Reading the 20th Century discussion

I got a B&N gift card for my birthday and picked up The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. I’ve also been buying way too many kindle books… oops.

I got a unique and interesting book today, Chasing Homer. Not only is it printed on high quality paper, but it also has full-color plates of artwork by Max Neumann and the beginning of each chapter has a QR code that opens a recording of percussive music to set the tone for the upcoming chapter. It was published by New Directions.

Alwynne wrote: "Tania wrote: "My birthday is tomorrow, so I'm going to Bath. Going to a Dante Gabriel Rossetti exhibition at the Holborne Museum and then a bookshop tour, (including Persephone Book..."

Thanks Alwynne, Chiltern Books are pure indulgence; the pictures on here don't do the justice, the design is inspired by the famous peacock edition of Pride and Prejudice.

Judy wrote: "Hope you have a lovely birthday and enjoy your visit to Persephone Books' new home, Tania."

Thanks Judy, really looking forward to it, if I've time, I hope to go to the wonderful Topping and Co and Mr B's Emporium too. Bath has some wonderful bookshops.

Tina wrote: "I just asked for The Lyrics for my birthday (in a few weeks). Cross fingers!!! Also interested in All the Songs. With the imminent movie, total Beatles immersion is my plan."

Happy Birthday, Tina. Total Beatles immersion sounds great to me!

Tania wrote: "Thanks Judy, really looking forward to it, if I've time, I hope to go to the wonderful Topping and Co and Mr B's Emporium too. Bath has some wonderful bookshops...."

Oh yes, Topping and Co is great - I love visiting their shop in Ely when I'm over that way. Enjoy!

Bronwyn wrote: "I got a B&N gift card for my birthday and picked up The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. I’ve also been buying way too many kindle books… oops."

The Summer Book is wonderful. I must get to more of her adult fiction.

:) I’m really looking forward to it. I read Fair Play earlier this year and loved it so much. I need to read more of her too. :)

Happy birthday, Tania! I hope the weather is as beautiful in Bath today as it is in Cleveland.

Thank you. It was a lovely sunny day, and we had a great time.

Did anyone get any lovely bookish goodies for Christmas?

I was given Around the World in 80 Books which is the sort of thing I'd never buy but which I'm delighted to own.

I got The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present which was gratefully received.

Lovely!

I shouldn't be buying more books, of course, but couldn't resist The Courtiers: Splendor and Intrigue in the Georgian Court at Kensington Palace.

I got some nice gift vouchers, so that means I can browse, and buy, guilt free...

Love Lucy Worsley, RC. Did you get to Kensington Palace in the end?

Roman Clodia wrote: "Did anyone get any lovely bookish goodies for Christmas?"

I was given A Poem for Every Night of the Year, which I started last night. It'll sit on my bedside table so I can read one before sleep.

I was also given Because of the Lockwoods by Dorothy Whipple (I'm running out of her novels), and There Were No Windows by Norah Hoult, which looks really intriguing. And some socks that say "F*** off, I'm reading".

I received
-Anne’s Cradle about the Japanese translator of Anne of Green Gables
-How to Read a Dress/Suit by Lydia Edwards
-Murder Isn’t Easy by Carla Valentine
-A Tale of Two Murders by Laura Thompson

And my sister says there’s another in the mail.

I mostly received books and then two fancy gradient puzzles.

Susan wrote: "Love Lucy Worsley, RC. Did you get to Kensington Palace in the end?"

I did - my brother's partner took the unused ticket. As you said, it was less crowded than usual so we had plenty of time and space to explore.

I haven't read Lucy Worsley yet, find her TV persona a bit irritating but her books look good.

Glad you got to go, RC. It was fairly small but, goodness, the train on Princess Di's dress was pretty stunning, wasn't it?!

Bronwyn, books in the post are always good - a little extra surprise after Christmas :)

Ha, it was - I thought I'd seen the dress before at the V&A but I can't have done because I'd certainly remember that train!

For Christmas my sister-in-law and brother-in-law gave me Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside by actor/comedian Nick Offerman. Its about 3 of his outdoor adventures.
The first adventure is his trip to Glacier National Park in Montana with 2 of his buddies, musician Jeff Tweedy of WILCO and author George Saunders from Lincoln in the Bardo fame. The three bonded because they were all raised in Illinois middle/working class families.
The second part is about Offerman's visit to see another friend, James Rebanks whose The Shepherd's Life: Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape I read two years ago.

Your lists of gifted books are giving me great ideas for my to-read list! For that I thank you, since I received some bookstore gift certificates. I also received a good number of books, I'm pleased to say, although that doesn't mean I won't race out and buy more soon! The most intriguing are The Sleeve Should Be Illegal: & Other Reflections on Art at the Frick, and The Bookseller of Florence: The Story of the Manuscripts that Illuminated the Renaissance.

