Devon Book Club discussion

Inspired by Kitty's summer challenge list (thanks agian Kitty) I thought you might all enjoy a non fiction thread as, looking over the discussion topics, we don't have one (though we do have travel writing, philosophy and belief as sub genres I guess).

I am not a big non fiction reader but do dip in from time to time. I have been reading for a while now. Must get that finished - a really interesting look at how how we think by Daniel Dennett, a renowned philosopher.

So - what non fiction have you read that you would recommend.

Great idea. There must be lots but two biographies spring to mind: and I saw Charles Nicholl talking about this work at Cheltenham Literature Festival a few years ago and he was riveting. I found the book to be the same.

Good idea Ian. I think I read more non- than fiction, mainly for research/work. I've just read Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris by Grahma Robb, which is largely excellent. It's a biography/history of Paris since the 1700s, told in chronological 'snapshot' chapters. Yet each chapter is also a quirky biography of figures in the history of Paris, from spies in the Secret Police, to Hitler and Speer on their dawn tour of conquered Paris, and deciding which buildings would stay or go when Speer rebuilt the city for Hitler. It's mind-boggling, but a wonderful read: except, just occasionally, Robb lost me when things become too tortuous: eg. when he tries to tell a tale without revealing who's who too early.
I'm also rereading the work of Jenny Diski. 'Don't' is a 1998 collection of her essays and column pieces, while Skating to Antarctica is a stunning memoir/autobiography, travel journal and monograph on depression. It's beautifully written and the perfect antidote to the slew of bad misery memoirs that were polluting the bookshelves in the late 90s and early 2000s.

I can remember enjoying Skating to Antarcticawhen I read it ages ago. I've just finished Edith Hall's Introducing the Ancient Greeks which I thought was great. I love the Romans but I've always felt a bit ignorant about the Greeks. They seemed such a slippery bunch to get hold of (scattered across time and geography) but I feel now that I've got a slightly better grip of who was where and when. Not only that, but how they've shaped the society we live in and why they're so fascinating.

Ruth wrote: "I can remember enjoying Skating to Antarcticawhen I read it ages ago. I've just finished Edith Hall's Introducing the Ancient Greeks which I thought was great. I love ..."

That's interesting Ruth! I thought of you when I read a review of the book, and wondered if your interest extended to the Greeks. NB I'm enjoying the 'Forensics' mooksie, but otherwise feeling a bit of a 'jonnie-come-lately' to the whole crime/forensics scene, with there being so many books, courses and programmes currently proliferating. Any feedback on the latest Russo yet?

Hi Carole - that was very perceptive of you! As for the crime business - there's an awful lot of it about, isn't there? Mercifully a lot of it is fictional.

The editor has promised her comments on the latest book "very soon" so I am mentally hiding behind the sofa.

Kathy wrote: "Great idea. There must be lots but two biographies spring to mind: and I saw Charles Nicholl talking a..."

I love 16C history and Leonardo is fascinating - such a polymath. Ive added that one to my list. Thank you.

What a great set of posts. Glad I started this one off and thanks to Kitty for beign the catalyst. As I say, I'm not a great non fiction reader but these books all look wonderful. Does anyone know how to slow time?

Ruth wrote: "Hi Carole - that was very perceptive of you! As for the crime business - there's an awful lot of it about, isn't there? Mercifully a lot of it is fictional.

The editor has promised her comments o..."

Sorry! That should be 'Ruso'!
The thought occurred when I saw the review after I'd followed a few of the modules on the Classics Mooksie you mentioned. I stopped, as knew I was getting sidetracked, but as well as now being aware enough to notice/read the review, it did send me back to the Fagles translation of the Odyssey - which I'm currently enjoying.
PS I loved my 1st Ruso. Also, come out from behind that sofa: now. It'll be fine, good, great!

This one is rather less cultured, but it has saved me thousands of pounds: The Liveaboard Guide: Living afloat on the inland waterways
When we retired I was strongly tempted to buy a narrowboat and spend a large part of each year cruising the waterways of the UK. I'm sure it wasn't the intention of Tony Jones, but his detailed guide to the problems of living aboard put me off the idea. Whenever I find myself tempted again, I re-read the book.

Kitty wrote: "Today I have a number of other non fiction titles to add to my ever growing reading list! My grandfather passed away recently and left behind a wonderful lifetime collection of books, and yesterday..."

That's sad Kitty. I imagine he would be delighted to know that you are treasuring some of his books

DrMama wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Hi Carole - that was very perceptive of you! As for the crime business - there's an awful lot of it about, isn't there? Mercifully a lot of it is fictional.

