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Post by Juliet on Jan 22, 2009 0:26:22 GMT 1
We had our ME group meeting tonight - in the January one we always have a bring & buy sale so we get everyone's unwanted Christmas presents (anything we can't sell gets passed on to charity shops so I now have a big bag of things for Oxfam in the porch). Anyway, I bought a book called Allotted Time, by Robin Shelton - anyone heard of it? The sub-title is Two blokes, one shed, no idea - it's about some non-gardeners taking over an allotment from scratch (a bit like Joe Swift then ) - thought it sounded fun. I'll let you know whether it is.
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Post by Amazing on Jan 22, 2009 3:03:31 GMT 1
Have started reading 'Toms Midnight garden'.
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Post by janerowena on Jan 22, 2009 9:14:19 GMT 1
I have that book, Juliet. I met him while I was in Winchester just after the book came out, so I had to buy it. It isn't immediately apparent from the book that he is an extremely well-educated man, but he was severely depressed when he wrote the book, despite its mostly upbeat feel. He lived not far from me and used to go into the pub not far from where we lived, and the allotments he describes are in the village of Twyford on the edge of Winchester.
I'll tell you more about him when you've read the book.
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Post by Nooj on Jan 22, 2009 12:39:45 GMT 1
I read it a while ago, and really enjoyed it I seem to rememer that he found the lottie a help with his feelings, and he did make me laugh!
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Post by Juliet on Jan 22, 2009 14:38:37 GMT 1
Interesting. It'll probably take me a while to get around to reading it (I have too many things to read & too little time, as usual), but I'll get back to you when I have.
Glad you found Tom's Midnight Garden, Amazing - hope you enjoy it. Did you read it as a child or is it new to you?
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Post by Nooj on Jan 22, 2009 14:53:30 GMT 1
I'm looking for copies of the Elizaeth West books Hovel in the Hills Garden in the Hills and another one. \ It'll have to e second hand dealer s I suppose because I think they are out of print now. ut good ooks.
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Post by Juliet on Jan 22, 2009 14:59:59 GMT 1
You could try Amazon marketplace, or Play Trade? - or failing that, this is a website for second hand booksellers who don't have their own sites (quality may be variable though, as I think their standards are lower): www.abebooks.co.uk/
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Post by Flumps on Jan 24, 2009 0:50:48 GMT 1
I've bought via Abe books before and had no problems. I think they're an amazon trader though, so you're unlikely to find anything on there that you can't find via amazon.
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Post by Juliet on Jan 24, 2009 0:55:16 GMT 1
They are a host site for lots of other booksellers, not all of whom are also on Amazon. I've bought from them too - I wasn't suggesting people might have problems with them, just that their standards for condition of books (eg if the sellers say "excellent", "good", "fair" etc) are rather lower, and there's no feedback form so it's harder to tell which sellers have good customer services (they're just graded on returns, not on customer reviews).
PS Flumps, if you're still about, did you see QI tonight? If not, watch the repeat! C'est en Franglais.
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Post by Amazing on Jan 24, 2009 9:16:29 GMT 1
Juliet, first time round for 'Toms midnight garden' Am enjoying it. We watched Trial and Retribution last night, I think QI is repeated or there is always iplayer, will watch one way or another. We watch repeats on Dave.
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Post by Flumps on Jan 24, 2009 9:18:22 GMT 1
Didn't know that Juliet, learn summat new everyday How did you know I love QI? ;D (It's my obvious geek-ness isn't it? ;D) Missed it last night but will definitely try to catch uo later. Flumps.x
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Post by janerowena on Jan 24, 2009 12:06:12 GMT 1
I love QI too, but didn't watch last night's as I had had to endure Dave on all day whilst Robert was off school with his lovely cold.
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Post by Nooj on Jan 24, 2009 12:31:55 GMT 1
I'm in the middle of the new Philippa Gregory - The other Queen, and it know it's good because I find myself really worrying about these people, although it all happened in the 1560's so I can't help them!
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Post by Teddy on Jan 24, 2009 12:50:36 GMT 1
Just finished The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, by Kate Summerscale. Victorian murder mystery thingummybob, about a well-to-do family whose youngest, four-year-old son is murdered. Lots of fascinating fact about life in Victorian times, the meaning of words, etc. (As a Grammar Geek, I enjoy this sort of stuff). Its all fact, and partly a biog of Mr Whicher, one of the first "detectives". I also had really vivid dreams while I was reading it. Which is a bonus. I always like a good night's dream!
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Post by Flumps on Jan 24, 2009 14:35:52 GMT 1
I'm in the middle of the new Philippa Gregory - The other Queen, and it know it's good because I find myself really worrying about these people, although it all happened in the 1560's so I can't help them! ooooh, I got that one for Christmas. Might read it next.
