TITLE: SPANISH STEPS

AUTHOR: Tim Moore

DATE PUBLISHED: 2004

DATE READ: October 2007

NOTES: Tim Moore set off from Valcarlos to Santiago accompanied by a donkey called Shinto. A very lighthearted look at the Pilgrims’ Way of Saint James – his battles with Shinto, the strange places he has to sleep in, the assorted villages and towns he trundles through and the wonderful mix of people he meets along the way. He treats the pilgrims he meets with warmth and humour even though he obviously finds many of them to be frankly batty. The travelogue is interspersed with historical facts – but even these are given a cynical 21st century treatment.

I liked the descriptions of the places he walked through – many just as I remembered them.

All great fun, but not to be taken too seriously.

TITLE: IMPERIUM

AUTHOR: Robert Harris

DATE PUBLISHED: 2006

DATE READ: October 2007

NOTES: Another great read from Robert Harris. Imperium is narrated by Tiro, secretary and slave who relates the rise to power and fame of his master Cicero. It is really two books in one: the first part deals with Cicero’s early political life and in particular the lengthy and dangerous court battle against Gaius Verres whose corruption as governor of Sicily is challenged.

The second part deals with Cicero’s complex path to become a consul. The machinations of the Roman republic make a gripping tale. And although we know in advance that Cicero succeeds in his rise to power this comes at a cost to his principles. Cicero himself is brilliant portrayed and really came to life in this book.

There are obvious analogies to the modern world: the war on terror, political spin, the assumption of moral superiority by the imperial state, but Harris does this in a subtle way without labouring the issues.

Having only recently finished reading Tom Holland’s Rubicon this book made an ideal follow-up by fleshing out many of the characters of the time: Crassus, Pompey, Metellus, Cato and Julius Caesar. (Julius Caesar intriguingly only plays a very minor role – is Robert Harris planning a sequel that deals with the fall of the Republic?)

TITLE: THE OBSERVATIONS

AUTHOR: Jane Harris

DATE PUBLISHED: 2006

DATE READ: October 2007

NOTES: The Observations is narrated by Bessy, an illegitimate ex-child prostitute who becomes (almost by accident) a maid to the beautiful but slightly unhinged Arabella Reid. The book recounts their life together and their changing relationship. Bessy is cynical, outrageous, funny and totally lacking in respect for her “betters”. Her tough narrative voice carries the book along effortlessly. There are some really sinister moments and the plot keeps you guessing until the end.

There is a wealth of weird and wonderful supporting characters and some good sub-plots (such as the erection and unveiling of the new town drinking water fountain). At one point Bessy sends a manuscript off to publishers but only receives in response a range of negative responses such as ‘sorry, not quite what we are looking for’. I can only assume that this is taken from Jane Harris’s earlier attempts at publication! Thank goodness someone had the good sense and foresight to publish The Observations.

TITLE: RUBICON: THE TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

AUTHOR: Tom Holland

DATE PUBLISHED: 2003

DATE READ: September 2007

NOTES: Brilliant account of the period of the fall of the Roman republic. A serious (but not difficult) read infused with wit and insights. The narrative takes us from 140 BC to the death of Octavian (Caesar Augustus) in AD 14. A fascinating period of history that left me wanting to know more about lots of the characters – such as Sulla, Cato and Cicero. There are obvious parallels with modern societies but these are not laboured.

He creates a wonderful picture of Rome and its wonderful ideals that were never quite lived up to. Also had brilliant illustrations, maps and timeline.

TITLE: THE SEA LADY

AUTHOR: Margaret Drabble

DATE PUBLISHED: 2006

DATE READ: September 2007

NOTES: Humphrey Clark and Ailsa Kelman met briefly as children in north-east England. They later meet up as lovers and embark on a short unfortunate marriage. Both have gone on to eke out very different careers. Ailsa has made a name for herself through her academic work on feminism and then through media appearances. She scandalized people by putatively wearing a foetus as a pendant. Humphrey has had a fairly successful career as a marine biologist albeit not without disappointments. At the Green Grotto (in the white elephant at Greenwich) which he had a part in setting up is a robotic mermaid who moves in and out of the water. His embarrassment at this as he escorts his grandson is almost tangible.

Their stories unfold as they travel back to Ornemouth fifty years later to receive honorary doctorates at one of the country’s newer universities.

The book is a wonderful evocation of childhood at the seaside as well as the anxieties and uncertainties of ageing. There are constant references to sea life and marine biology (Ailsa’s name, her mermaid-like dress, their journey compared to salmon coming home to spawn)

Margaret Drabble is one of the best writers about older people - very welcome in a youth obsessed world.....

A grown-up book for grown-ups!

TITLE: THE INTERPRETATION OF MURDER

AUTHOR: Jed Rubenfeld

DATE PUBLISHED: 2006

DATE READ: August 2007

NOTES: A young psychoanalyst links up with Freud and Jung when they are visiting New York to help solve a complex murder plot. Superbly atmospheric of the times and some great characterizations. Freud’s approach and the arguments against him are forcefully put forward in a very readable way. Also includes some great background details – the building of the Manhattan Bridge is fascinating and is at the same time intrinsic to the plot.

Ultimately I found the plotting to be overcomplicated and there were just too many twists and turns. However as I read it I was increasingly intrigued as to what was historically true and which characters were real and which were fiction. The notes at the end were very illuminating. A really good read.

TITLE: THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON

AUTHOR: Kate Morton

DATE PUBLISHED: 2007

DATE READ: August 2007

NOTES: Ninety-eight year old Grace is looking back over her life and in particular her time as a maid at Riverton in the early part of the last century. Her life (and her parentage) is entwined with the stories of the family who live there and the ultimate “secret” is not revealed until the last few pages. (Think of sub-literary Atonement crossed with Gosford Park) Unfortunately the story does not justify the nearly 600 pages it takes to tell. The device of the maid relating the story through overheard conversations is clumsy and could probably have been avoided by a straightforward narrative. Lots of research has obviously gone into the book but this whole thing has been done better elsewhere (Pat Barker, Evelyn Waugh) and it adds little to what has gone before.

Quite a disappointment – I fell for the hype but fortunately bought this book at a car boot sale for 50p.