In past days my record keeping on my books was not always as disciplined as it is today. I know, I'm very very bad. Lana will have to punish me. But, nevertheless, there are a number of books in my list of previously read books that have titles but no author listed. And I have not been able to identify or locate them. I hang my head in shame, I tell you!
In hopes that someone in the blogosphere might have an idea about the authors for these books, I'm going to give the details I know about here. Said details are very slender. But if anyone recognizes any of these I'd appreciate a heads up. So without further ado, I air my dirty book laundry below:
1. Title – The Freak
Genre – Horror
Time period – I would have read this probably sometime in the 1980s or earlier.
2. Title – Claws
Genre – Horror
Time period - Again, probably from the 1980s.
Details – I seem to remember it had something to do with either cats or crabs. I originally thought this might be "Night of the Claw" by Jay Ramsey, but after getting that book I don't think so.
3. Title - Smuggler’s Island
Genre – young adult, I'm pretty sure
Time Period – probably from the 1970s or earlier. This is 'not' the Avi book by that name from much later.
4. Title - My Gift to You
Genre - Poetry
Time Period - Some time before the late 1980s. At least that's when I read it.
5. Title - Listen to the Worm
Genre - Poetry
Time Period - Also some time before the late 1980s.
6. Title - The Sun is Up
Genre - Poetry
Time Period - Also some time before the late 1980s.
7. Title - Panther
Genre - Young adult probably
Time Period - Almost certainly the 1970s or earlier
8. Title - The Secret Staircase
Genre - Young adult or children's book
Time Period - Probably from before the early 1980s. This may be one I read to my son.
9. Title - Mystery of the Red Skull
Genre - probably young adult
Time Period - before the 1980s, probably in the early 1970s.
Well, there are more but that's probably enough for this post.
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Wish I could help, but I'm afraid our reading lists are very different. But one good friend is pushing me to try some of his favourite fantasy books. Maybe I will at some point.
ReplyDeleteCharles, can't help ya, buddy.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, I'm NO help, lol !
ReplyDeleteOh foogle it. Google it.
ReplyDeleteOr go to some old guy in the backwoods who has a used SF bookstore that nobody visits.
We have a whole number of sci-fi bookstores in Toronto on Queen Street West.
Just one can think of off the top of my head is: Conspiracy Culture bookstore. 1696 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ontario...forgot the lelephone number.
Good luck.
Not sure if they still have a main reference library in New Orleans. They wrill surely havve something. ...Or your university resources.
Good luck.
The Secret Staircase wouldn't be from the Tom and Ricky mystery series would it? That would be from 1982 about two fourteen year old boys.
ReplyDeletebenjibopper, it was a long shot but I thought some folks here might actually have read one or more of them.
ReplyDeletejodi, no problem.
Heff, but lets say I drank this beer back in the early 80s and I wanted to figure out the name of it????
ivan, I've already googled these from every angle. Also webcrawled 'em, yahoowed em, etc. I do have an idea about the Secret Staircase from that search
Randy Johnson, that's a lead worth following up. Thankee.
I'll keep an eye out-- some of those titles sound fun!
ReplyDeleteI need to add my own list to that. There are a few books I read in high school that I gave away and completely forgot the titles, but know that I'd like to read them again, from the small amount that I remember.
ReplyDeleteI hope someone can help you.
I wish I had gotten into the habit of keeping this kind of detail for the things I read when I was younger. I've got a fairly detailed library listing now, but it's only for books in my possession.
ReplyDeleteCan't help with the titles you've got on your list. I don't recognize any of them at all.
Steve Malley, The secret Staircase and Smuggler's island I remember fairly fondly, but I don't recall much about the others.
ReplyDeleteChristina, it's worth a shot. Somewhere someone has read the same books and may recognize them.
Travis, and I should have kept more details. I've also found that I've spelled some names of authors and books wrong over the time as well.
Clueless in the Pacific!
ReplyDeletesorry, none ring bells with me
ReplyDeleteWish I could help, but you are opening my eyes to other genres!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with Aloha-
Comfort Spiral
hey Charles --
ReplyDeletehere's two different books called "The Secret Staircase" --
by Jill Barklem (1983)
by Bob Wright (1988)
either one of them the right one?
Last one, maybe Fergus Hume, The Red Skull, 1908, possibly reprinted with "The Mystery of" added?
