Retro Reads discussion

I haven't heard of that one so I went to look it up, is the real title Father and I were Ranchers?

The copy I'm reading is so old that it doesn't have a publishing page. It just starts right in with the table of contents! I'm guessing from the cover art and illustrations it's from the 40s or so.

Just looked it up and, yes, Father and I Were Ranchers is an alternate title. It's been continuously in print since it was first published in 1950. I am loving it!

Karlyne wrote: "Just looked it up and, yes, Father and I Were Ranchers is an alternate title. It's been continuously in print since it was first published in 1950. I am loving it!"

This sounds interesting, and my library has a couple of copies! I'll have to try to remember to grab one next time I go in.

It's the kind of book I wish I'd read out loud to my kids. So much to it!

my library does have it so I will probably end up reading it at some point, thank you Karlyne.

goodreads sayss there are 8 total in a series, have you read any of the sequels?

Jackie wrote: "my library does have it so I will probably end up reading it at some point, thank you Karlyne.

goodreads sayss there are 8 total in a series, have you read any of the sequels?"

No, but I'm going to see how many my library has. We have a good stock of old kids' fiction & nonfiction pioneer type books, so I'm hopeful!

let's start Cheaper By The Dozen!

Hi Everyone! We are starting a buddy read of My Friend Flicka https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... To be followed by Thunderhead in a few weeks and Green Grass of Wyoming starting September 1 as a featured group read. So if any of you are in the mood this summer for some gorgeous Wyoming mountain scenery, trail riding and an amazing family saga, do join Karlyne and I!

Thanks for the invite, Hana! Sadly, I find old-school animal stories too upsetting to read. (I still have nightmares about Old Yeller.) Next time!

You may have a point...there is at least one scene in My Friend Flicka that is truly harrowing.

Yeah, Black Beauty scarred me as well.

Abigail wrote: "Thanks for the invite, Hana! Sadly, I find old-school animal stories too upsetting to read. (I still have nightmares about Old Yeller.) Next time!"

Same! Besides Old Yeller and Black Beauty, also the Yearling, even Watership Down, although I loved that.

Yes! Suffering is supposed to be okay for kids when it's animals suffering, not people?? For me it's the opposite. I can't even watch 101 Dalmatians or Beethoven.

I think that it's the suffering, though, that helps kids become compassionate. We tend to be so self-focused that a jolt or two is really good for our complacence, and I think we should feel completely destroyed by any suffering and try desperately to alleviate it. I wasn't around a whole lot of animals as a kid, and I think Bambi and Black Beauty and all the rest gave me a handle on what it means to respect animals. Come to think of it, I did do a lot of bawling as a kid...

I agree, Karlyne, these books educated me to compassion and empathy. But now I have acquired those things, I don't want to go through the trauma again!

Now I'm remembering why I didn't want to reread My Friend Flicka. It's been decades since I read it and I can't remember the plot, except boy loves horse, but I remember the angsty feeling it left behind. :)

The Green Grass of Wyoming is easier to enjoy, FWIW.

Abigail wrote: "I agree, Karlyne, these books educated me to compassion and empathy. But now I have acquired those things, I don't want to go through the trauma again!"

Haha! Good point!

Abigail wrote: "Yeah, Black Beauty scarred me as well."

yes, and Beautiful Joe, has anyone else read that?

The Green Grass of Wyoming is easier to enjoy, FWIW.

I ended up not reading My Friend Flicka so I'm now wondering if The Green Grass can stand alone?

Jackie wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Yeah, Black Beauty scarred me as well."

yes, and Beautiful Joe, has anyone else read that?”

I read Beautiful Joe as a kid; I don’t think I could handle it (or Black Beauty either) as an adult.

Yes, Green Grass works as a stand-alone read. Even though most of the characters are the same, the plot is separate. And IIRC there’s a pretty big jump forward in time, at least between this one and My Friend Flicka.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Yes, Green Grass works as a stand-alone read. Even though most of the characters are the same, the plot is separate. And IIRC there’s a pretty big jump forward in time, at least between this one an..."

I know that Roddy McDowall isn’t in the Green Grass movie. I assumed he got too old to play Ken, but maybe he wasn’t old enough. 😄

Peggy wrote: "Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Yes, Green Grass works as a stand-alone read. Even though most of the characters are the same, the plot is separate. And IIRC there’s a pretty big jump forward in time, ..."

I had to check (I've never seen the Green Grass movie), and he would have been 19/20ish when it was filmed. But he looked boyish for just about all of his life!

I'm ready for another read, anyone else?

Jackie wrote: "I'm ready for another read, anyone else?"

Always!

I would be but this time it might be hard for me—last week I had to pack all my children’s books because I am getting ready to move. Maybe I could pick up a Kindle copy . . .

Jackie wrote: "I'm ready for another read, anyone else?"

Sounds great!

Abigail wrote: "I would be but this time it might be hard for me—last week I had to pack all my children’s books because I am getting ready to move. Maybe I could pick up a Kindle copy . . ."

Moving is hideous. I hope the new place is wonderful and has lots of room for lots of books!

Abigail wrote: "I would be but this time it might be hard for me—last week I had to pack all my children’s books because I am getting ready to move. Maybe I could pick up a Kindle copy . . ."

Good luck, Abigail, it's always tough.

