The Mookse and the Gripes discussion
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Getting to Know You
I also wasn't aware of this thread. I've been in the group for about two months, and was only using Goodreads sporadically before I got sucked in by this forum!I'm Canadian, but live in Barcelona where I work as an editor/writer/translator (largely of boring things, sadly).
I've always wanted to join a book club but there has never been one available that isn't either too specific or not literary enough. This group seems a bit like a book club on steroids -- I can't possibly keep up with the reading, but appreciate the endless introduction to new works, new writers and new prizes.
Mod
Hi I’m Amanda and have come back to GR after deleting everything when my library and groups became unwieldy. Everything appears as if I’m a new member but was here before as Manda.
I have been buying more than I read and have a huge backlog to read through, half of which are in audible format. You’re most likely to find me lurking in your older threads as I dust off and read my prize nominated books of which I have a lot. I’d like to think 2020 is my year of book buying abstention but already I’m browsing small UK presses subscription deals. Perhaps a year away from Amazon is more sustainable.
Other interests; I’m undertaking C and G level 1 qualification in Book Binding though the charity Bound by Veterans with Help for Heroes ( my husband is a disabled Falklands War veteran). I’m hoping to work through to get the full level 3 diploma.
I’m passionate about gardening and also love to knit socks. Hand made wool socks are the most comfortable items to hug your feet; I’m a true sock knitting devotee to keep the family’s’ paws cosy. Talking of paws, my spaniels and hound are my adorable constant companions.
For work, I’m a Senior Environmental Health Officer working for a London Local authority specialising in food safety.
Right now I’m reading Woman of the Ashes
I have been buying more than I read and have a huge backlog to read through, half of which are in audible format. You’re most likely to find me lurking in your older threads as I dust off and read my prize nominated books of which I have a lot. I’d like to think 2020 is my year of book buying abstention but already I’m browsing small UK presses subscription deals. Perhaps a year away from Amazon is more sustainable.
Other interests; I’m undertaking C and G level 1 qualification in Book Binding though the charity Bound by Veterans with Help for Heroes ( my husband is a disabled Falklands War veteran). I’m hoping to work through to get the full level 3 diploma.
I’m passionate about gardening and also love to knit socks. Hand made wool socks are the most comfortable items to hug your feet; I’m a true sock knitting devotee to keep the family’s’ paws cosy. Talking of paws, my spaniels and hound are my adorable constant companions.
For work, I’m a Senior Environmental Health Officer working for a London Local authority specialising in food safety.
Right now I’m reading Woman of the Ashes
Welcome back. Good luck on your bookbinding diploma!
Nice to meet you, Amanda. Good luck with reading your shelves. I'm going to try hard to do something similar to that in 2020. Bookbinding sounds terrifically interesting. Keep us updated on that, please, and welcome back.
Ella wrote: "Nice to meet you, Amanda. Good luck with reading your shelves. I'm going to try hard to do something similar to that in 2020. Bookbinding sounds terrifically interesting. Keep us updated on that, p..."
Bookbinding is wonderful fun; only making notebooks from scratch now but the full diploma includes restoration.
This is the charity who have provided me the chance to do this as carer for my hubs.... https://wiltshirebarn.co.uk/
Bookbinding is wonderful fun; only making notebooks from scratch now but the full diploma includes restoration.
This is the charity who have provided me the chance to do this as carer for my hubs.... https://wiltshirebarn.co.uk/
Hello, Manda. I remember you from a previous group and I see that, like me, you are still trying to curb your book buying!I have some very old, barely held together family books that I would like to save, maybe I should learn bookbinding.
WndyJW wrote: "Hello, Manda. I remember you from a previous group and I see that, like me, you are still trying to curb your book buying!
I have some very old, barely held together family books that I would like..."
Hi wendy! I tried to rejoin your roundtable group but haven’t heard back as yet.....could you check that? Thanks xxx
I have some very old, barely held together family books that I would like..."
