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Janet

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    The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

    in Previous Reading Circle Books

    Posted

    I don't think it was necessarily Victorian - but I haven't managed to re-read mine yet (it's next on my 'to do' list!) so I can't exactly remember if the era was specified.   The wide(ish) use of electricity would suggest a slightly later period to me.

    Having read the book, I'm not sure I think it is set in Victorian times.    Aside the fairly wide use of cars and electricity through the book (which, whilst they existed would not have been as commonly used as in the book), Kipps also makes reference to Victorians...

     

    "The business was beginning to sound like an old Victorian novel..."

     

    and

     

    "Yet servants in Victorian England had, I knew, often been driven to murder..."

     

    He also refers to the train taking him North as being the 'Sir Bedivere'.  Googling shows that this was built by the Southern Railway in April 1925.

     

    :)

     

    I had a feeling of the 1930s when reading it.

    The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

    in Previous Reading Circle Books

    Posted

    1. Did you like the book?   What was it that you enjoyed?  If you didn't like the book, what were your reasons for disliking it?

    I have read this before and I enjoyed it very much on both occasions.  I think it’s a great story and the writing is so atmospheric and descriptive.

     

    2.  The narrative is quite sparse and the characters few, did you find it easy to engage in the story?

    Definitely.  From the first page I was hooked.  I liked the sparseness of the language which I felt added to the spooky feel of the book.

     

    3. What were your expectations when you started this book and were you proved right or wrong?

    As I said, I’ve read it before so I wasn’t sure whether it would be as enjoyable the second time around, or whether some of the tension might be missing – but I needn’t have worried because it was just as good, if not better, on re-reading.


    4. If you have seen the stage production, TV version or film of The Woman in Black, how did it compare to the book?

    I saw the stage version in Bath a couple of years ago.   When I looked at the programme and saw there were only two cast members I thought they couldn’t possibly do it justice – but it was utterly brilliant and I would urge anyone who enjoyed the book – and who gets the chance to see it on stage – to go.  There was a third person on stage, but I don’t think she existed… 

     

    It’s the second longest running play in the West End after Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap – and with good reason!

     

    I haven’t seen the TV series – or the recent film with Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe.  I’ve heard that the film version changes the ending quite significantly – why do they do that?!   confused.gif  scratch.gif 
     

    5. Was this the first book you've read in this genre/ by this author, has it encouraged you to read more?

    I think this is probably the first ‘ghost’ story I’d read – at least, the first one that was meant to be scary – I’ve read books with ghosts in before.  Since reading it last time I read The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, which I enjoyed.  

     

    I had read Susan Hill before – I read Strange Meeting for English A Level (as a mature student) which was good, but nothing like this – and I’ve also read her non-fiction Howard’s End is on the Landing which I also enjoyed.

     

    6. One of the themes of the novel is fear.  Did you find the novel creepy – were you scared?

    I wasn’t scared, although I did think the story was creepy – and the ending made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up… both times.

     

    7. Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with?

    No!  :)

     

    8. Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience?

    Yes, definitely.   I’d been putting off re-reading it as I was worried it wouldn’t be as good second time round – or that I’d find it boring – but I needn’t have worried on either score.  :)



     

    Peacefield's Reads 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted · Edited by Janet

    That's so cool you ended up moving so near the places where your G-G-Grandparents were born, Janet!  It's funny how things happen like that. 

     

    Do you think it'd be worthwhile for me to join Rootschat?  I know it's a UK-centered forum and while my paternal grandmother was 100% English, her ancestors came to the US in the early 1600's so I'd have to go awfully far back to find more info.  You never know, though, I'm always amazed at what I find out when I do my research! :D  Are you known as Janet on that forum as well?

    There are some pretty clever researchers on it (far better at it than me!) and you might find relatives - you never know.  I'm Bagpuss_Janet on there!  :D

     

    ETA: Sorry for the late reply

    Janet's Log - stardate 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    Yes - and I love it!  A friend started it in 2006 - there were 9 of us originally - 7 now with 3 original members.  We meet once every 4-6 weeks and take it in turn to host.  :)

     

    After making the above post I gave myself a stern talking too, and being home alone with no chores to do I got on and started... and finished... my re-read of The Woman in Black!  :D  I still loved it!  Will do the RC questions tomorrow though as I'm off to bed soon.

