2023 - A year of reflection, personal, work, photography, books.

Well, 2023 is nearing its end and it’s a year that’s finished as it’s begun, with family being the case in point.

My dear mum passed away on 8th December 2023, after being admitted into Hospital in December 2022 with an infection and whilst this was being treated, she received the full diagnosed her dementia. Since her admission into a care home in January 2023, this last year has provided me with a reminder of being present. Bless you Mum xx.

I tend to take these moments of quiet, to have a period of self-reflection, to see how things have gone against my set goals, sometimes these are formal and structured, sometimes these are ad hoc.  Goal setting (both professional and personal) is imperative for you to function at a greater depth.

The main areas of personal informal focus this year, was to remain grounded and present, with a focus on my mental health, that will ultimately lead to happiness and fulfilment for me and that of my kids.  Seeing my mums health deteriorate in the course of this last year, has been demonstrable on keeping front and centre for remembering the good memories and laughs I have shared with my mum.

I also set myself some additional goals, 1) exceed 100 sales on the Etsy store, 2) reach 1,000 subs on Instagram, 3) Maintain my focus and standing at work, and achieve by 52 book 2023 reading challenge.

These were all achieved, I have done this through a simple and what I think effective plan. 

Etsy Store, I’m loathed to admit defeat, but due to my profile as a Street Photographer, I am more reliant on Etsy and their store platform to sell my wares, than my website.

I reached 111 sales for 2023, with a total of 30 orders in 2023.  My most popular items were:

Coupled with my excellent professional printing partner, I was able to fulfil orders to 8 different countries this year, namely: UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Australia, Spain, USA, Luxembourg, Switzerland.  I am also holding a 5 star feedback. 

On Instagram, I have two accounts a film account and a digital account.  My main activity is on the film account, with a sufficient archive to post 35mm, 120 and 4x5 images.  Q4 of 2023 has seen a little more activity on the digital account, largely due to the film prices spiralling out of control.  I enjoy shooting both formats.  I am just clutching to the 1k followers on the film account, but the focus for 2024 will be to build the 325 followers in the digital account.

At work, I have built a reputation of coaching and helping some of the younger members of the team, giving back, through an informal process of mentoring and coaching.  I remember vividly when I started, as I naive and inexperienced 20 something, that I didn’t know what the tolerance was to act, behave and perform.  I coach people now, by saying your actions are based on reason and logic, not knowledge and experience, that follows.   I love this role and I do it for the enjoyment I get from seeing the younger folk rise.  Everyone should have and / or be a mentor. 

I also finished the year as top performer (for the third consecutive year) in performance, which is a token gesture based on the position of my mum.

Secondly, I’m not much of a ‘sit in front of the TV’ type of person.  With the exception of watching (informative) YouTube videos, I am much more relaxed reading a decent book.  I generally exceed my yearly challenge of 52 books and I take enormous joy from reading a wide genre of novels.

I have read 61 books this year.

­In no particular order or ranking, these are the standout reads for me for 2023.

Best Memoir:

I don’t take Requests – DJ Fat Tony

Harrowing, honest and funny, this is the candid and outrageous memoir of a life of extremes. It's a story of getting it all and losing it all. Addiction, recovery, and starting again. Drawing a vivid portrait of Britain's street culture from the 1980s to the noughties, DJ Fat Tony describes his childhood on a London estate where he honed his petty criminality, was abused by an older man and became best friends with Boy George. He spent his teenage years parading the Kings Road in his latest (mostly stolen) clobber, worked as a receptionist at a brothel, hung out with Leigh Bowery and Andy Warhol, and created his drag persona, before becoming DJ to the stars (including Prince and Madonna) and spiralling into a life-threatening drug addiction.

This is a story of loss and redemption and living to tell all the tales in glorious, funny and often heart-breaking detail, from one of social media's best-loved meme-thieves and the world-renowned DJ.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

American Prometheus is the first full-scale biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, "father of the atomic bomb," the brilliant, charismatic physicist who led the effort to capture the awesome fire of the sun for his country in time of war. Immediately after Hiroshima, he became the most famous scientist of his generation-one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century, the embodiment of modern man confronting the consequences of scientific progress.

