Last post of 2007

Hopefully - we go on Thursday and the forecast is snow and lots of it, anyway 2012 I'm still reading this because it's the kind of book that doesn't reward skimming. I can understand why it's in the philosophy section but it could also be classified as bio/nature and just plain woo. Daniel Pinchbeck covers a multitude of subjects, ufo's (avoid that bit - woo alert!) his journeys into the amazon rainforest to take psychedelic compounds to open his mind as he puts it. He posits that 2012 won't be the end of the world just a change of mindset less material and more spiritual and no that doesn't mean I'm going to start going to church. He talks about us being slaves to time and that I really do get, while I was reading this chapter three timers were beeping at me from various parts of the house, each demanding my attention. I'm buying this one - not for me - a friend back home will eat this up. Hawke didn't get started so that and The Golden Compass will be my on- plane reading.

See you in 2008!

An Uncommon Reader, Hawke and the End of the World?

It's rare for me to recommend a book without reading it but having read the author this wasn't a stretch. But now I can remedy that The Uncommon Reader is a hoot. When one of her majesty's corgis runs into Westminster Council's bookmobile it starts a chain reaction that no one could have predicted. Queenie checks out a book and because she's a duty bound kind of girl she reads it and that leads to another and another and another. Headaches abound for Sir Kevin the kiwi and Norman from the kitchens gets promoted to literary advisor - he's gay and ginger - so normally he wouldn't have a prayer. Queenie being a doer she soon turns her hand to writing. Is the Uncommon Writer too far off?

Two other books this week 2012 The Return of Quetzalcoatl by Daniel Pinchbeck and Hawke by Ted Bell. I have a love of archaeology I used to spend my summers on my hands and knees with a soft brush discovering bits of roman pottery and once a coin, the subject fascinates me. Anyway I saw this programme on the history channel hosted by that guy with the face and body of an angel and a voice that sends me to sleep - forget ambien! and this was the subject, Myan calendars end of the world etc, etc so I decided to educate myself. Also the first in the Hawke series which judging by the blurb makes James Bond look tame - we'll see.

Sword Song - Bernard Cornwell

I've read and like the Sharpe series but this is the first of the Saxon Tales series I've read and I enjoyed it. One caveat if you like your heroes to have simple names like Fred it ain't going to happen. Saxon names are challenging but as I'm not reading aloud it's OK, Cornwell also helpfully puts a glossary of names at the front of the book. I used to live in Berrocscire who knew! So on to the story. Uhtred (see what I mean?) is a Lord, a savage warrior and Danish from his named swords to his Thor's hammer amulet, he believes in Odin's Hall not heaven and while technically a good man he's won't think twice about hanging 10 workers to make the others work harder. He is also sworn to Alfred of Wessex, a Christian - (hmm have to read the other books to find out how that happened).
In this book the Vikings aren't just coming, they've taken London. Alfred orders Lord U to turf the Vikings out and then give London to his (Lord U's) cousin as a wedding present. The Vikings want to join forces with Uhtred and make him King of Mercia using the "fates" to dangle the offer in front of him. If he takes up the offer U will break his sworn oath to Alfred. No sooner has he made his decision than a prize far greater than London falls into enemy hands and Alfred tasks U to get it back. Chock-full of battles and strategy Sword Song also has enough family betrayal and palace intrigue to keep the book interesting, it also hints at dark things to come.