Help Me Find That Book

[grasshopper]

A particular character has been buzzing around in my head for months andi just can't place her and hope someone here can help me out.

 

This woman whom I will have to call XXXXXX is a newcomer to an established community and immediately decides she is the complete arbiter of all fashion, social etiquette etc. Every conversation is on the lines of-

 

" Oh I just love organising picnics, you should hear my friends, they all say "oh picnics, XXXX is just sooo good at planning picnics.................."

 

" I always seem to choose just the right hat decoration, you should ask my friends, they all say "Oh look at XXXX she can find just the right colour for that hat ribbon or ..................."

 

I thought at first she was in a Jane Austen novel, someone like Mr Elton's wife , but I can't seem to find this annoying person in any of them. She may come from a later time period.

 

Please can anyone help?

 

Hurray  - decided to listen to An Accomplished Woman by Jude Morgan, one of his Regency Romance novels in the style of Georgette Heyer, and found my elusive character again.  She is Mrs Penelope Vawser and is even more  ghastly than I remembered. The actual  book is also better than I remembered since first downloading in 2010 and very amusing. Just right while ironing on a cold wet winter day.

Edited June 24, 2014 by grasshopper

[b00ksearcher]

A read this book quite a few years ago, and although it was possibly the greatest book I have ever read, my memory of the text is foggy. I remember a few specifics, but even they aren't specific enough for me to find a trace of this book online, or at my local library (where I originally read the book). Here's what I can remember:

 

There was a doll. I know many books have dolls in them, so this alone isn't any use, but I remember certain things this doll did. She'd cut out girls hair and put it in her own. I remember the description of all the colours mixing in with each other; browns, auburn and blondes, I believe. The colours aren't important, but I remember that one of the main characters had woken up with a piece of her hair missing, and found that it was now in the dolls hair. Creepy.

 

 

This girl also found a doll house in the house she was staying in. I'm pretty sure it was her aunt's or grandmother's (again, if not, doesn't matter too much). The doll house was an exact replica of the house she was staying in; It even contained a mini version of that creepy doll. The girl could tell where the doll was by it's position in the doll house (it would randomly move about, I think).

 

 

I'm almost certain there were people who could change into foxes and fish. I remember the description of the fish. Someone jumped into a lake or pond, then there was a silver colour, then a fish became visible, swimming in the water. There was also a man or boy who the girl met. He was mysterious, I believe. Near to the end I think she found out he could turn into a fox. Sorry, like I said, foggy...

 

 

That's pretty much all I can remember. I think there was one part where she goes into the basement and finds a notebook, but that could be totally wrong. I hope all these memories are from the same book. If some details don't ring true, please do not hesitate to give me some suggestions. I am desperate to find this book.

 

[Romanike]

Betty Wright, "The Dollhouse Murders" (1987).

[KalShaneo]

Good morning readers,

As the title states, I need some help. I am looking for a book (no kidding,right?) about fairy tales. I read it between ten and fifteen years ago.

It's about a young girl who has found her way into the land of fairy tales. I can't remember how she got there, but it is her adventures through the land.

The one part I remember the best is when she is with Rumpelstiltskin. He can't get the parents to come and get their kids and she winds up helping him open up a boarding school.

I had thought the name was just Fairy Tales, or some spelling like it, but I just can't find it and think I maybe forgetting the rest of the title.

So, if anybody knows this book and remembers the title, I will forever be thankful. I already offered my first born on another board, so youc an any of the ones that are left

[Biochemisty-n-Classics]

Is it one of these?

http://www.npr.org/2012/08/07/157795366/your-favorites-100-best-ever-teen-novels

[megustaleer]

KalShaneo's request moved to the dedicated book finding thread.

[iggy12]

I heard about a book that was based on what would happen if technology was invented before books (unrealistic but still seemed like a good read). I wanted to read it, but the title slipped from my mind and I can't remember where I heard of it. Help?

[teddybowties]

Hello, all! There is this book I am looking for; it just re-occurred to me after years of having forgot about it, and I would very much like to acquire it. Man I have read SO MANY fantasy fiction books, it's nuts. anyway... (re-edit: Oh could someone please move this to the dedicated book finding thread? I thought this was it... I have a reading comprehension problem and it's annoying in the wrost ways... despite having been a spelling champion in school! heh.)

