Anyone read any good books lately?!

[N F C]

Nice to see some book readers here!

I used to have practically my own library of books but severely cut back on them when I moved to FL a few years back (they are a ton to move). The books I kept were my favorites, a few classics and some more current works.

Earlier this year I cleaned out my parents house to put it on the market and came across a few of my dad's old books. He was a Dick Francis fan so that's what I'm reading now. They all have to do with horses and mysteries. I also found my old childhood Nancy Drew (girl detective) books! Notice a trend toward mysteries? lol

I'll be checking back in later, chickens are calling!

 

[whoop whoop]

Have you read Rebbeca or anything else by Daphane du Maurier, she wrote Frenchmans Creek, which I read years and years ago and really loved. Also the French Lieutentants woman by John Fowles was a good read, Can't find any of the books you sugggested, not really surprised but will order off Amazon. I have just read Plea of Insanity by Julliane Hoffman, she wrote three books and haven't heard about anymore but all three were so exciting I couldn't put them down.

Never really been a fan of Thomas Hardy but Far from the Maddening Crowd was the in thing at the time - never read it though. Not strictly a classic by have you read Gone with the Wind. The sequel was awful.

I also have read Dick Francis but after a while they got a bit too repetitive (or at least I thought so) My daughter has all the Nancy Drews and she won't let me take them to exchange I expect they will be worth something one day!!! my hubby has got all the Louis L'Amor books which I did enjoy especially the one about the 'Sackettes'.

Have to fly, pardon the pun - everyone wants to be fed...chicks, dogs, cats and and....

 

[N F C]

Have you read Rebbeca or anything else by Daphane du Maurier, she wrote Frenchmans Creek, which I read years and years ago and really loved. Also the French Lieutentants woman by John Fowles was a good read, Can't find any of the books you sugggested, not really surprised but will order off Amazon. I have just read Plea of Insanity by Julliane Hoffman, she wrote three books and haven't heard about anymore but all three were so exciting I couldn't put them down.

Never really been a fan of Thomas Hardy but Far from the Maddening Crowd was the in thing at the time - never read it though. Not strictly a classic by have you read Gone with the Wind. The sequel was awful.

I also have read Dick Francis but after a while they got a bit too repetitive (or at least I thought so) My daughter has all the Nancy Drews and she won't let me take them to exchange I expect they will be worth something one day!!! my hubby has got all the Louis L'Amor books which I did enjoy especially the one about the 'Sackettes'.

Have to fly, pardon the pun - everyone wants to be fed...chicks, dogs, cats and and....

I did read Rebecca years & years ago, don't remember a lot about it. Never read John Fowles or Julliane Hoffman.

Gone With the Wind I've read several times...great story (the movie just sort of hit the highlights).

Dad used to have a ton of the Louis L'Amor books and a bunch of the old Phillip Marlow books but Mom had already gotten rid of those, darn it. I kind of like Dick Francis, he doesn't have the same characters in his stories so you don't get a repeat every time on a person's background.

For more current books, I've really enjoyed Greg Iles (sp?) and Robert Crais. Both do mysteries, Iles does legal stories and Crais has a wonderful main character named Elvis (sort of a wise cracking private eye).

Time to go...I'm so glad to have found this thread!!

 

[whoop whoop]

Will check out Greg Illes have seen his books - I think itsRobert Crais alo see his books here so will check those out too.

I did read Rebecca years & years ago, don't remember a lot about it. Never read John Fowles or Julliane Hoffman.

Gone With the Wind I've read several times...great story (the movie just sort of hit the highlights).

Dad used to have a ton of the Louis L'Amor books and a bunch of the old Phillip Marlow books but Mom had already gotten rid of those, darn it. I kind of like Dick Francis, he doesn't have the same characters in his stories so you don't get a repeat every time on a person's background.

For more current books, I've really enjoyed Greg Iles (sp?) and Robert Crais. Both do mysteries, Iles does legal stories and Crais has a wonderful main character named Elvis (sort of a wise cracking private eye).

Time to go...I'm so glad to have found this site

 

[ldawntaylor]

Hi,

Currently I am reading some of Louis L'Amour's short stories. I enjoy seeing which plots or character names I recognize in full length books. Another author I enjoy and will miss is Tony Hillerman. His daughter is carrying on his legacy but she has her own twists so it isn't quite the same.

