Night Owl

Audiobook Review: Andrew Marr's 'A History of Modern Britain'

I have been desperately short of time to read in recent months, but have been able to steal time during my lunch hour to listen to audio books on my tiny iPod (my book tardis). I'm just coming to the end of Andrew Marr's 'A History of Modern Britain' which is read by the author. This was originally produced for television (2007) and subsequently won a number of awards such as 'best history series' and 'best presenter'.

Marr has become a household name with his own high profile Sunday morning show 'The Andrew Marr Show' which replaced 'Breakfast with Frost' after Frost's retirement in 2005. It's telling that the show was originally called 'Sunday AM' but re-named in 2007, because Marr has gained so much in popularity.

British history was lacking in my education for various reasons (time spent in the Far East as a teenager saw me studying South East Asian history for a time), so I am probably the sort of person who can benefit a great deal from Marr's enthusiastic analysis of British (political) history, beginning after the Second World War. I am becoming hungry to understand more about the society I grew up in, and the political forces that shaped it and I am so glad I chose Marr. Of course this is journalistic, not academic, but the balance of content worked for me for what I want at this time.

As he moves through the decades, he brings to life the names I knew but haven't before been able to place in context. When he arrives in the years of my childhood and beyond, so much falls into place. He brings into the story, not just the remote playing out of the most powerful political lives, but the popular culture on the street. His analysis helps to show how things are interrelated, and moreover, he tells the story in such a compelling way, it acts as a wake up call to the importance of politics and the personal impact of the most powerful people in the recent history of our country. Following on from this logically, it helps put today in context. This has certainly made me more engaged with politics in the run up to the election, and I am recommending this audio book, and the television series. I understand that Marr is planning another series about the first half of the twentieth century. One to look out for.

Book Rescue

My copy of 'Housekeeping' is within reach. I am visiting Wales next week, and will be able to retrieve it! I may need to re-read this novel to write my promised review. But this will be a pleasure. This is a book that easily warrants a second read.

I can't say the same for 'Home' however. I'm afraid, after 'Housekeeping', this disappointed terribly. For page after page barely anything happens, and there isn't the richness of description or imaginative scale and scope that there is in 'Housekeeping'. For so long, all that seems to happen is the Reverend being assisted into and out of bed or his chair, neighbours leaving food on the verandah, and Glory hearing Jack opening and closing the porch door countless times! I was so pleased when Teddy turned up at the end, just for another character to add interest, but he turns out to be another missed opportunity to throw some light on the dingy goings on. I really don't know what the fuss was about with this book.