Opinion Peace

'How Not to Be Wrong: The Art of Changing Your Mind' by James O'Brien.

We live in complicated times.  Thanks to traditional and social media, we're not only more aware of socio-political issues than ever before, but also expected to have something to say about them all.  On top of everyday discussions with friends and family, it's become the norm for TV and radio presenters to ask us to text, tweet or email our opinions on the topic of the day.  But can we always tell which opinions come from facts and experience, and which are inspired by feelings and trauma?  And are we doing ourselves - and the wider debate - a disservice by not working out which is which?  These questions lie at the heart of James O'Brien's latest book, 'How Not to Be Wrong: The Art of Changing Your Mind'.

Gilead Reclaimed

'The Testaments' by Margaret Atwood (Chatto & Windus, 2019)

So, where do you start with probably the biggest book of the year, in terms of anticipation, hype and sales?  Was there anything more to 'The Testaments' by Margaret Atwood than outstanding branding and an expertly co-ordinated, multi-platform promotional campaign?  Well, here are my thoughts, for what they're worth.

Gilead Revisited

'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood

With the release of companion piece 'The Testaments' just ten days away, I've done something I don't normally do - I've re-read a book!  So, unsure of whether it was as good as I remembered and with some trepidation, I returned to Gilead and 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood.

Following a carefully planned coup that wipes out Congress and strips civil liberties, the United States of America has been taken over by a fundamentalist Christian group and renamed 'Gilead'.  Those not purged find themselves boxed into new, sanctioned roles that mean work and above all relationships are state controlled.  With birth rates low and people needed to fight ongoing wars, the rulers of Gilead assign senior personnel 'Handmaids', fertile women to be ritually raped in the hope that they will provide the Commanders and their Wives with children.  'Offred' is one of the first wave of Handmaids, haunted by memories of the life she had before, fearful for the future of her lost daughter, and stunned into compliance by the isolating existence she now endures as an object of desire and moral revulsion.  As the shock begins to fade, however, she starts to see that things are not quite as godly as the regime would like believed, and even those at the highest levels are showing signs of very human weakness...

Back to the Future

'The Time Machine' by HG Wells (Gollancz reprint, 2001)

So, as Old Father Time used his scythe to harvest 2018, I, rather appropriately, found myself reading the Science Fiction classic 'The Time Machine' by HG Wells.

In a middle class, Edwardian drawing room, a brilliant scientist and engineer demonstrates his latest invention; a Time Machine. His audience of intellectual friends include a Psychologist, a Provincial Mayor and a Doctor, who, despite what they see, remain unconvinced of his achievement.  Determined to prove his theories, the Time Traveller sets out on an adventure in time, intending to bring back future proof of humanity's advances from centuries to come.  But when he lands in 802,701, he's shocked by what he finds.  The docile Eloi and the crumbling structures they inhabit disappoint his ideals of curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge.  But disappointment turns to horror when he encounters a second branch of the Homo Sapien family tree - the sinister, darkness-dwelling Morlocks - and he begins to realise where the ills of his present could ultimately lead.  Is it too late for civilisation or has the Time Traveller arrived just in time to give these descendants a better future?

Telling It Like It Is

One of my favourite podcasts is the Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (also known as RHLSTP (RHLSTP!)).  It ranges from being gloriously vulgar to delightfully insightful and features interviews with a variety of fascinating guests.  One of the most interesting was with Jess Phillips MP (number 170), whose book, 'Everywoman: One Woman's Truth About Speaking the Truth' I have just finished.

In 'Everywoman..', Ms Phillips sets the record straight by telling her side of what it's like to be a vocal woman and feminist working in the public eye.  In chapters such as 'The Truth About Speaking Up', 'The Truth About Starting a New Career', 'The Truth About Equality', 'The Truth About Winning Elections' and 'The Truth About Trolling', she describes her experiences in life and work and the conclusions they have led her to.  Passionate, down-to-earth and driven, Ms Phillips lifts the lid on politics and privilege from her point of view.

Something to Believe in?

