Paul C's Roads Less Travelled in 2026 - 4

We are in the English speaking Caribbean countries in February. Cricket, carnivals, creole cuisine, and coastline to kill for.

The Opening Words

For the Roads Less Travelled Challenge this month I will read Love Forms which is partly located in Trinidad and which was Booker Longlisted last year.




"It was my father who made the arrangements. My uncle helped, since he live down south, where all this kind of business is carried out. I'm talking about south-south: down past the airport, past the swamp, past the oilfields, everything. Way down at the bottom of the island, down where Columbus landed, long ago."

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

Poetry

Robert Graves has always been a favourite writer of mine. His war memoir is excellent and I, Claudius is, I think, the greatest work of historical fiction written. His poetry is less accessible but he was remarkably prolific.



This poem of his "Parent to Children" came to mind considering the recent passing of my father.



When you grow up, are no more children,
Nor am I then your parent:
The day of settlement falls.

"Parent", mortality's reminder,
In each son's mouth or daughter's
A word of shame and rage!

I, who begot you, ask no pardon of you;
Nor may the soldier ask
Pardon of the strewn dead.

The procreative act was blind:
It was not you I sired then -
For who sires friends, as you are mine now?

In fear begotten, I begot in fear.
Would you have had me cast fear out
So that you should not be?

Books Read:

January:

1. The Place of Tides by James Rebanks (2024) 285pp {Non-Fiction} Penguin/Allen Lane (Completed 1/1/26) 8/10
2. Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano (1996) 204 pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 3/1/26) RLT Challenge/ TM Challenge 6/10
3. Girl by Ruth Padel (2024) 107 pp {Poetry} Vintage (Completed 4/1/26) 4/10
4. Shardik by Richard Adams (1974) 592 pp {SF/Fantasy} Oneworld (Completed 6/1/26) BAC/TM Challenge 7/10
5. Antarctica by Claire Keegan (1999) 209pp {Short Stories} Faber (Completed 7/1/26) 8.5/10
6. The Good Father by Noah Hawley (2013) 384pp {Fiction} Hodder TM Challenge (Completed 10/1/26) 7.5/10
7. antibody by Rebecca Salazar (2025) 139pp {Poetry} McClelland & Stewart (Completed 12/1/26) 3/10
8. Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li (2025) 172pp {Non-Fiction} 4th Estate (Completed 13/1/26) 7/10
9. The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell (2017) 455pp {SF/Fantasy} Hodder (Completed 17/1/26) 7/10
10. Suspicion by Friedrich Durrenmatt (1953) 157pp {Thriller} Pushkin Vertigo (Completed 18/1/26)
11. The Wardrobe Department by Elaine Garvey (2025) 221pp {Fiction} Canongate (Completed 20/1/26)
12. The Hill Bachelors by William Trevor (2000) 245pp {Short Stories} Penguin (Completed 21/1/26)
13. Question 7 by Richard Flanagan (2023) 275pp {Non-Fiction} Vintage (Completed 23/1/26)
14. Before the Fact by Francis Iles (1932) 326pp {Thriller} Pan (Completed 24/1/26)
15. Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin (2024) 383pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 25/1/26)
16. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987) 324pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 29/1/26)
17. The War of the Poor by Eric Vuillard (2019) 79pp {Fiction} Other Press (Completed 30/1/26)
18. The Distinctly Competent District Councillor by Jonas Jonasson (2026) 132pp {Fiction} 4th Estate (Completed 31/1/26)

February

19. Love Forms by Claire Adam (2025) 295pp {Fiction} Faber (Completed 2/2/26)
20. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo 501pp {Fiction} Penguin Completed (2/2/26)
21. Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan (2021) 279pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 3/2/26)
22. After by Morris Gleitzman (2012) 209pp {Fiction} Penguin (Completed 5/2/26)
23. What Happened to the Corbetts by Nevil Shute (1939) 245pp {Fiction} Vintage (Completed 9/2/26)

Current Reading

Roads Less Travelled



THE AMERICAN CONTINENTs OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Our tour of the less well traveled pathways of the American continents in 2026.

I will not impinge on the wonderful American Author Challenge and I am not looking to repeat the Canadian author challenges that have featured as this is largely about everywhere else on the continent.

This will be our journey:

JANUARY - CHILEAN AUTHORS: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377059
1. Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano

FEBRUARY - ANGLO CARIBBEAN AUTHORS : https://www.librarything.com/topic/378317
1. Love Forms by Claire Adam

MARCH - MEXICAN AUTHORS

APRIL - HISPANIC NORTH AMERICANS
1. antibody: poems by Rebecca Salazar

MAY - BRAZILIAN AUTHORS
JUNE - NON-FICTION ABOUT THE AMERICAS
JULY - CUBAN AUTHORS
AUGUST - FRANCO CARIBBEAN
SEPTEMBER - COLOMBIAN AUTHORS
OCTOBER - FIRST NATION NORTH AMERICANS
NOVEMBER - ARGENTINIAN AUTHORS
DECEMBER - OTHER PARTS OF THE CONTINENTS

British Author Challenge (Hosted by my friend Amanda)



January - Cressida Cowell & Richard Adams https://www.librarything.com/topic/376836#n9049588
Shardik by Richard Adams, The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell

February - Elizabeth Chadwick & Nevil Shute
What Happened to the Corbetts by Shute

March -

April -

May -

June -

July -

August -

September -

October -

November -

December -

NON-FICTION CHALLENGE



Hosted this year by my friend Benita.

JANUARY : PRIZE WINNERS - Question 7 by Richard Flanagan
FEBRUARY : JAZZ

The Time Machine

I will be reading 200 books one from each of the last 200 years, I will read them in date order and limit myself to one book per author.
Starting 2025 and ending 31 December 2026. I am combining this with my 50 Modern Classics from last years and other years I covered last year. The older books I will try to read in sequence

1826 : The Last Man by Mary Shelley
1827 : The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni
1828 : Pelham by Edward Bulwer Lytton
1829 : The Misfortunes of Elphin by Thomas Love Peacock
1830 : At the Sign of the Cat and Racket by Honore de Balzac
1831 : The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo
1908 : The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck
1932 : Before the Fact by Francis Iles
1939 : What Happened to the Corbetts bt Nevil Shute
1945 : The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
1946 : Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson
1947 : We Always Treat Women Too Well by Raymond Queneau
1952 : All Our Yesterdays by Natalia Ginzburg
1953 : Suspicion by Friedrich Durrenmatt
1954 : The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien
1960 : The Great Fortune by Olivia Manning
1961 : Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
1963 : The Experience of Pain by Carlo Emilio Gadda
1965 : Lost Empires by JB Priestley
1966 : Silence by Shusaku Endo
1967 : Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
1974 : Shardik by Richard Adams
1975 : The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
1976 : Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor
1977 : Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
1978 : The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan
1979 : The White Album by Joan Didion
1987 : Beloved by Toni Morrison
1988 : The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind
1991 : The Whitby Witches by Robin Jarvis
1996 : Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano
1997 : God's Gift to Women by Don Paterson
1999 : Antarctica by Claire Keegan
2000 : The Hill Bachelors by William Trevor
2002 : Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
2007 : The Burnt-Out Town of Miracles by Roy Jacobsen
2008 : The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk
2009 : In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
2011 : What it is Like to go to War by Karl Marlantes
2012 : Nagasaki by Eric Faye
2013 : The Good Father by Noah Hawley
2014 : The End of Eddy by Louis Eduoard
2016 : Conclave by Robert Harris
2017 : The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann
2018 : A Lucky Man by Jamel Brinkley
2019 : The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
2020 : The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
2021 : The Heeding by Rob Cowen
2022 : Heart Lamp Stories by Banu Mushtaq
2023 : Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
2024 : The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
2025 : Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell

52/200

A-Z Challenge

A = 12 Books: Richard Adams, Claire Adam
B = 12 Books: Roberto Bolano
C = 12 Books: Cressida Cowell
D = 8 Books: Friedrich Durrenmatt
E = 6 Books: Lauren Elkin
F = 8 Books: Richard Flanagan
G = 12 Books: Elaine Garvey, Morris Gleitzman
H = 12 Books: Noah Hawley, Victor Hugo
I = 6 Books: Francis Iles
J = 6 Books: Jonas Jonasson
K = 6 Books: Claire Keegan
L = 8 Books: Yiyun Li
M = 12 Books: Toni Morrison
N = 6 Books: Megan Nolan
O = 6 Books:
P = 8 Books: Ruth Padel
Q = 3 Books:
R = 8 Books: James Rebanks
S = 12 Books: Rebecca Salazar, Nevil Shute
T = 8 Books: William Trevor
U = 6 Books:
V = 6 Books: Eric Vuillard
W = 8 Books:
X = 3 Books:
Y = 3 Books:
Z = 3 Books

Total 200

23/200

English Language Awards

50 Awards I will Monitor With Current Winner

1. BOOKER PRIZE: Flesh by David Szalay READ

2. BOOKER INTERNATIONAL: Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq READ

3. GOLDSMITH'S PRIZE: We Live Here Now by C.D. Rose

4. ORWELL PRIZE FOR FICTION: Heart Be at Peace by Donal Ryan

5. JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE: My Heavenly Favourite by Lucas Rijneveld

6. HAWTHORNDEN PRIZE: Lublin by Manya Wilkinson

7. NERO FICTION PRIZE: Lost in the Garden by Adam S Leslie

8. BRITISH BOOK AWARD WINNER: James by Percival Everett READ

9. DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE: The Coin by Yasmin Zaher

10. WOMEN'S PRIZE: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden READ

11. WALTER SCOTT PRIZE: The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller READ

12. SCOTTISH BOOK AWARD: What Doesn't Kill Us by Ajay Close

13. WALES BOOK AWARD: Clear by Carys Davies

14. WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION AWARD: The Artist by Lucy Steeds READ

15. BETTY TRASK AWARD: Winter Animals by Ashani Lewis

16. AUTHOR'S CLUB FIRST FICTION PRIZE: Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon READ

17. ONDAATJE PRIZE: Clear by Carys Davies

18. JHALAK PRIZE: Anansi's Gold by Yepoka Yeebo

19. THE WRITERS PRIZE: The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright READ

20. THE ENCORE PRIZE: Lublin by Manya Wilkinson

21. IMPAC DUBLIN PRIZE: The Adversary by Michael Crummey

22. IRISH BOOK AWARDS: Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell READ

23. PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION: James by Percival Everett READ

24. NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible and His Mother by Rabih Alameddine

25. KIRKUS PRIZE: The Slip by Lucas Schaefer

26. NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD: My Friends by Hisham Matar

27. LA TIMES BOOK AWARD: Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capo Crucet

28. PEN FAULKNER AWARD: Small Rain by Garth Greenwell

29. PEN HEMINGWAY AWARD: Early Sobrieties by Michael Deagler

30. THE CENTER FOR FIRST FICTION: Natch by Darrell Kinsey

31. GILLER PRIZE: Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa

32. GOVERNOR GENERAL PRIZE: Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards

33. MILES FRANKLIN PRIZE: Ghost Cities by Siang Lu

34. PRIME MINISTER'S AWARD: Theory & Practice by Michelle De Kretser READ

35. OCKHAM NEW ZEALAND BOOK AWARDS: Delirious by Damien Wilkins

36. CNA FICTION AWARD: The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil by Shubnum Khan

37. T.S. ELIOT PRIZE: Fierce Elegy by Peter Gizzi

38. FORWARD PRIZE: Avidya by Ravinthiran & Wellwater by Solie

39. PULITZER POETRY: New and Selected Poems by Marie Howe

40. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD POETRY: The Intentions of Thunder by Patricia Smith

41. GRIFFIN PRIZE: Psyche Running by Durs Grunbein

43. DUFF COOPER PRIZE: Wild Thing by Sue Prideaux

44. WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION: The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke READ

45. WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE: Survivors: Lost Stories of the Last Captives by Hannah Durkin

46. ORWELL NON-FICTION PRIZE: Looking at Women, Looking at War by Victoria Amelina

47. BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE: How to End a Story by Helen Garner

48. CUNDHILL PRIZE: The Summer of Fire and Blood by Lyndal Cooper

49. PULITZER PRIZE FOR HISTORY: Native Nations by Duval & Combee by Fields-Black

50. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NON-FICTION: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad

I have not included other prizes for more specific genre fiction; thrillers, sci-fi/fantasy, horror, YA etc because it would spiral to over a hundred awards.

