…but I haven’t forgotten this blog! Life kind of got on top of me; I’ve been reading a lot and working a lot and doing a lot in general so I let the blogging slide. But I find as I’ve been reading I’ve been coming up with more topics that I want to blog about, so hopefully over the next few weeks you’ll hear more from me.
So what have I been reading recently? Well, I’ve just updated my ‘Books read in 2011’ page so you can see exactly what I’ve been reading. But I think there are some in the list that deserve a special mention.
Moab Is My Washpot & The Fry Chronicles, both by Stephen Fry: The first 2 books in Fry’s biography are nothing short of fantastic. He’s honest, self-depreciating, critical, humorous, and passionate and throughout it all his language and vocabulary keep you grabbing for the dictionary (in a good way). His love of words resonates across the pages and you can’t help but smile at the loquacious style and wealth of word play. I loved these books and heartily recommend them.
Travelling with Che Guevara by Alberto Grenada: I think I’m safe in making the assumption that everyone has heard of Che Guevara. Many will have heard of or watched the film based on Guevara’s book, The Motorcycle Diaries. I’d heard of Guevara and the film, I knew a little about his politics but my knowledge was vague. This book is the diary of Guevara’s travelling companion when they took off on an old motorcycle to cross South America and explore their own continent and how the locals live, work and survive under a variety of different regimes. They meet a variety of characters along the way and Grenada’s descriptions carry you along with them. You can smell and envision their surroundings; you can hear their conversations with locals. You can sense their frustration at the lack of democracy and the influence of American capitalism on the impoverished locals and indigenous peoples. It’s a great book and an excellent insight into the early formation of Guevara’s politics. It’s so good, I went straight out and bought Guevara’s Motorcycle Diaries.
It’s nice to see you back. You’ve certainly been busy reading!