Reading the 20th Century discussion

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Sorry, I led you in the wrong direction here. "

Not a problem. I think we agree on lots and lots and it's natural that our likes might diverge on some books. What it did give me w..."

Glad you are not annoyed!

If it is chosen as a buddy read, at least you can vent any annoyance in the discussion.

Val wrote: "If it is chosen as a buddy read, at least you can vent any annoyance in the discussion."

I think not. I have voiced my opinion in my review.

Does anybody want to go for a buddy read of any of the books suggested so far, or any others?

I'd be happy to join in on Pereira Maintains - I'm also attracted by Pied Piper out of Ian's suggestions, as I'd like to read more Nevil Shute, and The Soldier's Return by Melvyn Bragg out of Elizabeth's - I'd also be up for a lesser-known Lawrence, or could join in with discussion of Lady Chatterley from previous reads, though I wouldn't reread it.

I would be happy to read another Nevil Shute and could find a place for it. The kindle edition of Pied Piper is cheap enough.

Would be interested in Pererira Mountain or Soldiers return.

I would join in on Pied Piper. It’s been on my list for ages .

Pereira Maintains has been mentioned a lot here, so I am intrigued. Derek Jacobi read the BBC Book at Bedtime and the audible version.

I must confess that I have never read Lady Chatterley...

I'm going to focus on other reads in July, however I will be following any discussions with a keen interest and may join in if a book becomes too tempting

I noted that Patrick Hamilton has had his books republished recently. Having loved the few I have read, I would like to discover more, so would love to suggest a buddy read of one of his books, later in the year.

Susan wrote: "I noted that Patrick Hamilton has had his books republished recently. Having loved the few I have read, I would like to discover more, so would love to suggest a buddy read of one of..."

Please tell me which are your favorites?

Specialist subject


My personal favourites by Patrick Hamilton....

Craven House (1926, revised edition 1943)
Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky (1935 - trilogy of The Midnight Bell, The Siege of Pleasure, and The Plains of Cement)
Hangover Square (1941)
The Slaves of Solitude (1947)


FYI....

Patrick Hamilton's novels

Monday Morning (1925)
Craven House (1926, revised edition 1943)
Twopence Coloured (1928)
The Midnight Bell (1929)
The Siege of Pleasure (1932)
The Plains of Cement (1934)
Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky (1935 - trilogy of The Midnight Bell, The Siege of Pleasure, and The Plains of Cement)
Impromptu In Moribundia (1939)
Hangover Square (1941)
The Slaves of Solitude (1947)
The West Pier (1952)
Mr. Stimpson And Mr.Gorse (1953)
Unknown Assailant (1955)
The Gorse Trilogy: The West Pier, Mr Stimpson And Mr Gorse, Unknown Assailant

Patrick Hamilton's plays

Rope: A Play (1929)
Gas Light (1938)
The Duke in Darkness (1943)
The Man Upstairs (1953)
Angel Street (1966)

Patrick Hamilton's radio plays

Money with Menaces (1939)
To the Public Danger (1939)

The Slaves of Solitude is definite my favourite. I liked Hangover Square and I enjoyed his biography.

Like my, very interrupted attempt to read all of Shirley Jackson, in order, I would like to do the same with Patrick Hamilton.

Nigeyb is far more knowledgeable about him than me - and I am grateful he introduced me to him.

As a possible buddy read, I would, therefore, suggest: Monday Morning.

I wouldn't recommend Monday Morning as a buddy read Susan. It's one for the completists and there really isn't that much to discuss.

I'm glad I finally got to read it as I state in my review however for a buddy read, and especially for anyone new to his work, I think there's far more interesting novels to choose.

If you want to go early then there's more to enjoy and discuss in Craven House however if you want another masterpiece then look no further than Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky (but as it's three books in one it's 544 pages)

I'm discounting the books you've already read

Craven House looks good. I also want to read the Gorse Trilogy, but that is even longer :)

Haven’t been able to contribute much lately but I did recently receive a copy of Craven House. Would try to join in a buddy read. It’s my first book by Patrick Hamilton.

