Lesley’s Comments (group member since Feb 21, 2017)

Lesley’s comments from the Retro Reads group.

Jackie wrote: "Lesley, I think it's worth reading another one or two in the series and see if it grows on you.

and even if it does, you might want to skip #5 in the series: [book:The Curse of the Giant Hogweed|..."

Thanks for the tip, Jackie.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Added for you Lesley.

I'll have to see what November is going to look like, but I may be reading my last Pool book now- I, Robot For me, this is what the pool is all about - picking u..."

I tried I Robot years ago and couldn't seem to get into it as I recall. I'm also not a SF fan. I wonder if I might like it more now I'm a bit older. I've never truly been a fan of Fantasy either, yet I've read a couple in that genre recently and enjoyed them.

Susan in NC wrote: "Wow, America’s Poirot? I never heard that, and agree, it is certainly not that - part of the humor of the story is that he’s NOT a detective, but forced by circumstances to figure it out when a bod..."
and
Jackie wrote: "I almost didn't finish the first Peter Shandy but I'm glad I did. I went on to enjoy the series as a whole, even the one nobody likes as much, and will probably re-read the first one in December.
..."

I think the author is as good as AC in weaving the plot, and Peter Shandy has a very cerebral way of thinking to solve the mystery, but still not at all like HP.
The academic setting reminded me more of Morse. Reflecting on the book after I've finished, as I tend to do, I do think having read the Peter Shandy character was likened to HP could well have interfered with my thoughts on it. I did intend to read on in the series, and since you, Jackie, say it is a good series, I will put it further up on my list. Might even turn up in next year's Pool!

#6
Book #5
Rest You Merry / Charlotte MacLeod (1978) -
Finished 10/16; 3 stars
I chose this book because it is #1 in her Peter Shandy series, considered to be the American Hercule Poirot. I remember spending a lot of time at the library shelving her. A well borrowed author at the time.
Well, it might be the American take on Hercule Poirot, but it certainly doesn't get anywhere near to Agatha Christie's story telling!
As it goes it just liked it. I'm not disappointed to have chosen or read it, but I surely didn't love it.
Can't win them all :)

Susan in NC wrote: "#5, book 18
Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod

Thanks to whoever nominated this for the pool..."

It was me!! And I'm just about to begin reading it myself. Is that coincidence or ....? :)

Sounds good. I shall start working on my Pool books and deciding my authors, and hope, like Barb in Maryland, to overcome my reading slump!

As I recall, The Angry Tide was the last I read in the series. I'm not sure if I read further or just don't remember, so I'd probably agree it was the last engrossing.

I'm pleased you have a library nearby that has the complete collection. My library has only Demelza and Warleggan!! Where have all the others gone, and why just keep those two? You might well ask. They have a very haphazard collection development programme in my local library, and sadly, the calibre of personnel doesn't inspire me to try and get into their heads to work out why.

Oh my goodness, they're all departing!

Jilly Cooper's books never appealed to me. Not sure whether it was because they were 'horsey' or if it was her writing style didn't appeal. I do recall I was forever reshelving them so they must have been popular among library patrons.

ETA: She was a favourite of Queen Camilla's, so ... :)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Thanks for the tip Lesley as I did quite enjoy this book.

Marty (who hasn't read the books) powered through the Poldark series. I still haven't finished series 2. I need to speed up a bit as Netfl..."

Is it the original series or the remake, Carol?
When the remake was on TV I found it hard to watch as I had these fixed images in my head of Demelza, Ross and co. that I couldn't mentally move from!

However, you configure the Book Pool for 2026 I will be content.

I think from a mods point of view the Book Pool is probably easiest to manage time wise which always must be a consideration.

While it isn't an "everyone reading the same at one time" scenario, many participants pick the same books to read through the year and discussion ensues between those readers. Often from browsing those discussions my interest has been piqued for me to read the book too. In this way the Book Pool format is maybe better than having just monthly selection/discussion.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I haven't had a slump but my reading speed has really slowed down. one of the reasons I wanted to change the dates, so I can read more Kiwi fiction (including some in the pool) I will try not to ma..."

After I read Under the Mountain / Maurice Gee I found I could watch the original series through NZ On Screen. It was just as I remembered. Wonderful nostalgia!
I have come across a few TV programmes and old movies that I've earmarked to watch.

