Random books from nickhoonaloon's library
The Sexton Blake Casebook by Various
Let's hear it for the deaf man : an 87th Precinct mystery by Ed McBain
Fear Is My Shadow (Sexton Blake Library, 440) by Martin Thomas
Du Bois: A Pictorial Biography by Shirley Graham Du Bois
The Corpse That Sang (The Dead Detective) by Felix Bogarte
Hunt the Lady! (Sexton Blake Library, 490) by Desmond Reid
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Friends: AsYouKnow_Bob, jcmcgowan, MaggieO, ProgressiveBookClub
Member: nickhoonaloon
CollectionsYour library (121), Currently reading (1), All collections (121)
Reviews59 reviews
TagsSexton Blake (43), Africana Civil Rights Marxism (4), Africana History (2), Africana Civil Rights Marxism Biography (2), Cult Classic Par Excellence (1), Wodehouse once more (1), bucks and bills (1), Sherlock Doyle (1), boogaloo (1), blues (1) — see all tags
Cloudstag cloud, author cloud
GroupsProgressive & Liberal!
Favorite authorsW. E. B. Du Bois, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Shirley Graham, J. B. Priestley, Gordon Willis (Shared favorites)
About meAm vintage detective story buff (as you might tell) and music fan (jazz/blues/reggae, a bit of light classical).
The current pic on my profile page - Sherlock Holmes - is from a 1930s flyer I found tucked away in an old book some time ago. Ultimately the original`s going in a frame on a wall of our house (when we get round to it).
Am also partner, with my wife, in an online bookselling business, Hoonaloon Books, currently selling on Antiqbook. ABE Books , Alibris, Bibliophile (www.bibliophile.net)and Mare Libri (www.marelibri.com) consistently.
Am also member of Rambler`s Association - www.ramblers.org.uk
About my libraryAt present I am finally finding a bit of spare time to read, and am updating my LT library periodically.
I have many other books, but can`t imagine when I`ll find the time to catalogue them all here. I`m trying to remember to list each book I read, with mixed results.
That hasn`t stopped me buying new books !
Homepagehttp://antiqbook.co.uk/boox/hoonal/index.shtml
Real nameNick Osmond
LocationDerbyshire, UK
Account typepublic, free
Connection NewsConnection News
URLs
http://www.librarything.com/profile/nickhoonaloon (profile)
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/nickhoonaloon (library)
Common KnowledgeSeries (18), Awards (20), Characters (71), Places (14)
Member sinceAug 14, 2006
Currently readingDark wanton by Peter Cheyney







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I haven't done any walking for a while and hope to get back into it soon, though it's not much fun round here when the ground is waterlogged. I'm not up on the Ramblers internal politics so can't comment.
posted by Stilestrider at 2:41 pm (EST) on Nov 22, 2009
posted by Stilestrider at 2:28 am (EST) on Sep 20, 2009
I would like to make few comments on your review of Maugham's "Cakes and Ale". Of course you are at perfect liberty not to like to book and if you don't find it a plesant reading or it gives you nothing to enrich your personality, there is nothing wrong with that. I won't comment on that. Some of your statements, however, are downright wrong.
Maugham wrote this book not "out of retirement", but at the height of his activity as a writer, namely the late 1920s when he was writing novels, short stories and plays at the same time. He also didn't write the book for money. That's pretty sure because he could have made much more writing plays. That's indeed what he did, some 20 years before "Cakes and Ale". By the time he wrote this satire (not parody, which is something completely different) he was very rich indeed he had bought his villa on the Riviera few years before that and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle there.
Take care,
Alexander
posted by Waldstein at 6:59 am (EST) on Sep 11, 2009
posted by AsYouKnow_Bob at 7:11 am (EST) on May 26, 2009
I was interested to read your comments regarding my grandmother Isabel Brown's book "Red Roses For Isabel. I hold much the same view you expressed, that it was her actions rather than her beliefs that are important. I only wish I could have got to know her better before her death, to ask the questions I have now.
It's nice to know that her books are out there and people are reading about this formidable woman.
