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Alistair Moffat: Before Scotland (Paperback, 2009, Thames & Hudson)

The story of the land that became Scotland is one of dramatic geological events and …

Good beginning and ending, sandwiching more frustrating material

Starts off strong with coverage of the ice ages and the early habitation of Scotland, and finishes well with the coming of the Romans through to the final Pictish kingdoms around 800. The middle, though, suffered from what I think is quite common in popular prehistories: plenty of conjecture, set off by overly frequent use of 'they must have...' and 'no doubt...'. Still enjoyable, but there were times when I wasn't really sure what I was reading.

Mark Andrews: Paint My Name in Black and Gold (2021, Unbound)

Fine, but probably over-long

Mostly enjoyable recounting of the rise of TSOM up to the first big split. Interesting to learn more about the Leeds music scene of the time, and discover that the March Violets were contemporaries. The book does drag after a while as it becomes a bit too 'blow by blow' for my liking, and the endless drug references may be accurate but I found them increasingly tiresome.

Unrelated to the content of the book, it's hard to recommend buying it owing to the ongoing Unbound/Boundless, er, situation.

Alice Roberts: Ancestors (Hardcover, 2021, Simon & Schuster)

Readable and illuminating

Tremendous overview of the prehistory of Britain and the discipline of archaeology. Very readable. The descriptions of the seven burials are used as a stepping-off point for discussions of, for example, the development of archaeology from a science that tried to reconcile itself with the Bible (including a recent flood), the different approaches to cultural change through 'invasion', and a well-done discussion of sex and gender in burials. Highly recommended.

Martin Lukacs: The Poilievre Project (EBook, 2025, Breach Books)

As Pierre Poilievre closes in on power, journalist Martin Lukacs reveals the playbook behind his …

Well, that was scary...

Content warning canpol

reviewed Unbury the Bones by Coyote JM Edwards (Ember Bones, #1)

Coyote JM Edwards: Unbury the Bones (EBook, Self published)

Luck is NOT on their side. When a series of bizarre coincidences leaves a man …

Charming

Content warning spoilers?

Hache Pueyo: But Not Too Bold (EBook, 2025, Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom)

The Shape of Water meets Mexican Gothic in this sapphic monster romance novella wrapped in …

Spiders. Just so many spiders

Not sure I was convinced by the story, particularly by the ending, which felt a bit... rushed? But top marks for the incredible spider-based weirdness.

Stéphane Leman-Langlois, Aurélie Campana, Samuel Tanner: The Great Right North (Paperback, 2024, McGill-Queen’s University Press) No rating

In February 2021 the Canadian government published a considerably expanded list of domestic terrorist entities. …

Content warning canpol, racism, violence

Terry Pratchett: Night Watch (EBook, 2009, HarperCollins)

One moment, Sir Sam Vimes is in his old patrolman form, chasing a sweet-talking psychopath …

I think I finally get it.

This is the first of Pratchett's novels that I've read to the end (I've certainly tried at least one before and didn't get anywhere) and I think I understand the attraction. Vimes is a thoroughly decent chap, in a messy world, and Pratchett weaves words of wisdom into a pretty entertaining story. I'm not sure it moved me enough to hoover up the rest of his books, but I at least understand why people like him so much.

Jane Austen, Kathleen James-Cavan: Sense and Sensibility (EBook, 2001, Broadview Press)

Jane Austen’s first published novel, Sense and Sensibility, is a witty satire of the sentimental …

I don't think I'd appreciated before now just how funny Austen could be. Among some highlights:

Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a favourite with any of her husband’s family; but she had had no opportunity, till the present, of shewing them with how little attention to the comfort of other people she could act when occasion required it. (p44).

His manners to them, though calm, were perfectly kind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on Colonel Brandon’s coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiosity which seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to be equally civil to him. (p240)

Elinor, while she waited in silence and immovable gravity, the conclusion of such folly, could not restrain her eyes from being fixed on him with a look that spoke all the contempt it excited. It was a look, however, …

Astra Taylor: The Age of Insecurity (2023, House of Anansi Press)

Writer, filmmaker, and organizer Astra Taylor takes a curious, critical, and ultimately hopeful look at …

Excellent!

Really well-done survey of how modern life is characterized by insecurity and how the disappearance of the commons and the decline of the social safety net encourages us to fall back on working harder and harder to accumulate personal security rather than rely on solidarity.

Originally given as a series of lectures available here: www.cbc.ca/radiointeractives/ideas/2023-cbc-massey-lectures-astra-taylor