It's taken me six weeks to read 'Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death and Jazz Chickens' by Eddie Izzard.  That's a long time, even for me.  Just as well that I'm as stubborn as it's author!

In 'Believe Me', Eddie Izzard talks about his life and career and the events and personal philosophies that have made him one of the big names in stand up comedy.  He describes the shock of his mother's death when he was was six years old, his time at boarding school and how his determination drove him to develop his skills in street performing and sketch comedy, until he found his feet in film and television acting as well as the surreal stand up that he's best known for.  From football to marathons, coming out as transgender to learning to fly, 'Believe Me' weaves a story of ambition, self-realisation and determination to do something different.

Conflict Resolution

So, in my 2017 review, I said that I wanted to read some more of the books I'd been given in 2018.  I've made a start with 'The Reason You're Alive' by Matthew Quick, sent to me at the end of last year by Picador.

When Vietnam veteran David wakes from a serious brain operation with one name on his mind -

'The Reason You're Alive'
by Matthew Quick
(Picador, 2017)

'Clayton Fire Bear', a fellow soldier he wronged long ago - he realises that he must make amends before it's too late.  But first he has to recover, which means spending more time with the son he doesn't see eye-to-eye with over politics, relationships, food... well, pretty much anything really.  Fortunately, he'll also get to see more of his adored granddaughter Ella and David's friends are happy to help.  There are surprises all round as their worlds collide and old wounds as well as eyes are opened, but ultimately, David mustn't lose sight of the one final mission that must be completed despite his reservations...

A Crowning Achievement

Firstly, an apology.  I meant to have published this blog post by now, but unfortunately I caught one of the many bugs going around at the moment, so I've been out of action for a while.  Hope you can forgive me and that this was worth the wait!

Late last year, the lovely people at Bantam Press kindly sent me a copy of 'The Shogun's Queen', the latest novel in the Shogun Quartet by Lesley Downer, a story of women, politics and change in 19th century Japan.

'The Shogun's Queen'
by Lesley Downer
(Bantam Press, 2016)

Growing up in rural Japan, the daughter of a minor Samurai nobleman, Okatsu, learns to be bold, clever and headstrong at a time when girls should be meek, polite and obedient, much to the despair of her mother.  But, unknown to Okatsu, the qualities that make her different from other women will also set her on a unique path that will make her a vital player in a complex game of politics and power.  Her feudal lord, Shimazu Nariakira, Prince of Satsuma and second in power only to the Shogun himself, plans to make her central to a plot to bring about much needed change in a country that is struggling to find its place in the modern world.  As ships arrive from Holland and America, bringing traders who demand more and more from the ancient and very private culture, Okatsu finds she must sacrifice the life she knew in order to ensure the survival of the country she loves...

I have to be honest and say that I didn't take to Okatsu - or Princess Atsu as she's more frequently called in the book - straight away, but it wasn't really her fault.  The trouble is that headstrong, fiery yet beautiful female characters seem a bit of cliche and there's part of me that wants to hear about the ugly people!  But I was determined to stick with her and I'm glad that I did.  This is a story of perspectives (particular of insiders and outsiders) and as Downer takes us with Atsu on her journey to the Women's Palace, we see her vulnerabilities as well as her strengths.  I felt for her as she struggled with the demands of Lord Nariakira, etiquette and her own desires, finding excuses as well as untapped sources of strength as she matures into the queen of the title.  By the end of the novel, she was a person, not a cliche and I was sorry to leave her.

I've said before that I prefer historical stories of political intrigue over romance, and 'The Shogun's Queen' stuck the right chord for me.  There was enough emotion to make Atsu relatable and human and enough plotting and competing motivations to keep it interesting.  It read like the best books by Philippa Gregory and I feel that fans of Gregory would very much enjoy 'The Shogun's Queen'.

While Gregory's work is firmly rooted in her excellent knowledge of English history, Downer's superlative knowledge of Japanese culture gives 'The Shogun's Queen' wonderful depth and texture.  Once again she performs the perfect balancing act, giving us enough information so we can inhabit Atsu's world but without overwhelming the reader and distracting from the story being told.  The beautiful fabrics, ever changing landscapes, labyrinthine buildings, formalised speech, delicate foodstuffs - all combine to give us a three dimensional world that's easy to slip in to.

