Summertime...and the Crepeys are easy

[motherinferior]

With much love to BD.

(We are going to county cork btw in frugal manner.)

Book recommendations:

Have just read "Fear of Dying" by Erica Jong. But please read the blurb on Amazon before purchasing.

Anything by Rumer Godden or Monica Dickens.

Or Linda Grant (particularly "When I Lived in Modern Times" and "The Clothes on their Backs".)

"When the Messenger is Hot" by Elizabeth Crane (short stories) and "We Only Know So Much" which is her first novel.

"Good Evening Mrs Craven" - Persephone books short stories from the war.

"Disobedience" by Naomi Alderman (Orthodox lesbians from Hendon.)

"A Delicate Truth" by John Le Carre. (Based on a mate of mine; book is good but ending is not.)

Hi there Rudy, nice to see you around these here parts a bit more!
Brighton will be just the ticket with dd - has she been there before? Nice shopping, pebbly beach, nice and quirky restaurants and bars, some nice walks if that's your thing... Take a tip from Mrs S and don't get soaked having a paddle though....

Ha Ha Mrs S. just rebought Fear of Flying to reread. LOVE Linda Grant.

Can I add...
Heat of the Day, Elizabeth Bowen which I'm halfway through and really enjoying
Mothering Sunday, Graham Swift
Strangers, Anita Brookner
Anything by Barbara Pym
Anything (except Angel) by Elizabeth Taylor
Anything by Tessa Hadley
The trilogy by Gerard Woodward - August, I'll Go to Bed at Noon, Curious Earth
Marjory Allingham - old fashioned detective novels

Love a bit of Sarah waters, especially the Night Watch. Always some lesbo action.

He's 15, GGG, and the weight of the world is upon him at the moment.....he's very self knowing and extremely empathetic. I really don't know how much is teenage and how much is a problem. We do day by day at the moment....

Oh, and Hangover Square, or 10,000 streets Under the Sky. By a man who I can't remember.

Patrick Hamilton Herbs - and yes, they're great!

Beachy, much sympathy. In my (v ltd) experience being a 15 year old boy is bloody hard. They're not 'little' anymore but they're not grown up enough to really do their own thing. They're expected to be mature and hardworking at school but they're a seething mass of teenage hormones and not usually as emotionally mature as girls of the same age. They're trying to find out who they are but often without the close friendship groups that (for better or worse) girls often have. It's hard. And it's hard to watch it being hard for them too!

GGG - agree re Barbara Pym. Can I add anything by Muriel Spark, especially The Mandelbaum Gate?

Village School by Miss Read for a sweetly nostalgic trip down memory lane. And any of the Fairacre books.

The Victorian Chaise Longue by Marghanita Laski.

I'm loving the book swap!
Yes to Muriel Spark Mrs S - I've read lots of her over the years but not that one - will search it out.

I'm on a roll now...

Maeve Brennan - recently republished - the brilliantly titled The Long winded Lady
The Little Ottleys - Ada Leverson (charming!)
Penelope Fitzgerald - all of it, especially The Bookshop, The Blue Flower and Offshore
Francis Wyndham, The Other Garden (Collected Stories)
Lydia Davies

Jane Gardam - The Queen of the Tambourine. (And most of her other books.) And Bilgewater.

The L Shaped Room by Lynn Reid Banks

Goodbye to Berlin by Herr Issyvoo.

Anything by Anne Tyler.

Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates.

Middlesex, by Geoffrey Eugenides.

Er... I'm just looking for my books, and they appear to have been 'filed away'. DP's haven't, natch.

OMG, what a lot of book suggestions, and I haven't read anything yet! Not even finished the marriage improving book I think DH must be some sort of anomaly as he really doesn't feel shame about anything much And turns back to his old self on holiday
I am going to check what I have on my Kindle and maybe buy a couple. And read them!

Beachy, many sympathies re DS. It does seem pretty common for teen boys to struggle judging by what my DC and frI ends tell me. Is he going through puberty now? DS went through a very tricky patch - I think trying to find himself as a young adult, and I see many of his friends doing the same. The appointments sound good - help from someone who knows and is not family or friends worked well for DD.

GGG I hadn't realised your DM was ill? Is she far away from you?

