General Chat

Hi Theresa, many,many years ago, because it was in black and white, I saw a programme on television, about the suffragettes being force fed in prison. Awful, absolutely awful. The French habit of force feeding geese for pate, comes very strongly to mind.
Take Care Now
Julia in Derbyshire

Just finished
The Dream Kingdom by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. Thanks Jacquie, I enjoyed it but was a little puzzled by the Family Tree as Augusta died in 1881 but had a son in 1887.

I guess it was a misprint, but a little annoying that I wsn't able to check it out on freebmd or Ancestry!
Book was quite informative, I hadn't realised that Winson Green prison was the place where the Suffragettes force fed first. (1909). It is now a men only prison. I used to go passed it on the way to work many years ago

Muffy, in my area, I can renew my Library books over the phone. So as long as I can remember when they are due back, I shouldn't have to pay a fine for overdue books (in theory anyway).

Tess

Good Morning Muffy and all
Just on a coffee and f*g break from working outdoors.
Thought I recognised the name Edward Rutherford. Just looked in the bookcase, and yes I have read the Russka book. About ten years ago was doing 'A' level Russian history, so I read all things Russian. It was a very good book.
I like murder mysteries the best. Jonathan Kellerman, his wife Faye and now their son. Kathy Reichts, Sue Grafton, and even Ian Rankin. Patricia Cornwall and the Scarpetta novels, though she is getting too, how shall I put it, cyberish/internetish. And many more. At the moment, I am reading the latest Val McDermidd (sp).
I have so many in my bedroom bookcase to read, it is unbelievable. It seems that every time I go into T**co, my favourites have another 'latest' out, so I have to have it. I had two of the Steig Larrsen books on offer, but I can't quite get used to this author, but have put the books away until later.
Happy reading all
Julia in Derbyshire

Just had a peek on Edwardrutherford.com to see if there are any more about that I haven't yet read...and there's one called New York which was released last year....I'm now off to try and source it second hand on Amazon lol xx

BLAH ...it's not due out in softback until the summer. *sighs* I shall just have to wait ! xx

Sarum was is a superb book ! Have read all of his (including Russka which was harder going) ...xx

I have read the London and Sarum books by Edward Rytherford. Both excellent, thanks for reminding me about them. Not sure if I have read the other two.

Hope to go to the Library on Thursday, looks like I will be taking a long list with me.

Tess

hi igor,
agree with you about edward rutherfurd, london is good and so is the new forest, cant cope with his russia book, all the russian names get me confused.
went into town yesterday for a scout round the charity shops, goy 3 bargains and then i had to spoil it by checking out waterstones. now a book better off, another elizabeth chadwick and £8 poorer.
i have no will power where books are concerned.
one of my charity shop bargains is a prequel to oliver twist, all about nancy and bill sykes.
val

Hi Tess
I prefered We are all made of glue , a wonderful array of offbeat characters , Mr Ali, The Useless Brothers, Mrs Shapiro and her cats .
A mixtutre of humour and pathos , made me laugh out loud and cry silently , and i do not as a rule read (and i am not sexist read books written by women as i find them to chic lit for my taste .
BUT in saying that i have read the Robyn Young "crusader 2 books
and Kate Mose " labyrinth and sepulchure"
I am a bookacholic and the study shelf is full to groaning with books (all read by the way .
So as a so called expert i urge you to read "On the black hill" bruce chatwin and "sarum " Edward Rutherford .
As for book clubs i'm in two minds really i can read Proust or Gothe one week or Chris Ryan Andy mcnab tghhe next.
Sso my opinion would be useless
igor

a

Muffy, I forgot to say .... my mum used to say that I should be banned from bookshops, as I just can't help buying some!
Once upon a
time, I saved money to buy a much need winter coat, cut through a book dept. on the way to the coat dept. and spent the money on books!

So I know how you felt when went to Waterstones.
We have (at least) one in town, very condusive to browsing, and so difficult to buy only one book!
They even sell old local maps, another weakness of mine.

My name is Tess and I am a bookaholic.

Igor, Short History of Tractors in the Ukraine was one of the books we read recently in the GReaders Group. (See Ann in Glos thread).

What did you think of it?

Tess

I tend to read crime fiction , eagerly awaiting Stuart Mc Bride "dark blood " released tomorrow £8 99 From amazon second mortgage in the shops) .
Just finished though "A SHORT HISTORY OF TRACTORS IN THE UKRAINE " AND We ARE ALL MADE OF GLUE " MARINA KEWOWSKA?(I think)

Just a warning Jean (Monmouth), Roarke is mine. Claimed him years ago. What a man!!! Sighhhhhhhh!!

As I said the "in Death" books are all linked, it is like a serial. The way the futuristic theme is dealt with is rather unique. I also like her vampire/witches/fairies books as well.

It was me that mentioned Nora Roberts. I have read some of the Death series, not sci-fi, just set in the future. She has also written an entirely different set of novels about Irish sisters, and another more Faerie and witches type, which are quite engrossing. She has some gorgeous heros in all of them.
I enjoy Dick Francis's mysterys, Jean Auol(sp) Her prehistory novels, Dorothy Dunnet, medieval sagas. Not Barbara Cartland or her kind.

I'm also writing all the suggestions down. Rate I'm going I'm sure I'll be needing more in the very near future xx

Tess, I bought the White Queen with The Girl who kicked the Hornet's nest (buy one get one free.)

hi uzzi in sunshine.
sounds as if you live in your van like i do. motorhome for me that is. the hardest part of moving out of the house was sorting out my books, cannot get 5 bookcases of books in a van. there are 3 types of books, the kind i dont get on with, the kind i read once and pass on to the family and the ones I KEEP. i also do well withpeople going home and never refuse a book, can always find it a new home. anyone tried c j sansom mysteries set around the time of the dissolution of the monastories and henry viii, plus patricia wrights i am england, a saga about an area of kent and the families thaty have lived there.
val

I am reading The White Queen at the moment (or will be when I go to bed). I bought the paperback in a special offer along with Girl with a Dragon Tattoo (is that a snap Ann in Glos?)
Got another Phillipa Gregory paperback today from my local charity shop (three for a pound), Perfectly Correct, so will be reading that soon.
Wasn't satisfied with the three for a pound offer, so bought six for two pounds! Including books bt Sarah Harrison and Sebaastian Faulks.

Will try to remember about the Elizabeth Chadwick books Ann, next time one comes up on GReaders.

Jacqueline, the Cynthia Harrod-Eagles books sound good. Will look out for them.

Not the type I usually read, Teresa. Lately, when reading for pleasure, it's been crime fiction eg James Patterson. I also like Jodi Picoult and chick lit types.

I did read the one about Ann Boleyn's sister Mary, that was made into a film and enjoyed it.

Now I am running late for work!!

Someone mentioned Nora Roberts. has anyone read her "In Death' series where she writes as JD Robb. I have introduced about a dozen people to this series and run a lending library of my copies.

There are 29 books in the series and a few novelettes which bridge one book to the next. Nora Roberts is still writing them. It is advisable to read them in order starting with Naked in Death. Each book is called .....In Death.

The stories are about a New York policewoman and are set in the future. They are available in paperback from the large department stores as well as booksellers. Exciting, spicy, thought provoking story lines, imaginative, tense and scary. I thoroughly recommend them.

Ooh no not read any of those. Will have to make a note.