#65 Adventures on the High Teas, by Stuart Maconie (Ebury Press)

The ‘in search of…’ whimsical travel book has become increasingly popular in recent years, as best evidenced by the likes of Bill Bryson and 100 Books in a Year favourite Charlie Connelly, and the genre travels all the way to Tony Hawks and his trotting around countries trying to fulfil bizarre bets.

Adventures on the High Teas: In Search of Middle England is another one of these, then, with author, broadcaster and comedian Stuart Maconie setting out to discover what exactly makes Middle England what it is. And what that phrase means exactly. Because different people have different views, ranging from the perception and connotations linked to the Daily Mail to the world of Brief Encounter and Mike Oldfield.

There’s a lot to like about High Teas. Maconie makes for an amusing raconteur and the places he visits, such as Knutsford, Tunbridge Wells and Meriden – the exact centre of the country (ish) - are well selected. There’s some fine historical information and lots of anecdotes and encounters en route.

Perhaps it was a too long, however. I was growing a bit weary by the end and could have done with 50 or so fewer pages or more humour to sustain me the more pages I turned. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t set my heart racing.

So, rating time:

#65 Adventures on the High Teas, by Stuart Maconie (Ebury Press) - 6/10

Next up: In the Rooms, by Tom Shone (Windmill Books)

Click here for the full list of books so far, and their rating