Should you read this book?

I listened to this one and really enjoyed it. I've watched Newsnight over the years, so lots of the Newsnight events he talked about I recognised. Maybe Newsnight fans will enjoy it most, then again, who else would read it? He was a reporter in Northern Ireland well before his Newsnight days. He brings his evaluative eye and stark summarising skills to the situation there, worth a read in itself. Later, he seems to get bored with his own book, asking himself a series of questions and answering them. He nearly stood as a Conservative MP (I'm on a Conservative MP autobiography roll here). But he's not that much of a git. If you want to know how Newsnight and shows like it work, it's the book for you.

This won the Pulitzer prize and is on the Booker long list. It's got an endorsement by Barack Obama on the front. That's a lot to live up to. I admit it's fiction so it shouldn't get on to this blog BUT I've read it and on to this blog it is getting. If you're used to the ideas of slavery - maybe watched Roots - you might get something from this book. I did. I think it was the incidental detail, the intricacy of law and racist religious argument, the sheer depth of the involvement of the whole society, from Blacksmiths forging gynaecological and other torture weapons, to ministers, maids...so many people involved in keeping the whole thing going. It's strong on plot and you wouldn't call it subtle.