The editor has promised h..."

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a Mooksie?!Tried googling but non the wiser!

Angela wrote: "Forgive my ignorance, but what is a Mooksie?"

It's a MOOC, Angela - a Massive Open Online Course. A free course put out by a university that's open to anyone to follow over the internet. I think this group is UK-based - https://www.futurelearn.com/ - and https://www.coursera.org/ is American.
They are absolutely brilliant and cover a huge range of topics. They are also highly addictive.

Angela wrote: "DrMama wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Hi Carole - that was very perceptive of you! As for the crime business - there's an awful lot of it about, isn't there? Mercifully a lot of it is fictional.

The editor..."

Apologies for that Angela. A friend has taken to referring to MOOCs as Mooksies in her emails, and I wrote it in the post without thinking ... I seem to be doing a lot of that just lately. But Ruth is absolutely right, they can be wonderful and dangerously addictive. I'm currently following a FutureLearn course about Forensics. It's part of my research, I'm attempting to write crime fiction.

Thank you both for enlightening me, what a great way to learn something new!

I am currently working my way through Photoshop Elements 13: The Missing Manual. There's a lot of information in it and a lot to learn but it's very well written: straightforward but not too simple. Would definitely recommend it for anyone wanting to get to grips with this very powerful programme.

Kathy wrote: "I am currently working my way through Photoshop Elements 13: The Missing Manual. There's a lot of information in it and a lot to learn but it's very well written: straightforward bu..."

I hadn't heard of these sites - they soudn great will definitely have a look when I get a minute

Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I am currently working my way through Photoshop Elements 13: The Missing Manual. There's a lot of information in it and a lot to learn but it's very well written: stra..."
Actually mine is a book, Ian, though it feels like a course... :)

Thinking along these lines ... can anyone recommend a website, or an actual book (!) or even a Mooc-type course (they often rerun popular ones) on how to set up a Blog? I have been intending to write a Bookblog ever since I began to read John Self, Dovegreyreader, the Complete Review and other good sites during the 2007 Man Booker Prize. Kingsbridge Library Reading Group was invited to take part on the ManBooker Blog that year - we even got to go to the Shortlist Party in London and chatted to Nicola Barker and other shortlistees. Before that, I knew Bookblogs existed but never read any or took them seriously. However, when I saw what was out there I wanted to have a go - and still do. I often write detailed reviews of the books I read, but am an utter klutz with anything to do with computers. So ... I need a simple baby-guide that will explain everything, even all the bits that everyone else knows. All advice and suggestions welcome.
Thanks, Carole

The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes is an extremely fascinating book. I kept it out of the local library for so many years, using it for research purposes, that in the end my husband bought it for me as a present. It has a store of knowledge about animals, plants and all subjects connected with the supernatural.
You might find it useful, Carole, for your mystery, as it is where I found out about plants such as belladonna, which I have written about in latest book. The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft

Another book which I have used both for research and for enjoyable reading is Paul Johnson's The History of the Jews. This is a book of incredible scope and interest. He ranges over 4,000 years and offers the reader a wealth of detailed information which he has distilled into this work. A History of the Jews

I would also like to recommend William Marshall's The Rural Economy of the West of England, Volumes 1 and 2, to anyone who is, like me, interested in the countryside of Devon in the late 18th century. The author was a farmer in the late 18th century and he described every aspect of the land, the crops, the animals, and the farming practices of the time. The words have not been changed, so you have to accommodate his way of spelling etc. e.g. s is written as f. The Rural Economy of the West of England: Volume 1: Including Devonshire, and Parts of Somersetshire, Dorsetshire, and CornwallRural Economy of the West of England

Carol wrote: "The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes is an extremely fascinating book. I kept it out of the local library for so many years, using it for research purposes, that in the end my hus..."
Thanks Carol, I'm interested in checking out anything on poisons, as I'm planning to have something noxious feature in a story I'm playing around with. Carole.

DrMama wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes is an extremely fascinating book. I kept it out of the local library for so many years, using it for research purposes, that in ..."

You authors are dangerous people to know - memo to self, always be nice to Carole!

DrMama wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes is an extremely fascinating book. I kept it out of the local library for so many years, using it for research purposes, that in ..."
I had trouble finding an antidote to belladonna, as different sources said different things. In the end I went for the one suggested by Judika Illes as she is so knowledgeable on everything else.

The idea behind my poem 'Hansel and Gretel Revisited' (on Goodreads blog site) also came from reading Judika Illes.

