Member: Sodapop

I know I'm probably preaching to the converted but have you ever used The Book Depository which is based in Gloucester (www.thebookdepository.com). Only slightly more expensive than Amazon.co.uk and free worldwide delivery. That's where we now order our Enid Blytons, Worst Witch and Paddington Bears from. OK, so they're not quite as cheap as having grandparents going into WH Smiths and benefitting from BOGOF offers, but as we can't take advantage of those right now, they're a dream come true. I once had a Famous Five book from them which was badly creased down the spine and they sent me a replacement within the week. Can't say fairer than that! I haven't tried the Hairy McLarys but I will definitely try one. I'm finding the 3-year-old somewhat harder to introduce to books than his sister (who wasn't taken with the Little House books but I guess she's a bit young still - I'll try again next year maybe). However, I've recently discovered that Benjamin adores Horrid Henry books (a kindred spirit I think) so I can see us building up a collection of those! It's true we have an alarmingly large Enid Blyton collection. Rebecca adores the Famous Five and her favourite character is Anne (the only girl in the world to prefer Anne to George I know!). I find I can't read them without adopting a "jolly hockey sticks" voice which persists long after I've finished reading. Rebecca is also managing to proselytize to her American kindergarten companions about the joys of Blyton (she likes to pretend to be characters from the book and solve mysteries in the back yard) and book 1 of the Famous Five is currently out on loan - I can but imagine what they will make of it (lashings of lemonade and a batch of sticky buns anyone?)!

posted by verdelambton at 8:58 pm (EST) on Sep 24, 2009

Hi Sodapop,

This is a long overdue response to your message about the Milly-Molly-Mandy review. I popped over to your space this evening and saw that you've obviously managed to get hold of a copy and rated it 4/5. I take it the little one enjoyed it then? I do hope so. If not, then you obviously enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Hurrah! I had to laugh when I read your profile and the bit about your problem with moving and the book boxes. We've moved between the UK, US, Australia and then back to the US again over the past 6 years and we always elicit a fair amount of disbelief from the removal men as to the percentage of our belongings which is made of paper and glue...One bed...five book boxes...two sofas....twenty book boxes...thirty book boxes...one box of adults' clothes...twenty book boxes...hang on a second madam, we seem to have misplaced your dining room furniture...oh no, that's right, we don't actually have any...but there's another ten book boxes over there that need unpacking... perhaps we could fashion a dining room table from the ones we haven't read for a while :-D

You can be sure I'll be keeping an eye on your children's collections for ideas as we obviously have daughters of similar ages.

All the very best,
Linda

posted by verdelambton at 7:31 pm (EST) on Sep 24, 2009

Yeah, Guernsey Literary is high up on my TBR pile. Thanks!

posted by Morphidae at 11:29 am (EST) on Aug 23, 2009

Bwaa haa haa! You could fake a case of the trots and sneak the book into the loo with you!

posted by clamairy at 9:48 pm (EST) on Aug 21, 2009

Oh, enjoy your visitor, and the books!
:o)

posted by clamairy at 3:32 pm (EST) on Aug 21, 2009

Well?

posted by clamairy at 10:02 am (EST) on Aug 21, 2009

Yeah, but mine probably went in a truck, while yours has most likely been flown. So you never know!

posted by clamairy at 1:05 pm (EST) on Aug 19, 2009

Oh, but it came via UPS!

posted by clamairy at 11:43 am (EST) on Aug 19, 2009

IT CAME!!!!
:o)

posted by clamairy at 11:18 am (EST) on Aug 19, 2009

Nothing here yet either. :o/

posted by clamairy at 10:03 am (EST) on Aug 15, 2009

Wacky non-fic can be such good fun, and the fact that it is bird related will make it even sweeter. Even the cover gave me the giggles. :o)
I hope it comes soon!

posted by clamairy at 8:15 pm (EST) on Aug 4, 2009

Fox Soccer Chanel is pretty good, however, I miss the days when it was Fox Sports World and they aired quite a bit of rugby. Now, I wonder how long it'll be till I can watch hurling on a major cable network. lol Yeah, right, huh?

