Reading as a cheap hobby

DigForVictory

What's wrong with a bit of bias, @PipneyJane?

 quizzing her about her research process.

I reckon diligent research can absolutely make a book. Says she who shocked a training manager with my detailed and wholly correct knowledge of whom to buy diamonds in Antwerp from (diamantaires, as any reader of Straight by D!ck Francis will know, unless the industry has changed massively since 1989), and I frankly-near worship the American Elizabeth George for the seemingly effortless detail that underpins her mercilessly good books about Lynley & Havers. (Havers is so easily miscast, misunderstood, misjudged & in fact when I read the books, I find myself nodding an absolute agreement on minutiae like brown sauce, when to put the effort into dressing up if at all, recognising the thought processes behind the shrine to her dead brother etc)
And on an altogether sillier note, I respectfully commend the George MacDonald Fraser books - McAuslan as the feckless soldier is hilarious, Flashman blends genuine historical record with vivid fictional swerves in a way that has me reading with a finger shoved in the notes section. As a way of coaxing the young into meeting primary sources, Flashman is near painless, but then they have to realise that reality is a lot more mundane without a gifted journalist giving it zing.

PipneyJane

I was picking Kerry’s brain @DigForVictory because, at the time, I also wanted to be a mystery novelist. Kerry’s research was always thorough - I wanted to learn her methodology. (I was better friends with her partner, but we all used to sing together.)

I have the greatest respect for Elizabeth George. It’s rare that she drops a clanger/gets something wrong about life in Britain, which is all the more admirable since she’s an American.

• Pip

weenancyinAmerica

I took a class from Elizabeth George at one of the universities here - 4 hours Friday evening and 8 hours on Saturday where she talked about how she researched her books. I was one of the best classes I have ever taken.

Brie

off on holiday Thursday and only one book to hand to take so stopped at the Tesco book shelf (50p a book, money to charity) and got Richard Adams' Shardik, John Grisham's The Whistler and David Park's The Big Snow. I've read some Adams stuff (I still think about the main characters in Plague Dogs) and a few Grisham. No idea what Park is like. But they seemed easy holiday stuff and I know there's a book shelf at the resort so will happily leave things there when done with them.

OH meanwhile hasn't done any looking at books so he'll likely read whatever I take. I've also got a copy of The Book Thief. Stole it from Tescos. (well underpaid as I didn't have the full 50p)

Blackcats

have a lovely holiday Brie.
I'm reading The List of Suspucious Things by Jennie Godfrey.

It's set in Yorkshire at the time of the ripper - don't be put off by the subject - it's well written and describes the life of a teenage girl in a really insightful way. Best book I've read for a while.

Rowan9

Pip - hope you’re feeling a bit better

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82045383#Comment_82045383

I am thanks, @Rowan9. My hand isn’t perfect, but iI was well enough to return to work. Started back on Monday: Tuesday and Thursday in lovely air conditioned comfort, the other three days sweltering at home.

The swelling is almost all gone and, while there are some unpredictable twinges, it’s not painful most of the time. I’m stretching it regularly, so hopefully that will help. (It feels like the tendons on the back of my hand have shortened. Whether that is due to underlying swelling or damage from the infection, I don’t know.) Who’d have thought that one of the most painful things you can do is turn the key in the car’s ignition?

Does anyone here listen to the She Done It podcast? The host, Caroline Crampton, discusses Golden Age detective novels with her guests. She’s written a couple of books, too. I’ve just started reading the first, “The Way To The Sea, the forgotten history of the Thames Estuary”, in which she travels from the river’s source near Kemble, in Gloucestershire, all the way to the Channel, describing her journey, what she discovers, and the river’s history. It’s beautifully written and quite compelling.

• Pip

Brie

Did not enjoy Adam's Shardik. I think it would suit someone who is in to wordy descriptions of fictional mythology including large bears. It's the wordy bit that got me. I left the book in our hotel room in Crete after reading about 1/6. No regrets. Life is too short for books one doesn't enjoy.

Meanwhile I did press on with the Gresham "The Whistler". Good, not great. But as a holiday read perfectly ok. I brought it home in case the OH gets bored.

I did read with increasing interest "The Book Thief". Very good and I heartyly recommend it. It's an odd book that took me some time to come to gripes with. Mostly due to the narrator being the devil who's taking souls off to wherever (I don't recall an actual location being mentioned - i.e. to heaven? or to hell???) What got to me some ways in to it is that it's a story about a girl in Nazi Germany. But there's no automatic "Germans are evil" line. That people are people, good, bad, nice/not so nice neighbour. I finished the book virtually as we were landing back in the uk after our holiday. I found I had very leaky eyes at the time - must have been the cabin pressure.

Coxy11

I read The Book Thief a while back - loved it. There is also a film.

I’m currently reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Late to the party and seemed to have been a book club choice as lots of copies in chazzers wherever I go. Enjoying it so far.

Have also recently been away and read:

Just Between Us by Adele Parks which is apparently a sequel. Was gifted by DSis so I will look for the prequel called Both of You.

The Guardians by John Grisham - good, usual JG excellent writing with odd character names(!).

A Neighbours Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish - like Thursday Murder Club with a dark twist - enjoyed it.

Also finished A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie - good fun read.

I’m away for a week from tomorrow. Will take LinC with me plus another book just in case needed.