PAUL C in the War Room - XVII : Not Quite Beau Geste in Algiers

The struggle for independence from France in Algeria lead to armed conflict from 1954 to 1962 eventually bringing about Algerian independence and lead to the return of De Gaulle and the fall of the French Fourth Republic.

Opening Words

I am reading The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon which takes as its subject the fight against colonialism.



"National liberation, national renaissance, the restoration of nationhood to the people, commonwealth; whatever may be the headings used or the new formulas introduced, decolonization is always a violent phenomenon. "

Interested...............?

Books Read January to June

January

1. Dear Future Boyfriend by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (2000) 90 pp Poetry / 150Y Challenge 15/150
2. Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy (2016) 420 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 16/150
3. The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff (1959) 306 pp Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 17/150
4. Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken (1964) 286 pp Fiction / BAC / 150Y Challenge 18/150
5. Carthage Must Be Destroyed by Richard Miles (2010) 373 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 19/150
6. When We Were Warriors by Emma Carroll (2019) 248 pp Fiction / War Room / 150y Challenge 20/150
7. Double Indemnity by James M Cain (1936) 136 pp Thriller / 150Y Challenge 21/150
8. Persian Fire by Tom Holland (2005) 376 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 22/150

February

9. North Woods by Daniel Mason (2023) 369 pp Fiction 150Y Challenge 23/150
10. The African by JMG Le Clezio (2004) 106 pp Non-Fiction / 150Y Challenge 24/150
11. The British are Coming by Rick Atkinson (2019) 564 pp Non-Fiction / War Room
12. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather (1927) 297 pp Fiction 150Y Challenge 25/150
13. Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell (1987) 405 pp Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 26/150

March

14. Fatal Colours by George Goodwin (2011) 239 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 27/150
15. R.S. Thomas : Selected Poems by R.S. Thomas (2003) 343 pp Poetry / BAC / 150Y Challenge 28/150
16. The Maiden by Kate Foster (2023) 370 pp Fiction
17. The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan (2024) 334pp Fiction / Warm Room
18. The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright (2023) 273 pp Fiction
19. The Brothers York : An English Tragedy by Thomas Penn (2019) 572 pp Non-Fiction / War Room
20. Pet by Catherine Chidgey (2023) 323 pp Fiction
21. Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshanathan (2023) 341 pp Fiction
22. Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney (2024) 217 pp Fiction
23. Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas (1954) 108 pp Drama / BAC / 150 Y Challenge 29/150
24. Bosworth: Psychology of a Battle by Michael Jones (2002) 220 pp Non-Fiction/ War Room / 150Y Challenge 30/150

April

25. The Sweet Science by A.J. Liebling (1956) 232 pp Non-Fiction / AAC / 150Y Challenge 31/150
26. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (1955) 249pp Thriller / 150Y Challenge 32/150 / 1001 Books
27. Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad (2023) 319 pp Fiction / War Room
28. Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym (1977) 186 pp Fiction / 150Y Challenge 33/150 / BAC/ 1001 Books
29. A History of the Crusades I by Steven Runciman (1951) 281 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 34/150
30. Loot by Tania James (2023) 289 pp Fiction
31. Field Work by Seamus Heaney (1979) 56 pp Poetry / 150Y Challenge 35/150
32. A History of the Crusades II by Steven Runciman (1952) 385 pp Non-Fiction / War Room
33. A History of the Crusades III by Steven Runciman (1954) 401 pp Non-Fiction / War Room
34. Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy (2023) 233 pp Fiction
35. The People of Hemso by August Strindberg (1887) 152 pp Fiction / 1001 Books / 150Y Challenge 36/150
36. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit (1902) 237 pp Fiction / 150Y Challenge 37/150
37. The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope (1875) 766 pp Fiction / BAC / 150Y Challenge 38/150
38. The Details by Ia Genberg (2022) 151 pp Fiction / 150Y Challenge 39/150

May

39. Napoleon by Alan Forrest (2011) 331 pp Non-Fiction / War Room
40. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey (2024) 449 pp Fiction

June

41. Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris (2022) 550 pp Thriller / War Room
42. Selling Manhattan by Carol Ann Duffy (1987) 52 pp Poetry
43. A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley (1939) 392 pp Fiction / BAC / 150Y Challenge 40/150
44. The Fox by D.H. Lawrence (1922) 123 pp Fiction / BAC / 1001 Books / 150Y Challenge 41/150
45. Peace by Richard Bausch (2008) 171 pp War Room / 150Y Challenge 42/150
46. The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (2019) 304 pp Fiction / BAC
47. River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure (2024) 339 pp Fiction
48. Minor Detail by Adania Shibli (2017) 112 pp Fiction / War Room / 150Y Challenge 43/150
49. The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams (2024) 377 pp Fiction / Alternate Women's Prize
50. Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger (1920) 296 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 1001 Books / Anita Memoriam / 150Y Challenge 44/150
51. A Move in the Weather by Anthony Thwaite (2003) 67 pp Poetry

Books Read July to December

July

52. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (1989) 137 pp Fiction / War Room / 150 Year Challenge 45/150
53. The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe (2023) 305 pp Fiction / Women's Alternative Longlist
54. The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon (1961) 255 pp Non-Fiction / War Room / 150 Y Challenge 46/150

Currently Reading

The War Room



JANUARY - Ancient Wars (Greeks/Romans/Persians/Carthage/Egyptians/Alexander, etc) https://www.librarything.com/topic/356820
1. Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy
2. The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff
3. Carthage Must Be Destroyed by Richard Miles
4. Persian Fire by Tom Holland

FEBRUARY - The American War of Independence : https://www.librarything.com/topic/358097#n8402612
1. The British are Coming by Rick Atkinson
2. Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell

MARCH - The War of the Roses : https://www.librarything.com/topic/358941
1. Fatal Colours by George Goodwin
2. The Brothers York : An English Tragedy by Thomas Penn

APRIL - Wars of Religion https://www.librarything.com/topic/359824#n8524265
1. Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
2. A History of the Crusades I by Steven Runciman
3. A History of the Crusades II by Steven Runciman
4. A History of the Crusades III by Steven Runciman
5. Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

MAY - Napoleonic Wars : https://www.librarything.com/topic/360466
1. Napoleon by Alan Forrest

JUNE - English Civil War : https://www.librarything.com/topic/361198
1. Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris

JULY - Colonial Wars : https://www.librarything.com/topic/361750#n8568832
1. The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon

AUGUST - WW2
1. When We Were Warriors by Emma Carroll
2. The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
3. Peace by Richard Bausch
4. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

SEPTEMBER - American Civil War

OCTOBER - American Follies (Korea, Vietnam, Gulf-War, Afghanistan)

NOVEMBER - WW1 :
1. Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger

DECEMBER - Spanish Civil War

WILDCARD - Pick your own fight

British Author Challenge (Hosted by my friend Amanda)



JANUARY - Joan Aiken & Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle : Black Hearts in Battersea
FEBRUARY - Emma Newman & Ronald Firbank
MARCH - Welsh Writers : Selected Poems R.S. Thomas; Under Milk Wood
APRIL - Barbara Pym & Anthony Trollope - Quartet in Autumn; The Way We Live Now
MAY - Time Portals : A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley
JUNE - Kiran Millwood Hargrave - The Deathless Girls & D.H. Lawrence - The Fox

