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Post by Juliet on Jul 7, 2008 23:22:01 GMT 1
As I said I'd start a new thread, and the old one seems to be disappearing off the bottom of the page ...
These are the suggestions we had before, less the ones we've already read:
His Lordship's Gardener, by Ann Barker (but not available at reasonable price) Colour, by Rose Tremain (but has medical bits so Juliet couldn't read) The Savage Garden: A Novel, by Mark Mills (but Rhoda has read & thinks not v. good) Arcadia, by Tom Stoppard (but is a play so might be better seen than read) Lady Chatterley's Lover, by DH Lawrence (but might be difficult to discuss on public message board!) The Cement Garden, by Ian McEwen (but dark and disturbing & not really about gardening) The Snow Garden, by Christopher Rice (no info) My Brother Geoff: The People's Gardener, by Tony Hamilton (if we fancy non-fiction) Mansfield Park, by Jane Austin Tom's Midnight Garden, by Philippa Pearce The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde (only a short children's story, but it's fun and about a garden) The Sea Garden, by Sam Llewellyn (suspense fiction - needs concentration) Eden, by Tim Smit (non-fiction) The Stone Diaries, by Carol Shields Dear Friend And Gardener by Christopher Lloyd and Beth Chatto Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris The Revenge Of The Middle-Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchanan
Do we want to: a) Read Dear Friend and Gardener next, as that was a close runner-up last time and a lot of people bought it anyway or b) Collect more suggestions (if anyone has any) and have another vote?
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Post by Amazing on Jul 8, 2008 0:36:01 GMT 1
I remember reading 'Lady Chatterleys Lover' when I was twelve and thought woah! I must try that. So bought 'kamasutra' and really blew myself away. Wasn't such a big deal though when I eventually tried some of them. My friend makes cakes and I remember she did one for a couples 40th and it was no. 40 in said book, very interesting. Must ask her if she has a photo of it. (If no-one has seen the photos I will post some here soon. Well, on another thread. Don't fancy The Snow Garden. Don't think it is about a 'garden'. Blackberry wine about a guy who goes to France. Revenge of a Middle aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchanan, this might be quite good.
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Post by beej on Jul 8, 2008 21:27:34 GMT 1
I'm reading 'Dear Friend...' already & couldn't really commit to reading anything else as I have 3 book clubs to keep up with. I will always do my best if I am able!
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Post by Juliet on Jul 8, 2008 22:08:47 GMT 1
I think I should have made this a poll ... ... do I take it we have one vote for option b and one for option a then? Actually, make that two for option a because I have a copy of Dear Friend and Gardener already too.
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Post by Hil's old account on Jul 9, 2008 16:15:59 GMT 1
I already had the Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman and read it when it came out. So, I've started it again. It's difficult for me to identify with the heroine as she's exceptionally different to me! But it's an intelligent book and well written and worth the read. IMO
Pow! hillieminniehaha
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Post by anneliesje on Jul 9, 2008 17:43:36 GMT 1
OPtion a (dear friend etc ) is OK for me as I bought the book too. I'm currently reading something else, but I guess I can join in later.
Have fun A.
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Post by marinelilium on Jul 10, 2008 17:09:55 GMT 1
I LOVED The Revenge of a Middle Aged Woman! I went through same experience - and what her garden did for her mine has done for me. I really, really did relate to this heroine.
Dear Friend and Gardener has been on my radar since the last poll so I'll order that tonight, whether it's chosen or not.
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Post by janerowena on Jul 15, 2008 16:38:17 GMT 1
I have Dear Friend and Gardener but haven't started it yet as I was too tired when I was away and only managed to get through Sepulchre. It was very good, Anneliese, thank you. Very scary and creepy.
Dear Friend Please!
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Post by Juliet on Jul 16, 2008 17:31:35 GMT 1
I think that's four votes for option a, two for option b, and Marinelillium for either?
Anyone else have a preference? - because if not I think we might as well read Dear Friend and Gardener this time and then vote again next time.
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Post by Flumps on Jul 16, 2008 18:09:58 GMT 1
Can I join in please? With summer holidays approaching (hurrah!) I might actually have time to read something for pleasure rather than for work. Don't care what it is, just the idea of reading a novel is too lovely for words Flumpet.x
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Post by Juliet on Jul 16, 2008 18:17:14 GMT 1
Yes, of course you can join in Dear Friend and Gardener's not a novel though, it's a collection of letters by Beth Chatto & Christopher Lloyd (to each other) - would you mind that, or are you voting for option b?