Political:

How Westminster Works…..and why it doesn’t - Ian Dunt

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER British politics is broken.  Anyone sitting down to watch the news will get the sense that something has gone terribly wrong. We have prime ministers who detonate the economy, secretaries of state who are intellectually incapable of doing the job and MPs who seem temperamentally unsuited to the role. Expertise is denigrated. Lies are rewarded. And deep-seated, long-lasting national problems go permanently unresolved. Most of us have a sense that the system doesn't work, but we struggle to articulate exactly why. Our political and financial system is cloaked in secrecy, archaic terminology, ancient custom and impenetrable technical jargon.Lifting the lid on British politics, How Westminster Works . . . and Why It Doesn't exposes every aspect of the system in a way that can be understood and challenged, from the heights of Downing Street to the depths of the nation's newsrooms, from the hallways of the civil service to the green benches of the Commons.Based on interviews with some of the leading voices in politics, from former occupants of No.10 to key figures in Whitehall, Westminster and Fleet Street, Ian Dunt provides exactly what people in power have always tried to a full description of the mechanisms of British government. And a vision of how we can fix it. 

Johnson at 10 – Athony Seldon

Mindboggling to see what a complete and unmitigated disaster, the Johnson ‘administration’ was.

True Crime:

Shallow Graves: My life as a Forensic Scientist on Britain's Biggest Cases – Ray Fysh

Shortlisted for the True Crime Awards 2023 Best New True Crime Author The murder of Sarah Payne, Adam the Thames Torso, the London bombings, the Night Stalker and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko... The solving of all these cases can be linked to one Ray Fysh, a beer-swigging Charlton Athletic fan from Woolwich, a natural raconteur and also one of the finest forensic detectives the country has ever seen.Ray began work for the Met Police in the 1970s when forensic investigation was seen as little more than a geeky side show, only in existence to confirm or eliminate evidence. But by the mid 90s Ray and his team had made huge progress in their field, contributing to the UK becoming a world-leading innovator in forensic techniques, with Ray himself being named as Special Adviser to the Forensic Science Service. As the SA, Ray worked alongside Senior Investigating Officers from day one of a case, directing his team to identify forensic opportunities and harvest case-cracking clues.As Ray looks back over his career at the cases he worked on, the reader is given unparalleled insight into the highs and lows of an astonishing career, the historic classist snobbery of the Met and the stunning realities of crime and forensics

Unlawful Killings: Life, Love and Murder: Trials at the Old Bailey – Wendy Joseph

Every day in the UK lives are suddenly, brutally, wickedly taken away. Victims are shot or stabbed. Less often they are strangled or suffocated or beaten to death. Rarely they are poisoned, pushed off high buildings, drowned or set alight. Then there are the many who are killed by dangerous drivers, or corporate gross negligence. There are a lot of ways you can kill someone. I know because I've seen most of them at close quarters.'

Non Fiction:

README.txt – Chelsea Manning

An intimate, revealing memoir from one of the most important activists of our time.

While working as an intelligence analyst in Iraq for the United States Army in 2010, Chelsea Manning disclosed more than seven hundred thousand classified military and diplomatic records that she had smuggled out of the country on the memory card of her digital camera. In 2011 she was charged with twenty-two counts related to the unauthorized possession and distribution of classified military records, and in 2013 she was sentenced to thirty-five years in military prison.

The day after her conviction, Manning declared her gender identity as a woman and began to transition, seeking hormones through the federal court system. In 2017, President Barack Obama commuted her sentence and she was released from prison.

In README .txt, Manning recounts how her pleas for increased institutional transparency and government accountability took place alongside a fight to defend her rights as a trans woman. Manning details the challenges of her childhood and adolescence as a naive, computer-savvy kid, what drew her to the military, and the fierce pride she has about the work she does. This powerful, observant memoir will stand as one of the definitive testaments of our digital, information-driven age.