Hi wendy! I tried to rejoin your roundtable group but haven’t heard back as yet.....could you check that? Thanks xxx
I resigned as a mod months ago and don’t participate there. They are all warm, interesting people, but I found I wasn’t reading older novels as much as modern, experimental, and indie press books so I didn’t have much to discuss there.
WndyJW wrote: "I resigned as a mod months ago and don’t participate there. They are all warm, interesting people, but I found I wasn’t reading older novels as much as modern, experimental, and indie press books s..."
Ahhh, ok thanks Wendy that’s good to know....
To be frank, you were the best thing there, the one who did all the gelling and most of the organising for the time I was active there. So I won’t be too concerned then not getting a response!! X
I’m trying to restrict groups I join; this one I’ve always adored. I love the intellectual banter that occurs from time to time even though it’s way above my stream of intellect at times! I too am much more interested in small presses and that’s thanks to this group.
Ahhh, ok thanks Wendy that’s good to know....
To be frank, you were the best thing there, the one who did all the gelling and most of the organising for the time I was active there. So I won’t be too concerned then not getting a response!! X
I’m trying to restrict groups I join; this one I’ve always adored. I love the intellectual banter that occurs from time to time even though it’s way above my stream of intellect at times! I too am much more interested in small presses and that’s thanks to this group.
I will always be grateful to this group for introducing me to the small presses and to some writers in translation, and a number of the members here are sort of “in the loop” for what’s likely to make various long and short lists because the ARCs they receive for review. I would say that this is the best group for interesting book centered discussions!
This is the best group I've been allowed to join at GR for a very long time. I left most of my groups last week - all except the choice few that I have good (actual) friends in or the ones that really truly interest me. I'm staying here though, so long as that's OK w/ all of you.
Just a little bump to this thread. I know it's way down in the list, but I saw some new faces and wanted to just say it's nice to have new voices. No pressure to introduce yourself - but welcome everyone (and welcome back to those who have been away for a while.)
Hi my name's Nick. I'm 57 and I live on a dutch barge in Hampshire UK. I joined the group a couple of weeks ago but have spending my time 'mooching' around before diving in. I'm please to have found you all as most of the groups I have so far been a member of have been a bit hit and miss. I'm not a particularly fast reader, I'm amazed some of you read over 100 books a year, but I'll try and join in where I can.I enjoy a good bit of trash now and then (don't we all?) but 'literature' is where my heart is at. Hope everyone is keeping safe in current times ...... it'll all be OK in the end, and if it's not OK, then it's not the end. XXXX
Mod
Hugh wrote: "Welcome to the group Nick"Thank you Hugh.
Scu8a8uddy wrote: "Hi my name's Nick. I'm 57 and I live on a dutch barge in Hampshire UK. I joined the group a couple of weeks ago but have spending my time 'mooching' around before diving in. I'm please to have foun..."Welcome Nick! It's exciting to have new members. I'm mostly absent at the moment, but I wanted to welcome you and encourage you to join in with our lovely group of readers who are passionate about what they read.
Also - how is life on a Dutch barge? I've always wondered - being from the states, these are not as common as in the UK.
Hi Ella. I’ve lived on her for 8 years. It’s the best place I’ve ever lived. She’s called Valentijne and moored in the middle of nowhere with 5 others. ‘Lockdown’ is no problem for us, although I pity people living in small apartments with young children in these times. I see you’re currently reading Armisted Maupen, one of my very favourite set of books. I hope you’re enjoying it. Xx
Hello, Nick. Welcome!A Dutch barge? Is that literally a boat on a river as in Penelope Fitzgerald’s Offshore and Daisy Johnson’s Everything Under?
We don’t all read 100 books a year. My goal is always around 52, but this year I set my goal at 12, so I can get that over with and read the few long books on my TBR.
Glad to hear you’re safe and comfortable. For most introverted readers lockdown has had very little impact on our daily life, unless there are children at home, of course.
