I know this is not technically your fault but

[several_bees]

Why did nobody tell me about Black Hearts in BatterseaSo okay, it's a children's book set in alternate-history London - written 1965, set around 1825. There is Battersea Castle, built for ludicrous fake-historical reasons. There's a Battersea crest ("two squirrels respecting each other, vert., and az., eating mince pies"). There is a tunnel. There

Comments

[several_bees]

Yes, I wouldn't mind opera as background to an otherwise pleasant evening!

The book is the second in a series; I haven't read the first, but I've just discovered that in it, Simon (the main character in this one) keeps bees. It's the oddest experience, reading something that I would see as one of the formative books of my childhood if I'd only been given it twenty years ago.

[gnimmel]

I think Chinese opera is a bit like this (at least in Beijing) - the audience sit at tables, eat, drink tea, etc.

[ravenblack]

Chinese opera is also cool to watch! Though still only about as fun to listen to as other opera.

[huskyteer]

I had also assumed this! TBH I never liked it as much as I loved The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, which I adored.

[several_bees]

I will certainly read it. As it doesn't seem to involve Battersea, it might even be possible for me to figure out whether I'm enjoying it or not, instead of spending the whole thing going "Battersea WHAT castle WHAT squirrels tunnels snow WHAT, A HOT AIR BALLOON, WHAT THE HELL JOAN AIKEN".

[atreic]

Is is the best of all of them, although sadly it's downhill from there.

[gnimmel]

Also, on the offchance that you haven't encountered it: the Borribles trilogy is a fine series of children's books set in a (slightly) alternate London. Involves Battersea, underground rivers and the invasion and wholesale slaughter of a Womble[1] colony in Wimbledon.

[1] Thinly disguised as 'Rumbles'.

[several_bees]

I haven't read them! I think someone's mentioned them to me before but I didn't follow up on it - I shall order them tonight.

[miss_newham]

I told you about it! It's not my fault in a technical or untechnical sense! You probably actually wrote it when you weren't looking.

[several_bees]

You not only told me about it but actually handed me the book! You are the only one I don't blame.

[squirmelia]

Sounds good! I have some recollections of reading some Joan Aiken books at school when I was about 6, such as A Necklace of Raindrops, but have not looked at any since. I remember enjoying them, so maybe I should see if my local library has some.