{"id":8681,"date":"2019-11-11T09:51:02","date_gmt":"2019-11-11T09:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/?p=8681"},"modified":"2019-11-11T09:53:35","modified_gmt":"2019-11-11T09:53:35","slug":"october-2019-in-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/2019\/11\/october-2019-in-review\/","title":{"rendered":"October 2019 in review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Merely a place to note the highlights of the month<\/p>\n<h2>Books<\/h2>\n<p>In October I read:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rakhmaninov &#8211; Geoffrey Norris<\/li>\n<li>A Meal In Winter &#8211; Hubert Mingarelli<\/li>\n<li>The Unicorn &#8211; Iris Murdoch<\/li>\n<li>Sunburn &#8211; Laura Lippman<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, the stand out book was&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-8684\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/I-Survived-by-Godfrey-Lias-Edited.jpg\" alt=\"I Survived by Godfrey Lias - Edited\" width=\"287\" height=\"415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/I-Survived-by-Godfrey-Lias-Edited.jpg 350w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/I-Survived-by-Godfrey-Lias-Edited-207x300.jpg 207w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/I-Survived-by-Godfrey-Lias-Edited-300x435.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/I-Survived-by-Godfrey-Lias-Edited-250x362.jpg 250w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/I-Survived-by-Godfrey-Lias-Edited-124x180.jpg 124w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/I-Survived-by-Godfrey-Lias-Edited-345x500.jpg 345w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px\" \/>I Survived &#8211; Godfrey Lias<\/h3>\n<p>I found this in a local charity shop for \u00a31.<\/p>\n<p>Published in 1954, the book tells the story (as told to Lias) of &#8216;Pepe&#8217;, 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.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s an extraordinary tale of courage and resilience, well worth picking up if you see a copy.<\/p>\n<h2>Music<\/h2>\n<h3>The Dream Syndicate at the Scala<\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Almost 30 years later I had another chance.\u00a0 It was well worth the wait and a reminder of the redemptive qualities of rock &#8216;n&#8217; roll.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8700 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/dream-syndicate.jpg\" alt=\"dream syndicate\" width=\"600\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/dream-syndicate.jpg 600w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/dream-syndicate-300x141.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/dream-syndicate-250x117.jpg 250w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/dream-syndicate-550x258.jpg 550w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/dream-syndicate-384x180.jpg 384w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Neal Francis &#8211; Changes<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-8705\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Neal_Francis_-_Changes_KCR12003-1.jpg\" alt=\"Neal Francis\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Neal_Francis_-_Changes_KCR12003-1.jpg 150w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Neal_Francis_-_Changes_KCR12003-1-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Neal_Francis_-_Changes_KCR12003-1-48x48.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>My top find on the Spot in October was &#8216;<strong>Changes<\/strong>&#8216;,. the debut album by 30-year-old Chicago-based <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nealfrancis.com\">Neal Francis<\/a>.\u00a0 It&#8217;s a soulful, lush album with hints of blues, funk and several moments of sheer joy. Highly recommended.<\/p>\n<h3>Spotify playlist &#8211; October<\/h3>\n<p>My second month with the Spot and I&#8217;m enjoying pulling together these playlists.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"380\" allowtransparency=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"encrypted-media\" title=\"Spotify Embed: October 2019\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/11Ax7p5UAmnPCPvRmGA8U0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Podcasts<\/h2>\n<p>I&#8217;m a big fan of history podcasts, especially the epic <a href=\"https:\/\/player.fm\/series\/the-history-of-rome-79091\">History of Rome<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/cms.megaphone.fm\/channel\/ADL5280986787?selected=ADL7401113285\">The Age of Napoleon<\/a>.\u00a0 However, my favourite podcast of the month can only be&#8230;.<\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-8691\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hardcore-History-64-\u2013-Supernova-in-the-East-III.jpg\" alt=\"Hardcore History 64 \u2013 Supernova in the East III\" width=\"350\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hardcore-History-64-\u2013-Supernova-in-the-East-III.jpg 350w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hardcore-History-64-\u2013-Supernova-in-the-East-III-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hardcore-History-64-\u2013-Supernova-in-the-East-III-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hardcore-History-64-\u2013-Supernova-in-the-East-III-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hardcore-History-64-\u2013-Supernova-in-the-East-III-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hardcore-History-64-\u2013-Supernova-in-the-East-III-250x250.jpg 250w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hardcore-History-64-\u2013-Supernova-in-the-East-III-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>Dan Carlin&#8217;s Hardcore History \u2013 Supernova in the East III<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dancarlin.com\/product\/hardcore-history-64-supernova-in-the-east-iii\/\">Supernova in the East III<\/a> is the third instalment of Carlin&#8217;s account of the run-up to, and execution of, the Pacific war.<\/p>\n<p>Dan Carlin is quite extraordinary, easily the best history podcaster currently recording.\u00a0 I love how his shows are big three hour epics, the detail, the energy, the passion, the intelligence, and his delivery, are astonishing.<\/p>\n<h2>Picture this<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8688\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8688\" style=\"width: 599px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-8688 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/sonic-youth-moscow.jpeg\" alt=\"sonic youth moscow\" width=\"599\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/sonic-youth-moscow.jpeg 599w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/sonic-youth-moscow-300x240.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/sonic-youth-moscow-250x200.jpeg 250w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/sonic-youth-moscow-550x441.jpeg 550w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/sonic-youth-moscow-225x180.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/sonic-youth-moscow-374x300.jpeg 374w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8688\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sonic Youth, Moscow 1989.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Books, music, podcasts for October 2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8693,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[204],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8681"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8681"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8711,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8681\/revisions\/8711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}