This Month's Books - March 2006

(I know it's nearly two days late, but this way I can include Inkheart which I finished today.)

Psmith in the City by P.G. Wodehouse
My first Wodehouse novel. I enjoyed it a lot, and I remember most of the plot and separate incidents well; but the overall feel has escaped me. Perhaps this is because it was an audiobook and we listened to it straight through (not to mention that I was down sick at the time).


The Napoleon of Notting Hill by G.K. Chesterton
A strange book, though I did like it in the end. It has one of the best first chapters I've ever read. It is set in the future of Chesterton's time. In that future national distinctions and real governments are being done away with: national pride is almost unknown. Then one man proclaims himself King of England, and as a joke creats distinctions and liveries for the different counties. They each get their own overlord, their own medieval devices and liveries, and their own guards with ancient halberds. Most grudgingly submit to this; but one young man from Notting Hill, Adam Wayne, goes even further. He takes the joke quite seriously.

Several years later, when there are plans for a railway to go right through Notting Hill, Adam rouses the people of the neighborhood, and with the help of a toy-store owner creates plans for its defense. When the workers come for demolition they are resisted. Men from other counties are sent, and driven back. A larger army is arrayed and sent, but they are also defeated, and England is forced to recognize the sovereign county of Notting Hill.

Years later, Notting Hill begins trying to force its customs and emblems on the other counties. The other counties resent it and they go to war against Notting Hill. Notting Hill is defeated; but they have also won, for they have led the awakening, and men once again take pride in their nations and counties.

The book is about the local: the neighborhood, not just "neighborhoods" in the abstract, but about the one neighborhood that is yours. I enjoyed it. I didn't think I understood it very well, but I've found that it has already influenced (or clarified) how I think about some things.


The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton
An excellent book. Chesterton goes over the story of the world until the time of Christ, and then the story of Christ and the Church. But in doing it he attempts to show them to us for the first time again: to reveal the startling difference that really exists between men and animals, and between men and the one real Man. Highly recommended.


The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Strange at times, but fun. "Six pints of bitter," said Ford Prefect… "And quickly please, the world's about to end." …So the barman said, "Oh yes, sir? Nice weather for it."


The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit
One of my favorites. Thus a reread, and better than I remembered it--which is saying a lot, because I remember it as the best of Nesbit's books.


Half Magic by Edward Eager
Another reread, of the same sort as the above (four children find a magic charm and have strange adventures). It's good, though not as good as Nesbit's books. I caught Edward Eager making allusions to The Enchanted Castle several times.


Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
A good book with some interesting ideas. It is, in a way, a book about books; it's about a bookbinder, a bookworm, a book collector, an author, and characters that have fallen right out of their bookworld and into this.