Debbie Robson's Blog - Posts Tagged "books"
A Lazy Afternoon?
Getting ready for the first bookcrossing meeting for 2010 at Hamilton tomorrow. I have books to register and do the release notes for, I have eight jobs to apply for in the next few days and all I REALLY want to do is curl up with a book for the rest of the arvo. Sigh.
It's All Getting So Much Closer
The final proofs are done and I can't wait to hold the book in my hands. What a month it has been! My asthma has given me heaps of trouble but that is mainly the time of year and I know fellow sufferers are up against it too.
I have a book about to come out! Yay! A new fella in my life. My family is well. My dogs too! And I have another book waiting quietly and very patiently in the wings. What more could I ask?
Here are the details of my brand new book.
http://marycelestepress.com/books_Pro...
I have a book about to come out! Yay! A new fella in my life. My family is well. My dogs too! And I have another book waiting quietly and very patiently in the wings. What more could I ask?
Here are the details of my brand new book.
http://marycelestepress.com/books_Pro...
Where all my BookCrossers are within the book
Just for fun here is the list of my 40 real life BookCrossers who appear in Crossing Paths (along with my fictional BookCrossers) and the page numbers their journal entries are on.
TexasWren, page 18, first mention/deenbat, page 61, first mention/Lady-B, page 73/omly, page 86, first mention/minerswifebb, page 98/octoberskye, page 111, first mention/bookfrog, page 134, first mention/bookczuk, page 138/folia, page 159, first mention/thebiblioholic, page 175, first mention/lmn60, page 175, first mention/ottawabill, page 198, first mention/nobodysperfect, page 223/YvetteDownunder, page 226/dawni, page 234/geishabird, page 237/time-traveler, page 291, first mention/Azyade, page 315/bestfriends, page 322/Netstation, page 342/apapsa, page 352/ffc-fan, page 378/Humour108, page 384/asterw, page 395/Skyring, page 400/SwanOfKennet, page 410/flambard, page 416/mississippimom, page 426, first mention/lizzyblack, page 426, first mention/jessibud, page 437/liberliber, page 441/angelbird72, page 475, first mention/gypsyrose02, page 477/lesTomates, page 485/peachy93722, page 492/over-the-moon, page 500/Navig8r, page 529/amberjane, page 539/MissMarkey, page 557/talkland, page 562.
Where I have put "first mention" that means the BookCrosser is journalling a frequently travelled book or they perhaps send another pm. The three most travelled books in the novel are If On a Winter's Night a Traveler, The Loving Spirit and Tell Me the Truth About Love.
Virtual and real world meet!
TexasWren, page 18, first mention/deenbat, page 61, first mention/Lady-B, page 73/omly, page 86, first mention/minerswifebb, page 98/octoberskye, page 111, first mention/bookfrog, page 134, first mention/bookczuk, page 138/folia, page 159, first mention/thebiblioholic, page 175, first mention/lmn60, page 175, first mention/ottawabill, page 198, first mention/nobodysperfect, page 223/YvetteDownunder, page 226/dawni, page 234/geishabird, page 237/time-traveler, page 291, first mention/Azyade, page 315/bestfriends, page 322/Netstation, page 342/apapsa, page 352/ffc-fan, page 378/Humour108, page 384/asterw, page 395/Skyring, page 400/SwanOfKennet, page 410/flambard, page 416/mississippimom, page 426, first mention/lizzyblack, page 426, first mention/jessibud, page 437/liberliber, page 441/angelbird72, page 475, first mention/gypsyrose02, page 477/lesTomates, page 485/peachy93722, page 492/over-the-moon, page 500/Navig8r, page 529/amberjane, page 539/MissMarkey, page 557/talkland, page 562.
Where I have put "first mention" that means the BookCrosser is journalling a frequently travelled book or they perhaps send another pm. The three most travelled books in the novel are If On a Winter's Night a Traveler, The Loving Spirit and Tell Me the Truth About Love.
Virtual and real world meet!
The books in the book
Crossing Paths has eight main characters who, obviously, cross paths with each other but there are also 52 books that are journalled and do a lot of travelling too. For those who are interested, here are the 52 books. I have put a star against the three starring books that really clock up some miles.
