This is Ann Darnton's Typepad Profile.
Join Typepad and start following Ann Darnton's activity
Ann Darnton
Interests: Reading, especially Fiction and Children's Literature, Classical Music, Theatre, Cricket, afternoon tea and Bears
Recent Activity
I love Sophie Hannah's work and posted about 'Hurting Distance' here http://patternings.typepad.com/patternings/2007/06/hurting-distanc.html
I understand that there is a third novel in the series due out in February 2008 and a fourth being written.
Hurting Distance and Rough Trade
My most recent two reviews at Euro Crime are of very different, but both complusively readable, books. Sophie Hannah's new (and second) novel, Hurting Distance, is reviewed here. A psychological and tense thriller involving the search for a missing man, where nothing is what it seems but all is ...
I've just picked this up from the library, so will read it soon. My own journey through the longlist has begun with Nicola Barker's 'Darkmans' which is intriguing if not more.
Bookerthon 2007:The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies
The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies and a quick kick of myself because John Self over at Asylum has been the literary world's answer to Gipsy Acora with this year's longlist, his predictions for this one and several others to be there spot on. I could have read it weeks ago in that case and now ...
I'll be very interested in what you think of O'Hagan's 'Be Near Me'. I thought it was excellent, if very chilling, and a friend of mine who is a catholic priest said the reality was spot-on. However, other people I know weren't so impressed. Perhaps the subject matter put them off.
Sunday Confessions
Considering that we've had a postal strike this week there doesn't seem to have been any shortage of parcels arriving and in amongst them I think a few in-flight novels that will be just the ticket. I have been up to my eyes with life and lists so apologies to anyone who hasn't received a than...
I loved 'Mistress of the Art of Death', so I hope it loves up to its beginnings for you.
Sunday Confessions on Tuesday
I don't think anyone can accuse of us of not constantly broadening our reading horizons here at dovegreyreader scribbles HQ. My sojourn at Waterstone's Piccadilly a while ago was also a good chance to check out some of the books that have been recommended around the blogs in recent weeks.Armed w...
I had the pleasure of hearing Candi Miller talk about this book last October as she's a friend of a friend. I know how many years of hard work went into the makng of this book, so I know she'll be thrilled at how much you've enjoyed it.
Salt and Honey
It's easy to miss a big instore book promotion when you live in the rural Tamar Valley but having read Salt and Honey by Candi Miller I'm not in the least surprised it was chosen to feature in one because it's a book to have and to hold and to savour. Despite the fact I have some cracking good...
This happened to a colleague of mine. One minute all well and the next he was taken from us at only 51. It took ages to stop looking for him or planning things to say when we next met. I'm really sorry.
A strange day
Life in the country is often strange, sometimes very subtle in the way it tells you something. Vast acres of fields as far as the eye can see, quiet lane in front of the house only really used by us and farm traffic and yet we notice the slightest change, the vaguest hint of something out of the...
I missed out on 'English Passengers' as well but I'll add this to the pile.
When We Were Romans
This is going to be the least helpful book post I've possibly ever written about a book that has readily earned a constellation of star ratings here for that extra special buzz factor. I can't describe this add-on je ne sais qoi thing, it's quite intangible but I know it when I read a book that ...
I seriously hope my ex-Latin teacher never manages to track me down. So low was her opinion of my abilities that if anyone else made a mistake in class she would admonish them with "That was a silly thing to say, look, even Ann is laughing." I would find a polite cup of tea nigh on impossible!
Amo amas amat amamus amatis amant...testing testing
A very funny thing happened last week. Those who follow this blog may remember my mild but pronounced aversion to Latin at school. It all went bellum upwards when I changed schools at thirteen and found the new lot had got off to a racing start and were a year ahead.My imperative passive present...
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Last week was the first anniversary of my Mom's death, so mothers and their places in our lives have been much in my mind. Yesterday, a friend came round for coffee who has his 97 year old mother living with him. He is videoing her telling stories of her childhood in Western Ireland - the sort of life we find hard even to imagine these days. I know that in years to come, he is going to be so glad that he did this.