    Janet's Log - stardate 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    I finally finished The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë last night.  It took me three weeks!  It was very good!

     

    I need to read The Woman in Black for the RC - I'm very behind!  :blush:  I also need to read The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings for my 'real life' book club - the trouble is, I'm not in the mood for either of them at the moment!  :lurker:

    Your Book Activity ~ February 2013

    in General Book Discussions

    Posted

    I finally finished The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë last night!  Yay!  I thought it was great, but for some reason it took me three weeks to read it! Usually that happens in August, not January/February. 

     

    I bought my daughter the first part of the Hunger Games trilogy - she's not a big reader so I'm hoping she gets on with it.  :)
        

    Book statistics

    in General Book Discussions

    Posted

    I

    Male/female authors (LibraryThing)

    Male: 46%

    Female: 45%

    Unknown: 10%

     

    I was surprised at this, that's a pretty good ratio (about 50-50)!

     

    That's 101%   :giggle2:

     

    Interesting thread. I do my stats at the end of the year from my spreadsheets.   :)

    Alexi's Reading 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    I

    I'm currently reading a biography of Justin Fashanu, a gay footballer who committed suicide...

    You know how much of a football fan I am not!, Alex, but I remember where I was when I heard about his suicide on the news. I was parked outside a newsagents in a village called Timsbury! </Random>

     

    Seriously, I was so sad to hear of the news of his death (I had actually heard of him as well as his brother!) - it was very tragic.  :(

    Peacefield's Reads 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    OOOOH, I'll have to look up Rootschat, Janet.  I love chatting about family history!!  How cool that you connected with a cousin - I'm in MN too, so you never know! :lol: I don't know if you're originally from Somerset, but one of my ancestors was from Ash.  In fact, hopefully in a few years I'll be able to come visit since my English relatives came from Somerset and Dorset.

    I'm not from Somerset - I was born in a county in the East of England called Kent - I moved here when I got married. :)  Door to door I'm about a 3 hour drive from where I grew up (not a long way in the US, but it feels a long way in the UK  :lol:  ).   However through my research I discovered that my G-G-Grandfather was born 3 miles from where I live now, and my G-G-Grandmother just 2 miles from here.  :o

     

    Moon (my maiden name) is a local name and I used to joke that I might be related to people living locally, but we had no idea our Moons hailed from this neck of the woods when I started my research!  Spooky!

    bree's log : 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    9.

    The House on Mango Street

    Sandra Cisneros

     

    First published: 1991

     

    Setting: "a small market town on the east coast of the United Kingdom"

    9.

    I love the sound of this one!  I hope you don't mind me mentioning, but I think you need to update the setting in your review.  :)

     

    It's a shame you didn't like The Woman in Black.  it's not a genre I read but I enjoyed it - but it would be dull if we all enjoyed the same things. :)

    Janet's Log - stardate 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    Ooh, I like that your library has Replay, I thought it would be the other way around.  Until recently it seemed to be quite a difficult book to get hold of :smile:

    It's actually in a library about 10 miles from here, but it's somewhere I occasionally go food shopping (the town, not the library!  :giggle: ) so I'll combine the two events. :)

     

    How beautiful is that!

    Wow. Stunning!

    Thank you.  My photography is a bit hit-and-miss, so I was very pleased with it. :)

     

    Like you could ever be patronizing... You are too nice for that! :friends3:

    Aww, bless you! :hug:

     

    :D If there is, I would definitely like to know what it is!

    I just Googled 'is there a term for people who like lists?' and one of the links I followed took me to a page on Wikipedia about sexual fetishes!  :giggle2:  Oh my!