Hi Wndy. Thank you, I’ve put both those books on my reading list. I expect that the boats on the Oxford canal would be narrowboats (only 9ft wide) whereas a Dutch barge is 14ft wide (mine is 75ft long but the length varies)X
I had to google Dutch barge; that is really cool, Nick. Both of those books are really good.
Hi everyone, I joined this group almost a year ago and I love reading your posts. I've been rather passive for a long while but I've recently started to comment a bit more often so I think it might be a good idea to introduce myself. I'm 27 years old and I live in Basel, Switzerland. I study English literature and geography at the University of Basel and I'll (hopefully) get my master's degree this summer. As I'd like to become a teacher I'll then start teacher training in autumn. Also, I work part-time in child care at a local school.My first language is German but I mostly read in English (about 80%). Since 2017, I've read all the books longlisted for the Booker Prize and since last year also the ones longlisted for the International Booker Prize. I follow the Swiss Book Prize and the German Book Prize as well but usually, I only read the novels that interest me the most (there are 20 books on the longlist of the German Book Prize...).
Welcome, David. Good luck finishing your MA program this year.
Hi all,Thank you so much for the warm and generous welcome over past few months as I've participated in discussions, especially around the Women's Prize this year.
I'm a 54 guy living in Brisbane, Australia. Actually a far northside suburb called Morayfield, close to the Sunshine coast. I was born and raised as it were in New Zealand (a small North Island town: Tokoroa). I'm married to Liz and we have twin 14 years daughters ( I adore them all).
I'm privileged to have had the opportunity to pursue higher education (something I value highly as first in family at University). I have BA and Masters Degrees in English Literature and a PhD in Cultural Studies/Media Stuides. My area of research is actually videogames and videogames industry. In my earlier academic life though I also taught and tutored into English Lit (especially modernism). For over a decade now I've been an academic at Queensland University of Technology (Creative Industries Faculty, school of Communication), currently Associate Professor. I lead a postgraduate course in Digital Communication and am also our faculty lead for teaching and learning innovation (so mostly online learning etc).
I adore literary fiction. It is one of the great passions in my life and a significant reason why I find myself an academic. My grandparents (no high school education) instilled this love in me for books as did my parents and I enthusiastically now share this with my daughters and wife and any others I get the chance to chat with about books. I also owe a hugh debt in this regard to some wonderful high school teachers who pointed me in the right direction as I developed my reading tastes.
For the past few years (too busy with life and work stuff) found myself not reading as much as I had in past. Covid-19 and a few other life events (some health challenges etc) made me re-evaluate and take up my reading again. In the process I found this wondeful group. The tone, warmth and mutual respect of the discussions are something I value and hope to contribute to. We need more of that in the world right now and something I think literary culture at its best can contribute to our lives. I hope that isn't too pretentious :) I recognise Lit culture can be pretentious and have issues with inclusivity.
I also enjoy reading other genres such as fantasy lit from time to time.
I also love boardgames, especially contemporary boardgame designs.
Huge pet lover: we have a 1 year Groodle dog (Scout), a 9 years Tonkinese Cat (Wils, named Prince William when my daughter Ivy got him) and Valentino (Abyssinian cat who owns my other daughter Charlotte).
Mod
Welcome to everyone new! It's great to have so many excited readers as we move toward a hopefully exciting and interesting year. John & David, welcome! I hope you are as happy here as I've been.
PS -- John, I'm glad you are finding/making the time to read more and I'm thrilled that brought you to this group.
Very nice to have you here, David and John!
Hello Everyone:I discovered this group a few weeks ago when I was looking for discussions about Booker longlist predictions. I've been lurking quite regularly since then and decided that it was time to join.
I live in the United States, in New Haven, Connecticut. I was born and raised in New York City, received a BA in British history and then a JD (in 1990) and was a practicing lawyer in Manhattan for over 25 years. In 2016 I received a Masters in Library and Information Science and became a librarian. I just didn't want to be a lawyer for my whole life, and I am a passionate reader, across a variety of genres, so a second act in the book world made sense.
