Saying Hello

[Lynsey]

Hello!

I'm Lynsey and I live in Bideford. I am a massive bookworm, and I am also very privileged to be working in my dream job - Library manager for a secondary school.
I have eclectic tastes when it comes to my books, but a few of my very favourite authors are Charles de Lint, Sarah Addison-Allen, Stephenie Hudson, Richard Montanari and George RR Martin.
That said, I read loads of young adult fiction - the latest of which was Lies we tell Ourselves by Robin Talley. Basically I love to read anything - I'm not a book snob ;-)
Well, I think I've waffled on enough!

Lyns x

[Carol]

Hi Lynsey. Welcome.

[Ian]

Jotrev wrote: "Hi everyone, i live in Bideford and work part time as well as running a sweetshop with my husband, I love reading and have just started a book journal to see if i read as much as everyone says i do..."

Hi Jotrev and Nick. Thanks for joining. Great to have you with us. Hope you will enjoy the group and contribute often. Best Wishes Ian

[Alex]

Hello all, and Merry Christmas! Ian has kindly invited me to join, via Twitter (where I go under the guise of @UniqueDevonTour), so thank you Ian. Unfortunately I have no where near as much time to read as I did when I wasn't self employed, but I'm sure I'm not the only one! In the last year I've referred to a lot of books on Devon for my business, but still try and have a book for pleasure on the go most of the time. Anyway, we'll see what I get for Christmas, but I'm pretty sure Ken Follett's latest epic will be in there somewhere!

[Ian]

Alex wrote: "Hello all, and Merry Christmas! Ian has kindly invited me to join, via Twitter (where I go under the guise of @UniqueDevonTour), so thank you Ian. Unfortunately I have no where near as much time ..."

Great to have you with us Alex. Just drop in whenever you can - I am keen that no-one feels under any pressure to read set books or anything like that - being a member of the group should be a pleasure, not a burden in our already busy lives. Hopefully you will find plenty to interest you and will drop by often. Best Wishes Ian

[Carol]

Hi Alex and Merry Xmas to everyone in the group.

[Nick]

Carol wrote: "Hi Alex and Merry Xmas to everyone in the group."

Merry Xmas All :)

[Sara]

Hi there
I'm in Stokeinteignhead in Devon and I've joined as part of my new year resolution to spend less time on the internet and read a more varied range of books than just Terry Pratchett and Catherine Alliott as I tend to play safe and stick with what I know. Well, no more! I'd love to hear any recommendations for books that you enjoyed (fantasy and chick lit still welcome).

[Kathy]

Welcome Sara! I've had loads of good suggestions for books since joining GR. The only problem is finding the time to read them all! Hope you have some fun here.

[Ian]

Sara wrote: "Hi there
I'm in Stokeinteignhead in Devon and I've joined as part of my new year resolution to spend less time on the internet and read a more varied range of books than just Terry Pratchett and Ca..."

Hi Sara - you are most welcome. Try looking on the recommendations thread - you might find somethign there that you like - if not, let us knwo what you woudl like to read and I am sure ideas will be forthcoming.

Also, check out the challenges - No 1 invites you to read 3 authors voted for by the members so that might also start you off

Now I need to find out where Stokeinteignhead is!

[Carol]

Hi Sara. Welcome.

[Ian]

Also welcome to Holly, who has just joined after getting temporarily lost in the Good reads site. Glad you found your way to us Holly and hope you enjoy the group.

[Carol]

It doesn't surprise me to hear that someone has got lost on the Goodreads site. It's the most enormous place, which serves the whole planet.
Welcome Holly. Also glad you have found us.

[Margaret]

Hi I'm Margaret, have lived in Ilfracombe for nearly 22 years - retired so have loads of time for reading. Joined good reads on the insistence of my sister! Just finished the latest Ben Aaaronovitch - excellent. Have just started the latest in the Simon Serrailler series by Syusan Hill. I belong to a book group at the local library, also I choose books for distribution to elderly people as part of books on wheels so I will spread the wor.