I have not included foreign language awards (other than as translated into English) as again there are so many great awards that I simply couldn't keep up with them all.

I have only included single book awards and not awards that award multiple books or lifetime achievements.

I have favoured UK awards admittedly on the selfish grounds that I hail from there and my reading origins are bound by place.

Where Awards have multiple categories (British Book Awards etc) I have only included the fiction winner unless separately included.

Currently 12/52 books read

Paul's 100 British Novels

Only one book per author.
Here is my list in publication order

1 Tom Jones by Henry Fielding (1749)
2 Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (1818)
3 Ivanhoe by Walter Scott (1819)
4 Jack Sheppard by William Harrison Ainsworth (1839)
5 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)
6 Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (1847)
7 David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850)
8 North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (1855)
9 Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope (1857)
10 The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (1859)
11 Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy (1878)
12 A Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1890)
13 Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)
14 Moonfleet by J Meade Falkner (1898)
15 Kim by Rudyard Kipling (1901)
16 The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan-Doyle (1902)
17 The Riddle of the Sands Childers 1903
18 The Secret Agent Conrad (1907)
19 The Old Wives' Tale Bennett (1908)
20 A Ragged Trousered Philanthropist by Robert Tressell (1910)
21 Sons and Lovers by DH Lawrence (1913)
22 The 39-Steps by John Buchan (1915)
23 The Moon and Sixpence by W Somerset Maugham (1919)
24 A Passage to India by E.M. Forster (1924)
25 Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson (1927)
26 To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (1927)
27 The Midnight Bell by Patrick Hamilton (1929)
28 Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles (1931)
29 I, Claudius Robert Graves (1934)
30 A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh (1934)
31 Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier (1936)
32 The Citadel by AJ Cronin (1937)
33 How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn (1939)
34 Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler (1940)
35 Fame is the Spur by Howard Spring (1940)
36 Bright Day by JB Priestley (1946)
37 Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell (1949)
38 The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing (1950)
39 Judgement on Deltchev by Eric Ambler (1951)
40 The Go-Between by LP Hartley (1953)
41 Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis (1954)
42 Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954)
43 The Flint Anchor Sylvia Townsend Warner 1954
44 The Quiet American by Graham Greene (1955)
45 Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien (1955)
46 Room at the Top by John Braine (1957)
47 Justine by Lawrence Durrell (1957)
48 The Sandcastle by Iris Murdoch (1957)
49 Saturday Night and Sunday Morning by Alan Sillitoe (1958)
50 The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John Le Carre (1963)
51 The Mandelbaum Gate by Muriel Spark (1965)
52 The Jewel in the Crown by Paul Scott (1966)
53 The Hired Man by Melvyn Bragg (1969)
54 The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles (1969)
55 Troubles by JG Farrell (1970)
56 Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor (1971)
57 Watership Down by Richard Adams (1972)
58 To Serve them All My Days by RF Delderfield (1972)
59 Docherty by William McIlvanney (1975)
60 Saville by David Storey (1976)
61 Injury Time by Beryl Bainbridge (1977)
62 The Road to Lichfield by Penelope Lively (1977)
63 Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym (1977)
64 The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald (1978)
65 The Far Pavilions by MM Kaye (1978)
66 Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess (1980)
67 A Month in the Country by JL Carr (1980)
68 On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin (1982)
69 Look at Me by Anita Brookner (1983)
70 The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (1983)
71 Shame by Salman Rushdie (1983)
72 Empire of the Sun JG Ballard (1984)
73 The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks (1984)
74 The Colour of Blood by Brian Moore (1987)
75 The Innocent by Ian McEwan (1990)
76 The Redundancy of Courage by Timothy Mo (1991)
77 A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel (1992)
78 Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks (1993)
79 Morality Play by Barry Unsworth (1995)
80 Ghostwritten by David Mitchell (1999)
81 White Teeth by Zadie Smith (2000)
82 Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (2002)
83 Brick Lane by Monica Ali (2003)
84 Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton (2003)
85 Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke (2004)
86 Birds Without Wings by Louis De Bernieres (2004)
87 Arthur and George by Julian Barnes (2005)
88 The Road Home by Rose Tremain (2007)
89 Heliopolis by James Scudamore (2009)
90 Dominion by CJ Sansom (2012)
91 Harvest by Jim Crace (2013)
92. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (2013)
93 The Dig by Cynan Jones (2014)
94 The North Water McGuire (2016)
95 Golden Hill Spufford (2016)
96 Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift (2016)
97 The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (2018)
98 Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart 2020
99 The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell (2022)
100 The Artist by Lucy Steeds (2025)

Paul's 100 North American Novels

I book per author as per the British list. Saves me from a plethora of Steinbeck, Doctorow etc.
A couple in there because I admire more than I like (Gatsby and Bardo) and I chose different books for Walton and Moore simply because I can!

1 Last of the Mohicans Cooper 1826
2 The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne 1850
3 Little Women Alcott 1869
4 The Prince and the Pauper Twain 1882
5 The Turn of the Screw James 1898
6 The Call of the Wild London 1903
7 Ethan Frome Wharton 1911
8 O'Pioneers Cather 1913
9 Babbitt Lewis 1922
10 The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald 1925
11 A Farewell to Arms Hemingway 1929
12 As I Lay Dying Faulkner 1930
13 The Good Earth Buck 1931
14 The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck 1939
15 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter McCullers 1940
16 The Naked and the Dead Mailer 1948
17 The Sheltering Sky Bowles 1949
18 Invisible Man Ellison 1952
19 The Talented Mr, Ripley Highsmith 1955
20 A Good Man is Hard to Find O'Connor 1955
21 Dandelion Wine Bradbury 1957
22 The Haunting of Hill House Jackson 1959
23 To Kill a Mockingbird Lee 1960
24 Rabbit, Run Updike 1960
25 Catch-22 Heller 1961
26 Another Country Baldwin 1962
27 One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Kesey 1962
28 The Bell Jar Plath 1963
29 Herzog Bellow 1964
30 Little Big Man Berger 1964
31 The Fixer Malamud 1966
32 The Chosen Potok 1967
33 The Left Hand of Darkness Le Guin 1969
34 Slaughterhouse Five Vonnegut 1969
35 Fifth Business Davies 1970
36 Angle of Repose Stegner 1971
37 Enemies: A Love Story Singer 1972
38 The Killer Angels Shaara 1974
39 Ragtime Doctorow 1975
40 Falconer Cheever 1977
41 The Wars Findley 1977
42 Sophie's Choice Styron 1979
43 The Magician Feist 1982
44 The Sunne in Splendour Penman 1982
45 Black Robe Moore 1985
46 The Prince of Tides Conroy 1986
47 The Sportswriter Ford 1986
48 Breathing Lessons Tyler 1988
49 A Prayer for Owen Meany Irving 1989
50 Eden Close Shreve 1989
51 A Thousand Acres Smiley 1991
52 Maus Spiegelman 1991
53 Jazz Morrison 1992
54 Black Water Oates 1992
55 The Secret History Tartt 1992
56 The Shipping News Proulx 1993
57 Snow Falling on Cedars Guterson 1994
58 The Bird Artist Norman 1994
59 A Fine Balance Mistry 1995
60 Alias Grace Atwood 1996
61 Commanche Moon McMurtry 1997
62 The Memory of the Forest Powers 1997
63 The Poisonwood Bible Kingsolver 1998
64 River, Cross My Heart Clarke 1999
65 The House of Sand and Fog Dubus 1999
66 Waiting Ha Jin 1999
67 Plainsong Haruf 1999
68 Crow Lake Lawson 2002
69 Unless Shields 2002
70 The Kite Runner Hosseini 2003
71 The In-Between World of Vikram Lall Vassanji 2003
72 The Darling Banks 2004
73 The Historian Kostova 2005
74 No Country for Old Men McCarthy 2005
75 The Double Bind Bohjalian 2007
76 The Punch Hawley 2008
77 In Other Rooms, Other Wonders Muenuddin 2009
78 The Song of Achilles Miller 2011
79 Among Others Walton 2011
80 The Round House Erdrich 2012
81 The Yellow Birds Powers 2012
82 The Orenda Boyden 2013
83 Fifteen Dogs Alexis 2015
84 Did You Ever Have a Family Clegg 2015
85 Do Not Say We Have Nothing Thien 2016
86 Lincoln in the Bardo Saunders 2017
87 Sing, Unburied, Sing Ward 2017
88 There There Orange 2018
89 Nickel Boys Whitehead 2019
90 Pull of the Stars Donoghue 2020
91 A Burning Majumdar 2020
92 The Cold Millions Walter 2020
93 Zorrie Hunt 2021
94 Intimacies Kitamura 2021
95 Great Circle Shipstead 2021
96 Brotherless Night Ganeshanathan 2023
97 Loot James Tania 2023
98 Tom Lake Patchett 2023
99 James Everett 2024
100 The Rest of Our Lives Markovitz 2025

Paul's 100 fictions from the rest of the English speaking world

1 For the Term of His Natural Life Clarke 1874
2 My Brilliant Career Franklin 1901
3 Ulysses Joyce 1922
4 The House in Paris Bowen 1936
5 Cry, the Beloved Country Paton 1948
6 The Financial Expert Narayan 1952
7 My Life in the Bush of Ghosts Tutuola 1954
8 The Lonely Londoners Selvon 1956
9 Train to Pakistan Singh 1956
10 Things Fall Apart Achebe 1958
11 Borstal Boy Behan 1958
12 To Sir With Love Braithwaite 1959
13 The Country Girls O'Brien 1960
14 A House for Mr. Biswas Naipaul 1961
15 The Shoes of the Fisherman West 1963
16 Came a Hot Friday Morieson 1964
17 Among the Cinders Shadbolt 1965
18 Wide Sargasso Sea Rhys 1966
19 A Grain of Wheat Ngugi wa Thiongo 1967
20 When Rain Clouds Gather Head 1968
21 Strumpet City Plunkett 1969
22 The Bride Price Emecheta 1976
23 The Children of Dynmouth Trevor 1976
24 Rumours of Rain Brink 1978
25 The Year of Living Dangerously Koch 1978
26 July's People Gordimer 1981
27 Schindler's Ark Keneally 1982
28 Fly Away Peter Malouf 1982
29 In Custody Desai 1984
30 Nervous Conditions Dangarembga 1988
31 Amongst Women McGahern 1990
32 Lies of Silence Moore 1990
33 The Butcher Boy McCabe 1992
34 Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree Tariq Ali 1992
35 The Heather Blazing Toibin 1992
36 Crime Story Gee 1994
37 Reef Gunesekera 1994
38 The Riders Winton 1994
39 The Potato Factory Courtenay 1995
40 Reading in the Dark Deane 1996
41 Dangerous Love Okri 1996
42 Jack Maggs Carey 1997
43 The God of Small Things Roy 1997
44 Eucalyptus Bail 1998
45 Disgrace Coetzee 1999
46 A Star Called Henry Doyle 1999
47 The Guards Bruen 2001
48 By the Sea Gurnah 2001
49 The Ultras McNamee 2004
50 The Sea Banville 2005
51 March Brooks 2005
52 The Broken Shore Temple 2005
53 The Book Thief Zusak 2005
54 Half of a Yellow Sun Adichie 2006
55 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Boyne 2006
56 Mister Pip Jones 2006
57 The Reluctant Fundamentalist Mohsin Amed 2007
58 The Gift of Rain Tan 2007
59 The White Tiger Adiga 2008
60 Sea of Poppies Ghosh 2008
61 Then Gleitzman 2008
62 Lyrics Alley Aboulela 2010
63 Room Donoghue 2010
64 The Memory of Love Forna 2010
65 The Good Muslim Anam 2011
66 The Narrow Road to the Deep North Flanagan 2013
67 Time Present and Time Past Madden 2013
68 Academy Street Costello 2014
69 A Brief History of Seven Killings James 2014
70 Kintu Makumbi 2014
71 The Green Road Enright 2015
72 The Fisherman Obioma 2015
73 Homegoing Gyaasi 2016
74 The Dry Harper 2016
75 Dance of the Jakaranda Kimani 2017
76 The Searcher French 2020
77 Hamnet O'Farrell 2020
78 The Bass Rock Wyld 2020
79 The Promise Galgut 2021
80 Small Things Like These Keegan 2021
81 The Fortune Men Nadifa Mohamed 2021
82 The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida Karunatilaka 2022
83 Trespasses Kennedy 2022
84 The Furrows Serpell 2022
85 Old God's Time Barry 2023
86 Pet Chidgey 2023
87 Soldier Sailor Kilroy 2023
88 Prophet Song Lynch 2023
89 This Plague of Soul McCormack 2023
90 The Bee Sting Murray 2023
91 The Covenant of Water Verghese 2023
92 Stone Yard Devotional Wood 2023
93 Dusk Arnott 2024
94 The Storm We Made Chan 2024
95 Crooked Seeds Jennings 2024
96 Glorious Exploits Lennon 2024
97 Breakdown Sweeney 2024
98 The South Aw 2025
99 The Wardrobe Department Garvey 2025
100 Nesting O'Donnell 2025

