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The Rambler and Avid Reader really appreciate  your feedback!
 

O'Farrell
This review of 'Instructions for a Heatwave' almost compels one to read the novel! The more years spent reading ancient or modern literature, the more I am convinced that really good story telling (whether in drama, poetry or the novel) is all about the balance, timing and pace of revelation and concealment. You also mention her evocation of place. I am reading my first ever Ian Rankin novel at the moment and have been struck by how crucial that is to his fiction In terms of persuading the reader that it all could be real. As for the heatwave of 1976, well , my memory of it as an 8 year old is that it WAS really memorable and a strange mixture of the idylllic and the
sinister. Playing in the sun and ice creams on the
one hand, but worries about water shortages etc. on the other. I can remember dried up reservoirs etc.
Posted by Jonathan on 30 April 2013
Many thanks for your response to my review of 'Instructions for a Heatwave' - a much appreciated birthday gift which arrived on the day of its publication at the end of February. Interesting that you recall the 1976 heatwave so clearly. I hope that at some point you will find time to read this novel - Maggie O'Farrell's books are always simultaneously engaging and demanding. She is, I would suggest, one of our best current fiction writers. Another is Kate Atkinson and I look forward to reading 'Life after Life', her most recent novel, soon.
Posted by Avid Reader on 30 April 2013
Explorer 223 walks
HI there,

you may like to check my blog out via label OS Explorer 223. It's just possible we could have done the odd walk that interests you.
it's at aliwalks at blogspot . I think you've been there before.

Alison
Posted by Alison on 30 April 2013
Thanks for this, Alison, and your continued interest in this website. I regularly visit your blog which I would recommend to all who like a good walk in interesting surroundings.
There is a link to your blog on my 'Useful Links' page.
Happy Rambling to you and your companions!
Posted by Ashby Rambler on 02 May 2013
Latest Maggie O Farrell
As a huge fan of O Farrell, your review intensified my excitement about reading her latest book. Putting it on a par with Esme Lennox again whets the appetite. Thank you!
Posted by patsy on 24 April 2013
Thanks for your comment, Patsy - pleased you liked my review and hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!
Posted by Avid Reader on 24 April 2013
Website Upgrade and Updates to Walk Descriptions
Regular visitors will notice that the site has been upgraded (to Spanglefish Version 2).
This has necessitated some adjustments to text sizes, spacing etc. so please bear with me while I sort out a few anomalies.
Thanks to feedback from two ladies I met at Cold Ashby Open Gardens, I have updated the 'Favourite Walk' description and added a photo of the restored byway sign. Hopefully, this will help to keep everybody on track - though for me, of course, 'rambling off on one' is all part of the fun!
Posted by Ashby Rambler on 29 July 2012
Round and About Cold Ashby
Thanks for your interesting website. You make reference to Round and About Cold Ashby (Cold Ashby Village Appraisal Group, 1995), of which I am a proud owner of a hard copy. Do you know if this publication is available on-line? During a work meeting I met someone who works in Luton and their mother (surname Warden) was from Cold Ashby. I told them about the book and thought it would be nice idea to send them a copy or link. Any ideas?
Posted by Ruth on 04 July 2012
So pleased you find 'The Rambler' of interest, Ruth.
I also use a hard copy of ' Round and About Cold Ashby' (which is now looking a bit dog-eared and worn!) and if an online copy existed, it would be great to link to it on this site.
Unfortunately, I don't think it does - though I will enquire locally and post any further information on this page.
Thanks, again, for your interest and the feedback.
Posted by Ashby Rambler on 04 July 2012
The Sense of an Ending
Posted on 26 June 2012
two novels
Posted on 16 May 2012
New explorer walks
Posted on 14 May 2012
Great
Posted on 30 April 2012
Robin Hood
Posted on 20 February 2012
Wolf Men
Posted on 05 February 2012
No Title
Posted on 20 December 2011
Quick Links on Walks Pages
Posted on 01 October 2011
Wright
Posted on 01 July 2011
No Title
Posted on 13 May 2011
avid reader
Posted on 17 April 2011
Avid Reader
Posted on 11 March 2011
Cold Ashby Panto Review
Posted on 20 February 2011
No Title
Posted on 13 February 2011
Great recommendations
Posted on 05 December 2010
various
Posted on 30 November 2010
DDC : Wind Turbines Policy
Posted on 04 November 2010
The Hand that First Held Mine
Posted on 14 October 2010
Small plot of land wanted.
Posted on 26 September 2010
This Website
Posted on 19 September 2010
local walks
Posted on 27 August 2010
Using this page
Posted on 15 August 2010
Hemplow Hills
Posted on 06 August 2010
Avid Reader
Enjoyed reading the new 'avid reader's ramblings'. An innovative and effective idea to post a series of impressions of a novel as one reads it along the way as opposed to doing a conventional review on completion of the whole book. This method reveals a problem with much contemporary fiction: lack of concision and decent plotting and tendency to lose the plot in all senses! I sometimes wonder whether modern novelists read their final 'edit' all the way through prior to publication! Keep it up!
Posted by JPH on 26 February 2010
View All Posts, Ever! (Could be a long page)