[Carol]

Hi Margaret. Glad to see you live in Ilfracombe. I grew up there and it remains one of my favourite places in Devon. Welcome to the group.

[Ian]

Margaret wrote: "Hi I'm Margaret, have lived in Ilfracombe for nearly 22 years - retired so have loads of time for reading. Joined good reads on the insistence of my sister! Just finished the latest Ben Aaaronovitc..."

Hi Margaret - Kath keeps us all in line at work too. She said she had linked you up with us. Great that you have joined - hope you will enjoy the group and drop by often

[B J]

Hello Margaret and welcome.
I haven't yet read the latest Aaronovitch. Glad to hear the author is back on track. I thought his last one was published without proper editing or proofreading, but I'm still looking forward to the new one.

[Rose]

Hullo Ian and thanks for welcoming me.

I am part of Bideford Library's Reading Group which meets in Bideford library on the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm. The library service supplies our books which are often a surprise read. This month we're reading 'Scenes from provincial life' by William Cooper which is an interesting and gentle read - set in forties Britain.

[Ian]

Rose wrote: "Hullo Ian and thanks for welcoming me.

I am part of Bideford Library's Reading Group which meets in Bideford library on the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm. The library service supplies our bo..."

Hi Rose and welcome again. You'll notice that we also have a reading groups thread so feel free to talk about the books you read in the Group there as well and encourage others in the group to join us. also great to have another member of the library with us - we are getting great support from the service.

[Carol]

Hi Rose. Welcome from Bideford.

[Katy]

Hi, I am female and live in the South of Devon, near Teignmouth and I always have a book on the go. I did a literature degree and love Russian and French novels, and I'm now 43. I am currently reading Teenagers: A Natural History. Not my typical book - I do prefer fiction.

[Kathy]

Hi Katy and welcome!

[Carol]

Hi Katy. Welcome.

[Katy]

thank you! I love reading and hope to share this with others

[Ian]

Katy wrote: "thank you! I love reading and hope to share this with others"

Hi Katy - so pleased you've joined us. You are very welcome. I share a love of Russian and French novels. Looking forward to getting to know you

[Carol]

Yes, also like French novels, as well as the Russian classics.

[Kate]

Hi
My name's Kate Vane. I live in South Devon. I've written a couple of novels, the second one, Not the End, is set in Devon. I read mainly crime and literary fiction, with a bit of non-fiction. I also like writing reviews - I often find I get more out of a book when I've had to think about what to say about it. I'm currently reading The Ladies of the House by Molly McGrann.

[Ian]

Kate wrote: "Hi
My name's Kate Vane. I live in South Devon. I've written a couple of novels, the second one, Not the End, is set in Devon. I read mainly crime and literary fiction, with a bit of non-fiction. I ..."

Hi Kate - you are very welcome. So glad we hooked up through Twitter. I look forward to getting to know you and your work.

PS Have sent you a longer welcome message to your Goodreads inbox

[Carol]

Hi Kate. Delighted to welcome you here. Our south Devon contingent is growing.

[Kathy]

Hiya Kate. Good to have you on board.

[Kate]

Thanks, everyone.

[Diana]

Hi, I've lived in Devon off and on since 1961 when I came here from the USA and went to Dartington Hall Scool. I was in the academic world for awhile and wrote several works of nonfiction . Now I'm much more involved in writing poetry and creative nonfiction .
I've always loved reading. Recently I've found many novels I've started reading hard to finish, but I loved Burial Rites and The Goldfinch (though thought she should have cut much if the last 100 pages). I'm reading some American personal essays just now.
Im recovering from a long illness and am not spending much time online, but am delighted to be part of this group.
Diana

[B J]

Hi Diana
Good to meet you. I hope your recovery gathers pace and that we hear a lot from you.

[Carol]

Hi Diana. Lovely to have you in the group.

[Emily]

Hello! I love books and I love Devon, so this group feels like a great place to be.