'The Shogun's Queen' features an interesting cast of characters, but once we're secluded in the Women's Palace, it's the Lady Dowager Honju-in, the Shogun's mother, who dominates.  Talk about the mother-in-law from Hell!  Representing an unsustainable desire to resist change and using every devious trick she's got to keep her power and influence, Lady Honju-in is a fantastic villain, the perfect contrast to the naive and uncertain Atsu.

I'd thoroughly recommend this book to any fans of historical fiction looking for something set outside of the UK.  To be honest, I'm a bit sick of stories about the Tudors, so this was perfect for me - the same high quality, but telling me about a time and a place I knew little about.  Downer skilfully crafts Atsu's story, wearing her knowledge lightly and offering a new perspective on a fascinating culture.  I'm really looking forward to reading other books in the series.

Now, what next...!

No Smoke without Fire...

As you've probably noticed, I'm quite easily distracted, especially by books.  This month, my eye was caught by Robert Harris' latest (bright red) novel, 'Conclave', and its excellent reviews.  "Well," I thought "it's not got that many pages..."

As you might expect, 'Conclave' is the story of a fictional pope's election.  Like its secular counterparts, this election is divisive and hard fought, so it takes a strong, steady hand to keep proceedings on track.  This unenviable task falls to Cardinal Lomeli, Dean of the College of Cardinals, who finds himself caught up in the machinations of the four leading candidates: the Italian traditionalist Tedesco, the liberal Bellini, the imposing African Adeyemi and the ambitious Canadian Tremblay.  While the world waits for the white smoke that signals a decision, over 100 cardinals pray and plot behind the conclave's sealed doors.  But even here they find they cannot escape the material truths of human frailty, weakness and sin...

Mr Harris has a reputation for complex political thrillers, so, while I was curious about this book, I was also a bit daunted by it.  As it turned out, I needn't have worried.  I struggled to put this book down and found it, for want of a better phrase, an easy read.

From what I've heard, I suspect that many of Mr Harris' other books are more challenging, so if you're a fan of his work, this may not be enough of a toughie for you.  For me, there was something of the Dan Brown holiday read about it and I found it entertaining and just believable enough.  Often these things are about expectations, however, so if you're expecting a hard-nosed, complex story, you may be disappointed.  If you're after a tense yet entertaining read, you probably won't be.

Despite its setting, this isn't really a book for those with a traditional view of religion.  The most senior religious characters are riddled with pride and hypocrisy, or consumed by doubt.  A more liberal view of faith in the modern world is favoured, culminating in the slightly weak ending.  But this wouldn't be such an easy (or short) read if it took on the more complex issues of faith in the modern world.

Overall, I really enjoyed 'Conclave' and hope to read it again when it comes out in paperback.  It's a great holiday read, a page-turner, and (for me at least) the encouragement I need to read more by Robert Harris.

Now, what next...?

Vote Moran!

I had a lovely surprise recently - I won a competition I'd forgotten I'd entered!  This is how, thanks to Ebury Publishing, I ended up with a signed copy of Caitlin Moran's latest book, 'Moranifesto'.  And because it was something I really wanted to read, I'm afraid I went off list again...

'Moranifesto' by Caitlin Moran
(Ebury Press, 2016)

In 'Moranifesto', Ms Moran eases to the fore the more political aspects of her writing.  This is a woman who manages to cover both 'parties' (Noun: Social gatherings or celebrations, often involving food, music and copious amounts of gin) and 'parties' (Noun: Collections of people with shared political ideologies and aims, usually to get elected and/or bring down the PM/tease Jeremy Corbyn).  As a result, this book covers everything from hipsters, the uncooperative nature of printers, fame, TV, the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to feminism, tax, social mobility, FGM, the ruling elite, equality, wind turbines and more.  It is indeed as wide, varied and potentially powerful as a manifesto, full of energy and ideas.  If only manifestos were this grounded and readable.

