Reading the 20th Century discussion

That's great! I'm in for both since it sounds like there's interest. I'll defer to the mods on the best time to slot these in. I could do any time in 2024.

I loved Pedro Páramo and would like to read Kiss of the Spider Woman at some point. Not this year, most likely, but eventually.

I am requesting Buddy Reads for the next two books in the Celia Fremlin Publication Order Read:

Appointment With Yesterday- in November 2023 &
Spider Orchid - in February 2024.

While The Long Shadow actually comes between those two, this Group read that Fremlin back in December of 2020. For any RTTC members who want to read it, I would suggest this coming December as the month to buddy read it as it is a Christmas-themed story.

I hesitated on this request for about half a day and a Buddy Read of the 6 Pallisers was finalized. I'm glad to get the request in before we get further loaded with buddy reads and lose potential participants. Today's Proverb: "He who hesitates is lost."

Sounds great, Brian. I love Fremlin and will always make time for her.

If Nigeyb kindly updates the reading list, I can set up threads nearer the time.

I’ll update tomorrow


Guessing the dates are on the Fremlin thread

Nigeyb wrote: "I’ll update tomorrow

Guessing the dates are on the Fremlin thread"

What dates are you missing, Nige? I had posted the requested reading month dates in the message before Susan's: Message 756

Thanks, Nigeyb.

Sonia wrote: ".Currently have Trollope's Lady Anna, two books from Mrs Oliphant's Carlingford Chronicles and Red Pottage by Mary Chomondeley on my TBR pile."

Sonia, I find myself with an opening for a Kindle older classic read between July 16th and September 1st. I thought it would be a good time to read Lady Anna
I was going to read it by myself and then remembered RC's comment:

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm not sure about Lady Anna but Brian and Sonia, you could go ahead if you wish."

If you are interested in joining me and making it a Buddy Read of Lady Anna let me know. Otherwise I'll go ahead and read it as I planned and just talk about it with myself.
Sorry for the short notice but I just decided to do it and bought the Lady Anna Kindle today. Why not experience a little VIcjulust before experiencing Victober?

Brian, I am just copying over the book dates from your message for Nigeyb:

I am thinking of a requesting Buddy Reads for the next books in the Fremlin Publication Order Read

Appointment With Yesterday by Celia Fremlin -November 2023 & Spider Orchid by Celia Fremlin -February 2024.

Susan wrote: "Brian, I am just copying over the book dates from your message for Nigeyb:..."

Is My Message 756 in this thread that has that info not visible? I'm confused.

It is visible, I was just posting the dates here, as I thought it would be easier for Nigeyb. I am setting up the threads now.

I find the app very difficult to negotiate - the reason why I tend not to really look at Goodreads if I don't have access to my laptop.

I was on my phone and, for some reason, certain words do not show up on the app or indeed message numbers. There's all kind of minor annoyances in the GR phone app


Anyhoo, back on my computer now where everything is clear

Thanks Brian and thanks Susan

Both books are now on our overview All current and Forthcoming Reads post....

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

I get it. I should have realized that the problem was with Nige being on the phone app. I rarely look at Goodreads on my phone and I never post using it. These comments makes me glad I don't use the phone app.
I play a Book Title Game in another GR group and the same posters are always screwing up and not responding to the right post - I have presumed they are using their phones to post - it is frustrating when they can't be aware of their screw-ups.

I just find the app hard to navigate, Brian. I suspect my teenage children would have no issue, so it's probably me!

Brian E wrote:


"I get it. I should have realized that the problem was with Nige being on the phone app"

Thanks Brian

It was further excacerbated by not being able to go back many messages. On the app I can see about five or six previous messages, you then click on "see previous messages" and it takes you back to the very first post. On a long thread like this one it takes ages to get back to the more recent posts. Who's got the time for that?

At the end of 2023 we should retire this post and start a new one...

Buddy Reads 2024

Brian E wrote: "Sonia wrote: ".Currently have Trollope's Lady Anna, two books from Mrs Oliphant's Carlingford Chronicles and Red Pottage by Mary Chomondeley on my TBR pile."

Sonia, I find myself with an opening f..."
I am away from home, and my copy of Lady Anna, until July 26. I could join in then, so if you want to set up a buddy read do, I will just be a bit behind with my replies to your comments. I have no problems with spoilers.

David wrote: "That's great! I'm in for both since it sounds like there's interest. I'll defer to the mods on the best time to slot these in. I could do any time in 2024."

Let me have a look later and I'll set up the threads and put the books on our shelves - if I forget, do prod me! And if anyone has date requests, say so here. I think we're looking at 2024.

I'll add them to our masterlist when you've decided on the dates RC

How would we feel about Kiss of the Spider Woman in December 2023, and Pedro Páramo in April 2024?

Both work for me.

Sonia wrote: "I am away from home, and my copy of Lady Anna, until July 26. I could join in then, so if you want to set up a buddy read do, I will just be a bit behind with my replies to your comments. I have no problems with spoilers..."

