KITTY'S SALON - Nigel Jones, Urs Brunner and Julia Schrammel

 

Reading this is three hours I'll never get back, pretty much junk

JERUSALEM - Simon Sebag Montefiore

 

Simon Sebag Montefiore writes another book of brilliant narrative history on a 'town' which probably has more history than any on earth.

Fascinating, fact upon fact.  Like all his work you could spend years segueing off following characters that are major historical figures in their own right.

THE DICTATORS - Richard Overy

 

This isn't a biography of these two monsters, rather a comparison of their two systems of dictatorship.

Its a brilliant read.  There are 200 pages of notes and bibliography.  Just fantastic 

WORDY - Simon Schama

 

A book of essays which as the title suggests are very wordy.

But if you relax and accept that eleven words will do instead of three you get a very enjoyable read.

STALIN- The Court of The Red Tsar - Simon Sebag Montefiore

A fantastic book on this monster.  There is too much information to convey here but needless to say, everything he did ' was for the people'- these types are so good at justifying their crimes as something to benefit " the people".

Another fantastic read.

 

THE TRUCE - Primo Levi

The follow up to "If This Is A Man" -although published 16 years after the first book.

This covers from when Auschwitz was liberated until Levi returns to his native Italy.

It is another story of the human will to survive and while not as harrowing as surviving Auschwitz it is still remarkable.

These books need to be taught in schools.  This history must never be forgotten.

 

THE WORLD - Simon Sebag Montefiore

 

A remarkable big, big,  book.  Huge in scope , its the story of humanity.

There is not a chapter in this book that if you wanted to you could segue off and find a years reading.  The detail is stunning.

I would suggest reading reviews by professionals and then go buy it.

Reading this was the best 9 days reading I have had in a long long time