There are three things I want to get out of the way first:

1. This book is too expensive.  I thoroughly enjoyed Ms Moran's previous collections and was thrilled when I found that another was out, but going into the bookshop and seeing a price tag of £20 made me baulk.  If I hadn't been given a copy, this review wouldn't have appeared until after the paperback was published or I'd got a copy from the library.
2. This book is too long.  While I enjoyed so much of this book and respect that there was a delicate balance going on, where the editors were trying to ease fans of the funny, everyday, social observation pieces into the tougher, witty, political and polemical parts, I do feel some sections didn't really work.  And. weirdly, although they only happened four years ago, the Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics already feel like ancient history, unlike the contemporary commentary offered by most of the articles.
3. The typos were distracting.  Publishers: If you can't afford proofreaders, there are plenty of people like me out there who would quite happily read your forthcoming books and point out any errors.  And I bet a lot would do it in exchange for free books.  It's the barter economy.  (Honest.  I'm not really just looking for a new way to get free books.)

So, now I've got that off my chest, I can go back to waving a banner in support of Moran.  I really liked 'Moranifesto'.  It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me cheer.  It drew a link between the ordinary and the powerful that needs to be reasserted so that ordinary people can re-engage with politics in a meaningful way.  At its best, this is a book of thoughts and ideas representative of a wider discourse that is happening in homes, pubs, staff rooms, cars, streets all over the UK.  It's echos are even being heard on radio and TV.

The news can often make it seem like we're small and insignificant, swept up on a tsunami of decision making designed to fuel a better future for other people, while drowning out all opportunity and hope for us and the people we love.  It's books like this one that make you realise that you're not alone or imagining it, that other people, with voices in the media, are also going "WTF?"

So, while I would've liked this book to be a bit braver and unembarrassed by being political, I do feel it's another step in a march towards a greater debate.  It's books like 'Moranifesto' which will inspire and motivate the politically alienated and apathetic in a way carefully rehearsed, PR-approved speeches and dense, complicated manifestos never will.  Whether you agree with it or not, it will get you thinking and, hopefully, talking.

Look!  It really is a signed copy!

What would I like Moran to do next?  I'm tempted to say "Deeds not words", but that's easier said than done, isn't it?  It's one thing to stick your head above the parapet and say things aren't right, but quite another to come up with practical ways to change things.  But getting people talking is a start.  And giving me a copy of the book definitely got me talking.  On top of that, I'll share and debate this book with other people too.  I've heard that's how revolutions happen.

Speaking of which, I wonder how Ross Poldark is getting on in revolutionary France?  Time to get back to 'The Black Moon'...

Related Posts

'Moranthology' by Caitlin Moran - Starts with one of the funniest things I've ever read.
'How to be a Woman' by Caitlin Moran - Common sense feminism for the everyday.

Crowning Conspiracies

Hello darlings!  Have you missed me?  Know I've missed you, so let's get cracking.

I recently finished reading 'The Kingmaker's Daughter' by Philippa Gregory, the fourth instalment in her Cousins' War series covering the conflict often called the Wars of the Roses.  It took me a while to get around to reading this because, although I loved the first book ('The Lady of the Rivers'), I didn't enjoy the next two novels as much, so rather lost the impetus to keep reading.  With so much publicity around a new book by Ms. Gregory, however, I was reminded how much I enjoy her work and decided to go back to the 1400s and see what was happening.

'The Kingmaker's Daughter'
by Philippa Gregory
(Simon and Schuster, 2012)

Anne Neville is the youngest daughter for the great Earl of Warwick, known as the Kingmaker for his part in bringing Edward IV to the throne.  But fortune's wheel is always turning and when the King secretly marries Elizabeth Woodville rather than the French princess Warwick has negotiated for him, he realises he's losing both the power and influence for which he fought.  Resourceful and cunning, Warwick decides to use all his assets to regain his status, including his only children, daughters Isabel and Anne.  The girls become pawns in a risky struggle, used by power-hungry men in a game of high stakes and ultimate prizes.  But in a world where people will stop at nothing to win a crown, is anyone truly safe?

