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Post by cauldronbrewer on Jun 27, 2020 11:25:50 GMT
The Girl Outside: Tom Sheppard is despondent that the only events he's trusted to report on for the Advertiser are the boring likes of weddings, funerals and today's fiasco - the hundredth birthday party of Mrs. Salmon. At least there's an attractive young woman waiting outside the house to greet him. ... Little Black Pies: Ageing spinsters Emma and Sarah Stittle rolling pastry in the stifling, flyblown kitchen. Emma is furious at being ignored, but her protests fall on deaf ears. Sarah is too busy spitting out grievances to her pet jackdaw to realise hated sister's presence. These two short tales are my favorites so far. Both are impressively dark, right up through the end, and weird, too.
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Jun 28, 2020 2:04:59 GMT
The Pot of Basil - Another unnamed narrator here; a scholar who visits an unnamed town in order to study some letters by Keats that had been bequeathed to the town by a nineteenth-century clergyman. After receiving permission from the museum committee chairman and other worthies, the narrator is grudgingly allowed access by the unfriendly curator. He never quite seems to admit to himself that the small boy who slips into the library daily is actually a ghost. The title refers to a rather grisly Keats' poem "Isabella, or The Pot of Basil". A superb story that for me was the highlight of the collection and the reason I'll be hanging on to it. Agreed, "The Pot of Basil" is a fitting capstone for the collection. Thanks to all who recommended Catch Your Death. I was also pleased to discover that the back matter includes an advertisement for Alison Prince's Haunted Children.
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robin
New Face In Hell
Posts: 6
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Post by robin on Sept 30, 2021 19:53:07 GMT
I'm very glad to see this thread here. I've been a fan of John Gordon for a number of years now after reading a copy of The Giant under the Snow I bought in Oxfam. I'd looked at it on the shelf on repeated visits and one day finally decided to buy it. I've since read most of his books, though not all. I don't want to rush through them.
Years ago I commented (on an old newgroup, I think) that I considered Gordon the Ramsey Campbell of children's fiction. I was gob-smacked when Ramsey himself popped up and said, "I consider that high praise indeed". It was very pleasing to compliment two of my favourite authors by comparison with one another!
I've just read Gilray's Ghost, which is an extraordinary thing. Two characters are absurdly eccentric grotesques, but their selfish manipulation of two young people is just horrible. Like Campbell, Gordon is able to horrify with a single and quite simple sentence, and Gordon delivers two thoroughly nasty ones in this.
I once had the privilege of a chance meeting with Gordon and his wife. Having seen a picture of a younger Gordon on the back of one of his books, something just clicked when I spotted him browsing in a secondhand bookshop. Gordon asked me what my name was several times during our chat, and I suspected, then later read, that he was suffering Alzheimer's. Nevertheless, they were a lovely couple, and it's a matter of deep regret to me that I never wrote them a proper letter as said I ought to do.
Since others have quite rightly mentioned Westall in this thread, I'm going to throw Helen Cresswell into the ring, specifically The Winter of the Birds. Perhaps more fantasy than chiller, it has atmosphere, and I see no reason why it shouldn't appeal to folk here.
Regards,
Robin
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Sept 30, 2021 19:57:44 GMT
Years ago I commented (on an old newgroup, I think) that I considered Gordon the Ramsey Campbell of children's fiction. I was gob-smacked when Ramsey himself popped up and said, "I consider that high praise indeed". How oddly self-important of Mr Campbell.