Cheers
Hedley Brown
posted by vinylhed at 5:27 pm (EST) on May 16, 2009
if you are mostly reasonable you are doing better than most :)
Anyway cheers for this Nick I will be sure to keep my eyes opens and let you know if anything catches my eye.
Yes I just read the political poems there, I think it is the first time I have been quoted anywhere :P
All the best Nick,
Tony
posted by FourSeasons at 8:54 am (EST) on May 16, 2009
sorry to leave you hanging I haven't had time to go on LT for a little while. I assumed you wouldn't take offense as you seem like quite a reasonable person :)
Anyway I had a look through and there is nothing I am massively interested in to be honest. They look like good vinyls and well kept though I am not mad about the artists or indeed there are some I am not familiar with.
You are right about the Mighty Diamonds, they are not to everybody's taste. I have to go to these things to scratch more reggae legends off the "go and see" list.
I will try and stay abreast of any new things on ebay but you might keep me posted as regards some other vinyls. If you cant it is no biggy I can keep looking through them.
Thanks again Nick :)
All the best,
Tony
posted by FourSeasons at 6:51 am (EST) on May 4, 2009
In my case, I mis-heard Hendrix as singing " 'Scuse me while I kiss this guy."
(It's pretty well documented that he DID sing it that way on occasion, too...
see http://www.kissthisguy.com/jimi.php )
This is actually a known phenomenon - if you're not already familiar, may I point you to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondegreen
There are several books that collect these mis-heard lyrics, too: see [[Gavin Edwards]]
- Bob
posted by AsYouKnow_Bob at 1:43 pm (EST) on Apr 19, 2009
thank you very much, that is a very gracious offer. Maybe if you do decide to put anything up specifically reggae related you could throw a link my way.
Incidentally I was supposed to go see the Mighty Diamonds on the 1st April but it was pushed back to the 3rd of June. Nonetheless looking forward to that one.
Cheers Nick.
Tony
posted by FourSeasons at 8:42 am (EST) on Apr 11, 2009
Gentle, and VERY quiet - quiet to the point that our recording was just about unusable. (We were shockingly young-and-inexperienced interviewers, too, which didn't help.) Somewhere I might have a photograph of him in his hotel room (just one of the zillions of photos I should scan...).
posted by AsYouKnow_Bob at 5:09 pm (EST) on Apr 10, 2009
I did college radio in the 70s: as a consequence, I saw Be-Bop D twice - and actually interviewed Nelson...
posted by AsYouKnow_Bob at 7:29 pm (EST) on Apr 3, 2009
How are you? A belated merry Christmas - and happy new year! How did your little one enjoy it all?
My own writing is a more and more pressing longing, without much actuality. Finding structured time for it is a New Year's goal. I imagine classes are very good for setting a priority on it, and really helping you set aside the time. How much they help with technique, I don't know. - I assume it varies wildly! But writing is the key to writing, I think, so you could prosper with or without them. Just as appeals to you.
I also have been so absent from LT that, on finally making a post, someone's just said they thought I'd abandoned the site. A pity. But the outside world does seem to eat a day's hours ravenously.
Congratulations were on my book collection topping 1500. Nothing greater, but not an un-enjoyable thing.
I just saw reprints of The Shadow and like older pulp stories, and thought of you.
If you do take up writing, or classes, let me know you get on! Being asked is a good prompt for me, to act on what I've been dreaming about.
Take care,
Julie
posted by Eurydice at 2:58 am (EST) on Jan 12, 2009
Anyway, thanks for the reply, and for posting to my profile - I'm not very active in the groups so might not have seen your reply for a while otherwise!
posted by AndrewBlackman at 12:42 pm (EST) on Jan 11, 2009
And the same to you.
- Bob
posted by AsYouKnow_Bob at 2:09 pm (EST) on Dec 25, 2008
Went to see the Skatalites there a couple of weeks back. Really good concert although many of the originals are dead. Cedric Im Brooks was there- was a pleasure to see him.