Reading this book proves a theory mentioned in my blog about 'The Red Queen', the previous title in this series.  I'd found the novel dull partly because I'd only just read 'The White Queen', which covered the same-ish time period, just from a different character's perspective.  I found it harder to keep reading because I knew what was going to happen.  By 'The Kingmaker's Daughter', however, I'd forgotten the details of the earlier books and found my interest once again piqued by Gregory's choice of narrator and perspective, as well as her superlative skill in conjuring a sense of time and place.

I've always preferred reading historical novels that explore the politics of an era and this is a key theme of 'The Kingmaker's Daughter'.  Though pretty powerless, Anne and her sister are often at the centre of plots and counter-plots that see allegiances change and their status rise and fall.  They get used so often by the men around them over their lifetimes that paranoia takes hold and, even when they do achieve their aims, they are unable to enjoy it or think of anything other than keeping hold of their positions.  As such, this book is full of a tension that kept me reading right until the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  It's even made me want to go back and give its predecessors a second chance.  But I do have another one or two books to read first!

Now, what next..?

Related Posts

Cousins' War Novels

'The Lady of the Rivers'
'The White Queen'
'The Red Queen'

Also by Philippa Gregory

'The Other Queen'
'The Virgin's Lover'

Gag About

I love the comedy on Radio Four and Radio Four Extra.  From the wicked wordplay of 'Just a Minute' to the affectionate farce of 'Cabin Pressure', these stations have kept me entertained for hours at home and on my travels.  Two of my favourite programmes are Mark Steel's 'Lectures', which look at historical figures with awe, fascination and an eye for the human behind the name, and 'In Town', which kind of does the same thing for British towns and cities.  So I was delighted when I discovered that there was a book to go with 'Mark Steel's In Town'.

Mark Steel has criss-crossed the country performing stand up inspired by the many different and unique places he's visited.  But this is a travelogue with a difference.  Instead of despairing at the sameness of modern high streets and telling jokes which make audiences laugh at broad, shared experiences, he's been on the hunt for each place's passion and individuality.  From Penzance to Kent, Orkney to Portland and Merthyr Tydfil to Norwich, the comic and writer finds local stories of heroes and villains, explosive celebrations and historic eccentricity.  Above all, he discovers that all is not lost and that people and communities are defiantly idiosyncratic, despite the best efforts of big retail businesses and growing standardisation.

This is a great book to dip in and out of, but, to be honest, it was a bit tough to read as a whole.  Mr Steel often writes as he speaks, so some of the sentences ran over so many lines that I had to go back and read them again to make sure I'd not missed anything.  Fortunately, I could get around this by imagining him actually saying them, but this might be a bit hard for anyone who doesn't know what he sounds like!

It was also very tempting to just skip to the places I know.  Because there's no overarching structure as such, i.e. Mr Steel is not trying to win a bet or reach a specific destination, I suppose there was nothing to stop me doing this, but I always want to do each book justice.

Overall, this book was OK and I really feel that Mr Steel's hopeful message - that despite bland modern standardisation, many communities remain as defiantly different as ever - is an important one, but, really, it's the shows that make this come across best.  So, the next time Mark Steel's in town, why don't you pop along and see him for yourself?

Now, what next..?

Related Links

Back Catalogue of 'The Mark Steel Lectures'
Current Series of 'Mark Steel's In Town'

Dolly Folly

I felt I needed a bit of a challenge when I last went to my shelves, so decided on something I hoped would be interesting and thought provoking.  That something was 'Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism' by Natasha Walter.

'Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism'
by Natasha Walter
(Virago, 2010/11)

First published five years ago, 'Living Dolls' explores two key issues in modern feminism; The hypersexualisation of western culture and the resurgence of biological determinism as the answer to everything.  Modern western women have more freedoms than ever before, so why is our culture increasingly dominated by a vision of femininity that forces females into an unrealistic, doll-shaped coffin?  Is the rise of raunch, lads mags and the acceptance of pole dancing, pornography and prostitution into mainstream culture really about choice and empowerment?  Should we really just lie back and let it happen because it's in our DNA?

