The Bookworm's Thread 2016

dreaming

carbootcrazy wrote: »

I'm sorry I've forgotten the criteria for a suitable book for your elderly gent:o but I've been wondering whether something humorous might be the answer:idea:.

Something like a P G Wodehouse (which everyone else may have read already but there are lots to choose from and they've the bonus of being short) or a Bill Bryson. Not in the humour genre but nice, short and not too convoluted, what about one of Georges Simenon's Maigret books?

Thanks for the suggestions but his complaint was that we read "too many books written in the past" (I did say that I've never found one written in the future but it went over his head a bit) and that he wanted something "uplifting". He doesn't like SF or fantasy either. This was after reading Tom Sharpe's Blott on the Landscape, which admittedly is a bit dated now but the rest of us found quite amusing. We also read Wodehouse last year and have read some of Bryson. Old gentleman's suggestion (although he couldn't remember the title) was about a young boy who is a bit of a hero and "saves the day" along with his friends. After thinking it might be Alex Rider books, old gent remembered there was some magic in it, so we concluded he meant Harry Potter but when we explained what they were about he decided that wasn't what he wanted. I tried quite hard to find something suitable but already had lots of suggestions from the other members so decided to go with those for now. To be honest I think whatever we choose he will have something to say. Unfortunately he often doesn't particularly comment on the book itself but often manages to tie it in to some sort of "pronouncement" about what is wrong with the world today (maybe he is entitled to at his age). Often we just let him have his say and carry on with our discussion but I was trying to find something which might appeal and would bring him into the discussion a bit more. I just ended up with a list of books that I want to read to go with the lists I already have (some of which I have gleaned from reading this thread), on top of which - favourite authors just keep writing more (see my previous posts). It's a good job I am retired and so have plenty of reading time but even I have to do the odd spot of housework.

VfM4meplse

dreaming wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions but his complaint was that we read "too many books written in the past" (I did say that I've never found one written in the future but it went over his head a bit) and that he wanted something "uplifting". He doesn't like SF or fantasy either. This was after reading Tom Sharpe's Blott on the Landscape, which admittedly is a bit dated now but the rest of us found quite amusing. We also read Wodehouse last year and have read some of Bryson. Old gentleman's suggestion (although he couldn't remember the title) was about a young boy who is a bit of a hero and "saves the day" along with his friends. After thinking it might be Alex Rider books, old gent remembered there was some magic in it, so we concluded he meant Harry Potter but when we explained what they were about he decided that wasn't what he wanted. I tried quite hard to find something suitable but already had lots of suggestions from the other members so decided to go with those for now. To be honest I think whatever we choose he will have something to say. Unfortunately he often doesn't particularly comment on the book itself but often manages to tie it in to some sort of "pronouncement" about what is wrong with the world today (maybe he is entitled to at his age). Often we just let him have his say and carry on with our discussion but I was trying to find something which might appeal and would bring him into the discussion a bit more. I just ended up with a list of books that I want to read to go with the lists I already have (some of which I have gleaned from reading this thread), on top of which - favourite authors just keep writing more (see my previous posts). It's a good job I am retired and so have plenty of reading time but even I have to do the odd spot of housework.

This chap sounds like hours of fun. You'll never please him so perhaps quit before you die trying?

[Deleted User]

VfM4meplse wrote: »

This chap sounds like hours of fun. You'll never please him so perhaps quit before you die trying?

I was thinking along the same lines:rotfl:.

If he was a member of my group I'd give three silent cheers at any meeting that he didn't attend;)

greentiger

I've read most of the 20 books and the couple I haven't, I've no interest in!

Pride & Prejudice is my favourite and I read it every year or so. I read Tale of Two Cities again in the spring. And I read Alice in Wonderland with my 7yo grandson in the spring too. We took turns to read and he loved it!

I've not made much progress with Louis de Bernieres' "Birds Without Wings". No idea why because I am enjoying it!

dreaming

VfM4meplse wrote: »

This chap sounds like hours of fun. You'll never please him so perhaps quit before you die trying?

carbootcrazy wrote: »

I was thinking along the same lines:rotfl:.

If he was a member of my group I'd give three silent cheers at any meeting that he didn't attend;)

To be honest I am not the most patient of people with him (and one or two of the others) but it is not MY book group - I just do the admin. bit of compiling the book suggestions into a list and even that can be thankless task at times. I literally collate everyone's suggestions over time and "draw" them out of a hat to make the list but people complain about them being "too long to read over the Christmas period", "unseasonal", or having two similarly themed books close together. One member even complained about "how awful" one book was (it was quite grim) but forgot that she was the one who had suggested it some time previously.:rotfl: I think I was feeling quite mellow when I decided to try to find a suitable book for old gent, hoping to try to encourage more engagement with the book from him but I secretly think he enjoys being a bit cantankerous, and as I said, we tend to ignore what he says and get on with our own discussion. Anyway, it's all sorted for the next 8 months now.

missbiggles1

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Thanks! :rotfl:

A bit of fun for the weekend: 20 books you should read again and again. I have 8 in my collection, and read a further 8 many years ago so still have some way to go.

The ones I have no interest in are Lord of the Rings, Farenheit 51, and Frankenstein. The one that I really should have read is the Grapes of Wrath.

I've read all but 3 of them. I've got Fahrenheit 451 waiting on my Kindle, will probably get round to Tale of Two Cities but can't really see myself ever reading Charlotte's Web.

missbiggles1

carbootcrazy wrote: »

Thanks for the link. An interesting selection but sadly, despite having read all of them at some time in my long reading life, there are only two of them that I would want to read again;)

Wuthering Heights is a lifelong favourite, actually enjoyed when having to study it for 'A'Level, and I re-read it from time to time.

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe enchanted me as a child. I can't remember the age at which I first read it but I recall it being the first time I'd ever been totally lost and immersed in a book. I really must give that one another go.

I'm not a big re-reader. Life's too short to read all the books that I want/need to read without spending time on re-reads.

I reread most books, even thrillers - I agree with the Oscar Wilde statement -
“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”

Or, to put it less well "If I don't want to read it again, it can't have ben much good".

dreaming

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I reread most books, even thrillers - I agree with the Oscar Wilde statement -
“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”

Or, to put it less well "If I don't want to read it again, it can't have ben much good".

I am currently going through a re-reading phase - hence my collecting the Rebus books (all of which I have read before). I am also working my way through the Jack Reacher and John Le Carre books again courtesy of the library as I am really running out of space for more books. Although I have realised there is space under the window for 2 small bookcases if I shift everything round.

pollypenny

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Thanks! :rotfl:

A bit of fun for the weekend: 20 books you should read again and again. I have 8 in my collection, and read a further 8 many years ago so still have some way to go.

The ones I have no interest in are Lord of the Rings, Farenheit 51, and Frankenstein. The one that I really should have read is the Grapes of Wrath.

I have read most of them umpteen times, party because most have been on GCSE and A level syllabuses.

I could not face Lord of the Rings again and I'm not keen on Catcher in the Rye. I love Farenheit 451.

Grapes of Wrath was the first book to make me cry. It's a long time since I read it last, so due a revisit.

VfM4meplse

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I've read all but 3 of them. I've got Fahrenheit 451 waiting on my Kindle, will probably get round to Tale of Two Cities but can't really see myself ever reading Charlotte's Web.

I'd happily read it once more - it's a children's book, so I'm confident it would be no more than an afternoon's occupation. I'll save it for a wet Saturday in November.

From what I can remember it's a good way of getting kids used to the concept of death, and that life still goes on afterwards. It might also train them not to be afraid of spiders