Reading the 20th Century discussion

Double hurrah! When would you like to read it?

And when shall we re-read Slow Horses?

We've got a lot lined up for June but how about July or August for Slow Horses?

Lovely to see so many people keen to join.

Brian, this series might have a distinctly British sense of sardonic humour about it but it would be great to have you along :)

July for Slow Horses and August for Charlie M?

Happy for Charlie M at any time that suits you, Susan.

July or August would be fine for Slow Horses, I’d like to read Bad Actors before starting the re reads, but I’m hoping it will arrive at the library any day now.

I’ll go with the flow

I would hope to read Bad Actors first. Hopefully before July. Charlie M anytime

We can read Charlie M earlier, in June, Pamela, if you and Jill prefer. Let me know. Otherwise, it can be the month after Slow Horses.

I am happy to re-read Slow Horses anytime.

Yes happy with June for Charlie M if that also suits Jill.

June should be ok for me.

Great news, I've set up the threads for both new buddies.

Thanks, RC. Looking forward to both.

Yes, I'd be interested. I've not heard of this series, but happy to give the first one a try.

The Charlie Muffin series has been mentioned in lots of podcasts, etc. that I have listened to. I haven't read it either, but it's just our time period really, the first being published in 1977.

Charlie Muffin
1. Charlie Muffin (1977)
aka Charlie M
2. Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie (1978)
aka Here Comes Charlie M
3. The Inscrutable Charlie Muffin (1979)
4. Charlie Muffin's Uncle Sam (1980)
aka Charlie Muffin U.S.A.
5. Madrigal for Charlie Muffin (1981)
6. Charlie Muffin and Russian Rose (1985)
aka The Blind Run
7. Charlie Muffin San (1987)
aka See Charlie Run
8. The Run Around (1988)
9. Comrade Charlie (1989)
10. Charlie's Apprentice (1993)
11. Charlie's Chance (1996)
aka Bomb Grade
12. Dead Men Living (2000)
13. Kings of Many Castles (2001)
14. Red Star Rising (2010)
15. Red Star Burning (2012)
16. Red Star Falling (2013)

Thanks, Susan.

I've taken the initiative and hope this is all okay


I've added Farewell, My Lovely as a buddy read in August, to accompany the winner of the Noir poll - Laidlaw

Some of us want to read all of the Marlowe novels so, as a precursor to Farewell, My Lovely #2), I have set up the first Marlowe book The Big Sleep (Marlowe #1) as a buddy read in June. If you can't manage to read it in June then just get to it when you can, or not.

We were also discussing reading all the Slough House books in order too, so have set up the first of those, Slow Horses (Slough House #1) as a buddy read in July 2022.

Assuming we want to carry on with both the Slough House books, and the Marlowe books, we can either alternate them or just do them both one a month. Let's decide that later.

Thanks, Nigeyb.

July 2020? Nigeyb you are so behind the times 😉

I missed that, Pamela. Too many '2's' in the date at the moment!

Pamela wrote: "July 2020? Nigeyb you are so behind the times 😉"


You're not the first person to say that

Thanks Pamela - corrected now

Thanks, Nigeyb. Count me in for the lot.

Susan wrote: "I missed that, Pamela. Too many '2's' in the date at the moment!"

Normally when I misdate during the first part of the year, I mistakenly still use the previous year, such as 2018 when its really May of 2019. However, here in 2022, my misdates are all for 2020 rather than 2021. So, rather than being due to force of habit, this year's misdating acts are the result of, as detective Susan accurately points out, there being "Too many '2's' in the date at the moment!"
I think there's too many twos too. I must also think there aren't enough '0's.

Don't worry. I got my Crime Reads newsletter today and it told me;

ON THIS DAY: In 1987, Dracula, by Bram Stoker, was first published.

Susan wrote: "Don't worry. I got my Crime Reads newsletter today and it told me;

ON THIS DAY: In 1987, Dracula, by Bram Stoker, was first published."

Haha, someone must be hanging their head in mortification :)

You can see the typo/switch as it's 1897, or should be...

Brian wrote: "I've seen the posts discussing Herron .... So a definite maybe"


The definite maybe is now a definite yes. Despite my lack of previous attraction to spy thrillers, I went ahead and ordered the Slough House box set. Reading a whole series with others have been my most fun Goodreads experiences. Also, even if the book doesn't quite interest me, I'm sure the discussion on here will. So I'm counting on you guys to carry me through all 8 books in the series. ;)
In her e-mail, RC lists 4 other series related books so I guess it may be 12 books?

Great news Brian


Yes, there are also some novellas which are sort of addendums to the series. Inessential but they enrich the overall experience, so we're doing them too

They started out as add ons, but recently the novella characters did appear in a full novel so, if you hadn't read them, it would have lessened the understanding of the series slightly. I think Mick Herron knows we are desparate to read anything featuring the Slow Horses so tends to add dessert to the main course sometimes, or perhaps a starter?!

