Mother tongue: The story of the English language - Bill Bryson

I've read a few of Bill Bryson books before and always found them gently amusing, informing and irreverent.  So I was looking forward to his look at the English language.  Unfortunately the book wasn't quite what I was hoping for, to be fair to the author I think it was one of his earlier books so perhaps I was expecting a style that he hadn't yet developed from this book.

Having said that this is excellently researched and it would be churlish not to point out that its incredibly informative.  There are glimpses of the sense of humour so apparent in his later books just not as much as I was expecting / hoping for.

All in all I did enjoy the book and had I not begun the book with my own set of preconceptions then I imagine I would have enjoyed it a good deal more....so in the end that's the lesson of this one.  Judge a book on its merits and not you own set of preconceived ideas.....if only someone could come up with a pithy saying about how to judge a book.

First a disclosure...I've been reading Terry Pratchett's discworld novels for over 20 years. I own every single one and am a massive fan of his work.

Now that I've got that out of the way I can write a balanced and nuanced review of the book.  He's on form with this book.  The book is described as 'for younger readers' which I think does a disservice to older readers.  The book is full of his fantastic word play and use of language as well as the normal range of colourful characters.

As a fan I was never going to dislike this book but I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and would recommend it to anyone....as long as they'd read all of the other books so far.  After all why should someone miss out on all those wonderful stories.

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

Okay,  this one's a biggie.  1160 pages of Ayn Rands political and philosophical views

I decided to read this book as I had often read and heard that Ayn Rand was the poster girl for US Republicans and conservatives around the world....no thy enemy and all that.

First let me begin by saying that while I don't agree with all of the authors views I have to say she makes her point eloquently (and at some length).  However, I do think that her views may have been misread if current political leaders say they follow her advice (bailing out the banks being the very definition of helping an incompetent industry at the expense of others).

But back to the book.  Apart from a couple of points (notably the near 100 page speech by one character) the book doesn't drag.  In fact for a relatively serious book in large parts the story moves rapidly and with great purpose.

You also have to bear in mind when the book was written.  The main female protagonist while an impressive business woman is a sucker for any successful man, hardly the kind of role model that I imagine Rand would create today.

Overall I enjoyed the book and have actually taken a few points away from it....relating to people taking responsibility for their own actions and their own success or failure.  I'm planning on reading another of her books The Fountainhead in due course....thankfully that ones a little shorter so shouldn't have any 100 page speeches.

A classic and well worth reading.

Any Human Heart - William Boyd

The first book I've read from this author but it definitely wont be the last.  I was without a book to read on the return journey from France and my Dad lent me this.  I've already thanked him.

A hugely ambitious book telling the story of Logan Mountstuart throughout his life (in the form of his personal diaries).  As he lives through all of the 20th Century Logan meets many of the centuries most enigmatic and important characters from Picasso in Paris and Hemingway in the Spanish Civil War through to Edward the future royal abdicator.

A sometimes prickly character and almost constant philanderer, Logan Mountstuart is a tremendous central character.  I thoroughly enjoyed his life and following his progress through everything life through at him.

I'll be exploring William Boyds back catalogue with interest.

Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes

A recommendation from a friend and a book with a similar idea to Poul Andersons Brain Wave.  In this novel it's a mouse (the titular Algernon) and a man (Charlie) who undergo surgery to raise their IQ's

The author uses the journals of Charlie as the central method of telling the story.  As his IQ increases the language, spelling and grammar used is a neat way of showing his increasing intelligence and his demise towards the end of the novel.

Charlie is a hard character to warm to as for large parts of the book he's hard to understand depending on which end of the intellect scale he's at.  But nevertheless his essential character shines through and his desire to improve himself has to go down as representing the human condition.  Is the book intended to shine a light on man's efforts to improve himself, maybe maybe not but it is a great book.  As other reviews I've read have pointed out it successfully avoids becoming overly sentimental or cheesy and keeps the reader involved from start to finish.

The Blind Side: Evolution of a game - Michael Lewis

Another book from Michael Lewis (Moneyball) this time looking at the changes in American football through the story of Michael Oher.  Once a homeless unloved boy and now a multi millionaire NFL player thanks in part to his rare physical attributes (he's huge, and quick) and the generosity of a wealthy christian family that took him in.

The book isn't quite as enjoyable as Moneyball, it lacks that books feeling of David taking on Goliath by thinking harder and working smarter.  Sure Michael Oher had none of the chances in life that many children take for granted, but as soon as he was taken in by the family it wasn't him taking on the world.....it was that wealthy, white, influential christian family taking on society.  In other words is was the establishment looking after its own.

There can be no doubting that this family changed this boys life.  But had he not been a future athlete (something which was apparent very early on) would the family have helped him as much.  If he were a short fat kid would he have even been noticed in his plight.  How many other children don't get taken in by a family with a private jet?

Maybe I'm being a touch cynical though.  As I did enjoy the book and think that once again Michael Lewis has found a fascinating angle on a very public story.

The Forever War - Joe Haldeman

I really enjoyed this book.  Its a fantastic blend of convincing science (the time elapsing while travelling faster than light) and thought provoking war book.  The author freely admits that this book is basically about the Vietnam war, he'd fought in Vietnam so what other war could he write about?

The lead character is convincing as are the future worlds the author creates (except possibly the final one which didn't quite do it for me).  As a fan of future dystopian novels I was always going to like the visions of the earth in the future ravaged by the economic deprivations of a war.

This is that rare sort of book that when you're finished reading you really wish the author had written another couple of hundred pages.  I'll definitely be recommending it to friends.