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Post by Flumps on Feb 1, 2009 0:08:36 GMT 1
Decided to read Miracle at Speedy Motors first. Has anyone read the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books? Looooooove them!
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Post by janerowena on Feb 1, 2009 0:16:16 GMT 1
Oh yes. I read them at a very tricky point in my life when I was finding it very hard to concentrate on anything, least of all the fairly weighty tomes that are my normal reading material. Someone bought me the first one, I bought the next 5 and had to wait for an agonising few months for the next to be out! real escapism. I enjoyed the film too. I think it had only just come out when Anthony Minghella died.
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Post by Flumps on Feb 1, 2009 13:25:24 GMT 1
The film was great wasn't it? I hope they make the rest into films.
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Post by Hil's old account on Feb 1, 2009 19:03:56 GMT 1
I too love the the no.1 detective agency books. Makes me want to go to Botswana!
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Post by Flumps on Feb 1, 2009 20:45:54 GMT 1
Have you read any of his other stuff? I like 44 Scotland Street, can tolerate The Sunday Philosophy Club, and absolutely hated The 2 1/2 Pillars of Wisdom (which I think is the only series he's finishedso far). None were anywhere near as good as No.1 LDA though.
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Post by janerowena on Feb 1, 2009 20:56:56 GMT 1
Is 44 Scotland street the one about all the people who have flats in the house? if so, I've just read the second one in the series, but I must have passed it on because I can't find it to check. it was good, better than the first. But I agree, the No1 books are the best.
I've just finished Mrs. Fytton's Country Life, by Mavis Cheek. It's a really good book, beautifully written and very true to life, and very funny in a well-observed way. Much better than Elizabeth Buchan's revenge of a Middle-aged Woman, which is the nearest I can think of to compare it with.
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Post by Flumps on Feb 2, 2009 17:18:57 GMT 1
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Post by janerowena on Feb 2, 2009 18:22:50 GMT 1
;D ;D ;D
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Post by Flumps on Feb 2, 2009 18:38:11 GMT 1
Grrrr... The last pic didn't work, and that was the best. It was called "Coups d'état : A Practical Guide"
<justabitoflightbedtimereadinghonestlysmiley>
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Post by pa on Feb 7, 2009 21:02:39 GMT 1
Hi - am fed up with present book so I read The Cement Garden this afternoon - I really enjoyed it ! May start the Mr Y one later. Take care - PA
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Post by Flumps on Feb 8, 2009 10:43:09 GMT 1
Be interested to know what you think of the Mr Y one PA. I sort of enjoyed it, but it gave me the creeps!!
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Post by Aspidistra on Feb 8, 2009 13:29:36 GMT 1
I like the no.1 detective agency books. ;D I liked the film too and was really sad Minghella died. Finally finished The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (translated from Spanish). A really good read I think, a rather complex story, with stories within stories. One of those books where you have to pay attention a bit at the beginning but once you get going you can just read and read it. Now I am on to a rather obscure book called The Bad Birdwatcher's Guide by Simon Barnes. It was serialized on Radio 4 and it is very interesting but boy, could he do with some serious editing - he just loves rammmmbling on about himself and his life which I find rather tedious. But the basic tennet (now how do you spell tennet? too lazy to look it up) is that everyone can be a birdwatcher, without having to become a fully-paid up member of the mad twitcher's notebook carrying brigade. He drops these hints about how one might approach looking at birds and its quite interesting in that how you identify birds is similar to how we might get into identifying plants - its all about looking, and then looking in more depth and so on but without getting hysterical about feeling you can never know it all - but that you build up knowledge, bit by bit.
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Post by Flumps on Feb 8, 2009 15:49:30 GMT 1
Loved Shadow of the Wind - read it a few years ago - may re-read it soon.
Has anyone read The Time Traveller's Wife? Or Five People You Meet in Heaven?
Both very good books.
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Post by janerowena on Feb 8, 2009 16:37:07 GMT 1
I've got the Time Traveller's Wife, but haven't read it yet. For once I have about 20 books waiting to be read, which means that I don't have to go to the library every week to get my fix.
I knew there was another Alexander McCall Smith book in the pile - it is an Isobel Dalhousie one, caled 'Friends, Lovers, Chocolate'! I am starting it tonight.
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Post by Flumps on Feb 8, 2009 17:57:48 GMT 1
Read The Time Traveller's Wife first JRo. It's sooooooooooo good. I turned the back page then started again at the front without even putting it down. Not nearly as hard to get your head round as the blurb makes you think either.
The Isabel wotsit books are ok, but I find it really hard to identify with the main character. I spend a lot of time wishing she'd stop waffling on about things and just bloody get on with it! ;D
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