At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie

Just realised I forgot to review At Bertram's Hotel! Read this a couple of weeks ago. A Miss Marple mystery - fun to retreat into!

Colour Bar by Susan Williams

On Saturday, I finished a book that moved and inspired me. I had not known the story of Seretse Khama, who became Botswana's first President, and his white English wife, Ruth, but their story is one that has made me feel almost ashamed to be British, but also inspired by those who stood up for Seretse and Ruth as they faced many struggles.

Seretse Khama was the next Kgosi (Chief) of his tribe, the Bamangwato, and as he grew up and studied in England, his uncle, Tshekedi, acted as Regent. The tribe would have been looking forward to Seretse's return, and Seretse would no doubt have been a footnote in Botswana's history, were it not for the fact that while in England he fell in love with a white woman, Ruth Williams (no relation to the author). To marry someone without first consulting the tribe was shocking enough, but to marry a white woman at the time when Bechuanaland's neighbour, South Africa, was marching towards apartheid, was asking for trouble. At first interested parties from Tshekedi and the British government, to the London Missionary Society, tried to stop the wedding from going ahead; once Seretse and Ruth had managed to marry - at a Registrar's rather than the church wedding they had planned - people and events conspired against them to try to stop Seretse becoming Kgosi and setting a certain example in southern Africa.

It did not take long for the Bamangwato to welcome Ruth as their "Mother" - Mohumagadi. However, South Africa intervened with the British colonial authorities, advising that allowing Seretse to become Chief could cause unrest. Seretse was eventually exiled from his country for about five years or so.

This book is full of detail, describing the fight for justice. However, it was easy to read, and very moving. When the Bamangwato pleaded with the British government for their Kgosi to come back, and they were refused, I felt partly responsible. When violence erupted at the Kgotla, I felt angry that the tribe had been pushed into that position. I felt proud of those in the UK, like Tony Benn, who campaigned on the Khamas' behalf. I felt challenged - would I have been preprared to stand up, or would I have simply gone along, unthinking, with the status quo? When the Khamas were finally allowed to return home, I was sitting in the tube about to arrive at King's Cross with tears in my eyes.

I started on Monday, and finished the book on Saturday morning. It was a busy week, I could only read during my journeys, when I had a seat. For a 330 page book with small print, that was quite quick. I highly recommend this book. Even if you have never before shown any interest in Botswanan, or even African, or colonial, politics. This is a human story - that reveals so many other facets of British history at the same time.

Ruby Red by Linzi Glass

My other train book, this is a story of a girl growing up in South Africa during apartheid, whose mother runs an art gallery that sells works by black artists on the wrong side of Sandton. Ruby herself has to face prejudice and discrimination when her British South African friends, and her parents, become unhappy with her relationship with an Afrikaner. A story about breaking down boundaries is tied up with the riots that resulted in the death of Hector Peterson and other children who were campaigning about the new law that meant they had to be educated in Afrikaans. Some very moving scenes in the book.

I had not realised that the book would feature this scene: however, reading it reminded me of the time I met Hector Peterson's mother at an open air art gallery in Soweto a number of years ago.

Another good read; thoughtful and moving.

The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

I wanted a nice, easy, feelgood read as I travelled north by train for a weekend visit to my auntie. Popped into the school library just before the end of the day, as the librarian was packing up for the night, so had to grab a couple of books, with only the covers for inspiration. So I picked up two, and I am delighted to say both fulfilled the categories I was hoping for.

The View From Saturday reminded my of a book I have not read, which has been made into a film I have not seen: Slumdog Millionaire. The conceit of the book is the final of a national student quiz competition. The question is asked, then one of the four main character tells a story that reveals how they know the answer. The lives of the four eleven year olds in the story are gradually revealed to be intertwined, and the Year 6 school quiz team seems to be brought together through either serendipity, fate or magic.

Very enjoyable and easy read. I also learnt about turtles ...

The Sound of Laughter - Peter Kay

I picked this up looking for some easy reading a few nights ago. At first I felt the writing was fairly pedestrian, with a few corny jokes thrown in. However, I was soon laughing out loud at some of the stories despite myself - I wasn't always able to get across the humour to H though! You have to read it for yourself. Overall a book that made me laugh in many places, even if the writing wasn't as sparkling as other books I have read.

The World's Wife by Carol Ann Duffy

It's a long time since I read poetry. It's even longer since I read a poetry book in one day. And I'm not sure if I've ever enjoyed a book of poetry so much.

The thirty poems in this book take well known tales (or at least tales that should be well-known; I'm not convinced many of my pupils would know them all) that have traditionally been told from the male point of view, and, well, not exactly retell the stories from the wives' points of view, but give a different viewpoint anyway. I particularly liked the brevity of Mrs Darwin, but the poignancy of Anne Hathaway, writing about her and Shakespeare's second best bed, was beautiful; Mrs Faust made me laugh out loud (even though I've never read the original: I knew enough to know that she was insightful here) and Mrs Icarus raised a smile.

I read a number of poems to H in bed; he wasn't too keen at first to hear them, and thought that one would be enough; however, he let me read four or five of them and enjoyed them too. I enjoyed being able to read them out loud, to hear the rhythm, rhyme and assonance.

I had heard of this book before; it had come highly commended by a friend - I can't remember by whom. I would highly recommend it myself. And I would be interested in reading more of Duffy's poetry. Go on - give it a go!