Feb/March: Poemanias is reading...

RUBICON: the triumph and tragedy of the Roman Republic by Tom Hollander. Absolute masterpiece; great build up chapters sketch in the early years of the republic. By the time it reaches the civil wars and Ceasar the narrative is un-putdownable. Remarkable achievement, considering all the scolarly credentials are intact. Instant Poemanias award.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Afghan boy growing up in Kabul in the 80's, followed by a diaspora to the US West Coast. Pretty stunning. Poemanias doesn't do novels a whole lot, but this is a shoe in-for book to take on the plane. Very, very, very good.

Natasha's Dance by Orlando Figes. New cultural history of Russia by the author of the gripping A People's Tragedy. An excellent context filler, though the tone can get a bit thick at times - he hasn't digested the research as well here as he did in his civil war best seller.

The Feeling of What Happens by Antonio Damasio. I'm finding this one much harder going than either Descartes' Error or Looking for Spinoza. Can't tell if this is my fault or Damasios. Anyway the subject - consciousness arising out of our emotional lives - is central, Damasio's one of the experts, so this is a must read.