I love a book that makes me think and this certainly did.  It was a lot less intimidating than some books on feminism because it was relatively short at 238 pages, but there were enough fireworks in every chapter to make it more than explosive.

I have to admit that I found the first half, The New Sexism, much easier to read than the second, The New Determinism.  It had a more journalistic style, featuring stories and quotes from various people that were very interesting and gave a range of perspectives.  The second part dealt with more scientific data and experiments, so took more concentration, but I'm grateful to Ms Walter for lifting the lid on a shocking and dangerous perversion of the spirit of enquiry that science represents.  I will never read about scientific research in the popular media in the same way again.

In particular, I found the observations on motherhood and the pattern of behaviour and prejudice created by current maternity/paternity rules fascinating.  I hope a few of our politicians read this book and see the far reaching consequences of legislation based on a traditional picture of family life that is artificially perpetuated rather than natural.  How many glass obstacles could be smashed with a simple change to these rules.

Although I felt that the length of this book was about right for me, I would've liked to explore two things further.  The experiences of men are touched on, but I would've liked to have known more about whether they feel as uncomfortable with the hypersexualisation of our culture.  After all, it ignores their intelligence and treats them like they're only interested in sex.  Isn't that insulting to them too?   It also seems to me that men are also beginning to come under pressure to have the perfect, Ken doll body - I mean, seriously, even Poldark has a six pack in 2015! I think I would've been interested to know more about this too.  (And by 'this' I mean the pressure on men to look a certain way, not Poldark's six pack.  Prince Charming reads this blog for crying out loud!)

Admittedly, women have a bigger job on their hands, trying to tackle thousands of years of ingrained oppression and stereotyping, but it's interesting to look at all the consequences of sexism, not just for women.  Once it's shown to be bad for everyone, it should become impossible to deny the need for change.

Check (Work) Mate

I mentioned a few posts ago that I felt fortunate because I'd only found a handful of books so awful that I'd had to give up on them.  Although I didn't actually give up on 'Office Politics' by Oliver James, Lady Luck had turned against me and I really wish I'd gone for the paperback rather than the audiobook version.

'Office Politics' should be a must-read for the modern employee.  Although we all feel like we're so busy trying to get the job done there's no time to think about anything else, we can't ignore the fact that good or bad relationships with colleagues can make or break us and our careers.  Oliver James' book aims to equip readers with enough understanding to recognise and protect themselves from the political games that other people play at work and perhaps use some tactics to help them progress.

My feelings about 'Office Politics' are a bit chequered.  The big issue with the audiobook was the narrator.  Any fan of the BBC's 'Horrible Histories' will know what I mean when I say "I'm a shouty man!".  For everyone else, imagine one of those annoying blokes who pop up in cheap adverts yelling at you to buy windows or call a personal injury hotline, like hyped up bingo callers.  My ears rang after listening to this recording for any length of time and it began to try my patience very quickly.

It didn't help that the makers somehow didn't notice the number of words that were pronounced incorrectly either, even relatively normal ones like 'persona'.  For a bookish type like me, it was rather distracting, just as typos and bad grammar are in any printed book.  I found myself hissing at the CD player like the audience at a panto.  I'm baffled at how the makers of this recording didn't notice anything wrong.

These two pretty big irritations mean I don't feel fully qualified to judge the content of the book itself.  I know that Oliver James has a bit of a monopoly on popular psychology books, so assume he must be successful for a reason.  I did find the content rather hard to get my head around at times, but this may be because when listening to something you have to keep pace with the speaker, whereas readers can both go at their preferred speed and re-read anything they're unsure of.

Overall, I think this audiobook was rubbish, but I would like to give 'Office Politics' another chance in written form.  For the moment, though, I think it's time to roll the dice and move on to something else.

Polite, Silly, Pointing

Two weeks and one cold ago, I finished reading 'Moranthology' by Caitlin Moran and it's taken me until now to get posting about it.  It turns out sometimes you just have to take paracetamol, go to bed and stay warm to get over mild winter diseases rather than just keep going.  Who knew?!