Paul's 100 fictions in translation

My most difficult list to do is my favourite 100 works of fiction in translation. Firstly because there are such yawning gaps in my reading and secondly because I am likely to miss out some books I should remember and include.
Anyway here it is:

1 The Betrothed Manzoni 1827
2 The Red and the Black Stendahl 1830
3 The Black Sheep Balzac 1842
4 The Count of Monte Cristo Dumas 1846
5 The Devil's Pool Sand 1846
6 Madame Bovary Flaubert 1856
7 Les Miserables Hugo 1862
8 Fathers and Sons Turgenev 1862
9 Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky 1866
10 Around the World in Eighty Days Verne 1872
11 Anna Karenina Tolstoy 1878
12 Bel Ami Maupassant 1885
13 Germinal Zola 1885
14 The People of Hemso Strindberg 1887
15 The Gods Will Have Blood France 1912
16 Under Fire Barbusse 1916
17 Growth of the Soil Hamsun 1917
18 Zeno's Conscience Svevo 1923
19 The Counterfeiters Gide 1925
20 The Trial Kafka 1925
21 David Golder Nemirovsky 1929
22 Right and Left Roth 1929
23 Vipers Tangle Mauriac 1932
24 Embers Marai 1942
25 Chess Story Zweig 1942
26 Bridge over the Drina Andric 1945
27 Zorba the Greek Kazantzakis 1946
28 The Plague Camus 1947
29 We Always Treat Women Too Well Queneau 1947
30 Half a Lifelong Romance Chang 1948
31 Iron in the Soul Sartre 1949
32 Bridge Over the River Kwai Boulle 1952
33 All Our Yesterdays Ginzburg 1952
34 Bonjour Tristesse Sagan 1954
35 The Atom Station Laxness 1955
36 Palace Walk Mahfouz 1956
37 Night Wiesel 1956
38 Doctor Zhivago Pasternak 1957
39 Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids Oe 1958
40 The Flanders Road Simon 1960
41 Asterix the Gaul Goscinny 1961
42 Manon des Sources Pagnol 1962
43 The Sailor Who From Grace with the Sea Mishima 1963
44 Beauty and Sadness Kawabata 1964
45 Silence Endo 1966
46 The Season of Migration to the North Salih 1966
47 Cancer Ward Solzhenitsyn 1966
48 One Hundred Years of Solitude Marquez 1967
49 For Bread Alone Choukri 1972
50 Broken April Kadare 1978
51 So Long a Letter Ba 1979
52 If on a Winter's Night a Traveller Calvino 1979
53 This Earth of Mankind Ananta Toer 1980
54 If Not Now, When Levi 1982
55 The Assault Mulisch 1982
56 The Unbearable Lightness of Being Kundera 1984
57 The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis Saramago 1984
58 The Old Gringo Fuentes 1985
59 The Wedding Queffelec 1985
60 The Postman Skarmata 1985
61 The Storyteller Vargas Llosa 1987
62 Faceless Killers Mankell 1991
63 Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow Hoeg 1992
64 I Who Have Never Known Men Harpman 1995
65 Santa Evita Martinez 1995
66 The Reader Schlink 1995
67 The Terracotta Dog Camilleri 1996
68 Lovely Green Eyes Lustig 1996
69 Class Trip Carrerre 1997
70 The Elementary Particles Houellebecq 1998
71 My Name is Red Pamuk 1998
72 Jar City Indridason 2000
73 Persepolis Satrapi 2000
74 I'm Not Scared Ammaniti 2001
75 This Blinding Absence of Light Ben Talloun 2001
76 The Soldiers of Salamis Cercas 2001
77 The Shadow of the Wind Zafon 2001
78 Kafka on the Shore Murakami 2002
79 Devil's Peak Meyer 2004
80 The Rainbow Troops Hirata 2005
81 The Twin Bakker 2006
82 The Vegetarian Han Kang 2007
83 The Snowman Nesbo 2007
84 Purge Oksanen 2008
85 The Dinner Koch 2009
86 Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead Tokarczuk 2009
87 Norte Soldan 2011
88 A Man Called Ove Backman 2012
89 1914 Echenoz 2012
90 Our Lady of the Nile Mukasonga 2012
91 Look Who's Back Vermes 2012
92 Sudden Death Enrigue 2013
93 The Story of My Teeth Luiselli 2013
94 The Dictator's Last night Khadra 2015
95 Black Moses Mabanckou 2015
96 Small Country Faye 2016
97 Disquiet Livaneli 2017
98 At Night All Blood is Black Diop 2018
99 A Long Petal of the Sea Allende 2019
100 The Café With No Name Seethaler 2025

BOOKS ADDED (hopefully a reduction here!!!)

January
1. Ruin and Renewal by Paul Betts
2. Super Pulses by Jenny Chandler
3. The Road Cyclist's Companion by Peter Drinkell
4. The Heart is a Shifting Sea by Elizabeth Flock
5. Elidor by Alan Garner
6. Angel Island by Inez Haynes Gillmore
7. One of Our Ministers is Missing by Alan Johnson
8. Wilder: How Rewilding is Transforming Conservation and Changing the World by Millie Kerr
9. August Blue by Deborah Levy
10. The War of the Poor by Eric Vuillard READ
11. An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi
12. On Reflection: Looking for Life's Meaning by Richard Holloway
13. Selected Poems by Linton Kwesi Johnson
14. Poems from an Attic by Iris Murdoch
15. A Lonely Man by Chris Power
16. Together: A Manifesto Against a Heartless World by Ece Temelkuran
17. Becoming Ella Fitzgerald by Judith Tick
18. North Sun, or, the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther by Ethan Rutherford
19. Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin by Sue Prideaux
20. Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse
21. The Daughters' War by Christopher Buehlman
22. Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
23. The Distinctly Competent District Councillor by Jonas Jonasson READ
24. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
25. Miss Jane by Brad Watson

February

26. Fulfillment by Lee Cole
27. Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
28. The Bone Chests by Cat Jarman
29. Always Home, Always Homesick by Hannah Kent
30. Our Was the Shining Future by David Leonhardt
31. The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter

14 non-fiction
10 fiction
2 poetry
3 fantasy
2 crime / thrillers

By Men 18
By Women 13

Read: 2

Book Stats 2026

Books Read : 23
Pages Read in completed books : 6,218

Longest book : Shardik : 592 pp
Shortest book : The War of the Poor : 79 pp
Mean book length : 270.35 pp

Pages per day average in completed books : 155.45

Books written by men : 13
Books written by women: 10

Non-Fiction : 3
Fiction : 12
Poetry : 2
Thriller : 2
SF/Fantasy : 2
Drama :
Short Stories : 2

1830s : 1 book
1930s : 2 books
1950s : 1 book
1970s : 1 book
1980s : 1 book
1990s : 2 books
2000s : 1 book
2010s : 4 books
2020s : 10 books

UK Authors : 6
USA Authors : 3
Chile Authors : 1
Ireland Authors : 4
Canada Authors : 1
China Authors : 1
Switzerland Authors : 1
Australia Authors : 2
France Authors : 2
Sweden Authors : 1
Trinidad Authors : 1

Challenges :
Roads Less Travelled : 3 books
Non-Fiction Challenge : 1 book
British Author Challenge : 3 books
Time Machine Challenge : 9 (51)
26 Short Story Collections : 2/26
Caroline Memorial Reads : 1
1001 Books : 2

Awards :
Baillie Gifford Prize : 1
Pulitzer Prize : 1

Read : 23 books
Added : 31 books

Change to TBR : +8

January Books : 18
January Pages : 4,689
Pages Average : Per book : 260.50 Per Day : 151.26

February Books : 5
February Pages : 1,529
Pages Average : Per book : 305.80 Per day : 169.89

This thread is dedicated to:

Belle's boyfriend Logan. Who has been diagnosed with Guillem Barre disease and is on the road to recovery, I hope. He puts a smile on my daughter's face and is a lovely young guy. I also noticed he looks a lot like a young Robert Graves!

Welcome to my fourth thread of 2026.

>1 PaulCranswick: how wonderful. Bright and cheerful 😀

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Paul. You are already tearing it up in 2026. 😜

>20 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita. It caught my eye. I suppose when you think of the Caribbean, sea and surf and rum come most prominently to mind!

>21 msf59: Thanks Mark. You aren't doing bad yourself, buddy.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Paul!

>1 PaulCranswick: I'm currently reading a book that started in Trinidad, but that's not the primary setting, nor does the author come from that region.

Happy new thread!

Growing Up Stupid Under the Union Jack will be my first book for this month’s challenge.

A few years ago I read Evelyn Waugh’s Ninety-two Days, an account of a
visit he rather inexplicably made to the interior of (then) British Guiana, an area not known as a tourist destination then or now. I followed up with The Ventriloquist’s Tale, by Guyanese novelist Pauline Melville, when I learned that the novel refers to Waugh’s visit. As I noted in my LT review, “main plot is a cliché and subplots go nowhere. Evelyn Waugh interest, which directed me to the book, is very minor. But the description of life in the Guyanese interior is consistently engaging.”

Happy new thread Paul. Glad to hear that Logan is on the road to recovery.

>28 Kristelh: Same. And it looks like Logan has loving support, which always helps with recovery.

Happy new thread, Paul.

I really liked A House. For Mr Biswas; like you, I found it quite droll although ultimately sad.

I preferred Beloved over Sula, but it was close.

January reading was okay, but no stand-outs. Hopefully I’ll. E able to concentrate more and better very soon,

>23 amanda4242: Thank you, Amanda.

>24 quondame: Thanks Susan. Trinidad has always fascinated me with its proximity to Venezuela, its large Indian population and its renowned beauty.

>25 foggidawn: Thank you Foggi.

>26 booksaplenty1949: Austen Clarke is an author I have heard of but not read. Didn't he eventually settle in Canada?

>27 booksaplenty1949: Of course Guyana is interestingly part of the West Indies but on the continent of South America. Apparently discovered that it is exceptionally endowed with oil and gas deposits.

>28 Kristelh: He has issues with his mobility but he is positive and tells me that every day is a little bit better.

>29 justchris: Indeed Chris. Belle doesn't come across as the most gushing and voluble of characters but she has the advantage of being sincere and genuine.

>30 Matke: Nice to see you, Gail. I do think that Beloved is one of those books that demands a reread at some stage and then will obtain declarations of love.

>33 PaulCranswick:. He'll get better, Paul, but it takes work and time. Nerves are slow to heal. I suspect he is getting physical therapy.

>35 Kristelh: Yes he is, I think, Kristel. I know that he has finished his course of donated plasma for now.

Wishing you a happy new thread from my house which got 10 issues of snow. (Official for the town was 8 inches, but I'm in the county and at a higher elevation. I know people on top of Boatmans Mountain had 12 inches. They've closed offices for tomorrow on campus and made classes online only. That means I'll have to monitor reference chat from home. Still, I get to spend the days with the cats, and they'll love that!

Happy new thread!

>37 thornton37814: Yikes stay warm and safe, Lori. Boatmans Mountain is a very good name for vivid imaginings.

