Galanthomania - the book

[Martin Baxendale]

As you say, nice photo. 

[Paddy Tobin]

I think you stole the show, Martin.

And, what did you think of the book?

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

I haven't had time to read it properly yet, just flicked through it very quickly. Strikes me as more of a coffee table book about the phenomenon of galanthophilia than a plantsman's guide to snowdrop collecting and growing.

[KentGardener]

Strikes me as more of a coffee table book about the phenomenon of galanthophilia than a plantsman's guide to snowdrop collecting and growing.

Coffee table book - good description. 

I am glad I got it. 

[Martin Baxendale]

I'm sure there will be plenty of people, including a fair few snowdrop enthusiasts, who will enjoy it for what it is - a comparatively light coffee table book read about galanthophilia and galanthophiles, but others who were expecting something more heavyweight with lots of practical and detailed info on snowdrop cultivars and how to grow them may well be disappointed. Maybe it's all a question of expectations. My advice to anyone who hasn't pre-ordered it but is thinking of buying would perhaps be to try to see the book in the flesh, at a bookshop, or maybe a friend's copy, before buying and have a flick through it to see if it's what you expect it to be.

[Martin Baxendale]

And of course if it helps to get more non-galanthophile gardeners (who might not need a mass of heavyweight practical info initially) interested in snowdrops, then that can't be a bad thing.

[Brian Ellis]

And of course if it helps to get more non-galanthophile gardeners (who might not need a mass of heavyweight practical info initially) interested in snowdrops, then that can't be a bad thing.

Here, here, Martin.  It is certainly not an academic tome, but I find myself picking it up and reading a page when I've got a couple of minutes.  It is very nice to see who all these well-known galanthophiles are after having read all the mentions of them elsewhere.  Obviously useful, and attractive, to those who only have a slight temperature rather than the fully blown condition

[Gerard Oud]

I do agree with Brian, i have only had a short look in the book and its completely diffrent then the snowdropbible. Its understandable and readable for everyone. If you would like to write a new snowdropbible and i know you have experience with writing Martin. Just remember how much work needs to be done before you have it all complete, and what will be a reasonable sellingprice? I think there wont be any profit after all that work

[Martin Baxendale]

No, Gerard, I certainly won't be trying to write a new snowdrop bible    I know just how much work would be involved, and anyway the team who brought us the first one are already working on producing a second one with new cultivars named since the first came out.

I don't mean to attack Hanneke's book. I have heard that some people have been disappointed by it, probably because it didn't turn out to b quite the kind of book they were expecting. I was just trying, in response to Paddy's question, to give an honest and positive view on it.

[mark smyth]

Martin you could write a snowdrop collectors cartoon booklet

[Gerard Oud]

No, Gerard, I certainly won't be trying to write a new snowdrop bible    I know just how much work would be involved, and anyway the team who brought us the first one are already working on producing a second one with new cultivars named since the first came out.

This century?

[galanthophile]

It's not often a new book on snowdrops comes out so I for one was pleased to obtain it. A light read with some nice descriptions of the mania and nice pictures. I'm glad to have it but I would buy any book that featured snowdrops as the main subject....!

[Paddy Tobin]

Ann,

I think you were part of the target audience for this book - a person who would buy anything to do with snowdrops. Perhaps, "Galanthobookmania" might have been a suitable title. And there are many, many more like you; I being one.

It is, as you say, a light book.

Paddy

[jnovis]

I like all the thumbnail pictures in the back pages,makes it easier to compare different plants.

[Paddy Tobin]

But, it's not a comprehensive listing of photographs, Jim, and many are of  poor quality.

Paddy