Books you may like to hear about

[Maggi Young]

Tim, metal supports attached to the ceiling allow shelves to be suspended from the roof, offering a tad more book space..... depends how high the ceiling is and how tall you are as to how much use you can make of this particular space grabbing trick. 

[Tim Ingram]

I hadn't thought of that Maggi! I have seriously considered raising the bed on stilts (for it is a spare bedroom too, as well as seed store and place to throw all of the AGS Group paraphernalia). That should give me quite a bit more space for books!

[mark smyth]

I received recently Robert Rolfe's latest book Portrait of Alpines.
I haven't yet devoured it - that will happen later this week - but as an apertif I scanned through the pictures and couldn't fault them. First impressions count for a lot...

and .....?

How many photos? How many plants? Show plants or in the wild?

[Maggi Young]

How many photos? How many plants? Show plants or in the wild?

well, I still haven't had time to read the darn thing, but Ill try to help....

How many photos? Lots, nearly all by Robert, some others.... some great scenery shots, too.

How many plants? More than 84 

Show plants or in the wild? Both.

Seems eminently readable! 

[Tim Ingram]

I have to say - gardening friends are real friends. I have just been left a copy of Brian Mathew's 'Crocus' by Rosemary Powis who was the Secretary of our AGS Group for 17 years. It recalls many happy memories running the Group. I shall have to supplement this with Janis Ruksans book, having hugely enjoyed 'Buried Treasures'. Extensions in the office will be underway before long!

[FrazerHenderson]

Tim

Mr Ruksans book on Crocus has been published. It received a mixed review from Kit Grey-Wilson in the recent issue of The Garden. The essays on cultivation were warmly praised - as you would expect they would be since Mr Ruksans is a nurseryman of considerable standing. Concerns however were expressed about some of the photographs, the editing and terminology however  "..the author of this guide should be commended on producing an informative, albeit personal account of this popular, much loved genus."

Frazer

[Pascal B]

Frazer,

No book is perfect, some of Grey-Wilson's books are also not without criticism and I am sure some "experts" will no doubt have something to say about the treatment of their "own" genera in the upcoming book by CGW and Cribb "Guide to the Flora of Western China"......

[mark smyth]

£70 for Guide to the Flora of Western China

[Pascal B]

Yes, but not available yet Mark, still has to be released.

Frazer, which month's issue of The Garden was that review of the Crocus book?

[Tim Ingram]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if that's what comes across in a book, that's what catches me! But I find quite a lot beautiful so have rather a lot of books!!

[GoodGrief]

Frazer, which month's issue of The Garden was that review of the Crocus book?

August.

[David Nicholson]

Mr Ruksans book on Crocus has been published. It received a mixed review from Kit Grey-Wilson in the recent issue of The Garden. The essays on cultivation were warmly praised - as you would expect they would be since Mr Ruksans is a nurseryman of considerable standing. Concerns however were expressed about some of the photographs, the editing and terminology however  "..the author of this guide should be commended on producing an informative, albeit personal account of this popular, much loved genus."

Yes, it read as a very "tetchy" review to me. Perhaps KG-W had ideas on a Crocus book of his own, he's done books on most other plants Having said that I do find it annoying when photographs are in a lump in the middle of a book but the reasons for it are probably ones of economics and I would rather have them that way than no book at all.

[Pascal B]

Frazer, which month's issue of The Garden was that review of the Crocus book?

August.

Mmm, as overseas member I haven't received that one yet.....

[Pascal B]

Yes, it read as a very "tetchy" review to me. Perhaps KG-W had ideas on a Crocus book of his own, he's done books on most other plants

David, you speak out something I was keeping as a thought to myself...... And that is before I have read the review itself. Often reading a review is accompanied by reviewing the reviewer in the back of your mind isn't it?.

How objective a review is depends on several things, politics is among them. Also how knowledgeable the reviewer is on the subject of the book he/she is reviewing and how one perceives that person as an authority in general. I rather read a book written with passion by someone that has devoted a lifetime studying and working on a particular genus than a book by someone that tried to understand a medium to large genus in a relatively short period for the purpose of writing a book to make a living....(..).

I usually don't pay much attention to reviews, some books were considered bad which I thought were brilliant and others were hailed that I thought were crap. It also depends on how the aim of the book is met. Some books claim to be a monograph but if it is not accompanied by a full scale revision of the genus it is not. The book by Janis is a complete guide and it that sense I think it does the job very well. Now how to resist growing more autumn Crocus after reading it.....mmmmmm.....

[Paddy Tobin]

Just an aside on the subject matter above: A friend here in Ireland, born in Latvia, is practising her English reading by reading Janis Ruksans' "Buried Treasures".

I thought it funny that a Latvian was reading in English a book written by a Latvian. It's a funny world.

Paddy