The Cherrys series by Will Scott. I was at primary school when these were around and I remember searching for more when we were allowed on the Schools Library Service Mobile Library. Then many, many years ago (20ish) I spotted this in a secondhand book sale in the High School in Felixstowe. (It's funny how I can remember exactly where I was when I found it).
I'm sure these book are the reason I love crime fiction!
The Cherrys and their friends the Pringles were always solving mysteries usually set by their neighbour Mr Wilkes. Lovely stories of sunny summer holiday fun.
Look on Amazon and you'll get a shock at how much they sell for now!
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. I don't know when I first read this - but I loved the whole adventure and the self-sufficiency ( although those words were not in common usage then) of the children on their island. I've had a few holidays in the Lake District, seen the boat and the places written about and re-read it again and watched the film several times.
I read all sorts of fiction in my library years between between 1971 and 1980...........Agatha Christie, Ian Fleming followed by R.F. Delderfield and Howard Spring and others who wrote big family sagas and of course all of Catherine Cookson's books.
Then when I was working in Stowmarket Library about 1975 someone ordered a book by John Seymour. It wasn't this one below but an earlier version without the colour drawings. One of the perks (then) of working in a library was getting to read new books before they went out on loan ........ I'm sure it wouldn't be allowed now! After reading it I wanted to grow my own vegetables, keep animals and be self-sufficient. It took more than 30 years to fully achieve that.
The Complete Book Of Self-Sufficiency by John Seymour
Living Better on Less and Living on a Little Land by Patrick Rivers.
These also came to the library around the same time, similar to John Seymour but more realistic. Still love them.
Hovel in the Hills by Elizabeth West
The most re-read book on my shelves..........although this copy is the re-printed and up dated version. My original is very tatty!
I'd still love a Hovel in the Hills if I could find one!
Swimming with Piranha Makes you Hungry By Colin Turner
When we started to think of ways for Col to retire early this was one of the first books I read. Lots of ways to realise a dream, save money and become financially independent. When interest rates were high a person 'only' needed to have £50,000 saved to produce an income big enough to live on! It has lot's of ideas for ways to avoid living the sort of life that many people do ........... constantly over spending and being in debt.
Dissolution by C. J. Sansom. I read a review of this which said it had taught the critic more about the period than any history book. Written in 2003 it is the first in the Shardlake series. I read and loved all the Ellis Peters books about Brother Cadfael written between 1977 and 1994 and this series is just as interesting. Well written historical crime has to be my favourite genre.
Few Eggs and No Oranges by Vere Hodgson was among the first of the diaries written during WWII that I bought for my collection of home front books. First published in 1976 it is a huge book and some people have criticized it but in 1999 Persephone added it to their publications which is good enough for me!
And finally this little book was the first of the British Library Crime Classics. I came across it by chance in a charity shop but it was an introduction to all the Golden Age Crime books that are being re-printed by the British Library and other publishers and re-introduced me to all the great crime authors of earlier times some of which - like Agatha Christie I had read first time round, but others I'd never explored.
10 books from my shelves.
What ten books have shaped your reading?
Back in a jiffy
Sue
Oh gosh, there's a challenge. I seem to have a couple of yours already - John Seymour, and Hovel in the Hills I could never get rid of. Like you I have reread Hovel many times, and never tire of it. They bring a whole new meaning to Living Frugally! It had quite an influence on me wanting to move to Wales, I will confess.
ReplyDeleteLove the Sansom books too, and have that one on my shelves.
Interesting list there Sue. Difficult in a comment but I'll try. I read all of Enid Blyton's famous five books and boarding school books like Malory Towers as a child. Then discovered Dervla Murphy when I was 17 and that started a life time of reading her travel books. Went through late teenage years of reading Jean Plaidy but fortunately grew out of those and moved on to Margaret Forster who was just starting. Have always been a Daphne du Maurier fan, and Dickens. I do not like crime books although have read a few Ian Rankin. Have read everything by Donna Leon which is crime in Venice so I read more for Venice and the Inspector than the actual crime! I like all travel books and always have one on the go as well as a novel. I will read almost anything with a good story but do not like anything historical.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea. I must do a blog entry on this sometime. Thanks for the idea.
ReplyDeleteJ x
So interesting to see your progression of books! I have only read Swallows and Amazons of these ones. Will think about doing this post too, thank you for the idea!
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic indeed. I've never given much thought to what shapes my reading. I've not read any from your list, but I know Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, and Little Women would feature high on my list, as would Enid Blyton Famous Five and Mallory Towers {probably setting firm foundations for my adoration of Harry Potter!}
ReplyDeleteWe have recently visited the Arts & Crafts House, Blackwell in the Lake District where they currently have a Swallows and Amazon's exhibition.It was like taking a trip back to childhood.
ReplyDeleteBook list for me: As a child most definitely Enid Blyton Faraway Tree stories, followed by the Famous Five. Through my teens Jean Webster's Daddy Long Legs. When my children were young beatrix Potter stories, Mary Rayner's Mr & Mrs Pig's evening out (much loved by my own three and now by my grandchildren) and then in recent years my (mature student) university textbooks. Eloise
Brilliant idea but I think it would too difficult for me to choose.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea but I think it would too difficult for me to choose.
ReplyDeleteA hovel in the hills sounds just perfect I'd like one too, we could be neighbours!
ReplyDeleteI spent one entire summer reading the "Outlander" series by Diane Gabaldon. Pure escapist literature!
ReplyDeletePicking a favourite book would be like picking a favourite child: can't be done! As a gift for a colleague abacus to start chemo my department (of English teachers) are buying her an amazon voucher and all reccomending a book to read in the dark times, a difficult pick for all of us. I'm torn between Simon Armitage: Waking Home (I HAVE to walk the pennine way since reading this, and bits of it made me laugh so much) or Nora Seton: The Kitchen Congregation (a tender and warming story of friendship between women, and the importance of the life lived in the kitchen of family homes)... A book choice for a totally different reason: The Magic Faraway Tree!
ReplyDeleteI bought copies of that mystery one for friends for Christmas when I did a white Christmas themed gift for them.
ReplyDeleteI read the CJ Sansom one at book club and really didn't enjoy it very much!
I like the sound of the financial independence one, I shall have a look for that.
Lisa x
The usual Enid Blytons when I was little, progressing onto Mills & Boon and Danielle Steele when I was a teenager looking for love lol, onto autobiographies in my late teens/20's, mostly about surviving in WWII concentration camps, frippery and nonsense novels in my late 20's, not a lot during my 30's with having children, a few 'how to make money, retire early, make £1 million in a week in my early 40's. I'm now back to frippery and nonsense and I do like a wartime diary these days. xx
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