I'm so disappointed that you don't like Mariana. Perhaps I wouldn't love it so much if it wasn't so familar - perhapss one has to read it when still as young and egotistic as she is, to enjoy it?
I found a copy of Crisis in Camp Keema a few weeks ago (for £2! Miracles do still happen), and so I read it for the first time, enjoyed it despite the Camp Fire stuff (I'm with you on that, all those names), but then got about halfway through Peggy and stopped at the point where the younger children were copying the Camp Fire, it just seemed to silly for words.
I've read Camp Mystery once, I liked the relationships between the characters, but the plot was just ridiculous.
Completely agree with you about Mariana, if that's a hot-waterbottle I'd want to kick it out of the bed! If you like old-fashioned newspaper stories, have you tried The Paper Palace (Robert Harling) which I thoroughly enjoyed?
I rather like Mariana but it doesn't compare with The Pursuit of Love and I capture the Castle. Do you like any of Monica Dickens' other books? I have quite a few on my bedside bookcase (which consists of books "what have got comfy in them" to paraphrase a young ozard dude's description of his pyjama trousers)and have been contemplating a re-read. Mrs Harris is there too.
The only Monica Dickens I've re-read recently is One Pair of Feet, which I like. I also enjoyed that London book, erm, The Heart of London, I think; very atmospheric. Can't think why I got rid of it
I'm so glad you enjoyed the Ann Cleeves. I have a couple more White something and Red something so will lend them to you when you're ready! They're part of the Shetland series so ideally you'll be able to get Raven Black from the library. I found I loved Marianna and The Winds of Heaven as well as the One Pair Feet/Hands. It's I Capture the Castle I have problems with - so over the top!
I loved My Last Duchess, and with The Tapestry of Love and The Season of Second changes by Diane Meier, one of my favourite books of last year. Sadly, I didn't enjoy The Crow Road by Anne Cleeves, nor was I able to get very far with the first of her Shetland novels, Raven Black. I have no objection to a rather bleak landscape - I love the books by Elly Griffiths set on the wide open spaces of Norfolk - but I just didn't empathize with any of the characters. I must give old Zen a go, though. I once heard (the late) Michael Dibdin speak at Ways With Words at Dartington, and a charismatic speaker he was, too. Margaret P
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I've read Camp Mystery once, I liked the relationships between the characters, but the plot was just ridiculous.
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I think there's a good reason these books were not reprinted until GGB came along.
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If you like old-fashioned newspaper stories, have you tried The Paper Palace (Robert Harling) which I thoroughly enjoyed?
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Never heard of the Robert Harling book; thanks for the recommendation.
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Just shows how different we all are. I can't imagine not liking I Capture the Castle.
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Sadly, I didn't enjoy The Crow Road by Anne Cleeves, nor was I able to get very far with the first of her Shetland novels, Raven Black. I have no objection to a rather bleak landscape - I love the books by Elly Griffiths set on the wide open spaces of Norfolk - but I just didn't empathize with any of the characters.
I must give old Zen a go, though. I once heard (the late) Michael Dibdin speak at Ways With Words at Dartington, and a charismatic speaker he was, too.
Margaret P
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