As I mentioned in my earlier post on 2021 reading my non-fiction this year has been pretty low as I have sought reading matter that has not tested the little grey cells to any extent. Just getting by was my mantra over the last twelve months.
But though they may be few, I have enjoyed them so here they are and those I have reviewed I have linked to my posts.
Traitor King - Andrew Lownie. The author disagreed with me on my view, ie that though the Duke of Windsor is, by all criteria, a traitor he did not think so. Too selfish and egotistical to think that he had done anything wrong. We had a lively twitter exchange.
Faber & Faber by Toby Faber - this history of the publishing house is sheer delight and it was lovely to meet Toby who came to the Felixstowe Book Festival in 2021 and gave a witty and amusing talk.
George V - Jane Ridley. Having loved her biography of Edward VII I could not wait to get my mitts on this and gosh it was good. A simply excellent portrait of a king who most people view as dull and stupid. I became really fond of him after reading this. A good man in all.
Diaries of Chips Channon - Volume 1. I am currently working my way through Volume 2 though heaven knows when I will review it as it is over 800 pages and I am only up to page 350... Superbly edited by Simon Heffer.
Other non fiction enjoyed but not reviewed.
Elizabeth and Margaret - Andrew Morton. A chatty gossipy book about the relationship between Her Maj and her sister who I have always felt got a vicious beating in the press. Despite all the ups and downs their relationship was strong and Margaret was intensely loyal to her sister. I always rather liked the way she thought Oh sod the lot of you.
Nureyev - Juliet Kavanagh. A re-read of this after seeing the film based on his life, White Crow. I remember thinking what an utter shit he was after my first read and I see no reason to change that opinion.
Only Happiness here - Gabrielle Carey. A "biography" of Elizabeth von Arnim which I found rather tiresome as the author made it all about her and her depression and struggles and linked it with EVA. It went to the charity shop.
Kaiser Wilhelm John Rohl I wanted a life of the Kaiser but rather balked at The One recommended which is two volums and massive so I read this instead. Concise and interesting. I will try The One sometime. I think.
The Artful Dickens - John Mullan. A super book. I love Dickens but despite reading biographies and essays on the author, this book shows up just how much subtlety and wit the reader misses. I read the blurb, see below, and knew I had to have it.
From Pickwick to Scrooge, Copperfield to Twist, how did Dickens find the perfect names for his characters?
What was Dickens's favourite way of killing his characters?
When is a Dickens character most likely to see a ghost?
Sheer fun.
Princess Mary: the first modern princess - Elizabeth Batsford. A biography of the only daughter of George V and Queen Mary. A portrait of a thoroughly nice woman, hard working and dutiful but, I have to be honest, I found this biography incredibly dull. Not sure whether it is the subject or the writing.
I have no guilt about the ratio of fiction to non-fiction. When I first started this blog I was frightfully ernest and made lists of Books I WIll Read and Write About. I also took up Book Challenges set by other bloggers and got into a fearful flap if I failed to meet the target. So now I think oh to hell with it, I will read just what I like. If all my readers come to Random Jottings for erudite and intellectual reviews I am pretty sure by now you have realised you ain't going to get any.
What you will get is a chatty dissertation on books I have thoroughly enjoyed. On checking my list I have read over 190 books this year. I am a very quick reader and can read two books in a day if I put my mind to it - which I frequently do.
My book of the year was, until a few weeks ago, the history of Faber & Faber but then along came the Jane Ridley biography of George V and pipped it to the post. Loved every minute of it.
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