Book Review Year 4 No 1
Jan. 25th, 2018 11:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitFirst up, two books I was reading over Christmas, but didn't finish until the beginning of the New Year:
Balancing Acts: Behind the Scenes at the National Theatre by Nicholas Hyntner
Nicholas Hyntner was one of the two co-founders of the Bridge Theatre, and this book is about his time in charge of the National Theatre. I'd had the book for my birthday, but had saved it for when I'd have more time to read. It was an interesting read, and Hyntner is very opinionated, which is perhaps not surprising for someone in that role. Did I learn a lot? I don't think I did; certainly thinking back to the beginning of the month nothing particularly stands out. I enjoy going to talks which explain a bit about how plays are put together and I find that helps me in my appreciation of what I'm watching - allbeit at times in retrospect because I'm gripped during the performance. But I don't think this will make much difference to my enjoyment in future.
Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards
Another collection of mainly inter-war detective stories, some of which I'd read before. A few of the authors are still well-known, the others are mostly unsurprisingly forgotten. It's a bit like Christmas television - you watch things you'd probably not bother with the rest of the year.
Onto three library books. These were all reserved at the library, one in September, one in November and one at the end of December. It was almost inevitable they all arrived within the space of two days.
Marked to Die by Sarah Hawkswood
The third in the Bradecote and Catchpoll series of medieval murders. Like the other two I enjoyed reading this. Nothing strenuous but an interesting concept, well researched. It was based around the salt trade in what is now Droitwich, so slightly further north but still within what I think of as 'my area'. I was very happy visualising the scenery. I'm now waiting for the fourth book to be written.
A Question of Proof by Nicholas Blake
Blake was one of the authors featured in the Christmas Mysteries, and since his story was reasonably interesting, and since the library had a copy of one of his books, I thought I'd see what it was like. I won't be reading any more. Standard formula, a detective with annoying rather than endearing foibles, and an author who likes his own whimsical thoughts to intrude.
The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla
This was recommended by
vix_spes and in my turn I'd recommend it to all my UK flist. A series of essays (very readable) by immigrants or the children/grandchildren of immigrants, on what it's like living in multi-racial but still intolerant Britain today. The writers talk about the unspoken assumptions and having to deal with a variety of forms of white privilege. Definitely thought provoking. It's inevitable we assess people initially by what we see, how we respond is up to us. For instance, if I want something from the top shelf in a supermarket and I see two people walking towards me, I will ask the one who is taller than me if they can reach it for me, not the one who is shorter. Or, if I'm looking for someone to speak to on the hospital ward concerning my mother, I see a nurse in a hijab and a dark blue dress. The colour of the dress tells me she's one of the sisters and therefore will know the situation, and the hijab tells me which sister I need to speak to next time, since there are more than one on the ward.
The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett
The 5th in the City Watch series. Once more this was great fun. I've been carrying it around in my handbag the past week, on the basis there are going to be times when I'm sitting waiting, so I might as well read. I was in the bank at the beginning of the week, sorting out power of attorney, when the advisor came to find me. "Ah," she said, "Discworld. I do like those books." Instant connection, and no problem getting everything organised.
Balancing Acts: Behind the Scenes at the National Theatre by Nicholas Hyntner
Nicholas Hyntner was one of the two co-founders of the Bridge Theatre, and this book is about his time in charge of the National Theatre. I'd had the book for my birthday, but had saved it for when I'd have more time to read. It was an interesting read, and Hyntner is very opinionated, which is perhaps not surprising for someone in that role. Did I learn a lot? I don't think I did; certainly thinking back to the beginning of the month nothing particularly stands out. I enjoy going to talks which explain a bit about how plays are put together and I find that helps me in my appreciation of what I'm watching - allbeit at times in retrospect because I'm gripped during the performance. But I don't think this will make much difference to my enjoyment in future.
Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards
Another collection of mainly inter-war detective stories, some of which I'd read before. A few of the authors are still well-known, the others are mostly unsurprisingly forgotten. It's a bit like Christmas television - you watch things you'd probably not bother with the rest of the year.
Onto three library books. These were all reserved at the library, one in September, one in November and one at the end of December. It was almost inevitable they all arrived within the space of two days.
Marked to Die by Sarah Hawkswood
The third in the Bradecote and Catchpoll series of medieval murders. Like the other two I enjoyed reading this. Nothing strenuous but an interesting concept, well researched. It was based around the salt trade in what is now Droitwich, so slightly further north but still within what I think of as 'my area'. I was very happy visualising the scenery. I'm now waiting for the fourth book to be written.
A Question of Proof by Nicholas Blake
Blake was one of the authors featured in the Christmas Mysteries, and since his story was reasonably interesting, and since the library had a copy of one of his books, I thought I'd see what it was like. I won't be reading any more. Standard formula, a detective with annoying rather than endearing foibles, and an author who likes his own whimsical thoughts to intrude.
The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla
This was recommended by
vix_spes and in my turn I'd recommend it to all my UK flist. A series of essays (very readable) by immigrants or the children/grandchildren of immigrants, on what it's like living in multi-racial but still intolerant Britain today. The writers talk about the unspoken assumptions and having to deal with a variety of forms of white privilege. Definitely thought provoking. It's inevitable we assess people initially by what we see, how we respond is up to us. For instance, if I want something from the top shelf in a supermarket and I see two people walking towards me, I will ask the one who is taller than me if they can reach it for me, not the one who is shorter. Or, if I'm looking for someone to speak to on the hospital ward concerning my mother, I see a nurse in a hijab and a dark blue dress. The colour of the dress tells me she's one of the sisters and therefore will know the situation, and the hijab tells me which sister I need to speak to next time, since there are more than one on the ward.The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett
The 5th in the City Watch series. Once more this was great fun. I've been carrying it around in my handbag the past week, on the basis there are going to be times when I'm sitting waiting, so I might as well read. I was in the bank at the beginning of the week, sorting out power of attorney, when the advisor came to find me. "Ah," she said, "Discworld. I do like those books." Instant connection, and no problem getting everything organised.
