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[Catlady]

Originally Posted by issybird

Well, of course I'm dying to know!

I'm pretty hardened when it comes to people dissing my childhood favorites; see The Scarlet Pimpernel thread. I'd be more worried about a happy memory that doesn't stand up, but mostly they do. At a minimum, I can see why I loved them once and if they're really bad of the "what was I thinking?" variety, then that's interesting, too.

I don't think I've reread even one childhood book that made me wonder "what was I thinking?" Sometimes I've wondered exactly why a particular book stuck in my memory when it doesn't seem especially noteworthy, but I don't think I've encountered any that made me question my sanity or critical faculties. But I don't want to analyze favorite books or hear other opinions about them; they're too special to be sneered at.

Now I'm trying to think of childhood favorites that broke my heart. When Beth died in Little Women was probably as bad as it got.

Beth's death probably wouldn't make my top ten. In any case, I thought her near-death from scarlet fever was more upsetting. Little Women was too sentimental and preachy for me, even as a child.

I have been meaning to read Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy about the influence of Little Women, but I keep backburnering it.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I was (am?) considering My Sister Rosa (evil child) but, alas, it's not available in the UK.

Also considering two WWII historical novels The Librarian of Auschwitz and Salt to the Sea.

I'm reluctant to mention some childhood favorites for a variety of reasons--I don't want to hear anyone criticize them, I don't want to reread them because they broke my heart, or I've recently revisited them.

I feel the same way about being hesitant on favorites. I want to read Salt to the Sea. I recently watched the movie Ashes in the Snow based on her novel Between Shades of Grey.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by issybird

Now I'm trying to think of childhood favorites that broke my heart. When Beth died in Little Women was probably as bad as it got.

I agree! Reading this book is so memorable from my childhood. I did an audiobook listen a few years ago. It was still a good book even as an adult.

[gmw]

A recent read (The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas) had mention of The Box of Delights by John Masefield. It's a fairly well known children's story that I had never read, so I picked it up ... but can't say I'm enjoying it very much so far. I see it was made into a TV series in 1984. (Starring Devin Stanfield, Patrick Troughton and Robert Stephens.)

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

Also of course it could be a book about children, though not a book for children, such as The Go-Between or The Shrimp and the Anemone both by L P Hartley. Or of course The Lord of the Flies if you want something really jolly.

I may decide to go with a book about childhood if I can come up with a good idea, as I suspect we'll have plenty of nominations of children's books. I'll note that The Go-Between is eligible for nomination, as it wasn't the last time I nominated it.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by issybird

I may decide to go with a book about childhood if I can come up with a good idea, as I suspect we'll have plenty of nominations of children's books. I'll note that The Go-Between is eligible for nomination, as it wasn't the last time I nominated it.

I would be interested in The Go-Between--I put it on my library wish list after it was initially nominated but haven't gotten to it.

I'm not going to nominate it because I read it only a few months ago and because there are availability issues (I wanted to nominate it for the summer topic), but I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti is a terrific book that fits the current category.

The hottest summer of the twentieth century. A tiny community of five houses enclosed by wheat fields. While the adults shelter indoors, six children venture out on their bikes across the scorched, deserted countryside. Whilst exploring a dilapidated and uninhabited farmhouse, nine-year-old Michele Amitrano discovers a secret so momentous, so terrible, that he dare not tell anyone about it. To come to terms with what he has found, Michele has to draw strength from his own sense of humanity. It is Ammaniti's ability to inhabit the mind and perspective of his young hero that makes I'm Not Scared such an affecting and extraordinary novel. The book is a masterpiece of coming of age; a compelling portrait of losing one's innocence and a powerful reflection on the complexities and compromises inherent in growing up.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Catlady

[...] I'm not going to nominate it because I read it only a few months ago and because there are availability issues (I wanted to nominate it for the summer topic), but I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti is a terrific book that fits the current category.