American Author Challenge (Hosted with occasional assistance this year by my friend Linda)



JANUARY - Mark Twain
FEBRUARY - Susan Sontag
MARCH - Truman Capote
APRIL - Non-Fiction - The Sweet Science by AJ Liebling
MAY - William Maxwell
JUNE - Queer Authors

150 YEARS OF BOOKS

150 years; 150 books; 150 authors; 15 months

Done:
Row 1 : 1874, 1875, 1887


Row 2 : 1889, 1902


Row 3 : 1904, 1908, 1910, 1915


Row 4 : 1920, 1922, 1923, 1927


Row 5 : 1936, 1937, 1939, 1945


Row 6 : 1951, 1954, 1955 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961


Row 7 : 1964, 1966, 1977


Row 8 : 1979, 1987, 1989


Row 9 : 1994, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008


Row 10 : 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023

Women's Prize List



Current Ranking
1. Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshanathan READ WINNER
2. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo READ
3. Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy READ SHORTLIST
4. The Maiden by Kate Foster READ
5. River East, River West READ SHORTLIST
6. The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright READ SHORTLIST
7. Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad READ SHORTLIST

A Trace of Sun by Pam Williams
Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan
Hangman by Maya Binyam
8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster by Mirinae Lee owned
Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie owned
In Defence of the Act by Effie Black
Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville owned SHORTLIST
The Blue Beautiful World by Karen Lord owned
And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott

Up next RESTLESS DOLLY MAUNDER

Paul's Alternative Women's Prize Longlist

Current Ranking

1. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey READ
2. Loot by Tania James READ
3. Pet by Catherine Chidgey READ
4. The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams READ
5. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett READ
6. The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan READ
7. Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney READ
8. The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe READ

9. Night Wherever We Go by Tracey Rose Peyton owned
10. Julia by Sandra Newman owned
11. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward owned
12. Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood owned
13. Absolution by Alice McDermott owned
14. The Fraud by Zadie Smith owned
15. Penance by Eliza Clark owned
16. Land of Milk and Honey by E Pam Zhang owned

Next up Night Wherever We Go

Books Added in 2024

January books 1-31
https://www.librarything.com/topic/357215#8360403

February books 32-73
https://www.librarything.com/topic/358698#8432568

March books 74-104
https://www.librarything.com/topic/359405#8476551

April books 105-130
https://www.librarything.com/topic/360210#8513437

May books 131-144
https://www.librarything.com/topic/360952#8540231

June books 145-160
https://www.librarything.com/topic/361445#8558052

161. The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon
162. How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
163. Ashes in the Snow by Oriana Ramunno
164. The In-Between by Christos Tsiolkas
165. Chess by Stefan Zweig
166. Zero Days by Ruth Ware
167. The Binding by Bridget Collins
168. The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma
169. Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips
170. The Spoiled Heart by Sunjeev Sahota
171. Lady Life by Ahmet Altan
172. Parade by Rachel Cusk
173. The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri
174. A History of Burning by Janika Oza
175. Great-Uncle Harry by Michael Palin
176. Paradises Lost by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt
177. The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar
178. Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea

Book Stats

Books Read : 54
Pages Read in completed books : 15,428 pp

Longest book : The Way We Live Now : 766 pp
Shortest book : Selling Manhattan : 52 pp
Mean book length : 285.70 pp

Books written by men : 27
Books written by women : 27

Non-Fiction : 15
Fiction : 30
Poetry : 5
Thriller : 3
Drama : 1

1870's : 1 book
1880's : 1 book
1900's : 1 book
1920's : 3 books
1930's : 2 books
1950's : 7 books
1960's : 2 books
1970's : 2 books
1980's : 3 books
2000's : 6 books
2010's : 10 books
2020's : 16 books

UK Authors : 29
US Authors : 12
Ireland Authors : 4
Sweden Authors : 2
France Authors : 2
Malaysia Authors : 1
New Zealand Authors : 1
Palestine Authors : 1
Germany Authors : 1
Nigeria Authors : 1

Nobel Winners : 1 (79/120)
Carnegie Medal Winners : 2 (7th overall)
1001 Books : 6

Read : 54 books
Added : 166 books

Change to TBR : +112

Welcome to my 17th thread of 2024

Happy New Thread

>15 avatiakh: Thank you dear Kerry. x

Just an update on posts. I passed 5,000 posts this year whilst doing the set up for this thread.

A huge, huge thank you to anybody and everybody who have taken the time to post here this year. xx

Interesting when compared with last year as I reached 5,000 posts then in Week Ending 30 September 2023 - so I am fully three months ahead of last year's posting.

Happy new thread!

>18 amanda4242: Thanks Amanda. I was dusting off Redwall to be read when I finish the first books in my list this month.

Happy new thread Paul!

Happy new thread, Paul. >17 PaulCranswick: That's an amazing number of posts!

>20 quondame: Thank you, Susan. It is always a pleasure to see you here.

>21 atozgrl: Thanks Irene. I have only once made 10,000 posts in a year and I don't see it happening this year but it is heartening that I have clocked up so many posts in a year that I stated my intention to go slower!

Happy New Thread, Paul!

Can heartily recommend Alistair Horne’s A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962. And if you like his style, he has a books on WW I (The Price of Glory: Verdun 1916) and WW II (To Lose a Battle: France 1940) to look forward to.

Belatedly realised that Thackeray’s The Virginians qualifies as a novel with ties to the American Revolution, so I am planning to start it shortly, to compensate for my very limited attention to this topic back in February. Will also be reading The Ottoman Empire. Hope to also find time for Three Empires on the Nile.

>23 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb. We have the Booker Longlist this month. Wonder what will make the cut?

>24 booksaplenty1949: I will have a look for those and thanks for the Reccs. I don't have them on the shelves but I have heard good things before about Horne.

>25 booksaplenty1949: Some fascinating reading ahead for sure!

Happy new thread!

>26 PaulCranswick: Good Question, Paul . What will make the cut ? I looked on Good Reads and found a list of possibilities. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/188738.Booker_Prize_Eligible_2024

>26 PaulCranswick: As you probably know, Horne takes his title from Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden,” a poem that pretty much sums up the moral case for the colonial project, at least as Europeans saw it.

Happy new thread, Paul!

>2 PaulCranswick: I’ll have a look if I can find this book. Maybe.

Congratulations on reaching 5000 posts, Paul!

>29 vancouverdeb: Interesting list, some on my TBR.

Happy new thread, Paul. And congrats on the posts!!!

Happy July, Paul. Happy New Thread! It looks like you are doing some serious reading.

>30 booksaplenty1949: There is no doubt that it wasn't just greed that motivated the imperial project.

>31 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.

>32 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley - you have helped me too of course!

>33 msf59: Thanks Mark. You will be pleased to note that we nowadays both have our grandchildren close at hand......in my own case for a few short weeks.

>34 PaulCranswick: Or perhaps those who were profiting from it used TWMB as an argument to garner wider social/tax support. I’m not sure that colonialism was of much financial benefit to the average Brit.

>36 booksaplenty1949: Indeed the British working classes were largely indentured workers in factories, on farms and in workshops, foundries & fabrication yards.