When I suggested -
Choosing one specific author for 5 of the 10
The remaining 5 being specific titles of any other author
was because like Carol said in her message, she has a number of books by various authors, but the titles she has are not the ones nominated and she's reluctant to buy any more until those owned are read.
I often find that the, say D.E. Stevenson, title nominated is not one I have, but there are several others I own not getting read.

Rather than having a specific number of books by a named author, perhaps we could just enter the author as part of our up to 10.
Does that make sense? I'm not sure I'm explaining it that well - lol

Barb in Maryland wrote: "I like the idea of up to 10 books (make the minimum 7 and the max 10, maybe?) and I love the idea of 2000 being the cut-off year.

Even though I bombed out this year (the slump from Hell), I really..."

Ditto from me re the reading slump, but been watching on too. My GR Challenge is getting so far behind :(

Susan in NC wrote: "Lesley wrote: "When I read the message Carol sent, I quite liked the idea of selecting a specific author. Then on reading these comments, I wonder if we couldn't combine several of the aspects.

Ce..."

I hoped you'd take it in good spirit, Susan. It is as irritating to me as youse for the plural of you (they don't teach them much these days), and gunna for going as used by our current Prime Minister all the time - gunna do this; gunna do that; we'll gunna have to see to that! Grrrr. :)

When I read the message Carol sent, I quite liked the idea of selecting a specific author. Then on reading these comments, I wonder if we couldn't combine several of the aspects.

Certainly increasing the time span to 2000
Definitely increasing the number of books to 10
Choosing one specific author for 5 of the 10
The remaining 5 being specific titles of any other author

I shall just go away and see if I can conjour up any further permutations to assist in addling us.

Before I do I shall just be an old hag and say number - used for countable objects; amount used for volume. Just one of my pet peeves :(

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "& the girls are coming down later today as it is Marty's birthday tomorrow. We are going to the hot pools at Te Aroha & then out to lunch. :)"

Happy Birthday for tomorrow, Marty. Wishing you many more!
Enjoy your day at the hot pools. I hope the weather co-operates.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Hi Jackie I'm going to be on holiday for a couple of weeks from Sunday, but we can certainly look at this when I get back!

If anyone else would like to read Sister of the Bride with Jackie, please..."

I have just finished reading Under The Mountain / Maurice Gee. It has taken a while to get the book as my local library has this habit of withdrawing by age of book rather than exercising more important retention criteria - NZ author, classic, still being read by patrons ...
Surprisingly, after being requested to purchase, the book got a list of reserves on it as long as your arm while in the 'on order' status!

Now, what did I think of the book.
It was just wonderful reliving the story of the children's adventures with the Wilberforces through the volcanic caves of Auckland. The excitement and suspense was just as I remembered as my kids and I sat in front of the TV each week. Loved it!
I could still visualise the TV series which I have found I can stream through NZ On Screen. This is the 1981 series.

#6
Book #4 Kate Hannigan / Catherine Cookson
Read 09/12; 5 stars
I was transported back to a time when Catherine Cookson's writings took me into her world she grew up in. I was not disappointed, and my appetite has been whetted for more!

Cphe wrote: "I liked Nancy and Peggy probably more than the others - they seemed lonelier."

I got the feeling that Nancy and Peggy hadn't had many adventures as large and grand as the Walker children until they met up. There wasn't a character in the book that I didn't like, even the 'pirate'.

I'm looking forward to November, but I'll be sure not to read anything about Swallodale until after! :)

I think you are possibly right that these books might have given Rowling the inspiration for Harry Potter and his friends. Although having said that the Enid Blyton Famous Five certainly had parent enabling their adventures in as much as they provided picnic baskets and some equipment from memory. Not sure whether the Secret Seven did or were they more independent.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Hahaha, you have me beat, Leslie.

We were latchkey kids & my sisters once set fire to a lampshade. They were in a wardrobe pretending to be Florence Nightingale! 😅 Of course, it was All My Fault s..."

Yes, I'd like to read the second because this book ended with see you next year! Anytime would be good for me, so I'll just fit in with whatever the group decides.

I could relate many adventures we had as children, and there were many with the creek, river, places to build forts, and the freedom we had. I look at the kids today going off to their organized sports then to their organized playgrounds with structured equipment and all the rules on using said equipment. No room for imagination or risk taking. So sad.