Reading the 20th Century discussion

I'd say the trilogy is deceptively sophisticated and that some of that comes from the juxtaposition of the three books and the way they're in conversation with each other. As individual books they're still good - especially the final one which would have been my favorite even as a standalone.

I've learnt better than to confidently assert you'll love something Ben as we often seem slightly at odds taste-wise but you will blimmin love it 🤠

😉

Ben and I have agreed a spontaneous reading of a collection of Joyce Carol Oates short stories, High Lonesome: Selected Stories, 1966-2006. The thread is here and everyone is welcome:

www.goodreads.com/topic/show/22721920...

I would like to do a Buddy Read of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in March or April. Anyone interested in joining me in sampling one of the classics and originators of Gonzo Journalism?

Ben wrote: "I would like to do a Buddy Read of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in March or April. Anyone interested in joining me in sampling one of the classics and originators of Gonzo Journalism?"

Hey Ben, I'd like to join you. I started it last November, but had to put it aside after 5 pages for some other books that I had to finish.

It's already on my TBR for this year.

I’ve never read any Hunter S Thompson which is strange since I lived in San Francisco in the ‘70s-‘90s. The Thompson quote about that once beautiful city is the truth.
I’ll be reading your buddy comments faithfully.

That’s terrific Anubha and Susan _MG. Which month is better for you?

I'll try but won't make it a promise, Hell's Angels was pretty gripping.

Ben wrote: "That’s terrific Anubha and Susan _MG. Which month is better for you?"

March works for me.

However, I'm pretty flexible. So, if anyone else has a strong preference for April, I'm cool with it.

Ok. Let's do March. It should be a quick, wild read.

I've added it to the forthcoming reads post and put it on our bookshelf

I now have my copy of Chronicle of the Murdered House. Shall we set up a Buddy Read for July?

ooh . that's great Ben . I'd like that . I was just pondering the same this morning as I ploughed through the swimming pool .

I'm sure I'll have a copy by July - I'll set up the thread and Nigeyb will add it to our list when he has a minute, I'm sure.

I've messed up creating the discussion thread for the book. I think I'll leave this to the Moderators!

Edited: Thanks RC!

Those of us reading the Celia Fremlin books have a (tentative) timeline for her remaining books:

1980 – With No Crying (May)
1982 – The Parasite Person (August)
1990 – Listening in the Dusk (November)
1991 – Dangerous Thoughts (Feb 25)
1993 – The Echoing Stones (May 25)
1994 – King of the World (Aug 25)

Anybody who wishes to join in are welcome to do so.

Does anybody fancy a buddy read of Poor Things? I had conflicting thoughts about the film which also left out the Scottish dimension. And it seems like a book that would be good to read in company.

I'm in - I've never read Alastair Gray and this seems a good place to start. I haven't seen the film yet.

Me too. I haven't seen the film either.

I'm in too. I haven't seen the film yet but I have read Lanark: A Life in Four Books, a vast crazy book about Glasgow and yet at the same time not about Glasgow.

Fantastic! I can't say I'd recommend the film, I found it a bit mannered/trying too hard. The style mimics aspects of Bela Tarr's arthouse films mixed with a steampunk sensibility which feels a bit dated now - great costumes though. But the story itself is intriguing and the structure of the book is more complex - the film focuses on Bella the equivalent of Frankenstein's creation, whereas the book is told from her husband's point of view then from hers. I think even if it's terrible there'll be a lot to chew on.

Count me in too


I’ve not seen the film either and always prefer to read the book before watching any adaptations

Truth be told, I didn’t realise it was originally a book 🤠

When do you want to do the buddy read?

That's great Nigey, I want to catch up with Powell so not before April other than that you're all more organised than me so whatever works for the majority.

Let’s go for May 2024 then


If anyone wants to shift it further into the future then just reply and it shall be done

As our long buddy reads seem to have worked well this year (Anthony Powell, Trollope, Patrick Hamilton), I wonder if anyone is interested in doing Proust in 2025?

There are six volumes so we could spread them in a slow read over the year, roughly half a volume per month.

Do let me know if there's interest in this?

Very interested, RC!

2025 might be the year I finally say about Proust "I've started so I'll finish ..." and become a true Mastermind .

A bridge too far for me RC


See also Ulysses and Finegan’s Wake

I have tried before and concluded they are not my cup of tea

I’ll certainly take an interest and perhaps get inspired though

I'm afraid I am probably with Nigeyb on this. I have tried Proust twice (in the original English of course) and he just hasn't agreed with me. Love the idea, and I may try a few chapters but I'm not optimistic.

I read Proust during lockdown, prompted by Judy, and fell immediately in love. As such, definitely, but will probably listen this time, rather than read.

I am definitely with Nigeyb on Ulysses.

Having now gone down a Proust rabbit hole, I would be interested in any Audible suggestions as they don't all seem to have a complete set with the same reader.

Also, I came across this: Clara Reads Proust

Clara is a hairdresser at Cindy Coiffure, a sleepy French salon with an identity crisis. Her relationship is fizzling out. Her tanoholic boss Madame Habib worships Jacques Chirac and talks longingly of her days in Paris. The highlight of the week was when the dishy technician came to repair the display cabinet. And now Madame Lévy-Leroyer wants to go blonde. Clara can’t help but wonder if there’s more to life . . .

Everything changes when a customer leaves behind the first volume of In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. As Clara reads, she discovers a whole new world, leading her to strike up an unexpected friendship. And slowly but surely, she will work out who she wants to be.