 Photography:

Portrait of Britain Volume 5 – Hoxton Mini Press

The worst of the pandemic might be behind us, but the crises just keep coming. War is in Europe. Inflation and temperatures are on the rise. This, the fifth volume in the British Journal of Photography and Hoxton Mini Press’ collaborative series, brings together 200 portraits from all over our island that show Britain at a time of resilience and reimagining. It creates both a thoughtful reappraisal of our recent past, and reveals the individuals both loudly and quietly changing the future. It is published in support of 1854 Media’s annual award, Portrait of Britain, which sees the finest portraits taken in the nation in recent years tour the country via JCDecaux digital billboards. The book features an introduction that sets the portraits within their cultural context and the full shortlist of 200 photographs alongside quotes

Fiction:

Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, this is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father's good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. In a plot that never pauses for breath, relayed in his own unsparing voice, he braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens' anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can't imagine leaving behind.

Pig Iron – Benjamin Myers

Pig Iron is the story of John-John, a young man wrestling with the legacy of brutality left by his bare-knuckle boxer father, King of the Gypsies, Mac Wisdom. His new job as an ice cream man should offer freedom, but instead pulls John-John into the dark recesses of a north-east town where his family name is mud.

As he attempts to trade prejudice, parole officers and local gangs for his ‘green cathedral’ - the rural landscape in which he seeks solace - Mac’s rise and bloody downfall threatens to engulf John-John’s present.

A far cry from the recent media stereotyping of travellers, Pig Iron is a sensitive portrayal of Britain’s most marginalised and misunderstood ethnic group. More than anything, it is about the redemptive power of nature and the landscape of post-industrial northern England.

Pig Iron is the story of a traveller who hasn’t travelled; a young man fighting for his surname and his very survival. 

Wellbeing:

This Book Will Change Your Mind About Mental Health: A journey into the heartland of psychiatry – Nathan Filer

Presents a balanced summary of the controversy around the biological model of mental ill health, along with the impact this model has had on service design and culture, and society’s understanding of/relationship with its own and others mental health. Coming at a time when the profile of mental health is increasing, this exposure of the counter narrative to the disease model, from an author with his appeal is incredibly important.

History:

Napoleon, a life – Andrew Roberts

The definitive biography of the great soldier-statesman by the New York Times bestselling author of The Storm of War—winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography and the Grand Prix of the Fondation Napoleon  

Austerlitz, Borodino, Waterloo: his battles are among the greatest in history, but Napoleon Bonaparte was far more than a military genius and astute leader of men. Like George Washington and his own hero Julius Caesar, he was one of the greatest soldier-statesmen of all times.

Andrew Roberts’s Napoleon is the first one-volume biography to take advantage of the recent publication of Napoleon’s thirty-three thousand letters, which radically transform our understanding of his character and motivation. At last we see him as he was: protean multitasker, decisive, surprisingly willing to forgive his enemies and his errant wife Josephine. Like Churchill, he understood the strategic importance of telling his own story, and his memoirs, dictated from exile on St. Helena, became the single bestselling book of the nineteenth century.

The Fatal Shore – Robert Hughes

 The history of the birth of Australia which came out of the suffering and brutality of England's infamous convict transportation system. With 16 pages of illustrations and 3 maps.

One of the greatest non-fiction books I've ever read . . . Hughes brings us an entire world. --Los Angeles Times

Sport:

Tackled – Ben Tornley

Ben Thornley: The Class of '92 Star Who Never Got to Graduate is the autobiography of a Manchester United player who had the world at his feet, only for a tackle to shatter his knee - and his dreams. Ben tells his story with insights from the likes of Alex Ferguson, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs. It's the Class of '92 as you've never heard it before.

Tome:

The Armour of Light  – Ken Follett

The grand master of gripping fiction is back. International No.1 bestseller Ken Follett returns to Kingsbridge with an epic tale of revolution and a cast of unforgettable characters.

Short Story:

Water – John Boyne

You just cant ignore Boyne’s writing.  When its good, its very good.

Little Gem:

Foster – Claire Keegan

A small girl is sent to live with foster parents on a farm in rural Ireland, without knowing when she will return home. In the strangers' house, she finds a warmth and affection she has not known before and slowly begins to blossom in their care. And then a secret is revealed and suddenly, she realizes how fragile her idyll is.