Herbs, I do have a BFF and we share lots. I also have quite a few other really supportive friends. And of course, The Crepes! I would hazard a guess that you also have lots of friends who would be really supportive, but that you don't want to "burden" them because you are always so upbeat and jolly. But I am sure they would be happy to listen/support/help however they can (as we are!) - give them a try {{{{}}}}

Rudy, Brighton sounds like a great plan - loads going on!

MrsS The Lshaped Room was my first "adult" read aged about 13. I must read it again and maybe try to interest DD in it although she will think it an historical novel She has almost finished On Chesil Beach and says it is really boring.

Also, I bought this book for DS, having read an article in The Guardian where the journalist saI'd it was the most influential book of his teens. DS is devouring it and says it is the best book he's ever read

Interesting that your ds has raved about the Muhammed Ali biog. I was very moved by the TV coverage after he died, by the many tributes, and especially the tribute by Linton Kwesi Johnson for whom, admittedly, I have always had great admiration.

Yes, MA was an amazing and inspirational person - not just a boxer. I have watched a few docs/films about him - really intersting social history as well. I remember LKJ from my yoof.

Anne Tyler - yes, but not Vinegar Girl which I found really disappointing.

The L Shaped Room - now there's a blast from the past!

Oh Beachy really hope things get sorted with ds. I suspect some emotional times ahead with ds as he is very sensitive.

Dp and I were looking for photos of dmum and playing the music for Saturday and both had a good weep.

Herbs I do know what you mean re BFF - mine died about three years ago, and I haven't really unloaded on anyone (except here) as it seems an imposition somehow. Hope you get some answers re dmum soon.

Oh BD Re your BFF and DM.

Chilling by the pool (now the new loud Vietnamese (?) arrivals are ensconced in their rooms) after a visit round the old town (so beautiful and atmospheroc but sweltering!) and getting DS and DH measu red up for suits. Melon lolly ices are the business though!

As the oldest Crepey I can assure others that hair loss is not a given (at least not by my age, it probably is for by 70 plus). In fact, thinking about it, possibly not until the 80s - my NDN, for instance, has lovely thick dark hair.

Beachy, sorry to hear about DS: I don't think we allow for teenage boys being fragile, society assumes they will be gung Ho about everything. for you and him.

BD, for you, too. Which day is the Memorial Service?

BTM, I have heard all sorts of good things about suit making/dressmaking in the Far East. Are you having something made?

GGG, are you really sure DM doesn't want to see you? It's not unknown for some people to say one thing and mean something else. Do what you think is best.

I have been berating DH this morning as in a dream last night, when somebody tried to strangle me on the way to a football match, he would rather go and watch the match than help me find a policeman!

Brighton is fun.

The Roya Pavillion is really worth a visit & if you can get there when it opens (10am) even better as less crowded.

In the North Laines Infinity Food Cafe is a great placeor a very reasonable lunch - their mezze plate is amazing. Little Bird Cafe (also North Laines) is also lovely.

Love the book ideas - here's a couple from me.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
Capital by John Lanchester

Amnesty Bookshop - very north end of North Laines is a great charity bookshop - much better than Oxfam.

BTM - we need photos of the men in swanky new suits.

I'm going to keep a watch on the 15 year old boy progress as DS is 14 and used to be so bright and friendly and has turned into some sort of gollum liked creature that sits on the computer and sleeps. I'm making him walk in the forest today - he did get 24 hour warning but he is always so negative. Maybe that's just how it's going to be for the next 4 years.

I've nearly finished one of those huge books which promised to be "a masterpiece". It wasn't! I'm now going to read "Dictator," Robert Harris, the last of his Cicero books which I've loved.

Hatty, I will deffo post them up when they are done - they chose fancy pants linings too!
NU, DD and I are not having anything made though we have bought ourselves a few things in the markets/shops

DH and the DC have gone off on bikes to find some lunch. I am not hungry - too hot - so am still chilling! I succumbed and bought the Lshaped Room on Kindle and have read a third already

NU, how dare he? LTB.

My hair is still like a rather dense woolly hat. It takes ages for my head to get wet when it rains. DP similar and the Inferiorettes are...well, blessed with tresses.

I can't think of any books to suggest and obviously need to get some more.

The museum in Brighton is also good (lovely art) and the cafe does excellent cakes. The Palm Court restaurant on the pier does excellent fish and chips.