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Post by jlottie on Sept 3, 2006 21:33:19 GMT
It getting to that time of year when I can begin to settle down to a really good read, which is a bit like gardening - every thing else can wait a while.
My favourite set of books are Earths Children by Jean Auel, every time another one in the series comes out I have to re-read all the others first and enjoy them just as much as the first time. They have certainly made me look at plants and how we evolved in a different way.
Any suggestions for the dark nights that are on their way?
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Post by owainglyndwr on Sept 3, 2006 22:13:14 GMT
Hi jlottie
I've just stocked up on Ian Rankin books. The autor of the Inspector Rebus Novels
** message to self - a new series starts on ITV friday night** Ken Stott such a strong actor
WB
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2006 22:38:23 GMT
It's been ages since I read any of the Earths Children booksI loved the first two but the third one drove me mad, I though she had just copies and pasted bits over and over again to pad the book out, so I didn't bother with the rest of them. I love The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and the rest of the Avalon series aren't too bad, I always did have a sneaking liking for Morgan le Fey.  I can also happily reread the Book of Lankhmar by Fritz Lieber, they always make me laugh, and the Rama series by Arthur C Clarke are always worth another read. Oh and the Mayfair Witches by Anne Rice as well as the Blood Opera trilogy by Tanith Lee. You can tell I'm not a Mills and Boon sort of gal ;D |
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Post by piggingardener on Sept 4, 2006 10:32:23 GMT
I could have written this myself!!!
I do hope we don't have to wait 12 years for the final installment.
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Post by sleepysunday on Sept 4, 2006 10:33:03 GMT
Many years ago I read Clan of the Cave Bear, which I thoroughly enjoyed. And I am sure I have seen a film version, which I am sure I also thought was good. I will get round to reading The Mommoth Hunters one day.
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Post by piggingardener on Sept 4, 2006 11:16:37 GMT
You need to read the Valley of Horses next, then the Mammoth Hunters, followed by Plains of Passage and Shelters of Stone.
Valley of Horses is my favourite in the series. I actually read it first before I had realised that it was part of a series. Then I read Clan of the Cave Bear and Valley of Horses (again) then the Mammoth Hunters, then when Plains of Passage was published I read them all again!
Great books. PG
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Post by sleepysunday on Sept 4, 2006 11:22:00 GMT
Has anyone read Duncton Wood? Another of my favourites
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Post by Spruance on Sept 4, 2006 11:34:49 GMT
Has anyone read Duncton Wood? Another of my favourites Hi Sleepy, Yes, I liked that one. ...With the moles! All rather sinister really. Almost like Mole-Mafia!  Spruance |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2006 11:51:35 GMT
Has anyone read Duncton Wood? Another of my favourites I can remember waking my husband up with my sobbing, he was very concerned and asked me what was wrong, when I said 'Rebecca's moles dead' he soon losy any concern, harumped and went back to sleep ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2006 12:55:12 GMT
also read that rebecca & bracken the greatest love story ever |
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Post by Plocket on Sept 5, 2006 10:00:46 GMT
I've just finished reading Fair Blows the Wind for France by HE Bates which was lovely. I love the Patrica Cornwell Kay Scarpetta stories, and anything by Terry Pratchett. But the books I can read over and over again are The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, Gone with the Wind (it takes me a while!), To Kill a Mocking Bird, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.
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Post by 4pygmies on Sept 5, 2006 10:21:43 GMT
Aargh, William Horwood - he's brilliant! Has anyone read "The Stonor Eagles" and "Callanish"? Both completely compelling and easily as good as the Duncton books. I read them over and over for many years but these days I find them all too upsetting. I even quite enjoyed his sequel to the Wind in the Willows - a brave thing to do I thought as the original book is practically perfect. These days I stick to books with a happy ending - can't cope with too much despair and horror - must be a sign of the times (or approaching senility).
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Post by piggingardener on Sept 5, 2006 10:29:40 GMT
Yes - I read the Stonor Eagles a while ago. Brilliant. I must get hold of some more Horwood titles when I've got through the enormous pile of reading I seem to have purchased over the last few months. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a book addict....
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Post by jlottie on Sept 5, 2006 13:09:58 GMT
Looks like I might be on Amazon for a while PG, Valley of the Horses was my favourite too, heres hoping that it won't be too long for the next instalment. jl |
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Post by toonia on Sept 5, 2006 14:20:26 GMT
Not really a thread for me as I'm condemned to re-reading everything whilst waiting for a trip to the UK/an Amazon delivery/a kind friend to pass something on!
I get tons of books from an American who buys them by the kilo in "The Mall". That is also like reading the same book over and over...
