For Christmas 2024 I again asked friends and family to only consider books as gifts, indeed again only well used ones or ones that they have really enjoyed. A good crop was forthcoming, and I am working my way through them. I started to write some book reviews last year, perhaps as a form of pelmanism but more broadly to seek engagement with other book lovers in this circle. Today I am getting around to posting a few more reviews (they should not really be called that being often just an impression) but importantly seeking some reviews from those that have received books from me. So, if you have five minutes and have actually read any of the books you got (from anywhere really) then please joy down a few thoughts here. I hope that others will look and perhaps be tempted to read further. I know its a bit of a pain to register to post a reply but you only need to do it once and be assured I do value your review. RG Hellevoetsluis February 2025.
For Christmas 2023 I asked friends and family for books, something I really enjoy. I have been meaning for some time to write something of a review of these books to make a sort of circular argument. Just to emphasise the books I really want are well used ones! Whatever the subject or format it is books that the person who gives the gift have really enjoyed, read and read again. My plan is to give these away in future Christmas’s.
Test Pilot, Nevile Duke. A truly amazing life encompassing wartime flying in the UK, North Africa and Italy and the early stages of test flying transonic aircraft. I think the book has been written from diary and log book research as it has many specific dates, other aircrew, weather area of operation references but is none the worse for it. One gets some suprising detail of the then developing techniques for dealing with altitude, G and high speed flight together with a tour of the horizon of British military aviation.
A close run thing, Allan Mallinson 1999. Following the career of serving cavalry officer late 1700’s to early 1800’s including the battle of Waterloo this book (and I have no doubt the following ones in the series) throws an extraordinary light on the practicalities of fielding horse born troops. The detail of watering, feeding and veterinary services, the management of tack and saddlery, that of technique in attack all allow the reader to be absorbed in this horsey military adventure. Stretching from the peninsular wars and allowing an individual units appreciation of Waterloo this really is a jolly good read.
The Mayor of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy 1886. Given my somewhat early departure from formal education Gotta write more here but its after 11 and I need to make project progress on other stuff!
Vicious Creatures, Sarah Gordon, 2020, Not strictly a Christmas gift. My Niece Sarah wrote and illustrated the book, going on to self publish so more power to her. The illustrations to my mind seem to lead the narrative but I am equally sure the gestation of the accompanying words must come together in the authors mind to create a somewhat disturbing whole. A series of short stories, somewhat of specialist interest but a really different experience for me.
Perfume, Patrick Süskind, 1987. What a great read, the story of a murderer, one with Extraordinary olfactory gifts, of his journey from Paris slum, his first murder driven by a yearning hunger for the primordial essence of a woman’s scent through his growth into a serial killer, a traveller and a hermit. Extraordinary.
One hundred years of solitude. Gabriel García Márquez, 1967. I struggled with this book; I tried in my thirties and could not complete the read despite it being strongly recommended as a classic. I think perhaps my inability to parse the Latin names and reference them to the characters is at the heart of this. None the less completed and some insight into. the convoluted mind of Mr Márquez. Perhaps one for those with some deeper sensitivity, the ability to dive deeply into the characterisations.
All quite on the Western Front. Erich Maria Remarque, 1929. This book has the well deserved title of a classic exploring the reality of life for front line soldiers in the war to end all wars. The descriptions of being shelled, the rotting flesh and shell holes, rats, food, comradeship come together to transport you to the mind of the first ww soldier. Underscores the massive death rate (I was the last of the seven from my class).