EC thats kind of spooky 

Lets not forget St Clares too.

Oh I missed this when I replied, I love both of those series of books.

 

I read them as a very early teen, or 11/12 year old and they so made me want to go to boarding school, for nothing else but the midnight feasts.

I think I would find it hard to recommend 5 books to anyone, as people have such different tastes.  

 

But, I used to love horror novels when I was younger (early 20's) and I loved Stephen Kings 'The Stand', although I wouldn't really put it in the horror genre. His 'IT' I actually never finished reading as it scared me so much, and 'MISERY' oh my god, the movie was great but the description of when she hobbled him in the book had my ankles almost over my shoulders.

  it depends on the establishment.

I went to a school with boarders and they were always ruddy starving 

 

And at my brother's school, the "nutritionist" in charge of catering got done for nicking funds - the poor boarders got terrible cheap food 

I think I've probably read every Enid Blyton ever written

 

Loved Malory Towers

St Clairs

Naughtiest Girl in the School

Famous Five

Secret Seven

Mystery of ............(five find outers)

The Valley of Adventure etc.

Wishing Chair

Enchanted Wood

Mr Gallianos Circus

 

and more and more and more.

 

Who writes the newer stuff? I have bought my grand sons 'newer' Wishing Chair and Enchanted Wood stuff where incidentally it's no longer Jo, Bess and Fanny - it's now Jo, Beth and Franny

 

 

I've not mentioned it yet, but I tend to be drawn to biographies, there is something I like in a story about someone real and their life eperiences. The last one I read was Steve McQueen.

 

I also like to read about the formation and careers of artists and bands and specifically what the circumstances were whilst recording a particular album.

Since you mention the subject, I love the work of Pete Frame. I entered into negotiation to buy his original of Frank and the Mothers. Then it became apparent it was too unwieldy to post, and I would have to go there to collect it. Sometimes I wish that I had.

 Biographies are great reads. I understand your wanting to learn more about the formation of creative people. When I really like a writer or actor I get a bit obsessive and need to know everything about them. I loved reading about F Scott Fitzgerald, Katherine Mansfield... right through to The Rolling Stones and trashy biographies about Marilyn Monroe 

The saddest one was Get Happy about Judy Garland...   

I can't believe the book I'm reading at the moment ..........................I can;t believe I'm telling you lot My Mum was given it and passed it on to me - it's a biography of someone I couldn't stand when she was alive but .......it's not bad and I'm feeling a tiny bit of sympathy It's Jade Goody - 'Jade - Fighting to the End' - never realised what a complete and utter tosser Jack Tweed was.

The best and funniest autobiography I read was Frank Skinner (the first one) - absolutely hilarious - I howled (and cringed) with laughter - not for the faint hearted but highly recommended.

Really? Tell us more...

He seemed like a non-entity on CBB but he's been in the news subsequently + doesn't seem a nice person.

I still haven't finished the book and can't imagine why she eventually married him. He never worked and was happy to live off her money, he cheated on her, he was controlling and above all (in spite of what we later saw in the press) he didn't really seem to care for her very much at all. Treated her like a meal ticket IMO.

I've always thought he was a leech - even when they were on CBB, and I didn't for one minute buy any of the 'grief' he showed when she died.    Just happening to go and lay flowers on her grave with a posse of reporters in tow ... pull the other one    He was/is and probably always will be scum

I got a bit ranty there... he does that to me 

Oh... 

 

I think there is something quite magical for many people about Marilyn Monroe, she is certainly someone I should add to my list. I saw a bit of a documentary about her, if memory serves, she was quite well read.

 

I am a massive Clint Eastwood fan and have many book about him, I would like to now read a bit more about some of the people he worked with like Sergio Leone, Don Siegel and Lennie Niehaus.

 

I recently purchased the book by Peter Hook of Joy Division / New Order fame. Called Unknown Pleasure (Inside Joy Division).

 

 

A book I bought recently (which is in keeping with my interests) is Saul Bass: A Life in Film and Design. 

 

http://lareviewofbooks.org/art...d=605&fulltext=1

 

 

Just finished reading Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and afraid I'm not going to rave about it as much as Soozy. Whilst overall , I did like it and I liked it more after I'd read it, if that makes sense, I found the two main characters, (mother and daughter,) a bit self indulgent and was irritated at times by the background noise of middle class American therapy culture and naval gazing. I also thought it a bit slow at times and wondered if there was ever going to be a reveal of a decent secret! There were certainly some heartwarming moments, however there's a line in the book about liminal moments," those moments when you are gripped, taken, when you are so fully absorbed in what you are doing that time ceases to exist" and apart from the odd time it wasn't until onwards of about 75% into the book that really ever happened for me. That was around the time of the 'elephant' Soozy and tbh if you hadn't mentioned the elephant and reviewed the book so highly, I might have given up long before I got there! Having said that, I'm glad I didn't.

I loved the first 3 wilbur smith books of the Courtney series, especially the 3rd one

Awwwwwwww - never mind. I'll be honest I think I may have been the same when I read it - it sort of wouldn't leave me afterwards if you know what I mean. I loved all the middle class American trivia stuff - I enjoy a bit of looking back.

 

I have read the trilogy and the prequel (little Altars Everywhere) goes some way to explaining why the mother is like she is. Interestingly the prequel was written afterwards and is meant to be read in that order (if that makes sense). I'm guessing that you wouldn't be fussed about reading it though

 

Me and my sister so wanted to be Ya Ya's after we read it - I remember buying her a tacky badge along those lines once.

 

Never mind - 'C'est la vie' 

Don't get me wrong Soozy, I did like it, I just didn't love it, there were certainly  elements I did enjoy, particularly the main theme of female friendship, support and life-long bonds. I just didn't really take to the two principal characters as much as I wanted to, so couldn't connect and lose myself in their story. I kept thinking that this and that should be a real tearjerker moment but it wasn't happening for me. Difficult to explain without spoiling the story for others, although I did enjoy the final 2/3rds of the book and wouldn't want to put anyone on here off giving it a go!  

Anita Diamant's 'The Red Tent' is one of my 'top five' books, so I've just downloaded another of hers, 'Day After Night.' Having read the reviews on kindle store I've got high hopes of liminal moments!

I've just bought   - various pets, alive and dead - by Marina Lewycka

Haven't stopped laughing yet, I'll be buying  her  other books next , starting with - a short history of tractors in ukrainian.

 

 

I read the Tractors - very amusing although not everyones cup of tea. I lent it to a friend and she was a bit

All my friends are a bit  for most of the time they are awake...not about books but just in general...

ahhh, the Tractor book was great ... try Two Caravans by the same author - equally as good