JudyB
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Posts posted by JudyB
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I was a big Enid Blyton fan - got stuck in a reading loop with them when I was at Junior school - my mum was really concerned and asked the school to make me read more challenging books thinking I would never progress. Didn't work - I moved on when I was ready. One of my favourites was The Hollow Tree House and also The Land of Far Beyond.
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Hi Judy - I went out and lived a very colourful life before I become an author so I'd have lots of material! Just joking...
LOL - maybe my 15 year old should consider writing instead! Thanks for the good advice. I've also suggested that she considers doing Creative Writing as part of her degree when she eventually goes to University. Funnily enough that was what I was going to do but ended up getting married instead of going to University and now am in absolute awe of anyone that can sustain a novel - the more I read the more I feel that.
Judy x
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Carole - my daughter is interested in writing (she's 17). What kind of things to do with writing did you do before you were ready to write your first novel? Do you have any advice for my daughter?
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I usually use anything that's lying around (often a used bus ticket). However, my friend owns a bookshop and was given a sample of something called a 'book thong'. She gave it to me. It's an alternative to a book mark: a thin string with beads on either end - I wouldn't have bought one, but do like it.
Kerri
Glad you brought that up - kept meaning to ask if anyone had one. I bought a nice one from Llangollen craft centre but couldn't work out exactly how it works - had to give up with it in the end.
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One of my favourite characters is Gabriel Oak from umm, err, my umm favourite book which I can't think of the name of, Dang!
"Far From The Madding Crowd". Yes, that's it! What a noble guy he is.
He is somebody that came to mind when I saw this thread - FFTMC is one of my faves as well.
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The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
I've heard conflicting reviews on this book, so I was quite interested to read it and see what I thought of it. I actually quite enjoyed this book, despite the fact that I found the subject matter upsetting. I felt that the reactions of Susie's family were so believable. The death of a loved one, especially a child can rip a family apart or bring them closer together. Parents can become obsessed (as Susie's father does), distracted and self absorbed (Susie's mother) as well as simply falling to pieces and becoming depressed (which is often more expected) - people deal with grief in so many different ways. I enjoyed the way the relationships developed within the book, especially Susie's attempts to grow up by sharing experiences with her sisters.
There are quite a few things that annoyed me about this book. I felt that the language used by the narrator, Susie, was a little too mature for a girl of 14 - I'm struggling to find an example at the moment, but the tone just didn't seem to fit with my idea of a teenager, even a teenager in the 70s. Also, I didn't particularly enjoy the passage about Susie's heaven - they just didn't seem to make sense in the context of the book, they seemed to shallow and poorly developed and left a strange taste in the mouth.
I was apprehensive about reading this book, it's very far removed from the books I would normally choose (and I wouldn't have bought it at all if I wasn't looking for a third book to make up the '3 books for
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Thanks for this - I've added it to my Amazon wishlist - I loved The Kite Runner. I'm a bit worried this won't live up to it, actually!
ETA: Ooooo - it sounds really good!
I know what you mean - the same thought crossed my mind. The Kite Runner is such a hard act to follow but reading up on this it looks as though it will also be quite gritty, and Khaled Hosseini will yet again be writing about what he knows so I'm very hopeful.
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Have just discovered that a new novel by Khaled Hosseini is due out in May.
A gripping drama of beauty, destruction, sadness, and suspense, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is at once an incredible chronicle of the last thirty years of Afghan history, and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, and the salvation to be found in love. (Amazon)
This is going on my wish list on LibraryThing and on order in the library - can't wait sounds as good as The Kite Runner.
Further information at fantasticfiction.com
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Oh what a shame it's just been repeated on BBC3 - which made me think that the second series was on its way. When I was a child my best friend's dad was in the CID in Manchester at that time so a lot of it feels very familiar. My daughter watches it with us and has to endure comments like 'I remember that/those etc' and 'oh it was so different then' and 'is that Stockport viaduct in the background?'. She's very tolerant!
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I saw the trailer for Primevil the other night, it looks good as well.
