Matt Monro Forum

As Gray thought of this thread, and Marian followed it up, I thought it was a good idea to give it it's own section.
My main choice would be biographies and autobigraphies I suppose.
At the moment I'm reading Nicky Campbell's book " Blue-eyed Son" about his adoption.
Marian

I do not read as much as I used to, I have to admit. And If I like a book I will read it over and over again.

I also like books that make up a series--and as I am fond of autobigraphies as well--one of my favourite reads are the 7
books that make up the life story of Molly Weir. She was very popular at one time, and I guess one of her most favourite roles was as Aggie in "Life with the Lyons"--and also she was in "Itma."

Her life story was very absorbing, easy to read, lots of other famous names popping up all over the place--I love these books, and I cannot tell you hpw many times I have read the whole seres from beginning to end.
The first of the series was called "Shoes were for Sunday "

She died just a few years ago--aged about 94 as I recall.

Hi Marian(s)

My favourite books are biographies as well, I've read quite a few, mainly film stars.
Molly Wier is somebody I have never come across, I'm embarrassed to say, with 7 books to cover her life I should really be ashamed of myself!

Would you recommend the Nicky Campbell book, Marian?

My next book I intend to read is an old one from the 1970's, 'Cosmos' by Carl Segan.
Anyone read this?

Gray

Harry here. I love reading, always have, it makes you use your imagination. I have just finished the John le Carre novel "Smileys people" for the third time. I have read all his novels over the years, and keep re-reading them every so-often. My favourite book of all time is "The last of the Mohicans" by James Fennimore Cooper. I have been reading it over and over for the last 65 years. A great read (if you love London) is Peter Ackroyd's "Biography of London" you will be unable to put it down, it's also a great reference book.

I am sure that Lena and Harry would know the name of Molly Weir.
Possibly if you saw her face, and heard her voice--very strong Scottish Accent, it would ring a bell.

Harry and Lena's choices surprised me--I am sure we have some more surprises to come. !! But I am glad to know that you love rereading your favourites.

I remember Molly Weir in "Life with the Lyons". In her later years she was a witch in the children's tv programme "Rentaghost"!
I've only just started Nicky Campbell's book Gray, so I'll let you know. it seems quite interesting so far.
I also love the Derek Tangye books, about his and his wife Jeannie's flower farm Minack, in Cornwall. They both had very high flying jobs in London and gave them up to start a completely new life in the country. Although they are both dead now, their stories of their life on the farm and with their various animals, make captivating reading. I must have the complete set I think.
Actually, Jeannie worked at the Savoy Hotel in London, and her book "Meet Me at The Savoy" is also a fascinating tale about her life there and the many celebrities who stayed at the Hotel. Her name then was Jean Nicol.
Peter likes similar books to you Harry. I'm sure he'd be interested to read the London book you mentioned. Having been brought up in London it has always been a special place for him, and he is very interested in old London. He used to read the books by Geoffrey Fletcher. I remember one was called "The London Nobody Knows."
Marian

I also love the Derek Tangye books, and at one time I had them all, and read them many times. George always really enjoyed them too.

Jeannie [aka Jean Nicol] also wrote a couple of novels---based on hotels.

I was so sad when I read that Jeannie had died--and I know that Derek carried on living in Cornwall and writing , for several years after, until he too died. Theirs was a truly lovely story, and very inspirational. They gave up everything to go and live in a cottage in Cornwall, and live off the land---growing daffodils and tomatoes.

I think that George would have enjoyed the books on London--he often got some from the library. He always said , that if he could have a wish, he would like to see London as it was hundreds of years ago !!

I guess it would have been Ok if you were rich, but I think the poorer classes had a really tough time !

I now know who Molly Weir is! Thanks for the clue about Rentaghost, Marian, that did it for me!
'Smiley's People' is a cracking book, Harry, I'm a big fan of that.
And I know what you mean about books fuelling the brain, here is a nugget of trivia I read just the other day and it really left me stunned.
It was in a reference book all about the Solar System.
In it, it said first take the Sun, our Sun, this huge, enourmous body some 870,000 miles in diameter, then take a tiny atom and place it at the opposite end of an imaginery scale dealing with size.
To give you some idea of just how small the atom is, on this sliding scale dealing with size a human would be half way between the two!
That was incredible to me, hope it make sense!

Gray

Funnily enough Gray, that reminds me of something that I once read about how long is Eternity.

Apparently, if a tiny bird flew down to earth, once every thousand years, and sharpened it's little bill just once on a stone or rock--by the time the whole of Earth and everything on it was worn away by this little bird, then one second of eternity would have passed.

It just helps put things into perspective--like your information did.

Hi Everyone,

Marian - I have also read Nicky Campbell's book.
This book is a VERY good read - so much so, I couldn't put it down at all!

I am now reading "The Amazing power of deliberate intent" by Esther and Jerry Hicks. It's a mind, body and soul type of book.
This one certainly gets you thinking about how the mind works and that if you want to do something you can, if you apply your mind to it!

I have also read recently, "Feel the fear and do it anyway" by Susan Jeffers. Another great read.

I suppose if you were an animal lover the book could be called "Feel the fur and do it anyway"!

I have Eric Sykes' autobigraphy, I have only read part of it so far but it is really interesting. It takes me a long time to read a book nowadays, when I was a kid I could read a couple of books a day, but now I just read a few pages.
I have also read The Carpenters bigraphy, I am sure Mariana has read this one.

Yes John, I have. I am the same-when I was younger I could whizz through a book in no time--I Just do not seem to get so much time now. Plus I always read on the jouney to and from work--2 hours per day !!

I must admit that I am not a "book" reader the last book I bought was Don Black's "Wrestling with Elephants" - just for the information he had to say about Matt

I was quite interested in the comments re Nicky Campbell "Blue eyed Son " book, so I have just checked it out on Amazon---It had some great and positive reviews-and I have just realised that it is Nicky Campbell from TV.

The outcome is, I decided to buy it--I went to the new and used section, and they had several used for 1p [one penny], but I went for a new one at 18p [eighteen pence].!!!!!

Wow, that was a real bargain Marian! I didn't pay much for my copy, but more than you, I bought mine on ebay. Hope you enjoy it..

I've also read "Feel the Fear" Hilary.
Marian