When a teenager I loved reading the Swallows and Amazons books by Arthur Ransome.
One might have thought it impossible to put it on stage, but Bristol Old Viv have done just that, and my paper today has given it a very good review.
So much of the books is set on and in the waters of the Lake District, so I assume the producers have done something thrillingly creative for it to become convincing on stage.
Then, by train of thought, my mind wandered on to recall other books which I thoroughly enjoyed as a teenager. This was after the compulsory reading set by school; this was entirely voluntary and was my own choice.
Alice in Wonderland didn't appeal when set by school, but reading it later, it sprang to life.
I didn't read Wind in the Willows at school, but I read it later and loved it.
I also remember having a strong liking for the Biggles series of books by Captain W. E. Johns.
These were not imposed by school - these were books which I chose to read.
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Alice in Wonderland and Wind in the Willows I read in primary school, at that age over here any way we don't have any compulsory reading in school.
That starts when we move on to Secondary School. I have to say the books we had to read were absolutely fantastic, they were books I would never have chosen for myself and really opened up a whole different horizon. Books like Edna O'Brien's Country Girls, To Kill a Mocking Bird, they were all such fantastic reads and our english teacher was absolutely brilliant. Learning about themes and imagery and identifying significant quotes really was my cup of tea
Edit...when I left school I read Homer's The Illiad, and the tips on appreciation I learned in school meant I could really digest it properly
That starts when we move on to Secondary School. I have to say the books we had to read were absolutely fantastic, they were books I would never have chosen for myself and really opened up a whole different horizon. Books like Edna O'Brien's Country Girls, To Kill a Mocking Bird, they were all such fantastic reads and our english teacher was absolutely brilliant. Learning about themes and imagery and identifying significant quotes really was my cup of tea
Edit...when I left school I read Homer's The Illiad, and the tips on appreciation I learned in school meant I could really digest it properly
Oh thanks for drawing that to my attention El Loro.
I shall certainly watch it. It will be intriguing for me to see how such an water-based and imagination-based book has been adapted for the stage.
Thanks.
I shall certainly watch it. It will be intriguing for me to see how such an water-based and imagination-based book has been adapted for the stage.
Thanks.
Reference:
Books like Edna O'Brien's Country Girls,
I re-read that recently 
I tried to see if I could get the Ch4 film version of it with Sam Neil but I keep getting redirected to porn sites of the Country girls 
I never read Swallows and Amazons Brisket but I did devour Alice in Wonderland and the Looking Glass and Wind in the Willows
I loved Little Women,and the What Katy Did series.
Reference:Issy
I loved Little Women
Ah yes! Me too. Reference:
I tried to see if I could get the Ch4 film version of it with Sam Neil
Pengy, you can get this from Lovefilm - don't know the price though.
http://www.lovefilm.com/film/T...ountry-Girls/160883/
Reference:
Pengy, you can get this from Lovefilm - don't know the price though.
thanks El Loro I shall investigate more tomorrow when I have more time
I have seen this film on Freeview a couple of times.
I've never heard of these books, what's the storyline there then?!
I read the what Katy did books for the first time this year and thoroughly enjoyed them
I read the what Katy did books for the first time this year and thoroughly enjoyed them
Swallows and Amazons, Little Women, What Katy Did, The Secret Garden - I loved them all. I spent most of my childhood and teenage years with my nose in a book.
I was taught to sail by the boy captain from the Swallows He was my personal teacher at a sailing camp I went to when I was 10 
I wasn't a big book reader as a child much to my parents dismay but as I grew up started reading much more.
I hope my daughter continues her love for books she's nearly 4 but I am constantly reading to her at her request - she loves books.
He was my personal teacher at a sailing camp I went to when I was 10 I wasn't a big book reader as a child much to my parents dismay but as I grew up started reading much more.
I hope my daughter continues her love for books she's nearly 4 but I am constantly reading to her at her request - she loves books.
Quote from Lazybug
"I hope my daughter continues her love for books she's nearly 4 but I am constantly reading to her at her request - she loves books."
I hope so too Lazybug. Television and film is great of course. But books stimulate the imagination, brain, mind and creativity. Plus books are nice to touch.
"I hope my daughter continues her love for books she's nearly 4 but I am constantly reading to her at her request - she loves books."
I hope so too Lazybug. Television and film is great of course. But books stimulate the imagination, brain, mind and creativity. Plus books are nice to touch.
Reference: El Loro
You might want to watch More 4 at 8pm this Saturday 11th. The new series of "The Making Of" starts of with a documentary of this stage production of Swallows and Amazons at the Bristol Old Vic.
I am so grateful that you directed me to this programme El (I think I would have missed it otherwise.)I found it fascinating. Quite remarkable what creativity, imagination and an open mind can do. Enlightening and entertaining.
Thanks also because I now see that next Saturday the 2nd programme in the series is focussing on the making of War Horse, another theatrical achievement.
There was an interesting aspect in this programme.
Swallows & Amazons is being done on the stage as a musical, and it was noticeable that the cast did not wear those rather irritating tiny face microphones which dangle down the cheek and hover near the gob. No! They are for people who cannot project and who perhaps have had little or no training.
The Bristol Old Vic company projected perfectly well without such technical aids. Andit was nice to see.
Swallows & Amazons is being done on the stage as a musical, and it was noticeable that the cast did not wear those rather irritating tiny face microphones which dangle down the cheek and hover near the gob. No! They are for people who cannot project and who perhaps have had little or no training.
The Bristol Old Vic company projected perfectly well without such technical aids. Andit was nice to see.