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Post by Flumps on Jul 16, 2008 18:23:55 GMT 1
I don't care - anything that is in no way related to school will do just fine. I'd probably read a collection of shopping lists quite happily as long as none of them included uniform or stationery items! I LOVE to read, but I just don't get the time these days
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Post by anneliesje on Jul 17, 2008 18:51:23 GMT 1
OK to me. I'm reading Salt on our skin from Benoite Groult right now. It is mainly about sex really! I will read Sepulchre on a holiday too Janerowena, albeit slow. I have plenty more books to read I might read dear friend and gardener on the subway, as this or maximum 10 minutes' trips and the letters seem perfect for that. Take care all XX
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Post by Flumps on Jul 17, 2008 19:15:25 GMT 1
Ooh, just read Sepulchre - much better than Labyrinth IMO.
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Post by Amazing on Jul 17, 2008 21:37:15 GMT 1
I'm reading, must go and look, 'revenge of a married woman', a bit slow!, at the moment but will buy beth catto's book for hols. sorry about lower case but can't be bothered to move hands any further.
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Post by Juliet on Jul 17, 2008 23:56:01 GMT 1
OK, it looks like we're reading Dear Friend And Gardener next then.
Shall we give ourselves a month again? Then those people who don't already have it have time to order it and read it before we start talking about it.
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Post by janerowena on Jul 18, 2008 18:26:42 GMT 1
I started it a couple of nights ago, and I can thoroughly recommend it for lastthingatnight reading. A few letters and I'm off, it's so calming. Not boring, just calming.
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Post by pa on Jul 19, 2008 22:13:01 GMT 1
Hi - I am still reading The Hand Maidens Tale - have read it before but about 30 years ago - really enjoying it, One day I will catch up with you all ! Take care - PA
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Post by Flumps on Jul 21, 2008 22:49:29 GMT 1
The Margaret Atwood one? That's SUCH a good book! Alias Grace is also very good, bt most of her other stuff is a bit too weird for me! I've just started The Book Thief, which is very good. Then I have to read Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources (in the original French!) in preparation for next year's A level class. THEN I'll read Dear Friend and Gardener. I can read super-fast tho (in English at least!) so I should be fine
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Post by Amazing on Jul 21, 2008 23:53:08 GMT 1
Bought a copy of 'my friend and gardener' on amazon yesterday and hope to get it before I go to York.
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Post by Juliet on Jul 23, 2008 22:39:07 GMT 1
I have to read Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources (in the original French!) in preparation for next year's A level class. Ooh, do you teach French lit A level? I loved doing that - shame I couldn't have done it without the language really, I'd have got an A instead of a D Are Sartre & Anouilh & Gide & Maupassant still on the syllabus sometimes, or has it changed completely?
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Post by Flumps on Jul 23, 2008 23:02:04 GMT 1
Sartre is - Les Mains Sales I think. There's some Anouilh as well, tho we don't teach it. Gide and Maupassant are sadly gone - I hated Gide but loved Maupassant (remember the one abut the black pudding?? ). Sadly literature is being eased out - we only teach two books now - this year Manon des Sources (I find it odd that the sequel's on the reading list but Jean de Florette isn't...) and L'Etranger. Given a less limited choice, I would always teach Prévert (or Pervert as we not-very-originally used to call him ), but he's been binned too Students would always start off by saying "Oh God no, don't make us read foreign poetry" and end up loving it. Very difficult to get a decent translation too so they were forced to learn to love the original French (and they always did learn to love it, despite their determination not to). I know what you mean about doing it without the language. Personally (excuse my soapbox moment) it really annoys me that lit essays have to be written in target language. Students often come up with really profound insights into the lit, which they just can't express properly in French, so they end up describing the storyline instead. For me the ability to write in French and the ability to appreciate French culture and literature are two completely different things and should be examined as such. But what do I know eh?? <cynicalsmiley>
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Post by Flumps on Jul 23, 2008 23:07:53 GMT 1
On a different note, not sure if I'll be reading Dear Friend and Gardener... at least not unless I can get a cheap copy somewhere. At the moment I am totally (but luckily temporarily!) skint. There are two reasons for this... 1. It's the car tax / insurance / service etc. month. OUCH 2. Took mum shopping the other day and bought her a hideously expensive pair of shoes which she fell in love with but absolutely couldn't afford. So... books for Flump or gorgeous shoes for Flump's mum... no brainer really. Anyway, soon be payday but until then I need to reign in the spends a bit. Hey ho.