Jackie wrote: "I'm ready for another read, anyone else?"

Yes, I'm definitely ready. Sorry for the delay--GR did something weird to the fonts and was unusable for me for a couple of weeks. We are just about ready to start a read of the In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden on November 12. It's terrific but definitely not a children's book. I think Tadiana is doing a Christmas short story read for December, always a highlight, so perhaps we can aim for a mid-January start.

We've certainly done duty by animal themed children's fiction so we should probably branch out for our next round. I'm upping one of my favorite E. Nesbit's Five Children and It, which I think is actually going to be made into a movie. I have no doubt the movie will massacre the book....But I digress.

Other ideas? Looking at our list (top right hand) A Little Princess and Heidi might be fun. More thoughts, fans?

I'm up for any of those three, since they were all my absolute favorite (haha!)

I would love to read Five Children and It.

Of those three I would most like to read A Little Princess, and it would be a first time read for me.

any interest in reading The Saturdays? It's the first of a series I love.

I would like to read Five Children and It, but the others are OK.

I’d most like to read Five Children and It, mainly because I don’t think I’ve ever read it, but I love the other two choices too.

I have a horrible sinking feeling that I may have loaned my copy of Five Children out... But I think I can get hold of another one through either the library or a kid!

Karlyne wrote: "I have a horrible sinking feeling that I may have loaned my copy of Five Children out... But I think I can get hold of another one through either the library or a kid!"

It’s a 1902 book so you can also get a free ebook on Project Gutenberg. :)

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "I have a horrible sinking feeling that I may have loaned my copy of Five Children out... But I think I can get hold of another one through either the library or a kid!"

It’s a 1902..."

They'll send me a free book?! How cool is that? (My eyes just can't do e-books...)

Karlyne wrote: "They'll send me a free book?! How cool is that? (My eyes just can't do e-books...)
"

I think Gutenbergs are only available to read online or as a download.

I'm still tidying my books & I have Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm Since so many of us enjoyed The Romance of a Christmas Card that might be something to think about later in the year. :)

There is a kindle version free on Amazon.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "They'll send me a free book?! How cool is that? (My eyes just can't do e-books...)
"

I think Gutenbergs are only available to read online or as a download.

I'm still tidying my bo..."

I remember reading Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm as an adult, albeit decades ago, and thinking to myself that it was nothing like as good as I remembered from my childhood, (The Five Little Peppers also fell into that category) so if we choose it I'll be curious to see which opinion I now am persuaded of!

I'd still be keen!

I've never seen the film, so I wouldn't be comparing the book to that.

I'd probably join a Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm read. I might have read it ages ago but I have no recollection of it.

Karlyne, I'd be so lost without my ebooks! Have you tried changing the font size and/or type, screen color, etc.? What kind of device(s) have you tried reading ebooks on? I have a couple of actual Kindles but I found I much prefer reading on the Kindle app on my iPad. I don't like reading on my smart phone.

There's also a website that offers a lot of free audiobooks of the out-of-copyright classics, if that might work for you. It's like Project Gutenberg, except just for audiobooks. The name of that website escapes me (I'm not an audiobook person myself), but I'm sure others know it, or I could hunt it down.

We've got some great adult Retro Reads coming up through February. Maybe we should plan a Children's RR for mid to late March or early April--some great suggestions here!

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I'd probably join a Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm read. I might have read it ages ago but I have no recollection of it.

Karlyne, I'd be so lost without my ebooks! Have you tried changing the font siz..."

I like to read in the early mornings (and late evenings in the bath) before I put my contacts in, and books are easy to put a couple of inches away from the eyeballs, but devices are not. I do read some "literature" online when I'm tutoring the kids, but I find it hard to concentrate; I'm not sure if it's a vision problem (I think it might be because I almost always end up with a headache) or not, but one of my grandgirls has the same flushing face and blurry vision I get if she spends a lot of time on screen! Let's just blame it on DNA...

Carol, the movie is cute, but about the only thing it has in common with the book is that a little girl named Rebecca goes to live on a farm with her aunt. 😊

Peggy wrote: "Carol, the movie is cute, but about the only thing it has in common with the book is that a little girl named Rebecca goes to live on a farm with her aunt. 😊"

I have a vague memory of Shirley Temple in a straw hat from the movie - and that's about it!

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is one of those books I'm always meaning to read so I'd join in a read as well.

Karlyne wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Carol, the movie is cute, but about the only thing it has in common with the book is that a little girl named Rebecca goes to live on a farm with her aunt. 😊"

I have a vague memory o..."

Now I have the song stuck in my head. “An old straw hat, a suit of overalls, and a worn-out pair of shoes.”

Peggy wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Carol, the movie is cute, but about the only thing it has in common with the book is that a little girl named Rebecca goes to live on a farm with her aunt. 😊"

I have ..."

Haha, well, at least it's better than an advertising jingle, right?

I just reviewed this thread and see I somehow missed that the author of Wildwood is here? I loved that book, both the story and the design!

We did read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase a few years ago, didn’t we? In any case I recall reading it at the behest of Goodreads and it was a group read because there was discussion.

So many good suggestions here, I hate to add to the confusion but I have been wanting to reread The Phantom Tollbooth for some time.

But there seems to be a certain amount of enthusiasm in the thread for an E. Nesbit or Edward Eager book, and I’d be happy there too!