Autumn reads

[Pippa]

Have picked up these at boot sales recently: The lovely bones by Alice Sebold about a girl who is murdered and can see what on is going on with the rest of her family, I missed the film but it had good reviews. Case Histories, Kate Atkinson, I have read a lot of hers, another crime for Jackson Brodies to investigate and The Lollipop shoes, Joanne Harris, her books are hit and miss with me but will give it a go. I think the charity shops had better get their act together over paperbacks, saw one for £2.50 recently, mostly 50p at boot fairs.

[Crocus]

Hi Pippa, I've just read Chocolat from Joanne Harris, and I tried Coast liners, but didnt really like it, so did finish it.

[souter girl]

Loved the first 2, not so keen on Lollipop Shoes - happy reading!

[jazzactivist]

I also really enjoyed The Lovely Bones and Case Histories, Pippa, but haven't read The Lollipop Shoes. I agree with you that charity shops are over-pricing now and it is such a shame. In the Ulverston Oxfam they have two paperbacks for £2.50 and there are quite a few literary ones to choose from, but some of them are in a real state and not worth it.

[eleanor2]

our charity shops vary so much from town to town.the little town near me.they are quite cheap.i do think charity shops have a good variety..

[souter girl]

I particularly like Oxfam bookshops and my challenge is to get a couple of bags of books IN and NOT bring a bagful home again! I agree about some paperbacks being overpriced especially as they are invariably reduced on Amazon or 3 for 2 at Waterstones, or reduced at Tesco etc, but they are good value for hardbacks - we just have so many books we don't have the shelf space any more (floor to ceiling x 3 in sitting room and half a wall , x2 in kitchen/diner, x1 1/12 in each of spare bedrooms, whole wall in Oh's study x1 outside study door not to mention the bags in the loft.) Perhaps I should start a shop!

[jazzactivist]

We're the same SG, and no amount of promises of "one in, one out" seem to work. We also have rooms full of floor to ceiling shelves in dining room, computer room and OH's room, and still quite a few unopened boxes. Now and again we have a 'clear out' and take books to the St Mary's Hospice charity shop just along the road, but there never seems to be any more space for new ones! There is quite a good Oxfam bookshop in Kendal, and the Ulverston one used to be better when the whole of the basement area was devoted to books. I do find that unless I chance on a good hardback, the books are very over-priced for what they are. I don't expect them at silly prices, but £1 for a paperback and £2-3 for a secondhand hardback is OK, I think. However, I have seen knackered-looking books in charity shops at just a £1 under their original selling price!

I read in Saturday's paper journalist Lucy Mangan's musing on starting up her own private lending library. That would be OK for us, but OH wouldn't be able to bear lending out his books into other people's sticky clutches. He won't join a library as he doesn't like the idea of other people touching the books, and his own look pristine even after he's read them... He also alphabetically catalogues all of his, so when we get rid of any he has to go into his catalogue and delete them, which has at times made him cry! Who would have thought that books could tug on the heartstrings so?

[souter girl]

oh I could - books, shoes, handbags the list goes on........................... for me at any rate. I don't suppose Andy is too bothered about handbags!

[Crocus]

I don't have as many books as you girls do, but those I have I'm very attached too. We were taught by my mum and in school to look after books the best we you can. Don't touch a book with dirty hands, don't eat while you read, don't fold the corners of the pages and don't use the cover sheet as a bookmark. Also don't 'break the book's back'. x

[jazzactivist]

I agree, crocus, and never do any of those things either. Although I like my books to look as if they have been read. My OH carries a 'man bag' everywhere he goes SG, to keep his books in. For a long while he used a carrier bag, then upgraded to a fisherman's bait bag, and a few years ago invested in a biger hemp version of a book bag from the Amnesty catalogue. However, the interior has a design of marijuana leaves which he at first thought was funny, then thought was embarrassing, and now feels too old to care.

[Crocus]

Hi Pippa, how do you find Lollipop Shoes so far - is it an interesting read? I had a look at out library but they don't have this book.

We have a lovely bookshop in town where you can take some of your books, either exchange for another book, or pay the difference of what the owner offer for your book and the one would like to buy. It's all second hand books and the better it's look after, the higher the price of course, but still quite affordable. Maybe she might have the book in stock.

Any of you read something from Raffaella Barker? "Summertime" is the title of one of her books which I noticed in the library and decided to take it out. She's described as "a talented comic writer", so I'll see what it's about. x

[Pippa]

Haven't started it yet Crocus, getting ready for back to work/school this week, so I am full time Grandma again, will start if on my week 'off' and also still work to do outside. Read Raffaella Barker a long time ago, quite amusing I think and not too heavy.

[Crocus]

Yes, it is quite light reading, I've read about the first 11 pages. Enjoy looking after Little One, I hope she's okay, she must be walking and talking now eh? x

[Catriona]

I really enjoyed The Lovely Bones and Case Histories, Pippa, but I couldn't really get into Lollipop Shoes and have given it up for now, might go back to it if I'm desperate.

[Pippa]

Has anyone read any Donna Leon books? They are about commissario guido brunetti, an italian policeman and set in Venice (found the caps key at last). My friend gave me 4 to read last night and apparently they all involve food, he is forev er eating and drinks Grappa, some of the titles are Acqua Alta, Blood from a stone and Death and Judgement. Willa be a getting alla italiano now. Ciao.

[souter girl]

I love, love, love them - not for the plots although they are good, but for the characters! How Paola does not clock him with her pizza pan sometimes I don't know, but I love both of them so much. I have never been to Venice, but feel I would recognise both the places and the people!!! I have all the paperbacks and a friend recently lent me the latest in hardback (not the best of them) I eagerly await each new publication! While waiting I have found some solace in the arms (?) of Andrea Camillari, whose detective is based in Sicily - also great books!

[Pippa]

My friend said more or less the same thing SG, will be spending this evening with the first one.