I work in a marvelous public library in a town called Wallingford, about 12 miles north of New Haven, as the Readers Advisory Librarian. I moderate a few book clubs, help with book purchases, and sit at the Information Desk. I also write a blog and co-host a podcast.
I have a husband (who was thrilled to leave New York City), two grown daughters and a beloved dog named Lennon.
This group seems wonderful, engaged, and filled with a love of books and reading, and I'm quite pleased to have discovered it.
Welcome. Are your blog and podcast book related? And as importantly what kind of dog is Lennon?
Gumble's Yard wrote: "Welcome. Are your blog and podcast book related? And as importantly what kind of dog is Lennon?"I like your priorities! Yes, both the blog and the podcast are book related and technically under the library's umbrella. I just finsihed a new blog post about the Booker longlist:
http://northmainbooknotes.blogspot.co...
Lennon is a cross between a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and a Havanese.
To many dog lovers - any cat fanatics?
Cat lover here. I have two orange tabbies. One thinks he's a dog, though (plays fetch, etc.)Welcome, Cynthia!
Mod
Robert wrote: "To many dog lovers - any cat fanatics?"Oh yes! (See profile pic)
Debra wrote: "Cat lover here. I have two orange tabbies."Orange tabbies are the best (though my current cat is not of the orange variety and he's pretty great).
Ang wrote: "Debra wrote: "Cat lover here. I have two orange tabbies."Orange tabbies are the best (though my current cat is not of the orange variety and he's pretty great)."
hurrah!! I've got an orange tabby with a white belly and a moustache and a fluffy tabby who is three shades of brown with a combo spots and stripes pattern
Trevor wrote: "Welcome, Cynthia! I used to work at Cleary Gottlieb and left to come back to the west in 2012. I'm glad you and your husband were also able to do something different since it sounds like that's wha..."I know Cleary Gottlieb quite well. Excellent firm. And yes, we are much happier in this part 2 phase of our professional lives!
Welcome Cynthia! I'm looking forward to reading your blog later tonight, and I love second acts - I'm trying to figure out what mine is going to be...I also have an orange tomcat who believes very strongly that he is a dog (and thinks he could beat up the dogs if only I'd let him out when he sees them.)
Welcome Cynthia! I look forward to reading your comments. My second act will be retirement so I can whittle down my TBR. I’ll volunteer somewhere, hopefully hospice, but I don’t want to have to be anywhere on time and the last day I have to get up to an alarm will be a glorious day.
Hi everyone - I figured I should introduce myself as I’ve made the move from lurker to participant with the announcement of the Booker longlist this year.My name is Suzanne and I’m a high school English teacher in New Zealand. The past few years my non-work reading dwindled to basically a book each school holiday, and I was really missing books in my life. I decided this year to recapture that joy - which I definitely have! I’m excited to try and read this year’s Booker Longlist. This forum has also introduced me to another prize I’m keen to follow - The Goldsmiths Prize, as last year’s winner Ducks, Newburyport is one my favourite books I’ve read so far this year. Looking forward to discovering some more favourites in the next few months.
Welcome, Suzanne. We have a few English teachers on board, some who have just started posting, like you. I look forward to your opinions.
Welcome, Suzanne! Always good to have more teachers around. I'm glad you decided to delurk & welcome again.
The Mookse and the Gripes
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My parents spent years on genealogy. It does become addicting once you learn some names and dates. If Ichabod Whidden could have talked his son into staying in Hampshire 200 yrs ago I could be enjoying all the awesome bookshops you have in England. Or if the MacKays, Sutherlands, and Frasers had stayed put I might have been able to meet Lucy Ellmann in person. I’d be happy to have grown up in Finland too, but alas, my ancestors all left home for a better life so here I am.
I’d like to see some of your silly hats, Ella!