>37 PaulCranswick: Colonial infrastructure provided good jobs for “second sons” and other redundant poshboys, presumably paid for by British taxpayers.

On an unrelated note, just finished Angel, by Elizabeth Taylor. I have been reading, and enjoying, Taylor’s novels in order, but this, her eighth, was particularly impressive. The main character is a writer of trashy Edwardian best-sellers and we are reminded that the love of reading was/is by no means confined to intellectuals and literary connoisseurs. She reminded me somewhat of the quasi-Frankenstein’s monster in Poor Things—-the movie version, at least, as I haven’t read the book—in her obliviousness to all externally imposed social constraints. Has anyone here read Gray’s book? LT reviews are extremely mixed.

Happy New Thread Paul! and congratulations on reaching and exceeding 5000 posts!

Happy New thread!!

Well, lookee here. I get distracted, and a whole thread of Paul's passes me by.

>2 PaulCranswick: I'm game. I've been meaning to read this one for awhile, and whenever I go into the local revolutionary bookshop, I can never remember whether I already own a copy and stall yet again. Checking my LT catalog, looks like not, so I'll pick it up this week, along with The Science of Ghosts, this month's queer book club read--a graphic novel for a change of pace! That's from the more mainstream independent bookstore across the street. I am so lucky to have 2 local independent bookstores within a few blocks of where I live!

Happy new thread, Paul!

>17 PaulCranswick: It feels to me as if posting is more unbalanced this year, among the threads I follow. I don't have statistical support - just a feeling - and this only applies to the threads I have starred.

>38 booksaplenty1949: Of course those that benefited from the Empire were not a huge number in real terms.

>39 booksaplenty1949: I haven't read it (Gray's book) but I did add it to the shelves recently. I have only read one Taylor book but enjoyed it immensely.

>40 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel. I am very grateful to all my friends for helping to make this thread so busy.

>41 hredwards: Thank you, Harold.

>42 justchris: Thanks Chris. It is an emotionally written but pretty complex work with some very quotable passages.

>43 ArlieS: We are a little up on last year in total so far (about a week ahead in overall numbers). It is certainly true that some of our number have been less busy than normal but others have stepped forward in the meantime.

Happy new thread, Paul!

Happy whatever to you and yours!! More Pip pictures, please :)

>47 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia.

I will put something up of the little madam later this evening.

>42 justchris: Yes, I've seen quotes over the years, which is what put it on my radar. Managed to stop by both bookstores, and the last copy of Wretched of the Earth sold an hour or two before I got there. Sigh. So it'll have to wait until next week when they get new copies in.

>49 justchris: It has remained fairly constantly in print, Chris, so I am sure that you'll track down a copy of it soon.

Here for the pictures of the little madam:)

ANd happy new thread!

>51 AMQS: Hahaha I will try to oblige, Anne (and thank you!)

https://outlook.office.com/377eccbb-5f75-42cf-9d49-a65db7a2b772

Don't know whether this video link works or not?

>53 PaulCranswick: Only for those with a Microsoft email account, apparently. ☹️

>54 booksaplenty1949: Let me see how to solve the issue.

Happy "somewhat new" thread!

Happy new thread, Paul - and congratulations on exceeding 5000 posts!

Happy new thread!

>56 thornton37814: Thank you, Lori.

>57 SirThomas: Thanks Thomas.

>58 drneutron: Thanks DocRoc

Hiya, Paul. Hoping for grandchild news. I’ll have to go back further in time. Is he/she still visiting you?

Happy New Thread!

>61 jnwelch: Still here, Joe. A couple of days away visiting relatives but she will be back this evening.

>62 SilverWolf28: Thanks Silver.

Happy new thread, Paul!

>64 bell7: Thank you dear Mary.

A Pip moment:

>66 PaulCranswick: Oh, she’s darling! What an interesting expression on her face! Is it curiosity? So sweet.

Karen O

>66 PaulCranswick: I see a definite resemblance. That expression must be curiosity.

>66 PaulCranswick: So cute!

Happy new thread Paul.

>66 PaulCranswick: Cute!

>67 klobrien2: It could be, Karen, as certain objects seem to fascinate her.

>68 booksaplenty1949: Resemblance with me or her mum or Hani?

>69 quondame: Thanks Susan

>70 humouress: Thank you, Nina.

>66 PaulCranswick: She may be saying "You comin' Home with us, right, Grandad...?"

>71 PaulCranswick: I only have eyes for you.

>66 PaulCranswick: That's lovely, Paul!

Happy new thread!

>66 PaulCranswick: And happy happy adorable baby!

Happy new 🧵PC!

Hi Paul, Happy New Thread mate, another good win for the Yorkies and a low and high scoring tied match at the Cheltenham festival although i think Mason Crane may rue the decisions he made in the last over. The sad thing is that there is no more four day cricket until the 22nd August due to the Blast and then the 16.4 crap.

Sending love and hugs to all the family from both of us mate.

Here's the Fourth of July readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/361826

>73 m.belljackson: Hahaha quite possibly, Marianne

>74 booksaplenty1949: I have just sprayed coffee all over my dining table!

>75 CDVicarage: She is a very sweet tempered little thing to be honest, Kerry.

>76 witchyrichy: Thanks Karen. They are leaving on the tenth which is quite a bit less than the 3 weeks that I thought they were staying. I was a little bit upset last night when I realized.

>1 PaulCranswick: Happy new thread!

>77 richardderus: Thank you, dear fellow.

>78 johnsimpson: It is a shame John that they have devalued the longer game so pathetically. I would like to see them reduce back to a three day game with a minimum number of overs a day. Each team should play 18 first class games (each other plus either touring sides or MCC or Universities or local derby games). That is only 54 days of cricket each county.

>79 SilverWolf28: Thanks Silver

>82 ocgreg34: Thank you, Greg

>66 PaulCranswick: Oo, she looks so serious! She is adorable.

Happy whatever! Happy Pip time at the very least!!

Celebrating the 4th of July here so we can politely talk politics:

While reading a brave new book, EVERYTHING WE NEVER HAD,
trump now appears to be way more like F.M. than H.

Token Creek 4th Parade is now visible from our front porch -
neighbors already setting off tons of loud fireworks - bird and wildlife are hiding.

Enjoy your Loving Peace, Marianne

F. M. ?

Jacobite uprisings not on the War Room agenda, but for those who may be using them as a “wild card” option, I note that the Vatican cricket team played the King Charles XI at Windsor yesterday https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-07/vatican-cricket-king-cha.... Attempted to read account of the match but nodded off at “a slow wicket meant the ball kept low,” whatever that’s about. Possibly related to “a bumping pitch and a blinding light/An hour to play and the last man in…”

>85 alcottacre: It is funny, Stasia, because when she is already fully awake she seems to enjoy my company but when she is newly awake from sleep, I am not the one she will gravitate towards.

>86 m.belljackson: I suppose he had a better first lady than FM though, Marianne.

>87 booksaplenty1949: An educated guess but I think Marianne is referring to Ferdinand Marcos he of the Filipino Presidency and shoe loving spouse.

>88 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha - of course cricket parlance is very much my thing!

Happy new thread, Paul!

>91 banjo123: Thank you, dear Rhonda. x

>89 PaulCranswick: I guess she is still getting used to you? Maybe she wants mama because she wants comfort when she first wakes up?