'Moranthology' by
Caitlin Moran
(Ebury, 2012)

'Moranthology' is a collection of columns and interviews written by everywoman, journalist, author and reviewer Caitlin Moran.  They are as wild, hilarious and eclectic as I imagine the Times columnist to be, saying "boo!" to the Zeitgeist before scampering off with an informative snapshot taken at an interesting angle.  Moran's subjects are wide ranging and varied, including everything from couple's pet names to hair copyright, 'Sherlock' to Aberystwyth, 'Ghostbusters' to Lady Gaga.  But she also uses her unique life experience to offer readers a new perspective on socio-political issues too, such as drugs, poverty, tax evasion, library closures, benefit cuts and mental illness.  We laugh, but we also learn.

Overall, this is a great 'dip into' sort of book, perfect for a short daily commute (on public transport, obviously) or anyone who 'doesn't have time to read'.  I stopped buying newspapers regularly when a) they started costing £1 a day and b) I realised I didn't really have time to read them anyway, so being able to get a book like this collecting some brilliant opinion pieces offered me a middle way.  Publish one once a year and I'm sorted.

My one criticism, I suppose, would be that this book starts on such a high that it was only ever going to go down.  The opening piece is a (possibly imagined) conversation between Moran and her husband about their pet names for each other.  I won't say any more, but Prince Charming also read this piece and laughed as much as I did.  It's almost unfair on the other columns!

'Moranthology' is a cool, funny, interesting, thought-provoking, sassy, proud book and when I reached the end I felt like I'd just finished the most interesting conversation I'd ever had.  So here's everything crossed for a 'Moranthology II'.

Related Posts

Feminism Goes Funny - 'How to be a Woman' by Caitlin Moran

A Little Bit of Politics...

I have just finished my first, really serious book since starting this project and I would definitely recommend it to anyone born in 1979 or after, any parent of someone born in 1979 or after and any one with an interest in what's happening to the generation born in 1979 or after.  Basically, what I'm saying is that everyone in the UK should read this book.

'Jilted Generation' by Ed Howler and Shiv Malik is a polemical analysis of the challenges faced by this age group in the UK, how these difficulties came about and, to an extent, on what can be done about them.  The authors have focused on four main areas; housing, jobs, inheritance and politics.

'Jilted Generation: How Britain has
Bankrupted its Youth' by Ed Howker
and Shiv Malik (Icon Books, 2010)

I found this book absolutely fascinating.  You'd have to have spent the last decade living in a cave to not know that life can be far from easy for the post-79 generation of late.  The housing boom has priced them out of the market, they're finding it harder to get started in a career, the cost of Higher and Further Education is rising and they're facing the long term prospect of an unimaginable national debt.  Basically, it ain't pretty.  This book, in simple-ish language (that even I understood), explained how this generation has ended up in this predicament.

I have been a bit dubious in the past about whether the post-79 generation really had anything to complain about.  It's easy to dismiss them as a spend-thrift, transitory generation that manages to afford huge TVs, complicated phones and tiny MP3 players but not save for house deposits.  They seem to have so much more than previous generations, but you don't have to look to hard to realise that all these things are really just trinkets.  It's almost as if they're all comfort shopping because they're waiting to start a proper life.  That's all very well for the retail sector, but it's indicative of something rather scarier in the long term and bigger pictures.

My one minor criticism of this book is that it seemed to run out of steam a bit towards the end.  It was almost as if having noticed and analysed the problem, the authors bottled it when trying to come up with any answers.  To be fair, though, correcting the 'now, now, now' focus of politicians is not something they can probably do much about!  It probably doesn't help that I'm quite a 'what can I do?' sort of a person and by the end of the book wanted a pull out check list of practical things to do to start getting this potentially devastating situation sorted out.

What this book does do fantastically well is highlight the difficulties faced by the 'jilted' generation and explain what has caused them in simple terms.  As such, it's well worth a read if you care about the future of the UK and I will be recommending it to lots of my friends.  Hopefully the authors will bring out a sequel discussing possible ways to improve the situation in more depth.  Or, better still, maybe enough politicians and voters will read this book to start a change in thinking which will actually do something to help the post-79 generation before it's too late.