Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Day 2

Oops, today is interviews, and I didn’t know that was a thing this year. I should have prepared.

So…

I have a compromise.

Here is a series of questions and answers I did with all you lovely blog readers a couple of years ago.

And here are some questions for you to answer in the comments, please and thank you!

  • Which book do you love that not enough people know about?
  • Which book blog did you first read?
  • What are you reading at the moment?

There we go!

34 thoughts on “Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Day 2

  • February 16, 2016 at 11:15 pm
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    Which book do you love that not enough people know about?
    Fair Stood the Wind to France by H.E. Bates
    Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski Persephone

    Which book blog did you first read?
    Dovegreyreader.com

    What are you reading at the moment?
    Greengates by RC Sherriff (Persephone)

    Reply
    • February 17, 2016 at 12:22 am
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      Oo, I have the Bates on my shelf waiting to be read – after Lyn at I Prefer Reading said how good it was.

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  • February 16, 2016 at 11:31 pm
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    Wow! Hard to answer.

    Book not enough people know about : Nothing by Paul Morley
    First book blog: possibly Verity’s Virago Venture
    Reading right now : The Other Side by Alfred Kubin

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    • February 17, 2016 at 12:23 am
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      Nice choices, Karen! I will have to keep an eye out for the Morley.

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  • February 17, 2016 at 12:06 am
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    Book not enough people know about: One Fine Day by Mollie Panter-Downes
    First book blog I read: bookssnob.wordpress.com
    Reading now: Family Roundabout by Richmal Crompton

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    • February 17, 2016 at 12:24 am
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      What a wonderful selection! One Fine Day and Family Roundabout are marvellous and so, of course, is Rachel.

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  • February 17, 2016 at 1:37 am
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    A book I love that not enough people know about is probably What Happened to Sophie Wilder by Christopher Beha. It came out a few years ago and got some nice attention but didn’t seem to take off. (It’s a book I think you might like, Simon, or at least find interesting.)

    The first book blog I ever read is actually my own! But only because Jenny was running it on her own for several months before she told me about it and invited me to join not long after that. I started reading all the blogs on her original blogroll–and Stuck in a Book was one of those–at about that same time. I still read many of those blogs, too: So Many Books, A Work in Progress, Of Books and Bikes, Eve’s Alexandria, Tales from the Reading Room.

    What I’m reading now: I haven’t actually started it, but Bats of the Republic is next on my stack, for the Tournament of Books

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:19 am
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      I have just read a book by Beha about his reading (currently forgotten the title) so will definitely keep an eye out for that.

      Lovely to have known you for so long in the blogosphere – and how funny that your own blog was your first one :D

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  • February 17, 2016 at 2:48 am
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    I wish more people would read Jane Gardam, especially her older titles — for example her first novel, A Long Way from Verona. Or The Hollow Land, which got labeled as a children’s book but is really for everyone. Both were reissued by Europa not long ago.

    One of the first book blogs I remember encountering is Things Mean a Lot. But I think yours was not far behind that!

    Reading right now: I’m trying to decide! I’m thinking of picking up The Return of the Native for a reread (I have a lovely illustrated edition that I haven’t cracked open yet).

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:20 am
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      I must read some more Gardam – I enjoyed God on the Rocks, but don’t remember that much about it. I’ve got Flight of the Maidens somewhere, I think.

      And yay Nymeth! Not so yay Return of the Native, for me, as I found it pretty tedious. But if it’s a reread then I’m guessing you like it :)

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  • February 17, 2016 at 4:54 am
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    I wish more people would read C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce. In novel form he has a brilliant and upbeat idea about what happens when we die.
    I don’t recall the first book blog I read.
    Right now, as always, I am reading several books including The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch (set in 1866) and Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson.

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:22 am
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      I’ve been meaning to read some more Lewis, so thank you for mentioning that one :) My next one will be Letters To David – I think that’s what it’s called.

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:28 am
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      A lovely list! Love both those books – and very pleased to be sandwiched between them :)

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  • February 17, 2016 at 10:06 am
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    Anything by Richard Yates!
    Savidge Reads
    A book on start-ups

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:29 am
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      I’ve only read Revolutionary Road, so must read more Yates – if I can bring myself to cope with the inevitable emotional rollercoaster!

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  • February 17, 2016 at 6:18 pm
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    Book I wish more people knew about: Du Fu translated by David Young
    First book blog: Cornflower
    Currently reading: The Sisters Brothers by Patrick de Witt

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:29 am
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      I’ve never heard of Du Fu, so you have told at least one more person, thank you!