Happy whatever, Paul! I am fixing to post my new acquisitions to the 'This Just In' thread and it is a pretty lengthy list this week, if you care to check it out as you have time.

>90 PaulCranswick: In the process of making sure that I was quoting “Vitaï Lampada” correctly I realised that for those who lack the time to tackle a whole book on Colonial Wars this month, this poem by Sir Henry Newbolt would encapsulate the subject quite nicely. John Bayley has a very interesting article on the poet https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v19/n19/john-bayley/a-subtle-form-of-hypocrisy in which he mentions that his wife (ie, Iris Murdoch!) burst spontaneously into tears when he read her “Vitaï Lampada.”
On a side note, this article also mentions that Sir Henry, whose marriage was what is now known as a “throuple,” later added a third woman, on the side. Those Victorian Empire-builders!

Paul - So Good the Left has been restored - and hope the Change moves to this side of the Ocean.

Here we have a decent President whose leaving did not deserve to be tarnished.

>95 m.belljackson: Did you express support for proportional representation in a previous discussion, or was that another LT member? I note that between them, the Conservative and Reform parties received 40% of the vote compared to Labour’s 33.8%. Under a proportional system we could well be looking at a victory for the (hard) Right.

>96 booksaplenty1949: geez - Yahoo reported that the left had won on a sidebar - not true?

>97 m.belljackson: Well, the Labour Party certainly won in a landslide, if that’s what you meant——412 seats out of 650, with a further 71 seats for the centre-left Lib-Dems—-thanks to “first-past-the-post.” I was just saying that in a proportional representation system things would look quite different.

>96 booksaplenty1949: >97 m.belljackson: We were talking about that on my thread. I think under a proportional representation system people would be prepared to vote FOR who they actually wanted rather than vote AGAINST who they didn't. So the actual outcome could be very different. There's an awful of tactical voting goes on in British elections. Overall more people voted for the centre-left Labour/ Liberal-Democrat/ Greens than voted Conservative/Reform. And an alliance with Reform would be likely to push some Conservative voters towards the Liberal-Democrats.

>99 SandDune: in a proportional representational system alliances are made after the election, not before, as party leaders attempt to cobble together a voting coalition which will hold a majority in the legislature. This can often make for strange bedfellows.

>100 booksaplenty1949: But alliances can also impact results going forward. When the Liberal Democrats went into coalition with the Conservatives in 2010 it absolutely decimated the Liberal Democrat vote until this election election, as it wasn’t a natural fit for their voters.

>93 alcottacre: I am also working pretty long hours this week, Stasia, so I am catching up with her when she is already a bit tired.

I will go and see what you've added. I will go to the bookstore from work this lunchtime.

>94 booksaplenty1949: Interesting stuff! As a muslim I am technically allowed four wives although I am always careful not to point that out to the one that I do have!

>95 m.belljackson: Mr. Starmer has been swept to power on a surge of ennui. He has benefited from the crass unsuitability for office of the previous government and I think most of the country are just relieved to see them gone. I am guessing that we are in for a period of respectable competence.

>96 booksaplenty1949: Of course it depends on the exact system of PR that would have been adopted but the Centre Right (Reform and Tory) together got 38% whilst the Centre Left (Labour, LibDem and Greens) got 53% of the vote so there would still have been more likely a centre left coalition.

I think it is fair to say that with 33.83% of the vote it is not quite fair that Labour gained 66% of the seats available to them (excluding Northern Ireland where they don't stand). It took them on average 23,604 votes to gain one seat. Reform who gained 14.28% of the total vote got 5 seats out of the 634 available to them and it took 820,745 votes to gain a seat. Hardly fair but probably a good thing in the circumstances!

>101 SandDune: The Conservatives won an unexpected majority in the next election. So the Lib-Dem vote went to the Conservatives?

>97 m.belljackson: Won on a sidebar? Well Starmer was a very distinguished lawyer / public prosecutor!

>98 booksaplenty1949: Ah yes, I can see how those terms could get muddled up. The Liberal Democrats did much better than expected and their leader, Mr. Davey, has emerged from the election with credit and 71 seats.

>99 SandDune: Good points certainly, Rhian and as I pointed out the Centre/Left of Labour, Liberal and Greens managed a clear majority of 53%. There is the fact that the turn out was low and that some of the smaller parties may attract more votes if people thought that their votes would count more by voting for them. I suspect that the Greens and Reform would both benefit from that and that the results between Centre Left and Centre Right would not end up much different but its distribution would be different.

>100 booksaplenty1949: That is true but the alignments in the UK would not be too difficult to predict at the moment.

>101 SandDune: That and their ruinous U-turn on student fees. Under Ed Davey the party is certainly more identifiable as Liberal (in a British sense) and would not countenance propping up the Centre-Right.

>102 PaulCranswick: It isn't quite as straightforward as that. Rhian is definitely right that the Lib-Dems were punished by the electorate for its distasteful choice of bedfellows but the Conservatives won the subsequent election firstly because of the issues of the day and secondly because Labour were not seen as fit for office at the time (rightly or wrongly) and also because Labour's vote in Scotland prevented its natural majority.

>102 PaulCranswick: In The Devil’s Dictionary Ambrose Bierce defines “bigamy” as a dreadful sin which will be punished in the afterlife by something called “trigamy.”

>108 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha I can see his point!

>102 PaulCranswick: And how many husbands is Hani allowed?!

>110 m.belljackson: Ask her, Marianne. She will definitely tell you that one is one too many!

I don't make those rules. I don't follow those rules or agree with them. IMHO they are misapplied by Muslim males for their gratification without understanding the principles of care that those rules were founded upon.

And on a completely different topic, I thought you might be interested to know that there's an increase in interest in cricket in the US, and apparently there's a professional level playing field in my area, where they are hosting games this weekend. Our local TV station did a dive into it, and if you're interested, you can see the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiCrshcSojU.

>102 PaulCranswick: Waiting to see what is in your haul, Juan!

>112 atozgrl: That is an entertaining segment, Irene. I did of course take note of the US beating Pakistan in the horrid shortened version of the game. It is a great sport and I would love more Americans to embrace it over that disquieting game you play with a shortened tree branch.

>113 alcottacre: Coming shortly, Stasia!

Saturday lunchtime additions

161. The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon
162. How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
163. Ashes in the Snow by Oriana Ramunno
164. The In-Between by Christos Tsiolkas
165. Chess by Stefan Zweig
166. Zero Days by Ruth Ware

The last named was bought for Hani.

>114 PaulCranswick: I recall a conversation some decades ago with a young Guyanese man who noted with regret that while immigrants to North America from cricket-playing countries maintained an interest in the sport, the next generation gravitated to baseball. But I think that is changing—-perhaps numbers have reached critical mass. As you know I have zero comprehension of the game but in my perverse way I like to raise it in conversation with those who look as though they might know what a “sticky wicket” actually is, and find that the subject is often taken up with great interest by people who have grown up in North America.

>116 booksaplenty1949: Myself and John Simpson are both from that part of Yorkshire that was with a cricket bat at the bottom of our cribs. Love the game with a passion still and my beloved Yorkshire cricket club is almost as dear to me as is my football club Leeds United.

