Not very much happened this week apart from lots of post-Christmas chores including (finally) taking down our Christmas tree which was only a week later than planned. So lack of activity means a short Salon post this week.
Books read
None finished but I made progress with…
Currently reading
Global Crisis – still working my way steadily through the 17th century; things that stuck in my head from the two chapters I read this week (Iberian Peninsula & France) :
- The Portuguese rebellion was the only one in mid-seventeenth century Europe to become permanent
- In 1639 Arthur Hopton, the British ambassador in Madrid, predicted that the ‘unquietness’ of Portugal ‘is not yet settled, the minds of the people being as ill-disposed as ever’
- The King of Spain intensified the impact of climate change more than any other seventeenth century ruler by making appalling policy choices
- Anne of Austria, Queen Regent of France, managed to overlook the danger of (as described by Cardinal de Retz) “lifting the veil that must always cover what one might say and what one might believe concerning the rights of the People and the rights of kings, which always keep the best harmony when silent”
- Also Olivares was a twit and a total liability (my considered opinion)
The Behaviour of Moths – didn’t read any of this novel this week, just wasn’ty feeling it for some reason
The City of Mirrors – the third in Justin Conin’s Passage trilogy; I started to read this (which I’ve had for a while) becasue a TV version arrives later this week
New Books
Other stuff
We binged the last half of season one of Berlin Station. Loved it. I gather there are two more series and I will be looking out for those.
Bride of the Book God 2 
I think I finally have most of our Christmas stuff put away too.
Berlin Station looks so good, but we haven’t watched it yet.
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It’s worth watching. Bit slow to start but I was surprised at how good it became. Enjoy.
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