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Barb in Maryland wrote: "Two obits--both of which hit me hard:

First--beloved children's author Beverly Cleary, age 104 (!!). Creator of Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and others See:

Second--..."

Yes, sad to see them both go, especially Beverly Cleary. I was so surprised also to see she was 104.

Beverly Cleary was a national treasure, for sure. if anyone is up for a retro read of one of her "first love" books, I would enjoy that. my favorite is either The Luckiest Girl or Sister of the Bride.

My favorite was Emily's Runaway Imagination!

Yes, what an amazing long life Cleary had. The only Cleary title I own is Fifteen, although libraries in our area carry some of her children's titles.

She just scrapes in a a Retro writer but one of my favourite children's writers,Jill Murphy, has just died of cancer. I just loved the Mr and Mrs Large books, which were written for parents as much as their young children.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "She just scrapes in a a Retro writer but one of my favourite children's writers,Jill Murphy, has just died of cancer. I just loved the Mr and Mrs Large books, which were written for ..."

Somewhere I have the Large book where Mr. and Mrs. go out to a business dinner and dance. It explains just what it takes to get ready to go out without the kids, and, although the grandkids enjoyed it, I reeeeally liked it!

Karlyne wrote:"Somewhere I have the Large book where Mr. and Mrs. go out to a business dinner and dance. It explains just what it takes to get ready to go out without the kids, and, although the grandkids enjoyed it, I reeeeally liked it! ."

I loved that one. I have found The Last Noo-Noo on You tube.
(I don't like the narrator's reading of it much though)

Wilbur Smith has died;

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Wilbur Smith has died;

"

Carol
Thanks for the info and the link. I tried a few of his books, but never finished any, so I can't really comment on his work, except to say 'not for me'.

I think I tried one & it was a dnf.

& British writer Fay Weldon has died.



I saw her speak at a book festival many years ago, & she was a most entertaining speaker.

American author John Jakes, who wrote many popular historical novels, has died at age 90.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "American author John Jakes, who wrote many popular historical novels, has died at age 90.

"

Thanks for letting us know, Barb. I haven't heard of this author, although I recognise the North & South books name.

Oh, he was a big deal in the U.S. in the 1970s and '80s.
I never read any of his books, but my younger sister was a big fan.

Her first book was published in 1979, so she just fits in our timeline.

Anne Perry (aka Juliette Hulme) has just died aged 1984.



I didn't realise she had moved to the States.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Her first book was published in 1979, so she just fits in our timeline.

Anne Perry (aka Juliette Hulme) has just died aged 1984.



I didn't realise she ha..."

Me, either. I read her new books annually for years, the Thomas Pitt series, and several of the William Monk series. Life got in the way and I lost track of both series, but in the last several years, discovered Thomas and Charlotte Pitt’s son Daniel had grown up, and was getting a series of his own - those have been enjoyable.

Oh, how sad. I'm reading her latest Daniel Pitt mystery right now. I see that she has one more book coming out later this year.
According to the NY Times, she moved to California in 2017, and that she had suffered a heart attack in Dec 2022.

I’ve never read any of Anne Perry’s books, but I found the movie Heavenly Creatures fascinating.

I always felt a bit conflicted about reading any of her books, because on one hand she & Pauline were very young when they murdered Pauline's mother, but on the other, she (as far as I know) never showed any remorse for it.

I do know I have a novella of hers in the house somewhere. I might get to it this year.

He just fits into our time period with his first two novels. Often controversial British novelist Martin Amis has just died.

Famed American writer Cormac McCarthy has just died. He was first published in the 60s.

From his bio on Wikipedia

Doesn't sound like he was a joy to be married to!

Alice Munro has died :(

Nelson DeMille has died. I've not read him, but at the start of his writing career he was prolific.

Thank you Carol, so sad! I have read, and enjoyed, all his books; am especially fond of his character John Corey.

& she just squeaks into our time period (her first novel was published in 1979) but Barbara Taylor Bradford has just died.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "& she just squeaks into our time period (her first novel was published in 1979) but Barbara Taylor Bradford has just died.

"

Oh, I read several of her earliest sagas. She sure knew how to write strong, determined women.

One of my favourite authors has died, David Lodge. His books would make great retro reads.

& Joseph Wambaugh has died. His best known books The Onion Field & The Choir Boys were from the 1970s.

I've sent a message to Support to update his bio on here. :(

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "& Joseph Wambaugh has died. His best known books The Onion Field & The Choir Boys were from the 1970s.

I've sent a message to Support to update his bio on here. :(

..."
I'm not sure I ever read any of his books, but I was certainly aware of them! I may have to go back and try a book or two. It looks like his last book was in 2012. That's a nice 40+ year career.

British mystery writer Peter Lovesey died a few days ago. He started writing in the 70s, was last published in 2024.

& Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa has just died. His writing career started in 1959.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "British mystery writer Peter Lovesey died a few days ago. He started writing in the 70s, was last published in 2024.

"

I was just about to write in about him. The Washington Post finally got around to printing an obit for him--almost three weeks after he died! Anyway, I loved the fact that his first mystery was the winning entry in a contest. His prize was 1,000 pounds, which was a big boost to his income. Then the publishers wanted a second book. Thus a career was born. I enjoyed his books, though I didn't come close to reading all of them.

I've never read Lovesey, but I'm sure I have one on my kindle. Our library system has a few of his, but after our time period. He had a very long career.