Bookshelf

Here’s some of what I’ve been reading over the years:

Thoughts

Following are some quick thoughts on each book written shortly after finishing. I avoid writing any spoilers, as far as what I consider a spoiler to be. As a rule of thumb, if it appears in the blurb, I probably don’t think it’s a spoiler. That being said, sometimes blurbs do contain more than I’d like to know, so I’m probably even more restrained!

On the Trail of Wolves

Picked up on a whim from a charity shop in Ely. Turned out to be a surprisingly good book. It’s an acccount of a British family who moved to Wyoming, and starts out with the mother having some exciting encounters with wolves. She is keen to learn as much as she can about them, and discovers that they are quite a divisive topic, so she sets about trying to understand why. The latter two-thirds of the book recount conversations she has had with various people in and around Yellowstone, and she makes a point to find people with differing opinions, rather than just writing in an echo chamber of wolf appreciation. It is insightful to read all the accounts, and hear the different perspectives, and as she says, everyone there has a story to tell about wolves. Personally I found the second half of the book a bit less engaging than the first half: it seemed to descend more into an interview style format. Regardless it was worth the read, though it did bother me that the editor consistently insisted on using the word potholing to describe legs sinking in snow, when I’m sure they meant postholing!

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

The sequel to Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, I spotted this at Foyles in Waterloo station when I had a few minutes to kill while waiting for a train. I picked it up, but was already reading Exhalation, so did not get around to reading it until the flight to Iceland. The book is quite short, and so I read 80% of it on the flights, then finished it off a bit later at home. In my view, it had a more somber tone than the first book. While it was pleasant being able to return to the cosy world of the Morisaki Bookshop, it was also a different experience, and we see the characters change and grow further. You’ll almost certainly enjoy it if you read the first book, but don’t expect a comfy ride.

Dune

A couple of years back I began reading the Dune graphic novels and was hooked. Dune itself had been split into four graphic novels, but unfortunately only the first three had been published at the time, so I never knew who the story ended. So I began reading the novel around the start of this year, at that point having also seen the movie Dune: part 1, so still not knowing how it ended! Initially I found the book very engaging, but about half way through my interest flagged, while Paul Atreides was wandering through the desert. After seeing Dune: part 2, and finally seeing an ending to the story, my interest was renewed and I continued reading. Without giving anything away, I was glad to carry on reading, since the story did seem to pick up again, and it differed somewhat from the film. It’s left me curious to read the next book, but I’ll circle back to it after reading some other things first.

How Iceland Changed the World

I first saw this book while browsing the travel section of Waterstones on the hunt for a good guide to Iceland, since we were considering going there for holiday. Initially I just bought the Lonely Planet: Iceland guide and left this book behind. A week or so later, after reading the guide and deciding that would be our holiday destination, I nipped back into town, bought this book, and began reading it in preparation for the holiday. Each chapter covers a different aspect of Iceland’s history, from its discovery, the first settlers and sagas (some of whom even made it to Vinland, or as we know it, Newfoundland). The book is well-written and engaging, though personally I found the latter chapters less interesting, which leave behind history and enter the world of politics. It gave me a deeper appreciation for Iceland, and I would recommend the book for anyone planning to visit.

Norwegian Wood

A surprisingly engaging read that delivers exactly what it promises: information on the many ways of chopping, stacking and drying wood across Scandinavia, presented in a factual yet fascinating style. Just like the many photographs of stacked wood, the book itself is organised well, with sub-headings for each type of stacking technique, category of wood burner, or species of tree. You’ll find yourself longing for a cold Winter’s evening to carefully arrange some dry logs in the fire place, light the kindling and hear the fire crackle.

Winter Holiday

Much more engaging than Swallowdale. The story is set in winter when the lake starts freezing over, which provides the backdrop for a very different set of events to the stories so far. Instead of sailing, the children are ice skating, sledging and constructing a vessel to glide over the frozen lake. There is another breath of fresh air as we meet Dick and Dorothea for the first time, who are “city folk” that befriend John and the other children, and desire to have outdoorsy adventures like them. Predictably, this ends up happening, but in a very charming manner. A common pattern in the story is how the children frequently communicate with each other via morse code, flags, and (although the word itself is never used) steganography. These non-standard methods of communication end up being more than just a bit of fun, as they are responsible for some pivotal moments in the story.

Exhalation

Fantastic. I found this collection of short stories hard to put down. They consider fairly typical sci-fi topics such as time-travel, advanced technology, parallel and alternative universes, but explore them in deep and meaningful ways, often with fascinating worlds and characters. If that intrigues you, a good starting point is to go here and read What’s expected of us, which will only take a few minutes. I don’t want to say too much to risk spoiling the enjoyment. My favourite stories were The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate, Exhalation, and Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom; this last one in particular because it tackled an idea I tried to write about for NaNoWriMo years ago, but did such a better job than I could. I also particularly liked The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling and Omphalos.

