2025 – A Year in Novels

Slight delay, but here is a review of all completed books of 2025. Stopping midway through Shogun and a Mitchener brick as well as 4-5 other novels slowed me down a bit. A couple of books in Spanish also took a while. Most were read in physical form but a fair few were on theContinue reading "2025 – A Year in Novels"

Celestún, Yucatan – Suspend your first impressions

Our first full day on holiday in southern Mexico. We had a full day free in the small seaside town of Celestún after our boat tour was canceled. I turned my head, and in a small street off the main drag was a cafe sign. We approached with apprehension, as Celestún is a small placeContinue reading "Celestún, Yucatan – Suspend your first impressions"

Chaos in the Capital – A dispatch from Estadio Olímpico Universitario – UNAM V Atlas

A game of football is like being 16 again. Nearly all attempts at scoring die in the early stages; some get close, and the few that actually succeed are so rare as to be sort of unbelievable. Having a plan is pointless.  The Mexicans make a point of enjoying their Sundays, so the park wasContinue reading "Chaos in the Capital – A dispatch from Estadio Olímpico Universitario – UNAM V Atlas"

2024 – A Year in Novels

Here is my review of books from 2024. Full list below. About one a week, some amazing, some a bit painful, most chosen at random in bookshops worldwide (particular shoutout to a world-class op shop in Melbourne that has a classics section!) or on Kindle (occasionally) or borrowed from others' bookshelves. I make a pointContinue reading "2024 – A Year in Novels"

Back in China 2024 – Part Two – A trip to the regions and a tribute to train travel.

Tuesday 15th October 2024 6:30 am departure. Subway to Beijing South Station. As always, great to be back on the road. The subway was busy but the trip was seamless, the public transport mind-blowingly efficient. The train station is mammoth, busy,  spacious and surprisingly orderly. Beijing South is clean and modern, vastly different to BeijingContinue reading "Back in China 2024 – Part Two – A trip to the regions and a tribute to train travel."

Back in China 2024 – Part One. When is memory lane a dead end?

Tuesday 8th October, 2024 Beijing, China. Twenty years later. I hadn’t been back to the capital in a long time and to say things have changed a bit is an understatement. Ever since I’ve known the city it has been changing. Part of the charm. The noise of construction is a soundtrack to the place.Continue reading "Back in China 2024 – Part One. When is memory lane a dead end?"

USA Part Three – A photo diary – Nevada – Utah – Arizona

I had never really thought of visiting these three states. Las Vegas had never really held much appeal. I had seen depravity and debauchery up close in Manila a few times and was doubtful that Vegas could come close, in extremes of human behaviour or reasonable beer prices. Apart from vague references in films -Continue reading "USA Part Three – A photo diary – Nevada – Utah – Arizona"

2023 – A Year in Novels

Here is my book review for 2023. Full book list below. 51 for the year, not bad. Some took 1-2 days, others 2-3 weeks. A few were abandoned halfway because life is too short.  Nearly all were read in physical version, though a few were on Kindle, especially those needing constant dictionary access. Nearly allContinue reading "2023 – A Year in Novels"