Howdy folks. This is my first ever book review…and guess what? It’s not a review! It does have a bit about books though – with pages and words and authors and plots and everything. It’s just a short blog on the books I read in 2024 and whether I liked them or not. I’m not going into plots, as you can get that online elsewhere, and generally I can’t remember them – even if they’re all brilliant in their own way.
My plan for the start of the year is to read a book a month. I’ve come close a couple of times, and in 2024 I’ve failed again. Hurrah for losers! I will deffo do better next year.
I’ve got a bit of a focus on Scottish writers at the mo. So, here, we have examples of historic comedy (‘Flashman’); crazy weedgie writing (‘You Have to be Careful in the Land of the Free’); comedy crime (‘Squeaky Clean’), and harder crime (‘Laidlaw’), as well as comedy golf (‘The Amateurs’). My non-Scottish reads include a mighty classic for all you budding socialists out there (‘The Ragged trousered Philanthropists’ – I think the PM needs a copy), and for all you kids thinking about a life of crime in Bolivia, I give you ‘Marching Powder’.
Anyway, the books I have read are mentioned below and I’ve given them a score out of 10. No book falls on the gashometer, as let’s face it, could you write anything better? I will appoint a winner out of the seven and announce to the world on this very blog!
Figure 1: My magnificent 7 fantastic (and only) reads of 2024
In chronological order of me reading them…
1. You Have to be Careful in the Land of the Free (James Kelman, 2004).
First thing to note is Mr Kelman is a born (1946) and bred Govan & Drumchapel man, so that automatically presents him with a gold star! If his school was anything like mine he’s done remarkably well to get anything in print. So, hats off sir! Not that he needs it – take a look on Wikipedia, and you’ll see how talented the man is, claiming shed loads of awards and accolades for the numerous works he has penned. The boy did good.
This is the first one of his I’ve read and so I don’t know if it’s like any of his others. It’s written as a first -person Glaswegian monologue, the whole 300 odd pages existing as one continual narrative (i.e. nae chapters!).
Here, it’s a tale of a man’s last, very dangerous, adventure-filled night in America, before returning to Scotland, having been 12 years away. The question is, will he survive the night and catch his flight?
Figure 2: Tale of a crazy Scotsman’s last night in the US.
Jockose view
An innovative read (in my limited experience), making Irvine Welsh’s prose seem a lot posher. I guess Glasgae vs Auld Reekie. I found it hard to digest, given it was a singular stream of content. I did get lost a few times, as I only ever read a few pages a day – chapters would have helped me but would probs defeat the point, seeing as the story was set over one night. It would be a better read-all-at-once book, which I’ve nae chance of doing.
It was interesting enough and a good few eyebrow raising tales, but it was all a bit of a struggle to get through.
Jockose Rating: 6/10
2. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (Robert Tressell, 1914)
I was very fortunately alerted to this book through Ian Pattison’s account of the life story of Rab C Nesbitt, ‘A stranger here myself’, where Rab takes up reading during his exiled stay in London. It also led me to read ‘The People of the Abyss’ by Jack London – yes, him of Call of the Wild fame, which is utterly tremendous and a highly recommended read.
Back to the Ragged Troosers…It’s a story set in a fictional village in the south of England during Edwardian times, where a bunch of impoverished tradesmen with various skills sets are renovating a posh hoose. Despite working their nuts off, they are paid poorly, are under the constant threat of being sacked and losing families and homes, whilst the rich owners complain about their costs and endeavour to reduce them at any opportunity. There’s a snitching foreman who quietly sneaks up on the men at random times to check they are always working and not taking an unsolicited break for any reason. The work conditions are appalling, with no care for safety or the workers’ health. The team are termed philanthropists by Tressel as they are giving their back-breaking manual labour to the profit of their owners, and in return get little to no benefit. Throughout, their working conditions and home life are described in detail, with all the men (and boys) a whisker away from the workhouse at any point. However, they are all very grateful for work and are unable to rise ‘against the system’ – trade unionism and The Labour party did not exist then. They are viewed as an underclass and politically powerless. Through the main character’s voice, the book presents an alternative for the workers through his expression of socialist philosophy, whereby there could be a better sharing of wealth, improved conditions of work and pay.
Figure 3: You need to read this
Jockose view
It’s a long tale but very easy to read and the characters are all quite engrossing. It’s sad, insightful, and even funny in parts, charting a sorry time in the UK’s class discrimination history. It also serves a modern-day reminder of some of the aspects of socialism that even now are not in place.