Happy Birthday to...
May 30th so always the day the Tinker and I remember my mum who died ten years ago.Well we probably remember her most days actually but especially on her birthday. Born Vera Griffiths on May 30th 1926, just after the General Strike and raised in The Dingle, Liverpool 8, my mum was always very ...
Having, in another life, worked for WHS, I could fill you in on some relevant background here, but would probably then get locked up, minus books, for a very long time, so I won't risk it. Let me just say that I'm not surprised.
Sunday Confessions
I often wonder whether to keep Sunday Confessions going but owning up does help me start the week with a clean book buying slate, a sort of purging, a regular weekly biblioholic irrigation, so needs must. I did actually do a rare and unusual thing this week and bought some books in W.H.Smith's b...
'Gilead' is definitely an acquired taste; I loved it. Do keep trying.
Upstairs Downstairs
I seem to spend half a lifetime carting books up and down stairs because the bedside table must be kept replenished. How awful to be comfortably esconced with pillows plumped only to find that you absolutely HAVE to read that book which you know is downstairs.This last week I've had a bit of a r...
Owwww!
On the subject of Lessing and Kavan, I've not come across either Kavan or 'Time Bites'. I would love to read the Lessing, but it's only available in Birmingham Reference Library. Helene Hanff had some very biting things to say about libraries that wouldn't let her bring books home where they could be enjoyed with a decent cup of (in her case) coffee in front of a warm fire; I'm with her on this. However, they do have a copy of a book by Kavan called 'Ice', so that is now on it's way.
Anna Kavan, Doris Lessing and bath plugs
Anna who? Hmm is it just me again? Anna Kavan nee Helen Woods, then Ferguson, born in Cannes probably in 1901, two divorces, nervous breakdowns, heroin addiction, name changes.Frequently compared favourably with Virginia Woolf and Jean Rhys. Have you all been reading her books for years when I'v...
I've said my piece about proof-reading, what I want to know is where did you get that wonderful teapot. I love teapots that are teapots (i.e. not pretend fire engines and the like?)
Bugle Boy update from the kitchen table
I've probably shot myself in the foot this week after highlighting an error in a book because we've been doing proof reading of our own here and if anyone mentions proof-reading to me any more I really might have a fit of the vapours. I must bring you up to date on happenings though because this...
I'm beginning to think we need a campaign against the poor editing standards that prevail today. It isn't just the slips of fact that are allowed to get through but the proof reading errors as well. I'm wallowing luxuriously in the latest Reginald Hill at the moment, wonderful read, but even there I've come across two instances when words have been left in that should have been taken out when what I think were probably grammatical changes have been made. I'm sure this is happening more frequently than used to be the case. Is it perhaps a symptom of the need to publish a book at a particular time rather than when it's ready?
So Many Ways to Begin
Anticipating a year ahead of prize-list reading to which I'm addicted and won't be able to resist, I thought I should really deal with some of last year's unread books before I gather in any more.Having bought them in a fit of over-excitement and hard-back extravagence they have glared at me mal...
I picked up a copy of Flanner's letters probably about twenty years ago in that wonderful bookshop that used to be on the Charing Cross Road, The Silver Moon. I'd forgotten about it until you mentioned her, but you're right, she was really insightful. I'm adding this book to my 'need to get hold of' list now.
Claudine's House
Reading my way to Paris from my armchair / bed /car /desk is proving to be full of that je ne sais quoi atmosphere and kicked off by a delightful book by Colette. I'm very new to Colette and so Claudine's House from Hesperus looked like quite a gentle start.First published in 1922 and Colette'...
Definitely [another!] one for the TBR pile.