I live in Exeter and worked for nine years as a languages teacher in a local secondary school. Four years ago, I helped to set up the South West ‘wing’ of The Reader Organisation, a national charity that has developed a model of shared reading. I have been facilitating shared reading groups in a variety of clinical and community settings in Devon ever since and also currently run training courses and master classes in the SW region.

I seem to most often be immersed in nineteenth century novels, but I do try and alternate between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’. I also read a lot of poetry. I particularly enjoy exploring literature from different parts of the world and my (long-term) ambition is to read ‘Don Quixote’ in Spanish…...

[Kathy]

Hello to Emily and Diana. Glad you could both join us.

[Emily]

Thanks for the welcome, Kathy....I'll include Diana in that (she's my Mum!)

[Kathy]

Emily wrote: "Thanks for the welcome, Kathy....I'll include Diana in that (she's my Mum!)"
Ah! Better yet. :)

[Carol]

Hi Emily. Welcome.

[Emily]

Thanks, Carol. I'm looking forward to exploring this site more.

[Carol]

Emily wrote: "Thanks, Carol. I'm looking forward to exploring this site more."
I've set up the Just Watched/Just Heard section here, so perhaps you might enjoy writing something for that.

[Emily]

Carol wrote: "Emily wrote: "Thanks, Carol. I'm looking forward to exploring this site more."
I've set up the Just Watched/Just Heard section here, so perhaps you might enjoy writing something for that."

Great Carol, I'll have a look.

[Ian]

Thanks for the introductions Emily and Diana. really interesting. I can see that you have loads to contribute to the Book Club and hope you enjoy being part of our reading community. Have a great weekend everyone.

[Harriet]

Hello all. I moved to Devon 3 yrs ago and have been trying to find a book club to join. I stumbled across this group in Google searching. Hurrah! I am an avid reader of all sorts of books, mainly but not exclusively, fiction. Lovely to meet like-minded people

[Ian]

Harriet wrote: "Hello all. I moved to Devon 3 yrs ago and have been trying to find a book club to join. I stumbled across this group in Google searching. Hurrah! I am an avid reader of all sorts of books, mainly b..."

Hi Harriet (and also Dev who joined yesterday). Delighted to welcome you (I've also sent you a separate message) to our group. We are very friendly and informal. We dont have set books that we read but lots of discussion across a wide range of topics. Check out our challenges too - we are having a bit of fun with those. Also, we have a Facebook Page (link is down below under "events") where I also try to keep people informed. We haev a growing following there too. Between the two, there are some 250 people engaged with us now which is great - and quite a number of those are in the Exeter area. Also note that we are meetgin up on 16th May in Totnes (2-4) at Totnes Bookshop - be great to meet you there if you can join us.

[Harriet]

Exciting :-) Thanks Ian.I live and work in East Devon so it is great to know so many people are near by...while I was searching I came across a group that sounded fab until I realised they are in Chicago! Bloomin' world wide web. Might see you on 16th

[Ian]

Harriet wrote: "Exciting :-) Thanks Ian.I live and work in East Devon so it is great to know so many people are near by...while I was searching I came across a group that sounded fab until I realised they are in C..."

That would be great if you can. I will be posting details here and on Facebook. Where do you work as a matter of interest? There are over 300 reading groups in Devon that re supported by the Library Service so hopefully you can find one that meets near to you soon

[Harriet]

Oh brilliant, thank you - again! I will get myself along to the library and find out more. I'm based in Ottery St Mary and Honiton. I will watch out for more details about this group on here (don't do facebook...!). And in the mean time try and add some info about my current reads and look at other discussions. Really happy to have found this group.

[Ian]

Glad you have too. the library should be able to put you in touch with a group close to you but, in the meantime, make yourself at home here too. What are you reading at present and what do you think of it?

[Harriet]

Reading The Detectives Daughter at the mo, alongside Kipling's Kim. Always seem to have 2 on the go. Love Kipling so that's a no brainer. The Detectives Daughter is good enough to perservere but there's something about the writing style that doesn't quite work for me. It is delightfully understated though which is great for building the undercurrent of tension. I will definitely see it through!