Read any good books lately?

[Blondelle]

Imsure many men would enjoy that book of Mike Athertons, Creoso -- and although I went to an all girls school we did play cricket (could never get the hang of those pads though and I was afraid of the ball).But I take after my Ma regarding the game--my late Dad used to drag her along to the Oval,where she inevitably fell asleep!
Your chosen novel of WW1 "Birdsong" reminded me of a WW2 novel I read about 20 years ago called "Fair Stood The Wind For France" by H.E.Bates -this too has been considered one of the best novels from the last war. But I like all H.E.Bates books-Ive read most of them. He was actually in the RAF and wrote book of shorts on his experiences under title "Flying Officer X".
"Fair Stood The Wind For France" is of a Brit plane shot down over occupied France--how the pilot is taken in by French girl & her father -how they treat his wounds(part of which is bit gruesome)and hide him from the nazis--a gripping book --told by a master story teller. In fact I think this is another book that Sandy might well like.
Gerry! We look forward to hearing you when you take up that vacant "Bard" position at Sullys! Perhaps it will save you rushing off to night work --as this will clearly be an evening occupation--but the wages will possibly be in "liquid " form only--would that suit or not ?
Its gotta be better than working for a living wouldnt you say?
Boa noite, Elle.

[Gordon and Sandy Low]

'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks - probably the finest novel I've ever read.

ditto that Croeso.

Sandy

[Gordon and Sandy Low]

Belongs on the Jokes forum I know, but given the topic..

For those of you who do not know, Bulwer-Lytton wrote "The Last Days of Pompeii", which opens with the famous line "It was a dark and stormy night." Hence the contest.
These are the 10 winners of this year's Bulwer-Lytton contest (run by the English Dept of San Jose State University), herein one writes only the first line of a bad novel (which in this instance is probably more than enough!)

10. "As a scientist, Throckmorton knew that if he were ever to break wind in the echo chamber he would never hear the end of it."

9. "Just beyond the Narrows the river widens."

8. "With a curvaceous figure that Venus would have envied, a tanned,
unblemished oval face framed with lustrous thick brown hair, deep azure-blue eyes fringed with long black lashes, perfect teeth that vied for competition, and a small straight nose, Marilee had a beauty that defied description."

7. "Andre, a simple peasant, had only one thing on his mind as he crept along the East wall: 'Andre creep... Andre creep... Andre creep.'"

6. "Stanislaus Smedley, a man always on the cutting edge of narcissism, was about to give his body and soul to a back alley sex-change surgeon to become the woman he loved."

5. "Although Sarah had an abnormal fear of mice, it did not keep her from eeking out a living at a local pet store."

4. "Stanley looked quite bored and somewhat detached, but then penguins often do."

3. "Like an over-ripe beefsteak tomato rimmed with cottage cheese, the corpulent remains of Santa Claus lay dead on the hotel floor."

2. "Mike Hardware was the kind of private eye who didn't know the meaning of the word 'fear'; a man who could laugh in the face of danger and spit in the eye of death -- in short, a moron with suicidal tendencies."

AND THE WINNER IS...

1. "The sun oozed over the horizon, shoved aside darkness, crept along the greensward, and, with sickly fingers, pushed through the castle window, revealing the pillaged princess, hand at throat, crown
asunder, gaping in frenzied horror at the sated, sodden amphibian lying beside her, disbelieving the magnitude of the frog's deception, screaming madly, 'You lied!'"

[Guest]

Gordon and sandy,
be fore you meet your charming prince ye got to kiss a lot of frogs.Many thanks for the above got a great laugh from same .
Didn,t go any further with the apt over the ice cream shop as yet ,for it to work i needed at least two other people to take it on.
It,s gas that you should venture james joyce reading lark,in reality i have always reckoned that if it all got to much for me and i had to drop out thats what i,d do not in cvo but in Cork.More so"FINNEGANS WAKE" then ULYSSES" any one can do ulyssess, mind you ellie or maddie doing molly blooms soliloquy in akind of an upper english middle class accent in sullys of an evening might be just the thing to spark interest in the great mans writtings.finaly another book worth a read on holidays is"THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES" by sue monk kidd ,nothing deep just kinda pleasent.
anyway nice talking to you all see ye soon
Gerry

ps isn,t this a nice easy going pleasent relaxing kinda topic lets keep it that way

[chrissy]

Just going back to Patricia Cornwell novels, I have read then all and can't wait for the next one to be published. However, you really need to read them in the correct order because Kay Scarpetta (the main character) has a lot of personal stuff happening and it would spoil it for you if you find out certain things before you should if you get my drift. Ms Cornwell writes other stuff but the 'Kay Scarpetta' ones are the best crime thrillers I have read.