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robin
New Face In Hell
Posts: 6
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Post by robin on Sept 30, 2021 20:05:26 GMT
Years ago I commented (on an old newgroup, I think) that I considered Gordon the Ramsey Campbell of children's fiction. I was gob-smacked when Ramsey himself popped up and said, "I consider that high praise indeed". How oddly self-important of Mr Campbell. It was more a case that he felt flattered by being compared with Gordon. He also mentioned that he's holding a copy of Gordon's The House of the Brink in a photo on one of his novel's dustjacket. Regards, Robin
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Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Sept 30, 2021 20:58:12 GMT
Years ago I commented (on an old newgroup, I think) that I considered Gordon the Ramsey Campbell of children's fiction. I was gob-smacked when Ramsey himself popped up and said, "I consider that high praise indeed". How oddly self-important of Mr Campbell. Today you have managed to offend three people on here. Which may be a record. Please read Die Geschichte vom Daumenlutscher (The Story of the Thumb-Sucker) from Der Struwwelpeter, it could happen to you, only the tailor will cut off all your typing fingers! chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/files/download/266/fullsize
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robin
New Face In Hell
Posts: 6
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Post by robin on Oct 1, 2021 18:19:48 GMT
I feel slightly at fault here. I was lying in bed thinking about this and I may have slightly misquoted Ramsey and given the wrong impression. I think he actually said, "I take that as high praise indeed." Either way, he indicated he was an admirer of Gordon's work, too.
Sorry for causing a spot of bother with just my second post.
Regards,
Robin
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Oct 1, 2021 18:36:41 GMT
Sorry for causing a spot of bother with just my second post. Not at all; please cause more spots of bother!
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Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Oct 1, 2021 18:43:51 GMT
I feel slightly at fault here. I was lying in bed thinking about this and I may have slightly misquoted Ramsey and given the wrong impression. I think he actually said, "I take that as high praise indeed." Either way, he indicated he was an admirer of Gordon's work, too. Sorry for causing a spot of bother with just my second post. Regards, Robin You have nothing to apologise for, and you should not be lying in bed thinking about this. It's quite fine to post whatever you want. Don't worry about taking part in conversations, the more the merrier!
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Post by ramseycampbell on Oct 5, 2021 11:29:18 GMT
Years ago I commented (on an old newgroup, I think) that I considered Gordon the Ramsey Campbell of children's fiction. I was gob-smacked when Ramsey himself popped up and said, "I consider that high praise indeed". How oddly self-important of Mr Campbell. Really? I was saying I felt flattered to be compared to John.
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Post by ramseycampbell on Oct 5, 2021 11:32:24 GMT
I feel slightly at fault here. I was lying in bed thinking about this and I may have slightly misquoted Ramsey and given the wrong impression. I think he actually said, "I take that as high praise indeed." Either way, he indicated he was an admirer of Gordon's work, too. Sorry for causing a spot of bother with just my second post. Regards, Robin Hey, don't worry! There's a back story to the reaction you prompted, but that certainly isn't your fault.
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robin
New Face In Hell
Posts: 6
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Post by robin on Oct 5, 2021 19:54:37 GMT
I feel slightly at fault here. I was lying in bed thinking about this and I may have slightly misquoted Ramsey and given the wrong impression. I think he actually said, "I take that as high praise indeed." Either way, he indicated he was an admirer of Gordon's work, too. Sorry for causing a spot of bother with just my second post. Hey, don't worry! There's a back story to the reaction you prompted, but that certainly isn't your fault. Thank-you! Have you read Gilray's Ghost? I'd be interested in your thoughts on it. Regards, Robin
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Post by ramseycampbell on Oct 6, 2021 9:26:55 GMT
I confess I haven't read it.
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Post by ohthehorror on Oct 6, 2021 11:33:38 GMT
I revisited Catch Your Death (the story) very recently, hoping against hope that it would still affect me as powerfully as it did on initial acquaintance. It does. Don't think I've ever identified as strongly with a fictional (?) character as I do the narrator. ( emphasis mine) If I ever find a copy of that story I'll be able to look deep into your soul... No ebook versions of his books by the looks of it, unfortunately.
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Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Nov 9, 2021 17:23:31 GMT
Delighted to see that John Gordon's classic 'The House on the Brink' is set to be re-issued by Valancourt Books in 2022.
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