I'm catching up after a couple of days away, so here are a few miscellaneous links:
- Happily, our route down to the Forest of Bowland took us through St. Boswells, so The Mainstreet Trading Company made the perfect place to stop for refreshments and a little light book-buying. I also came away with a Love Your Indie loyalty card to be used in participating bookshops (full details here).
- In case you haven't already seen them, here are the shortlists for the 2011 Costa Book Awards.
- Although I've yet to read any of her books, I follow the blog of Canadian crime writer Louise Penny, and here's a recent post of hers on the publishing process, a subject I'm always interested in knowing more about.
- Jojo Moyes' article on the changing face of children's literature prompted a nostalgic moment over breakfast this morning. I don't have a copy of Moorland Mousie on my shelves, but I do still have all my old Pullein-Thompson, Pat Smythe and Ruby Ferguson books, and some of them were read and enjoyed by my daughters (but not my son - though he is nowadays the only one of the three who rides).
I have an old hardbound copy of Moorland Mousie and I'm keeping it for myself! It makes me sad that children today are so sophisticated (or think they are) and, in many ways, jaded before they're very old. The older children's books were timeless until recently; now they've become out of date curiosities. But I still love them and periodically retreat to them. (Sorry if there are mistakes in this: my cat Turtle seems to think my keyboard is a pillow!)
Posted by: Joan Kyler | 18 November 2011 at 12:43 PM
Non-book related but in response to Joan's comment...I have a cat who likes to sit on whatever I am reading or working on. I suspect it is a ploy for attention (and it works...who's training who?).
Posted by: Ruthiella | 18 November 2011 at 09:40 PM
My dogs don't try to interfere with the keyboard, but when it's time for their food they'll come and put their paws up on my arm as I type - and they won't be fobbed off with any excuse.
Posted by: Cornflower | 18 November 2011 at 10:00 PM
What took you to Bowland - not The Inn at Whitewell was it it? :-) Too close to us to justify staying there sadly. It is very Tolkienesque round here. My favourite local place name is Eldroth which sounds as though it ought to be in Middle Earth.
Posted by: Juxtabook | 18 November 2011 at 10:23 PM
Yes, The Inn (see post on the other site) - wonderful!
Posted by: Cornflower | 19 November 2011 at 11:17 AM
Further north, just on the English side of the border, we passed through Longtown, whose parish name is the wonderfully evocative Arthuret.
Posted by: Mr Cornflower | 19 November 2011 at 03:34 PM
That is rather lovely.
Posted by: Juxtabook | 19 November 2011 at 03:46 PM