read any good books lately?

[Candy]

Hi everyone!
I was wondering what you are currently reading or have read recently and enjoyed? Having just read several by Joanne Harris (Chocolat and Blackberry Wine) and two history books by Giles Milton (Nathaniel's Nutmeg and Big Chief Elizabeth) I'm stuck for what to read next. Any suggestions much appreciated!

I remember seeing a later episode of Little House on the Prairie on TV where there was a blind school. Was one of the sisters blind and another one a teacher at the school? I might be wrong but if not, how did she go blind - she didn't start off that way.

Didn't she get measles?

Lovely lovely Mary (who I was in love with as a child) went blind (cue lots of photogenic staring into space whilst smiling angelically), I don't think it was measles though - although that would be good fodder for the pro-MMR lobby though (of which I am one before anyone asks) She then became a teacher at a blind school.

scarlett fever? Or was it 'need-a-new-storyline-quick disease . The books are sort of autobiographical aren't they? Don't know how much they stuck to the books in the t.v. show though. But yes, I loved them too. And Ballet Shoes, although I had zero chance of ever becoming a ballerina (two left feet)

Oxocube - was Ballet Shoes the one about the 3 girls with names beginning with P?! They lived with someone called Sylvia? Is that the same one?

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with fond memories of these books. My sisters could never get into them when we were growing up and DH is just the same.

I have just been reading Famous Five to my nine year old boy and he was loving them, but I found that I was having to do instant 're-writes' in my head! Anne telling George that she had to help tidy the caravan but no one would expect Dick and Julian to do it as they were boys was translated to everyone helping out!

I have just been reading Famous Five to my nine year old boy and he was loving them, but I found that I was having to do instant 're-writes' in my head! Anne telling George that she had to help tidy the caravan but no one would expect Dick and Julian to do it as they were boys was translated to everyone helping out!

Oh, wow, all these children's books! I adored Mallory Towers and so does my older DD (aged 15!!!). I never warmed to the other Blyton books, though. I read all the LIW books to her, as well and DH loves the Anne of Greengables books. Anyone remember Lorna Hill's books, about ballet? Can't recall the titles.

Noel Streatfield wrote Ballet Shoes, my old copy is now on dd's bookshelf along with various other treasures such as the Silver Brumby books, the Jill pony books and the complete St Clares.

There were two others in the Ballet Shoes series, Dancing Shoes and Theatre Shoes. I always wanted 3 daughters named Petrova, Posy and ...will have to check the last one. I remember their surname was Fossil though.

Pauline, Enid (she was the eldest.)

I always loved Noel Streatfeild too. Dod you read the ones about the vicar's family (the Bells?)

When I say dod....

Did any of you know Monica Edwards? The Romney Marsh books and the Devil's Punchbowl books? (Tamsin and Rissa, and Dion, Susan, Lindsey and Peter?)

Winnie, Boy is technically a kids' book - at least one of mine has done it at school. There is a sequel too, about his post-school life, I forget its name just now.

And as for Rumer Godden - I have read loads of hers - have you tried "The Story of Holly and Ivy"? It will break your heart... there are also many adult books - Greengage Summer is hers (I think), and The Battle of the Villa Fiorita, and something about Sparrows - she is just superb about people in general and children in particular.

Suedonim - I love the whole Anne series - even the ones where she is really quite old with dozens of kids (And, of course, their father is Gilbert.)

I have just acquired His Dark Materials but haven't started them yet - am revisiting Tara Road first (a nice easy bedtime read!)

Was it Rumer Godden who wrote Kizzy about a gypsy girl, I remember our teacher reading that to us at primary school. We also had Stig of the Dump and I sent my mum on a shopping mission to buy it for me because I wanted to read it again myself.

Janh, yes I loved the Monica Edwards books - still have them somewhere. Also Malcolm Saville, all those books set up on the Long Mynd. And Arthur Ransome!

Ooo - the little house on the Prarie thing I can tell you - it was (in the books, anyway) Scarlet Fever, which the whole family came down with while living in a dugout in 'On the Banks of Sugar Plum Creek'. No idea about the TV series though (I loved the books, but hated the telly version - they were already 'my' characters in my head and the tv ones just didn't fit). All the books are written by Laura - who ended up as a schoolteacher but didn't really want to be one - she wrote a more adult-style autobiography later on, which isn't half so good, IMO, as the children's ones. One I like best is the first: 'Little House in the Big Woods'.
Enid - was it Pauline? Pretty sure it was Pauline Fossil? Not 100 percent sure, though. Loved the books though - and they crop up in a couple of her other ones I think, too.
Anyone else read 'The Chalet School' books? I missed out on Malory Towers, but will probably try to catch up now! Oh, Malcom Saville and Arthur Ransome - yes! What about Leon Garfield and Alan Garner, too - anyone remember reading 'The Owl Service'?

Ah, the other books the Fossils crop up in, as minor roles, are 'The Painted Garden' and 'Curtain up'. Just had a rootle and found them! Did Noel Streatfield write 'White Boots' too? I remember reading it, but never had a copy.

Monica Edwards ...Stig of the Dump...Little House on the Prarie .... brilliant keep going ...what else where your eading at 8/9???

Yes, 'White Boots' was Noel Streatfield.

And talking of 'The Painted Garden', what about 'The Secret Garden'?

Little house on the prairie is a true story, it's just told in story form. In those days people did go blind quite frequently from things like Scarlett Fever. It think Helen Keller went blind,deaf and dumb from measles which she got as a young baby.
I loved the Wizard of Oz series when I was young. and the Wolves of Willoughby Chase series and all the Madeline L'Engle books.

I used to love the stories about Brownies and Guides but I can't remember what any of them were called or who wrote them. I'd raid the library shelves then go home and read a whole book in an afternoon - I always preferred to read than play out (I was such a boring child).

FrancesJ - I went out and bought the Owl Service yesterday as I had remembered how brilliant it was. I am about to reread it.