BOOK #52



Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Date of Publication : 1989
Origin of Author : USA
Gender of Author : Female
Pages : 137 pp
Challenges : War Room / 150 Challenge 45/150

YA telling of how the Danish people helped their Jewish population escape the clutches of the Nazis.

Told from the perspective of a young Danish schoolgirl this is simply but effectively told.

Mildly recommended and important for children to read and remember.

>66 PaulCranswick: Very cute

She's saying "Look at all those books! When do I learn how to read?"

>117 PaulCranswick: Just read this rather alarming statement by the head of the Malaysian Cricket Association, which seems to suggest that cricket in Malaya is in somewhat the same situation as boxing in the US in the 1930s and 40s ie in the hands of organised crime. Did result in some great movies, I have to say. Looking forward to Raging Bowler. https://cricclubs.com/MalaysianCricketAssociation/viewNews.do?newsId=162&clu...

>119 streamsong: I have one with her doing an inspection of the books, Janet. Bear with me!

>120 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha I think that they have some problem in drafting of that document! I believe that his anti-corruption appointment has nothing to do with cricket.

>121 PaulCranswick: More stuff here (scroll down) about how he intends to make Malaysian Cricket “Lean and Clean”: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jayantha-kumar-sen-gupta-a21571267_procurement-of... I think you are in denial, Mr Cranswick.

>114 PaulCranswick: >117 PaulCranswick: I'm afraid that baseball is the sport I love to watch the most, so I'm not one who will abandon it for cricket. But it did surprise me to see that there's so much more involvement in cricket in the US. However, I am *not* surprised to hear that they've set up a field in Morrisville. We've got a large Indian population in this area, and a lot of them have settled in Morrisville, including our former next door neighbors who moved there. There's a Hindu temple there, and I'm not surprised to see they've brought their love of cricket with them and put up a quality playing field.

Hi Paul - You heard it here first -

my daughter says she does not care if Joe says he's a Little Teapot,
she's still voting for him.

Fun fact - My husband had surgery 10 years on his lip. His doctor was Joe Biden’s son-in-law.

>66 PaulCranswick: Paul, she's darling.

>122 booksaplenty1949: Has to be a spoof surely?!

>123 atozgrl: I am as bemused by baseball as most Americans are by cricket. A large Indian community will definitely help the spread of the gentleman's game.

>124 m.belljackson: Of course she is entitled to vote for who she likes but I couldn't in good conscience put somebody so obviously impaired back in the White House for four more long years. They need to persuade him to step aside otherwise their worst nightmare gets reelected.

>125 dianeham: Joe Biden ten years ago would have known about the operation. I am hugely saddened watching him at the moment. It is cruel and his wife should be ashamed of herself. Having Vogue put her on the front cover within a couple of days of her husband's possibly terminal debacle allied to his son's shenanigans equates to a man being made use of by his family.

>126 AMQS: Thanks Anne.

Im back for a week!!!

>127 PaulCranswick: Seems to be the authentic MCA site: https://cricclubs.com/MalaysianCricketAssociation

Hi Paul. Following the sports discussion here: yesterday the Dutch soccer team beat Turkey in the European championship. Next match will be England. I think it will be exciting.

>130 Owltherian: Lovely to see you, Lily. Is all well?

>131 booksaplenty1949: The amount of rain we get here is problematic for the game but it is passionately followed by Malaysian Indians in particular. I would not have thought that there was sufficient commercial possibilities here to make much temptation towards corruption.

>132 EllaTim: It will be a good game I hope, Ella. I have always had a soft spot for the Dutch teams since Cruyff, Neeskens and Krol took you to the World Cup final in 1974 playing wonderful football.

>134 PaulCranswick: Paul! How could you? We were up last night, with our hearts in our mouths.

>114 PaulCranswick: My husband followed the T20 World Cup but, after England's performance in the 50 overs version, I just gave them a cursory glance - though I was favourably impressed, considering.

>111 PaulCranswick: 'without understanding the principles (of care) that those rules were founded upon' Always a problem with those who claim their questionable actions are based on their religion.

>103 PaulCranswick: 'I am guessing that we are in for a period of respectable competence' That will do me fine, thank you.

>111 PaulCranswick: Many of the novels I read as part of last year’s Africa Novel Challenge were set in polygamous societies which pre-dated Islamic influence and existed even in communities which were at least nominally Christian. The set-up, where a man “did the rounds” of a number of households, of necessity female-led on a day-to-day basis, struck me as incompatible with modern urban society, before we get to other issues.

>128 PaulCranswick: All true Paul, but that wasn't the question which is who to vote for...

Little Teapot or Death to Democracy.

I’m tardy checking in, Paul. Not sure if cricket is a thing here but if it goes along with having a sizable Indian population then it might be. Will have to check. Precious pic of young Pip up thread!

>135 humouress: Of course, Nina, I will be heart on sleeve when we play the Netherlands in the Semis. I always want the England football team to do well even when we stink.

I'll take respectable competence any day.

>136 booksaplenty1949: I know and have a few friends who have more than one wife and I don't know any one of them who is particularly happy - the husbands I mean as I haven't canvassed the wives!

The regulations here require the first wife's consent to a second marriage and it is often given but there are also plenty of examples of men marrying out of jurisdiction to avoid that.

>137 m.belljackson: I couldn't in good conscience vote for either, Marianne. Joe Biden with a heavy heart because it is elder abuse putting him up again. Both his family and his party should come to their senses because the alternative clearly sucks.

Your system, as is the British system, is broken. Monied interests reign supreme in the US and it would be something positive if the two party system was cast aside. I'd be looking at third candidates as it stands.

>138 Familyhistorian: Apparently Canada is slowly getting better at cricket, Meg. I did notice that ex-Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch has gotten Canada to the Semi finals of the American football championships.

>133 PaulCranswick: I would say not so well, i lost two friends due to drama with one of them, and now he is trying to get me as an emergency contact so he wouldnt get yelled at by people on another site and if anything happened on my part

>141 Owltherian: I hope that the course of life starts to run a bit more smoothly, Lily. Friends - good ones - are important but some friends will never be good ones!

>139 PaulCranswick: Yes, when I looked into the Malaysian regulations, which seem strict about support and consent, consistent with Islamic requirements, there was quite a bit about workarounds involving Thailand. Looked like a recipe for Big Trouble Ahead.

>143 booksaplenty1949: I think two or more wives is a recipe for Big Trouble Ahead irrespective of regulations!

>142 PaulCranswick: yeah, i just hope everything will be better, and i hope my brothers bday (tomorrow) is going to be going good....unless he doesnt hang out with me anymore

>144 PaulCranswick: It's surprising that, outside of Taliban countries, Muslim women haven't rebelled against this unfair marriage system.

>145 Owltherian: Familial love is strong, Lily. I'm sure that your brother will always want to hang out with you.

>146 m.belljackson: Well I guess that there is resentment and non-conformity, Marianne across the Muslim world and certainly not just against the excesses of the Taliban. To be fair the practice emanates from the need to take care of ladies bereft of fathers and husbands in time of war. It has been misused and misappropriated by men as a means of satisfying themselves rather than treated as a duty of care.

>147 PaulCranswick: He is most of the time on the phone with his friends, instead of hanging with me

>148 Owltherian: But that is no different from any family, Lily.