My last book came today! The Tortoise and the Hare by Elizabeth Jenkins! I can’t wait to dig in sometime soon, I just have to get out of this slump I’m in recently. (Don’t want to read, don’t want to knit, nothing sounds good. Happy January, I guess.)

I loved The Tortoise and the Hare, Bronwyn. It's horrible when you have a reading slump - hope you feel more motivated soon :)

That’s so good to hear. :)

Yeah, there’s been a lot going on and I’m just drained of wanting to do anything. I started knitting again yesterday, so hopefully wanting to read again is coming soon. <3

I will hope so, Bronwyn. Have a good weekend. Sending lots of hugs X

I just came across No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy which appeals greatly.

Mark Hodkinson grew up among the terrace houses of Rochdale in a house with just one book. His dad kept it on top of a wardrobe with other items of great worth – wedding photographs and Mark’s National Cycling Proficiency certificate. If Mark wanted to read it, he was warned not to crease the pages or slam shut the covers.

Today, Mark is an author, journalist and publisher. He still lives in Rochdale, but is now snugly ensconced (or is that buried?) in a ‘book cave’ surrounded by 3,500 titles – at the last count. No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy is his story of growing up a working-class lad during the 1970s and 1980s. It’s about schools (bad), music (good) and the people (some mad, a few sane), and pre-eminently and profoundly the books and authors (some bad, mostly good) that led the way, and shaped his life. It’s also about a family who just didn’t see the point of reading, and a troubled grandad who, in his own way, taught Mark the power of stories.

In recounting his own life-long love affair with books, Mark also tells the story of how writing and reading has changed over the last five decades, starting with the wave of working-class writers in the 1950s and 60s, where he saw himself reflected in books for the first time.

On Friday I bought The Bourne Supremacy, Last Seen Wearing and Last Bus to Woodstock. From Library One I borrowed King Solomon's Mines and Les Miserables, Volume 1. On Thursday I borrowed from Library Two The Red Tent and Death on the Limpopo and from Library Three A Thousand Splendid Suns.

I go once a month to the libraries and the system allows me to take up to ten books from libraries in the Municipality, six of which are within reasonable access (half an hour by car the furthest). The loan period is for a month, and renewable subject to demand from other users.

My son read A Thousand Splendid Suns for A Level English, Wayne, and I read along with him. It was brilliant, but no book has made me cry like that one - I was an utter mess by the time we had finished it!

Every woman I suggested read A Thousand Splendid Suns called me in tears to tell me that they had just finished and have to call me later when they were done crying.

I was an utter mess. So much so that I actually can't bear to pick up another of the author's books, it was just so harrowing. Brilliant, but so, so sad.

I have now succumbed and started No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy which is, I feel already, going to be brilliant.

The Kate Runner was good, but I encouraged women to read A Thousand Splendid Suns. I liked And the Mountains Echoed, but not like the previous two.

Susan wrote:


"I just came across No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy which appeals greatly.



Mark Hodkinson grew up among the terrace houses of Rochdale in a house with just one book. His dad kept it on top of a wardrobe with other items of great worth – wedding photographs and Mark’s National Cycling Proficiency certificate. If Mark wanted to read it, he was warned not to crease the pages or slam shut the covers.

Today, Mark is an author, journalist and publisher. He still lives in Rochdale, but is now snugly ensconced (or is that buried?) in a ‘book cave’ surrounded by 3,500 titles – at the last count. No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy is his story of growing up a working-class lad during the 1970s and 1980s. It’s about schools (bad), music (good) and the people (some mad, a few sane), and pre-eminently and profoundly the books and authors (some bad, mostly good) that led the way, and shaped his life. It’s also about a family who just didn’t see the point of reading, and a troubled grandad who, in his own way, taught Mark the power of stories.

In recounting his own life-long love affair with books, Mark also tells the story of how writing and reading has changed over the last five decades, starting with the wave of working-class writers in the 1950s and 60s, where he saw himself reflected in books for the first time"


Just been approved on Netgalley. Hurrah.


Can't wait to give it a read after you and Sid were both so positive about it


I really enjoyed The Last Mad Surge Of Youth, also by Mark Hodkinson. Review here...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am pretty sure you will enjoy it, Nigeyb. Love that outfit on the cover, I think my brother had the same jumper!

I’ve forgotten about this thread!

I’ve picked up random kindle books here and there. My main books lately have been three of the British Library Women Writers books: A Pin to see the Peepshow, Which Way?, and Strange Journey. I’ve now doubled how many I have!

On Mother’s Day I went out to the used bookstore and got Capital Crimes from the BL Classic Crimes, as well as three NYRB Classics: A High Wind in Jamaica, The Queue, and The Slynx. I’m a sucker for NYRB Classics and two of these I hadn’t even heard of before (the Hughes having been on my to-find list for a while). I don’t know when I’ll get to them, but I’m looking forward to them.

Books are fun to buy as well as read. Just the act of browsing and buying cheers me up :)

Oh definitely. :) I hadn’t been in a physical bookstore in probably six months and it was so nice just to browse.