Sounds Great!! I'll see if we can set up a Buddy read and I won't post a substantive comment on it until July 26th. I will delay starting my reading of Lady Anna.

I usually read on a Kindle during breakfast due to its EZ page turning capabilities. I often alternate 2 Kindles. As I will be finishing The Monk on the 15th I had thought about starting Lady Anna then the next day. But it's just as good for me to delay starting Lady Anna until the 26th and instead assign my other Kindle, Captain Blood, full time breakfast reading duty. It can handle it as it's longer than I thought, though it does move quickly.

David wrote: "Both work for me."

Great, I've put the books on our shelf as a reminder and will set up the threads when I have the time.

Excellent. Looking forward to it.

RTTC Moderators:
Sonia and I are requesting that a Buddy Read be set up for Lady Anna by Anthony Trollope for the period of July 26th to August 31st, but listing it as mid-July to August as previous Buddy Reads, or just for July and August is fine. However, you guys do it is fine, just so I can post something by July 26th.

Other RTTC Members are welcome to join in this read of Anthony Trollope's Lady Anna. I also encourage joining in the Group reading of Trollope's The Pallisers series.

I encourage reading more Trollope as a Trollope-reading populace would make for a far better citizenry than currently exists. His novels also make for a smooth, insightful and rewarding reading experience.

Brian E wrote: "Sounds Great!! I'll see if we can set up a Buddy read and I won't post a substantive comment on it until July 26th."

I've put Lady Anna on our shelf with a 1-31 August date for neatness - obviously you can start commenting in late July.

I've set up the thread here:

www.goodreads.com/topic/show/22563804...

Feel free to add a synopsis or anything else you fancy, Brian - I've put you down as leading the discussion.

Roman Clodia wrote: "I've put Lady Anna on our shelf with a 1-31 August date for neatness..."

While neatness is not my forte I do appreciate it when I see it. I had momentarily forgotten that you can post prior to the start date so an August buddy read is certainly a cleaner way to list it. Well done, RC. Thank you!!

EDIT: I just looked at the list of scheduled reads. I get a chuckle out of seeing two Trollope Buddy Reads in the same month. That's quite an achievement for Mr. Trollope, especially for a 19th Century author in a group devoted to Reading the 20th Century during the 21st Century. He'd be proud, I'm sure.
This is quite the interesting, eclectic, flexible and fun group that I decided to join.

Brian E wrote:


"That's quite an achievement for Mr. Trollope, especially for a 19th Century author in a group devoted to Reading the 20th Century during the 21st Century. He'd be proud, I'm sure."

I had the same thought Brian. It's marvellous


"This is quite the interesting, eclectic, flexible and fun group that I decided to join."

We aim to please 🤠

Haha, neatness is not my forte either, Brian!

But lovely comment about this lovely group 🥰

Brian E wrote: "This is quite the interesting, eclectic, flexible and fun group that I decided to join."

As a newcomer myself, I'll second that. A winning combination of erudition and collegiality.

I appreciate the encouragement of buddy reads in this group. Twentieth Century literature can mean different things to different people. It's nice to see a tent big enough for Juan Rulfo and Barbara Pym - and Trollope too.

Aw thanks

WndyJW wrote: "I loved Pedro Páramo and would like to read Kiss of the Spider Woman at some point. Not this year, most likely, but eventually."

I don't think I could face rereading Kiss of the Spider Woman even if it does extensively reference more than one of my favourite films, I can see that it was ground breaking in its time but I found it so contrived and the gender politics too dated to relate to. Although the political context make for an interesting overlap with Our Share of Night - I think it's likely that Puig was one of Enriquez's influences consciously or otherwise.

But am tempted by Pedro Pedramo, been meaning to read it for years.

Alwynne wrote: "I don't think I could face rereading Kiss of the Spider Woman"

Do join the discussion all the same as you have an interesting perspective - I don't know anything about it other than the blurb and - of course! - have never seen the film.

I think I saw The Kiss of the Spider Woman movie.

I need to read Trollope. I have never and it’s seems clear that I’m missing out. From the reviews it doesn’t sound like Lady Anna is his best, is there one that would be especially good for a Trollope newbie?

I always recommend Barchester Towers as a first Trollope - or you could join our next buddy read of Phineas Finn. It's the second of The Pallisers books but Phineas is a new character and Trollope always summarizes necessary backstory.

All I know is don’t start with He Knew He Was Right. 😂 I’m enjoying it but it’s sooo long. I only started with it because I’d seen the miniseries years ago and found it used. I started it almost two years ago.

I plan on starting The Warden when I finally finish.

Roman Clodia wrote: "I always recommend Barchester Towers as a first Trollope - or you could join our next buddy read of Phineas Finn. It's the second of The Pallisers books but Phineas is a new character and Trollope ..."