Foreign / Translation:

The Notebook Trilogy - Agota Kristof

Claus and Lucas remarkable storytelling. 

Biggest Disappointment:

The Year of the Locust – Terry Hayes

That plot twist?!

Well thats me done for 2023, Happy New Year and best wishes for 2024.

Take note this is a cracking little gem

When I’m not taking or editing photos in my spare time, I'm an avid reader. It keeps me grounded and afords me with a decompression from the day job.

I haven't read a book that has quite grabbed me as Agota Kristof's "The Notebook Trilogy" did.

This is a profoundly haunting and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience during wartime. Comprising "The Notebook," "The Proof," and "The Third Lie," this series is a tour de force of existential storytelling.

"The Notebook" introduces readers to twin brothers Lucas and Claus, who are sent to live with their estranged grandmother in a war-torn country. Kristof's spare and unflinching prose captures the stark realities of war and its impact on innocence. The brothers' detached observations create a chilling atmosphere, raising questions about the loss of morality and the desensitization that comes with exposure to violence.

In "The Proof," the twins face the challenges of growing up in a world shaped by war. Kristof delves deeper into their psyches, offering a complex exploration of identity and the consequences of their shared experiences. The search for truth and the quest to understand the self take center stage in this installment.

"The Third Lie" unravels the mysteries and secrets that have shrouded the twins' lives. The narrative reaches its climax as the brothers confront their own pasts and the brutal history of their homeland. The novel's title serves as a reflection on the elusive nature of truth, challenging the reader to question the reliability of memory and perception.

Kristof's writing is spare yet evocative, creating a sense of detachment that mirrors the twins' experiences. The narrative is relentlessly dark and unsettling, but it is also a masterful exploration of the human psyche in times of extreme adversity. The trilogy forces readers to confront the dualities of human nature—good and evil, love and hatred, truth and deception.

Ultimately, "The Notebook Trilogy" is not for the faint of heart, but for those willing to embark on an intense and introspective journey, it offers a unique and unforgettable reading experience. Agota Kristof's ability to capture the stark realities of war and the complexities of human nature make this trilogy a profound and challenging masterpiece of modern literature..

Until next time, keep reading.

Bookish - My books of the year 2021

As we near the end of 2021, its time to outline my favourite books of the year, that is 2021.

Its been a steady rewarding year, whilst I had a little mid year distraction, driving sales and business onto the Etsy Store and also the learning curve for the Chamonix 45n2 4x5 large format camera.

Similar to 2020, I have enjoyed reaching my yearly challenge of 52 books (60 at the timing of writing this blog). I have also enjoyed a broad subject matter, that again includes decent coverage into photobooks.

So dive in, I hope there are a couple of takeaways for you.

My Photobook of the year - Jim Marshall - Show me the picture

What an incredible story of photographer, Jim Marshall. So much more than a music photographer (civil rights, photojournalist).

Some of the very best candid intimate images from the 1960s and 1970s and after reading this book, you get an understanding of the mad genius of the man and his character.

There is also a documentary of the same name over on Amazon Prime Video of the same name.

Honourable mentions:

Humans by Brandon Stanton, Gosh what a journey this author has been on. I originally 'stumbled' across the 'Humans of New York' account on the Tumblr platform some 10 years ago. As the introduction outlines, this originally was a genius idea to photograph c.10k people in New York, overtime and will increased confidence, he began to talk to the folk sitting for him.

This account exploded on social media. This eventually led to Humans, where the author travelled the world. This is a lovely piece of work, equally a rich piece of social commentary and photography assignment, which has lead to many many imposters.

A lovely collection of vignettes into people's lives.

Accidently Wes Anderson by Wally Koval is a great coffee table book, it even has the foreword from the great man himself.

Wonderful collaboration for any bookshelf, celebrating the cinematography and aesthetic style of Wes Anderson.
If you love the symmetry and style of Anderson's movies, this is a must for you, as is a visit to the @accidentallywesanderson Instagram page, which was setup by the author.