>140 PaulCranswick: Happy to look at a third candidate if it didn't mean that Rump would win. I am even more mad at our supposedly impartial Supreme Court and the damage they are doing. Grrr.

BOOK # 53



The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe
Date of Publication : 2023
Origin of Author : Nigeria
Gender of Author : Female
Pages : 305 pp
Alternative Women's Longlist 8/16

I have read some jolly good books in my Alternative Women's Prize. Of the eight I have so far read, I would place this at the bottom but all of the eight have been good reads.

I marked this one down a little because the motivations of a rich girl who finds herself in an abusive relationship with a poor preacher is difficult to credit, but nevertheless, the story is effecting and well told.

I will look out for what she reads next.

>150 Berly: Third Party candidates being unelectable is the quandary the Dems and the Biden family in its intransigence is putting people into, Kimmers.

I can understand the frustration with the legal system all across America and not just by Democrats. The obviously politicized cases in New York and the ridiculous soap opera with Fani Willis in Georgia have helped Chump galvanize his base too don't forget and the DOJ would have been better looking solely at the failure of the last President to uphold the constitution via his attempts to thwart the transfer of power.

I actually don't think that the Supreme Court is entirely wrong in this matter - the POTUS should have immunity for his official acts - we wouldn't want Clinton or Obama on trial for their drone strikes for example - but I don't see how Trump escapes in that his attempts to thwart transfer were not official acts however it is painted but acts of self-service and against the official responsibilities of his office. That is what - in my view - disqualifies Trump from public office.

We are on the same page. I agree that most actions of the President should not be up for review, except when trying to ignore election results and staging an insurrection. That's a step towards a dictatorship and not excusable.

>153 Berly: 100% agree with that Kimmers. Part of the role of the office is knowing when to give it up. Hillary didn't behave properly when Chump won but the difference is that he was in power at the time and she wasn't.

There were problems with the election - as there are with any election, but it was undeniably not rigged.

I don't like the Conservative and Rishi Sunak but it would never have even crossed his or their minds to not hand over the reins of power to Labour in the UK and to not make ridiculous comments that the election was rigged.

I've played cricket just once, Paul. In grade 6, I had a teacher who , though not English ( or maybe his background was ) taught the class the rules of cricket. Then one Saturday morning , he had us all come to the school ground to play it. It was okay. I've never followed cricket though.

>155 vancouverdeb: I love the game, Deb, but I can understand how a crash course in its niceties may be nowhere near enough to appreciate its charms!

BOOK #54



The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
Date of Publication : 1961
Origin of Author : France (Martinique)
Gender of Author : Male
Pages : 255 pp
Challenges : War Room, 150Y Challenge

This is a book I would have devoured uncritically and passionately in my youth.

Eloquent, persuasive to those in a position to be motivated by its basic tenets and exuding a sort of grim romanticism, Fanon is strongest when he is setting out the dehumanizing aspects of colonialism - the attitude of many settlers to the colonized/natives (his phrase).

He concludes and moves towards a sort of homogeneous Marxist vision of the post colonial world which has srt of been debunked by events (but not entirely). Fanon treats all colonial experiences as being identical which they undoubtedly weren't. The experiences of ridding the French from Algeria and Vietnam were not the same as the experiences in Nigeria, Ghana and Malaya for example. Not all natives were equalized in their bereft-ness as much as he may want to state to the contrary.

Colonialism was not a good thing - don't get me wrong here - but often the best and longest lasting merit was when it was won by persuasion and a realization of the greater good rather than overthrown by violent conduct as in Algeria and Vietnam.

A challenging but important read still and one which will make you think almost as much as when it was published to rightful acclaim 63 years ago.

Even where it is legal, polygamy is rarely practised. The exception is sub-Saharan Africa, where it remains a traditional way of life for many, regardless of religious affiliation. But as this article describes
https://web.archive.org/web/20090210233657/http://features.csmonitor.com/backsto... it is inconsistent with many aspects of life in a developed country.

>144 PaulCranswick: Absolutely.

>158 booksaplenty1949: It is more common in Malaysia than pretended.

>159 booksaplenty1949: Exactly.

>160 PaulCranswick: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08263mr Always amazed at where these discussions take me.

>161 booksaplenty1949: I cannot imagine going back to my boss and suggest she suck up a polygamous relationship.

Write-in candidates never looked as good as they do this year (and that includes all the declared 3rd party candidates).

>163 thornton37814: I know your choices have never looked so poor.

>152 PaulCranswick: "we wouldn't want Clinton or Obama on trial for their drone strikes for example"

Why not?

In what world should Americans - in uniform or otherwise - be killing civilians anywhere, without at least a declaration of war?

I see from the recent French election that I was wrong to assume that coalitions among parties in a proportional representation system are made *after* the election. One more thing I didn’t know I didn’t know.

>165 ArlieS: Then pretty much every American President in history should have been behind bars, Arlie.

>166 booksaplenty1949: Yes indeed. It is fascinating and a little frightening how the French have gone to polar extremes. A mess.

>167 PaulCranswick: Sounds like a plan.

Yes, I know, not realistic. But just.

>168 ArlieS: Certainly a point of view, Arlie.

>149 PaulCranswick: I guess, even my friends irl i have to text them first before they even try to talk to me

>167 PaulCranswick: Marine LePen not in power is a good thing. And how it will turn out we just have to wait. The left/middle coalition will have to negotiate something they can agree on.

>157 PaulCranswick: Have you set up a thread for the July War Room challenge, Paul? If you have, I've missed it.

>170 Owltherian: I'm sure that you have friends who contact you without prompting, Lily. Sometimes maybe it is better not to try too hard so that they can more clearly see the good person you undoubtedly are.

>171 EllaTim: That is for sure, Ella. The move centre right is ok but not ideal but the far right are a major concern throughout the Western world, I think.

>172 atozgrl: Irene, yes. This is the link

https://www.librarything.com/topic/361750#n8568832

Time moves too quickly.

I will take Hani, Yasmyne and Pip to the airport in four hours time. Feeling a bit down that three of the ladies in my life will be leaving me for a while.
Hani will be helping take care of Pip while Yasmyne works and Sam will stay back here to finish his visa applications.

>174 PaulCranswick: How on earth did I manage not to star this thread?

>175 PaulCranswick: Aww

>175 PaulCranswick: Boo hiss on a Hani-less July. Do your best not to murder anyone.

>175 PaulCranswick: The interweb is a poor substitute for real-life companionship but nonetheless we will expect a conspicuous increase in your interaction with us.

>176 ArlieS: I didn't put it up top either, Arlie, to be fair.

>177 richardderus: Haha, RD, I will be less likely to commit a capital offence!

>178 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha

>179 booksaplenty1949: My sorta surrogate family is a great comfort, I must allow.

>175 PaulCranswick: I hope they come back soon!

>175 PaulCranswick: Sorry to hear your togetherness was so shortlived Paul. Safe travels to the traveller’s though.

>182 The_Hibernator: More likely I will be in UK first, Rachel.

>183 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. At least I will have Kyran with me for another 2 weeks.

>174 PaulCranswick: Thank you!

>175 PaulCranswick: I am sorry to hear that your family is leaving so soon, and Hani too! I hope it won't be too long before you can see them again.

>185 atozgrl: Thanks Irene, I hope so soon. About to set off to the airport.