Most of those stories are about two Navajo tribal policemen named Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. One of my favorites of his is based on real events. It is called "The Great Taos Bank Robbery".

Well, time to check in with my mother so I'll close for now,

Lisa

 

[whoop whoop]

So here''s the thing, it is about a book eventually!! Everyone has invited people over for the weekend, so I thought it I would cook up a storm as its so cold. Made a huge apple pie and wanted custard to go with. Hubby couldn't find any (which is not surprising he is known for not observing stuff). so I hauled out every cook book I had to search for custard recipes. All say use custard powder, what is custard powder?

Anyway I eventually got to my grandmothers 'Mrs Beeton' dated 1860, what a book it has rules and tips for the wife when husband comes home from work. You must be attractive and have his whiskey and slippers waiting for him. If he doesn't want to talk allow him to rest before serving dinner. Dinner must be five courses, each one to compliment the other. After dinner you must retire to allow him to smoke and enjoy his port. Honestly, they did live well in those days. No wonder men are so dominant, talk about spoilt.

I found the custard recipe and it came out really well - I looked through the book whilst waiting for the pie to cook and they served Magpie, Thrush and several birds I have never heard of. Pigeon is a favorite there is a whole section on game birds. The books is 1680 pages long and stuffed full of wonderful recipes some very complicated.

If you want honest opinion this book beats 50 shades of Grey hands down. There is even a section on the marital bed, but I won't go into that.!!!

 

[N F C]

@whoop whoop , that sounds like some book! If that's the way people were supposed to live back then, it's a good thing I'm here now...just reading all that rigamarole tired me out. I say let him get me a whiskey and slippers because I've been cooking a 5 course dinner for one meal!

It's fun reading stuff like that.

 

[ldawntaylor]

Out of curiosity how many cook books is "every cook book"?

I don't know about anyone else here but I enjoy just reading cook books of all kinds. Even puzzling over the one of my grandmother's from Brazil. Between working with recipes every day and learning Spanish I can figure out most of it. No, I am not Brazilian or Portuguese, my grandmother was a missionary to Brazil for a few years.

In that 1860's book do the recipes use measurments or approximates? For example, when a recipe calls for butter (that would equal about 1/2 stick in todays measure) does it call for enough butter to equal a medium egg or some other term? Are oven temps in degrees or fast oven, slow oven etc.?

Well, time to call it a night soon,

Lisa

 

[whoop whoop]

Out of curiosity how many cook books is "every cook book"?

I don't know about anyone else here but I enjoy just reading cook books of all kinds. Even puzzling over the one of my grandmother's from Brazil. Between working with recipes every day and learning Spanish I can figure out most of it. No, I am not Brazilian or Portuguese, my grandmother was a missionary to Brazil for a few years.

In that 1860's book do the recipes use measurments or approximates? For example, when a recipe calls for butter (that would equal about 1/2 stick in todays measure) does it call for enough butter to equal a medium egg or some other term? Are oven temps in degrees or fast oven, slow oven etc.?

Well, time to call it a night soon,

Lisa

I think that was rather a sweeping statement, but I have approx 100 cook books varying from French thru all the countries. My latest is Japanese, as my son has a Japanese friend -they are very polite- but also quite outpoken if the food isn't just right.!!! they do like my cakes tho.

Wow a missionary, you have to be some kind of person to do that - very dedicated.- i could never do that, far too flighty.

As for the recipe measurements its all in ounces, quarts,peck bushel - liquid measures are in gills quart,pint,gallons - then there is grains scruples,drachms and ounces the used spoons then so its a teaspoon of/or tablespoon of - then just 3 eggs she doesnt actually mention temps of oven - you supposed to know slow is under 343 degrees f mod is 363 degrees f and hot isb 423 to460 degrees f

here is a couple of pics from the book an advert for lamb and duties of the Footman and Chauffeur - quite fun think I will get myself a footman!!!!

 

[whoop whoop]

I totally agree with you but would take a rain check on the whiskey - a nice glass of Red wine would't go a miss lol

@whoop whoop , that sounds like some book! If that's the way people were supposed to live back then, it's a good thing I'm here now...just reading all that rigamarole tired me out. I say let him get me a whiskey and slippers because I've been cooking a 5 course dinner for one meal!

It's fun reading stuff like that.