 

BOOK I'm LOOKING FOR:

 

 

The main character, or at least a very important side character, is a middle aged mage/sage/wizard named 'J' something like JESPER, JOHNATHON, JASON, JEPSON (that style of name, very straightforward and not the typical wizard name) or something similar. He lives a reclusive quiet life in a (I THINK) hillside cottage or something due to his wife maybe dying? until someone comes to give him a quest.  There may be an object involved that he guards or has to retrieve.The book was not written in the past ten years, it's gotta be at least 12 years old, and I'm 31 years old- plus it was a bit hard to find on the internet when it CAME OUT, so... AAACK; I'm sure I read it in the 90's or early 2000's. It's a fantasy setting, with the flavor of C.S. Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet, Earthsea and most importantly, the Erril of Sherril, but set in a world with very windy, earthy tones, like you are standing in a museum looking at a painting of windy fields,  or reading Brian Jacques' Mossflower series, or Erril of Sherril again. I remember clearly it always evoked a real sense of windy fields for me, blowing in the air, the clean, crisp sound in the wind, you know? There's nothing like it. Anyway... the book is unique because it focuses on the life of this middle aged man in hints and behavior (if I remember correctly, sigh), giving it a very distinctive and memorable air. But I have such a bad memory problem in some ways, as a child I had to construct a memory palace to remember ANYTHING EVER... so, uh, please help me. When I remember a book suddenly like this, it is always my mind telling me something important, so I HAVe to read it again. I HAVe to.

Edited March 13, 2015 by teddybowties

[Hithere]

Hi everyone, I'm not sure the book I'm looking for exists, but I'm hoping someone has an idea. I'm looking for a book on the topic of media over indulgence and its effect on a persons personal and professional life. IE how too much Netflix, Xbox, Movies, Television, etc. is effecting people's lives. Thanks for the help in advance!

Edited March 27, 2015 by Hithere

[iff]

Hi everyone, I'm not sure the book I'm looking for exists, but I'm hoping someone has an idea. I'm looking for a book on the topic of media over indulgence and its effect on a persons personal and professional life. IE how too much Netflix, Xbox, Movies, Television, etc. is effecting people's lives. Thanks for the help in advance!

not a book that comes to mind and not about media totally but somewhat, there is a tv series in the uk called black mirror and it deals with issues of twitter, facebook and obsessions with these.

 

There is also a song about how bad tv is called "tv drug of the nation" by disposable heroes of hiphopryisy.

 

A book may come to mind but not at the minute.

Edited March 29, 2015 by iff

[Katie815]

Hi all, sorry if this is the wrong place to post this but I was hoping someone could help me out with a book I'm looking for ? I don't know the title or author of the book, all I can remember is the book cover....I think it was a fantasy/horror or historical fantasy novel (something like that) and I believe it was for teenagers and young adults. The cover was a dark red colour and from what I can remember it featured a demon-looking Tudor like lady who seemed to be looking into a mirror and holding a locket ? Vague I know but that's all I can recall ! Thank you !

[megustaleer]

Katie815,

I have moved your post to the thread dedicated to book searches such as yours. Sometimes another member will recognise the book being hunted for, and sometimes a member will go to the trouble of actually researching the clues that are given - it all depends on how intrigued an individual is by the request.

You may be lucky - but I'm afraid the description you give strikes no chords with me. It's not a genre I favour, but many of our members do enjoy reading fantasy and someone may recognise it.

[Mmesh]

Somewhere between 1992 and 1999 my dad brought me two books on space. They changed my life and then I lost them! I have been looking for the past few years.

One of the book was about the discovery of planets, the many theories of throughout history till the discovery of Pluto. It also contained explanations of theories of gravity, NASA exploratory missions, etc.

The other book was mostly about the planets of the solar system and their make up, their moon and a bit about far off galaxies (a bit on hubble telescope).

 

Since I was really young I cannot remember who the author was or anything. Just that they were the size of encyclopaedias, hard bound in fabric (grey almost a light black in colour), with stunning photos, and really smooth and glossy to touch.

 

I really hope one of you can help me track down the books as I am desperate.