>38 drneutron: Thank you, Jim.

Happy New Thread!

>40 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver

THE ROADS LESS TRAVELLED CHALLENGE is up for February.

We are visiting the English speaking Caribbean.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/378317

Happy newish thread, Paul. Lovely to see Belle & boyfriend. I don't think too many boyfriends have threads or anything else dedicated to them by their girlfriends' fathers. I found your post to be lovely and generous.

Happy New Thread, Paul. What a great picture of Belle and Logan. I am glad to hear he is on the road to recovery. I gave 3. 5 stars to Love Forms. I'll be interested in your thoughts.

>43 AMQS: What a nice thing to say, Anne. I want my daughter to be happy and, thus far, the young mans sincerity and devotion shine through. He is also nice to Hani who can be notoriously difficult to please!

My good lady is very much under the weather at the moment and feeling sorry for herself and full of flu. I called Belle and asked her to check up on her mum. Hani expressed pleasure that her younger daughter so thoughtfully checked on her and I feigned surprise at her news!

>44 vancouverdeb: Lovely to see you as always, Deb. I don't have that many photos to choose from so we had to include Belle as well!

So far so good with Adam's book. A few hours and it will be done as I am not at work today.

Oh poor Hani - hope she feels better very soon, and nice work, Paul:)

>47 AMQS: She is a hypochondriac, Anne, which makes it difficult to realise when she is actually sick (on the girl who cried wolf principle) but her face told the story of her troubles yesterday when I called her. She looked tired out poor thing.

Happy new thread, Paul! Good to see the news that Logan's health is heading in the right direction. I hope Hani is on the road to recovery soon.

>49 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg. To cap it all my sister has ovarian cancer and had a hysterectomy yesterday but I spoke to her last night and she is doing ok. Seems like they caught it early.

Happy new thread, Paul! Your last thread went by in the blink of an eye. I fell over 200 posts behind, so I thought I'd better jump in before this one got away.

>50 PaulCranswick: I hate to hear about more bad health news for your family. It's too much all at once. I'm glad that your sister at least seems to be doing OK, and that Logan is also getting better.

>51 atozgrl: Everybody is ok although Hani is feeling a bit sorry for herself.
Lovely to see you, Irene, as always.

Happy New Thread, Paul.
>18 PaulCranswick: That's good news—all the best to you and your family.

>53 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas. Always good to see you.

>32 PaulCranswick: Austin Clarke attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto and eventually became a Canadian citizen.

>55 booksaplenty1949: I thought he became Canadian.

Happy New Thread!!

I’m so sorry to learn about your sister, Paul, but the prognosis seems to good.

And give Hani a little love from us.

Sorry about the family health issues Paul but glad the boy friend is a winner :).

Hey, Paul, I've posted my translated lit list if you want to check it out.

Sorry to hear about your sister. I pray they got all the cancer and that she'll recover speedily. Take care my book twin.

Happy new thread, Paul!

Sorry about your sister--glad that she is doing OK.

>57 hredwards: Thank you, Harold. I haven't seen you around so much yet this year dear fellow.

>58 Matke: My sister is quite a tough cookie so I cannot see her letting this knock her down. She is already home from hospital and was overjoyed that Hani had made her a tuna quiche which she thought was wonderful. My sister is a pescatarian and she was adamant that Hani must enter Masterchef!

>59 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you, Reba. He really is a winner because even I like him!

>60 Kristelh: I will certainly go and have a look Book twin. I saw your Rest of the English speaking world list which seems to be a work in progress. There are so many good books written in the Oceanic countries which are difficult to find outside and costly to add.

Health issues look like they are improving.
Julie, my sister, is already home.
Logan seems a little better every day.
Hani is also improving well. So much so I took advantage of her slight recovery to order four books for her to bring home for me from Sheffield.

>61 banjo123: Thank you dear Rhonda.

>63 PaulCranswick:, I am sorry Paul, I missed that Hani was not feeling well. Glad she will be coming to you with books.

Yes, my list of other English language others is a work in progress. The easiest for me was the translated works because I read so many 1001 books. I hope to keep all 3 going and add and subtract as my favorites change.

>65 Kristelh: She is much better, I think, Kristel.

I also plan to keep the lists updated and I have identified the five most "at risk" books in each list.

>62 PaulCranswick: I've been lurking. Just not posting a lot right now. Life sometimes gets in the way.

>67 hredwards: Indeed it does, Harold. Take care of yourself dear fellow.

New thread orisons, PC!

>69 richardderus: Thank you kindly, RD.

Happy new thread, Paul. And best wishes for your family’s health. Glad that Logan is improving.

Have fun with your lists! I’m enjoying them.

>71 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. The lists were fun putting together.

BOOK #19



Love Forms by Claire Adam
Date of Publication : 2025
Origin of Author : Trinidad
Gender of Author : Female
Genre : Fiction
Challenges : Roads Less Travelled
Awards : Booker Longlisted.

You assemble the very best of ingredients, follow your Grandmother's recipe almost exactly, using the finest tools and equipment available but somehow the dish has not been seasoned properly and the result is a frustrated disappointment.

Well that is my feeling upon reading this book. It had all the ingredients of plot, place and personage. It followed the guidebook exactly in terms of construction. It was created with skill and some finesse and some of the characterization especially of the Trinidadian ensemble was expert. But I got to the end strangely dissatisfied that something was missing - some failure of connection - some lack of empathy with a whiny main character - some failure of intrigue over whether the Italian girl would be who she wanted her to be - some failure to care.

I'm sure that she will write more rounded and better seasoned books than this in future and I will be there to taste again.

Book #20



The Hunchback of Note-Dame by Victor Hugo
Date of Publication : 1831
Origin of Author : France
Gender of Author : Male
Genre : Fiction
Pages : 501 pp

One of the joys of two days off work is that I can immerse myself in a big book and get carried along in the narrative of an undoubted classic.

Memorable characters created by Hugo who almost breathe from the pages : Rollo, Quasimodo, Esmeralda and a host of supporting players who help or hinder the progress of our tale in some style.

The differing qualities of love - blind devotion, lustful yearning, selfless dedication; and of course the antitheses of these ruthless hatred, the ugliness of jealous rage and the consequences of selfishness and cowardice.

It comes a distinct second behind Hugo's greatest ever work, but it is still a monumental creation that speaks to us today as gloriously as it did 195 years ago.

>74 PaulCranswick: Will be joining you shortly in this read.

>75 booksaplenty1949: I read it practically non-stop from yesterday evening!

>73 PaulCranswick: I was also quite lukewarm about Love Forms, Paul

>77 vancouverdeb: I'm not sure what it was, Deb, but there just seemed to be something missing somehow.

Double posted so I'll just say that I have started Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan. I will probably try to read at least one Irish novel a month this year.

>76 PaulCranswick: Yes, I can see that you are already poised to move on to 1832. I am still reading Rural Rides at a slow trot.

>80 booksaplenty1949: I will read Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving for 1832.

>74 PaulCranswick: I'd love the read if for no other reason than giving the world "quasimodo" as an insult...such fun to say. It's not kind to insult people but when that's the thing you resort to having a word like "quasimodo" to fling.

>82 richardderus: “Does the name ‘Quasimodo’ ring a bell?” still one of my favourite jokes.
I was actually at mass at Notre Dame in Paris one year on Low Sunday—-the one where the Introit begins “Like as new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word.” —-“Quasi modo genitii infantes…” in Latin. Preacher made a reference to Hugo’s novel. Very cool.

>83 booksaplenty1949: Ha! I'm glad you reminded me of that joke. Gotta love an erudite sermon-giver.

>82 richardderus: I always envisage Charles Laughton when the name Quasimodo get's mentioned. Apparently when people said that to him Laughton always got the hump.

>83 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha yes. I have two Chinese friends who are subcontractors on 118. There is the Airconditioning Subcon boss Mr Ding and the plumbing subcon Mr Dong. Endless fun to be had in meetings!

>84 richardderus: Or the one where Quasimodo is running down the street being chased by boys in their soccer kits. Quasi turns to them and shouts "I've already told you, I don't have your bleedin' ball!"

>86 PaulCranswick: LOL!

>1 PaulCranswick: it's carnival time! Happy new thread!
Best wishes for Logan!

Hi Paul, Happy New Thread mate. You are flying with your reading at the moment, mine is picking up nicely and i am now used to having my tap Catheter and getting on with day to day living while i wait for appointments to drop through the door.

Not a good time in the Cricketing world, i read yesterday that Tony Pigott had passed away aged 67, a stalwart of Sussex for 18 years before a swansong 2 years with Surrey. He went back to Sussex and rescued them in 1997 and one of his first tasks was to recruit Chris Adams from Derbyshire and he said their first County Championship triumph since the new regime took over was down to Tony, obviously his nickname was and easy one, 'Lester'.

I recall he postponed his wedding to make hid England debut against New Zealand as he happened to be playing in New Zealand that winter.

>87 richardderus: The old ones are still the best RD!

>88 zuzaer: Thank you, my friend.

>89 johnsimpson: I'm glad that is able to give you some relief, John, pun slightly intended!

The T20 team seems to be in good fettle going into the T20 World Cup.

>90 johnsimpson: I do remember Tony Pigott, John, and the story of his test cameo is a great one and one which wouldn't happen today with Lions shadow squads and the like.

>3 PaulCranswick: I still have my old paperbacks of I, Claudius and Claudius the God. I really need to dig them out and give them a re-read at some point!

>18 PaulCranswick: I do hope that Logan is doing better!

Skipping a ton. . .

Happy whatever, Paul!

>93 alcottacre: Definitely my favourite works of historical fiction, Stasia. Logan seems to be improving day to day. They were hoping to come here in March, but I am not sure that the doctors will allow him to travel.

>95 jackson22: Sorry you completely lost me there.

>97 jackson22: & >98 jackson22: No thank you. No need.

No relation.

>100 jackson22: & >102 jackson22: I am not sure how you found me, but this is a place to discuss books and life. Please leave me alone.

>101 m.belljackson: I know that, Marianne, don't worry. You are welcome here anytime. xx

Paul - Your Malaysian Friend in Jazz may well enjoy the books and websites mentioned in the Nonfiction Challenge.

Ooh I saw on Stasia's thread that Hani has Covid. No wonder she's been feeling so terrible. I hope she is fully recovered very soon. I'm sorry also for what your sister is going through. Sounds like a great prognosis.

>105 m.belljackson: I did actually think about you and Roscoe when Benita selected the topic - I have books on Charles Mingus and more general histories of the genre and era but I think I am going to read a biography of the late, great Ella Fitzgerald. I haven't seen my Jazz friend, Johann, for quite a few months.

>106 AMQS: She is still testing positive as of last night but seemed a little better to me last night. I did also message my sister yesterday, Anne, and she seems well on the way to being mended.

>107 PaulCranswick: I had no intention of choosing a book about jazz for this month as I have a couple waiting to be finished already, but then I opened Alessandro Baricco's (theatrical) monologue “Novecento” (=the twentieth century) and who is the narrator? A saxophone player in the very age of jazz! Coincidences are everywhere.

Best wishes for your family!

>108 zuzaer: It was a month in the challenge that I thought I may struggle with but turns out that the Ella biography called to me and I am interested to read about that magnificent lady and how she overcame odds to become who she did.

Last night my threads passed 1,000 posts for the year already. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has visited here or posted in 2026 I appreciate all (well almost all) posts received. You guys are the best.

BOOK #21



Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan
Date of Publication : 2021
Origin of Author : Ireland
Gender of Author : Female
Genre : Fiction
Awards : Betty Trask Winner 2022
Pages : 279 pp

Strangely compelling but deeply disturbing exploration of love, sex and unequal relationships set in Dublin.

Whilst Nolan's writing is snappy and engaging she is on point by the realistic portrayal of a very flawed main character. I could identify with her. I have known people like her. I have been in unequal relationships in the past that were brought vividly back to me like her.

There is a debasement, a coldness, a calculation, a bestiality even described in this pages which is true but leaves me sickened, angered and saddened by that truth.

Nolan is a very good writer, but this will not be for some of our number who may prefer certain things to be intimated not scraped raw.