Season of the Witch
I get lots of lovely e mails now asking me to read books and all I can say to that is happy happy joy joy. I make it clear that I only post on here about books I have really enjoyed so a free book is absolutely no guarantee but thank you anyway and yes, I eventually give them all a go.Strangely ...
This looks stunning. I want a copy, but where do I put it given that having resigned last week, I now have to find room at home for fourteen shelves full of books from my office? Isn't it always the way? Just when you resolve that you will not buy another book until at least half the current stock have gone to Oxfam temptation like this comes along.
Art Deco is still me
I'm sorry to be a nuisance and go on about it but I'm still suffering the pangs of the Art Deco craze at the moment in fact I'm not sure I've ever really grown up where crazes are concerned.The enthusiasm just grips me feverishly, not that different from all those school crazes, French skippin...
The transport posters are often used on the CDs of English music from that period put out by Dutton. I love the music and have always admired the covers. This is a book I shall have to get hold of.
Margaret Calkin James
Undaunted by the closed textile galleries at the V&A I was browsing in the shop when I came across a delightful book about a designer from the 1930's. I had never heard of her by name but of course I knew her work.Instantly recognizable and this was the book that I read on the train home. The ...
I'm so glad about the KC-H, Lynne. Keep going.
Sunday Confessions
An odd mix this week but great delight at the arrival of Kevin Crossley-Holland's Arthurian trilogy.First up The Seeing Stone and already it's clear of course that Ann over on Patternings was right.I know I'm going to love these, I'm deeply involved in plot, place, time and character after fin...
I've never read her either, Lynne. I would go over to the library site now, but I've already been there once this morning and it's down. Never fear, I've got my little list and Rubens is now on it.
Bernice Rubens
Mention of Bernice Rubens over on the Mostly Books blog (from that bookshop to die for in lucky old Abingdon) reminds me that I may not have mentioned her recently on here and that is most remiss of me. I was fortunate enough to book in for a Reader's Day at the Ways With Words LitFest a few yea...
I logging in to say that I've just commented on your comment on my blog about Rankin and be warned that if you begin, as I did, with the first one (and like you I do like to read them in order) he starts slowly and then simply gets better. Having now read the comment above, can I echo it, if only because the later Scarpetta books IMHO are so drenched in self-pity that you might never want to pick one up again. I haven't come across Camilleri. I'm off to rectify that now.
Endsleigh Whodunnit
Life is just flying by like a real page-turner. No sooner one great Endsleigh Salon book evening enjoyed than it's time for the next one and tonight's theme is Crime & Whodunnit. While I think of it check out great crime fiction blogs It's a Crime here and Euro Crime here. I wanted something com...
I enjoyed 'Dark Fire' more than either of the other Shardlake books, I think and 'Made in Heaven' had me laughing and crying and eventually agonising over Joss's final decision. I will be fascinated to see what you think.
Sunday Confessions Part Two
Most purchases made on a trip down to Truro last week. We did a road inspection too for the benefit of those of you who head this way on holiday and live in dread of the Bodmin to Indian Queens stretch.The new bit of the A30 is all but ready. Truro is definitely up with the best for Cornish shop...
Now this sounds exactly my sort of book and not unlike one I used to use with seven and eight year olds about a caterpillar, the title of which, for the moment, escapes me. I must look that out as well. Thanks Lynne.
Firmin the vermin
It's taken me quite some time to get around to reading Firmin by Sam Savage published by Coffee House Press, but strong reviews around the blog world and the fact it was the Litblog Co-op chosen read last Autumn are enough of an endorsement for me to investigate. What probably finally prompte...
Like you, I've been meaning to read O'Connor for ever. This looks like a good way in. I'm off now to look for a copy.
A load of Flannery
Inspiration for some holiday reading came from Sandra over on Book World and BritLitBlogs and I am most grateful to her for planting the idea that I should finally read Flannery O'Connor.Sometimes all you need is a little nudge, then JenClair mentioned her in comments and that was it, I'm over t...
More...
Subscribe to Ann Darnton’s Recent Activity