     

    Bar-steward :lol:  That made me LOL, I have to remember that! I have to agree, Hardy was pretty good chap to put it on a book. The more we talk about the book the more I'm thinking I should re-read it. I wouldn't read it in English, though, I know I'd give up. My copy was such a depressing one, all black and white to begin with. Maybe I should go for a Finnish edition. Maybe some day!

    Mmmm - maybe some day - but on the other hand, life is too short to read books you aren't enjoying so maybe revisiting it wouldn't be good!  Which leads me on to...

     

    [Gah - the quoting business was going really well until I accidentally pushed the carriage return button, and now it's not working so I'll have to continue manually]

     

    Oh yes, for some particular reason I remember this very well :giggle2:

    ...the fact that I won't be rereading The Catcher in the Rye.  Ever!  :P

     

    Adding Devi to the list

    Adding Alexi to the list

    Adding poppyshake to the list ..

    Yay - more Listomaniacs!

     

    That's amazing! What a perfect picture, it looks like a painting! 

    Thank you.

     

    I actually liked I Am Legend the movie. Eventhough I can't stand Will Smith. He did an amazing job in that movie. But I'm really happy to know the book's very different from the movie, it's going to be a whole other experience to read the novel when one doesn't know what to expect.

    Ah, I asked above if you've read it, but now I see you haven't!  I hope you enjoy it when you do. 

     

    Oh I think we can probably blame you for that :D

    I think so too!  :D

     

    [i ran out of smileys!]

    Frankie reads 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    I've not heard of The Descendants, I'll have to google it. But I'm happy that you persisted and waited til you found a copy that wasn't tainted by GC :lol:

     

    I've heard other people say good thinks about TWotW, too. But it's just so funny that sci-fi is not your thing and yet you've read that book and enjoyed it :D We shall see if you'll like Replay. I'm not too surprised Steve suggested that book, I believe it was his favorite read last year, and he sent me a copy of it for Christmas :smile2: That was very nice (and maybe only a bit own agenda-like) of him :)

    It's for my book club at the end of the month.  The way my reading is going I'll be lucky to start it though, let alone finish it! :(  I don't actually know what it's about as I haven't read the blurb yet! It was made into a film that came out in the UK just before Christmas, I believe.

     

    Have you read Replay yourself yet?  Luckily it's available in our library authority - a library a few miles from here, but it's somewhere I occasionally go when I don't want to do food shopping where I work, so I'll combine the two in one visit.  :)

     

    Oh, sorry! I did catch that post but totally blanked and didn't realise it contained 16 novels! :doh:   That's pretty fantastic of you, I know you've said you are moderately new to classics. I hope you enjoy all of the novels :smile2:

     

    Thanks.  :)  I'm not sure when I will read my first one - and due to the size of some of them I'll probably read them on my Kindle rather than trying to hold the paperback! :giggle2:

    H

     

    Heehee! Someone has bought more books than I have during the year to date! That doesn't happen often. :) I wonder if I can find any more bulk book deals to tempt you further. You bought them from The Book People, right? ;)

    Oooh, you wicked woman trying to tempt me like that!  :giggle:  I did get them from The Book People - they do have such great offers! 

     

    </Must not be tempted.  Must not be tempted. Must not be tempted...>

     

    My boyfriend specifically went and found a copy for me that didn't have the movie cover! I didn't ask him, but I prefer the non-movie covers nearly all the time (we've never discussed this before he bought the book XD) so I think it was very thoughtful of him :)! He knows me so well.

    I don't like film tie-ins either - I try my best to avoid them if I can!  :)  That was nice of your bf.  :)

    Peacefield's Reads 2013

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

     

    T

    I love working on my genealogy, Janet!  It's very engrossing, I agree.  You can find someone and just keep going back further and further in time.  It's the best!  I use Ancestry.com as well as Rootsweb and many other sites.  What do you use?

    I use Ancestry.co.uk. :)   I also use the forum rootschat.com, which is marvellous! :D   I discovered a cousin (several times removed) in Minnesota on Ancestry.co.uk and she does remarkable research on one branch of my family (on my Mum's side) and has put me in touch with other distant cousins and we all pool our resources - it's great!

     

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