Merely a place to note the highlights of the month
Books
In October I read:
- Rakhmaninov – Geoffrey Norris
- A Meal In Winter – Hubert Mingarelli
- The Unicorn – Iris Murdoch
- Sunburn – Laura Lippman
However, the stand out book was…
I Survived – Godfrey Lias
I found this in a local charity shop for £1.
Published in 1954, the book tells the story (as told to Lias) of ‘Pepe’, an Austrian in the Wehrmacht during World War Two. Pepe was captured by Red Army troops at Stalingrad and spent 10 years in captivity in camps across the Soviet Union.
It’s an extraordinary tale of courage and resilience, well worth picking up if you see a copy.
Music
The Dream Syndicate at the Scala
I meant to see this band when they first toured the UK in the early 80s, the gig was at Dingwalls in Camden Lock, I had a ticket but was unable to go for some reason or other.
Almost 30 years later I had another chance. It was well worth the wait and a reminder of the redemptive qualities of rock ‘n’ roll.
Neal Francis – Changes
My top find on the Spot in October was ‘Changes‘,. the debut album by 30-year-old Chicago-based Neal Francis. It’s a soulful, lush album with hints of blues, funk and several moments of sheer joy. Highly recommended.
Spotify playlist – October
My second month with the Spot and I’m enjoying pulling together these playlists.
Podcasts
I’m a big fan of history podcasts, especially the epic History of Rome and The Age of Napoleon. However, my favourite podcast of the month can only be….
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History – Supernova in the East III
Supernova in the East III is the third instalment of Carlin’s account of the run-up to, and execution of, the Pacific war.
Dan Carlin is quite extraordinary, easily the best history podcaster currently recording. I love how his shows are big three hour epics, the detail, the energy, the passion, the intelligence, and his delivery, are astonishing.
Picture this