I can surf LT on my BlackBerry, too, I just don't much. My facebook app alerts me to EVERY little thing that happens over there ... not that I really need to know everything it notifies me of. ;-)

posted by dodger at 5:23 am (EST) on Jul 21, 2009

Yay! Good, now I have something to do with that pesky free time! lol

posted by dodger at 2:53 pm (EST) on Jun 9, 2009

I saw Steven Gerrard on best of the Premiership goals on Fox Soccer Chanel yesterday and thought of you. Figured I'd better drop by and say hi. :-)

posted by dodger at 7:03 am (EST) on May 31, 2009

Dear Sodapop

Apologies for taking so long to reply to your lovely post. THANKYOU! Always good to know a book has reached out across the planet and touched lives.

Best wishes from Scotland

posted by debigliori at 4:21 pm (EST) on May 25, 2009

Thanks! It was a good one. :-)

posted by dodger at 4:48 pm (EST) on May 4, 2009

Hey! How the hell are ya, old friend?

posted by dodger at 7:11 pm (EST) on Mar 27, 2009

You're welcome. I was hesitant to say what I said, but posts like that always irritate me.

posted by bluesalamanders at 12:19 am (EST) on Mar 8, 2009

Thanks for your thoughts on my reviews, it's always good to know some are enjoyed.

posted by reading_fox at 11:16 am (EST) on Jan 27, 2009

Isn't it!? I'm so glad you liked it! Honestly, it was that book that made me really start reading fiction. I used to be a mostly non-fic kinda guy until I picked it up. I like all of Hornby's work, but I think that "A Long Way Down" and "About A Boy" are his bests!

posted by dodger at 5:02 pm (EST) on Jan 26, 2009

I know. I've been remiss in my GD posting. It's been mostly being very busy with other stuff, frustrated with some things, and then being tired from being the very busy so nothing looked interesting.

posted by kawika at 6:51 pm (EST) on Dec 17, 2008

I hope to make it to ireland someday..scotland and england too.. best case with my daughter..or one of my sons.
otherwise? There is a sacred places tour that a friend of mine took.. I may do that someday
if I can't manage to go with one of my kids. Someday! or not..
Have to see what else life has in store first.

:)

posted by mckait at 6:20 am (EST) on Dec 9, 2008

Lol. Thanks. I just saw them for the first time the other day. From what I gather, they're for filling out CK and wiki info.

posted by dodger at 10:53 pm (EST) on Dec 6, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving! I bet it's days like this you wish you were back in England celebrating English-style, huh? Say, how do you guys celebrate this day over there? :p

Seriously though, hope you have a good one!

posted by dodger at 2:19 pm (EST) on Nov 27, 2008

Oh interesting! You know, I should have known that because I hear people blurt out those ridiculous strings of Starbucks orders (on tv if nowhere else), but it never quite registered. I like chocolate soymilk (well, only the Silk brand, actually) so maybe soymilk in hot chocolate would work. I'll have to try it sometime. Thank you!!

posted by bluesalamanders at 6:59 am (EST) on Nov 21, 2008

That was my first thought on reading that recipe too, this is so weird I'm just going to have to try it, and when I relayed it to Otherhalf, her first response too. We'll probably try this weekend, I'll let you know how it comes out if I get around to it. Fear not, no odd things will be added. I think it's the supposed similarity to muffins that tempts them.

posted by reading_fox at 4:28 am (EST) on Nov 20, 2008

We don't let you vote here!? Wow! I'm sorry! Well, I'm just glad it's all over. Things went the way I wanted them to, but even if they hadn't, at least the calls and commercials will stop!

posted by dodger at 2:21 am (EST) on Nov 5, 2008

Hee he. Sorry. That's a helluva way to start your day. :)

posted by dodger at 6:27 am (EST) on Sep 30, 2008

*snort*

Glad I wasn't drinking anything at the time.

posted by dodger at 7:19 am (EST) on Sep 26, 2008

Hey Sodapop --- I have no idea what "part" I referred to, but I think I'll go with "ignorance is bliss," on this one. Thanks for the linguistic tip, however. :)

posted by librarianjojo at 5:04 pm (EST) on Sep 20, 2008

"the middle of the summer there would be fields full of them. It's an amazing sight. My kids loved running around trying to catch them"