[*]

Hi,

Depending how deep you want to go during your holiday I could recommend the book 'The world of thinking' by Inayat Khan. It
is somewhat phylosophical but very intersting.

[Ellie]

In answer to Guest* --regarding your recommended "The World of Thinking " by Inayat Khan--d'you think it might sort out my butterfly /grasshopper brain a little? I dont mind it being a bit deep if its also somewhat helpful and soothing--perhaps I could look for this one in library ?
Chrissy--you seem a real Patricia Cornwell fan and you suggest reading in correct order (regarding Kay Scarpetta character ) Which one should I start with please?
Thanks to Gordon/Sandy for giving me a good laugh with your Bulmer-Lytoon awards list too-and Ill certainly have to read Sebastion Faulks "Birdsong" now youve recommended it also.
Gerry-- Mads and me reading "Molly Bloom" in English "Middle class" accent in Sullys ! Well-- I cant speak for our Devon lass Maddi -but "Moi!" --you gotta be kidding Gerry ! Dont you know I hail from "Peckham" ! Del boy country-- Fools & Horses & all that !--You mean Id have to speak "Proper" like?
No-- Im not real cockney but "London" all the same---no "posh" accent here sunshine--How would that go down in Sullys --Molly Bloom in "london speak"? and at same time trying to do a "Dublin" --blimey--Id be in a right old "Two& eight" wouldnt I?
Whatever happened to "Swingdinging"?When he found that I was a Peckham girl--he asked if I spoke like "Marlene"(Boyceys wife in F&Hs)-- I replied " No --much softer and just a little bit --erm-- posher ?
Mmmm-this could all end in a very interesting "meet-up" in Sullys one evening --what d'you think boys & girls?
See ya later--Ellie
Ill look out for "The Secret Life of Bees" too Gerry!

P.S. I had a tiny book shop on outskirts of Silves for a while --a very wide selection from Mills& Boons (also in Portuguese& German)
Lots of science fiction--classics ---poetry etc---still found that most of women who came here liked M&Bs and Jackie Collins stuff (the Portuguese ladies liked these)
Although I enjoy a good romance book-I cant get into these -prefer something much meatier.
Does anyone like medieval stories? Like Arthurian legends---Mary Stewart ones are good also "The Pendragon" by Catherine Christian.

Its a never ending subject and what a varied readership we have here-love to hear from more of you.

[swingdingin]

hi ellie
i have to agree with you about "the magic cottage" by james herbert...we
had just moved to a cottage in the country....made it all the more spooky!!
the last book i read was an autobiography by michael j fox entitled "lucky man"...i never particularly liked him as an actor,but his story about his struggle with early onset parkinsons is very moving
hope to chat over weekend
mike

[croeso]

Mate of mine has taken a John Grisham novel on holiday with him for the past FIVE years - it's the same one every year! We enjoy ourselves watching the world go by & enjoying a glass of Sagres (or 3) at Smilers etc. that after lunch he's not really in the right frame of mind to do any reading! (I think by now that he's reached chapter 6). Isn't that what good hols. are all about - doing your own thing?
Interesting topic - far better than discussing the merits of the Land Train - what's wrong with the Land Train anyway

[Blondelle]

Hi swingdining!
Good to see you back on board ---been holidaying?
Yes re Magic Cottage -- the only James Herbert that Ive read -but a real chiller -dont envy you moving to a country cottage --after reading that!
Yes it is very sad about young Michael J Fox--havent read book but imagine it would be most moving.
Croeso - your friends John Grisham novel that he never finishes? he would nt by any chance have that just as a "cover" and be hiding something entirely different inside would he? Sort of subtistute for a "brown cover " job ! Maybe you ought to take a closer look this holiday!
Im now curious to see my what my younger sis Maddfis choice would be for favourite holiday read--whats it to be Mads?
Happy reading --boa noite, Ellie

[maddi]

Usually read Kathy Reichs, Ian Rankin, Nicci French on holiday, but if you are looking for something with more meaning then I can highly recommend "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden - really gets into you!