>112 jackson22: & >113 jackson22: I don't like people getting blocked from coming here but there genuinely seemed no interest in engaging in any sort of meaningful way.

>114 PaulCranswick: An understatement, with your characteristic charity.

>115 booksaplenty1949: I am a bit of a softy.

Just had a bit of a blow. Hani was called by the doctor who wants her to go to the hospital on the 13th for bronchial tests as she has bronchitis with her covid. Problem being of course that she is supposed to fly back here on the 8th. She asked me what to do and I was struggling to be sensible and tell her to follow the doctor's advice. It looks very much like she will put off coming back by a week and I had my hopes up so much that we would be reunited on Monday.

Sorry to hear about the situation with Hani. I hope she recovers quickly and is safe to travel. Keep us updated. 🙏

>117 msf59: I will Mark, thank you. She has at least gotten an appointment a day earlier. She will check shortly with the airline and the revised aim is to be back on 15 February.

>116 PaulCranswick: Bronchitis is serious enough that I'm glad sensible won out. I'm crossing All my crossable parts for this to be a blip.

>116 PaulCranswick: We learned the hard way not to mess around where COVID is concerned. Hope everything is quickly taken care of and you can be together ASAP.

>119 richardderus: Yes RD. I am a bit heavy hearted but it is was clearly the most sensible thing to do. It is only a week in the scheme of things. I miss the bossy-britches to be fair even though I am going to get thoroughly scolded for the noticeable influx of books - a couple of additional bookcases may need to be squeezed somehow into place so I can clear a few flat spaces that, according to She, should not be cluttered with BOOKS.

>120 booksaplenty1949: Yes that is true and it is not an easy trip to make. An hour plus drive to the airport in Manchester. 7 hours to Qatar a few hours waiting and then another 7 hours to KL. A trudge through Malaysian immigration, baggage control etc and then reunion and another hours drive home. She will undoubtedly expect me to take her to one of the eateries she has missed in the interim. I'm tired just imagining it.

Looking at the news today in the UK it looks increasingly likely that the Epstein files may see the demise of the British Prime Minister. He appointed a man as our Ambassador to the USA who every man and his monkey knew was up to his ears with the Paedo. Starmer is blaming Mandelson for lying to him but it seems the vetting was only done once he had been appointed which is extraordinary. The Epstein files seem to reveal that Mandelson was giving secrets to Epstein of a highly sensitive financial nature concerning British banks in return for favours and payment whilst he was a Cabinet minister. Likely Mandelson will be prosecuted and Starmer may be forced out because of this latest epic lack of judgement.

It is clear that the Government and my party need a complete re-set and the person I would most likely want as leader is not even in the House of Commons at the moment and had been blocked by Starmer from standing in a crucial upcoming bi-election.

>111 PaulCranswick: I don't know anything about the author nor the plot aside from what you've written, but it strikes me as similar to Rooney's Normal People...

>121 PaulCranswick: Look forward for the scolding, then? I hope everything is okay with your wife and that she'll go back to you with minimal problems.
>123 PaulCranswick: lovely.
Also, congratulations on the 1000 posts!

>122 PaulCranswick: Corbyn looks better and better.

One of the strengths of the parliamentary system is that when a leader loses the confidence of the legislators s/he is gone. The cumbersome impeachment process of the American Constitution is, by contrast, all but unworkable in practice.

Sorry to hear about Hani and bronchitis and the delay in her return to you. Probably the best choice to stay for care in England. Hope all goes well, Paul.

>94 PaulCranswick: I knew I liked you for some reason, Paul. Your love of Robert Graves is definitely a good reason, lol. I am glad to hear that Logan is improving!

>110 PaulCranswick: Last night my threads passed 1,000 posts for the year already Congratulations on that hallmark, Paul!

>111 PaulCranswick: Giving that one a pass. I appreciate the heads up on it, Paul.

>116 PaulCranswick: Aw, I am sorry, brother. I hope Hani recovers from both the bronchitis and COVID soonest!

Happy whatever, Paul!

Hi Paul and happy new thread.

>16 PaulCranswick: You, sir, are an optimist. A reduction. Seriously? *smile*

>18 PaulCranswick: Sweet pic of both of them. I hope his recovery continues apace.

>50 PaulCranswick: I’m so sorry to hear of your sister’s cancer. Fingers crossed that the hysterectomy caught it all.

>110 PaulCranswick: Congrats on your message count.

>116 PaulCranswick: Oh no. Bronchitis is nothing to mess with, as I had it a dozen or more times when I had just moved to North Carolina. Combined with Covid cannot be good. I hope she’s being well taken care of.

>121 PaulCranswick: My house has almost more bookcases than wall space, but Bill just told me that our local antiques guy, who keeps a lookout for me for antique bookcases, has another one he wants me to see. He’s just sent pics. I'm sure I'll be in trouble, because he only sends me good stuff.

>15 PaulCranswick: I love the idea of a list of translated books; I tag mine as such, so may just get compiling. Also, I see your #47 is Cancer Ward by Solzhenitsyn, I may have to go there too. I like his work from what I have seen.

Anyhow, I hope you are managing OK, and that books are keeping you sane, well, and *loved* while you continue to grieve and do the whole life thing xx

>111 PaulCranswick: I am torn by your description of this one- it may be too depressing for me but I love a good character study.

Oh, and I loved A Manual for Cleaning Women- how are you finding it?

>124 zuzaer: It was good but a bit too gratuitous

>125 zuzaer: She will back on 17th as her ticket already has been changed. She will slowly recover, I'm sure.

>126 richardderus: Whatever could be said of Jeremy, RD, and I didn't agree with him about everything, he was and remains a man of principle and incorruptible.

>127 booksaplenty1949: I wouldn't disagree but the Labour Party rules does make it difficult to remove the leader if he/she doesn't want to go, I think he will have to go but his senior people will have to amass against him.

>128 Kristelh: She is a tough girl and I am sure that she will be fighting fit for her return on 17th. I'm disappointed but it is still less than two weeks.

>129 alcottacre: Robert Graves is one of my very favourite writers, Stasia. xx

>130 karenmarie: I love your long posts, Karen. In turn:

Yeah lets see how I go with that!

Belle is smitten with Logan but not as much as Logan is smitten with Belle which is probably as it should be.

Julie didn't tell her three kids about it at all until the youngest visited her at the hospital and was, apparently very distressed. My sister is a character, Karen, very strong willed and hard working and who qualified as a solicitor despite fairly acute dyslexia.

My message count has more to do with my pals than me, I am blessed by my visitors and appreciate all of them.

Bronchitis is definitely to be taken seriously.

I currently have 23 bookcases, Karen, and I think I will increase it by two more.

>131 LovingLit: Lovely to see you, Megan

Solzhenitsyn is a challenging writer and was not the jolliest soul but he is always worth reading.

I am ok with the grief, as I have too many things to keep me occupied.

I wouldn't say that Nolan's book is depressing but it is a bit stark in seeing things from a modern woman's perspective.

Berlin's book is really good and I am slowly working my way through the stories.

Oh Paul, I came to your thread to see if Hani was feeling better. I am so sorry her trip is delayed, but I think it is right to be cautious. All of a sudden I am approaching or at the age where illness is riskier (how did that happen?) and as you say, the trip is arduous. Hope she is feeling better very very soon.

>122 PaulCranswick: Ugh. Error in judgment indeed. But what is this accountability of which you speak? It does not seem to be the American way :(

>137 AMQS: Discretion is the better part of valour, Anne. Hani will be better going and getting checked otherwise she will worry herself to illness. She just wanted me to sign off on her staying another 10 days.

Different system in the UK of course, Anne, but I don't think the bombast of Trump would pass muster there. The lack of judgement unfortunately with Keir Starmer is not an isolated incident and he has been forced into a large number of policy and appointment U-Turns in his shortish time in office. It isn't the fact that of the U-Turns that bothers me so much it is the stupidity of the originally proposed policy.

As a Labour Party member, I think that the clue is in our name we are supposed to be all about the working people, putting them back to work, getting them off a life of dependency, evening out their opportunities so that every British subject wherever they are from, whatever their social background, gender, race, creed, sexuality or class have an even chance of succeeding in life. That the health, welfare and education systems don't fail our people, that there is a safety net for the vulnerable, aged and infirm that will safeguard and protect them and not act as a crutch to those who simply don't wish to work, that the Government will operate society and the economy to create the conditions that will generate employment for the many, that we strive for a fairer and compassionate society, that we give succour to those from outside who are genuinely at risk and are fleeing persecution, that we promote peace and understanding internationally, that we preserve and take care of our way of life without impinging upon others in their private observances.

The Labour movement has gotten away from many of these precepts whilst at the same time pretending otherwise. It has to get back to its core principles and take the UK forward or the next government will not share many of our values.

Happy newish thread, great topper pic!
Our carnival here is not so colorful and much about drinking, I’m always glad when it’s over and bakeries offer something else than jam-filled donuts (Krapfen). Yes I know I’m weird, everyone else loves them.
Was lucky to see the Notting Hill Carnival in 1996 (oh dear, that’s 30 years!), a completely different experience of course.
Best wishes for Hani’s quick recovery and her return to you.

>138 PaulCranswick: a similar thing happens in Germany and I think also in Italy, although here it’s always more complicated with lots of political parties and strange coalitions, and the fascists have never been away. Of course, in Germany in the 1930s it was also the workers who wandered from the social democratic parties to the NSDAP and helped Hitler to power. They returned to SPD after the war, but now, like in the UK, many stopped looking at actual politics and follow the loudest voice. Even if the government decides certain steps for better welfare, it doesn’t make the headlines in the rage-feeding news those voters are consuming.

Glad to hear Hani's return is rebooked. I hope the rest of the trip goes smoothly.

>139 Deern: Thank you, Nathalie.

I am surprised that in Italy Ms. Meloni seems to be fairly solidly in power considering how often governments used to change there. Germany was an usual case as somehow they managed to see themselves as socialists.
The improving of welfare when the post-industrial ageing populations of Western Europe are struggling to survive is by making it available to those who need it and not making unemployment benefit a permanent fixture of people's lives. Personally I would impose national development schemes through created public institutions that would:
1) Do peacekeeping or health care services in trouble spots
2) Help implement international aid projects instead of untargeted monetary donations
3) Help public services maintenance and the building up of crumbling national infrastructure.
4) Redevelop nationalized industries on a targeted basis.

Then people would be paid for their labour instead of paid to waste away at home and it would be for the public good that we anyway presently commit budget towards.

>140 RebaRelishesReading: I'll soon be touching base with her Reba as she is 8 hours behind me but always messages or calls me when she awakes.

BOOK # 22



After by Morris Gleitzman
Date of Publication : 2012
Origin of Author : Australia
Gender of Author : Male
Genre : Fiction
Pages : 209 pp

This is the fourth book in the series and the third going by chronological order. There are some mannerisms in Gleitzman's writing that are endearing and his storytelling is genuinely and generally very good.

If I am being critical, I do think that the last 20 or so pages snatch defeat from the jaws of victory somewhat as those pages come across as rushed and the coincidences a bit ridiculous.

Overall though great YA fiction on a very difficult time.

>142 PaulCranswick: I wasn't a fan of this series after the first couple of books though I did read them all.

Our government is coming under fire as we have too much immigration that we dont need and are in the process of signing a free trade agreement with India that seems to allow the massive immigration to New Zealand to continue. It's a bit scary as the population of India at 1.45 billion is so much larger than NZ's 5.33 million. I've lived in Auckland these past 40 years and it is already a very different place to how it used to be.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378417

>143 avatiakh: That’s probably how the Maoris felt when the British started arriving in the early 19thC. The human race is always on the move and culture is never static for long.

>143 avatiakh: There is an enormous difference between someone seeking asylum to economic migration - India and China themselves would be the direct beneficiaries from this sort of deal as opposed to immigrants coming to Europe from parts of the Middle East where the individuals themselves are trying to change their lives purely for themselves.

I think the difficulty has nothing to do with race really but a willingness or unwillingness to integrate into the existing society without trying to fundamentally change it to match the place you were escaping from.

>144 SilverWolf28: Thanks Silver

>145 booksaplenty1949: The Maoris themselves terrified the neighboring nations and islands as they had a fearsome reputation for slaughter. The British probably (although possibly inadvertently) prevented widespread genocide throughout the Oceanic region which was literally hundreds of years behind the rest of the world.

