Welshman

Now I am not much of a fan of ethnic writing, but this lady forced me to make an exception. Firstly I read 'Fruit of the Lemon' and found it quite delightful. It was a sort of Anglo-African/Carribean 'Roots' but with more heart. An easy and beautiful read. Then, when I came across 'Small Island', I thought - You won't be able to repeat that kind of standard. Wrong! She took the notch up a level and went better. I am still surprised so few people miss her, even though she won the Orange in 2004.

I have read many of the Rankin books and generally enjoyed them as an uncomplicated easy read. Over the series of books he expands Rebus in a way that is only partially plausible, though in the current climate of public accountability I am not sure Rebus would survive reviews and professional appraisals in the police force. This was one of the reasons I was (and remain) particularly attracted to 'Resurrection Men' though the book twisted into a different area from the one I hoped. Having appeared quite critical of his work I would like to emphasise I think his work is fun and I did enjoy it - just be prepared to not take too many reality checks when you read.

I'm currently reading Tim Lott's book 'Rumours of a Hurricane' and I love it. Never mind the literary style which is wonderful, it is giving me such wonderful euphoric recall of my political activity in those days. So far these are some of the things he has helped me to remember from the Thatcher years: Double Diamond beer Spam Shiny tracksuits Capstan cigarettes Bus conductor's Triumph Toledo's Kenneth Kendall Anti-Nazi League The 'Pina Colada' song Tuf boots LP's .. I could go on. The point I am talking about here is more of a question. Are you fellow readers the same as me? Do you like to read books that go back to important times in your life and have them landmarked with little memories like those above? If you are, what were the memories and what was the book?

If anyone here went to Wolverhampton Polytechnic University and has ever read Howard Jacobson's 'Coming from Behind' they will see some rather uncanny similarities. As an ex-member of staff at the place I can confirm it really is that crazy.

You see the trouble is I suffer froma chronic relapsing condition called BAS (Book Acquisition Syndrome). Everytime I go past a bookshop it calls to me. Now as a result of coming to this site I have learned you can swap books too - just one problem. No-one, and I mean no-one is having any of mine, but I want all of your's!!!! So how many do I have on my to read list .... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ......

I like books where the author can grab my emotions, twist them around his little finger for a couple of hundred pages and then when s/he's finished, spit them out and stamp all over them. I like books where after I have finished books I worry about the characters - maybe I mourn their loss, or I celebrate their pending victories. I like books that make me think about issues - any issues. I look books that make me laugh, with characters I feel a tenderness toward. Not through a ridiculous, zany humour - but through what has affectionately been referred to as gentle British humour. I like books that remind me of a world where there was courtesy, respect, compassion and tenderness (was there ever such a world - maybe not). A world where spring is filled with love and the scent of flowers, summer's are balmy and autumn's are filled with rusts and crisp walks. I like books that help me remember the innocence of youth, where the author shows me through their characters the wonderment of experiencing a new and exciting world. But what do I like most? I like a book where I cannot wait to pick it up again. Now if someone knows of a book where I have ALL of those ingredients, please tell me, because that would be one I would HAVE to own!!

Diolch

As for eeny meeny .. there are several useful descriptions of a Druidic ritual involving the sacrificing of children which may help us to understand the origins of this 'song'.

Aaaah, now you have me on a passion! The traditional origin of some of our generally used English words! Interesting question. The word Koochie, coochie or coochy is derived from an older form "couchee," which means a night-time visit. It is apparently derived from the French word "couche," and is quite similar to a similar old English words. Sources I have referred to have suggested couchant, which means lying down, and of course (and inevitably) the modern word "couch". According to the more traditional sense in England the words koochy lips would normally be associated with the female vulval lip and would normally be used in this sense in a sexual way. I have not read the book so I can only assume this is the interpretation the author wishes. More modern interpretations have tended to look on Koochie lips as meaning - cute, curv, pink lips, usually on a boy. Hope that helps.

Thanks both, Favourite authors are tricky as I tend to flit. I went through an Ian Rankin phase, then a Sebastian Faulks phase, a Bernice Reubens one, Kazuo Ishiguro, Melvyn Bragg and Benjamin Zephaniah. On the horizon I predict a forthcoming Peter Carey or A.L. Kennedy phase .. but who knows.

Has anyone read 'An artist of the floating world'? I have a copy ready for reading and don't want to be let down as I love Ishiguro's work.

Sorry folks, I guess I should have posted when I arrived, but hey - I made it eventually. Nice to meet you all. I'm a bit (well, a lot) of a bookworm and always seem to be reading something, so hope I'll be able to contribute something positive to the forum.

Well you are all younger than me, so I'm going to hide the fact I'm 55. Oops - you found out :-(

Hi Prospero - Totally agree about Sassoon and Owen and yes, I love the War poets generally. In fact, one of my best buys was a book called 'Minds at War'. It was edited by David Roberts and included poems by the above as well as Brooke, Graves, Kipling etc. I am usually drawn to books about war if they describe their brutality. I don't like novels (or poems) filled with macho **** that somehow suggests the soldiers were all having a gay old time killing 'Jerry'.

Fair comment, although it does look a little dated these days. There again do I really want to see Johnny Depp playing Bill Masen? No - I'll stay with the book.

Hmmm .. not read this one yet. It's been on my shelf for a month. If it can stir up this kind of disagreement I better give it a try!

I enjoyed the book immensely although like Janet I found the ending a little contrived. A shame really as the book gives a solid and realistic account of life in the trenches. Definitely worth a read.

A highly disturbing book that now seems to be increasingly relevant as we 'acclimatise' to the disease in the UK. Maybe they need to do a reprint to boost the reading of this primary publication.

Absolutely agree. I was more than a little worried about reading this as I have always found Bragg's TV persona a little pretentious. Not the case with the book. A wonderful read with some delicious use of metaphors in the writing. Highly artistic and compelling. But be warned - once you read this you will feel obliged to read the rest of the series!!

Maybe it's because I am a big fan of his work, but I would hold this out as being superior to 'Remains of the Day'. It's not an easy read and it may possibly make you confront some of your own prejudices, but i recommend it highly.

Just picked this one up today. Really looking forward to it.

I remember reading this when it came out and became so excited by it that I almost cheated and leapt to the end to find out what would happen to the lead character. Lots of twists and turns, but more importantly, you become involved with the characters. Overall - not the best book I have ever read, but certainly a good 'un.

Now to my mind here we have a much underrated author. Her "Yesterday in the back lane" was one of the few 'unputdownable' books I have ever read, while 'The Elected Member' must be seen as a mammoth contribution to literature. Love her work to bits!