I wish we'd get them like that here. My only sighting, about 10 years ago, was of maybe half a dozen in a big grassy field - but part of it is that we don't go out into the dark much any more.

posted by reading_fox at 4:55 pm (EST) on Sep 15, 2008

Ha! "superficially charming". Ouch. They probably do that for people like my parents. Whenever I watch a British movie with them they insist on having the subtitles on. And when I tried to get them into Coupling, they wanted subtitles. My mom is so bad with understanding accents that she and her sister watched "Music and Lyrics" with the subtitles on--despite the fact that everyone in the film but Hugh Grant has an American accent!

That said, at times I could use them on shows like EastEnders. Or, have you ever seen the Ken Loach film entitled "Sweet Sixteen"? I like that movie, but I *absolutely* have to have subtitles on to watch it; very heavy dialect.

Anyway, I also like the fact that they stated "portions" have been subtitled. lol How bizarre that must be to have subtitles randomly pop up on the screen.

posted by dodger at 4:09 am (EST) on Sep 15, 2008

Lol, lol, and lol.

I know you sing. I actually watched every England match during the World Cup and saw it often. Hey! Don't shoot the messenger; I just reposted the stereotypes, I didn't write 'em! ;-)

On the note of the England anthem, how many people do you run into who think the song is "My Country, 'Tis of Thee"?

posted by dodger at 7:24 am (EST) on Sep 13, 2008

Have you read "A Long Way Down"? It's one of my all-time favorite books!

posted by dodger at 1:56 am (EST) on Sep 12, 2008

Have you ever watched "Corner Gas"? It's a Canadian show that airs on WGN America and has wonderfully dry humo(u)r. I think you'd like it; it's our kind of funny. ;-)

posted by dodger at 7:19 pm (EST) on Aug 30, 2008

Hey Sodapop! It has been a long time! Summer has been busier than usual, and now school has been completely crazy! I have a class of 22 inner city fourth graders and it has not been easy :P! I'm hoping things will settle down any day now, but I have a few really frustrating behavior problem children in my class and I'm spending *a lot* of time working on them and leaving not a lot of time for the other massive amounts of to-do's I usually have at the beginning of the year. Anyway, it's good to hear from you! How are your kids doing in school so far? Maybe I'll be back to chatting soon!

Cara

posted by hearts3134 at 10:59 am (EST) on Aug 28, 2008

Ha! So true!

Okay, more details! How did your computer ignite? What damage was left by the exploding stove? And what part of the country will you be living in now?

posted by dodger at 12:39 am (EST) on Aug 23, 2008

Thanks for the comment.... have just got back from Alnwick today, and wasn't online all week. Hope your son enjoyed it. I found the famous castle was very busy and not that interesting, the gardens better, and Barter Books superb. Lots of books to add in the next few days!

posted by reading_fox at 12:55 pm (EST) on Jul 12, 2008

I've only read the first one in the series so far and it was ok. Not great, but a decent starting point. Evidently, Jacen Solo, son of Han and Leia, will be turning to the Dark Side in the series, building on a theme that began in the New Jedi Order series. I'd say it's probably ok for a 12 year old to read, though I don't know how dark the series will actually become, as there is great potential for plotlines involving Jacen's sister, Jaina, Luke, Mara, Ben, and Han and Leia.

posted by kawika at 3:04 am (EST) on Jul 5, 2008

I've been geocaching since 2002, I think. I'll look for that group.

posted by fleela at 12:21 am (EST) on Jul 4, 2008

That's quite a few new books you've added as of late. Went a little wild in the bookstore, did we? (lol, don't you just love the new stalking tools that LT has provided us with? ;-) )

posted by dodger at 7:48 pm (EST) on Jul 2, 2008

WOW! I just got to watch the Netherlands v Russia on--not some obscure cable channel--but on regular network television! On ABC, and strangely without commercials worked in. No really! Here. In the US! I wasn't happy with the outcome, but at least I got to see it.

posted by dodger at 5:18 pm (EST) on Jun 21, 2008

What's stopping you? Other than the fact that better than a 90% of the threads participants wouldn't get your references... ;-)

posted by dodger at 10:16 pm (EST) on Jun 13, 2008

Hehe! Well, it is kind of a big deal even to avoid one fit, since she has been averaging 4-5 PER DAY the past few MONTHS!

