Travel reading

It's been very wet today. We didn't even make our early morning walk and when we went out this afternoon instead we were treated to driving sleet and hail. So indoor activities prevailed, and that's no hardship at present as there is a backlog after 3 months out of the country.

We still used old fashioned paper books for reading when we're camping and travelling. There are enough other things that need their batteries charged regularly on our car inverter that a Kindle or equivalent doesn't get a look in.

So this is some of what we read during this last trip:

'Born to Run' is a lively read packed with lots of science that is revolutionizing people's approach to ultra-long distance running. I now know why those running shoes with separate toes were developed.

'We need to talk about Kevin' is a fascinating novel arising from the mass school shootings in the States. It is insightful, brilliantly written, and very thought provoking.

'Cutting for Stone' is another novel, a story about twin boys born in Ethiopia to an Indian nun who grow up both to be surgeons. A well crafted tale, and again very well written. I haven't finished the Paul Theroux yet, probably my least favourite of this bunch, but promises to be worth reading.

I'm a fan of William Stegner, a classic writer of the American West, and this is a great example of his work.

Hannah Rothschild's story about her great aunt, the Baroness Nica, who went to live in New York in a community of jazz musicians, shows another side to the somewhat eccentric Rothschild family. Nica is far less well known than Hannah's other great aunt, the famous scientist, Miriam.

'109 East Palace' is probably my favourite. It tells of the secret laboratory set up at Los Alamos during the latter stages of the second world war, and all the famous physicists from around the world who worked there. The personalities of many names well know to me from my days studying physics at university are revealed here, as well as the character of its genius director, Robert Oppenheimer. A really great book!