Godlis Streets - Peter Godlis

Photobook covering the ‘tog’s images of New York in the 70’s and 80’s.
Intriguing selection of New York Street photos from Godlis. Quite a few belters with a nice level of sequencing.

Sports Book of the year book - The Secret Race - Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle.

This year, I surprisingly only read one sportsbook, which was The Secret Race. I'm not a Tour de France aficionado, but found this book engaging.

Whilst this was a particularly revelationary story, I found it an intriguing story about the doping culture within cycling and the ‘do as I say, not do as I do menatility in the pursuit of success.

Biggest Surprise - Tie - This Party’s Dead - Erica Buist & Men who hate Women - Laura Bates.

Whilst I couldnt seperate these two for this award, they are both noted for two very different reasons.

This Party’s Dead is conceptually a unique idea for a book. Following the death of her father in law and the delayed discovery of the body (a week). The author is overcome by grief. She then decides to visit seven death festivals, to understand how different cultures celebrate death.

What pulled me initially to this book was the visit to the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico, this is on my bucket list. Although the book does imply that this is quite a tourist trap now. The authors commentary and experiences at DOFTD are conflicting, the elders are respectful and sombre and the youth are hedonistic. What is the common demoninator, is that the worship and following is from the poorer sections of Mexican society.

I never understood the morose approach we have to death and the funeral, here in the UK. I remember going to a funeral in Ireland in my late 20's, accompanying my mum. The full 5 day wake, coffin in the house, drinking, telling stories, the craic.

The whole experience helped me understand to celebrate the joys of a life. This was the major factor that allowed me to read my dad's eulogy. Recounting the foibles and charmful traits of his character. The short chapters and writing style make this a recommended read.

Conversely, Men who hate Women. Good god, what a shocking state of affairs.

I felt compelled to read this book as a dad of two (14 year old daughter and 18 year old son), I wanted to get an insight into their world, and the mindset of their generation. The hate groups detailed in this book is attributed to the 'keyboard warrior' of internet forums, unpoliced environments, allowing for the proliferation of a toxic ideology.

This is important piece of work, writing and publishing this content, but worrying of what this will lead to.

Biggest Let Down - American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis. So very disappointing. I didn't enjoy this book at all. Whilst I appreciate this is a cult classic, not for me.

Comedy / Satire - Proxopera - Benedict Kiely.

This is a beautiful hidden gem of a policitical satire. All in 94 pages!

Erudite writing about the futility of 'the troubles' on both sides of the community.

Will most certainly lead to me reading more of the author. A wonderful heartfelt collection of works by Hardy.

Dystopian - Never - Ken Follett.

No doubt the inspiration for this book came from the Trump administration. Nuclear war amongst super powers, aka ‘pissing contests with warheads’.

Whilst this fall's short of the heights hit by the author’s other work, still an interesting multilayered story.

Classics - East of Eden - John Steinbeck.

Finally got round to reading this classic. I recall reading of Mice and Men in my early twenties, but not being moved.

This book has deep rich writing, retelling the saga of Cain and Abel. Beautiful.

Honourable mention

Ulysses - James Joyce.

I decided to consume this novel in audiobook format, which I think added to the experience.

Some masterful 'mundane' dialogue, with beautiful writing told and delivered wonderfully well by the cast.

Tome - Fall of Giants - Ken Follett

At 985 pages, this was the biggest book I read in 2021.

This book is the volume 1 in a 3 volume Centurys trilogy. Based around WW1, WW2 and the Cold War. I started this series after finishing the Kingsbridge series by the same author.

Novella - Black Cop’s Kid: as Essay - Kareem Abdul - Jabbar.

At 37 pages, this was the shortest book I read in 2021.
A great essay and consumable read. Never realised his father was a cop. No doubt that inherited strength in character (as well as talent) helped Kareem achieve in basketball.

Memoir - The Man To See - Evan Thomas

Highly enjoyable biography. Detailing the trials and tribulations of a criminal lawyer between 1950's - 1980's. Both pioneering and groundbreaking.