>175 PaulCranswick: I hope the trip to the airport was uneventful. Sorry to hear you've lost the company of beloved family members for the nonce. I hope it's not too long an absence.

>157 PaulCranswick: And I haven't even gotten a copy for myself yet! I will try again tomorrow when I head over to the other bookstore for the queer book club discussion.

>152 PaulCranswick: It's looking grim here in terms of the fall election. Being the party of the lesser evil can't serve the Democrats forever, and that strategy may well fail them this year. The consequences look ugly either way.

>187 justchris: It was tiring, Chris. Very heavy rain meant that my trip back from there stretched to over 2 hours.

I was struck by the polite comportment of the leaders in the new Parliament's first session yesterday in the UK. Both Starmer and Sunak were generous and polite to each other. Contrast that with the rancour in evidence in the US Presidential debate and the absence of intelligent debate. Strikes me that neither side will make much of a fist of the job.

I will miss little Pip, but at least she seems to like the world of books:

>189 PaulCranswick: It's good to see kid with such a bright future!

>189 PaulCranswick: So cute.

>190 quondame: Hahaha well she will never be stuck for something to read.

>191 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline

Great picture. Grandchild and books!

>115 PaulCranswick: Hey, I have actually read 2 of the books on the list, Juan! That almost never happens.

>118 PaulCranswick: I am re-reading that one this month, Paul. I have fond memories of it from when I read it years ago.

>157 PaulCranswick: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Paul.

>189 PaulCranswick: That is just too adorable for words! I hope you gave her lots of hugs from her honorary great auntie Stasia :)

>189 PaulCranswick: Picking out your next read!

>193 Kristelh: I was on tenterhooks because written matters seems to be something she currently enjoys......eating.

>194 alcottacre: Two of the books are reissued as part of a series of chosen books called Borough Editions (Mackie and Cannon).

Pip was spoilt by cuddles and is quite the character.

>195 hredwards: Indeed, Harold!

>196 PaulCranswick:, we all have ferocious appetites for the words, she just is expressing it in a different way at this stage.

>196 PaulCranswick: Could be gratifying for an author to be told “My granddaughter devoured your latest novel at a single sitting!”

>189 PaulCranswick: ...could she *escape* that world, PC...?

Midweek orisons mon vieux.

>196 PaulCranswick: Just developing her taste in books! Very cute picture, Paul.

>198 Kristelh: It is still an interest in books, Kristel!

>199 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha, yes that is a good point

>200 richardderus: It is in her genes for sure, RD.

>201 EllaTim: That is punny, Ella!

>189 PaulCranswick: What a fabulous picture! She is quite the cutie-pie. I know you will miss her.

>204 atozgrl: I already am, Irene!

My parents always had a book in hand, and many more piled up on adjacent flat surfaces. Their conversation was full of things experienced through reading. It was a great privilege to grow up in this environment, and I feel connected to them as I go through my own life surrounded by books. Your picture of Pip summoned up many happy family thoughts. You’re a lucky man!

>206 booksaplenty1949: I agree with that! I do feel blessed - both that I have a loving wife who (sort of tolerates my book obsession) and has her own authors she obsesses about, three children all as sharp as tacks and a grandaughter who is giving indications that books may well be her thing too.

We had a Teams call with our team of experts yesterday for an arbitration dispute - one of the people on the call was calling in from Newark and another from Worcester and I surprised them by a segue into a discussion of the two cities' historic roles in the English Civil War. I don't think they were expecting it. My comments were off the cuff and one the people on the call came back a few minutes later and said they had "verified" what I had said via wikipedia and I'd even got all the dates wrong - as though it was something difficult! Had I told them I was hosting the War Room they may have thought I was a little cracked.

>164 PaulCranswick: I keep joking and saying, "Where is Ross Perot when you need him?"

>189 PaulCranswick: What a cute picture of little Pip, Paul. I love all of the books! I'm sorry you are missing your family and hope you can back to the UK soon.

>208 thornton37814: Hahaha or pretty much anybody else, Lori. Trump's VP pick is imminent and will be interesting to see who he chooses. My guess is Tim Scott or Marco Rubio but I have little or no idea how such a mind processes choices.
I saw Biden today refer to Vice President Trump and to President Putin (when introducing Zelensky). It really is painful to watch.

>209 vancouverdeb: Poor Hani was out late this evening buying formula for Pip because Yasmyne's system has dried up temporarily from all the travelling. I do miss them a lot.

Couldn't resist this one.
For the uninitiated the England football team have reached the European Championship final where they face an in-form Spain team on Sunday. England beat a fairly unlucky Netherlands 2-1 with a last gasp winner from substitute Ollie Watkins.

The game with the Netherlands also reminded me so much of Anita whose fans in swathes of orange did their country proud. I remember discussions with Anita about football and she loved her club Feyenoord almost to the same degree that I am passionate about mine, Leeds United.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/361941

>210 PaulCranswick: Paul - hope the formula switch works well and Pip enjoys the new flavor.

^^^^^

Re: President Biden - None of us Country Bumpkin Democrats were aware of any of his major

secret failings or we would have demanded a way, way earlier step to the side!

This is all so sad, with only imperfect resolutions...

Books added on Friday lunchtime

167. The Binding by Bridget Collins
168. The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma
169. Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips
170. The Spoiled Heart by Sunjeev Sahota

Collins' book is part of the Borough Editions collection of books which have been released. Obioma's book has been described severally as a near-certainty for Booker recognition. Phillips won the Pulitzer Prize and Sahota's books are always much lauded.

>213 SilverWolf28: Thank you Silver.

>214 m.belljackson: I think the formula is only a temporary supplement to be honest, Marianne.

The failing powers of the President has been obvious to me for some time and I have been shot down on this thread and elsewhere when I have raised it. It is very sad to see and extremely disquieting that they have been trying to mislead the populace on this for some time.

Looks like a find Friday Book Haul! I will be looking forward to your impressions of Night Watch.

>207 PaulCranswick: I had occasion yesterday to explain the process for repealing an amendment to the US Constitution, apropos of a discussion about whether the election of Donald Trump would pose a danger to democracy. People in the group were surprised at my having this information handy, and I had to explain that I had looked it up apropos of another discussion, with people I’d never met but with whom I was currently reading a book on the Ottoman Empire. Not sure whether they were impressed, or concerned for my sanity.

>216 PaulCranswick: I think there are real issues having a person of that age in the job full stop, even when there seems no cognitive decline to be honest. I've seen too many people in their eighties go downhill rapidly to think it's a good idea. And especially since there seems no way of getting rid of a U.S. president unless in very extreme circumstances. (As the last few years have shown, British politicians are not averse to backstabbing their own leader if things aren't going according to plan, but that seems virtually impossible in the U.S.)

Happy Weekend, Paul. I LOVE the Pip photos. So glad you got to see her. They grow up so fast. ❤

>219 SandDune: I think the parliamentary process for removing a party leader is “frontstabbing,” not backstabbing. The leader, PM or otherwise, is the creature of his/her party, which can remove him/her at any time. The President of the US is elected directly (more or less) by the voters, so the process of removing him/her is understandably more complicated.

>216 PaulCranswick: Yes, what was the point of all that concealment when such secrets will not be kept?

My Democrat candidate is Wisconsin's Spencer Black.