Another programme my daughter has her eye on - she and my OH have similar taste in television - they love fantasy, sci fi, horror etc. Personally I'm waiting for Life On Mars to return.
Happy viewing!
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currently reading : A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka
Hope you're enjoying this - I read it last year and found it really funny. I lent it to one of the ladies I visit and she enjoyed it as well.
Happy reading
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My daughter loves this series but we've had to make her wait until it's repeated on Thurs as we wanted to watch Trial and Retribution. So we'll be watching it together later in the week - enjoyed the first series.
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I finished The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and it was a rather quick read. almost too quick for me. But I figure all of Alboms books are like that. I enjoyed it, and I thought it was a wonderful book that made you think.
This is on my wishlist so it's good to see a good review.
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Ah...I see. Thanks Judy . Can I add you to my watching list?
Yes, thank you - haven't picked up on the 'watching' element yet though.
I had sent a message to the site improvements thread on Library Thing suggesting a wish list section and it turns out they are working on one. Having since however worked out a solution I'm happy with that. I've worked out that if I tag my wishlist books and then click on wishlist it isolates them onto one page - had a thought then that I could print it and use it as a book shopping list. Oh my geeky side is starting to expose its self!!!
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Would love to see some sort of wish list feature though.
Have got round this by tagging books as read, TBR or wishlist - that way you can create separate lists by clicking on the different tag options.
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I don't have time to sit and catologue all my books!!
Neither do I! - I've squandered loads of time on this, I'm totally addicted!!! Would love to see some sort of wish list feature though.
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Thanks for the link to LibraryThing - am currently adding my books to it. Do you get extra features if you pay?
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I enjoyed Rebecca - it's quite a compelling read. At the time I also read Jamaica Inn, Frenchman's Creek and My Cousin Rachel plus The Birds - all were brilliant. I often forget what a great writer she is.
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And don't forget The Famous Five's Timmy!
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I also remeber him giving me a hardback copy of Enid Blyton's "Hollow Tree House" which I lived, slept and dreamt for weeks.
Oh I loved this book - it really captured my imagination.
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Oooh couldn't resist this thread.
Absolutely loved Enid Blyton - Secret Seven, Famous Five and Mallory Towers. Also had a book by her called Land of Far Beyond - don't know if anyone remembers that.
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O'Brien and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken were read to us in class (4th year junior school) at the end of the day. Absolute bliss!
The Ghost of Thomas Kemp by Penelope Lively
The Little House on the Prairie series - read every single one - thought they were wonderful - real feel good books.
A Dog So Small by Philippa Pearce
Finn Family Moomintroll books
Sure there are many others - I've still got all those mentioned above and treasure them.
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Last CD I bought was Jamiroquai High Times - Singles 1992 - 2006. I'd been waiting ages for them to release a greatest hits album - I like a lot of their singles quote]
This one is next on my list. Heard it before Christmas while spending a couple of hours in Borders on my own - bliss. I associate their music with happy times so it'll be a good CD to get.
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I think that is partly what the problem was, none of the characters caught my attention :?
I too had no interest in any of the characters - found it a dull read. I think it's important to care about the characters - it's probably one of the most important aspects of a good novel.
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Oh, I notice you have Madame Bovary on your list. This is the only book of Flaubert's that I have read. Let me know what you think of the book when you have finished. I enjoyed it. The chemist/druggist in the story is a rather humorous and clever fellow.
Yes it's one of those unforgettable stories - the dangers of ennui (be happy with what you have!). I loved it and found it quite a daring book of its time - certainly didn't pull any punches and there are some brilliant scenes in it. Similar novels I've read are The Awakening by Kate Chopin and Therese Raquin by Emile Zola (I think this is my favourite Zola - he doesn't pull any punches either).
Notice that Villette is on the list - I've started and abandoned this but am determined to go back to it when I can give it the attention it deserves - it's supposed to be one of the best of the Bronte novels.
Alison Uttley
in Children's / Young Adult
Posted
you did well there - The Land of Far Beyond is quite expensive to obtain. Would love to read it again.