Honourable mentions

A Promised Land - Barack Obama

Been waiting to get round to this one. Revealing insight into the lead up to public office and first term as president.

In parts really quite revealing about the man and not sugar coated. This was slow paced in parts, but this is more complementary about the detail of the writing, rather than the (lack of) quality of the story.

I think it was right to split the memoir over two volumes, with volume one finishing at the end of the first term. What a remarkable man, this story should be an example to all about application and achievement.

Chaise Longue - Baxter Dury

Quite an eclectic memoir structured much like an abstract album with short chapters, akin to the 3 minute song, contrasting and conceptual.

Crazy crazy tales.

History - Empireland - Sathnam Sanghera.

What a rich and informative read about the history and heritage of the empire, imperialism and it's destructive trailblazing.

A mind boggling fact from the book: The British empire was at its territorial peak in the early 1920s, 13.71 million square miles, which represents 24 per cent of the earth’s land area or equivalent to 94 per cent of the moon’s surface area.

The book explains the empires modus operandi which was to take minerals and resources from the world, which is best explained by the fact that: Despite Canada’s vast resources Britain actually considered handing it back to France during peace negotiations, in exchange for the sugar island of Guadeloupe.

Whilst the book explains the correlations of the imperial elitist mindset with that of Brexit, what Brexiteers are failing to understand is that their movement is the antithesis of the empire, for what they appear to hold up as their ideology. We can't really move forward as a country, until we look in the past and teach our kids the full history of the empire in our schools.

Essential read.

Honourable mentions:

Bad Blood - Colm Toibin

Whilst originally written in the late 80's, I thoroughly enjoyed the rambles of the author across the north south border of Ireland.

Lovely writing.

The assassination of Fred Hampton - Jeffrey Haas

I was absolutely compelled to read this book, after watching Judas and the Black Messiah.

Daniel Kaluuya was immense as Fred Hampton.

I am ashamed to say that I was not fully aware of the events leading upto the complicity of state bodies in his assasination, nor the fight to clear his name after his death at the age of 21.

What a legacy. This book is simply essential reading for the 1960's civil rights movement.

The Power of Geography - Tim Marshall

This is such an informative series. Tim Marshall is a genius in being able to explain such complex geopolitical theories in laymans terms. I wish he was on the telly more.

Fiction - Sunset Swing - Ray Celestin

This is the last in the City Blues Quartet series. An excellent police procedural series, based on historical fiction starting with the Axeman Jazz murders in New Orleans in 1919.

Well paced series with some great characters and pacey storylines. Will be intriguing to see what project Celestine sets his attention to next.

Foreign - Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami

I am transfixed by the simplicity of Japanese writing. This is a wonderful novel.

Historical Fiction - Christodora - Tim Murphy

What a little gem of a book. Based in and around the occupants of the Christodora, a New York apartment building.

The story unfolds telling the tale of the hedonism in NY at the time.

The AIDS epidemic is impacting the central characters and the story tells the tale of the folks fight and struggle at the time.

Honourable mention:

Hamnet - Maggie O’Farrell

Finally got round to reading this novel.

Intriguing take on the play by Shakepeare, by O'Farrell. Thoroughly enjoyable and well written.

Political - Tie - The Future of British Politics - Frankie Boyle & The History Thieves - Ian Cobain

I read this political essay, which is the workings of a renowned and outspoken comedian. In contrast, I listened to our Prime Minister at the Cop26 UN Climate Change Conference, littering his speech with jokey football analogies, talking about climate change.

Hmmmmm, generally get more sincerity and empathy with a political comic, than a comical politician. This is an enjoyable essay littered with erudite political observations.

Chronological look at the introduction and amendments to the official secrets act and freedom of information act by sitting governments.

Apparently it's a need to know basis and we do not need to know. Most shocking is that this stance appears to have crept into everyday politics, under the guise of an esoteric manifesto.

Honourable mention:

Anti-social - Nick Pettigrew

This is such a consumable book, observing a year in the life of an ASBO (Anti Social Behaviour) Officer.

Dealing with the disputes and interactions of tenants in council properties, this book for me deals with the outputs of the UK governments 'brainchild' of dealing with the defunding of social care support services for drug addicts, mental health issues and even inner city employment prospects, or lack of.

