Anyone read a good book lately ?

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chrissiehope
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Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby chrissiehope » Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:33 pm

Hi,

I've been given a £25 voucher to buy books for my Kindle, and I'd like to get something set in Spain/ Andalucia. I've trawled thro the forum, and picked out the following mentions:
Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom
Duende by Jason Webster,
Encarnita's Journey by Joan Lister
Javier Falcon's policeman books
Daughters of Spain by ?
'What hides your name?' by Clara Sanchez

I've already got The Return in paperback

Anyone got any more suggestions ? :D

TIA
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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read (Groucho Marx)

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby Kamila » Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:23 pm

I've just finished reading a book by Chris Stewart - Driving Over Lemons and enjoyed it.

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby ashfieb » Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:27 pm

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keyw ... p86gc0bg_e

Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools by Victoria Twead

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby frank » Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:41 pm

Jason Webster has written at least five about Spain, if you like his stuff.
Peter Kerr has written quite a few light stories set in Spain.
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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby detourer » Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:04 pm

Try "Cross and Cresent".......the one by Michael Newman ........ Not the other one!

A fantastic historical novel that is not just a great story but will enlighten you regarding the history of Al Andalus

100% reviews on amazon, one said......."This is a tale well told, which is also instructive of the period, when the Moors ruled most of what's now known as Spain, and had their sights on the rest of Europe. It's also a reminder of the sophistication of Islamic culture in the Eighth Century, when Christendom was in a fairly backwards state. The book flows quickly, and paints the picture well".

Ray
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chrissiehope
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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby chrissiehope » Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:44 pm

Thank folks - I'll take a look at those :thumbup: I'd completely forgotten about Driving over Lemons - I've got the follow up in paperback (A Parrot in the Pepper Tree?), so I think that's a definite :D

Anyone else ?
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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read (Groucho Marx)

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby gerryh » Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:55 pm

chrissiehope wrote: Driving over Lemons - I've got the follow up in paperback (A Parrot in the Pepper Tree?),
And his latest " The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society"
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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby concorde » Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:38 pm

Winter in Madrid is a wonderful book, I've read it twice and it made me cry twice!

The Javier Falcon books are brilliant as well, I've read them all, the descriptions of Seville, food,heat etc are great, you feel you are actually there, and the storylines are excellent.
Start with the first one as they really are a follow on series, although seperate stories in their own right.

Can't comment on the others as I haven't read those ones yet.
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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby ashtondav » Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:17 am

David Baird's books are good. Everything from the horrors of the civil war (Between two fires) and charming guide book to travelling Andalucia (Back roads of southern Spain). Read a chapter on your kindle (if available on Kindle!) and check 'em out.

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby swerve » Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:10 am

Three ways to capsize a boat. Very quick read thou.
It always seems imposible until its done. Nelson Mandela

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby swerve » Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:15 am

One man and his donkey. A pilgrimage to Santiago de compestela. Very good
It always seems imposible until its done. Nelson Mandela

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby fincalospinos » Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:30 am

Guernica by Dave Boling.

ISBN - 978-0-330-46066-8

An excellent insight into Basque culture and tradition during the Spanish civil war.
Hardworking resident !!

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby IreneD » Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:26 pm

detourer, thanks for the recommendation for the Cross and Crescent book. My grandson and his pregnant wife are coming out to stay soon and they have converted to Islam, I think they'll find it very interesting (that's if their religion allows them to read novels). I will get myself a 'proper' book while they are here- and I'm sure I'll enjoy Cross and Crescent, too

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby frank » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:39 pm

fincalospinos wrote:Guernica by Dave Boling.

ISBN - 978-0-330-46066-8

An excellent insight into Basque culture and tradition during the Spanish civil war.
And talking of Guernica, "Telegram from Guernica".
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Telegram-Guerni ... 0571205631
Regards, Frank

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby frank » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:46 pm

My wife is a Kindle person as well, and she recommends "Before I Go To Sleep". Nothing to do with Spain, but she enjoyed it, as did my DIL and sister.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Before-I-Go-To- ... 0857520172
Regards, Frank

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby annfoto » Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:35 pm

Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee always stands a re-read.
I can second that Chris Stewart's "Three ways to capsize a boat" is quite funny.
I recently read Richard Branson's biography. I picked it up in a charity shop a few years ago and never got round to reading it 'till now thinking it would be a bit dry. It wasn't it was a really well written and often an exciting story, I can thoroughly recommend it :thumbup:
Ann

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chrissiehope
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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby chrissiehope » Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:59 pm

Great suggestions :thumbup: it's really interesting reading other peoples recommendations :D

I think I have made my choices now (to use up the £25 voucher)-
Winter in Madrid
Daughters of Spain ( not the Jean Plaidy one :wink: )
Driving over Lemons
The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society
a couple of ones I came across:
Chickens Mules & Two Old Fools
and its sequel Two Old FOols Olé
and to make up to as near the total as I can get (£24.90 !!)
Vaccine Nation by David Lender - a thriller, nothing to do with Spain !

All that should keep me occupied for a while at least - I will report back at some point :D

For the benefit of our readers :wink: let's keep this thread running :thumbup:
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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read (Groucho Marx)

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby katy » Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:15 pm

Winter in Madrid is my favourite. Anything by Lorca is good, I think there are English translations. The "Family of Pascual Duarte" is good, by Nobel prize winner Camilo José Cela.

I dislike those Driving over Lemons type stuff written by ex-pats, same old.

Irene I don't think islamists are into reading books, they prefer to burn them unless it's the koran :wink:

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby Chunky Monky » Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:16 pm

A book I would definitely NOT recommend is 'Death in the Afternoon' by Ernest Hemmingway - tedious in the extreme.

Laurie Lee was mentioned earlier. I think his best book is 'As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning' this is his account of walking across Spain in 1934, just before the Spanish Civil War - truly excellent.

Another very fine book for those interested in the Spanish Civil War period is'Homage to Catalonia' by George Orwell.

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Re: Anyone read a good book lately ?

Postby oliveview01 » Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:19 pm

The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society- I enjoyed the first two books, this one seemed to go over what had happened in the first and second book. :thumbdown:
If I still had I I would send it to you, someone took it though :thumbdown:


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