^^^^^^

(and yes, from awhile back, my comment about President Michelle Obama/Barack has reached mainstream media!)

>217 Kristelh: I'm not sure when I will get to it, Kristel, and note that there does seem very divided opinion about its merit.

>218 booksaplenty1949: I don't want Trump to become President again but the "existential threat" nonsense that is spouted about that becoming reality is a bit tedious. I can just imagine the bemusement of people when you made your Ottoman explanation as I have had cause to make similar explanations myself!

>219 SandDune: Yes and I note that the Labour Party is looking to legislate against anyone over 80 being in the House of Lords. The Dems have gotten themselves in a bind over this and for all the talk of the ginger windbag being a threat to democracy someone who said he would be a one term President as a bridge to the next generation still aims to stand despite three quarters of the public at large (according to all polls) wanting him to step aside.

>220 msf59: Thanks Mark. I hope she doesn't grow up too quickly!
Although I must report that she took her first steps walking yesterday.

>221 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha you're right but there is an element of both. The "front-stabbing" takes place usually after considerable skulduggery behind the scenes.

>222 m.belljackson: I need to look up who is Spencer Black, Marianne. I thought Whitmer or Shapiro myself.

>225 PaulCranswick: Well, of course, if one challenges the leader without having canvassed support from a significant number of other members one will be left twisting in the wind.

>225 PaulCranswick: For sure. That is why I said it is a combination a front and back stabbing.

I saw over on Mark's thread (and Katie's too) that the New York Times had selected the top 100 books of this century so far. Must admit mine would have been quite a bit different but there were some good picks.

Charlotte has prepared an LT list from it for everybody:

https://www.librarything.com/list/45680/all/NYT-100-best-books-of-21st-C

As a sidebar to the NYT list they also asked prominent authors (and Sara Jessica Parker for some reason) to pick their top ten books from this century.

Stephen King interestingly picked one of his own books!
James Patterson didn't get any book that made the 100 list although he did include 11/22/63 and The Book Thief which were huge favourites in this group.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/authors-top-books-21st-century.ht....

>228 PaulCranswick: What about our own top 10 list from this century?

Personally I think that 24 years is too short a time to sift out the greats, but I have to say that Lincoln in the Bardo made a huge impression on me, and The Savage Detectives was also a great read.

>230 booksaplenty1949: Oh I would probably agree with you but as a fun list, why not?

Here is 10 that didn't make the list but which would have been on mine:

1. Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahamed
2. Empire of the Summer Moon by SC Gwynne
3. Golden Hill by Francis Spufford
4. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Hariri
5. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
6. Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
7. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
8. The Orenda by Joseph Byden
9. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimanda Ngozi Adichie
10. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

>231 PaulCranswick: Would certainly agree that Half of a Yellow Sun is far superior to Americanah. Sapiens also an important book, IMHO. Joseph Boyden has been cancelled as a pretendian. And yet it’s okay to do drag. What a world.

>232 booksaplenty1949: I would probably say that Half of a Yellow Sun would be my choice for best novel of the Century so far.

>228 PaulCranswick: Oh, that is fun - it turns out LT has a much better memory than I do (of course it does) and I'd read 2 more, for a total of 17, than I thought I had. And I got to down vote the one I thought were stinkers! And pan them!

>233 PaulCranswick: Would certainly regard it as a highlight of last year’s Africa Novel Challenge; up there with works of Chinua Achebe, which is saying a lot.

>231 PaulCranswick: I'd go with Cutting for Stone before The Covenant of Water, but both before several that made the NYT100. Also, Tooth and Claw rather than some of the others, but I have a host that I'd put in ahead of it. But if I made the list, 90 books would be F&SF.

>234 quondame: Certainly tremendous fun for a listomaniac like me, Susan!

>235 booksaplenty1949: I am looking forward to reading Chigozie Obioma's latest book The Road to the Country soon which I have heard great things about.

>236 quondame: I will probably have a go at coming up with my own list of 100. I am not as well versed as you in F&SF but I was pleased to have two in my omissions list.

As much as I dislike and oppose ex-President Trump and believe that he is not fit for office there is no place for what happened today with an attempted assassination of him.

The vituperation of some of the political rhetoric from all sides needs to be reined in and people like Rachel Maddow should stop stoking the flames by talking nonsense about existential threats in the face of his re-election.

Bravo to President Biden for speaking up so quickly and condemning the attempt unequivocally. Let's get back to dignified debate and disagreement. I hope he recovers well and must admit that he showed considerable personal bravery in the face of occurrence.

Had a nice Italian lunch with Kyran and then added these:

171. Lady Life by Ahmet Altan
172. Parade by Rachel Cusk
173. The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri
174. A History of Burning by Janika Oza
175. Great-Uncle Harry by Michael Palin
176. Paradises Lost by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt
177. The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar
178. Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea

Some possible Booker nominees, some beloved in this group.

Sorry to see that your ladies have left you, Paul. Unfortunately I caught up with your thread to see the picture everyone was talking about. Sounds like it was a good one involving the youngest lady and books.

>241 Familyhistorian: I can still see it Meg at >189 PaulCranswick:?

Would be very interested in reading Great-Uncle Harry in conjunction with By the Ghost Light, which I bought recently after hearing the author discuss it. Good to know that I have not exhausted WW I despite having read the major poets and memoirists years ago. Its impact clearly continues 100+ years on.

Sorry about England Paul. Seems like they came up just short again.

>243 booksaplenty1949: I saw a documentary by Michael Palin where he talked about it and I knew when I spotted it I would buy it.

>244 Oberon: Our coach isn't up to it in the big moments, Erik. When we equalized we had them on the ropes for a short while and we had a throw-in in a threatening position and instead of keeping the pressure on we threw the ball all the way back and sat back instead giving them back the initiative.

>242 PaulCranswick: There she is! What a sweet picture. I was on my phone when I looked before so maybe that's why I couldn't see her.

>246 Familyhistorian: And now she is already walking. Mother and grandmother will be run off their feet.

Hello Paul! Love the picture of Pip -- I am not surprised that being a book-lover is in your family genes!! Sorry that the ladies have headed back to the UK. I have read a number of the NYT 100 list, although I haven't bothered to make an exact count. And I cannot stand Rump, but still don't condone the attempted assassination. I do worry that it will further ramp up his support. Sigh.

>248 Berly: Thanks Kimmers, she does seem to be interested in written matter.
As to the events yesterday, my own views about the obvious unsuitability and unfitness for office of the previous President have been articulated here severally but violence is not the way. Begrudgingly I must also admit that he showed fortitude, bravery and eventual restraint yesterday and I hope this augurs a return to less strident politics. Mr. Biden's condemnation was also unequivocal which is welcome and I do hope that the rhetoric gets toned down for the good of your country.

I enjoyed A History of Burning and The Spoiled Heart is one I may soon put on hold at the library. It sounds good.

>250 vancouverdeb: I have heard good things about both of them, Deb and I do remember that you rated A History of Burning.

Mmmm.

>252 PaulCranswick: Two finals and a quarter-final in three years is pretty impressive. Southgate and the boys did us proud. But yes, I'd have loved it if we had lifted the trophy.

>253 humouress: I don't wish to be churlish, Nina, but I did feel at times that we got through despite not because of the manager.