Could be a nice little buddy read taster later in the year for anyone considering reading along?

Hurrah - with me, Susan, maybe Hester and David, looks like we're in business!

I completely get that Proust isn't for everyone but will just say that the beginning of the first volume which sets up the madeleine and unleashes Marcel's memories is almost like a prequel to the main body of the books. But who am I to say 'keep going' when I fell at more or less the first Anthony Powell fence!

Absolutely delighted about this - we can start in January and I'll sort out good places to split each volume. I'll also set up a thread so we can discuss translations, audios and any other pre-reading chat.

This is me brimming with enthusiasm 💃💟😁

Susan wrote: "Having now gone down a Proust rabbit hole, I would be interested in any Audible suggestions as they don't all seem to have a complete set with the same reader."

Clara Reads Proust looks charming - good find, Susan - I'm definitely in for a pre-Proust warm up.

Judy may well be encouraged to join in, even if she doesn't read along. She was the one who encouraged me to join a read-along during lockdown. Actually, that didn't work for me as it was just too, 'this many pages by then,' but I did continue alone and drop in and out of the group. I found that lockdown was perfect for reading Proust - I read it every evening and I found it extremely soothing and Proust excellent company.

There are SO many books about Proust and I think Judy suggested that I read How Proust Can Change Your Life so perhaps a couple of short tasters, like Clara Reads Proust at the end of the year could just whet our appetite and give context. I think context is essential when embarking on this journey.

I love this idea of doing some Proust-related reading ahead of the book itself: perhaps people could post recommendations and suggestions on our new Proust general chat thread here:

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

Good Idea, RC.

As part of a buddy read, I climbed Mt Lost Times a year or so ago.
May were called but few chosen, if you get my drift.

We were a chosen few and perhaps not a critical number to survive even minimum attrition. I may track this one. I intend to read some more trilogies this year, so going backwards is not high on my list.

I would like to do a buddy read of the Mapp and Lucia series by E.F. Benson. They are among my favorite comfort reads, and I am feeling the need of a comfort read. I recently discovered that Naxos has published a two volume audiobook of the whole series -- The Complete Mapp & Lucia: Volume One and listening to it is such a delight I'm looking for someone else with whom to share the fun.

G wrote: "I would like to do a buddy read of the Mapp and Lucia series by E.F. Benson. They are among my favorite comfort reads, and I am feeling the need of a comfort read. I recently discovered that Naxos ..."

I can't be the 'Buddy" for this read as I'm just about to finish the third volume "Miss Mapp" tomorrow and don't want to re-read or try to serve as a primary discussion buddy for books I've read months before.

However, I do feel like taking a break before starting Mapp & Lucia, Volume 4 of the 6 book series, so would happily wait and join in with the Buddy Read, if you manage to get a Buddy, for the last 3 books of the series.

As I'm also finishing up Volume 3 of In Search of Lost Time it seems like I jumped the gun on two book series this group will be Buddy Reading.
I guess I'm just cursed with being a man ahead of my times.

G wrote: "I would like to do a buddy read of the Mapp and Lucia series by E.F. Benson. They are among my favorite comfort reads, and I am feeling the need of a comfort read."

I adore that series too and it's also one of my comfort reads. My only reluctance to sign up is that PG Wodehouse is my current fix of sunny comedy as we've been reading the Blandings books on an informal monthly basis which I can imagine continuing for a while.

If anyone else is interested in Mapp & Lucia, I may join in but don't want to commit at the moment, I'm afraid.

A great suggestion G


I have read a few and enjoyed them so very tempted but have too much else going on at the moment

I’d certainly consider it for 2025

I tried Mapp and Lucia but was not a fan. Not a Wodehouse fan either, so perhaps I am just a comedy person?

Nigeyb wrote: "A great suggestion G


I have read a few and enjoyed them so very tempted but have too much else going on at the moment

I’d certainly consider it for 2025"

I'd still be interested if we did it in 2025. For now I'm going to continue to make my way through the audio. Volume 1, which I think includes the first three books of the series, is nearly 27 hours long, so I expect I'll have to check it out of the library multiple times. It's exactly what I need right now. I know there's a read for Wodehouse, but none of those titles are on audio in my library; just the Jeeves, and I have always found Jeeves to be irritating.

😲 Jeeves irritating?! 🤯

Libraries can be annoying - mine only has abridged copies of Blandings and I can't imagine for a second why you'd want to cut anything from such top farce.

Roman Clodia wrote: "😲 Jeeves irritating?! 🤯

Libraries can be annoying - mine only has abridged copies of Blandings and I can't imagine for a second why you'd want to cut anything from such top farce."

Gosh. Me neither.

Well, I find Jeeves irritating. I know many people who love him. I didn't mind Fry's TV interpretation, but I don't enjoy reading the Jeeves stories. Blandings and Psmith, however, are a different experience, so much that I enjoy Wooster and Jeeves when they appear there.

Hi,
Would anyone be interested in doing a buddy read of Vanity Fair in June?
It's been on my list for a long long time and I think I'm ready to tackle it now.

I loved Vanity Fair when I first read it about 20 years ago Anubha


June is too soon for me but up for it in the Autumn/Winter

Nigeyb wrote: "I loved Vanity Fair when I first read it about 20 years ago Anubha
June is too soon for me but up for it in the Autumn/Winter"

Thanks for the offer Nigeyb. I know this a bit short notice, but I'm sort of excited to start it sooner. I would still love to discuss it when you are done with it.

OK, thanks Anubha - I'll seek out your review when I reread it.