In order of appearance:
Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain Fournier
How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton
One Writer’s Beginnings by Eudora Welty
If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino *
A Closer Look at Ariel by Nancy Hunter Steiner
The Loving Spirit by Daphne du Maurier *
The Door in the Wall & Other Stories by H. G. Wells
Belonging by Isobel Huggan
Tell Me the Truth About Love by W.H. Auden *
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee
Socrates Café by Christopher Phillips
1979: A Big Year in a Small Town by Rhona Cameron
Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
Look Homeward Angel by Thomas Wolfe
Dreams of Elsewhere by June Skinner Sawyers
The Truth About My Fathers by Gaby Naher
A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor
I’ll Never Be Young Again by Daphne du Maurier
Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The 100 Best Love Poems of All Time edited by Leslie Pockell
The Forgetting Room by Nick Bantock
The Long Sigh the Wind Makes by William Stafford
E.E. Cummings Complete Poems 1913-1935
Essays on Love by Alain de Botton
Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Walk to the Paradise Gardens by Charmian Clift
Sunlight on Cold Water by Francoise Sagan
Lost Profile by Francoise Sagan
A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr
There Are No Accidents by Robert Hopcke
The Day We Cut the Lavender by Jill Neville
The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster
The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier
Being Enough by Leigh Sanders
A Book of Answers by A.D. Hope
To the Islands by Randolph Stow
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
First You Have to Row a Little Boat by Richard Bode
My Michelene by Patrick Drevet
The Light in the Piazza by Elizabeth Spencer
Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster
The Missing Reel by Christopher Rawlence
Jigsaw by Sybil Bedford
With Fondest Regards by Francoise Sagan
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
Disappearances by William Wiser
The World My Wilderness by Rose Macaulay
If With a Beating Heart by Jean Bedford
A New Path to the Waterfall by Raymond Carver
A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
The Letters and Journals of Katherine Mansfield edited by C.K. Stead
In order of appearance:
Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain Fournier
How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton
One Writer’s Beginnings by Eudora Welty
If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino *
A Closer Look at Ariel by Nancy Hunter Steiner
The Loving Spirit by Daphne du Maurier *
The Door in the Wall & Other Stories by H. G. Wells
Belonging by Isobel Huggan
Tell Me the Truth About Love by W.H. Auden *
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee
Socrates Café by Christopher Phillips
1979: A Big Year in a Small Town by Rhona Cameron
Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
Look Homeward Angel by Thomas Wolfe
Dreams of Elsewhere by June Skinner Sawyers
The Truth About My Fathers by Gaby Naher
A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor
I’ll Never Be Young Again by Daphne du Maurier
Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The 100 Best Love Poems of All Time edited by Leslie Pockell
The Forgetting Room by Nick Bantock
The Long Sigh the Wind Makes by William Stafford
E.E. Cummings Complete Poems 1913-1935
Essays on Love by Alain de Botton
Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Walk to the Paradise Gardens by Charmian Clift
Sunlight on Cold Water by Francoise Sagan
Lost Profile by Francoise Sagan
A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr
There Are No Accidents by Robert Hopcke
The Day We Cut the Lavender by Jill Neville
The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster
The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier
Being Enough by Leigh Sanders
A Book of Answers by A.D. Hope
To the Islands by Randolph Stow
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
First You Have to Row a Little Boat by Richard Bode
My Michelene by Patrick Drevet
The Light in the Piazza by Elizabeth Spencer
Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster
The Missing Reel by Christopher Rawlence
Jigsaw by Sybil Bedford
With Fondest Regards by Francoise Sagan
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
Disappearances by William Wiser
The World My Wilderness by Rose Macaulay
If With a Beating Heart by Jean Bedford
A New Path to the Waterfall by Raymond Carver
A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
The Letters and Journals of Katherine Mansfield edited by C.K. Stead
Mixing up names and books
The Sydney unconvention last weekend was my fourth and I had a wonderful time. I attended the Friday BBQ at Ultimo with marvellous food and a "to die for" pavlova. Also attending was a box of very famous macaroons.
On Saturday morning we all met at the Queens Victoria Building for our release walk. The old queen herself was decked out rather flamboyantly as part of "Art and About" and so were quite a few other statues including pigs that were really ready to fly.
Along the way I left 19 of the books that are in Crossing Paths and mixed up the names of several BookCrossers. Suddenly putting a real name to a BookCrosser you might have been messaging off and on for years can get tricky when (at least for me) it is impossbile to remember two names at a time!
Below is a link to a few photos to get the feel of the release walk.
The unconvention finished for me with a great dinner and amazing company at the Australian Heritage Hotel in Cumberland Street in the middle of The Rocks.
I can't wait for the next one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69586232...
On Saturday morning we all met at the Queens Victoria Building for our release walk. The old queen herself was decked out rather flamboyantly as part of "Art and About" and so were quite a few other statues including pigs that were really ready to fly.
Along the way I left 19 of the books that are in Crossing Paths and mixed up the names of several BookCrossers. Suddenly putting a real name to a BookCrosser you might have been messaging off and on for years can get tricky when (at least for me) it is impossbile to remember two names at a time!
Below is a link to a few photos to get the feel of the release walk.
The unconvention finished for me with a great dinner and amazing company at the Australian Heritage Hotel in Cumberland Street in the middle of The Rocks.
I can't wait for the next one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69586232...
Chasing Authors
Well, I've definitely been slack lately with my blog but I'm back and I'm chasing authors as I once chased bookcrossers back in 2004.
