Perilous Question, The Children Act and The Secret Place

I hardly ever read non fiction so I'm not the best judge of this particular history book. I thought the nearly 300 pages of Perilous Question by Antonia Fraser could have been condensed into a hundred. The parts which documented the wheeling and dealing to get the act through parliament were very good. But the highly detailed descriptions and background of the leading characters (and sometimes their wives and other sundry people) seemed interminable. I guess Antonia Fraser had to fill her book somehow. Her research of the years 1830 to 1832 is absolutely first class and I just loved the goings on at the Birmingham Political Union.

The parts involving King William IV were good especially the influence and power of the monarch in those days. I wanted to know more about the riots and disturbances but I guess these were just as much about the hardship being suffered by the poor than anything else. We then learn about the power of The Lords and how they were able to kick out any Bill they didn't agree with (and they did): "that is to say, the elected Government of a country shouting for Reform - literally in the case of many demonstrators - was unable to bring it about due the action of an unelected Chamber" and later "the debate in the Lords had been an open declaration of war against the people of England".

It was only the agreement of the King to a critical device suggested by the Whig government that in the end persuaded The Lords (The Tories holding a majority) to pass the Bill. It made me think that our country has fortunately been continually forming our democracy over a long time. The Lords now do not have that power thank goodness and there have been suggestions of an elected Chamber. And so it goes.

A classic Ian McEwan novel, The Children Act is far more enjoyable than "Sweet Tooth" and "Solar", more like his superb "Saturday" and "Amsterdam". A shortish book that grips from the very first page. Always the feeling that something dramatic is about to happen. If there would be one criticism, the main character Fiona Maye (a top high court judge) always seemed younger than her fifty nine years. But we enjoy her company so much. McEwan's writing is as ever intelligent and readable. He is definitely back on form.

Not being a big fan of crime fiction, I was encouraged by the good reviews of this "literary thriller". I wasn't disappointed by The Secret Place by Tana French. The five hundred odd pages flew by. I felt a little like Detective Stephen Moran, uncomfortable at a high class girl's boarding school interviewing sixteen year olds, even though he has new boss Antionette Conway for company. But the dialogue is so cleverly written and the characterisation is first class. I really enjoyed it.