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MacDonald, Ian – The People’s Music
A-
A
highly intellectual series of essays on rock artists from the 60s and 70s which is bookended by fascinating lengthy pieces
on the symbology of the words of (early) Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. Although he
can be accused of over- intellectualising the art of his subjects, McDonald’s detailed analyses are always interesting. Indeed, I have read up more on acts about whom I knew very little such as Spirit and
Laura Nyro after reading his essays on them. The People’s Music is an excellent
piece of pop scholarship by the late author who also gave us the definitive book on The Beatles’ music Revolution
In The Head.
First published: 2003
Read by me: 2.05-13.6.05
Major, John - The Autobiography
A-
Although
I'm not a Conservative Party supporter, I've always quite liked John Major. His lengthy, highly acclaimed autobiography is
not surprisingly very detailed, informative and well written albeit very formally. It is exhaustive and definitive and very
much harks of someone of great influence taking a once in a lifetime opportunity to definitively explain his actions and decisions
and get the facts straight. The only chapter I found hard-going was the one mapping the stuttering developments towards the
peace process in Northern Ireland although this is obviously a very important subject and one that any serious writer wants
to get meticulously correct. Although I don't agree with some of Major's policies, I've always felt that he was basically
a decent man. His highly praised autobiography is very difficult to fault.
First published: 2000
Read by me: 4.4.03-10.03
Mandela, Nelson
– Long Walk To Freedom: The Autobiography Of Nelson Mandela
*****
I read Long Walk To Freedom just after returning from a holiday to South Africa which included
a visit to Robben Island, the notorious prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 21 years.
LWTF
is a brilliant autobiography telling an extraordinary life. It covers Mr Mandela’s
whole life up to his election as President in the first free election for decades. Starting
from his tribal ancestry and rural childhood, the story develops as it covers Mandela’s education and gradual involvement
in the struggle for freedom as he rises up the African National Congress ranks with analysis of the intellectual and political
decisions his position entailed. Following on from this are the organised protest
strikes, the increasingly violent struggle, arrests, a period in prison, the “Black pimpernel” on the run, capture,
the trial and sentence of life imprisonment where a capital sentence was always possible.
Mandela was finally released in 1990 after serving 27 years with The Long Walk To Freedom concluding with him playing
a major role in re-shaping the constitution to allow for the first elections for decades where all races were able to vote.
Not surprisingly for such an eloquent man, Mr Mandela’s prose is excellent
with little episodes within his big story told in an anecdotal style. It would
be fascinating to read a sequel to LWTF to hear of Mr Mandela’s years in power as well as how disorientating it must
have felt to be free in the 90s after missing virtually all of the 60s, 70s and 80s due to his incarceration.
Long Walk
To Freedom is a brilliant, inspiring and educational autobiography by one of the most important people of the 20th
Century. A major historical document.
Published: 1995
Read by me: End of 8.05-3.11.05
Martel, Yann - The Life Of Pi
B+
The clever, allegorical story of Pi, the 16 year old sole survivor of a sunken container ship
who finds himself on a lifeboat with an orang-utan, injured zebra, hyena...and a Bengal tiger. The story is Pi’s diary
of his desperate and ingenious quest for survival as he drifts across the Pacific Ocean. It is clever and thought provoking
though a little hard-going in places. Pi amazingly survives his ordeal and there is a brilliant, unexpected twist at the end
of the story. Well written, The Life Of Pi is an excellent award-winning novel which is well worth persevering with.
First
published: 2002
Read by me: 24.10.04-15.2.05
McCourt, Frank - 'Tis: A Memoir
B+
Autobiographical
sequel to Angela's Ashes covering the period from McCourt's arrival in New York in the 1950s to his parents' deaths in the
1980s. The early years offer a fascinating insight into his struggles to find work, love and accommodation and especially
his monumental struggle to get educated amidst much anti-Irish / immigrant prejudice in the Big Apple. Episodes within these
years are often beautifully written unlike those for the post marital "comfortable" years which seem to be rushed and non-eventful
- often with big gaps between the events mentioned. The last third of the book appears to be rushed and is close to superfluous
though overall 'Tis is excellent and well worth reading.
First published: 1999
Read by me: 14.11.02-4.2.03
Moss, Stephen
– This Birding Life: The Best Of the Guardian’s Birdwatch
****1/2
This Birding Life is a compilation of the best articles from Stephen Moss’ Birdwatch,
a column he has written for The Guardian since 1993. It is nicely arranged thematically
rather than chronologically with sections on growing up with birds, Moss’ “local patch”, birding in the
UK and birding around the world amongst others. The columns are excellently written
in an anecdotal style with some pertinent insights – only the overseas section becomes slightly tiresome with its list
of rare sightings. What shines throughout though is Stephen Moss’ quietish
passion and decency as well as his way with words. After Mark Obmascik’s
very different The Big Year, this is probably the best book I’ve read about birdwatching and is highly recommended.
Read
by me: 11.07-12.07
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