Current reading matter

midget · Post by **midget** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:09 pm

I'm glad I am not the only fan of "the traditionally built lady". Noone I know seems to have read the books.

kerrensimmonds · Post by **kerrensimmonds** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:15 pm

Well Midget I have read (and own...) them all - except for the most recent which is still in hardback.
I look forward to the continued dramatisation of them, even without the great Anthony Minghella as Director - although I would say that all along I have felt this to have been 'one' story, which has been broken up into bite sized pieces, with each piece being published as a separate book.
But the 'traditionally built' Precious in Botswana resonates so well with moi that I enjoy her every utterance, and the antics of her fellows in the books...
I look forward to the next dramatisations. And to reading in full the 'Miracle at Speedy Motors'...

hillary · Post by **hillary** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:43 am

I've been looking for a copy of the 'Blue Skirts' book, but so far only found copies at exhorbitant prices - does anyone have a secret stash/cheap source please? I remember the name Anna Swan but not much else. We definitely had beige socks, and I can still feel the shapelessness of putting them on (and those sandals) now. And although I've thoroughly enjoyed all the "No1" books, I'm afraid I found the film just the wrong side of flippant, as did our 14yr old son who's just finished reading the lot (he reads about 5 books a week!). The subtle humour in the books was just a but too loud for me. But, having said that, I'll still watch any further films that appear.

I have only skim read the two books I picked up in Hertford this month. DRs story was so worth writing, as you've said, but with an editorial angle it could be great, given her achievements and all. You're right about all those secret lives, but then again, that was so clear to me at the reunion too.

Apart from that, I'm reading a whole bunch of Enid Blyton (5 findouters and dog) with our youngest (10). Despite being old, they are a surprisingly satisfying read and I find myself wanting to read all 15 (7 down ...). Well structured and beautifully positioned for children and the adults reading to them. So much so that DS2 has actually read 4 chapters himself (a miracle, he's so dyslexic that he's never voluntarily read a chapter book before) and DS1 was so impressed that he put aside Terry Pratchett and read 10 in a week. Having said all that, I've been impressed with a lot of children's literature in the past few years, hundreds of really good books - and I only remember Swallows and Amazons and Christine Pullein-Thompson from 'when I was young'.

As you may gather, my reading material is mainly children's books, although a few more adult books occasionally sneak past the barricades. I can but dream ...

Jo · Post by Jo » Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:05 pm

There's a copy of Blue Skirts.... on www.abebooks.co.uk at Â£6.00 (plus Â£2.45 p&p). I couldn't believe the price on Amazon - Â£90 plus

Either it's a misprint or someone thinks it's a collector's item.

hillary · Post by **hillary** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:59 pm

Thank-you, I'll go and look. I was a bit shocked at the Â£90

Katharine · Post by **Katharine** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:16 pm

My current reading matter is "Liverpool Basque" by Helen Forrester. I have read her before about Liverpool Irish, but did not know about a Basque community there.

It is written in the voice of an old man looking back to his childhood in Liverpool before and during the first world war. I am enjoying it.

Mid A 15 · Post by **Mid A 15** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:24 pm

hillary wrote:I've been looking for a copy of the 'Blue Skirts' book, but so far only found copies at exhorbitant prices - does anyone have a secret stash/cheap source please? I remember the name Anna Swan but not much else. We definitely had beige socks, and I can still feel the shapelessness of putting them on (and those sandals) now. And although I've thoroughly enjoyed all the "No1" books, I'm afraid I found the film just the wrong side of flippant, as did our 14yr old son who's just finished reading the lot (he reads about 5 books a week!). The subtle humour in the books was just a but too loud for me. But, having said that, I'll still watch any further films that appear.

I have only skim read the two books I picked up in Hertford this month. DRs story was so worth writing, as you've said, but with an editorial angle it could be great, given her achievements and all. You're right about all those secret lives, but then again, that was so clear to me at the reunion too.

Apart from that, I'm reading a whole bunch of Enid Blyton (5 findouters and dog) with our youngest (10). Despite being old, they are a surprisingly satisfying read and I find myself wanting to read all 15 (7 down ...). Well structured and beautifully positioned for children and the adults reading to them. So much so that DS2 has actually read 4 chapters himself (a miracle, he's so dyslexic that he's never voluntarily read a chapter book before) and DS1 was so impressed that he put aside Terry Pratchett and read 10 in a week. Having said all that, I've been impressed with a lot of children's literature in the past few years, hundreds of really good books - and I only remember Swallows and Amazons and Christine Pullein-Thompson from 'when I was young'.

As you may gather, my reading material is mainly children's books, although a few more adult books occasionally sneak past the barricades. I can but dream ...

