Devon Book Club discussion
Devon History, Culture & Events
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Events
Ian wrote: "Hi. I promised some reflections from Saturday's event in Crediton and a few pictures (thanks to Ana Rodrigues)."Every time I go to one of these events I come away even more certain that we are bu..."
I think we have something very inspirational going on here, Ian. Well done for lighting the fuse!
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"Every time I go to one of these events I come away even more certain th..."
Thanks Wendy. I agree and am sure we'll go from strength to strength next year. Thanks for your support - and for the cake!
I'm looking forward to talking about all things writerly, my novel Secret of the Song, and how to successfully self publish, at St Thomas Library in Exeter next Tuesday, 1st December at 7pm. Tickets are £1. Secret of the Song
Sorry I can't make it, Cathie. Hope it goes well.
Hope it goes well, Cathie. Perhaps you could pop into our Writer's Corner and give us a few tips there.
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I wont make it eiterh Cathie - really sorry - I'd have loved to hear you speak. Another time!
Cathie wrote: "I'm looking forward to talking about all things writerly, my novel Secret of the Song, and how to successfully self publish, at St Thomas Library in Exeter next Tuesday, 1st December at 7pm. Ticket..."Sorry to miss it Cathie. We're away visiting family. Hope it goes well. :-)
Thanks, Wendy. I have to say I'm feeling rather nervous!
Cathie wrote: "Thanks, Wendy. I have to say I'm feeling rather nervous!"Nerves are normal - good even! (That's what I tell myself, over and over...) Try and enjoy: you'll be fine. :)
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You'll be great Cathie. Just wish I could be there. Post something on our FB and Twitter pages too
A different sort of 'event'. I read in the Times yesterday that on Dec. 16th, 1895, ball lightning struck Brixham. One man was killed, the last known victim of ball lightning in Britain. Several others were injured and fishermen in the harbor reported that electric fluid ran along the chains of their vessels and out at sea three electric balls were seen on the rigging of a ship.Ball lightning is evidently a 'a fabulous but rare phenomenon that usually only lasts a few seconds before vanishing'.
I remember it well. ;-)I saw that item, Carol, and I spent all evening reading accounts of ball lightning events. A number were in Devon, including in 1757 a boat full of fishermen on the Tamar killed or injured when a ball travelled along their boat, and several instances of ball lightning entering churches, killing or injuring the congregation. Possibly the oddest example I found was in the Caucasus mountains in 1978 when a ball entered a tent occupied by a group of climbers. It travelled around the tent about 1m from the ground then dived into each of the sleeping bags in turn. One climber was killed. The others suffered injuries described as being worse than burns with pieces of muscle ripped from their bodies.
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sounds like we've been joined by pirates!
Yes, I was thinking that, when I wrote it! I wasn't sure about the w becoming v, but I don't think the w is usually said as a w. Just off to peel the tatties!
Went to the Princess Theatre in Torquay yesterday and saw Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was the best panto I've seen for years. I really loved all the songs- Heigh Ho Heigh Ho etc.! The audience was very involved. Grandson joined in all the calling out , and granddaughter was spellbound. The wicked Queen became a good person in the end, she was just under a spell.
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Wonderful for children and adults alike!
Went to Kingsbridge cinema on Christmas Eve to see the live streaming from the Garrick in London of Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale starring Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench (amongst many other wonderful actors). It was great to see such a good production live without having to go up to London or having to pay London theatre prices. It was well attended too so hopefully there will be more of these events. Slightly surreal however to hear the audience in London applauding the curtain calls and knowing our efforts wouldn't be heard.
Kathy wrote: "Went to Kingsbridge cinema on Christmas Eve to see the live streaming from the Garrick in London of Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale starring Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench (amongst many other wonderf..."My cousin went to the show (not the televised one) and although she could hear every word of Judy Dench much of the other was lost - she is having a few hearing problems at the moment so wished she had gone to the cinema (the tickets, which were a present, were very expensive. I a! Hoping to go to an encore showing - all sold out here - all 3 cinemas. Did see a winters tale in Stratford a couple of years ago so hummed and haaad too long! Glad you enjoyed it. I saw Coriolanus on the screen last year and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sue wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Went to Kingsbridge cinema on Christmas Eve to see the live streaming from the Garrick in London of Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale starring Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench (amongst many..."So disappointing when you can't hear everything that's going on, especially when it's so expensive to go. Certainly we had no sound issues, thankfully.
40th anniversary of Agatha Christie's death today.
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That is a notable day. she is apparently the biggest selling novelist of all time, outsold only by Shakespeare and the Bible
It is interesting that she is so successful, even long after her death. Her novels always have a good plot and you want to know 'who did it'. Her style is easy to read and there is not a wide range of vocabulary, so her books can be easily read by foreigners (as well as us!).
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I have to say that I am not a huge fan myself - though I can see the attraction. All too improbable for me.
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Very sad news that Tony Beard, the Wag of Widdicombe, has died. I have listened to his request show on Radio Devon for as long as I can remember. He was very kind, with a sense of humour, and provided us each Sunday with fascinating tales and information about the Devon countryside and his life as a farmer. It was from him that I discovered daffodils are called Lent Lilies in Devon , as well as an enormous amount of other dialect words. He will be very missed.