I have decided to contact all the authors of the 52 books (at least all those who are still alive) to let them know that their book or books are featured in Crossing Paths. So far I have been able to contact Alain de Botton who wished me well with my book, ditto Gaby Naher and also the marvellous Elizabeth Spencer (nearly 90) who thanked me for including her book. I'm looking forward to contacting many more and will update my blog as I go.
Happy Easter everyone.
Debbie Robson
I have decided to contact all the authors of the 52 books (at least all those who are still alive) to let them know that their book or books are featured in Crossing Paths. So far I have been able to contact Alain de Botton who wished me well with my book, ditto Gaby Naher and also the marvellous Elizabeth Spencer (nearly 90) who thanked me for including her book. I'm looking forward to contacting many more and will update my blog as I go.
Happy Easter everyone.
Debbie Robson
My Five Favourite Books of All Time
Actually I shouldn't say of all time. More appropriately I should say that this choice is from this point in time, late March 2013! Mary Tod tagged me in her post
Mary Tod, a writer of history and this is my response. The list is not in order that the books were read and except for No. 1, not in order of importance. The 2nd to 5th books shuffle themselves around according to my current mood as do my top 20.
Sophie's Choice by William Styron
I first read this dark, tormented work in late1985, early 1986 and was overwhelmed. It was like nothing I had read at that time. I remember it as a vacuum of words that just sucked me into the book. It was inexorable in its hold on me. When I finished the novel I was devastated by the "choice" that Sophie does make; something that I didn't fully understand until well after the last page. Afterwards all I could think about was writing to the author and telling him that I was so inspired by the book that I wanted to finally try my hand at a novel. The trouble was I had no idea how to start the letter. And then in the January the Challenger disaster occurred. I wrote with commiserations and then praise for his book. Unbelievably William Styron wrote back with a letter that I still treasure. This book will always remain my No. 1 because it is why I write novels.
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
This book is so much fun. I just loved the time slips, the what ifs and the clutter of Victorian England all rolled into one. Although it is a very long book, I actually read most of it the day of the Newcastle Floods in June 2007. We were without power for over twenty four hours and with no electricity I spent most of the day at a nearby hotel reading it. The flood and To Say Nothing of the Dog are now inseparable in my mind!
Man in the Dark by Paul Auster
The book had such a profound effect on me that I started a bookring at Bookcrossing. The book was read by 14 people from around the world and travelled for a year - one of my most successful bookrings. It is a poignant, unforgettable novel.
Atonement by Ian McEwan
What a wonderful book! The prose is very dense encompassing almost minute by minute details for the characters involved but when the final confrontation is reached the effect is devastating. We know exactly what each character has gone through in the intervening time. I love the twist at the end and didn't see it coming. The movie was an amazing adaptation.
The Human Stain by Philip Roth
I have featured this book before in my blog and it will probably pop up again. It's a perfect example of why I love to read! Now back to the Australian Women Writer's Challenge!
Mary Tod, a writer of history and this is my response. The list is not in order that the books were read and except for No. 1, not in order of importance. The 2nd to 5th books shuffle themselves around according to my current mood as do my top 20.
Sophie's Choice by William Styron
I first read this dark, tormented work in late1985, early 1986 and was overwhelmed. It was like nothing I had read at that time. I remember it as a vacuum of words that just sucked me into the book. It was inexorable in its hold on me. When I finished the novel I was devastated by the "choice" that Sophie does make; something that I didn't fully understand until well after the last page. Afterwards all I could think about was writing to the author and telling him that I was so inspired by the book that I wanted to finally try my hand at a novel. The trouble was I had no idea how to start the letter. And then in the January the Challenger disaster occurred. I wrote with commiserations and then praise for his book. Unbelievably William Styron wrote back with a letter that I still treasure. This book will always remain my No. 1 because it is why I write novels.
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
This book is so much fun. I just loved the time slips, the what ifs and the clutter of Victorian England all rolled into one. Although it is a very long book, I actually read most of it the day of the Newcastle Floods in June 2007. We were without power for over twenty four hours and with no electricity I spent most of the day at a nearby hotel reading it. The flood and To Say Nothing of the Dog are now inseparable in my mind!
Man in the Dark by Paul Auster
The book had such a profound effect on me that I started a bookring at Bookcrossing. The book was read by 14 people from around the world and travelled for a year - one of my most successful bookrings. It is a poignant, unforgettable novel.
Atonement by Ian McEwan
What a wonderful book! The prose is very dense encompassing almost minute by minute details for the characters involved but when the final confrontation is reached the effect is devastating. We know exactly what each character has gone through in the intervening time. I love the twist at the end and didn't see it coming. The movie was an amazing adaptation.
The Human Stain by Philip Roth
I have featured this book before in my blog and it will probably pop up again. It's a perfect example of why I love to read! Now back to the Australian Women Writer's Challenge!
