poppy

Listening to music, playing piano, guitar and singing (ahemmm ...with more enthusiasm than talent:blush: ), gardening, particularly old-fashioned and rambling roses; spinning and dying wool and knitting.

A very good point. Now why didn't I think of that? lol. That'll get them every time :eek2: Good to see guys secure enough in their own masculinity that they're comfortable doing that. Just so I don't get into trouble for going off topic .....I've discovered quite a few books that I always meant to read and have forgotten about. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and To Kill a Mockingbird are just two examples.

Hi ii (love the name) and a big Welcome

I've started reading fantasy which I've never really done much of before and am finding it very enjoyable. I'm really glad you feel that way about children's books, Wrath. I ended up being involved in a bit of a disagreement on another book forum about this subject. I've read a number of children's books as an adult, including The Wind in the Willows, The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, The Railway Children and several others and enjoyed them all immensely ...in fact I doubt that I would have enjoyed them any more as a child. Those arguing against, felt that children's books are for children and it was showing a great deal of immaturity to even contemplate reading them when you're 'grown-up'. I think the older you get the less you worry about such things and those who felt self-conscious had insecurity issues.

Two books have stood out for me this year, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey and Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson. I loved the styles these books were written in and both were very moving.

Hi Lucie and a big Welsome

You're probably right and Enid Blyton was quite possibly a racist. But I think it's a pretty big leap to assume children are going to think that all coloured people are bad just because the golliwogs were naughty. Did you think that as a child or were you older?

I don't know if this happened overseas (I see no record of it on this list) but Enid Blytons books were removed from public and school libraries for a time in New Zealand. Her Noddy books were supposed to portray homosexuality (Big Ears and Noddy shared a bed sometimes) and they were supposed to be racist because of the Golliwogs. Her other books 'Famous Five' and 'Secret Seven' were said to show bad role models for children as the characters showed little respect for their elders.

Oh V that is so sad I think this is an absolutely beautiful book too and bought it again recently. The last time I read it would have been the late 70's and was amazed or re-reading it just how much of Anna's philosophy on life I had taken on board and agreed with. Fynn is such a lovely guy too and I loved the way the two of them would go exploring London late at night and all the wonders they discovered.

War and Peace. I also had Solzenitsyn's Gulag Archipelago which has probably quite mercifully gone missing.

Only $6.99 each. Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl, Incubus - Science and Joan Armatrading - The Collection. Joan Armatrading is amazing, had forgotten just how good she is.

PP, I'm reading 'A Traveller in Time' at the moment. Like you I read it as a child and it's one of those books that I always remembered as being very good but couldn't recall much detail. I can see why I liked it so much .... it's a strange feeling reliving the child you were. I even associated this book with certain smells, particularly lavender and thyme, and interesting to see they are mentioned.

If you can get a copy of the Errol Trzebinski book, you'll find she has a very interesting theory of who was behind the murder ....somewhat different from the White Mischief movie.

It was certainly a very fascinating story and quite politically motivatated if Trzebinski is to be believed. The book by Juanita Carberry was interesting in that she was staying at Sir Jock Delves Broughten's house (later accused of the murder)the night of Lord Errol's death.

This is probably not what you are after, but I have read several very interesting books set in Kenya during this time period. 'The Life and Death of Lord Errol: the truth behind the Happy Valley Murder' by Errol Trzebinski and 'Child of Happy Valley' by Juanita Carberry. Both of these highlight the decadent lifestyle of a group of British aristocrats and adventurers, living in the Rift Valley, involving drugs and promiscuity which lead to the murder of one of their group. World War I probably brought this to an end rather than the Wall Street Crash. Another set in Kenya is 'Out of Africa' by Isak Dinesen. All these are biographical.

Although quite dated, I really enjoyed Nevil Shute's books set during during WWII. Ones that I particularly liked were 'Requiem for a Wren' and 'Pied Piper'. The latter is about an old man who rescues seven abandoned children in France during the Nazi invasion.

Harlequin romances sound like Mills and Boons ....definitely to be avoided along with chic-lit in general. Don't like horror at all, murders and who dunnits are ok as long as they are 'nice' murders . I love biographies and autobiographies but not of the celebrity film-star kind.

Some Irish names are tricky. I may have come across these in Maeve Binchy books. Sinead (Shh-naid), Siobahn (Shh-vaun), Niamh (Neeve)

What I like most about it, is finding there are actually other people out there who like and own the same books as me Gives you ideas of other books to try, as well.

Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd to replace my vinyl one.

One thing that irritates me is finding things written in library books - how dare they B). And people who feel it necessary to correct grammatical errors in library books ...they can do that in their own books if they must, but who exactly are they trying to impress here?

I have children's books that were given to me with a message and who they were from written inside - I think it's a lovely way to remember who gave them to me, most of those people have died now.

I sometimes write my name in the front of a book, usually when I'm lending it to some-one - I've lost so many in the past. Must admit I got pissed off with my ex for putting a stamp with my name and address on all my books and records. Don't usually write in books, but would be a good idea if you want to find a certain passage again, which I'm always doing, then spend hours trying to track it down.

Belated Welcome Fiona B)

Hi etheline and a big Welcome B)