Yes, I missed a couple of the novellas and want to make up for it now as there are hidden back-stories there.

Nigeyb wrote: "Yes, there are also some novellas which are sort of addendums to the series. Inessential but they enrich the overall experience, so we're doing them too"

Last year, I read the 9 volume Forsyte Chronicles. I also read the four short story interludes and separate beginning Salvation of a Forsyte and novella On Forsyte 'Change. The extras really did "enrich the overall experience," so I would not want to miss out on the Slough House extras
Hmm, I now see a parrallel between the Star Wars and Forsyte series.

There is a Star Wars Kindle Deal of the Day today, Brian, but it's possibly UK only.

Susan wrote: "There is a Star Wars Kindle Deal of the Day today, Brian, but it's possibly UK only."
I've never read a Star Wars book, but my eldest son is a fan and reads and watches it all. I was just noting that both the Star Wars and Forsyte series consist of a 3 trilogy/9 volume core accompanied by several interludes and extra stories that enrich the series experience.

It is definitely fun when author's create little worlds that live alongside the central one. I think Mick Herron does that a lot - interlinking characters and series.

Yes, can't get enough of the Slough House world, and a couple of the novellas will be new to me.

I'm cross-posting this from the Midnight Bell thread:

Sid said:"I was wondering whether anyone fancied going back toward the beginning of the 20th Century and trying M.R. James's classic Ghost Stories Of An Antiquary (1904) and/or one of Kipling's collections - say A Diversity Of Creatures (1917). (Both available free on Project Gutenberg.) They're both collections of short stories, which aren't normally my thing, but these two were absolute masters of their craft and I'd be very glad to re-read either or both, either as a group read or a buddy read."

There are enough takers for both MR James and Kipling but post here if you're interested and hop over to the Midnight Bell where we're discussing timing:

www.goodreads.com/topic/show/21825167...

Would anyone fancy buddy reading a Hilary Mantel in tribute to her sad loss?

I was thinking about Mantel Pieces: Royal Bodies and Other Writing from the London Review of Books or, in fiction, A Change Of Climate or maybe her short stories in The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher - but open to other suggestions.

I have read Thatcher. Haven't read either of the other ones, but would happily join in with either. Fludd is also on my tbr list, but happy with any.

I'm planning on reading Mantel Pieces in the next month and one or two books of her short stories afterwards, so a Buddy Read would be great.

I have too many other books to read but will follow any discussion with keen interest

I would read any of the three RC mentions.

Shall we go with Mantel Pieces then? I know it includes her reflections on research she did on the Wolf Hall trilogy and also her French Revolution book, A Place of Greater Safety, and some stuff on what it means to live with pain.

Should I schedule it in for October? I know we have a lot going on but I was thinking as it's essays, reviews, short pieces etc. we could read as and when we can all fit it in and post as we read - no need to worry about spoilers etc.

Great timing--I just ordered Mantel Pieces yesterday! I'll start sometime in October and will probably be reading slowly, but am glad you all and this thread will be there.

Sounds good. Looking forward to it.

Perfect. My library copy should arrive within 2 weeks.

I will gladly kick aside my acheduled non-fiction read to include Mantel Pieces in October. While I normally dislike reading a book of essays, Mantel's life and work is deserving of making an exception and, from the mentioned topics, this book of essays looks like a great way to get to know Mantel better. Great idea and great way to honor her.

Just ordered a paperback copy for $10 on Book Depository and it should get here in time for me to start when Ben does.

Wonderful to see so much enthusiasm here, and great to read with you all, as ever.

Last year, during the Buddy read discussion of odd lodgers in Celia Fremlin's Seven Lean Years Wndy brought up Brian Moore's The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne as a novel with another group of odd lodgers. She called it one of her favorite books. It sounded interesting, so I went and bought it and planned to read it sometime this year.

Wndy again brought up the book today during the discussion of future Group read Quartet in Autumn. That made me think that, rather than going solo on this, there may be other RTTC members who might want to try it too. So, if anyone else does wish to join me in reading this:

I am requesting we schedule a Buddy Read of Brian Moore's The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne . I suggest we hold it in MARCH of 2023 to allow a wee bit of planning by members, but I would also be open for April, May or even February if people need either a little more or a little less time. January is booked.

Anyone interested?

Oh, go on then you persuasive person


It sounds very good

March 2023 suits me, however let's see if there are any takers, and if they have a preference

Hi Brian, and anyone else interested in this buddy read, I have set up the thread where you can express interest and we can discuss timings. Let's continue the discussion here....


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

Sounds interesting to me.

I’m so pleased I tempted you, Brian. I hope I didn’t oversell it!