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Post by muvversoup on May 16, 2007 10:40:31 GMT
If this is not the place to make recommendations please slap me over the wrists. But I think the Ladies No.1 Detective Agency books are a really good read. They are brilliant and simply written by an academic who understands African village life and people in general. I've almost finished the newest one to come out. Thanks Andrew Lloyd-Webber - em, sorry Alexander McCall Smith Perhaps I like them because I spent a formative part on my life in Kenya - in the Army doing my National Service in 1954-55. which reminded me what interested me in Ian Rankin's Rebus detective novels... Edinburgh!!!Lved thee city before I read "Rebus" bu found the association with a city I knew well in the books was something really engaging. Mind you I dont read John Harvey's Resnik books (set in Nottingham, where I live) tho I have tried them. Maybe living in a "gun crime capital" as the press have it put me off.. or maybe it's the differences between the cities and the writing?? anyone else find the association with a place made a book or books more interesting?
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Post by Sir Blimely Windy on May 16, 2007 10:53:24 GMT
Possession, by A S Byatt, is one that comes to mind. Mind you, I only read it because it was set in Lincoln, and I lived there at the time.
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Post by faeryboots on May 16, 2007 11:45:36 GMT
I have always adored Lyme Regis, my father lived near there when I was younger. Reading John Fowles increased said enjoyment.
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Post by adamzappel on May 16, 2007 12:09:40 GMT
You're absolutely right, Muvver. In the favourite book thread, I refer to Eagle in the Snow, set in Roman times in England and in Germany. Part of the magic is knowing the towns and cities involved and the Roman names make the places even more interesting. Aquae Sulis is Bath Glevum is Gloucester Corinium is Cirencester (all my part of my world) Moguntiacum is Mainz Barbetomagus is Worms Confluentes in Koblenz (places I know and love in Germany. With Confluentes you can even see where the name came from (confluence of the Rhein and Mosel) I think of Eagle in the Snow every time I stand at Deutsches Eck, below the imposing castle of Ehrenbreitstein:
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Post by Sir Blimely Windy on May 16, 2007 12:44:58 GMT
That brings back memories, Adam.
A lovely place.
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Post by adamzappel on May 16, 2007 12:49:08 GMT
That brings back memories, Adam. A lovely place. I thought you'd enjoy this post, SBW. Two weeks yesterday and the Zappels and some of the Windys will be there!
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Post by Sir Blimely Windy on May 16, 2007 12:55:47 GMT
And the Windy/Zappel crosses!
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Post by michaelesterol on May 16, 2007 14:28:59 GMT
A Kestrel For A Knave obviously.
I was Born in Carlton, and raised in Athersley..the two merge as one place really.
I admit that it was the film of the book (Kes) that really drew my interest being as it is set in Carlton and the schools in Athersley. Oddly, the flight scenes and the Caspers house are on the other side of Barnsley...Wombwell and Hoyland, which is where I live now.
There's a lot preserved in the film that I remember from being a boy and that is now demolished. Brian Glover taught maths at my school and the on screen character is a gentle parody of the real heartless swine that lay within him.
I look on the film with the same romantic eye that I view my own past. In contrast to Brassed Off which is just inacurate, patronisng drivle that just happened to have been filmed in this area.
I also lived in Nottingham for some years and I derived particular pleasure from reading Saturday Night, Sunday Morning.
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Post by Mo Termouth on May 16, 2007 20:41:26 GMT
I have just finished a book called 'Under An English Heaven' by Robert Radcliffe which is about the second world war and is set in Suffolk. I even got the map out to see the bike route one of the characters took.
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Post by Kelly Sigh on May 18, 2007 13:25:58 GMT
Erica James - she's a Cheshire author, and a lot of her books are centred on places in Cheshire. "Paradise House" also covers New Quay, West Wales - and having worked in the area it was easy to imagine the scenes she described.
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Post by scoo on May 20, 2007 20:08:16 GMT
I've been to Koblenz twice, to take part in the Military marches, The equivalent of the RMP marches that were held in Chichester, when Police Forces from all over the world, came here to take part.
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Post by scoo on May 20, 2007 20:11:24 GMT
I have 5 silver medals for Chichester, 1 gold, and 1 silver for Koblenz
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Post by Glen B Ogle on May 22, 2007 20:58:53 GMT
A little known series of detective books by Geoffrey Lewis was set around Northampton, albeit with fictional towns. It was quite intriguing sometimes trying to work out which local places and businesses provided the basis for the composites in the books.
I do have an unfair advantage, as I know the author, but even I didn't figure all of them!
As I have signed copies of all his books I'm hoping he becomes the next JK Rowling as they might provide my pension fund!
Glen
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Post by smiglet on Jun 7, 2007 8:35:12 GMT
It is fascinating to read fiction based in placces you know well. A whole industry thrives round this in Oxford - people are doing tours of places used in the Inspector Morse books and TV series.
I loved Melvin Braggs' 'Credo' because it knits fiction with real history and events, it is very difficult to discern where the fiction and fact have been mixed - an excellent read
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Post by scoo on Jun 16, 2007 21:00:08 GMT
I've been there, that piccie of Koblenz. Twice, summat like 20 years ago.
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13bugs
Apprentice TOG
Posts: 108
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Post by 13bugs on Jun 17, 2007 19:40:07 GMT
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Post by lenityg on Jul 15, 2007 9:38:05 GMT
Anya Setons book Katherine was set up in Lincolnshire where I lived for most of my formative years and her book Devil Water has a lot of it based in Blanchland and Northumberland where I was born. Its lovely reading books when you know where they are it really helps you picture the story taking place.
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Post by smiglet on Jul 17, 2007 11:10:00 GMT
This also works for non-fiction, I have a book about Nicholas and Alexandra of Russia it is purely letters written by the Russian Royalty and includes stuff to and from Queen Victoria. It was quite spooky being in Osbourne House and seeing the very desk some of those letters were written on.
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