Happy Christmas and New Year,
Tony
posted by FourSeasons at 10:27 pm (EST) on Dec 23, 2008
Cheers,
Alex
posted by quodlibet at 7:59 pm (EST) on Dec 8, 2008
I did indeed go to see Sly and Robbie. I was I must admit a little bit disappointed as they had no lead vocalist. The last time I was at Sly and Robbie a few years back Michael Rose (Black Uhuru) with them; now that was a truly excellent concert. The Easy Star All Stars were excellent as I expected. It is of course always great to see living legends in the flesh. I read a startling fact about Sly and Robbie recently which is that they have played on or produced over 200,000 songs making them perhaps the most prolific artists in history.
If you do get to Ireland at some time be sure to drop me a line as I am fairly certain that I wont be going anywhere. I may be starting a PhD soon enough so if that comes through I will be here for the next few years at least :)
Pleasure as always Nick,
Tony
posted by FourSeasons at 7:33 am (EST) on Nov 4, 2008
if you make it over some time I would be happy to give you mt patented history tour around Dublin :)
Look forward to seeing the info if you get a chance to forward it. No hassle if you don't.
Going to see Sly and Robbie this month; should be a cracker. They are playing a small venue over here with The Easy Star All Stars who did a recent cover/tribute to Dark Side of the Moon called Dub Side of the Moon. Don;t know if you caught that. Worth a look anyway and a listen of course.
All the best,
Tony.
posted by FourSeasons at 6:48 pm (EST) on Oct 9, 2008
I would love to see you over here some time. It is only a short hop. There is a great deal I would love to see over in the UK too (especially archaeology) but I have only been once for a day and most of that was spent on a bus.
Thank you for the kind congratulations. I was quite happy with the finished thesis. I think I will take a bit of flack for not having it reviewed by a supervisor before I submitted it but I am totally disillusioned by academia these days anyway.
On the festival, which sounds like a grand affair I have to say that it has only recently occurred to me that even the mainstream of reggae is somewhat obscure for most. The obscure reggae must be known to even fewer again. As it was said never have so many people known so little about so much; I figure you can apply that to anything.. Never heard of the bands, though I would love to have the time to investigate a bit more.
Anyway Nick, Come to Ireland :)
Tony
posted by FourSeasons at 6:39 pm (EST) on Aug 21, 2008
no need to apologise at all; I know we all drop in and out. It sounds as if you are in a setting of great beauty there. I love the mines; the closest equivalent to me is probably in the Wicklow mountains.There is an old miner's village at the foot of the upper lake in Glendalough. I don't know if you have dropped in on your neighbours across the water but there is some quite astonishing scenery in that part of Ireland; known as 'The Garden'. Quite dangerous to stray off the beaten track however as many of the mines are still open but lie in thick goarse bushes.
The bands sound very interesting, though I must say I have never heard of a single one. Sounds like something worth looking into. I remain pretty much devoted to reggae straight out of Jamaica. I don't really pick up on the English scene until Matumbi and Steel Pulse arrive.
Pleasure as always Nick,
talk to you soon.
posted by FourSeasons at 5:42 am (EST) on Jul 31, 2008
On the politics I have been discussing for a while with an American lady the upcoming election in the US. We were discussing a defector from the Democratic Party, who was supposed to be the libertarian candidate in the election called Mike gravel. I myself am Irish but have more of an interest in foreign relations than domestic. On the domestic side my tendency is to vote independent with a local candidate. I see the choice between major parties as merely representing what lobby group will be better represented for the next five years or so. Thanks to our 'constitutional irregularities' as SKY News have been calling it we were given a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Our NO vote is being represented as the collapse of European Civilisation :)
posted by FourSeasons at 4:42 pm (EST) on Jun 16, 2008
I'm so sorry. I can't believe it's been two weeks! My downfall, as usual, was reading your comment right before I had to walk out the door. I thought about a response, without realizing later I hadn't also typed it.
Congratulations on your son! That's wonderful news! I hope you are enjoying him as much as I have seen with my sister's children, whatever sleep and optional-involvement havoc he may be wreaking. :) :) :)
The writing, for a long time, has not been going at all. But I've decided, just recently, that that's sheer laziness and avoidance of something I may fail in. So, I'm trying to get myself into a scheduled habit. Thanks for another prod, in asking.
