READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?

[Tripps]

The 'War of the Windsors' arrived on schedule this morning. Unfortunately it's an ex public library copy from Belfast Library. They didn't mention that in the description so we're having a 'stewards'. It may well be going back. we'll see. Then I'll get a paperback copy.

Meanwhile its isolated in a dish of bleach to be on the safe side. . . .

[plaques]

I was told by our local librarian that when books get about 8 years old they review their stocks and pass their surplus to charities for them to sell on. They don't have any local in-house sales like they used to. I found this out after I had bought a book at our charity shop that was in first class condition and had evidently never been out on loan but had a Lancashire Library sticker inside it. I took it to the library thinking that it was in the charity shop by mistake when I was given this explanation.
It may not be as contaminated as you think.

[Stanley]

I finished the Windsors yesterday. It has not only confirmed my views about unearned privilege but reinforced them.
Started on Harris; 'The Second Sleep' for light entertainment. It has grabbed my attention in the first few pages.
George, my bookseller once told me about being invited to have a look at a local man's large and very interesting library. He went and was impressed by the quality and selection, some very rare books. Unfortunately the man was obsessed with preserving the leather spines in good condition so he painted them with paraffin every six months......
I was in George's one day in Littleborough and as I was paying for my books a funny old bloke was doing the same thing. It turned out he had come from Burnley by bus so I offered him a lift back. He asked me in for a cup of tea. I noticed when we arrived that the garden was overgrown and when we went in the house realised he was a recluse and a bit eccentric. His house was full of modern first editions all in plastic bags. When I say full, even the bath was full of books. It takes all sorts.....

[Whyperion]

M. Piketty seems to have written a new book. Just been interviewed on Newsnight. He's younger than I imagined. He has some fans on here I understand. A large book, and in it he's in favour of redistributing wealth. He recommends that everyone be given an 'endowment' on their 25th birthday of about 120.000 euro to spend as they wish - education or start a business etc. When challenged about this concept, he defended it by saying - 'what about the rich people who are given millions' ?

They say he's very clever. . . .

Has he applied to join Cummins' blue sky thinking team ?

[Tripps]

It may not be as contaminated as you think.

As well as being described wrongly - it stinks of tobacco. It's going back.

PS. They've told me not to bother - full refund and I'm to give it to a charity shop, or recycle it.

[plaques]

As well as being described wrongly - it stinks of tobacco. It's going back.

Quite right too. I once bought some books via ebay where it was a collect only deal. When I picked them up the lady who was selling them had them all nicely parceled up and said they used to be her husbands collection but sadly he had died of a chest complaint. Back home on opening them up they absolutely reeked of tobacco smoke. I knew immediately what his complaint was.
The books spent 3 months in the greenhouse quietly being turned page by page.

[Stanley]

I finished the Harris book yesterday, 'Second Sleep'. Not a comfortable read and no nice ending. However, it is an intelligent book and flags up a very real danger, the collapse of modern society by a catastrophic failure of computer technology leading to complete breakdown of society and starvation. One of the most chilling quotes: "London is only six meals away from starvation". Nevertheless, I recommend it.

[Stanley]

I've started on the canal book that Tiz sent me. So far it's good and contains a lot of detail, some of which is new to me. Going well! Thank you Peter!

[Stanley]

The canal book is still going down well Tiz.....
Later, I realised that Hillary Mantel's new book is available from March 5. I have just ordered the hardback. We have been waiting a long time for the third volume of the Wolf Hall Trilogy.

[Tizer]

I'm glad you're enjoying the canal book, Stanley. My copy was inherited from Mrs Tiz's father and I can see why he bought it. Lots of interesting snippets about canals and and those living and working on them, stories as told to the author.

[Stanley]

And oral history based as well Tiz. Just like the LTP. You get the gems when you get information straight from the horse's mouth.
Hillary Mantel's new book is almost 800 pages.... Nice, I do enjoy a good weighty tome! Looking forward to it!

[Stanley]

Finished Peter's canal book and I'd recommend it to anyone. 'Old Inland Waterways' Euan Corrie. David and Charles.
I have Tusser, 'Points of good husbandry' Written in the 16th century and edited by Dorothy Hartley. This will keep me going until March 5 when Hillary drops in!

[Tizer]

I enjoyed the book too. There are plenty of s/h copies available on Abebooks (other s/h booksellers are available) from about £2.50 (inc postage) as shown here: Abebooks

[Stanley]

Tusser, despite being written in 1571 mainly, is remarkably absorbing. I can see why D Hartley loved it so much.

[Tripps]

There are plenty of s/h copies available on Abebooks

A copy is on its way to Tripps Towers - of course.

[Stanley]

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did David.
I continue to be amazed at how well Tusser (1571) holds my attention. It's a gem. Trust Dorothy to find it! She was very well read.....

[Tizer]

Mrs Tiz went to the library yesterday and came back with two books on loan - and three books bought for 20p each! They are constantly selling older books for 20p to make way for newer ones. Many are not of much interest to us but yesterday was different. A hardback book on industrial archaeology, a h/b on the timeline of flight from the earliest attempts to recent flight advances, and a s/b on present military aircraft worldwide. Not a bad haul for 60p! Keep an eye on your library's sales!

[Stanley]

That would be a full time job today......

[Tizer]

Oh...and Mrs Tiz also got from the library a 20p copy of the Oxford Dictionary of Earth Sciences and guess what, it's got an entry for `graupel'!

[Stanley]

When did I ever lie to you?
finished Tusser yesterday. If anyone had told me I would be absorbed by and enjoy a book written as poems in 1571 I wouldn't have believed them. Now I need a filler before Mantel!

[Stanley]

The filler is 'The Iron Masters of Penn'. Written by Horsfall and published 1971. A book I have neglected over the years, I've dipped into it but never actually read it. It's going well! (Less than £4 on Amazon for a hardback, see this LINK.)

[Tripps]

Canals just arrived this morning - looks good.

Rave reviews for the latest Hilary Mantel. Slam dunk for another Man Booker prize so they say.

[Stanley]

The usual suspects are saying that initial sales are disappointing. Sour grapes I reckon, I'd bet on it being a blockbuster! Mind you I did sympathise with one man who said that Mantel is like Marmite, you either like her or you don't. The length of the book seems to be a problem for many. My view is that you can't have too much of a good thing! It arrives tomorrow, tension mounts! Fans have been waiting for 8 years.....

[Stanley]

I was wrong in my date for Mantel. Just checked and it's tomorrow!

[Stanley]

MANTEL!