Catherine Cookson

[grumpy01]

Just turned on to watch an old episode of Call the Midwife and caught the end of a Catherine Cookson story,didn’t that woman write some depressing stuff.

[woofgang]

yup

[hellywelly4]

In the 70s I worked in a library and Catherine Cookson was the most popular author at that time. I thought I’d give her books a try, but felt so depressed after reading them (perhaps 3 or 4) I decided she wasn’t for me.

[lankeela]

I love them, particularly when they have a whole story on a Sunday afternoon. I miss so many episodes of other series that its great to watch a complete story in one go. Also easy to understand, none of this double twist stuff - what you see is what you get.

[burlyshirley]

No, don't agree. I absolutely loved her books when I was a lot younger. I've read every one and still have every one secreted around the house somewhere ! She may have given her heroes and heroines a hard time, but they always had a lovely ending. I remember reading about her once and she said a lovely woman came up to her in a shopping precinct and said to her 'Ee hinny, I love your books, but you don't half put 'em through it' !!

[burlyshirley]

I too love the TV versions of her books, they always remain true to the books and don't change them around. The Fifteen Streets was particularly good.

[naomi24]

I could never read her books - and I've tried. Half a page and my mind had wandered off to more interesting things.

[Jackdaw33]

I rather like them but that's probably because I am local to the area in which most of her books are set. I remember seeing one story where they were supposed to be getting off a train at Hexham station but in fact it was Tynemouth station, which retains its Victorian structure so was possibly more suited to the period.

[emmie]

i quite liked some of the films made from her stories, though most are quite dour.

[Bobbisox1]

I like them but it’s probably because Northerners can associate more with her, like me, I know the areas she talks about, the TV stories are taken up on Druridge Bay in Northumberland and the street/ houses and shop scenes are taken at Beamish Museum which is around 15-20 minutes from me and is an open air museum depicting life in the NE a century ago , it’s won many awards, this said,CCs popularity as an author goes far and wide

[Bobbisox1]

Snap JD

[emmie]

im sure she is very popular, i have never read her books to be honest.

[Bobbisox1]

Very popular in English speaking countries Emmie

[Apc2604]

I find the TV ones very samey and boring. I have never read the books, so can't comment.

[Jackdaw33]

The trams are the clue that it's Beamish. You can see the Sun Inn at the end of the tramline. It's actually a functioning pub, but alas not at 1913 prices. Hanover Street in Newcastle is another location for some scenes.

[emmie]

one was the Man who cried i think? with Ciaran Hinds, very down...

[Bobbisox1]

We went in the pub on one of our visits there ,very authentic it was too

[davebro]

Never read or seen any Cookson. One book which ought to be depressing (but isn't) is "Twopence to Cross the Mersey" by Helen Forrester.

[burlyshirley]

Her books were translated into many languages too.

I've done the Catherine Cookson trail in the north east twice, one was a wash out because the coach driver was late and he was in a foul mood and treated us all with disdain !! So, we booked another one and it was great, all went to plan and we had a lovely time.

I've had two letters from her in the past, one handwritten and the other typed, sadly I've lost the handwritten one. She was a lovely, genuine person. I cried when she passed.

[Fairlight]

I have read the book called The Mallens and it is nothing like the TV series.

Oh and DaveBro I too have read Twopence to Cross the Mersey" by Helen Forrester. I also read her other books on the same subject. It was about her memoirs as a child of the depression in Liverpool. I loved them so much, I re-read them!