A Short History of the World According to Sheep

The impact sheep have had on society is far bigger than I had realised. This book covers many such aspects, from finance (such as how hundreds of finely crafted churches in Norfolk were funded by the wool trade), language (how so many words relate to sheep, such as shoddy and tenterhooks, or place names that begin with Ship, Shap, Shep or Skip), culture (such as how the Vikings and Inuit people shared techniques for spinning yarn), genetics (how humans selectively bred sheep that require shearing to make it easier to collect wool, but now we’re coming full circle to breeding sheep which naturally shed their coats since wool is no longer in such demand), and much more. It contains many interesting facts; such as how the sheep shearing machine was invented in the late 1800s by Frederick York Wolseley, an “Irish-born wool grower living in Australia”, and his foreman, Herbert Austin, who dabbled with motor cars in the sheep shearing off-season and went on to found the Austin Motor Company; and the oldest known tattoos in history, which went unnoticed for a century, are on a 5,000 year old Egyptian mummy in the British Museum, and are of a wild bull and a ram. The book is an easy read and flows well, and the author does a good job of keeping you engaged. You don’t need to be particularly fond of sheep to enjoy the book, but by the end of it you’ll have a fresh appreciation of them.

The 99% Invisible City

Around 2020 I fairly regularly listened to the 99% Invisible podcast, which talks about various interesting things that all mostly go unnoticed, and so I pre-ordered their book when it was announced. It’s the sort of book you just dive into at random, since each chapter is just a page or three, and is largely independant to the rest of the book. So at first I just cherry picked the chapters that sounded interesting and left it at that. Now in 2024 I read the book from cover to cover, and it is a very well curated book of interesting little stories. As implied by the title, each chapter focuses on a particularly interesting but hidden aspect of one or more cities, covering topics such as the decorated man-hole covers found in cities such as Seattle, to the fake building facades used to hide ventilation facilities in London and beyond. My one critique of this book is that, while some examples are from cities around the world, it generally has a very US-centric focus, with especially many examples being taken from San Francisco. Admittedly the podcast authors are based in that region, so it’s understandable that would be their bias, but I’m sure there’s a wealth of equally interesting stories from other cities around the world.

The Story of the Southwold — Walberswick Ferry

A short but interesting book covering the history of this relatively obscure ferry crossing, which has been operating on-and-off for several hundred years or more. The names of the original ferrymen are lost to time, but there is a surprising wealth of stories from the past few generations. The more recent accounts draw upon personal experience, with numerous accounts from individuals who operated or used the ferries, some in their own words. Some highlights were: learning that the river has changed course significantly over the years as the sea has shifted the shingle; that for a while it used to be a chain pontoon ferry rather than a row boat; that the pontoon ran into monetary troubles in large part because during the war soldiers used it without paying, and this issue was raised in parliament; and that depending upon who you ask, the ferry may have taken two or three circus elephants across! The book could do with some better editing, since the flow can be clunky at times and there are many grammar mistakes, but in a way this adds to the charm of a self published book about fairly niche local affairs. A good read for anyone who’s been to the area. The book is replete with pictures, in particular the chapter “Ferry Dogs” which, apart from an introductory sentence, is literally page after page of dog photos.

Swallowdale

It feels like a collection of slow paced short stories, rather than a complete novel like Swallows and Amazons. There is a lot of repetition, with a common pattern being that: an event will occur and be described by the narrator, then the characters will reflect on said event, and then the characters will relay said event to other characters. The book is about 600 pages, and it took the first 200 pages to really get going. However, Swallowdale is redeemed by having the same charm as its predecessor, as you follow the children through various little adventures as they explore the Lake District.

Wandering Souls

Read the first chapter at a bookshop in Ely and was instantly drawn in. A sincere, heartfelt and at times shocking story of a family who flee Vietnam in the late 1970s, which grapples with the emotional turmoil that unfurls, and other consequences. It is based upon real experience, and the author paints very vivid characters that really makes you empathise with their challenging situations. In addition, she skillfully uses several different narrative techniques that weave together, without wasting a single word, to unpack everything in a very powerful way.

The Second Jungle Book

A similar format to the first book, but a little darker in theme, perhaps because as Mowgli gets older and more powerful he carries out his will. It might have helped my enjoyment that this time I knew it was going to be a collection of short stories. I think I actually preferred this book, including the non-Mowgli stories. The most memorable non-Mowgli story was Quiquern, about Kotuko’s attempt to survive a perilous winter in the far north of Canada. Likewise, the most memorable Mowgli story was Red Dog, about Mowgli’s attempt to survive the deady onslaught of a pack of dholes. As a sidenote, the “Peace Rock” that appears in the 2016 film adaption of The Jungle Book appears in the first story, How Fear Came, in which we learn more about Shere Khan.

To the Island of Tides

Was not quite what I was expecting, I think I was hoping for something a bit more light-hearted and varied? It follows the journey of the author as he retraces the steps of St. Cuthbert (c. 634 - 687 AD) to Lindisfarne and onwards. Each chapter generally follows the format of the author doing a leg of the journey, weaving in some history, somewhat similar to The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot. Considered giving up, but stuck with it to the end. The theme of death begins to come up repeatedly, as the author finds themselves reflecting back on their life during this journey, and their legacy. Regardless, he paints an interesting picture of Lindisfarne, and I’d like to visit one day.