I didnt read this book as a form of poverty safari, I just find individuals who work in such fields are inspiring folk.

Whilst some may see this as a book that is quite repetitive, I think thats actually the point, complaint, research, file for eviction, court, order, breach of order, eviction, imprisonment. intense responsibility / accountability, with generally nil reward.

Clearly the author has had to adapt to a challegning work environment, with the aid of a very dark sense of humour.

True Crime - Wordcrime - John Olsson

This is an intriguing book explaining forensic linguisitics and solving crime through the unpicking of language.

I quite liked the short concise chapters, made for engaging reading.

Honourable mention:

The killer across the table - John E Douglas

Harrowing yet essential work by Douglas, setting up and establishing the profiling concept in the FBI.

Interviewing incarcerated serial killers, to understand their MO, motivations and state of mind which allowed the FBI to build an understanding of their criminal mind.

The book details some horrifying cases, but the book remains focused on delivering the reason Douglas's work was so important.

Well thats me completed for 2021, hopefully there are some take aways from the above list for you.

Until next time, keep snapping

The books better than the film……….

This blog post is a step away from the norm. It’s a start of a new category, where I post about books I have read.

Im not anti TV or movies, I will consume that latest blockbuster, but I shy away from watching series on the telly, as I get more enjoyment out of a good book.

My daughter is very politicised, attuned to current afffairs of domestic and international governments.

My lad is obsessed with movies, the casting, method acting. One actor that has grabbed his attention is Danial Kaluuya.

I saw a couple of trailers on IG for Judas and the Black Messiah and decided I would take a break from the norm.

This is the story about Fred Hampton, the leader of the Black Panther movement in Chicago in late 1960’s and his downfall, aided by the collusion of the Chicago PD, the FBI and an informer of the name of William O’Neal.

I don’t want to provide too many spoiler alerts, but Hampton was a messiah, building the panthers up to prominence, which put the fear of god into J Edgar Hoover, and resulted in his assassination at the age of 21!

Kaluuya is awesome as Hampton.

My reading theme at the moment is the civil rights era of the USA, so this itch was very much scratched with the period of the movement.

I was absolutely compelled to read this book, after watching Judas and the Black Messiah.

Daniel Kaluuya was immense as Fred Hampton.

I am ashamed to say that I was not fully aware of the events leading upto the complicity of state bodies in his assasination, nor the fight to clear his name after his death at the age of 21. The book goes into more detail of the challenges Hampton’s lawyers faced with the judge at the time.

What a legacy.

This book is simply essential reading for the 1960's civil rights movement.

Bookish - My books of the year.

I’m not one for idoling in front of the TV, if there is a show sweeping the nation or a decent film on release, then I may be tempted to sit and watch. But after working on the laptop during the course of the day in the day job, my idea of relaxing - when I’m not taking photos - is reading a book.

Im not a prolific reader, but I do tend to get through more than 50 books, through the course of the year. 2020 was a year that I actively grew my photobook consumption and actively added to my collection, so this added a further dimension to the consumed content.

My Book of the year / Photobooks - Portrait of Britain vol3

I have just finished reading this volume of the popular series. Its an equisite book full of tender portraits and supporting narratives of 200 portraits. This has covered a very unique period in our history in 2020 and that bit more special that my kids bought it for me as a xmas gift. I love it, it’d definitely a book that can be revisited time and time again.

Honourable mentions: It simply would not be right to mention Pete Souza in this category, after his sustained activity on instagram against the Trump Administration. Souza’s book comparing the Trump and Obama presidential styles, should be a firm fixture to any coffee table - shades a tale of two presidents.

Where I find myself - Joel Meyerowitz. This is simply an essential purchase for any avid street photographer. The section on 9/11 is very moving.

Uncommon Places - Stephen Shore. This has taught me that beauty is in the banal. Very inspiring.

San Francisco Noir & Portrait of a City - Fred Lyon. Happenstance brought me to discover Fred Lyon, beautiful black and white images from this California city.