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Hadn't heard his programme but certainly sounds like a real loss to the community
I'm sure I used to listen to him when living in Somerset and on holidays since. Always found the gentle humour lovely to listen to. Will be a loss.
It was a pure delight to listen to his programme. Tony Beard was a 'praper' person. He made the sort of mistakes that all of us could make- he mispronounced strange words and often put on the wrong tune. He spoke in true Devonian fashion and his knowledge of the countryside was second-to-none. He had a sense of humour. He was always kind. If you sent in a request you knew it would always be played, and if not fitted in to this week, then it would be put in next week's.
Widecombe Fair just won't be the same. Every year he spent all day on the PA system - even last September when he was nearly 80 and had revealed some months earlier that he was suffering from cancer. We'll miss you, Tony.
If there are any Old Issians (Ilfracombe Grammar School) out there on Goodreads, then there is going to be a Reunion at the Park Hotel on March 19th in Barnstaple. (Tickets are needed). The School Song will be sung!
An event in 1069. In the Times yesterday it said that Nick Arnold of the Horrible Science series, has discovered that Northam, near Bideford in North Devon was the site of a battle fought by Godwin and Edmond, the sons of Harald, who died at Hastings. Evidently the battle was previously thought to have taken place near Exeter. Obviously this was a decisive battle in English history and if they had won, it would have changed the course of Norman occupation. Arnold's research has been published in the Transactions of the Devonshire Association.Will look at Appledore in a different light!
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Fascinating. Thank you Carol
Ian wrote: "Carol wrote: "An event in 1069. In the Times yesterday it said that Nick Arnold of the Horrible Science series, has discovered that Northam, near Bideford in North Devon was the site of a battle fo..."Yes, I had never heard of the battle before, but will look into it now. I believe a large battle of the Civil War took place in Ilfracombe, somewhere near Wilder Road, but I expect other people know more about it than I do.
There was a Civil War Battle in Torrington
I have a feeling that there was also one in Exeter, but my knowledge of that era is very sketchy.
Yes a couple of sieges in Exeter and a battle just over the border in Stratton. I am an historical interpreter concentrating on this period https://swordsandspindles.wordpress.com/
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Hi Carol. You might like to talk with Jane, a new member who has written a fascinating book ( see her hello message). A different poeriod in history but i think may appeal to you.
Hi Janet, What a fascinating group you belong to. It is wonderful to hear of historical times from the point of view of ordinary people and the details of their daily lives. I am always interested in history, but particularly that of the 18th century, in Britain, France and America.
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
I'd like to start cafe for writers in Sidmouth interested members please email me lloyddavidjohn@gmail.com
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"Hi! Thought you might be interested in sharing this brilliant Jon McGregor event with your book club. It's this Wed at 7pm, Plymouth Uni. Tickets here: http://causleytrust.org/jon-mcgregor-..."
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I'm looking forward to meeting other HNS members there.
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HI Carol - it would be great to hear about what happens at the meeting. Could you let us know?
Ian wrote: "Carol wrote: "I'm looking forward to meeting other HNS members there."HI Carol - it would be great to hear about what happens at the meeting. Could you let us know?"
Yes, will do.
Devon Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Secret of the Song (other topics)The Best of All Possible Worlds (other topics)
Gorgito's Ice Rink (other topics)
Silent Faces, Painted Ghosts (other topics)
Deep Water Thin Ice (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Damian Furniss (other topics)Jane Bidder (other topics)
Sophie King (other topics)
Janey Fraser (other topics)
Sarah Waters (other topics)
More...
"Every time I go to one of these events I come away even more certain that we are building something very significant here in Devon, something that will become an important part of Devon's community and culture".
Firstly, the library and Bookshop were really welcoming and lovely places to visit. The bookshop is fantastic, especially when you consider it is substantially run by volunteers.
Secondly, the authors were fascinating. Very varied - in style and across time and themes. They were all really articulate (as you'd expect for wordsmiths) and they also held the audience. Their personal histories were as varied as their work and it was clear how they drew on that experience in their writing. Mind you Michael's personal memories of the crusades were a bit hazy! Virginia's love of Rome (also a person in her eyes) and Kathy's of Provence, Elizabeth's career (in pharmaceuticals) which took her to 53 countries and Michael's fascinatoin with the period about which he writes were evident as they spoke.
Their themes, whilst varied, all (to me at least) shared an acute observation of people, their behaviour and motivations adn often were generalised from small moments that illuminated their understanding or insight into human nature.
They all talked about their writing style and every one of them encouraged any aspirant writers to go for it - to set an achievable target and try to write every day. At least one person went home determined to start writing!
Colin Bray also updated us on the development of Libraries Unlimited, teh newly forming community owned organisation that will take over the library service from next April. A fascinating process, the organisation is really building strongly and I am sure there will be a long term relationship with Devon Book Club.
Finally, it was wonderful to share time with so many friends, new and old, and to have so many ideas for what we might do as a book club in the future. Every time I go to one of these events I come away even more certain that we are building something very significant here in Devon, something that will become an important part of Devon's community and culture.
Thank you all for you support and encouragement, thanks to Ellen on this occasion for helping to organise things locally and to our friends in the library and bookshop - and of course to all those who made cake.
Books, authors, cake, friends, bookshops and libraries - what's not to love?
PS Hav eposted a few pictures - theres more over on Facebook. Thanks to Ana for taking them