Books I have read over the Christmas holiday (I'm still reading Howard's End).

The surprise was A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka.  I was given this some years ago and put off reading it - because it had tractors in the title; because it was set in Peterbough (a town I know only too well); because it was recommended by someone who has very middle-brow tastes.  But its very funny and full of insights about the big themes of life.