I am delighted to welcome Lizzie Lamb onto my blog today. Lizzie a best-selling novelist, an active public speaker and a prolific supporter of her fellow writers. Over to Lizzie for a timeline of her favourite reads.
We all have books we simply can’t bear to part with because, like the old friends they are, they’ve stuck with us through thick and thin. The oldest book in my collection is Clarendon’s History of the Great Rebellion (1858) followed by The Wild Bird – Margaret Stuart Lane (1933) The Scarlet Pimpernel (1927), The Prisoner of Zenda and its sequel, Rupert of Henzua (1930).
My other ‘keepers’ are books which saw me through from girlhood to womanhood: Greengage Summer, I Capture The Castle, Bonjour Tristesse and The Dud Avocado.
With the fickleness of youth I abandoned these when I discovered Jilly Cooper’s novels (1976). My love of rom com developing within their pages before coming full circle with Bridgit Jones in 1996. I can’t let go of my penguin classics or historical romances by the likes of Georgette Heyer, Daphne Du Maurier, Jean Plaidy, Margaret Irwin and Anya Seaton. My particular favourite is Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine.
When I want to remind myself how to write humorously, I revisit Wodehouse, Terry Pratchet, Tom Sharpe and the anarchic Catch 22.
I also treasure my poetry books…John Donne, WB Yeats, The War Poets, TS Eliot, Dylan Thomas, Ted Hughes and Philip Larkin.
And in particular, The Mersey Sound – Adrien Henri, Roger McGough and Brian Patten which reminds me of when I was recovering after an appendectomy in Grantham General (1970). I was reading poems to the other patients in my ward and causing such hilarity that it was confiscated by the ward sister until I was discharged. Honestly…
I have two comfort reads Tristan and Isuelt by Rosemary Sutcliffe (so beautifully written) and Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford which is great fun. I want to spend the afternoon with the Mitford gels in the Hons Cupboard discussing topics considered unfit for young ladies. Want to come with me?
About Lizzie
After teaching her 1000th pupil and working as a deputy head teacher in a large primary school, Lizzie decided to pursue her first love: writing. She joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, wrote Tall, Dark and Kilted (2012), quickly followed by Boot Camp Bride. She went on to publish Scotch on the Rocks, which achieved Best Seller status within two weeks of appearing on Amazon and her next novel, Girl in the Castle, reached #3 in the Amazon charts. Lizzie is a founder member of indie publishing group – New Romantics Press, and has co-hosted author events at Aspinall, St Pancras and Waterstones, Kensington, talking about the research which underpins her novels. Lizzie latest romance Take Me, I’m Yours is set in Wisconsin, a part of the USA which she adores. This novel also achieved BEST SELLER status >travel>USA. She has further Scottish-themed romances planned and has just returned from a tour of the Scottish Highlands researching men in kilts. What’s not to like? As for the years she spent as a teacher, they haven’t quite gone to waste. She is building a reputation as a go-to speaker on indie publishing, and how to plan, write, and publish a debut novel. Lizzie lives in Leicestershire (UK) with her husband, David.
She loves to hear from readers, so do get in touch . . .
Lizzie’s Links
https://www.amazon.com/author/lizzielamb
www.facebook.com/LizzieLambwriter
website: www.lizzielamb.co.uk
Newsletter – http://tinyurl.com/ELNL-2016
Linked in: uk.linkedin.com/pub/lizzie-lamb/18/194/202/
Goodreads http://tinyurl.com/cbla48d
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lizzielamb/
https://twitter.com/lizzie_lamb
Ros Rendle says:
Great article. I love Random Harvest by James Hilton, better known for Mr Chips, but RH has a great twist at the end and it’s for real romantics.
Lizzie Lamb says:
Hi Ros, I have a feeling that I’ve seen the movie (?) Wish I had more time to read these days – too busy writing my own novels. LOL – and reading and reviewing friends’, too.
Ros says:
The movie is a golden oldie but the book is so much better because you can’t SEE the people. The movie had to change things for that reason.
Isabella says:
Lizzie and I have talked books so many times, and this blog post is interesting in so many ways! I always love to hear her expert opinion. I hope no one will ever ask me to choose between the thousands of books I have read in my life, in fact my top ten actually lists at least thirty books LOL. As usual, though, the very first book that comes to mind is A Tree Grows in Brooklin. I’ve read it over and over and over again and it never ceases to amaze me.
Rosie Travers says:
I really hosting this feature, it’s an education learning what books other authors treasure!
Lizzie Lamb says:
I’ll have to give that one a try, Isabella.
Jessie Cahalin says:
I love to read my favourite children’s books when I need a quick boost: Anne of Green Gables and Heidi always transport me. However, I do enjoy Wuthering Heights and Lucinda Reilly’s books. Recently, I have discovered the fun of Lizzie Lamb’s books. I am in awe of her storytelling and wonderful humour – l adore the sparks that fly in the dialogue.
Rosie Travers says:
I’ve moved house so many time I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of books along the way which is how this feature originated – thinking about the books I’ve insisted on keeping despite moves. Sadly I don’t have any childhood books left!
Lizzie Lamb says:
Rosie, getting rid of books is so sad. Over the years I’ve sent sackloads to charity shops. But it has to be done. But, as I said in the blog there are some I just can’t bear to part with.
Lizzie Lamb says:
Dear Jessie, you are so kind. I must admit that I do have an overdeveloped sense of humour and am able to hone it on my husband who has a very dry wit. All good practice for writing dialogue. I loved your debut novel and am looking forward to reading #2 in due course.
June Kearns says:
Fascinating post. Lizzie’s taste has always been wide and eclectic!! Love her books. My own all-time fave – The Dud Avocado – is on her list. (The author was once married to Kenneth Tynan.) Am on my 3rd (much-guarded) copy.
Lizzie Lamb says:
Hi June, isn’t it annoying when ‘friends’ fail to return books? Carole Matthews has told me that she’s stopped lending her books to others – and who can blame her?
Sheila Johnson says:
My favourite comfort reads are – well, firstly, the Bible, after that, Pride and Prejudice which I re-read from time to time, also Middlemarch and Anne of Green Gables. I also look for a nice romantic escapist novel especially in the depths of winter!
Lizzie Lamb says:
I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember. I can’t recall being ‘able’ to read, just being able to do it. I must admit that, to give my eyes a rest after a hard day’s writing I do turn to TV more and more, especially movies . Thanks for joining in, Sheila.