So, one less is really cool! And tonight is the first night in weeks she has gone to sleep before 10 PM, I had to give her one warning that she would not earn her "going to sleep" star if she was up the next time I came in, and she wasn't! Yay!

I should go post this is the Blessings thread!

posted by hearts3134 at 9:58 pm (EST) on Jun 10, 2008

Wow Sodapop! I'm proud of your son, as if I was his mom or teacher myself! I love to hear that kids CAN and WILL read for themselves. Keep up the obviously good work!

PS: My daughter is doing a little better since we've been using her little sticker chart. She is very proud of it, and it did head off a great big fit over combing her hair yesterday morning when I reminded her she wouldn't get her star if she didn't let me do it. :P Oh well, a little bit at a time, right!

:)

posted by hearts3134 at 8:58 pm (EST) on Jun 10, 2008

LOL! No worries! I suppose it 'twas a bit hard to respond to, but mostly the reason I hadn't yet responded was because I haven't really been on LT in a couple of days (which sorta answers your question, "How's the bookstore?" full answer: it's keeping me busy). ;-)

Anyway, sorry to hear that life is whizzing all over you at the moment. I have no real words of wisdom other than to say that time truly is good at healing wounds (or at least lessing the pain) so hang in there. I lost my grandfather three years ago this April and I'm still bummed about it, but at least I feel better now than I did a couple of years ago. All I can really offer you is to let you know you and your family are in my thoughts--hopefully I can send some positive energy your direction.

Other than being busier than I'm used to being, I am well. I have had to cut back on my LT time, and I don't get as much reading done as I'd like, but than again, who does, right?

posted by dodger at 12:01 am (EST) on Mar 11, 2008

As an aside, my wireless network is named "Romanov".

Yeah, the whole free thing is very cool! Basically, a large book store returns thousands of dollars worth of books to publishers every month--mostly stuff that didn't sell well or that we're just too overstocked with. This results in tons of boxes to be returned, each weighing around 30lbs, so it's expensive to ship them. Since mass markets are so cheap to produce (compared to trade paperbacks and hardbacks at least) the publishers just have us strip the covers off and send those in for full credit, saving on the shipping. The result is a perfectly readable book that will either be taken home by an employee or thrown out--what a waste, eh? So one of our perks is we get to take the stripped books if we want 'em. (The only thing is you cannot sell them.) So, I'd advise making friends with someone at a bookstore near you and talking them into scoring you some books. ;-)

posted by dodger at 12:23 am (EST) on Jan 26, 2008

Library snoop ... ;-)

I will, and it does look good. I've always been a fan of Russian history, so the concept of the book sounds very cool. The best part? I got the book for free! I don't know if I told you, but I got a job in a book store. One of the perks is getting free mass market books that are "stripped" so the covers can be sent back to the publisher for credit. The downside, it's really hard to leave work without buying something...

posted by dodger at 11:58 am (EST) on Jan 25, 2008

Thanks for the 2 book recommendations in the GD, I just mooched "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", I've always meant to read it, but it just kept slipping my mind. I'm also looking at ordering "The Year 1000" it looks way too interesting. Thanks again.

posted by jeri889 at 10:46 pm (EST) on Jan 22, 2008

Wow, thanks!!! And, if it just smells like garlic, how bad can it be?
On second thought, don't answer that.
;o)
I'll check it out right now.

posted by clamairy at 10:46 am (EST) on Jan 22, 2008

I hate to disappoint, but it's wet and cold here, too! It's supposed to be even colder tomorrow and Monday. What a nice welcome home! :)

Be careful! Have a safe flight.

posted by GeorgiaDawn at 7:25 pm (EST) on Jan 19, 2008

Indeed! The A-Team thing may make that my favorite clip.