I saw a very privileged and frankly spoiled artiste in the US talking about the USA being stolen land just before going back to her $14 million mansion she was proud to own and presumably didn't consider stolen.

Societies want to protect their ways of life, it is a natural understandable and often worthwhile position to take, but they also have to have the organization and wherewithal to protect it. The Maoris did not have that wherewithal and time will tell whether the "Western" nations have that wherewithal or not.

>134 PaulCranswick: Good to hear! Yeah, I think re-reads of I, Claudius and Claudius the God are in my future.

>142 PaulCranswick: I have all the books in that series. One of these days I might read them. . .

The new books I got in house this past week are on the 'This Just In' thread if you want to check them out, Juan.

>147 PaulCranswick: I admit I know nothing about Maoris, specifically. Apparently they didn’t arrive in New Zealand until around 1300. But NZ, with the same area as Japan, has half the population of Greater London. I think that population increase would do a lot for their economy. New Zealanders are apparently leaving in record numbers, and not because of Indian immigrants https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/09/leaving-new-zealand-record-departu...

Sorry to see that Hani's return is delayed, Paul. But better to travel healthy.

>122 PaulCranswick: Looks like there will be a lot of fallout from the Epstein Files. I'm sure we'll be seeing more news soon.

>148 alcottacre: I would gladly dust off I, Claudius for a third read, Stasia.

I will go and have a look at what you have added.
xx

>149 booksaplenty1949: I don't know enough about New Zealand politics to comment in detail other than I would trust a local newspaper over an international one with its own world view to expound. I subscribe to the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph as I like to try and read between the lines of often stellar opposites (I do the same with the NYT and the Wall Street Journal) and it is comical how differently they view issues and I find myself agreeing with the Guardian over the Telegraph probably 2 times out of 3. I don't have a NZ journal or news publication to offer as a better source it is just an overall observation.

>150 Familyhistorian: I think that you are right, Meg, on the Epstein files. I am sad to see people like Tom Hanks and George Clooney getting more than a passing mention. Gates and Bill C I think we all sort of knew of their proclivities already and I suspect some of the references to Trump have been, erm, manicured. I do think though that had there been a smoking gun in there on him it would have come out in the last administration.

Hani seemed a little better yesterday.

>151 PaulCranswick: Here is a NZ source with essentially the same story https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/578766/record-number-of-new-zealanders-leave...

>153 booksaplenty1949: I was making a general observation on local sources and not implying that your information was not correct. I know very little about politics in New Zealand other than the voting system is a tad complicated.

>131 LovingLit: "I loved A Manual for Cleaning Women- "

I do hope I'm not the only person whose mind immediately went to "cleaning women" as in "giving women baths". I suppose it could have been worse -- I could have flashed on "cleaning women" as in preparing one to be roasted....

Oh,dear. I think I must stop now before digging myself into an even deeper hole.

>151 PaulCranswick: The Maoris were not united but different tribes that were involved in tribal warfare. They welcomed the chance to trade for muskets to have an advantage over their enemies. The Musket Wars: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musket_Wars
One of the famous incidents was in 1830 and involved Te Rauparaha making use of an English ship to slaughter a rival tribe. https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/elizabeth-incident-of-brig
The history is interesting, there were many bad land deals, but for the past few decades the tribes are having billion dollar settlements though the Waitangi Triburnal which is also taking a lot of public land and returning it. Unfortunately these settlements don't filter down to the ordinary people, many are urban Maori so don't know their tribes.
The claims are very ambitious, they have tried to get total control over New Zealand's water, the foreshore, forests, airwaves and mineral rights.

>149 booksaplenty1949: New Zealanders are always leaving for Australia, my grandparents spent ten years in Western Australia where my father was born before returning to New Zealand in 1934. The mining industry in Australia offers fantastic wages if you want to work hard. My brother spent 8 years in Port Hedland driving trucks out to the mines.
Lots of these 'New Zealanders' are new passport holders who planned on ending up in Australia, New Zealand was the stepping stone as there's no restriction on living in Australia for us, just that we don't have access to some allowances so life can be hard if you want to study or have a child with disabilities.

Even though New Zealand has a lot of space, you'll find that 90% of migrants just want to live in Auckland. I live in a suburb where it's impossible not to notice that most businesses are run by Asians (Chinese, Indian and Filipinos) and in our local restaurant area a lot of the signage is not in English, that isn't to say that they aren't welcoming or unfriendly as we are happy to patronise and on friendly terms with most. Almost 30% of Auckland's population is now Asian. There's also noticeable numbers of English & South African expats.

Under John Key, our PM (2008-2016), the government allowed thousands of student visas, it was a rout, most did flimsy English language courses and then were allowed to stay if they found work, then allowed to bring in their family members. It was so obvious that there was corruption around these visas both in India and here in NZ through the immigration businesses.
The anger is with the politicians who allow this influx more than at the people themselves.

>155 LyndaInOregon: That's not where my mind went, but I now want to read your version. Does the manual favor starting from the top and working down or from the bottom up? Are there diagrams? Discussions of sponge vs. loofah vs. bath pouf?

>156 avatiakh: Except that if someone didn’t have a problem with the people why would they have a problem with the politicians who let them in?

>155 LyndaInOregon: That made me smile, Lynda, and to be entirely honest it didn't come to my mind until you mentioned it - the mind boggles!

>156 avatiakh: Thank you for that fascinating post, Kerry. It sort of underscores my point earlier as to whether Western Governments have the will and wherewithal to stamp out fairly flagrant abuses of their immigration systems.

On the earlier point of NZs population density - the beautiful country isn't in the top ten nations in terms of population density. Mongolia and Namibia lead the way and I don't see too many people queuing up to get there. Mongolia would need to increase its population by 9 times to reach the population density of NZ. Going from 3.5 million people to 31.1 million people. The increases in population required in Australia and Canada in order to match that of NZ would be mind boggling but not necessarily practicable.

Just to look at figures without looking at underlying factors (the Gobi desert for example in the case of Mongolia) is not that helpful but its international imbalance is a problem for sure for the existing populations to assimilate.

It is a fact that nations require some level of legal immigration especially in ageing societies but as a rule the sense of home and belonging should keep most people where they were nurtured.

>157 amanda4242: Hahaha. It is actually a very good collection, Amanda, but it would add a dimension unexpected and certainly fascinating.

>158 booksaplenty1949: But they do have a problem increasingly with unchecked illegal migrations. It played a role in bringing Trump back in the US for sure. It has seen a groundswell of support in the UK for the Reform Party who would comfortably win an election in the UK if it was held tomorrow and increasingly across Europe in the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and other places anti mass migration parties are flourishing.

There had been a consensus between parties of centre right and centre left that this sort of globalist agenda was decided polity but that is increasingly being called into question. The left has to develop policies that manage this in a better manner otherwise the political whirlwind will blow them away.

I am a supporter of controlled legal immigration which as you say brings benefits to any nation that manages it properly and I am a supporter of offering succour/asylum to those genuinely fleeing life threatening oppression. But I am not a supporter of mass migration especially of an illegal nature as it puts a strain on the societies where these widespread incursions are unplanned and unsustainable and you often have an imbalance of the make up of that influx - to many single unskilled and unqualified young men.

>159 PaulCranswick: “A sense of home and belonging” wasn’t enough to keep a quarter of the population of Ireland from emigrating during the ten years of the Potato Famine. That was a particularly dramatic instance, but leaving one’s homeland for a better life is a constant in human history. Trump complained about people arriving from ”shit hole countries,” as if that weren’t the entire point.

>161 booksaplenty1949: Trump's offensive rhetoric aside, most people don't welcome unsolicited trespass and especially where the only immigration plan seemed to be to have no plan at all.

The Irish famine is an interesting example to use as the vast majority settled in North America with a number in Oceania and some also in England. It was also a time when peoples from many countries in Europe were doing the same thing as regards the USA in particular but under vastly different circumstances. In that time they were welcomed largely to settle the west and build up the nascent industries, including the railroads, roads, bridges and public infrastructure of a grossly underpopulated federation. That state of being does not subsist anymore for good or ill.

>158 booksaplenty1949: Because it still is a great upheaval for the society that has to integrate all these new people and the politicians didn't run on a mandate to increase immigration, they just put it into play once they are in government.
Sure I could resent all these people I meet daily but I don't want to be that type of person.

>159 PaulCranswick: Australia has a tough climate and only really populated on the coastal regions, most recent migrants stick to the big cities as that's where their communities are. I'd hate to see New Zealand become too urban, the beauty is in the rural and coastal landscapes.

>163 avatiakh: The alternative to immigration would seem to be the situation in Japan, where population is ageing and ultimately declining.

>162 PaulCranswick: I don’t think the Irish settled the West. Seemed to remain close to where they got off the boat, in New York City or Boston. Or of course in Glasgow or Liverpool.

>163 avatiakh: I couldn't agree more on the dangers to NZ (possibly the most beautiful country I have visited) in increasing its urban spaces.

On Australia and Mongolia my point was pretty much that, Kerry, that just looking at density figures has little relation to exactly how many people can really be accommodated without it having a net negative impact.

One of my issues is that people who come to a country because they think it gives them a better life than where they are coming from should make a genuine attempt to integrate into that society. Private observances of faith aside, cultural traditions add to and don't reduce the country welcoming them but only to the extent that there is no attempt to impose those traditions and practices on the existing populace. Diversity is a strength but is no longer diversity if the one seeks to override and totally subsume the other.

It is a difficult balancing act and not one that politicians alone can settle in the accommodating communities. It calls for mutual respect, restraint and a willingness to understand and tolerate each other. The vast majority of people who settle elsewhere uphold that in their daily lives but a minority have no intention of doing so and that presents an obstacle to assimilation and there is little way of spotting which people are which in terms of their attitudes.

>164 booksaplenty1949: No/Zero immigration is not feasible, realistic or good. A successful nation needs immigration in manageable proportions. Ultra homogeneous societies like Japan, Mongolia and others are as you point out finding out that that brings a completely different set of problems.

>165 booksaplenty1949: I was not limiting my comments to the Irish but to all the influx of people from Europe. In fact the Irish played a huge role in the building of the railways in the tens of thousands and many of them settled along the way.

>138 PaulCranswick: I'm so sorry to hear that Hani has both COVID and bronchitis, and that she had to delay her trip. You said she was better today; I hope she continues to improve. I know you will be very glad to see her.

I'm currently reading The Boys from Bondi and thought you might like this moment in the book when Jacob discovers the Sydney Municipal Lending Library he's advised by a fellow blue collar patron to try Robert Tressall's The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. A book I took note of a few days ago from one of your lists.

Also wishing Hani a quick recovery.

>152 PaulCranswick: I haven't seen any accurate mention of Tom Hanks in the Epstein Files. Apparently that is false. I'm sorry to read that Hani's return is delayed by covid and bronchitis, but glad she is getting better.

>168 atozgrl: She hasn't fully recovered, Irene, but thank fully seems a lot better than before.

>169 avatiakh: I will try and hunt that one down, Kerry.

>170 vancouverdeb: I am mightily relieved if Tom Hanks is not mixed up in that, Deb, because I have always really liked and respected him and his work.

>171 PaulCranswick: Me too, Paul. Apparently it is true that George Clooney is somehow mixed up in it, which surprised me.

>171 PaulCranswick: I think his books are hard to find. His wikipedia bio makes for interesting reading.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Collins_(writer)

>173 vancouverdeb: And saddened me too, Deb. One of the first movies I saw with Hani at the cinema was Forrest Gump and he has always been a favourite of mine. As to people like George Clooney and we don't know the truth really of the allegations against him but I don't understand the allure of Epstein to already powerful people like Gates and Clooney. Why did they need to fraternize with a creep like him?

>174 avatiakh: I will check on Open Library first, Kerry.

>175 PaulCranswick: I checked further, and it appears the information linking George Clooney with the Epstein files is incorrect, and just unverified allegations.

