As is to be expected Christmas brought a few new books to the pile. It also brought me a Duck Light, which now sits atop the pile changing colour. It's quickly become a much loved accompaniment to my regular bedtime reading. So much so I have now rechristened this my Duck Pile.
DENISE MINA - THE LESS DEAD
I'm just over halfway through reading this at present. It is, as ever with Denis Mina, an extremely compelling read. It's short chapters ideal for bedtime reading. A story that begins with a woman Margo innocently trying to reconnect with the world of her birth mother, who was murdered shortly after she was born. But her digging allows a whole lot of unresolved stuff from that time to start bubbling back up to the surface, and most of it is not pleasant.
Charity Shop
Currently Reading
BERNARD McGINN - THE MYSTICAL THOUGHT OF MASTER ECKHART
In the realm of medieval Christian mysticism Master Eckhart is thought to be somewhat seminal. McGinn's book comes highly rated as an introduction to his controversial, but none the less influential writing. I am quite looking forward to getting round to reading this. But I suspect I will really have to be in the right headspace for it.
Christmas Present
PAUL DOLAN -BELIEFISM
Halfway through this reading book. Which in many ways covers similar ground to Jon Yate's book Fractured, but comes at it from a distinctly social science perspective. This I'm finding is jargon heavy at times. His arguments feel less humanly approachable, and hence I am not finding it compelling to read. Rapidly losing interest, here's hoping I make it to the end. His solution to the problem of 'beliefism' comes in the form of a mnemonic EMBRACE which is enough to put anyone off their morning cereal.
Hive Bookshop, Alysham
Currently Reading
OWEN BARFIELD - POETIC DICTION
This is one of those books that at the time you bought it, seemed like an interesting prospect. Sometimes books do have their moment, and I'm beginning to get the feeling this one may be in danger of passing it. It's been in my book pile quite a while now. Seminal though it reputedly is, this might I suspect prove interminable in the end.
Holt Bookshop
Yuval NOAH HARARI - SAPIANS
Another book which I'm looking forward to getting around to reading. I've been impressed with the clear headed nature of his mind when interviewed. So I'm hoping he writes in a similar vein.
Waterstones
ANNIE GRAY - THE BOOKSHOP, THE DRAPER &THE CANDLESTICK MAKER
As someone who spent most of their working life in retail, and I love history about the ordinary everyday things of life, this book seemed right up my street. Annie Gray is also a regular TV and radio presenter, particularly in the area of culinary history. I expect this will be a good read.
Hive Bookshop , Alysham.
JANINA RAMIREZ - THE PRIVATE LIVES OF THE SAINTS
A favourite TV history presenter. Her speciality is the early medieval. I found her earlier book Feminia really illuminating. It opened out the era for reappraisal for the role of female presences within it. This one will be a joy.
Christmas Present
RICHARD V REEVES - OF BOYS AND MEN
I've seen him being interviewed and he delivers a quietly eloquent and right on the ball explanation of what the masculinity crisis actually is. Without a hint of the casual mysogyny or outright toxicity that can often accompany the discussion of subject matters such as this one, on the internet.
Christmas Present
BEN CONNELLY - INSIDE THE FLOWER GARLAND SUTRA
Recently listened to a talk by this guy as part of the New York Zen Center - Commit to Sit season. Speaking about aspects of this elaborate and lengthy Mahayana Sutra that I found engagingly expressed. I'm hoping the book lives up to my expectations.
Christmas Present
DIARMAID McCULLOCH - LOWER THAN THE ANGELS
McCulloch is always a really peachy historical read. This one is all about sexuality in Christian theology and how it's terribly oppressive response is not always supported by what you actually read in the biblical source material. I expect this will be regularly punctuated with his usual dry witty commentary.
Christmas Present
WILLIAM DALRYMPLE - THE GOLDEN ROAD
Yet another historian I've seen being interviewed, who I'm hence interested in reading. This one being a history of India, Pre, Post and during the British Raj. He is an expert on the British East India Company, the first historical example of a corporation that turned into an authoritarian oppressive regime. Very prescient in our present era of techno- oligarchy.
Christmas Present
KAZUO ISHIGURO - THE REMAINS OF THE DAY
I've not read any Ishiguro before. This is of course his most famous, and reputedly his best novel. I just saw it for going a pound in a Nottingham charity shop, so couldn't resist buying it.
Charity Shop
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