Retro Reads discussion

This thread is for group members to nominate books for our February and March group reads. Please link the book in your comment.

Once we hit critical mass (maybe 10 nominations), I'll set up a poll. I'm inclined to just do a single poll and have the winner be February's read and the runner up be March's, unless I get objections to that plan.

Are we still waiting for one of the mods (sorry, I don’t remember which) to get some Angela Thirkell? If not, I’d like to nominate the first in the Barsetshire series, High Rising (1933). If so, I’d be happy to try this Farnol whom everyone’s speaking of—you had me at “influence on Heyer”!

Available for cheap on Abebooks and also on Kindle.

It was Carol, and yes, she's still waiting and hoping that package will arrive. But she said she might read along, just not lead the discussion, so I think your nomination is okay.

Thanks, Tadiana!

I bought Helen MacInnes' book The Venetian Affair about a year ago on the strong recommendation of a GR friend, and I still haven't read it. So I'm nominating that one. (Though I could be talked into switching the nomination to The Salzburg Connection, which has been sitting unread on my Kindle for several months.)

Another nomination: A 1938 book, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I bought Helen MacInnes' book The Venetian Affair about a year ago on the strong recommendation of a GR friend, and I still haven't read it. So I'm nominating that one. (Though I coul..."

I’d love High Rising, but I’ve never read MacInnes and you all have me intrigued. I read Miss Pettigrew a couple years ago and it was fun, but I’d enjoy a reread. But if I have to vote for just one, I say High Rising!

Susan--The Venetian Affair is one of my favorites. I was going to nominate something else--now I'll just vote for the MacInnes. I read Miss Pettigrew right after the movie came out. Enjoyed it. Haven't read any Thirkell...

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I bought Helen MacInnes' book The Venetian Affair about a year ago on the strong recommendation of a GR friend, and I still haven't read it. So I'm nominating that one. (Though I coul..."

Oh, please nominate Venetian Affair, as it was a favorite of mine back in the day. I'd love to do a re-read.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Susan--The Venetian Affair is one of my favorites. I was going to nominate something else--now I'll just vote for the MacInnes. I read Miss Pettigrew right after the movie came out. Enjoyed it. Hav..."
Thanks Barb - I was lurking for some of the group’s comments (you read MacInnes before I joined), and I admit I was intrigued - not just because my maiden name is Meginnis- pronounced the same, spelling mangled (thanks, Ellis Island!)

If you haven’t read any Thirkell but would like to, I’m game for a buddy read sometime. Or I like Tadiana’s suggestion, read the winner one month, runner up the next - a win-win!

I haven't read any Thirkell, but I remember reading and enjoying MacInnes when I was younger, although I can't remember which ones, so they're probably ripe for a reread.

Debbie wrote: "I'm new but I'll nominate Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman 1947
Mrs. Mike. I have read it or anything by the author as far as I know. I chose it as part of the Back to the Classics Chal..."

I've got an old paperback copy of Mrs. Mike that I've had for many, many years. It's a wonderful story, partially based on a true story. Great nomination.

I sent Carol five Thirkell novels, and I think High Rising is in there, I know for sure Wild Strawberries & Summer Half are. Was in a rush, husband was doing the post & was impatiently tapping foot, never helpful. ;-) Am hoping they get there all right, sent them International first class.

I would be up for a buddy read on some of these titles, Thirkell or MacInnes or the fondly remembered Mrs. Mike.

I am nominating a longtime favorite comfort read dedicated to book lovers everywhere, China Court by the inimitable Rumer Godden.

I also adore Miss Pettigrew.

Summarizing the Feb./March group read nominations thus far:

High Rising by Angela Thirkell
The Venetian Affair by Helen MacInnes
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman
China Court by Rumer Godden

Any more? I'd like to put up the poll by this weekend.

Debbie wrote: "I'm new but I'll nominate Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman 1947
Mrs. Mike. I haven't read it or anything by the author as far as I know. I chose it as part of the Back to the Classics C..."

I was just thinking the other day that I'd love to read Mrs. Mike again. The last time I read it I was like fourteen-fifteen so it'll be fun to see what if anything I remember.

There has not been one suggestion I wouldn't love to read. Awesome picks everyone.

