OneGuyFromBarlick

Just started Norman Davies' book 'The Isles' Stanley has mentioned it in previous posts. I think I'm going to like it.

Wonderful P!! It is a real game changer. I love the way he forces you to have a fresh look at the Isles by printing the map with the East/West orientation instead of North/South. That carries on throughout the book. A game changer for me.

Yes, in the time frame he started from ie. 8000 BC (yes eight thousand ) the main reference points were when the sun rose and when it set. (EAST to West). makes sense.

The whole book makes sense P. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (On both readings!)

Read Puck of Pook's Hill and Rewards and Fairies in hospital, very soothing!
The wife of one of my fellow inmates took notice and had never heard of them, she says she will get them immediately when I told her why I was reading children's fairy stories! Another convert!

I shall finish Last Lion today. Worth reading for the information that Manchester researched but I'm afraid that Paul Reid, though he did us all a service by finishing the book, couldn't disguise the change of author around page 100. I have an idea he wouldn't argue against this. It was brave and adequate try.....

David Cameron's memoirs were mention in another post. I have on my bookshelves his memoirs from his time at No 10. So far they haven't become a priority in my life but I may get round to reading them round about the same time he publishes his personal one, sometime next year sounds about right.

Yes, it was reported yesterday that he had finished his memoirs and was bored so it's rumoured he is expressing a desire to be Foreign Secretary. What could possibly go wrong there?
How are you getting on with Norman and The Isles?

My trouble is that I'm a bit greedy when it comes to reading books. At the moment I've three on the go all at once.
I shall Bear Witness Victor Kemperer. The diaries of a Jewish professor who stayed in German 1936-45. Nearly finished the first volume. Lots of detailed day to day pressures they had to live under. Very enlightening and saddening .
Norman Davies The Isles. Just getting through the Pre-History bit Never gave it a thought before.
Easy reading some tales about Oscar Wilde. Not very good but gives some background that is interesting.

Ah, I tend to have just one on the go at a time. Different strokes! Your right about Norman, he changes the way you think about history......

Wendy popped in and gave me the Earby Brass Band book.

I read Stephanie's new book yesterday. As usual she has put the work in and produced a mass of detailed research and pictures. I saw many names I recognise from my own research. She has done it again and produced a valuable condensed mass of research for anyone interested in local history. Well done!
I am going to re-read Dorothy Hartley's book on English Food on the grounds that I will enjoy it and learn and it's a totally non-aggressive read!

Thank you for the good review Stanley. Stephanie's next project is the cricket club, there is no stopping her!

It is deserved Wendy, if you want to use it or to tell Stephanie feel free.
Alert her to the Jim Pollard transcripts in the LTP. Jim was a cricketer and there is a lot about the local clubs in there and some pics as well.

Thanks, I'll let her know.

I started my re-read of Dorothy Hartley's 'food in England' and am reminded that it is a lovely sensible book and such a good adjunct to any full understanding of social history. I shall enjoy this......

I've finished reading Dorothy's book and thoroughly enjoyed it.Martha has sent me a book, 'A Very British Xmas' by Rhodri Marsden so that's next on the list. I've ordered the latest Shardlake novel by C J Sansom, 'Tomblands', and it arrives in three days. The Waterwheel book that Bodger triggered me into arrives a couple of days later. I think I have my Xmas reading sorted out!

Waterwheels arrived yesterday Bodge, looks good..... Tomblands will be here today or tomorrow...

Tomblands arrived. 860 page nicely produced hardback with a ribbon bookmarker. Retail is £20 but I got it for £10, according to Private Eye it has sold over 50,000 copies already and that's how they can afford the discount.
I am OK for hospital reading now!

I started on the waterwheel book that Bodge alerted me to yesterday, 'Stronger than a Hundred Men'. It's going to be all right but I was surprised to find two typos in the first few pages. This in a reprinted book by John Hopkins University. I would have expected better editing.

Watermills is going down well!

Finished Watermills and have started on Tomblands.....

Tomblands passed the time on nicely yesterday!

My latest addition to the ever expanding library at Tripps Towers arrived today.

'A Bit if a Flutter' by One Mark Clapson. Popular gambling and English Society c. 1823 - 1960. A subject of which I have more knowledge than most.

Worth the wait - as it came from the library of La Salle University in Philadelphia, USA. (Seemed like a good idea at the time.) A quick skim shows this guy really knows his subject. I checked him out on google, and it seems he has gone on to high achievement. and is now a professor at Westminster University.

An added bonus - he is a graduate of Lancaster University c. 1982. I bet Uncle Bob knows him? On the down side I'd like to see more of his work, but these University Press type books are so expensive.

I must have rubbed shoulders with him.......
I am almost at the end of Tomblands. Always sad when you face the loss of a friend!