Week Forty Six: Paris Secrets

Paris Secrets by Janelle McCulloch is a guide to the Art and Architecture of the City and its buildings.

Straightforward enough, it discusses the style and eras of exterior and interior design in Paris, my favourite city in the world (so far) but while illustrated lavishly with pictures taken by the author, the text is often repetetive and Janelle obviously struggles with keeping her obvious passion for the city interesting for the reader.

I love Paris and yet I found myself critiquing her style, prose and even photgraphic skills. I think that some pictures were included to pad the length of the book - much like a lot of the text contained.

But some of the background and detail on the styles, the reason why they were that way and where they can be found - were interesting enough to keep me reading.

A good coffee table read, but one you'll be done/irritated/over with quickly.

Week Forty Five: Whisky

Whisky by Aeneas MacDonald is the classic book on whisky and it's appreciation. Once again a gift book I never got around to finishing, but mostly because I moved house not long after being given it. Another book from the ubiquitous Mr Newby.

And a great choice it is/was. Whisky is informative, witty and reassuring. The instructions for how to imbibe are almost word for word how I was taught and with clear instructions why and how to follow those steps.

The references to the evils of blending, the secrecy and proprietary nature of distillers and the list of distillers - show that little has changed in the over 80 years since it's publicati0n.

A great wee read, makes me want to have a dram.

Where's my Ben Nevis?

Week Forty Four: We Need To Talk About Kelvin

We Need To Talk About Kelvin (What everyday things tell us about the universe) by Marcus Chown is a science book for the uneducated about science. There are two things wrong with this concept for me.

Firstly I am not uneducated about science, not in my lifetime, certainly not in my year of books - so this was covering a lot of ground I had trod before. One or two new things - like the how the burning age of the sun is calculated, for example. Not much else I didn't already know and therefore not that interested in re-reading (for the nth time).

Secondly it's not that interesting, it gets into too much detail in some places, not enough in others and the authour sounds like one of those uber keen science geeks trying to convince you that what they find exciting you will too - how can you not?

Meh - not bad, just not good.

Next Week is unknown.

Week Forty Three: Mother Jones

Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America by Elliot J Gorn is a biography of Mary Jones (nee Harris) who came to America from Ireland, lost everything and everyone she loved to disease and violence. And then she went into high gear.

Starting very late in life Mother Jones was a force to recokoned with in Labour organisation, anti child labour laws and stood against the right wing nut jobs who took the law in their own hands (literally).

From the age of 60 onwards until her 90's she was a fascinating conundrum of power, success, failure and confusion. I knew of her from the magazine named in her honour, but never in this great detail. The biography is warts and all and is ready to point out her failures and lies, but still treats her with respect and dignity - a fine line in such an interesting and controversial character.

Next Week. Unknown yet. Maybe a book on biblical historical records and maybe 1984.