I am not adverse to online browsing either!

My wish lists are so long! 😂

Nigeyb wrote: "Susan wrote: "I just came across No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy which appeals greatly."

Just been approved on Netgalley. Hurrah.

Can't wait to give it a read after you and Sid were both so positive about it"

I've just been approved on NG, too. (Hurrah!) I was hopeful rather than positive, not actually having read it yet. 😊

There is nothing like a bookstore or books arriving in the mail. I also love looking for a book I know I have on my shelves and coming across books I forgot I bought! It’s like having them arrive all over again.

Bronwyn wrote: "I’ve forgotten about this thread!

I’ve picked up random kindle books here and there. My main books lately have been three of the British Library Women Writers books: A Pin to see the Peepshow, Whi..."

I've been loving this series too. I recently read Keeping Up Appearances by Rose Macaulay which was excellent. I'm intrigued by one of the titles coming out in September, War Among Ladies by Eleanor Scott; looks really good.

Tania wrote: "Bronwyn wrote: "I’ve forgotten about this thread!

I’ve picked up random kindle books here and there. My main books lately have been three of the British Library Women Writers books: A Pin to see t..."

Thanks for noting the Scott, Tania, I read her Randalls Round a while ago and I'm interested in discovering more of her work.

I've not read anything by her yet, but I see she has had some of her stuff published by Handheld Press, in Women's Weird: Strange Stories by Women, 1890-1940. Talking of Handheld Press, they celebrate their fifth birthday next month and are offering 3 books for the price of 2 when you buy through the website, from 6/6 to 10/6. I think you have to buy 2, then add the third book you'd like in a message.

I haven’t seen their upcoming titles yet - I’ll have to keep a lookout, thanks! :)

Bronwyn wrote: "I’ve forgotten about this thread!

I’ve picked up random kindle books here and there. My main books lately have been three of the British Library Women Writers books: A Pin to see the Peepshow, ..."

I read A Pin To See The Peepshow years ago and remember thinking it was excellent and remarkably frank and outspoken for its time. A re-read may be on the cards - thanks for the reminder!

Three more came today

The riddle of Birdhurst Rise: The Croydon poisoning mystery by Richard Whittington-Egan - true crime about a triple poisoning in late '20s London.

Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino and

Wounded Knee: Party Politics and the Road to an American Massacre by Heather Cox Richardson.

Susan wrote:


"I just came across No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy which appeals greatly.



Mark Hodkinson grew up among the terrace houses of Rochdale in a house with just one book. His dad kept it on top of a wardrobe with other items of great worth – wedding photographs and Mark’s National Cycling Proficiency certificate. If Mark wanted to read it, he was warned not to crease the pages or slam shut the covers.

Today, Mark is an author, journalist and publisher. He still lives in Rochdale, but is now snugly ensconced (or is that buried?) in a ‘book cave’ surrounded by 3,500 titles – at the last count. No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy is his story of growing up a working-class lad during the 1970s and 1980s. It’s about schools (bad), music (good) and the people (some mad, a few sane), and pre-eminently and profoundly the books and authors (some bad, mostly good) that led the way, and shaped his life. It’s also about a family who just didn’t see the point of reading, and a troubled grandad who, in his own way, taught Mark the power of stories.

In recounting his own life-long love affair with books, Mark also tells the story of how writing and reading has changed over the last five decades, starting with the wave of working-class writers in the 1950s and 60s, where he saw himself reflected in books for the first time"


Just like Susan and Sid, I enthusiastically join in with the praise for No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy (2022)...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

5/5

Glad you liked it, Nigeyb. I agree totally - it was an absolute gem of a book and so evocative for me, despite the difference in gender.

A real bonanza today as I received the following books in shipments from Amazon, Book Depository and Blackwells:


Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith
The Collected Stories of Stefan Zweig
The Collected Novellas of Stefan Zweig
The Kill by Émile Zola
Mister Roberts by Thomas Heggen

My father was an officer on a Navy supply ship performing similar duties as the one in Mr. Roberts, so my siblings and I often watch the movie on Memorial Day or, more often, DVR it and then watch it on either Fathers Day or his birthday, both mid-June events. I just found out the novel existed, having previously thought the story originated as the more famous play. So, since TCM didn't play the movie this year, I thought I'd try something different.

I am pleased my Deep Water edition did not substitute in the current Hollywood-type cover but kept the lovely, durable and green VIRAGO Modern classics cover.

Even though I've read 3 of the novellas/stories in the Zweig collections, Chess Story, Amok and 24 Hours in the Life of a Woman, it was the most efficient and cost-effective way to get the remaining 85%.

I don't know why it's so exciting to have books arrive by post (as opposed to downloaded via Kindle) but it is! Hope you love Deep Water, Brian.

Remind me, are you reading Zola in order? I haven't read The Kill: the moneyed side of the Rougon-Macquart family aren't nearly as interesting to me as the criminal and depraved :)