I enjoyed the five findouters and dog series when young as have all three of my daughters. I read them aloud to them as bedtime stories. Not because i wanted to read them again you understand!

There is (or was when I was young) a certain amount of intellectual snobbery attached to Enid Blyton.

However an author who can make children WANT to read rather than read because they are TOLD TO has plenty of merit in my opinion.

Ajarn Philip · Post by **Ajarn Philip** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:49 pm

Mid A 15 wrote: There is (or was when I was young) a certain amount of intellectual snobbery attached to Enid Blyton.

However an author who can make children WANT to read rather than read because they are TOLD TO has plenty of merit in my opinion.

Was there? I was an avid Enid fan aged whatever (I'd love to say 2...), but I was never aware she was 'frowned upon' - mind you, we were that common we'd never 'ave known! But I so agree with your second comment, as far as I'm concerned (almost) anything that a child wants to read for its own sake has to have merit. To be honest, I hadn't heard of the Five Find-outers (what a strange title), I thought that was a modern update of The Famous Five until I googled it. But I'm delighted that she is still being read by children today. I have to say that (as far as I can recall) Rupert Bear was pretty literate for kids as well - is he still going strong?

For my kids, 20+ years ago, it was Thomas the Tank Engine and the Mr Men series. And, of course, my own stories, which were always the best of all...

englishangel · Post by **englishangel** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:43 pm

Harry Potter got my DS2 reading. DD was/is an avid reader and had read all of Philosopher's Stone to him (her twin) and was just starting whatever book 2 is when he said he would read it himself and has never looked back.

hillary · Post by **hillary** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:31 pm

Oh, and I'd forgotten Angie Sage (Magyk, Flyte,Physik, and now Queste that we've pre-ordered and I think the 3 of us will fight/fyght over when it arrives).
I enjoyed them more than HP (looking out for lightning bolts here? No, I seem to be safe), and in fairness, DS2 did read two paragraphs once, when he was desparate and I wasn't around (but the books are 600 pages each).

I can stop being distracted by all this now, I've submitted my article.

gma · Post by **gma** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:40 pm

Re: Current reading matter

Postby hillary on Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:43 am

Loved your post Hillary - is exactly what I want to do sometimes when there are pieces in half a dozen posts that I want to acknowledge or respond to and before I get there the thread's moved on! Will take a leaf out of your book in future! (Glad you got your article finished as well!)

Jo · Post by Jo » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:16 pm

hillary wrote:There is (or was when I was young) a certain amount of intellectual snobbery attached to Enid Blyton.

However an author who can make children WANT to read rather than read because they are TOLD TO has plenty of merit in my opinion.

That was exactly my mother's view. As a small child I read Enid Blyton avidly (such a shock to arrive at CH to find no midnight feasts or tricks on teachers, no French teachers who said "Tiens!" all the time, etc) and they were rather frowned on as not very worthy, but my mother figured that anything that got me reading was to be encouraged.

Apparently my parents discussed coaching me for my CH interview and suggesting that if I was asked what books I enjoyed reading, that I said something a bit more classical than EB, but in the end decided against it. So DR couldn't have been too bothered if I told her (as I almost certainly did) that EB was my favourite author. I believe I said that Coronation Street was my favourite TV programme too

nastymum · Post by **nastymum** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:47 pm

Enid Blyton -who could not enjoy the line ' Carlotta , you are low down circus girl!' ? Or 'Catty Elsie, she gave me extra prep for an untidy cupboard in the dorm!' My children loved every word.
Maybe because I teach English and had a trad CH education -though it wasn't perfect- I have serious problems with how children are taught about books in school. The exam system and league tables are killing off reading despite the best efforts of parents and their children who want to read for pleasure.
I also mark exam papers which is enough to send you insane. If I see one more candidate write 'Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Copulate ' I will hand in my free AQA examiners pen in despair.

hillary · Post by **hillary** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:38 pm

I remember nothing about my (West Sussex Gift) interview for CH, but I do remember my trip to Chichester High - we were given a suitable reading list that we were expected to have read before we got there. I got severely 'looked at' because I could only tick one or 2 books from the 3 pages.

My poor parents - a reading age so high that I off-scale, I'd read half the (many many many) books in the house (including all their dickens and the iliad) and they/we in trouble for them all being the wrong books. My poor bad parents. Was I glad that I got CH and I didn't have to face the wrath of Chi Hi. At the time I was mortified/terrified. Now, I look back and, well, not sure what to think really.

I sometimes still worry whether the books I read are 'suitable', but then again, mostly I don't.

gma · Post by **gma** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:30 pm

Surely this should be on the funny links thread asopposed to reading matter? I rememer this clip as one of the funniest standups of all time!! Well done you for finding it - makes me want to go out into the ether and hunt down some Monty Python...................!!!!!)