Another book for anyone interested in farming in the late 18th century is that of Anne Hughes' 'Her Boke' The Diary of a Framer's wife, 1796-97. Again, it is written in the language of the time. It is fascinating and tells of the minutiae of her life. There is evidently a question about whether it is fiction or non-fiction, but when I read it I felt sure that it was non-fiction.The Diary Of A Farmer's Wife, 1796 97

Just read an interesting review on a new book about Dartmoor called Quartz and Feldspar:Dartmoor - a British Landscape in Modern Times by Matthew Kelly.(Sorry, couldn't locate it on the add book/author link). The review is in last Saturday's Guardian review section and is written by Joanna Briscoe, whose novel You is set on Dartmoor.

Angela wrote: "Just read an interesting review on a new book about Dartmoor called Quartz and Feldspar:Dartmoor - a British Landscape in Modern Times by Matthew Kelly.(Sorry, couldn't locate it on the add book/au..."
I saw that too, Angela, and was very interested. I checked, but Devon Libraries have not got it yet, although they often do get works in some time after I've spotted them. NB Anything, such as this - where I like the look of it, but wouldn't necessarily want or need enough to afford to buy it - I put on one of my Amazon wish-lists. I don't buy much from Amazon, usually out-of print stuff, but the wishlists are useful for keeping tabs on works I'm interested in. Also I add notes, so that when I return to a subject area- or author- wishlist that I like, I can then recheck to see if the book is in the Library yet. If I'm not planning buy the book, full-price, then I'd rather the library gets my ILL custom.

DrMama wrote: "Angela wrote: "Just read an interesting review on a new book about Dartmoor called Quartz and Feldspar:Dartmoor - a British Landscape in Modern Times by Matthew Kelly.(Sorry, couldn't locate it on ..."

I use my Amazon book wishlist in a similar way, to keep a want-to-read list - it's getting very long!

DrMama wrote: "Angela wrote: "Just read an interesting review on a new book about Dartmoor called Quartz and Feldspar:Dartmoor - a British Landscape in Modern Times by Matthew Kelly.(Sorry, couldn't locate it on ..."

DrMama wrote: "Angela wrote: "Just read an interesting review on a new book about Dartmoor called Quartz and Feldspar:Dartmoor - a British Landscape in Modern Times by Matthew Kelly.(Sorry, couldn't locate it on ..."

Angela wrote: "DrMama wrote: "Angela wrote: "Just read an interesting review on a new book about Dartmoor called Quartz and Feldspar:Dartmoor - a British Landscape in Modern Times by Matthew Kelly.(Sorry, couldn'..."

All these different ways we haev of keeping wish lists - I have a WORD file with an ever expanding list, plus the Goodreads To Read list, plus one on my Kindle - one day I must combine them into a single list - but I suspect it will be frighteningly long.

Does anyone else keep lists of what youve read as well? I'm afraid Ive become a bit of an anorak with mine - I star rate them as well and have kept a record for about the last 12 years - I update that every New Year and send my 4 and 5 star choices to my friends in our local reading group.

No, I don't keep lists of what I've read, but find as I get older that I often want to remember something about a book I've read, and it's really annoying when I can't even remember the title.

Carol wrote: "No, I don't keep lists of what I've read, but find as I get older that I often want to remember something about a book I've read, and it's really annoying when I can't even remember the title."
I feel a list coming on, Carol!

In recent years I have also kept a list of books that I have read - just a simple record of: title / author / date read.

I have a gorgeous silk notebook (had it for about 9 years) where I jot details of books I've read for pleasure, as well as Rdg Grp books. Also a 'work' notebook where I record texts used for research. I'm better at keeping the latter up to date, but I periodically get behind with both. However, as most books are from the library, I can look back through the online records to catch up every so often. Plus, I'm sufficiently tidily untidy, that if I've bought and read books, they - or the notes I made - will usually still be lying around (I still print copies of notes to go in the filing cabinet) for me to sift through and note. It sounds more chaotic than it is - I'm very good at leaving things in tidy 'subject' piles!

DrMama wrote: "I have a gorgeous silk notebook (had it for about 9 years) where I jot details of books I've read for pleasure, as well as Rdg Grp books. Also a 'work' notebook where I record texts used for resear..."

I love that - notebooks are so more tactile that online. I heard an author talk once about his approach to writing. He said that whenever he got an idea he put it in a tin. As he finished whatever he was working on he then emptied the tin, looked at the various ideas he'd had and looked for a theme or pattern to develop from the cards as a way of shaping his next novel. I really like that idea.