Have to say that if you can get past the first 50 pages of "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" it is a 1000 times better than the film (absolute crap and not even the same story as the book).

Personally didn't like "Birdsong", and that is despite having watched the petals fall at the Menin Gate on 11/11 and visiting Thiepval, etc - it made me cross (now there's a surprise!!). Did like "Farewell to France" though.

You need to read Ian Rankin on order as well!! I did enjoy the early Patricia Cornwell - Kay Scarpetta - books, but just how many times can one person be suspended and not resign!!

And finally (although perhaps dated and even a little young - NEVER I hear you cry!!) my favourite all time books are "Picnic at Hanging Rock" and "The Crysalids" - the only books I have ever read over and over again.

Mads x

p.s. if there is a living to be had reading classic literature aloud in a drinking establishment, I would have no problem projecting in cultured, very middle class tones (knew that private education would come in handy )

[Rob]

In answer to Guest* --regarding your recommended "The World of Thinking " by Inayat Khan--d'you think it might sort out my butterfly /grasshopper brain a little? I dont mind it being a bit deep if its also somewhat helpful and soothing--perhaps I could look for this one in library ?

Hi Ellie,

Following your remark I am not quite sure if they have it in a library. I am a big fan of psychological, phylosophical ( sorry for the bad spelling!) and spiritual literature which I mostly obtain in larger bookshops on demand. I would also recommend books from Rosemary Altea which I find nice to read and very enlightening. (For further details you could look at her .com website)

All the best

Rob

[Guest]

Howayis
Croeso,if like me your mate enjoys the auld amber nectuer at lunch time introduce him to the "THE FAR SIDE"cartoon books by gary larson,they are just the best.Madds and ellie about the molly bloom thing we,d be arrested .they didn,t ban the bauld jimmys books in Ireland for nuthin ye know.anyway......shit ,sorry ,have to go,the bloody cat,s bullying the wolfhounds again seeyis.
GERRY

[Ellie]

Maddi--- dont know "Farewellto France" --whos it by ?
Never read "Picnic at hanging rock" but seen &enjoyed film.
I also enjoyed C.Correllis mandolin--found the chapter on Mussollini particulary fascinating--didnt bother with film--although i usually see films with "John Hurt" --he played girls father I believe. Jamie likes John Wyndham books -like the Crysalids -another fav of his is "Midwich cuckoos".
Thanks for tip on Rosemary Altea -have seen her name around -Ill definitely look on her website, Rob.Also Ill look for Inayat Khans in book shops.
Gerry--werent the "Far side" cartoons featured in an evening newpaper was it the standard -Im sure Ive seen them?
Thats a fierce but brave pussy you have there -that will stand up to an Irish wolfhound--are they the biggest dog --or is that a great Dane?
So we're banned from Sullys before we start ?and I was so looking forward toyoureading Jimmys books -with our Mads readingin middle class Brit speak--and me?--thought I could tinkle away in the background --a few good old Irish numbers on piano--sorry mean "joanna"!Ahh well! another little fantasy bites the dust!
I also enjoy few French writers--Francoise Sagan(Bonjour Tristesse)
Guy de Maupassant short stories--and of course Marcel Pagnols "Jean de Florette" and "Manon de Sources"--enjoyed these films very much too.
I love the American author Anya Setons books too -have read them all--but "Katherine" is a particular favourite --medieval of course!
How about American "Whitely Streiber" books --of his UFO/abuduction experiences--"Communion" /"Transformation" --I read these when we were living in a remote part of Kent--and scared the living daylights out of myself by reading then well into the night!
Enjoy your day & a good read, Ellie.

[swingdingin]

of course there is one book we are all looking forward to
hope things are going well with it elle
mike