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Post by anneliesje on Jul 24, 2008 6:19:34 GMT 1
Well I have started the Dear Friends and Gardener and it is OK to read a letter r 2 in bed, but not OK to read on the train. I should look up most of the plants and don't know anyone they talk about.
I will take a philip claudel with me on the train today. Dutch translation though. I don't know what it is, but never read books in french although I could. Maybe the newest Claudel I could buy in french to see how it goes. We had Prévert etc when we were 14 at school.
Can't remember what we had when we were older, except for Françoise Sagan's bonjour Tristesse.
Have to run now I need to catch the train to Liège, where I can practice French.
XXX
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Post by Miss Piggin on Jul 24, 2008 9:50:30 GMT 1
I do admire all you folk who speak different languages. I did French at school for 3 years but just couldn't get to grips with it and gave it up in my fourth year. I can usually manage a good morning and thank you in French, Italian, Spanish and Greek but that's about it.
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Post by Flumps on Jul 24, 2008 10:03:50 GMT 1
Probably a lot do do with the way it was taught Piggin... Language teaching has changed a lot in recent years. You should give it anothet go Anyway, knowing a few basics in four different languages is not to be sniffed at!
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Post by Miss Piggin on Jul 24, 2008 10:21:38 GMT 1
Thank you Flumps!
Merci beaucoup
Grazie
Gracias
Efharisto poli
;D
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Post by Juliet on Jul 24, 2008 13:32:58 GMT 1
We did Les Mains Sales, Flumps! - also Anouilh's Becket, Quinze Contes (no, I don't remember the black pudding - obviously I need to read it again!), and Gide's La Symphonie Pastorale - I loved all of them, but particularly the Sartre & Gide, for which we had an excellent teacher. We didn't have to write lit essays in French though, thankfully - but the course was only one third French lit and two thirds French language, even though it was supposed to be a French lit A level not a French language one I got embarrassingly high As for every French lit essay I wrote (embarrassing because the teachers kept reading them out to the rest of the class ) but the French language side of things was a nightmare, as the teacher was really appalling (she was French and couldn't explain anything in English : and my language grades dropped from As to Es over the two years of the A level. Half of the people who started the course dropped out (literally - the class went from 14 to 7) - half wish I had as well, though the French lit. stuff has come in handy over the years - I chose French lit strands as part of my first degree and discovered Alain-Fournier among others, and when I was writing a "long essay" on Godot for my MA it was handy to be able to read it in the original French. I didn't do Prevert for any of my courses though - must look out for some.
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Post by Flumps on Jul 24, 2008 15:02:52 GMT 1
Here's my favourite - and arguably the most famous Prévert poem. It's widely accepted to be about the breakup of a relationship, tho my students have come up with some interesting alternative theories over the years (my favourite being that it's about a child starved of paternal attention). I use it a lot with younger students to teach the past tense : Déjeuner du matin
Il a mis le café Dans la tasse Il a mis le lait Dans la tasse de café Il a mis le sucre Dans le café au lait Avec la petite cuiller Il a tourné Il a bu le café au lait Et il a reposé la tasse Sans me parler Il a allumé Une cigarette Il a fait des ronds Avec la fumée Il a mis les cendres Dans le cendrier Sans me parler Sans me regarder Il s'est levé Il a mis Son chapeau sur sa tête Il a mis son manteau de pluie Parce qu'il pleuvait Et il est parti Sous la pluie Sans une parole Sans me regarder Et moi j'ai pris Ma tête dans ma main Et j'ai pleuré English translation here (but it's not a patch on the original - translated poetry rarely is IMO) : www.ductape.net/~mass/poem3a.html#DMYou must have studied the same syllabus as me Juliet, I read all those books. I absolutely hated La Symphonie Pastorale, but I think that's mainly because the teacher was ever-so-slightly pervy and that in combination with the not-so-slightly pervy subject matter made for very uncomfortable lessons! It was thought to be a thinly-disguised autobiography wasn't it? Dread to think what kind of life Gide had!! Quinze Contes tho - pure genius! The black pudding one was about a Corsican vendetta - don't think the pudding was the main focus of the story but it's the bit that's stuck in my mind. Flumpet.x
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Post by Nooj on Jul 24, 2008 16:39:41 GMT 1
Are you deliberately trying to make me upset/ That is the saddest thing I have read in a while.... and it sounds like a man/woman thing to me. You don't need to be violent to be cruel.
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