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  • February 17, 2016 at 10:12 pm
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    ◾Which book do you love that not enough people know about?
    Haha, how would I know! However let me recommend one non-fiction and one fiction that perhaps some readers might not know about and which I would recommend.
    NF: The Anatomy of Dessert: With a Few Notes on Wine by Edward Bunyard
    F: How to Break Article Noun by Carolyn Chun

    ◾Which book blog did you first read?
    Cornflower

    ◾What are you reading at the moment?
    Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe by Lisa Randall

    Reply
    • February 24, 2016 at 12:30 am
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      I’m intrigued as to what you mean by ‘how should I know’ – are you questioning your ability to identify a good book (in which case I should reassure you!) or your knowledge of what is well-known (which would surprise me!)

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  • February 19, 2016 at 1:22 am
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    Not enough people know about Antonia White’s Beyond the Glass and the other three in the quartet.

    I’ve just finished Greengates and I think I’ll be reading The River by Rumer Godden next.

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:31 am
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      I’ve got so many Antonia Whites on my shelf and have read absolutely zero of them.

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  • February 19, 2016 at 4:20 pm
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    1/ Cassandra at the Wedding, by Dorothy Baker
    2/ Stuckinabook !
    3/ More Women than Men ( thank you so much, Simon for bringing this one in particular to my attention. And thank you Alan Bennett and his Uncommon Reader, without whom I may never have heard of ICB ) and A Month in the Country

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:32 am
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      I’ve got a few Dorothy Bakers on my shelf, and have one lined up for the 1938 Club – Cassandra also waiting on my shelf.

      How lovely that I was your first book blog, and even lovelier that you’re read those two deliciously wonderful books :D I’m so delighted that you’re enjoying More Women Than Men.

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  • February 20, 2016 at 10:03 am
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    Book I wish more people knew about (at least outside of Canada): Obasan by Joy Kogawa
    First book blog: this one – came for the GGBO recaps (ahem, sorry, but they are brill!), stayed for the books!
    Currently reading: The Princess Bride, a very long time tbr

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:33 am
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      I’ve never heard of Obasan, so will have to note that one down. And I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the GBBO recaps AND stayed for the books :D

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  • February 20, 2016 at 11:53 am
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    Which book do you love that not enough people know about?
    The Fig Tree by Aubrey Menen, which is hilarious in a very dry way and also in a fairly slapstick sort of way as well.

    Which book blog did you first read?
    The Age of Uncertainty, if that counts as a book blog. Blogs are a bit like gardens, I’ve noticed.There’s nothing wrong with making plans but sometimes a combination or idea just works and it’s best to go with it and let it evolve organically. Otherwise maybe apenguinaweek.

    What are you reading at the moment?
    London War Notes by Mollie Panter Downes, which has recently been republished by Persephone (which I think your blog introduced me to, so many thanks for that). It’s excellent – I’m amazed it was ever out of print.

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:35 am
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      The Fig Tree has gone straight in my new notebook for recommendations. Especially encouraged by the fact that you’re enjoying the extremely wonderful London War Notes – it sounds as though our tastes are likely to coincide!

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  • February 20, 2016 at 8:49 pm
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    The book I wish more people would read is The Charioteer by Mary Renault, which is such a powerful book about unrequited love in wartime. So revolutionary for its day.

    The first book blogger I read was Sandra at Book World. I stumbled on her one day searching for something on Google, I don’t remember what. Sadly she isn’t around anymore. She led me on to Lynne at Dovegreyreader and this whole world.

    The book I’m reading right now is My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. I have about 20 pages to go and can’t wait to move on to the second book.

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    • February 24, 2016 at 12:37 am
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      I don’t think I ever came across Sandra – sad that she’s one of those who’ve gone. The long-standing bloggers are such pillars of this community (and I remember we met, didn’t we, back in about 2009 at the Oxford Literary Festival?)

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  • February 21, 2016 at 2:32 pm
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    Which book do you love that not enough people know about?

    The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney.

    Which book blog did you first read?

    I can’t remember, but I think ‘Stuck in a Book’ was one of them, and possibly ‘Dolce Belezza’ and ‘The 17th Century Lady’.

    What are you reading at the moment?

    Trilby by George du Maurier + others. I never only read one book at the time!

    Reply
    • February 24, 2016 at 12:38 am
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      Oh, I read Tenderness of Wolves a while ago – it was so evocative of the place, and the temperature! Whereas I haven’t read Trilby, and should do, given its cultural significance. (Oh, and I never read one at a time either, of course :) )

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  • February 23, 2016 at 10:11 am
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    Which book do you love that not enough people know about?
    The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard by Anatole France
    Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier

    Which book blog did you first read?
    savidgereads & books on the nightstand

    What are you reading at the moment?
    The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vesaas and The Shelf by Phyllis Rose

    Reply
    • February 24, 2016 at 12:39 am
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      Oo, delighted to see someone else reading The Shelf! I do hope you’re enjoying it. I love that book so much.

      Reply

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