Wndy, as this group is starting a Group Read of The Pallisers with the first book Can You Forgive Her? in August. I recommend starting reading Trollope with that book rather than skipping it and then joining with Phineas Finn. If you like it then you can join in reading the subsequent books such as Finn.

The Barsetshire series is good too While Barchester Towers is the better book, I would still recommend starting with the 1st book in that series The Warden.

I preferred the Pallisers when I read both series in my 40s and the Barsetshire series when I reread them again in my 60s. But since the Group read starts in August, it's perfect timing to start the Pallisers with the group, That's what I recommend.

The Way We Live Now is a great book but too long to be a good one to start with. He Knew He Was Right is also too long and is not one of my favorite Trollopes. I wouldn't think that Lady Anna would be a good first Trollope but I really won't know until after I read it.

Brian E wrote: ".I am requesting Buddy Reads for the next two books in the Celia Fremlin Publication Order Read:

Appointment With Yesterday ... in November 2023 & Spider Orchid ... in February 2024.

While The Long Shadow actually comes between those two, this Group read that Fremlin back in December of 2020. For any RTTC members who want to read it, I would suggest this coming December as the month to buddy read it as it is a Christmas-themed story."

While this request was granted, I now wish to amend it. I suggest you move the Buddy Read of Appointment With Yesterday from November to December.
There isn't any buddy read of the Long Shadow and we currently have a situation of 5 Buddy Reads scheduled in November and only 1 Buddy Read scheduled for December.

Besides providing for a more balanced distribution of Buddy Reads, I think moving the Buddy Read of Appointment With Yesterday from November to December might allow for more readers to participate in the read.
If a request for a Long Shadow buddy read pops up then add it to December too. Read 2 Fremlins that month or just read Appointment with Yesterday in November as planned. Many read the book a month before to be prepared for the discussion ahead.

This is only a suggestion and I leave it to Susan, who thought of this Fremlin in Sequence Read, and her fellow Fremlinite moderators to decide what is best for the group.

We read The Long Shadow as a group read, so I don't think that book needs another discussion thread? It was our first Fremlin, as I recall.

I am happy to shift the dates as suggested, but it will be best for Nigeby to edit the master list. I know I usually do so on Detectives and it's easier if only one person does it, otherwise Judy and I have to copy and paste the whole list and delete the previous one.

However, you should have said, we have only one buddy read in December at the moment!

Brian E wrote:


"I suggest you move the Buddy Read of Appointment With Yesterday from November to December"

Your wish etc etc

Tis done

We've just set up a spontaneous buddy read of Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner, starting more or less immediately.

The group has read this before in 2019 so we'll just add to the existing thread: www.goodreads.com/topic/show/19765401...

Everyone welcome to join me, Ben and Alwynne!

I was having trouble locating the link to the thread for the Annie John buddy read set for October. Any help?

I've been quiet lately but I'm looking forward to Annie John as well. I can't believe it's almost October.

I’m travelling at the moment but can set it up over the weekend if it’s not done before then

Ah, sorry everyone, I must have overlooked this, will set up today when I have a moment - thanks for offering Nigeyb! 🥴

Here we go: www.goodreads.com/topic/show/22614810...

Hey guys! I am new to the group. Anyone interested in reading or with me...?

Hi Divisha. Welcome to the group. I hope you find someone to buddy with you.

Talking of buddies, I was wondering whether anyone fancies a festive, December buddy read of:

Dickens and Christmas

A direct descendant of Charles Dickens delves into the many merry ways in which the author of A Christmas Carol celebrated & influenced the holiday.

Dickens and Christmas is an exploration of the 19th-century phenomenon that became the Christmas we know and love today—and of the writer who changed, forever, the ways in which it is celebrated. Charles Dickens was born in an age of great social change. He survived childhood poverty to become the most adored and influential man of his time. Throughout his life, he campaigned tirelessly for better social conditions, including by his most famous work, A Christmas Carol. He wrote this novella specifically “to strike a sledgehammer blow on behalf of the poor man’s child,” and it began the Victorian’s obsession with Christmas.

This new book, written by one of his direct descendants, explores not only Dickens’s most famous work, but also his all-too-often overlooked other Christmas novellas. It takes the readers through the seasonal short stories he wrote, for both adults and children, includes much-loved festive excerpts from his novels, uses contemporary newspaper clippings, and looks at Christmas writings by Dickens’s contemporaries. To give an even more personal insight, readers can discover how the Dickens family itself celebrated Christmas, through the eyes of Dickens’s unfinished autobiography, family letters, and his children’s memoirs. Dickens and Christmas also explores the ways in which his works have gone on to influence how the festive season is celebrated around the globe.

An inspired idea Susan 👏🏼


Alas I already feel a tad over committed so will reluctantly pass

The Dickens and Christmas book sounds very interesting, but have also picked my books through to the end of the year. My Christmas read is going to be a reread of John Masefield's The Box of Delights.