This year I have read 111 books (as of Friday 29th December), the full list of books that I have read can be found on Goodreads here. The majority of the books I obtained from the library; with some being purchased. There are also probably 10-15 others that I started reading but did not finish; I don’t tend to record these so I don’t have a definiative list.
The catergories below are arbitatory; but I have reviewed my list of top reads and these are my recommendations. The date in brackets is the date of publication, not the date that I read the book.
Political Diaries / Politics – Didn’t You Use to be Chris Mullin: Diaries 2010-2022 by Chris Mullin (11th May 2023)
Chris Mullin was a longserving primarily back bench MP, though he retired from parliament in 2010. This is the fourth volume of his diaries and he describes his life post-politics. This is an enjoyable read in which Chris combines every day along with comments on politics of the day.
Biography – I am Norwell Roberts by Norwell Roberts (9th June 2022)
Norwell was the Metropolitan Police’s first black police officer in 1967. This biography describes his early years on the force and is a portrait of the time, this provides an insight into London in the 1960s and the institutional racism.
Fiction – The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary (26th September 2023)
Beth O’Leary writes page turner fiction; and I have read most if not all she has published. Her books tend to take the point of view of having two different narrators; with chapters alternative the point of view throughout. This is set in a hotel and looks at the difficulties of a small hotel trying to stay alive post pandemic while also dealing with a budding romance between the two lead characters.
Travel Writing – The Last Overland: Singapore to London: The Return Journey of the Iconic Land Rover Expedition by Alex Bescoby (29th September 2022)
This book follows the recreation of the 1955 journey from Singapore to London by Land Orver, a journey of over 13,000 miles. This is a well written travel diary which takes you through the journey and provdies engaging commentary throughout.
Pandemic Writing – Ghost Signs: Poverty and the Pandemic by Stu Hennigan (23rd June 2022)
I have read a number of books about the pandemic; this is a unique take as it is written by a council worker who worked for the library services but during the pandemic volunteered for a food delivery service. This provides an every day account of the pandemic rather than one form a policy maker point view. The author was not in a position of power but writing from being on the ground during the pandemic.
Business Book – Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits Passion and Purpose by Tony Hsieh (June 2010)
This was an interesting business book that explains how Zappos.com (a US shoe retailer) set up and took over the marketplace before being taken over by Amazon. There was some interesting takeaways, though after reading the book I then read about the author, and it turns out he died in 2020 under suspecious circumstances.
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