Virginia Water…

One Sunday recently we met Terry and Gill and went for a walk in Windsor Great Park by Virginia Water and joined the many families out and about with their kids and dogs to perambulate along the lake side. We walked tow the fabulous cascades and then back to the pub where we enjoyed a lovely lunch. It was cold out but bright and full of promise. 

The Birthplace of British Motorsport & Aviation…

We had a great day out at the Brooklands Museum where there was a display of British Marques cars along with the permanent display such as the Concord, Vickers Vimy, London Transport Bus Museum, the Barnes Wallis Stratosphere Chamber, Grand Prix exhibition, and various historic cars, bikes (bicycles and motor cycles), planes, all in the historic site with its club house, hangers and the famous banked track. 

The White Stuff…

We have had some late winter snow here in the UK and it has been worse in some parts of the country than others. For us it was just a few inches of the white stuff, but it hampered travel and so as I have the technology I worked from home for a few days on my computer with only Netflix for company and occasionally venturing out for supplies to the local shop or to clear the ice blocking the condenser pipe from the boiler. Called the 'Beast from East' on the news it did cause many problems in Scotland and the north of the country especially with large drifts blocking access to rural communities. In Finland, we understand they called it ‘just another day’. 

More of wot I have heard…

Nat ‘King’ Cole & Me by Gregory Porter

In Winter by Katie Melua

Edge of the Sun by Calexico

Bob Harris Country Sessions by various artists

Turning Tides by Wildwood Kin

More of wot I have read…

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Pulitzer prize winning post-apocalyptic novel that was turned into a riveting film is a dark and haunting read about hope trying desperately to overcome seemingly overwhelming odds.

‘A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, “each the other’s world entire,” are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.’

Ship of Rome by John Stack

An interesting story for the historical elements, though somewhat lacking in narrative or character development.

‘Against a backdrop of the clash of the Roman and Carthaginian empires, the battle for sovereignty takes place on the high seas Atticus, captain of one of the ships of Rome's small, coastal fleet, is from a Greek fishing family. Septimus, legionary commander, reluctantly ordered aboard ship, is from Rome, born into a traditionally army family. It could never be an easy alliance. But the arrival of a hostile fleet, larger, far more skilful and more powerful than any Atticus has encountered before, forces them to act together. So Atticus, one of Rome's few experienced sailors, finds himself propelled into the middle of a political struggle that is completely foreign to him. Rome need to build a navy fast but the obstacles are many; political animosities, legions adamant that they will only use their traditional methods; Roman prejudice even from friends, that all those not born in Rome are inferior citizens. The enemy are first class, experienced and determined to control the seas. Can Atticus, and the fledgling Roman navy, staffed with inexperienced sailors and unwilling legionaries, out-wit and out-fight his opponents?’

The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

The Wise Man's Fear, also called The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two, follows The Name of the Wind in a similar style with a detailed portrait of the world and its inhabitants that our hero wanders through and encounters in an almost random manner. The supremely capable and rather arrogant main character develops a different set of skills now as slowly he continues to reveal snippets of information that may lead him towards his goal.

‘In The Wise Man's Fear, Kvothe searches for answers, attempting to uncover the truth about the mysterious Amyr, the Chandrian, and the death of his parents. Along the way, Kvothe is put on trial by the legendary Adem mercenaries, forced to reclaim the honor of his family, and travels into the Fae realm. There he meets Felurian, the faerie woman no man can resist, and who no man has ever survived...until Kvothe.

Now, Kvothe takes his first steps on the path of the hero and learns how difficult life can be when a man becomes a legend in his own time.’

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

This idea of a new second life after a full one seems intriguing, but I found I was more interested in why the Earth got in the situation it did, why it was so isolated, and why only Americans joined the Army? The aliens, bizarre mixture of high and not so high technology, and state of constant war was less enthralling.

‘At seventy-five years old, John Perry is after a fresh start - so, naturally, he joins the army. Earth's military machine can transform elderly recruits, restoring their lost youth. But in return, its Colonial Defence Force demands two years of hazardous service in space. This is how Perry finds himself in a new body, crafted from his original DNA. A genetically enhanced and upgraded new body, ready for battle.

But upgrades alone won't keep Perry safe. He'll be fighting for his life on the front line as he defends humanity's colonies from hostile aliens. He'll pay the price for his choices, and he'll discover the universe is even more dangerous than he imagined.’

  

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

After the author passed away recently I thought I ought to read one of her books to see what it was all about and started with this one. I don’t think I will be trying the others any time soon. I did not have any sympathy for the main character and was not engaged in the narrative either.

‘The first book of "Earthsea" is a tale of wizards, dragons and terrifying shadows. The island of Gont is a land famous for wizards. Of these, some say the greatest - and surely the greatest voyager - is the man called Sparrowhawk. As a reckless, awkward boy, he discovered the great power that was in him - with terrifying consequences. Tempted by pride to try spells beyond his means, Sparrowhawk lets loose an evil shadow-beast in his land. Only he can destroy it, and the quest leads him to the farthest corner of Earthsea.’

Diggers by Terry Pratchett

Aimed at a much younger reader this book is light and humorous with just a few hints of darkness and deeper subtext.

‘'And Grimma said, We have two choices.

We can run, or we hide.

And they said, Which shall we do?

She said, We shall Fight.'

A Bright New Dawn is just around the corner for thousands of tiny nomes when they move into the ruined buildings of an abandoned quarry. Or is it?

Soon strange things start to happen. Like the tops of puddles growing hard and cold, and the water coming down from the sky in frozen bits. Then humans appear and they really mess everything up. The quarry is to be re-opened, and the nomes must fight to defend their new home. But how long will they be able to keep the humans at bay - even with the help of the monster Jekub?

Diggers is the second title in a hugely inventive and hilarious fantasy trilogy about the nomes, a race of little people in a world of humans.’