No higher endorsement for this book can be given than that by George Orwell, who described it as a ‘book that everyone should read’. I could not agree more.
Jockose Rating: 10/10
3. Marching Powder (Rusty Young, 2002)
Well, this is a cracker of a true story. British man doing a wee bit of drug running in Bolivia gets stitched up at the airport by his man on the inside, leading to a lengthy jail sentence in a Bolivian jail, enforced by numerous corrupt players in the judicial system. And what jail a it is! He is literally thrown into the courtyard in the middle of the night, sheltering in a shed, to find in the morning he must pay for admission to the prison, pay for a cell, and just about anything else he might need, such as food and water.
The prison is none other than the famous San Pedro prison in La Paz. Get this, the author met our incarcerated chum on a prison tour, set up for err well tourists! Not only were they allowed to visit (subject to various rates of payable bribes to guards & officers), they could stay overnight in cells, get a bunch of cocaine (made in the prison!) and as long as they had sufficient bribe money, come and go as they pleased.
Inmates were allowed to open shops/cafes/restaurants, you name it and even teach to assist fellow inmates and children of the families of the incarcerated. In case you’re thinking oh, this sounds like a quite a nice prison, and maybe a bit better than say Butlins, think again gringo. It’s full of psychotic crack addicted prisoners with a penchant for extreme violence. Not to say you don’t meet people like that a typical British summer holiday camp, but this is a different level.
Figure 4: Fantastic insight to life in San Pedro prison, Bolivia
Jockose view
This is a great read. Insightful, witty, scary and best of all troooooo. The most flabbergasting bit for me was our incarcerated man actually paid for a night out on the town, had a slap-up meal, got lagered, went to a night club and become friendly with a lady. He made money from giving guided tours, was able to upgrade his cell by moving to more comfortable accommodation in the jail, have as much coke as his habit desired, and had the respect of 90% of the psychos/fellow inmates.
Jockose rating: 9/10
4. Flashman (George MacDonald Fraser, 1969)
Good ol’ Flashy! Ye cannae beat a bit o’ Flashy, man. For those unfamiliar, he’s the bully character from ‘Tom Brown’s School Days’, who becomes a lecherous and victorious military hero. There are 12 Flashy books, charting his escapades around the world, providing insight to various battles and crises at various periods. This one is centred on and around the disastrous British retreat from Kabul in 1842.
Although these are novels, the very talented author provides much historical accuracy concerning those events, which compliments the riotous behaviour of the scandalously cowardly deceptive selfish hero.
Figure 5: The magnificent Flashman! A cad and a bounder
Jockose view
If you like a bit of embellished history related through the word of a dastardly scoundrel, then this is a goody. I certainly do, and I have read most of the Flashman series. Nothing quite like them for an easy light-hearted read, and you learn something along the way through both the story and appended fact-filled references. This one is great, but it’s not my fave Flashman adventure – that would be ‘Royal Flash’, which is the first Flashy I read. You never forget your first – although I have, but I remember it was great.
Jockose rating: 6/10
5. The Amateurs (John Niven, 2009)
A very entertaining read for all you golf fans ooot there. Basically, it’s a comedy about a guy who’s absolutely mince at golf but loves it – 8 million golfers nod their heads in empathy, including yours truly. He’s embarrassingly bad in any competition he plays at his golf club – until he gets hit on the head by a ball. This brings on some super dooooper golfing abilities, swing perfection, and leads to him entering and competing in the Open, after winning his club championship. Unfortunately, the head knock also gave him a very foulmouthed dose of Tourette’s, not quite the thing to have on a posh golf course at a well-to-do golf club. The backdrop to all this is family life with his adulteress and money seeking wife, his very amateur criminal brother – tasked to assassin someone, all set within the small seaside town of Ardgirvan in Scotland.
Figure 6: cracking wee story about hitting that wee ball, and other wee things
Jockose view
This book is brilliant, combining the serious matter of golf with crime and adultery (which is also a crime, I think, and so is golf come to think of it. If they are not, they should be!). You don’t need to be a golfing fan to enjoy this one, but if you are, you’ll certainly connect with the fun n games of trying to hit that wee ball straight, the occasional snobbery of a golf club and its patrons.