So, I passed some links along to a RL friend of mine, who just didn't seem to get it at all. I guess you either love Max and Paddy, or you're confused by them (though this same guy didn't find Steve's explanation of "Lesbian Spank Inferno" the least bit funny, so I'm rethinking our entire friendship).

posted by dodger at 7:48 am (EST) on Nov 26, 2007

Ahh, yes! Max and Paddy. Love it! You've no doubt seen it, but here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDkZek8W1...

posted by dodger at 6:30 am (EST) on Nov 26, 2007

McClaren is out, huh? I guess we could see that coming.

So, have you fully embraced the whole Thanksgiving thing?

And lastly, what are the names of those two hilarious guys you had me watching on YouTube (the one guy was wearing a Pakistan cricket jersey)? I was trying to tell someone about them, but I couldn't remember the name of the show.

posted by dodger at 6:53 am (EST) on Nov 22, 2007

You are most welcome! I hope you have a great birthday!

I tried to overnight him to you, but the squirmy little bugger wouldn't stay in the box. He kept mumbling something about having to topple Arsenal.

posted by dodger at 11:56 pm (EST) on Oct 26, 2007

Sorry it's taken me awhile to reply to your question -- I've not been online in LibraryThing for a bit. Two books about the White Star Line I'd recommend would be:

--- THE ISMAY LINE by Wilton J. Oldham (Liverpool: Journal of Commerce, 1961, 283 p.) for a good overall history of the line.

--- FALLING STAR: MISADVENTURES OF WHITE STAR LINE SHIPS by John P. Eaton & Charles A. Haas (New York: Norton, 1989, 256 p.) which profiles various White Star ships involved in maritime accidents and disasters at sea.

posted by whitestarline at 1:04 pm (EST) on Sep 27, 2007

Hey Soda! I am actually reading Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli to my reading group right now. They are a combination of one second grader, and some each of 3rd, 4th and 5th grades all reading on a beginning fourth grade reading level. Since I am reading it aloud to them, I can tell it is way above their reading level, we are also having to stop and have lots of discussion of the plot and characters, which most of them are really struggling with the concepts. That being said, I think your son will really enjoy them. I have read a few of Spinelli's other books but it has been a while so I can't really say for them. But Maniac is a great story, and I think right up his alley based on age and reading levels. Good luck!

posted by hearts3134 at 7:42 pm (EST) on Sep 8, 2007

Come to think of it though, I am sure that Ms. Alice Shannon has some pretty tough immigration policies too, so maybe you’re not all that welcome here after all. I’d check with her first, just to be safe. ;-)

posted by dodger at 3:10 am (EST) on Sep 6, 2007

Hee he. Isn’t that a funny letter? I’ve never been encouraged to, er, ah, um, “get off” before. :-o

Oh well, I’m happy for you at least, now you can finally feel welcome here, eh? ;-)

posted by dodger at 4:11 pm (EST) on Sep 5, 2007

Oooooo, Setanta, very cool! You’ll get FA Premiership, Premiership rugby, Rugby World Cup, and some GAA stuff, too!

They offer an online subscription service that I’ve been tempted by. They broadcast both live events, and have some archived. However, when I looked into their broadcast schedule for the Rugby World Cup, they state that they will only be showing games live -- no archiving! For one, I’ll be on the road through most of the group stages, and for two, a lot of the games start at 6 or 8 a.m. Mtn time. That’s pretty early to be in front of my computer!

I’ve considered looking into pubs around here that may be showing some games, but I think I’d need just a little more Irish blood in me to be able to sit down to Guinness and chips at 6 in the morning! ;-)

posted by dodger at 2:05 am (EST) on Sep 3, 2007

I would. Damon was an hemophiliac who contracted Aids through a contaminated blood donation because the Australian policies on blood donorship were so lax at the time. The book is an account of how the Courtenay family deals with his hemophilia and later on his Aids. I read it ten years ago so it's a bit vague in my mind, but I still remember it as being a very emotional book with lots of sadness and anger.

posted by izzybee at 2:00 am (EST) on Aug 1, 2007

I’ve only read the first chapter--officially it’s on my TBR pile. I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my copy of “The Guardians”, but if it doesn’t come today, HP may become my weekend read.