Craven House in August? (I believe that there are other books being suggested for July). Anybody else interested?

Craven House by Patrick Hamilton

The first two books in the Gorse trilogy are well worth reading. The third one, when Patrick was in steep decline, less so.

I'll certainly take part in the discussion - might even reread.

Nigeyb wrote: "Specialist subject


My personal favourites by Patrick Hamilton....

Craven House (1926, revised edition 1943)
Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky (193..."

Thank you.

I have read Pied Piper, but it was a very long time ago. I think I liked it at the time.
D.H. Lawrence, it would depend on the book, as I liked some much more than others.
I would also join in any future reads of Patrick Hamilton.

Tentative suggestion ... looking back through the thread, I make it that we have had 5 people expressing possible interest in reading Pereira Maintains and 5 in Pied Piper. Should we do one of those in July - or even both, as they are both quite short?

There were also 3 people expressing interest in The Soldier's Return and 3 in either Lady Chatterley's Lover or something else by D.H. Lawrence, so maybe we could do one of those in August alongside the Patrick Hamilton book (which I'm also up for!), or in September?

That sounds like a good solution Judy.

I will be reading The Soldier's Return in June, July or August. Lady Chatterley's Lover is a tentative title for the same period, but I could accommodate a different title by Lawrence published 1919 or later. I can add Pied Piper to my summer schedule.

September is beyond my ability to plan at this point, though I will always look for a way to fit things in.

A sudden bookish flow of goodies. I will do my best to join in with as many as I can. Definitely Pereira Maintains, possibly Pied Piper.

Glad there is some interest in Craven House too.

I would be interested in joining in with Pied Piper, and would like to try some Patrick Hamilton too.

Pamela wrote: "I would be interested in joining in with Pied Piper, and would like to try some Patrick Hamilton too."

Hurrah! Good to hear, Pamela.

Judy, if you wanted to put off the D.H. Lawrence until September, I could probably find a place for it. I might read Lady Chatterley anyway, but that doesn't mean we couldn't read a different title by him as a buddy read, or that I couldn't remember that one long enough for a September discussion.

We could then put The Soldier's Return in August if that would work for the others who are interested.

I will be happy to see Pied Piper in July if that is what works for everyone.

I have never read Lady Chatterley, so would be happy to read that. I haven't read much Lawrence, only short pieces, and always found them horribly depressing. However, I am willing to give his most famous novel a go.

I came across a fictional biography of his wife, suggesting she inspired Lady Chatterley, but I have also read she was based upon Lady Ottoline Morrell, who apparently had a fling with a young stonemason. Anyone know which, either, or both, inspired the character?

So have we firmed anything up yet? Or are we still in deliberation mode?

It only takes two people to have a buddy read

I am keen to run Craven House

With the others, I will join in as much as I can with Judy's great suggestions.

Also, FR, Val and I are going to embark on Game of Thrones (never seen it, but I'll have a try!) in September.

How about this (can be moved around as people wish):

July/August
Pied Piper by Nevil Shute
Pereira Maintains by Antonio Tabucchi

August/September
The Soldier's Return by Melvyn Bragg
Craven House by Patrick Hamilton

September/October
First Game of Thrones book - not sure what the title for that one is, Susan?
Lady Chatterley's Lover or another book by D.H. Lawrence - we could always do this one like we have done JCO, with Lady C as the main title and the option to read something else. I would personally like to try one of his early books, maybe The Trespasser.

PS, I am happy to run/help run Pied Piper, Pereira Maintains, The Soldier's Return and the Lawrence.

Looks good Judy. I'll certainly participate in the Hamilton discussion, and will have a look at the other titles to see which appeal to me

A Game of Thrones is the first book.

I will read Pereira Maintains (tempted by Pied Piper if I get time). Not sure about The Soldier's Return, but probably the Lawrence. Whichever title you decide on, Judy. Although, I have had Lady Chatterley in my sights for ages and keep feeling I should read it.

Looking forward to the Patrick Hamilton as I LOVE his books - Nigeyb is, of course, the Hamiltonian expert in our group.

Judy wrote: "PS, I am happy to run/help run Pied Piper, Pereira Maintains, The Soldier's Return and the Lawrence."