Sports Book of the year book - Angels With Dirty Faces - Jonathan Wilson.

This mustn’t be mistaken for a book about football, its more than that, it covers the political events in Argentina parallel to the rise in the beautiful game and their sporting achievements. Excellent reading.

Biggest Let Down - Ready Player Two - Ernest Cline. So disappointing. I read the first book, before the momentum gathered around the film, thoroughly enjoyed book one, book two, meh.

Biggest Surprise - Shuggie Bain - Douglas Stuart.

A very intimate, gritty and in parts bleak story about the tale of Shuggie Bain and his family dealing with the hardships of 1980’s life in Scotland. There is no doubt about why this novel won the Booker Prize 2020.

Comedy - Jeremy Hardy Speaks - Jeremy Hardy. A wonderful heartfelt collection of works by Hardy.

Dystopian - Qualityland - Marc-Uwe Kling.

Bizarre take on utopian consumerist society, dictated by algorithms. The protagonist is Peter Jobless, who finally hits breaking point, when ‘The Shop’ send him a pink dolphin shaped vibrator. Genius.

Fiction / Historical - World Without End - Ken Follett. This is book two in the Kingsbridge trilogy, about the construction of a cathedral and the impact it has on the community. This book is set 200 years after the first book. Follett is a master storyteller at 1014 pages, this is a complete page turner.

Mental Health - The Midnight Library - Matt Haig.

This is such a lovely tender well timed book, as we all see the challenges and pressures of Covid19, lockdown and the impact on our daily lives. I have really enjoyed Haig's books since the first time I read 'The Humans'. He has such a way writing about mental health

Mindfulness - Surrounded by Idiots - Thomas Erikson. I attended a work training course that consisted of the concepts of red, yellow green blue, which is a development on the Carl Jung introvert / extrovert theory. I was intrigued to read more and was led to this book. This is a very informative and thought provoking read, to provide a better understanding of behaviourial traits and actions.

Non Fiction / Political - White Fragility - Robin di Angelo.

I wanted to delve more into the issues of black folk after participating in three BLM marches with my kids this year. The is an excellent book dissecting the issue on race as 'white fragility'. Many many take away discussion / points. The argument in this book is so eloquently made, middle class white folk diluting established and ingrained racism experienced by black folk, by elevating their own 'issues' and problems (which on the face of it are middle class bleatings).

Non Fiction - Biography - The autobiography of Malcolm X - Maclom X and Alex Haley.

Ashamed that I do not know the full story of Malcom X, his beliefs and impact on the 1960’s civil rights movement. It’s a period of time in American history that I am intrigued by, being originally captivated by the black and white photos of the period, that in most instances, are more impactful than the written medium.

This is essential reading, the prose is consumable and the sheer drive and passion of Malcolm X is clearly outlined in the autobiography.

Non Fiction / History - The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich - William Shirer.

I have been eyeing this 1400+ page masterpiece for years.

I have always had a fascination of WWII history, and a desire to understand the triggers and events that would provide a semblance of understanding of the horrors in this age of darkness in human history.

Shirer's book defines a herculean task of reviewing thousands of captured nazi documents to produce a quintessential tome of the Third Reich and its key figure heads. The Third Reich was supposed to last for 1,000 years, it lasted 12.

This book outlines how a despot misanthropist was able to deliver his master plan on his people and the extent of the barbaric wanton destruction of one man on this world, in his failed pyhrric crusade.

Most Polarising book - American Dirt - Jeanine Cummins. I was compelled to read this novel, following the sustained pr, leading upto the UK release on 21st January 2020. I really enjoyed this book, the tenacity of Lydia Luca and the solidarity with their comrades.

The reviews that have followed have polarised opinion on the portrayal of Mexico by a white American and I can appreciate why this may has upset some Mexican folk (writers and readers). For me, this will only lead me to read more works of this region and issue by indigenous writers, such as The House of Broken Angels or even The Devil's Highway: A True Story, as no doubt the wordplay will be more subtle and the prose more meaningful.

Well thats me completed for 2020, hopefully there are some take aways from the above list for you.

Until next time, keep snapping.