a merry dance.

His love is an American girl, studying at AUC and she returns his love and affection, but is distracted by the city. Her distraction leads her all over the city and he follows. I enjoy reading about their adventures because they take me to some parts of the city that I know, Maadi for instance, and others that I don't. I recognise descriptions of apartment buildings and nosy neighbours, and am intrigued to read descriptions of desolate buildings that house homeless, family-less youths that otherwise roam the streets.

This is a swan song because an Old Cairo is being lost, as well as an innocence.

Jack Maggs by Peter Carey

Jack Maggs by Peter Carey (1997)
Read: February 2010

Dad brought this book out with him when he visited...over a year ago! And it's taken me this long to read it :( Scotty read it in the Autumn and enjoyed it, so lent it to a friend who enjoyed it too. So come our February break I knew it was time for me to read it too and enjoyed having the time to spend on it.
It was set nicely in the 1800's London and Maggs' character evolved slowly in the first half of the book. Although the story followed Maggs, you only found out about him as the other characters did. At times to me he was a Jeckle and Hyde type, with one persona that he presented to his employers and another presented as he hunted for his nemesis; Henry Phipps. This second persona comes out in his letters and in the first person chapters that read as a man's ramblings. These read so much as a ramblings, that it takes me half the book to be sure what Jack really wants, and where the story might be going.
It wasn't really Jack's criminal past that intrigued me, as it did Tobias Oates, in the book, but Maggs' mind in general, that Oates persevered in observing. Oates is an author, but actually is looking for any way to make his ends meet and to keep in the "inner circle" and when he has to trust Jack, and Jack trust him, this is actually when the book gets interesting. Similarly the relationship between Jack and the maid; again one of one-way interest (this time of the maid in Jack, but Jack needing the maid's confidence, as he needs Oates'), is one that I was sorry to see end sadly.

This book was not what I was expecting, but it was a good read - something different for me. I didn't whizz through it, but did enjoy it and find it an interesting challenge. Maybe I should read those other books dad left....

Superfreakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner (2009)

Superfreakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner (2009)
Read: February 2010

Somehow I managed to miss the first book by this pair, Freakonomics. Scott did read it and raved about it - especially the tale of the coffee concession at Waterloo Station that we would pass every time we went into town - so it was good to get a copy of this book and find out for myself what all this was about.

This was really my sort of book as it's a little bit academic but a bit fun as well. It made me realise how similar to economics some aspects of my degree and interests are. They used odd bits of academic research and compared results to come up with interesting and often surprising conclusions. For example they compared data on the number of people injured and killed when driving drunk with those who were walking drunk. Separate data sets, but when you compare figures it is actually less dangerous to be driving....maybe not all of these theories should be tested, but interesting stuff for me.

I wasn't too keen on their global warming section which attempted in one chapter to go against all commonly understood theories on global warming and preventative action. Some of the points were fair, but half a chapter that concluded a huge hose needed to be put into the troposphere to add water vapour wasn't the most balanced of topics.

I'll try and get my hands on the first book and in the mean time will be lending this one out to as many people as possible.

He took my kidney then broke my heart by Dave Spikey (2009)

He took my kidney then broke my heart by Dave Spikey (2009)
Read: January 2010

Scotty bought me this for my birthday as we both love Dave Spikey. We loved Phoenix Nights but found him lots funnier in stand-up compared to Peter Kaye. Although it wasn't as good as Phoenix Nights we enjoyed Dead Man Weds which Dave Spikey wrote and starred in alongside Jonny Vegas. Dead Man Weds got its inspiration from those strange newspaper headlines and its from that that this book came about.
On his most recent tour, Dave Spikey would check out the local paper for the headlines it was running - you can always tell a lot about an area from the stories it runs in the local rag.He has put the best ones in this book.
The structure is really good - he has the newspaper headline and article in one column and then another column for his comments/reactions to it. This means he spaces them out giving you time to react to a headline before reading the rest of the story.
Some headlines are brilliant and then some of his comments even better. Old favourites, like dobbers and dogs come up and there are lots of bits in it that made me laugh out loud.
It is now pride of place next to the toilet for continued revisiting and rereading.

The Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman

The Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman

Read: January 2010

I had wanted to read this book since I heard that there was a TV adaptation of it a few years ago. I really loved His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman and knew that his other books had good reviews although they were more aimed at a younger audience.

The Ruby in the Smoke was aimed at a younger audience than His Dark Materials, and didn't have the different levels of meaning, but it was still a good, fast paced adventure story.

In a way it is a classic story of making friends, solving mysteries and battling evil, but the protagonist, Sally Lockhart is a plucky young girl which makes this a good book for girls to read. You don't often get a female protagonist who is more about friends and courage than boyfriends and looking good. Sally shows that it's not traditional skills that get her ahead in this world.

Although it has classic themes, the setting of the book around trade routes and opium dens is a good choice - giving the reader something new to try and puzzle over.

A great book for teenagers to read and fun for a quick adult read, but never the classic of HDM.