>176 vancouverdeb: It seems to depend where you look, Deb, and I am greatly suspicious of the news media on both sides. I haven't personally seen any of the Epstein files and I don't really want to trawl through the sordid minutiae of them. I did see on the British Times newspaper's YouTube channel reference to emails between Mandelson and Epstein dated 16 January 2010 wherein they are discussing Clooney and his muse. That doesn't prove any wrongdoing but it isn't a great look either. There are allegations also apparently by the now deceased Virginia Giuffre in her memoir that there were stories of trysts between Ghislaine Maxwell and Clooney. He doesn't appear to have broken any laws but as I say it is not a good look.

I agree that it appears to be unverified allegations, Deb, but whether it is incorrect or not I have no idea. I can safely say that I am not mentioned in the Epstein files and that saves me from Hani's wrath which is all I really care about.

>177 PaulCranswick: Someone being mentioned in any huge dump of files is meaningless. In what context? How many times?

It's clearly noise designed to create the impression that it's not so bad to be mentioned in the Epstein Files to bring up a random liberal-leaning celebrity into the mix. Goebbels is looking up from Hell and nodding approvingly.

>178 richardderus: I don't think that any of the sexual stuff is going to be proven or otherwise by the files and had there been clear actionable issues on that in the files they would have been acted upon. Perversity is not split on party lines, RD, but some of the corruption information coming out about the politician Mandelson is going to bring down the British Prime Minister. There do seem to be actionable issues in there about monies received and sensitive information passed on which sought to undermine the Gordon Brown government, a government that I strongly supported.

Saturday additions:

26. Fulfillment by Lee Cole
27. Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
28. The Bone Chests by Cat Jarman
29. Always Home, Always Homesick by Hannah Kent
30. Our Was the Shining Future by David Leonhardt
31. The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter

Half fiction, half non-fiction.
Half male and half female.

>179 PaulCranswick: I'm not talking about the *facts* PC. I'm talking about people bringing up mere names in those millions and millions of pages. Until and unless there's data making the name checked relevant on grounds of illegal actions, like Starmer's incredibly poor choice for high office, don't bring it up at all. No matter if JK Rowling's name appears in those damned files, I won't be talking about it unless it's tied to a specific allegation of wrongdoing or it occurs 25,000 times because absent those conditions it's simply a diversion of attention from the real malefactors.

And I *despise* Rowling.

>181 richardderus: That is a fair point of view, RD, and probably the right one. The files are relevant where they demonstrate malfeasance like in Mandelson's case but the rest is just hot air.

Don't like JKR too much myself.

>166 PaulCranswick: Europeans & UK coming to America assimilated in the Deep South to become slave owners.

>151 PaulCranswick: Let me know when you would be up for a shared read, Paul. Not this month though as I am already overcommitted. . .

>180 PaulCranswick: Another batch of books that I am completely unfamiliar with. I hope they are all good reads, Juan!

Happy whatever, Paul!

I'm so sorry to hear of Hani's COVID and bronchitis, and her delayed return to you. It sounds as though she's improving - I hope she's fully well, soon.

ETA: And happy 1000!

>183 m.belljackson: Assimilated with whom? The indigenous inhabitants? Everyone in North America with the exception of the latter came from somewhere else, originally.

>186 booksaplenty1949: Assimiliated with previous slave owners.

>187 m.belljackson: Who were also from Europe/UK.

Hoping Hani is on the road to recovery and soon back on the road to you!

>183 m.belljackson: Marianne, the proportion of immigrants from Europe and the UK who became slaveholders especially after 1800 was minuscule. Of course the Native Americans had a tradition of enslaving rival tribes and a very small number of freed non-whites became slaveholders.

There is a very interesting academic report done: "An Analysis of Slaveholders According to the 1850 Census" and I will share a quote from there:

"Nearly all of the slaveholders were White, although 20 free non-Whites (including both those recorded
as Black and “Mulatto”) were also listed as slaveholders in this 1/100 sample (0.6 percent of the slaveholders
compared to 3.6 percent of the free Southern population). While 5.0 percent of the free Southern population
were foreign born, only 3.1 percent of slaveholders were foreign born, mostly from Ireland (29.5 percent of
foreign-born slaveholders), France (21.0 percent), and Germany (17.9 percent)."

This is the link to the report which you may find interesting:

https://docs.iza.org/dp18031.pdf

It reveals that by 1850 only 3.1% of slaveholders were foreign born and if you see when the influx of immigration happened it is entirely unreasonable and untrue to generalize "Europeans & UK (sic) coming to America assimilated in the Deep South to become slave owners." 16 states and DC held slaves in 1850 and the influx of immigrants into those states was very much in the minority at that time.

It is rather that the vast majority of immigrants to the US did so because they were oppressed for religious reasons in their home countries or were looking at the promise of a better life in the "new world".

>184 alcottacre: Will do, Stasia. I cannot do this month either.
Lovely to see you as always. xx

>185 Dejah_Thoris: The second line in her daily test is almost gone, Princess. I think that she will test negative tomorrow (Sunday) in the UK. My father's funeral will take place on Monday (it will be live streamed to me) and she is now able to attend along with my three children.

>186 booksaplenty1949: There is also the fact of course that most of the immigrants by 1800 were not coming into the Southern Slaveholding States at all. Most of the indigenous tribal communities held and traded slaves of captives from other tribes and including whites they had captured on their raids.

Slavery, as I have said so many times before, was not a uniquely American problem. Numerically the largest holders of slaves in human history was probably the Ottoman Empire but every Empire until that date held slaves.

>187 m.belljackson: I just don't see how slavery was relevant to the topic of immigration/migration that was being discussed. Certainly the forced migration of the slaves is an issue, a tragedy and a stain that must be remembered, but the proportion of people involved in that "trade" - from the Native Africans who sold them in the first place, to the slaverunners to the slaveholders at their final destinations in the USA, the Caribbean or predominantly Brazil, was a tiny proportion of all peoples.

>188 booksaplenty1949: Mostly in the case of the USA, yes, but not exclusively either.

>189 Carmenere: Thank you Lynda. She was much improved again yesterday although her repartee about the relative looseness of her phlegm was one that perhaps only a devoted husband could appreciate without nausea being involved.

>193 PaulCranswick: No, of course many indigenous American people had a tradition of slaveholding, as did many other nations through history. One difference in the US was the racial element. A Roman slave, for example, who earned or was granted his freedom could re-enter society more or less as an equal. That was not the case for freed African-Americans.

>194 booksaplenty1949: Yes that is true but it is an observation of racism and not of slavery per se. The human being has always treated others who are different to them as lesser peoples until very recently it has improved somewhat. Classic recentish examples of that would be :

1. How the British Empire viewed the non-white peoples of its holdings. Indians, Malays, Chinese and others were treated with the same prejudice by the British Empire as were the Black peoples in that grouping.

2. Ditto the French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese empires and especially the Belgian.

2. How the Nazis treated the Jewish and Romany races and to a slightly lesser degree the slavic peoples in general.

3. How the Japanese viewed all non Japanese but especially the Chinese and Koreans.

>182 PaulCranswick: Hello Paul, I think we must have a difference of opinion about this but I think J.K.Rowling is a hero beyond measure!

>196 mdoris: I am not talking about her views about feminism, Mary, I am not a fan of her books. I didn't say I loathed her (I don't think I loath anyone) but I don't particularly like her either.

I agree with safe spaces for women and I also don't think someone who identifies as a woman but who hasn't had any gender reassignment surgery should be placed in women's prisons with all the attendant risks involved to existing inmates. I wouldn't describe her as a hero as some of the vitriol about "men in dresses" is both insulting and unhelpful and undermines her position somewhat. I also have no problem calling a man a man and a woman a woman biologically but that doesn't mean that transgender people should be dismissed or prejudiced against. Neither do I think they should be able to impose on others who don't share their state of being. What I mean by that to take the prison example again is that when someones minority rights clearly impinge on the rights of the majority (i.e. putting the majority biologically female prisoners at risk) then the majority prevails not the minority.

On pronouns and, although we don't have this in Malaysia actually, I cannot see why we cannot avoid this frankly ridiculous argument by referring to people by their chosen name rather than taking a firm position that will please some and upset others. I don't want to cause offence to someone so if they look like a Harold but ask me to call them Harriet then Harriet it is.

We should strive, Mary, and I know you do so yourself, to treat everyone with respect and consideration whoever they are and whatever they look like.

>193 PaulCranswick: Hahaha you're too funny!

>198 Carmenere: Perhaps Lynda but it was a real thing. She even sent me a photo of the offending discharges by whatsApp in proof thereof. I can honestly say that I have been exchanging messages with my dear wife ever since the app became available to us and that was the very first message from her that I forthwith deleted!

>197 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul for elaborating. I can see that you may not "like" a person because you don't consider their work to be a certain accomplishment while you might at the same time agree with their political opinions and public statements concerning women's welfare etc.. In terms of her "vitriol", I am guessing after the many threats on her life and rape threats and doxing that she might have a wee bit of emotion behind her concerns. Agree, respect and consideration are paramount.

>200 mdoris: Well I certainly don't hold with threats made to her in an attempt to cancel or shut her up, Mary. xx

>201 PaulCranswick: Somehow transgender *men* never seem to be the ones making all the angry threats and demands. Wonder why that is?

>202 booksaplenty1949: Hahaha that is true. Maybe something to do with residual hormones?

I was interested in politics firstly because I wanted the world to be a better and fairer place. My idol was Tony Benn who was a conviction politician and held to his principles even when those convictions and principles cost him personally in his ambitions.

Keir Starmer who I now feel has to go in order to save my party shows here how his own principles are expendable depending upon circumstances. Tony Benn would never have done what I show Starmer doing here.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dbq4XaZlp94

>122 PaulCranswick: the person I would most likely want as leader is not even in the House of Commons at the moment and had been blocked by Starmer from standing in a crucial upcoming bi-election I agree with you there Paul, I’m so disappointed with Keir Starmer.

I hope Hani is feeling 100% soon. It must be so difficult for you not being able to be at the funeral in person but good that the rest of the family can attend.

>205 SandDune: I see that McSweeney has fallen on his sword tonight in an attempt to save his boss. I used to think that Starmer was a good and principled man but he appears to be very grubby at this moment, Rhian.

Hani has just tested negative for COVID which is a great relief to both of us.

>206 PaulCranswick: Sorry to hear Hani has had the Bronchitis& COVID combo, good call to stay a bit longer & be checked out ... speaking from experience nobody wants the long term health effects of COVID.

It does give you more time for the book management though 🤓

I see you have the double decker discussion of migration & JK Rowling (along with the inaccuracies that go with these discussions) .... I wish you well but will not add fuel to those fires.

On the Labour Party both in UK & here in AONZ both claim to be for the working people but have strayed so far from those roots to be unrecognisable .... will be interesting to see how the Green party goes under FPP system they do well here under MMP.

>207 roundballnz: Thank you Alex for the comments on Hani, book management, the Potter creator, migration and politics!

You are right about the parties of the left moving away from their base and it will in turn fragment politics and make it harder to get a centre-left party elected. There could be four parties on the centre-left in the next British election (five in Scotland and Wales) against two parties on the centre-right. The odds are not in favour of the centre-left under our system of government.

An update on the thread posting activity.