That does sound interesting ... although Kobo Aust are still asking over AUD$20 for it. So I might put it on my wish-list and and see if it comes up on special.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by gmw

A recent read (The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas) had mention of The Box of Delights by John Masefield. It's a fairly well known children's story that I had never read, so I picked it up ... but can't say I'm enjoying it very much so far. I see it was made into a TV series in 1984. (Starring Devin Stanfield, Patrick Troughton and Robert Stephens.)

The Box of Delights was published in 1935 as a sequel to the 1927 book, The Midnight Folk - which I have not read. The Box of Delights, at almost 90k words or 400 pages, seems remarkably long for a book intended for such a young audience. One curiosity is that the main antagonist refers to himself as "little Abner" quite a few times (I don't know if he did so in the first book). The first "Li'l Abner" comic in America was published in 1934. I cannot find any link between the two, it seems to be just coincidence.

Certainly not a book I'm going to nominate, but looking at various reviews on Goodreads and other places, these two books by John Masefield do hold a special place in some people's memories.

[Dazrin]

On a side note, has anyone heard from WT Sharpe recently? He hasn't been here since January; I hope he is doing well and just taking a break but would love to be sure.

[Victoria]

I just discovered this thread has April comments in it. Great recommendations - I love so many of these books. Newbie question, as I didn’t realize the two threads were active in tandem. Are we supposed to just nominate in the nomination thread, and have more general comments about possible nominations in this one? I thought of getting a little feedback on how Watership Down might be received, because there are no actual children in it, but wasn’t sure if ok to vet possible books ahead of time.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I'm reluctant to mention some childhood favorites for a variety of reasons--I don't want to hear anyone criticize them, I don't want to reread them because they broke my heart, or I've recently revisited them.

I can totally relate to this. I don’t want to read critiques of Lord of the Rings!

Originally Posted by issybird

. When Beth died in Little Women was probably as bad as it got.

Very bad!

Originally Posted by CRussel

I've actually thought of nominating the first book in a favourite YA Space Opera series, Quarter Share. It's not great literature, but it's very much a cozy where nothing really bad happens (and where the bad happens to those it should.) A favourite re-read that has stood the test of time for me.

I considered it too. I can see how some might find it humdrum, based on the plot, but there’s just something that captures the imagination. He created a very believable world and I enjoy revisiting it. Staying with the theme of not having your heart broken, I haven’t read the two last books in the series. I read a few unhappy reviews and didn’t want to upset the applecart, which is cowardly

[Dazrin]

I'm not sure there is a hard and fast rule when to use this or the other threads. Post where it makes sense. I know this thread was partly intended as a chit-chat thread for our use, so certainly asking for opinions on nominations while prepping for that is totally appropriate.

Also, I think Watership Down would be totally fine.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I'm not sure there is a hard and fast rule when to use this or the other threads. Post where it makes sense. I know this thread was partly intended as a chit-chat thread for our use, so certainly asking for opinions on nominations while prepping for that is totally appropriate.

Also, I think Watership Down would be totally fine.

Great, thanks!

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Victoria

I considered it too. I can see how some might find it humdrum, based on the plot, but there’s just something that captures the imagination. He created a very believable world and I enjoy revisiting it. Staying with the theme of not having your heart broken, I haven’t read the two last books in the series. I read a few unhappy reviews and didn’t want to upset the applecart, which is cowardly

Oh, by all means read them. And the final book in the Seeker's Tales sequence (further adventures of Ishmael and Pip, in Toe-hold Space) just released as an Audible version. And while I have some minor quibbles with a couple of them, they're just warm and cozy and I love to visit the worlds he's created. (I also like the Tanyth Fairport trilogy, which is pure fantasy.)

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Oh, by all means read them. And the final book in the Seeker's Tales sequence (further adventures of Ishmael and Pip, in Toe-hold Space) just released as an Audible version. And while I have some minor quibbles with a couple of them, they're just warm and cozy and I love to visit the worlds he's created. (I also like the Tanyth Fairport trilogy, which is pure fantasy.)

Thanks, that’s very good to know! It’s a relief actually - I somehow got the impression that they were just one tragedy after another, and I hated to see that happen. I picked up the Tanyth Fairport series fairly recently, but haven’t read them yet. Great - some fun things to look forward to.