‘Valley of Dreams’ by Alan Curbishley

Any managers attempting to ‘do a Charlton’ should read this book. It follows the mighty Charlton Athletic under the reign of Alan Curbishley between 1991 and 2006.

It was quite a trip down Memory Lane: last game at The Valley, playing at Selhurst Park and Upton Park, before getting back to The Valley and the Premiership. Memories.

A fantastic book and well worth a read, although probably only if you’re a Charlton fan.

Next up: Vox

‘56 Days’ by Catherine Ryan Howard

A pretty standard, run of the mill crime thriller. That’s not to say it was rubbish – it was actually ok.

Set in Ireland, it follows Ciara and Oliver who are thrown together (or are they) when a Covid lockdown is introduced. The book jumps between their separate perspectives of their relationship, and that of Lee, the investigating officer.

I might have only given it 3 stars – but it’s well worth a read!

Next up: Valley of Dreams

‘The Book of Trespass’ by Nick Hayes

This was another recommendation. This time from folk singer Beans on Toast. ‘The Book of Trespass’ seeks to expose and challenge the power that landownership exerts on this country.

The vast majority of our country is entirely unknown to us because we are banned from setting foot on it. By law of trespass, we are excluded from 92 per cent of the land and 97 per cent of its waterways, blocked by walls whose legitimacy is rarely questioned.

A really good book – definitely worth a read. Let’s trespass!

Next up: 56 days

‘Verity’ by Colleen Hoover

A probably wouldn’t have read this but it was a recommendation from one of my Y11s at school. So gave it a go.

It was ok. Pretty typical thriller. A bit predictable in places. But ok.

Next up: The Book of Trespass.

‘The Last’ by Hanna Jameson

A really good book – not what I was expecting.

A thriller set in the aftermath of a nuclear war. A group of people are holed up in a hotel. Then a body is found. The race is on to find the killer, and survive.

I’ve a few books on the side to read – not decided which one is next 🤷‍♂️

‘26.2 Miles to Happiness’ by Paul Tonkinson

I really liked this book – I nearly gave it 5 stars – not sure why I didn’t. I’m still slightly confused with my own star rating system!

It follows the comedian Paul Tonkinson on his journey to a run a sub-3 marathon. no spoilers here – although you can probably guess the outcome. 😳

It is structured with paragraphs covering the running of the marathon, interspersed with stories of training up to the big day. It’s an inspiring, comic odyssey of running redemption.

I’m definitely off to book in a marathon!

In the postscript Paul references that time back in 2020, after he had run the marathon, when things were very different:

In a world suddenly tipped into chaos, running offered a means of claiming control. In a world where we exhorted to stay indoors to save other people’s lives, we took the invitation to burst outside and save our own. During this time the experience of running was visceral: I had never needed it more. That hour of sweat offered a startling reprieve from the spiralling panic of the news cycle. In the woods, alone, there were moments when I forgot the madness.

Paul Tonkinson, ‘26.2 Miles to Happiness.

I know exactly what he means.

Next book: The Last