Matthew Neale - read March 2012
Three stories, a crew of Manx smugglers, Tasmanian aborigines and an expedition of Englishmen. The three stories intertwine across the world. It gives an insight into the plight of the aborigines and the mindset of the English explorers. The Manxmen just have no luck but have the last laugh.
The book was the winner of the 2000 Whitbred Book of the Year. It was a good read once I got the hang of the style of writing.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Timbers for Woodworking
Edited by J C S Brough read for reference
The book is a handbook for timber workers. It was first written in 1945 but this book is the revision published in 1955. It tells the reader all about timber; Where it comes from i.e. the distribution of the varieties, its properties, how the measure standing timber, how the cut it to yield the maximum timber but with regard to the look and use of the cut timber.
It is written in formal English of the 1940's. It is a great insight to handling standing timber to logged timber.
The book is a handbook for timber workers. It was first written in 1945 but this book is the revision published in 1955. It tells the reader all about timber; Where it comes from i.e. the distribution of the varieties, its properties, how the measure standing timber, how the cut it to yield the maximum timber but with regard to the look and use of the cut timber.
It is written in formal English of the 1940's. It is a great insight to handling standing timber to logged timber.
Sharpe's Honour
Bernard Cornwell read March 2012
Richard Sharpe is at Vitotia 1813. He goes of on a mission, gets the girls, loses the girls, loses and finds a forture, battles the French, dispenses justice and inspires his men to win the battles of Vitoria. It is the usual fare and is not a bad piece of entertainment for all that.
Richard Sharpe is at Vitotia 1813. He goes of on a mission, gets the girls, loses the girls, loses and finds a forture, battles the French, dispenses justice and inspires his men to win the battles of Vitoria. It is the usual fare and is not a bad piece of entertainment for all that.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
David Mitchell - read March 2012
The really interesting story. As an Englishman it is strange to read stories from a different national perspective. The Dutch and the English have always had a strange relationship and this book goes someway to explaining it. It also has a lot to say about Japanese culture. It also gives an insight to the Japanese mind set.
The story has, what I thought was, a sad end but that's how life is.
The really interesting story. As an Englishman it is strange to read stories from a different national perspective. The Dutch and the English have always had a strange relationship and this book goes someway to explaining it. It also has a lot to say about Japanese culture. It also gives an insight to the Japanese mind set.
The story has, what I thought was, a sad end but that's how life is.
Monday, 27 February 2012
The Bicycle Book
Bella Bathurst - read Feb 2012
A book about various elements and people in and around bicycling. I thought it good in parts and predictable in other parts. I am glad a read it but it was not a page turner for me.
A book about various elements and people in and around bicycling. I thought it good in parts and predictable in other parts. I am glad a read it but it was not a page turner for me.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Stand into Danger
Alexander Kent - read Feb 2012
Another in the series of the adventures with the hero Richard Bolitho. I have read them all out of order. This book is the second in the series.
Kent is not in the same league as O'Brian and his hero is a bit "sensitive".
Another in the series of the adventures with the hero Richard Bolitho. I have read them all out of order. This book is the second in the series.
Kent is not in the same league as O'Brian and his hero is a bit "sensitive".
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Three Sheets to the Wind
Pete Brown - read November 2011
One man's search for the meaning of beer.
An entertaining read. Pete's journey round the world visiting places to to drink beer and reasons why those countries have a different attitude to drinking.
Not a let down after reading his "A man walks into a pub".
One man's search for the meaning of beer.
An entertaining read. Pete's journey round the world visiting places to to drink beer and reasons why those countries have a different attitude to drinking.
Not a let down after reading his "A man walks into a pub".
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Rifles
Mark Urban - Read October 2011
This book is a history of the Rifles regiment. It is mainly about the famous 95th Rifles regiment. I thought it was going to be a story based around the 95th but it was a history of the six years the rifles spent in Spain and Portugal ending with Waterloo. The rifles were a new regiment with a new weapon and tactics.
It was a bit hard going.