ReplyDeleteFriend of mine used to call a former boss The Red Skull.
Intriguing titles.
David Cranmer, well I didn't figure I'd get much
ReplyDeletelaughingwolf, thanks anyway.
Cloudia, it's a weird variety.
Greg Schwartz, hum thanks. I'll check both those out. The time is right.
Erik, all right, that's a clue to follow up on. thanks.
Seems I've heard of "The Secret Staircase" but then again, it's probably one of those coincidental things. As for the other titles, never ever heard of them.
ReplyDeleteNone of the poetry is listed in any of my research sources...sorry brother.
ReplyDeleteI don't recognize any but The Secret Staircase, which I feel like I've read, but nothing on Amazon's lists is familiar. Could it possibly be a Brambly Hedge novel? http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Staircase-Brambly-Hedge/dp/0689830904/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250341892&sr=1-2
ReplyDeleteJR, Erik suggested a book for the "red Skull" but I found that one on line and it's not the same one unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteMark, no problem. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
writtenwyrdd, Gregg suggested that possibility and I looked it up last night. The one I read is indeed from the Brambly hedge series. It came back to me as soon as I read the blurbs about it. Thankee.
Charles:
ReplyDeleteHere's some long shot possibilities for you:
J. Ramsey, by the way, is a pseudonym (he has more than one) of one of fav horror authors, Ramsey Campbell
Smugglers' island,
Author: Martha C King; Carl Kidwell
Publisher: New York, I. Washburn [1970]
Edition/Format: Book : Fiction : Juvenile audience : English
Summary: Prospects for a pleasant summer with relatives seem unlikely until ten-year-old Todd and his new friend begin exploring the mysterious old Gerrod
house.
My gift to you.
Author: George Betts
Publisher: [Millbrae, Calif., Celestial Arts Pub., 1972]
Edition/Format: Book : EnglishView all editions and formats - American Poetry
Listen to the worm
Author: Dan Herr
Publisher: Goshen, Ind. : Pinch Penny Press, ©1972.
Edition/Format: Book : English
Panther!
by Alan Ryan
Book : Fiction
Language: English
Publisher: New York : New American Library, 1981.
The secret staircase
by Jill Barklem
Book : Fiction : Juvenile audience
Language: English
Publisher: New York : Philomel Books, 1983.
best,
Don
Sure it wasn't The Hidden Staircase a Nancy Drew book?
ReplyDeleteHey cowboy, in 1971 Houghton Mifflin published a novel called SECRET OF THE RED SKULL. The author's name was Ben Stahl, and appearently the book involved ghosts and spies at an inn.
ReplyDeleteAt least that's what Amazon say.
Does this help?
Shit, I forgot to use spell check on my last comment.
ReplyDeleteLike so many others here, I am of no help at all. Just want to drop by and give you a new book to read, when you have time. "Geek Love" is one of my favorites and I recommend it whenever I find someone who will listen to me. It's by Katherine Dunn and can be found much easier than the books you're looking for.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Don, woah, dude. Those sound right on. I’m going to check them out. I was aware of Jay Ramsey being Ramsey Campbell, but the other stuff is news to me. Thanks much!
ReplyDeletePattinase, that one it turns out really was the mouse book by Jill Barklem. I do think I read a Nancy Drew book once though. I have no idea of the title though.
daniel, that sounds like the book, although the title isn’t quite right. But I’ve found that I’ve mixed up titles slightly before so it could well be. Thanks much. I’m going to check it out. It sounds up the right alley.
Godinla, I have heard good things of that book. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks.
I got one other book.
ReplyDeleteThere was a paperback novel called CLAWS that Leisure Books published in 1978. It was written by a fellow named D.Gunther Wilde, and the plot seemed to involve cats attacking humans.
Wrong decade, but not by far.
Charles, I wish I could be of some help buddy, but alas my memory does not serve me well these days.
ReplyDeleteI have to get out more and enjoy adult conversations!
Sorry, I'm too am of no help.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, I bet your right on that one. I'm checking it out now.
ReplyDeleteBibi, no problem. Thanks for playing along!
Travis Erwin, not a problem my friend.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had gotten into the habit of keeping this kind of detail for the things I read when I was younger.
ReplyDelete--
glovin
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Glovin, I'm glad I did. I wish I'd kept even better records.
ReplyDelete