I am really enjoying doing these videos as it gives me a wonderful chance to talk about anything which is great fun. I have just recorded one in which I talk about one of my favourite authors, Eva Ibbotson. I hope you enjoy it.
As always, I welcome comments and requests for subjects for future chats.
The books I discuss are:
A Company of Swans
Morning Gift
Madensky Square
A Glove Shop in Vienna
Magic Flutes
Countess below Stairs
Enjoy!
I have just re-rad a few of her books and am researching a visit to Vienna. One day one day!
Elizabeth Goudge is another of my favourite authors that I will be talking about.
Dahil – I recently re-read some of his short stories and there is always something nasty lurking. Yuk
Well I got this and it would not link up. Seems I now may have to get an extension cord. This was NOT mentioned. I may get a more expensive one we shall see
Thank you for your charming and enticing reviews of Eva Ibbotson. I am highly tempted to search for her books. On the subject of Vienna you really must go. I have only been once, a few years ago but found myself immediately but strangely at home. It is packed to the gunnels with theatres,galleries, museums, concert halls, elegant parks, coffee houses serving exquisite delicacies and all on a modest scale. I felt I could move in right away!
Eva Ibbotson is one of my top”go to read for comfort”authors. I can re-read any of hers with great pleasure. I suppose her fantasy books could label her as a child’s writer while her others divide between young reader and adult. She was a very versatile writer, while her sense of humor is wonderful. And she is never cruel.
Elizabeth Goudge is similar–many different styles of writing, all of them delights.
I include Roald Dahl in my top authors but his humor has a bite and can be cruel.
Oh, that will be great if you can get a mic for a tenner and it works, Elaine! I think you are amazing to have the techie skills to do this kind of thing. I’ve only a large PC, no laptop, no iPad, etc, mainly because I’ve never wanted them and my computer man said these would not be able to cope with the volume of work that I once had (and still have) on my computer from my writing (published writing, I mean) days.
Yes, those dust jackets you showed us are lovely, nothing like the modern (aka hideous!) ones!
Have a good weekend, keep safe.
Margaret P
The sound on the ipad can be variable and I can see that sometimes my voice dips. I have ordered a little microphone which will plug into it and will experiment and see if that improves things. I watched a video on youtube on making these videos and seems to me you can spend a fortune on extra stuff if you want to. Microphones only cost about a tenner for this kind of usage so one is winging its way towards me as I write!
I am pleased to hear this Sherran as I have a list a mile long to inflict on you all. I don’t know why I did not do this before!!
Oh do! And do let me know how you get on with whichever one you start with.
Mary Stewart – yep will have a think about this one
So glad your husband loved it too. Her books bring such joy to her readers. And, as I said, they are also funny and witty
I love my editions with the covers. I am going to see if I can track down a copy of Countess Below Stairs with a dustjacket now. Madensky Square is, yes, that word again – enchanting!
Thank you Amanda. I remembered that you were a Eva Ibbotson fan. I really enjoyed doing it.
An excellent video, Elaine, about an excellent writer. I have three of her books which I was sent when I was reviewing oh, so long ago. I have A Company of Swans, A Song for Summer and the gorgeous Madensky Square (my favourite out of those). I will certainly hunt out a copy of The Countess Below Stairs. No, she is certainly not a young adults’ writer, but this is how she was marketed, I do know that!
I love your videos, you are a good speaker (I was going to say “excellent” but as with your “enchanting” i felt I’d used that word sufficiently already!) but I while I have the sound on my PC on 100%, I can hardly hear you. I don’t know whether others have the same problem? And the sound is lessened still further when you turn away from where you are actually recording the sound. But I manage, even if I have to sit on top of the PC! I love the covers of those old Ibbotson books, they are a delight. I now look forward to your next video.
Margaret P
I love your videos and could listen for hours to you talking about the books that you love. I haven’t read any Eva Ibbotson books, but will add them to my TBR pile.
Thankyou Elaine for another interesting video. I haven’t read anything by this author, but will certainly look her up now.
A video on Mary Steward would be good, I love her novels.
Countess Below Stairs is sitting on my bedside table as I listened to you this morning, Elaine. My favorite of her books — rereading for the third time. I enjoyed it so much, I downloaded the audio version for my husband to listen to without telling him anything about it — he normally likes hardbitten suspense. He loved it, too. Her characters are, indeed, “enchanting.” Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this interesting talk about these books by Eva Ibbotson. I’m not new to her books but this has reminded me of how much I enjoyed those I have read and prompted me to seek out those I haven’t – Madensky Square being one and it sounds lovely. Also agree about the covers!
Completely right about the unsuitable jackets, too. All wrong.
I share your enthusiasm for this enchanting author. Lovely post Elaine!
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