This book is a history of the Rifles regiment. It is mainly about the famous 95th Rifles regiment. I thought it was going to be a story based around the 95th but it was a history of the six years the rifles spent in Spain and Portugal ending with Waterloo. The rifles were a new regiment with a new weapon and tactics.
It was a bit hard going.
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Grow Your Own
Lawrence D. Hills - Read years ago and for reference
Fruit and Vegetables
Lawerence D. Hills was the "inventor" of organic horticulture. His books are clear and concise as are all his books.
Fruit and Vegetables
Lawerence D. Hills was the "inventor" of organic horticulture. His books are clear and concise as are all his books.
Made in England
Dorothy Hartley - Read October 2011 and for reference
This is a book about country crafts. It is a bit of a radom collection. It is made up extracts of other manuals. It is a useful reference books but not a definative guide to the crafts it covers.
This is a book about country crafts. It is a bit of a radom collection. It is made up extracts of other manuals. It is a useful reference books but not a definative guide to the crafts it covers.
Scull and Bones
John Drake - Read October 2011
This is the last in a trilogy based following on from Danial Defoe's Treasure Island. So, same characters, same buried treasure new story.
This is the last in a trilogy based following on from Danial Defoe's Treasure Island. So, same characters, same buried treasure new story.
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Man Walks into a Pub
Pete Brown - Read October 2011
A sociable History of Beer
This is a good read. A history of more than Beer. Pubs, the goverments coffers, social and political impacts of beer. Who knew Beer had such an impact on the world and especially England. Lots of interesting titbits and asides.
I enjoyed his another book "Hops & Glory".
A sociable History of Beer
This is a good read. A history of more than Beer. Pubs, the goverments coffers, social and political impacts of beer. Who knew Beer had such an impact on the world and especially England. Lots of interesting titbits and asides.
I enjoyed his another book "Hops & Glory".
Monday, 26 September 2011
Fencing with the Foil
Roger Crosier - Read July 2011 and for reference
Instruction and Technique
This book was given to me by Gordon Twigger who ran Hinckley Fencing Club from 1960 to 2010. Gordon retired from running the club after his fiftieth anniversary aged 75!
This book used to be the prescribed work for becoming a fencing instructor from 1951.
It is remains a good work on technical aspects of Foil fencing moreover it is a modern take on providing instruction of foil.
Instruction and Technique
This book was given to me by Gordon Twigger who ran Hinckley Fencing Club from 1960 to 2010. Gordon retired from running the club after his fiftieth anniversary aged 75!
This book used to be the prescribed work for becoming a fencing instructor from 1951.
It is remains a good work on technical aspects of Foil fencing moreover it is a modern take on providing instruction of foil.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
The God Beneath the Sea
Leon Garfield & Edward Blishen
A modern telling of the Greek myths of creation.
A modern telling of the Greek myths of creation.
Phil Drabble's Country Scene
Phil Drabble
A collection of his articles that where published in his column in the Birmingham Evening Mail.
Phil owned 90 acres of woodland near Abbots Bromley. In 2011, on a lager outing, went past the house he lived in.
A collection of his articles that where published in his column in the Birmingham Evening Mail.
Phil owned 90 acres of woodland near Abbots Bromley. In 2011, on a lager outing, went past the house he lived in.
Under the Hawthorn
Sybil Marshall
Country lore and country saw
A little book of country lore. Poems, sayings and rhymes.
Country lore and country saw
A little book of country lore. Poems, sayings and rhymes.
The Adventure of the English
Melvyn Bragg - read 2008
The Biography of a Language
This is a brilliant book. It traces the development of the English language since 500Ad to the new millennium and why English is a world language. The reason is not what you might expect.
The Biography of a Language
This is a brilliant book. It traces the development of the English language since 500Ad to the new millennium and why English is a world language. The reason is not what you might expect.
The English
Jeremy Paxman - read 2009
A Portrait of a People
It is an examination of what it is the be English or British and how we came to be what we are.
A Portrait of a People
It is an examination of what it is the be English or British and how we came to be what we are.
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