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Has anyone here got any thoughts about the newly published book that Paul Thompson and John Watterson have spent the last five years researching and writing?
It’s now published and available from the publishers!!
And there’ve been reviews in the Oldie and the Guardian online – with nearly 200 favourable comments posted soon after the article appeared!
I think there were at least a hundred different people commenting, and all favourable, saying lovely things, including how delighted they are about this!Get your copy now, before they’re all sold out! You won’t regret it! And keep coming back here to keep the conversations alive!
Pam
I’ve only just started reading it (trying hard to ration myself to a chapter a day…), but so enjoying it. Such a privilege to have a peek into the life of the enigma that was Jake Thackray.
It’s only just come out, Kate, but like you I’m reading one chapter a day so far. It’s a treasure! I put in a request for it at my local library this morning; needless to say they don’t have a copy already, but they might decide it would be a good idea to have one!
Hi Pam and Kate,
It’s a real pleasure to read your excellent news about Paul and John’s great achievement.
Besides, the announced events due to take place in Monmouth, London, Scarborough and York are quite tempting, of course… but being not sure to cross the Channel before the end of the year I appreciate the idea of putting in requests for “BotB” at one’s usual libraries.
So, I’ll see what some bookshop keepers in my Pays de Caux think of it !I agree…but I am hardly objective.
John ad I have been utterly overwhelmed at the response to the book. Researching and writing it was truly a joy, and to know that so many people are enjoying reading it is the icing on the cake.
A week ago today I reported that I’d put in a request for the book in the hope that they’d buy it, and just now I’ve had a look at the library website and guess what? it is listed and described as being “on order”!
Loved the event in Leeds last night.
I’ve been looking forward to this book for some time and greedily devoured the first chapter on the bus home.
Really looking forward to the Scarborough event too.
IanThanks, Ian. I hope you continue to enjoy devouring it, and look forward to seeing you in Scarborough.
Just to belatedly add my voice to this thread – I’m taking my time ploughing through the book and savouring every bit. It really is a fantastic piece of work. Impeccably researched and extremely well written, the overall readability never suffering as a result of the phenomenal amount of detail and new information (especially for what I assume are 2 first-time authors – having been there myself, it’s not as easy as it looks!).
Every page is full of fascinating new insights into both Jake’s work and his life, from his family background, through his Leeds childhood, years in Durham and France, and the more familiar territory after that. It’s by far the biggest advance in the field of Jakeology since the BBC4 documentary. Hats off to John and Paul, all the plaudits the book has been receiving are well deserved.
Of course as I’m reading through, it’s giving rise to lots of trainspotterish questions and observations on my part, but I’m holding them in till I’ve fnished it!
Thanks very much, Mark. Yes, John and I are both first-time authors. We are utterly delighted at the reception the book has received. I look forward to hearing your trainspotterish questions and observations, in due course!
It’s a great pleasure to be reading the enthusiastic comments of all those who have already got hold of the book and I am glad to announce that I should be in that case myself tomorrow, thanks to THE ABC BOOKSHOP in ROUEN !
I am therefore looking forward to the possibility of giving my own first impressions to some visitors of the PARC BRASSENS (PARIS XV) on Saturday and Sunday, during the 35th “Journées Brassens” there.
I might even be lucky enough to see some of you !…Radio Four early this Sunday morning contained an eight minute interview with Paul Thompson, which included in that short time, several references to Jake and his life as well as extracts from more songs than you usually hear in interviews like this.
Well worth a listen on https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001cwsj but be quick, because it’s only going to be available for a year (!). No need to listen to the whole programme if you don’t want to, the relevant eight minutes starts twenty minutes in.
All thanks to the fact that Paul and John have spent the best part of the last few years researching a book, and what a wonderful book it is!
Pam
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