Selfsufficientish.com

I think my aunt (now late 80s) is the only relative of that generation I have left; she is back in Leipzig now, although she spent several decades with my father in north-west Germany. She could identify all sorts of mushrooms and berries, no trouble. Maybe her children (all around 60 now) still know a lot about it, too. Unfortunately none of them live anywhere near Berlin...

Oh yes, I've known people who see the wonderful apples off the tee in their back garden as rubbish that needs to be disposed of, and then go and buy stuff in the supermarket... Too much money, not enough common sense! Where I last lived in Germany before moving here (right in the centre of Germany, northern Hessen), the surrounding country side was full of old orchards, fruit trees along the roads, brambles and raspberries and elderberries everywhere, mushrooms in the woods... I really miss that here.

But to get back to the subject of books - I'm reading my way through Boris Akunin at the moment. Historical, Russian detective stories.

I've just finished 'Arm of the Sphinx', which is the sequel to 'Senlin Ascends'. The story is really different fantasy stuff, but no wizards or swords or whatever. About a guy trying to find his wife, who lost each other in a market. They were traveling to a mysterious tower called Babel, and the adventure of going up each level of the tower during the search is riveting. Part 3 comes out in a few weeks!

Thanks for reviving this! Since I've been sick for a few months (and will be for at least a few more) I have plenty of time for reading, but not always enough strength to get to the library... Your book sounds interesting.

I'm re-reading a lot of books I've had for decades. Last one a book of good-night stories... I always have problems sleeping - at the moment I rarely sleep at night, but I do during the day, when I get tired enough. Maybe the stories will help?

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That sounds like nothing I've read before! Interesting...

Just finished reading Tim Smit's "The lost gardens of Heligan". Got the strange feeling I may have read that before... I now want to visit Heligan!!! Anybody been there? Pity Cornwall is so far away...

The Lost Gardens are lovely. You need to allow at least a day and possibly 2 to really enjoy them though. If I could drive it would be a really good place to explore properly rather than the brief visit as part of a coach tour.

just reading The Algebraist, by Ian M Banks

This is the last book of his I haven't read (#fanboi) and since he, unfortunately, died of cancer a year or two back there will be no more

i read his final book The Hydrogen Sonata last year , and did shed a single manly tear when I turned the last page

he was a real loss to the SciFi genera, and literature generally writing as Ian banks, and I for one will miss him

doofaloofa wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 5:53 pm just reading The Algebraist, by Ian M Banks

I read that a few years ago and found it a bit hard going. Maybe I should give it another go. I prefer his non-science fiction.

Have just re-read Susanna Clarke's "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell". It's one of few books I can't read in one night... (1006 pages, in case you were wondering.) Still love it.

ina wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 6:00 pm I prefer his non-science fiction.

How un-Cultured

Seriously though, I'm a SciFi fan

what can I say?

doofaloofa wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 6:18 pm

what can I say?

are you challenging me to a tongue twister battle?

Oh no, of course not. But if you feel like a tongue twister, far be it from me to stop you!

Actually, there are some scifi books I have enjoyed. One in particular I've been trying to find again for years - can't remember the author, can't remember the title, but it did have this wonderful machine at its centre that created everything out of everything, i.e. anything dead - including people - got fed into it... It was such a wonderful idea.

Typical, isn't it!

Beast of Plenty?

doofaloofa wrote: ↑Sun Feb 17, 2019 6:10 pm Beast of Plenty?

? Can't find a book of that name...

At the moment (after a few local books, which are great social history) I'm on "Bloody foreigners" (Robert Winder). Recommendable. The story of immigration to Britain.