 

Fingers crossed

[carollbert]

A paperback (also known as softback or softcover) is a type of book characterized by a thick paper or paperboard cover, and often held together with glue rather than stitches or staples. In contrast,  hard coveror hardback books are bound with cardboard covered with cloth; although more expensive, hardbacks are more durable. Inexpensive books bound in paper have existed since at least the 19th century in such forms as pamphlets, yellowbacks, dime novels .Modern paperbacks can be differentiated by size. In the US there are "mass market paperbacks" and larger "trade paperbacks". In the UK, there are A-format, b-format and the largest C-format sizes.

[megustaleer]

Well carollbert, I thank you for taking the trouble to cut and paste the above information from Wikipedia for our benefit - now, what book is it that you  want us to help you find?

[Dan]

Hi everyone, I'm not sure the book I'm looking for exists, but I'm hoping someone has an idea. I'm looking for a book on the topic of media over indulgence and its effect on a persons personal and professional life. IE how too much Netflix, Xbox, Movies, Television, etc. is effecting people's lives. Thanks for the help in advance!

Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but "4 arguments for the elimination of television" by Jerry Mander would fit the bill

[mick745]

This is a old book but I remember it was on the bbc television series Jackanory. It featured one of those three-sided mirrors, the type that used to be on dressing tables. When a child looked in the mirror each of the three reflections took on a darker alter ego of the person looking in the mirror, can't remember if the reflections actually became real people or whether the reflections became 'controlling'. At the end I think the magic mirror had to be destroyed by being thrown off a cliff.

 

The book would have been written in the 1970s or early 1980s I suspect, I was very young at the time. Does anyone know the title/author?

[megustaleer]

This .list of all the Jackanory episodes might help you

[shaungs]

Hey,

I need some help please!

I am trying to find the book by Paullina Simons called The Bronze Horseman, however I need the very first cover that was released. I am not sure which one it is (there are so many).

Could anyone please help explain or attach a photo what the very very first cover looked like??

 

TIA.

 

[megustaleer]

Don't think we've been asked to find a book cover before, but this is the book search thread, so I've moved shaungs post here.

 

I would think searching sites selling second hand books and looking for the oldest available would be the best option

[tagesmann]

Great book.

I have a UK first edition trade paperback.

It looks like this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0002258935/ref=nosim/authordatabase

I think it was published in the UK before the USA.

See https://www.fantasticfiction.com/s/paullina-simons/bronze-horseman.htm for more info.

[Stormblessed]

Hey all,

 

I need your help! My dad tasked me with the challenge of finding a book he had when he was a kid in the 60/70s. Bellow are the details he remembers from the book and I've tried looking everywhere for it to no avail. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

So, he's fairly sure the main character is a massive toad (possibly called Ug) tasked with escorting the Prince of the forest  (possibly a stag) through the forest for some reason. The toad is a bodyguard really.

 

Like I say, any help would be great. Thanks!

[megustaleer]

Stormblessed's post merged with the dedicated Book Search thread.

 

Sorry, not ringing ant bells with me at all. 

[chuntzy]

Is it by any chance this Raymond Briggs book -

 

Ug : Boy Genius Of The Stone Age And His Search For Soft Trousers Paperback – 3 Oct 2002

by Raymond Briggs (Author)

 

ETA: on secon thoughts except for 'Ug' it's nothing like the description given.  Sorry.

Edited April 25, 2017 by chuntzy
mistake

[megustaleer]

Someone on another (not book related) forum has asked about the following book. No-one has been able to help yet.

Anyone here recognise this?

Quote

It's a mystery, and I read it around thirty years ago. Part of it takes place in a large, English country house. At one point, a secret room is found. In it, laid out in a reverent manner, is the body of a young woman(turns out she was Spanish) from the 16th century. She apparantly knew she was dying, because she left a note, asking, among other things, that masses be said for her soul. An important female figure in the sotry goes to a Catholic priest and finds yes, one can still do that. The deceased had a rather long family name, and the priest says "I imagine God will know whom we mean if we just say Juana."

Maybe this kindness to the deceased gave good luck, because other clues lead to a hidden portrait of King Phillip II, painted by (I think) El Greco, and it is extremely valuble.