The Jungle Book

Having seen the 1967 film adaption, I naïvely assumed this book would follow the story of Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera and Shere Khan. While this is the case for the first three chapters, the remaining four chapters follow different animals in unrelated short stories. One such story is about a seal in the Bering Sea who is determined to find a new home, safe from humans. I much preferred the Mowgli arc.

Swallows and Amazons

Wonderfully captures life as a children having adventures together in the Lake District. A timeless reminder about the joys of having a brilliant imagination.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

Purchased on a whim while visiting Winchester. Initially I was drawn in by the cover depicting a cosy looking bookshop, but then after actually reading the first chapter found I really enjoyed the writing style (which is captivatingly translated into English from Japanese by Eric Ozawa). The book is quite short (~150 pages), but packs a lot into each chapter. Chapters vary from a dozen pages to just two, but I found myself always wanting to read the next. There are lots of authentic moments between the characters, as we learn more about them, and they grow and help each other grow. A heartwarming and sincere read.

Older thoughts

Below this point, the thoughts were written in retrospect, sometimes many years after I read the actual book, using my best recollection.

Mr Rosenblum’s List

To become an English gentleman, Mr. Rosenblum must finish building his golf course, but his plans are troubled by the Dorset wooly-pig! A very pleasant and warm read, based on the real experiences of Jewish refugees trying to fit into life in England.

The Village News

Most of the book was very interesting. Each chapter focusses on a different village in the UK, and uses it to tell a story, or share some interesting facts about history or urban planning. The book progresses from the long past to the present day, and the final chapter looks at the future of villages. It would be better off without the final chapter, which proposes some strange ideas, such as suggesting that villages of the future should hide parked cars underground.

The Fens

A gift from my mother. I was missing the mountains after moving to Cambridgeshire from Seattle. Rather than bemoan the flatness, I thought it might help to learn more about my new surroundings, the Fens. If you care for the Fens, this book is thoroughly interesting, and covers much of the history and culture of the landscape. It is written by someone with a long, deep understanding of the area, who has conducted lots of archaeological excavations here. Introduced me to the term drove, which you sometimes see as a street name around these parts.

The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot

Started out promising with an interesting introduction to old paths in the UK, but soon turned to focus on the supposed memories of these places, and how they connect us to the past. Was not what I expected, had hoped for something a little more grounded. Did not finish.

A World on the Wing

Countless numbers of birds embark upon epic migrations each year. Each chapter weaves in stories from the author’s life-long experience of ornithology, and there is a recurring focus on the impact human behaviour has upon bird migration. A fantastic read if you are interested in birds.

The Tree Climber’s Guide

A gift from my grandad. In each chapter, the author climbs a different tree in London, and writes about the experience. A simple premise but surprisingly interesting! Enabled me to spot the London Plane trees in Seattle.

Treasure Island

Since it’s an island, I took this book to read whilst on holiday in Hawaii (the Big Island). Although the original publication was serialised (1881-1882), similar to Great Expectations, it does not suffer from the slow pacing: each chapter is exciting. I can imagine it would be an even more thrilling book if I did not already know the rough plot.

Great Expectations

The story was too slow paced for my liking. Perhaps this is because it was originally published in a weekly periodical (1860-1861), but Treasure Island was too, and was a much better read. Diligently finished the book, but it was not particularly enjoyable.

Something Happened

Given how much I enjoyed Catch-22, I took a chance on one of Joseph Heller’s other books. Unfortunately this one was not for me. I stuck with it simply to find out what did happen, but in hindsight it was not worth persevering.

Getting Started with Dwarf Fortress

Hoping to play some video games, I built a new PC, but the graphics card was dead on arrival. I began the RMA process to get a new graphics card, but it was going to take a few weeks. It turns out there are very few games you can play without a graphics card these days. Fortunately, Dwarf Fortress is one of them. With the help of this book, in those weeks I got proficient at Dwarf Fortress. I’m not sure how well the book has stood the test of time as the game has developed, but back then it was invaluable.

Brave New World

As many others probably did, I read this straight after Nineteen Eighty-Four, since it was described as a book about a different approach to controlling society, focusing more on the use of pleasure than force. Ultimately both are rooted in manipulation, with control of the many in the hands of the few.

Nineteen Eighty-Four

A timeless classic. This was my second read through. The opening line has always stuck with me:

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

Cat’s Cradle

This book got me back into reading again after a long hiatus. It was recommended to me via an ASMR video I stumbled across on YouTube. I had never read any Vonnegut before. His style of writing captivated me, and the story did not pan out as I expected, which made for a very interesting read.

Catch-22

This worn second-hand book had been gifted to me by my mother a few years earlier, but it remained unread. Then as circumstances changed, I found myself getting the train a lot and needed something to pass the time on the long journey. Having little money for purchasing books, I decided to give this one a go. From the first chapter I was hooked by the sensor of humour, though things take a darker turn as the story progresses.

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