Here are the 100 most active personal threads in the group as of a few moments ago:

1 PaulCranswick 1,117
2 richardderus 812
3 msf59 712
4 Alcottacre 397
5 jnwelch 392
6 katiekrug 342
7 bell7 328
8 Familyhistorian 322
9 karenmarie 286
10 lauralkeet 269
11 vancouverdeb 246
12 BLBera 231
13 figsfromthistle 214
14 jessibud 204
15 atozgirl 200
16 LizzieD 192
17 drneutron 191
18 klobrien 174
19 thornton37814 172
20 Berly 154
21 mahsdad 147
22 Whisper1 142
23 kristel 141
24 AMQS 134
25 SqueakyChu 127
26 copperskye 124
27 The_Hibernator 119
28 (Sir)Thomas 118
29 norabelle414 117
30 avatiakh 111
31 humouress 111
32 carmenere 110
33 Dejah_Thoris 109
34 John Simpson 109
35 quondame 109
36 mickyfine 107
37 mstrust 106
38 RebaRelishesReading 102
39 SandDune 102
40 ursula 101
41 ffortsa 100
42 ctpress 96
43 EBT1002 96
44 cbl_tn 88
45 Curioussquared 88
46 witchyrichy 88
47 storeetllr 85
48 foggidawn 83
49 ronireads 83
50 Elorin 82
51 paulstalder 81
52 Arlie 78
53 EllaTim 74
54 Chatterbox 73
55 laytonwoman3rd 73
56 mdoris 73
57 weird_o 67
58 kac522 65
59 Lovinglit 65
60 amanda4242 64
61 zoe 64
62 swynn 62
63 Banjo 58
64 magician's nephew 56
65 DebiCates 55
66 Oberon 54
67 justchris 50
68 CDVicarage 48
69 lycomayflower 48
70 AnneDC 46
71 owltherian 45
72 PawsForThought 45
73 sibylline 45
74 aktakukac 42
75 kyler_marie 42
76 ChrisG 41
77 tiffin 41
78 brodiew 40
79 Deern 40
80 SuzyQOregon 39
81 lindapanzo 35
82 matke 35
83 elkidee 33
84 Kolanko 33
85 alsvidur 32
86 ravenwoodwitch 32
87 darthfisticuffs 31
88 rbeffa 31
89 silverwolf 30
90 vivians 29
91 seasonoflove 26
92 walklover 26
93 LyndainOregon 25
94 zuzaer 25
95 h_here 24
96 scvlad 24
97 sirfurboy 23
98 yoklor 23
99 hredwards 22
100 meanderer 21

Paul, I love your fascination with numbers! I always smile when I see posts like the one above!

>210 Whisper1: Lovely to see you, Linda.

I do like my stats and my numbers, dear lady; just as I love participating in this wonderful group.

>154 PaulCranswick: I know very little about politics in New Zealand other than the voting system is a tad complicated.

Here is the explanation of MMP (mixed member proportional) electoral system that made the news in 2017.

You want but a pie (=make a government). The pie costs $5. No one political party has $5 (=enough votes). Proportionally, they have:

Bill English- National Party (right leaning) has $4.50.
Jacinda Ardern- Labour Party (left leaning) has $3.70.
Winston Peters- NZ First (then centre right, now just right) has 70c.
James Shaw- Green Party (left) has 60c
David Seymore- Act Party (right) has 5c.

No one has enough money to buy the pie by themselves but Jacinda, Winston and James put their money together and buy the pie.

Bill gets no pie because he needed 50c but didn't have any friends to help him pay for the pie.

I have loved this explanation since reading it on FB back then :) Especially when Bill couldn't buy his pie even though he had the most money.

Sadly right now we are in a coalition between National, Act and NZ First, a 'coalition of chaos', of sorts.

>212 LovingLit: Watching Borgen, a television series about Danish politics, revealed to me the perils of Proportional Representation. No system is perfect, of course, but the British parliamentary system has a lengthy track record of legislative effectiveness which MMP seems in no position to challenge.

>212 LovingLit: I like that, Megan, but then then again the pie needs to be edible doesn't it?
All parties these days seem to be different shades of the same colour to me. It is all a centrist stalemate. Politicians don't seem to have the courage of their convictions anymore or they do but it is only on the narrowest of issues. No one seems to have a coherent plan as to how they will make all our lives really better and they all seem to contrive somehow to make it worse.

>213 booksaplenty1949: I have seen that programme too - it is really good.
The British system to me seems uniquely suited to a largely two party system. When we have five parties all making a concerted play for overall power the result is pretty much sure to turn up a disproportionate result. Labour for example getting 32% of the vote and 70% of the seats.

Topical doubly.

>214 PaulCranswick: But, historically, small parties tend to be one-issue, and/or breakaways from larger parties over a person or policy that eventually disappears, along with the party. If it can’t broaden its base, why encourage, say, the Keep Our Country White Party to persist?

>214 PaulCranswick: Yes but my point is that most parties big and small have no coherent plan and seem to be as straws in the wind. Trump with his lack of decency and his sullied motivations does have a plan - it is a plan that damages and victimizes sectors of the electorate that would never vote for him and it is a plan I could not support in all its selfish inglorious odiousness, but a plan nonetheless.

He is proof positive that populism might occasionally mean popular but it doesn't necessarily mean right and it is why the word populism does not retain positive connotations.

>191 PaulCranswick: Just let me know when!

Happy whatever, Paul!

>218 alcottacre: Will do, Juana. xx

>219 PaulCranswick: Good!

>215 PaulCranswick: This is very funny.

>220 alcottacre: I have just watched the livestream of my Dad's funeral service, Stasia. The kids and Hani were in attendance and it went off as well as I suppose these things can.

>221 booksaplenty1949: Painfully so, I think.

His Chief Advisor and his Press Secretary both resigned today which will not satisfy those who think he needs to take that downhill plunge.

>223 PaulCranswick: Yes, of course—-funny to an outside onlooker, not so funny to you.

>222 PaulCranswick: Was it a traditional service?

>224 booksaplenty1949: I see the humour in most things to be fair, but Starmer is a strangely humorless character.

>225 booksaplenty1949: Not so. It was billed as a tribute to him and it was a nice celebration of the life of a difficult but very hard working man.

BOOK #23



What Happened to the Corbetts by Nevil Shute
Date of Publication: 1939
Origin of Author: UK
Gender of Author: Male
Genre: Fiction (see below)
Pages: 245pp
Challenges: British Author Challenge

Written in 1938 and published in the months leading up to the war, this novel by Nevil Shute presages the blitz that is about to hit Britain with the onset of war.

This is a genre defying piece of writing as it is speculative and dystopian in its sombre view of what will occur in the event of a sustained campaign of bombing against British towns (in this case the focus was on Southampton). Without spoilers he does rather overplay the impact of the bombing and at the same time does not foresee the great pluck of his fellow countrymen and women.

He also doesn't name Germany although I am certain that is the nation assaulting us from the air in these pages.

Thank goodness our generations have not had to try to face this evil down in our lifetimes.

>214 PaulCranswick: I hear you...populist policies are appealing but not typically substantive in making thing better for anyone.
I like MMP though as - with the right parties - it can force/encourage cooperation. When left-leaning this works to my ideals, but when right leaning we get what we have now which is the minor parties having the bigger party over a barrel on coalition negotiations...

Democracy ain't perfect, as they say, but it's better than the alternatives. If only we'd all play nicely.

Also, I quite enjoyed What happened to the Corbetts when I read it 15 years ago!

>228 LovingLit: Indeed Megan. Populism is one of the strangest names given to what is often a guise for intolerance. I am a supporter actually of immigration controls but it should be managed in a sensitive and humane manner. I am also certainly not in favour of a society that turns its back on those genuinely in need and escaping life threatening oppression. Integration into the society you move into is essential and if you become a citizen of another country you should only want the best for that country and not seek to undermine it and tear it down.

The Corbetts is an interesting read and it is often forgotten that Shute was in aviation and would have had some justification for his concerns.

>228 LovingLit: The problem with NZ's MMP is that they didn't add a safeguard to the process of forming a government. I think Germany & Israel have the rule that the party that wins the most seats gets priority and a period of time to form a government. This is fair for the voters rather than having a minority party holding the kingmaker position and calling the shots as happened in 2017. The negotiations need to be more transparent as well.

Israel has definite problems with their elections as the religious parties pull a lot of sway even with only a few seats.

>227 PaulCranswick: Another book by Shute for me to add to my list. I'm joining the TIOLI shared read of The far country

Good that your immediate family was well represented at your father's funeral, Paul. Will Hani be able to travel soon?

Thanks for the stats.

>230 avatiakh: I do think that it is only right that the party that won the most votes / most seats should get the first crack at forming a government but it seems that when parliaments are "hung" it just boils down to grubby discussions and deals in smoke filled rooms and draughty corridors.

>231 Familyhistorian: Meg she will be with me this time next week!!!

Hani, Yasmyne, Kyran (he made it up from London), Belle and Logan were there for me yesterday. My sister, her husband Tony and her two eldest kids Annabelle and Christian plus my brother Peter were there. (Peter's wife and children - they are Kyran's age, did not attend due to the bad feeling of Peter being cheated out of his share in their business 14 years ago)

It must have been tough watching a live stream rather than being there, but tough even if you were there anyway. So I guess what I mean to say is - ((hugs)).

>233 LovingLit: Aww that's lovely, Megan. I will get my boss back next week anyway.

>234 PaulCranswick: Is the plan for all your (immediate) family to eventually be in the UK long-term?

>232 PaulCranswick: I'm glad Kyran, Belle, and Logan were able to be present. I'm glad you at least got to watch the live stream.

>235 booksaplenty1949: Yes it is, really. Hani and I are looking to buy somewhere in the Sheffield area (her insistence) that is a bit bigger for both of us and I have my eye on a place right now as it happens.

>236 thornton37814: I was quite honored that Jacqui, my Dad's wife, set up the livestream specifically for me and that I was the only one using it.

>237 PaulCranswick: Plenty of bookshelf space, I trust.

>238 booksaplenty1949: Not enough by any reckoning but I will manage as well as I can!

I'm glad so much of your family was able to attend your dad's service, Paul. I hope you and Hani find a place to live in Sheffield soon.

>240 vancouverdeb: We do have a very small place Deb. A one bedroom apartment which Hani loves but I want somewhere just a little bit bigger. I am looking at a three bedroom duplex apartment which has a nice roof terrace, or a small cottage on the outskirts of the city because I want to add a puppy to our family - either a spaniel or a beagle.

>203 PaulCranswick: I gather mass shooter yesterday in BC was transgender. As soon as I heard shooter was wearing a dress it was hard to envision that it was a (real) girl in high school, esp at this time of year. No official word, but story is being reported by journalists abroad who claim to have local sources.

>242 booksaplenty1949: If it is true then the propensity of such incidents is disproportionately alarming. I wouldnt know where to begin to explain it. All violence is abhorrent to me.

>243 PaulCranswick: I don’t think there is any propensity to violence on the part of transgender *women*, specifically. The propensity is on the part of men. I have seen US statistics stating that 97.7% of mass shootings (4 or more victims) from 1966 to the present were carried out by men. There’s more to female identity than wearing a dress.

>244 booksaplenty1949: It is not a subject that I have ever studied to be honest but from unscientific observations I would agree that the overwhelming majority of gun crime throughout the world is undertaken by males.

THE WOMEN'S PRIZE LONGLIST FOR NON-FICTION WAS NAMED last night in the UK

Here are the 16 books:

1. Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick
2. The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet
3. Don't Let it Break You Honey by Jenny Evans
4. Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt
5. With the Law on our Side by Lady Hale
6. To Be Young, Gifted and Black by Kadiatu Kanneh
7. Artists, Siblings, Visionaries by Judith Mackrell
8. Ask Me How it Works by Deepa Paul
9. Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry
10. The Genius of Trees by Harriet Rix
11. Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War by Jane Rogoyska
12. Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy READ
13. Finding Albion: Myth, Folklore and the Quest for a Hidden Britain by Zakia Sewell
14. To Exist as I Am by Grace Spence Green
15. Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century by Ece Temelkuran
16. Indignity: A Life Reimagined by Lea Ypi

>222 PaulCranswick: I am glad that your family could make the service even though you could not, Paul, and that things went off well.

>227 PaulCranswick: I do not think I have ever read that one by Shute. I am going to have to see if I can locate a copy.

>246 PaulCranswick: Thanks for posting the list, Paul! I had not yet seen it.

Happy whatever, brother!

>246 PaulCranswick: The only one of those that I have heard of is the Lea Ypi one. Unfortunately, that is because Mr SandDune has read it and didn’t like it at all!

>247 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia.

There were a few surprises in the Women's Prize list with Atwood, Hannah Kent and Yiyun Li all missing out.

>248 SandDune: I read an earlier book by her, Rhian, which was lauded but I didn't enjoy.

>249 PaulCranswick: Both Mr SandDune and I enjoyed her first book a lot, so he was really expecting to like this one ….

>250 SandDune: It didn't blow me away, Rhian, to be honest.
Of the longlist I have only read one - by Roy - and I thought it was tremendous.

Here's the Valentine's Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378586

>252 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver. My wife will return on 17 Feb so I will have to wait 3 days to celebrate!