If you liked “About a Boy”, I highly recommend “A Long Way Down”! It’s a very different story, but of those two it’s hard for me to say which is my favorite Hornby book.

posted by dodger at 1:58 pm (EST) on Jul 27, 2007

Thanks Sodapop! I've moved over to the "Raising Readers" group.

posted by gregtmills at 8:07 pm (EST) on Jul 16, 2007

Hi again Sodapop,

That's great news about your son. I bet he was thrilled to get those new casts. Thank goodness for young bones that heal so quickly eh? I'm very glad for you :)

That's neat that we're both military families! If we ever get posted again I know the movers will be complaining BIG TIME 'cause my library just keeps getting bigger and bigger since I've joined LT. I just can't stop myself from buying more books, I love cataloguing them :D oh! and reading them too!!!

Katherine

posted by katylit at 11:59 pm (EST) on Apr 14, 2007

Hi. I noticed when I entered my copy of the Live Aid book that you had it too. I thought you might like to know that I found the cover art for this. Also, I have entered the author as "Peter Hillmore," which is what is on my copy. You have it as "Pater Hilmore." I haven't combined them, as it could be a case of different spellings on different editions, but I thought I'd let you know in case you wanted to double-check your entry.

posted by InigoMontoya at 3:37 am (EST) on Apr 13, 2007

Hi Sodapop,

I was just wondering how your son is doing? I hope his arms are healing well and he's been doing okay during the recovery process. Just wanted to say hi and let you know I've been thinking about you.

all the best,

Katherine

posted by katylit at 2:18 pm (EST) on Apr 6, 2007

Thanks so much for the response on the Chalet School books!!! Now I can go on lovely, endless quest for more books for my husband to roll his eyes at (like you am also Brit married to American, though have lived here for many years... most of them in Atlanta, though for a few years in center-of-the-Universe Milledgeville, Ga.). Thanks for your information..

posted by catcatalogue at 5:45 pm (EST) on Mar 14, 2007

A bit off the subject, but I noticed in the "talk" area, you referred to your sister collecting Chalet School books. I vaguely remember something like this from my childhood in England, and in my attempt to re-create my childhood library of the '60's in England, here in the States, I'm always on the look-out for books I enjoyed -even when, in this case, I had forgotten the title altogethe. You wouldn't happen to know the title of one or its author so I can go digging? Thanks so much.

posted by catcatalogue at 10:24 am (EST) on Mar 12, 2007

No, not yet. I did get it from my husband for Christmas, though. I just haven't had a chance to read it yet. There are a couple of books ahead of it in the never ending queue. I want the books AND the chocolates. ;o)

posted by clamairy at 10:14 pm (EST) on Feb 3, 2007

Looks like we are both big Bill Bryson fans!
:o)
So, have you unpacked all your books from your last move yet?

posted by clamairy at 4:58 pm (EST) on Feb 3, 2007

Thanks for your comment on Malone! I do intend to get to NYState some time in the future, and I definitely want to go and visit the town. It sounds like a beautiful area.

posted by BoPeep at 4:54 am (EST) on Dec 20, 2006

Thanks for joining The Gene Pool and posting about your research. I hope we can get the ball rolling. Like you I have some favourite books that I re-read time after time. I also enjoy childrens and young adult books.

posted by Jaysee at 5:48 pm (EST) on Sep 14, 2006

WOW! great provenance. I have to confess, I only bought it because it was an OLD book and had Titanic in the title (and was stupidly cheap). I really haven't looked very closely at it yet but I'm motivated now to really check it out properly in honor of the history you've provided in your post. Good show!

posted by oroboros at 11:19 pm (EST) on Aug 23, 2006

re: titanic: yeah! i almost fell over to see somebody else had it too. it was a complete fluke find in a dusty corner at a thrift store in the LA area (it cost me all of a dollar!). where did you get yours?

posted by oroboros at 11:53 am (EST) on Aug 23, 2006

I looked for Searching for Shona for 20 years! Finally found it in a public library in Clearwater, Florida. Checked it out, reread it, still wonderful.

posted by Opinicus at 4:51 pm (EST) on Jul 30, 2006