This is one of the thirty books I acquired on a tour of Knaresborough's charity shops this morning in an attempt to stock up on reading material before this vulnerable 70+ oldie is confined to quarters as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread.

From Google Overview: "This ambitious, groundbreaking novel takes on the taboo subject of racial hatred as it looks for the roots of violence within the family and within British society. The Whites are an ordinary British family. Alfred White, a London park keeper, still rules his home with fierce conviction and inarticulate tenderness. May, his clever, passive wife loves Alfred but conspires against him. Their three children are no longer close; the elder son has left for America and the youngest son is a virulent racist. The daughter is involved in an interracial relationship with a black social worker. When the father’s sudden illlness forces the children to come together, their deep fears and prejudices come to the surface, raising issues about kinship, trust, and hatred. Maggie Gee expertly illustrates the tensions and prevailing social problems of modern day England in this fascinating novel."

The weird tale of the weird White family and others that they come into contact with. I can't say I'd want to meet any one of them, anywhere, any time . . .

We had a rural drive out in the sunshine this afternoon, which proved to be a ride in the rain, complete with rolling thunder - but that's another story . . . Anyway, this is one of the books I swapped in a couple of local red telephone box book exchanges.

Nearly two million people around the world give their books a unique BookCrossing IDentity number (BCID) before sending them out to find new readers. Since the start of the scheme in April 2001 over thirteen million such books have been put into circulation. This is one of them!

Our hope is that we can track the progress of our books once they've left our hands - and that's possible if finders like you visit the website, key in the BCID and leave a comment, however long or short. It's fun, it doesn't have to cost anything, although the site always appreciates donations towards running costs, and you can remain anonymous if you wish. You don't have to join but if you do you'll be able to number and track your own books!