Take care. All blessings on you and Anne-Marie and Adam; and I will enjoy seeing you, when you do happen in, here and there. (Even I can no longer sustain "indefatigable" posting!)
Julie
posted by Eurydice at 6:13 pm (EST) on May 30, 2008
posted by odkins at 9:00 pm (EST) on May 28, 2008
posted by odkins at 11:36 am (EST) on May 25, 2008
Some of Max Romeo's earliest stuff i.e. late 60s was done with Perry, I am not sure did he change after that but I do not like his late 60s recordings.
Probably my favourite thing about Max Romeo is the sound that comes from the guitar. Some of the crispest I have heard.
posted by FourSeasons at 8:47 am (EST) on Apr 20, 2008
Twacorbies (Sean)
posted by twacorbies at 1:55 am (EST) on Apr 20, 2008
posted by FourSeasons at 7:31 am (EST) on Mar 25, 2008
posted by twacorbies at 12:22 pm (EST) on Mar 19, 2008
I will recommend Max Romeo to you as up their with Burning Spear, Culture and Steelp Pulse (in my opinion one of the only British Reggae bands to excel to the quality of the Jamaican sound).
Hope to chat again soon
Tony
posted by FourSeasons at 6:48 am (EST) on Mar 5, 2008
Juergen
posted by Hansemann at 10:49 am (EST) on Mar 4, 2008
posted by twacorbies at 9:19 pm (EST) on Feb 27, 2008
when we both deleted our Hunters and entered them again, do you think that would help? Sorry again to have caused so much trouble.
Yesterday I started reading "Death of a Star" by the Coles from 1932 or so and I like it very much. I usually switch between SB and the authors around "The Thriller" of the 30s and straight detective novels preferably the 'humdrums' Wills Crofts, Christopher Bush, John Rhode / Miles Burton, GDH & M Cole etc. For me they are not humdrum at all. But there certainlay is a marked contrast between the two genres.
I listed the titles you reviewed positively and keep looking out for them at Ebay.
All the best for you and your family
Juergen
posted by Hansemann at 1:35 am (EST) on Jan 25, 2008
posted by MDLady at 10:06 am (EST) on Jan 7, 2008
Happy New Year and all that stuff :D
posted by FourSeasons at 10:20 am (EST) on Jan 4, 2008
A Happy New Year
Juergen
posted by Hansemann at 9:58 am (EST) on Dec 31, 2007
this morning I added a review of a JOHN HUNTER story (THE SECRET MAN) to Librarything. And as there are several authors with the same name I had the unhappy idea to try to seperate them. Somehow I made mistakes there. The result is that your three HUNTER-titles appear as mine. Unfortunately I'm not able to make it undone. Could you with your experience set it right again? I'm so sorry I meddled with it and would be very grateful if you could help.
A Happy New Year
Juergen (HANSEMANN)
posted by Hansemann at 3:17 am (EST) on Dec 30, 2007
Thanks for your kind comments about my reviews.I do try to be to the point as I think folk sometimes do not bother to read fairly long reviews.I know that I tend to have a rather short attention span.
Hope that you have a good Christmas and I look forward to speaking to you again in the New Year.
posted by devenish at 11:19 am (EST) on Dec 20, 2007
Best,
Loretta
posted by lorsomething at 11:14 pm (EST) on Dec 17, 2007
posted by FourSeasons at 6:57 pm (EST) on Dec 13, 2007
Isn't it great?
We're plugging along. Our eldest turns 16 next week, our youngest turns 11 next month.
(In theory, "16" means she's old enough to drive; but we aren't actively encouraging this, not yet. It's a good thing I'm already gray.)
posted by AsYouKnow_Bob at 6:07 pm (EST) on Dec 9, 2007
If you add an < to the beginning and an > to the end, the code for the link looks like this:
a href="http://www.librarything.com" target="blank">really nice website
posted by NativeRoses at 2:27 pm (EST) on Aug 10, 2007
So go take a nap - the first years of parenthood are an experiment in sleep-deprivation, you should be stocking up now while you have a chance. Geat news.
- Bob & Maggie.
posted by AsYouKnow_Bob at 3:24 pm (EST) on Jul 18, 2007