tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013114232214923198.post912998861508948917..comments2024-03-27T18:53:47.254-04:00Comments on Staircase Wit: Six Degrees of Separation – from Eats, Shoots & Leaves to The Thorn BirdsCLMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013114232214923198.post-54584017581451229872021-07-04T09:00:40.803-04:002021-07-04T09:00:40.803-04:00Cath, I went through a Mills & Boon stage as a...Cath, I went through a Mills & Boon stage as a teen but still love two authors, Mary Burchell and to a lesser extent Essie Summers. I gave away all the rest but still enjoy those two. Mary Burchell's personal story is also fascinating: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/05/ida-louise-cook-sisters-helped-jewish-refugees-flee-nazis-spy-mystery-film<br /><br />I do like Maisie Dobbs, especially the first one, but felt after the fourth that they were beginning to seem the same, so mentally put them aside. I will probably go back to them at some point. I did enjoy the author's memoir recently and was surprised to learn she did not have an Upstairs background. I do recommend The Great Gatsby, in part because there are so many allusions to it. And as Katrina says, Zelda Fitzgerald is as interesting a character as F. Scott and may deserve some of the credit for his writing. <br /><br />Lex, The Five Minute Marriage is by Joan Aiken, although her sister Jane Aiken Hodge also wrote historical fiction set in the Austen/Heyer era. Jane's books are more predictable because Joan does not guarantee a happy ending. Katrina, I never finished the Wolves series either. I think it is because most of them were published at a time when I was busy with other things but also she shifted from Dido as a central character to her sister.<br /><br />The Thorn Birds miniseries was way over the top and definitely eye-rolling but quite enthralling. It was first shown in the US during Holy Week which upset many people, given it showcased a priest breaking his vows. I had read about Drogheda being pronounced wrong; that kind of carelessness is annoying.CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013114232214923198.post-76147745505071838662021-07-03T16:18:46.809-04:002021-07-03T16:18:46.809-04:00You've reminded me that I need to complete the...You've reminded me that I need to complete the 'Wolves' series. I also enjoyed The Thornbirds book and TV series, it was very annoying that they didn't pronounce Drogheda correctly. I enjoyed Tender is the Night but I find it sad that he is lauded so much when Zelda has been just about forgotten and she was probably better, he certainly didn't mind nicking her ideas.Katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18138715309807238198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013114232214923198.post-89590124951166977812021-07-03T15:49:30.038-04:002021-07-03T15:49:30.038-04:00I've been meaning to try the Maisie Dobbs book...I've been meaning to try the Maisie Dobbs books for years, so I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed at least the first few. I loved The Thorn Birds - both the book and the miniseries!Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06618973352348296555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013114232214923198.post-75810176067685100062021-07-03T13:57:58.468-04:002021-07-03T13:57:58.468-04:00I love The Thorn Birds. But did you know that Drog...I love The Thorn Birds. But did you know that Drogheda is the name of a real town in Ireland? It is! But on the TV series they pronounced it ALL WRONG! I know, because my first visit to Ireland was not long after that show was aired, and everyone there was talking about it. It isn't pronounced drow-GEE-dah but DROCH-eh-dah!<br />Davida Chazan (The Chocolate Lady)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13862954387314281089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013114232214923198.post-75671547552323153992021-07-03T09:43:05.706-04:002021-07-03T09:43:05.706-04:00You've met and spoken to Aiken, however briefl...You've met and spoken to Aiken, however briefly, and that is so cool! I've only ever read Five Minute Marriage by Aiken (I hope I'm talking about the right Aiken here), but I liked it. And as for Thorn Birds, I haven't read the book but I've seen that 1980s show -- I remember rolling my eyes at all the melodrama, but maybe I lacked the right viewing lens. ;)Lex @ Lexlinguahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02251881629769380423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3013114232214923198.post-45566437291901706122021-07-03T07:01:14.421-04:002021-07-03T07:01:14.421-04:00I don't read Mills and Boon these days but yea...I don't read Mills and Boon these days but years ago I read quite a few and found them better than their 'romantic tosh' label would suggest. I did a lot of armchair travelling with those and think of them fondly. <br /><br />I'm one of the few people who have never read The Great Gatsby or Tender is the Night and I know this is lamentable. I must make a plan to do it as I think I have both on my Kindle. <br /><br />I've just read my 10th. Maisie Dobbs, Leaving Everything Most Loved and enjoyed it. Have you stopped reading the series or perhaps you haven't but didn't enjoy the later ones as much? I seem to recall you met her. (Jacqueline Winspear not Maisie Dobbs ;-) )Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.com