Jockose rating: 7/10
6. Laidlaw (William Mcilvanney, 1977)
My November book of 2024. Not my typical read, but then I’m not sure what is. It’s a crime fiction, similar, indeed, thought of as the inspiration, to Rankin’s ‘Rebus’, but set in Glasgow, the home of a good old fashioned proper murder. Like most things, we do it much better in Glasgae than Auld Reekie, although I am quite fond of Rankin’s books. ‘Laidlaw’ is the first in a trilogy involving the eponymous inspector or DC or whatever he is. He is the polis whatever he is. So, watchooterrapolis.
The tale is based on the murder of a Glaswegian hard man’s daughter. As you can imagine, he’s no’ too pleased, so detective Laidlaw sets oot and aboot to find oot who did it, before the aggrieved sets aboot any potential suspect. After all, as a self-respected nut-job, he is very keen to give the murderer a severe battering. You could say he’d like to murder the murderer. I wouldn’t though, as that’s quite difficult to say in Glaswegian.
Figure 7: There has been a murduhr, and someone needs a right good doing, Glesgae style
Jockose view
It’s a good straight forward enough tale, and by my standards I read it reasonably quickly. Lots of underworld nutter characters, drinkers, potential suspects and the usual carry on one might expect in a detective story. I like it mostly because it’s based in Glasgow. The plot does seem Rebus/Rankin like, which is fine. Would I rush to read the next two in the trilogy?…hmmm, no, but I would read them if I had them, if that makes sense. Yes, I know I couldnae read them if I didn’t have them but that’s no’ the point.
Jockose rating: 6/10
7. Squeaky Clean (Callum McSorley, 2023)
I rattled through this one, mostly due to waiting at various hospitals and surgeries in East Kent. God bless the NHS and minor yet serious injuries at a very inconvenient time of year! Adding to Celtic stealing the league cup final recently, this is another crime story set in Glasgow. Unlike ‘Laidlaw’ it’s not very serious at all, despite lots of murderous violent activity. In fact, it’s more black comedic than anything else, which makes it pretty unique in my illiterate experience. Hats off to young author Mr McSorley and the success this great story enjoyed, especially given it’s his first publication.
Centred around a carwash, the criminal underworld infiltrate and one of the washers, Davey, gets embroiled with local hardnut, who is a huge fan and regular practitioner of extreme violence. Poor old Davey gets into a bit of mess, whilst battling issues on the home fron with his separated wife and wee toddler daughter.
Figure 8: This book is awash with Weedgie jokes, banter and violence.
Jockose view
A very easy and enjoyable read. If the NHS weren’t more efficient I d have finished this in one surgery sitting. I really liked all the characters and the banter between the crims, carwashers and Davey’s family. The police on the other hand, were a wee bit of a letdown. Most unfortunately, the author chose the name of Alison McCoist for the detective. She’s a good enough character but obvs the Ally McCoist connotations is an unfortunate and unnecessary recurring theme, which I found a tad annoying. A small irritation nonetheless, and doesn’t detract from the book’s overall excellence.
Jockose rating: 7/10
THE WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amidst a field of very tough competition, from Bolivian jails to Weedgie carwashes, golf courses, murders and swashbuckling tales from Kabul, the winner of the Jockose 2024 book of the year is…….
‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’!
Hurrah!!!!!
It’s a serious and sobering read, which is brilliantly written. It’s thought-provoking and gives an insightful glimpse of our social history. It may be set in Edwardian times but many of its shocking aspects are as relevant now as they were then. This is truly a mighty tome that everyone should read. The word classic does not serve it justice. Get it read, and think how lucky you are, and how unfortunate our forefathers and families, who worked and lived under such inequality and depraved conditions, were not.
Wolfy has a say
As we all know, book awards are rather a subjective thing, so not everyone will agree with my choice. To dispel that thought, I sought high and low for a learned scholar, for a second opinion. And so it came to pass that Mrs Wolfy kindly stepped-up, as Mr Miaow-Miaows was busy miaowing. Without much in the way of bribery, she made her choice, which may come as a surprise. Some of you might think dogs can’t read. Well, you are wrong cos Wolfy can! Not only that, but she also thoroughly enjoys me reading her a bedtime story and is well versed in all of the above tales of woe, social crime, proper murders and laughter. Watch the vid to see who she voted for…
Figure 9: Wolfy selects her book of the year
Until next year, happy reading. Slainte!
Sources: 1-9: Ally photos & vid taken Jan 2025