Sounds good to me, Judy.

Judy wrote: "PS, I am happy to run/help run Pied Piper, Pereira Maintains, The Soldier's Return and the Lawrence."

Thank you for this and for the schedule!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Judy wrote: "PS, I am happy to run/help run Pied Piper, Pereira Maintains, The Soldier's Return and the Lawrence."

Thank you for this and for the schedule!"

Thanks, Elizabeth!

Nigeyb has now updated the schedule, here:

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

I can run or help run 'Pereira Maintains', since I ended up being the one who suggested it. The rest will have to wait until I get hold of copies.

Thanks for suggesting Pereira Maintains, Val. Looking forward to that one.

Very excited, as I just noticed the third in the Thomas Cromwell trilogy is up for pre-order on 5 Mar. 2020 :

The Mirror and the Light

Anyone fancy a buddy read of the previous two before it comes out. I might need to see a therapist by the end of the last book, mind!

Preorder the long-awaited sequel to Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, the stunning conclusion to Hilary Mantel’s Man Booker Prize-winning Thomas Cromwell trilogy.
‘If you cannot speak truth at a beheading, when can you speak it?’

England, May 1536. Anne Boleyn is dead, decapitated in the space of a heartbeat by a hired French executioner. As her remains are bundled into oblivion, Thomas Cromwell breakfasts with the victors. The blacksmith’s son from Putney emerges from the spring’s bloodbath to continue his climb to power and wealth, while his formidable master, Henry VIII, settles to short-lived happiness with his third queen, before Jane dies giving birth to the male heir he most craves.

Cromwell is a man with only his wits to rely on; he has no great family to back him, no private army. Despite rebellion at home, traitors plotting abroad and the threat of invasion testing Henry’s regime to breaking point, Cromwell’s robust imagination sees a new country in the mirror of the future. But can a nation, or a person, shed the past like a skin? Do the dead continually unbury themselves? What will you do, the Spanish ambassador asks Cromwell, when the king turns on you, as sooner or later he turns on everyone close to him?

With The Mirror and the Light, Hilary Mantel brings to a triumphant close the trilogy she began with Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. She traces the final years of Thomas Cromwell, the boy from nowhere who climbs to the heights of power, offering a defining portrait of predator and prey, of a ferocious contest between present and past, between royal will and a common man’s vision: of a modern nation making itself through conflict, passion and courage.

I suggest a buddy read of the third in the trilogy, with Wolf Hall in January 2020 and Bring Up the Bodies in Feb 2020

Anybody wish to join in?

Susan wrote: "Anybody wish to join in? "


Yes. I won't reread Wolf Hall but will join in with the discussion - and will most certainly read and discuss for Bring Up the Bodies in February 2020

That's asssuming we get enough takers. Or shall we just do it anyway Susan, on the basis that you and I are up for it?

Yes, that's fine - we only need two for a buddy read anyway :) I will run Wolf Hall, as I will re-read and I know lots of us have read it, so I assume a few of us will read the new one.

The Audible edition is showing as £5.24 at the moment, if anyone is interested. The kindle version is £15, but I haven't pre-ordered it and am not sure why the Audible version is so cheap, as it doesn't seem to be a, 'you ordered the kindle book, so can have this as an add on'?

I wasn't a lover of Wolf Hall, I thought there were too many lists of what people were wearing or eating. I may join in with Bring up the Bodies just to see if I feel differently about that, but I won't pre-order the new one.

Splendid news Susan - as you say I am sure plenty will chip into the discussion once we get going.

Sorry to learn you didn't like it Jill. I'm quite surprised as I was mightily impressed and look forward to continuing the series.

I think Wolf Hall was a bit of a marmite read. I adored it and, unusually for me, also loved the television adaptation...

I’d need a reminder closer to it, but I’d be interested. I enjoyed the Wolf Hall miniseries and have meant to read it.

I enjoyed the TV series, but obviously that didn't involve lots of lists on clothes and meals, they were just there with the actors

:) That is a plus with tv/movies.

Susan wrote: "a marmite read."

What does this mean?