To be serious, my all time favourite is "The Great Gatsby". It has everything, romance, murder, pretty frocks...and perfectly evokes a time and a place.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Sept 5, 2006 16:25:57 GMT
I used to love 'The Secret Travellers' by Elleston Trevor as a child but haven't seen a copy for years...I'd love to read that again. I include TP's Discworld novels in the Comfort Reading Category.... Other books I re-read include.... Raymond Fiest...just about everything Katherine Kerr...ditto MZB...Darkover books John Wyndham books are lovely too..... David Eddings and Anne McKaffery....sigh.... My paperbacks often fall to bits as I treat them very badly ...I read in the bath so can't be trusted with library books or other peoples' books...I invariably have to replace paperbacks with fresh copies to abuse with my tears, dinner slops and bath water!  |
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Post by Plocket on Sept 5, 2006 16:35:36 GMT
Ooooh yes! I've just finished re-reading my John Wyndham books! They do seem dated in some ways but are still fantastical in their ideas. I love The Kraken Wakes and The Midwich Cuckoos in particular. You are VERY VERY naughty to read in the bath though - tsk tsk! Books are to be treasured  |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Sept 6, 2006 7:03:31 GMT
Hi CPB - You may find some of your favourites books can be obtained on eBay I have managed to get quite a number of "old favourites" that I read years ago and would like to read again And yes Plocket is right you must treasure your books - I have a small library at home and friends are always borrowing But they know they must take great care of them and I even supply them with a bookmark |
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Post by Plocket on Sept 6, 2006 8:33:42 GMT
I must admit that I'm a bit mean about lending out my books - I've lost so many over the years  I often buy used copies of books on Amazon - they are good value and in good condition. |
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Post by beejay on Sept 6, 2006 17:31:03 GMT
I am not generally too keen on reading books more than once but I have just read the most beautiful book ever which I could read many times. It is The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. (She wrote the Moomintroll books). It is only short but so delightful. I would highly recommend it.
My favourite book of all time which I have read a few times is Waterland by Graham Swift, a wonderful weaving tale.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Sept 6, 2006 19:53:43 GMT
I look after my hardback books....honest....my Discworld books are all pristine (many signed by the author) and I won't lend them to anybody. I also care for my science, astronomy and poetry books very well...it's just my paperback novels that get abused....I lend them to several rellies...AND read them in the bath...it's often the only place I get any peace and quiet you know..... |
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Post by Plocket on Sept 6, 2006 20:00:58 GMT
Oooo you've got hard backed signed Diskworld books - I am SOOOOOO green with envy. I've got the lot but all are paperbacks and unsigned. OH is allowed to read my books but NO-ONE ELSE!!!!! I'm glad you aren't too abusive to books Cheery - I'd have to fall out with you! <hug> |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2006 6:36:07 GMT
A good site for second hand books is www.abebooks.com/ which I've often used. You can find almost any book you can think of on there. Once I remembered a book of my mother's that I wanted to read again, but it had long been lost, so I looked it up. There were several on the site and the one I got came from some obscure second hand bookshop in Alabama. It arrived within the week. Can't get the link to work, sorry. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2006 16:36:31 GMT
I'd second that, I've used Abebooks on many occassions.
Ebay can be pretty good for obscure stuff too, but you have to keep watching and waiting.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2006 22:43:37 GMT
Just finished re reading all my David Eddings and David Gemmell books for about the third time While at the library I resisted taking the new Earth children book out as it was pristine and unstamped . I ain't getting blamed for any strange marks and stains ;D Jondalar gets on my nerves anyway  Dunton wood.... noooooooo ...my pillows can't cope with the tear stains Other favourites to revisit are Robin Hobb's Liveship traders and the Book of Words series by JV Jones. |
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Post by Margi on Sept 7, 2006 23:32:20 GMT
The ex used to want to go to sleep while I was still reading, and for some reason objected to being woken up by me shaking with laughter at the Pratchetts!
Plocket, my old friend - we've fallen out!!! Books are not just to sit on a shelf looking pretty, they're for reading and reading again, lending to friends and family, giving away to others who love them, and ultimately for our reading enjoyment - whether that's in the bath, on the loo or in the middle of a field. While I agree that some books are worth preserving, you'd have to be a bit of a deep-down gritsucker to preserve everything ever written just because it's been written down!
The Blackboard Monitor x
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Post by Plocket on Sept 8, 2006 8:07:26 GMT
Morning Margi! My books don't sit on the shelves looking pretty - I keep my faves which I read over and over again, and the others are given to charity. But I've learned the hard way: some people just don't look after books and don't return them, and I've lost some precious books over the years. There are a few friends I will lend to though, because I haven't yet learned not to trust them!!!!! |
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Post by sweetleaf on Sept 8, 2006 10:31:15 GMT
I know what you mean Plocket, I have gone to a boot sale in the past with an (ex) friend and found some of my books on her table for sale for 50p o.n.o!
She refused to believe she had borrowed them as she had had them "forever."
I`m very careful to keep my books out of sight these days, if they cant see them they cant borrow them!
CPB, signed copies? Im totally jealous! (TP is my anti-deppressant of choice).
BTW paperbacks are made for bathtub reading, hardbacks are for treasuring, I have bought some books in both formats, when I realise I want to keep them always!
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Post by Plocket on Sept 8, 2006 10:35:33 GMT
I like having books but find them expensive so usually buy paperbacks. All my Terry Pratchett books are paperbacks. And my classics. My "arty" books are hardbacks though.
I've just started reading the Geoff Hamilton book that Margi's loaned me (and I won't be reading it in the bath ;D) - it's fabulous. I don't know diddly squat about GH and this book is absolutely lovely - I really feel that I'm starting to understand why people liked him so much. And he's only just left the RAF!!!!!
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Post by grannyjanny on Sept 8, 2006 20:14:04 GMT
1066 & All That. I haven't read it myself but OH has on several occasions. It is very funny as he always quotes it to me.
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I often buy used copies of books on Amazon - they are good value and in good condition. 