These all sound great! I love China Court (and it's often a Kindle deal), but might pick Mrs. Mike just because it's been so long since I've read it. Or High Rising, because I've never read it. :)

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Summarizing the Feb./March group read nominations thus far:

High Rising by Angela Thirkell
The Venetian Affair by Helen MacInnes
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
Mrs. Mike by Bene..."
As soon as I saw the title 'The Venetian Affair I felt like I had been struck, full on, by a wet Halibut of which I was partial to back in the 60's. I was actually in my teens when I read this cold war thriller. I was struck by the fact a woman was the author because apart from Enid Blyton I had not really read anything by a female. It was a fantastic read. I was mesmerised by the story and characters. Having read it the genre took me down a road of many twists and turns in so far as I became addicted to the spy/espionage thriller. Honestly seeing her name again and the title of the book it just picked me up and took me back some forty plus years. I may just read it again to see how it affects me now in this post cold war era.

No one seems inclined to add more choices and I think these all sound great. So probably tonight or tomorrow I'll set up a poll and give everyone a week to vote. My current thinking is that if there are two books clearly ahead of the rest of the pack that we'll do those for our February and March reads. If the results are more muddled, we'll do the winner as our February read and I'll do another poll of the remaining books so everyone can revote for March.

Does that sound like a fairly reasonable plan? It's not totally accurate but probably close enough for our purposes.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "No one seems inclined to add more choices and I think these all sound great. So probably tonight or tomorrow I'll set up a poll and give everyone a week to vote. My current thinking is that if ther..."
I am new to this group and I always feel that selecting books for group readings is a minefield waiting for the first footstep. however I have a pile of books I love and in thinking about the choices on offer I would like to proffer this little gem. The author Stephen Dobyns is a prolific author but I have so far read only one book bought at a second hand stall some years go. It is set-we can assume- in south America. It has the heat of one of those countries and the passion of them mixed with the dread of Dostoevsky. Middle aged passion and retribution and all the stuff that goes before, a history of passions and tormented love. I was knocked out of my socks by the raw passion of it. Published in 1988 it was like a throwback to an earlier age of writing and not actually the kind of thing I usually read but I thought a change is as good as a rest and it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable reads I have ever had and not forgotten, so maybe a possibility? I think it covers a wide scope of readers.

Tony, thanks for your comment and suggestion. What's the title, and is it generally available to buy for a reasonable price?

Also, if it's a post-1980 book we'd probably give it a pass, since this group is generally geared toward the 1920-80 time frame. Just from a glance at the author's page, it looks lie most of his books are more recent than that. Not that there's anything wrong with that! It's just outside of the scope of this particular group.

AHHHHH! The one thing I forgot the title. It is 'The Two Deaths of Senora Puccini'. The author is popular but my copy was from 1988. I am now learning as I go. It is a help, I now realise, if the book you suggest is still actually in print. This is a great learning curve for me.

And now I see that you did mention the 1988 date in your first comment. :) I think we'll pass on it for this group, but it does look like an interesting book.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "No one seems inclined to add more choices and I think these all sound great. So probably tonight or tomorrow I'll set up a poll and give everyone a week to vote. My current thinking is that if ther..."

Wonderful plan, Tadiana, thank you!

It is an interesting read. For me it was a kind of a first which is probably why it affected me. Like Helen MacInnes got me into spy thrillers this man got me, at the time, thinking about human nature and I went on to read novels by Joseph Conrad and in one particular Edward Mendoza's 'The City of Marvels' published in 1986 but could have been 1886. Thanks for getting me reminiscing and reliving some great times in books.

I appreciate your comments, Tony. It's always interesting to find out what other people think is an excellent book, and why.

Can I add Miss Buncle's Book

Linda wrote: "Can I add Miss Buncle's Book"

Sure!

I have just read a review of 'Miss Buncle's Book' and it does sound good.

I read Miss Buncle's Book a couple of years ago and thought it was absolutely delightful; my favorite D.E. Stevenson book to date.

The poll is up! I've sent out a message with the link, or you can go here: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...-

I've left it open until Jan. 17.

Oh my goodness... I just looked at the nominations for the group read and I am going to have such a hard time voting... all of the book choices are great! how to pick? Close my eyes and point I guess : ) such great book nominations will perk up my reading for this year!

I agree; very tough choices here!

I look forward to reading any of those books, even though I’ve read a few already- I read them several years ago!

Copy of message I just posted in the poll thread:

Carol and I have chatted and we're both on board with scheduling all of these books for group reads over the next 5 or 6 months. We may add other books as group or buddy reads as well, like one by Jeffrey Farnol. Stay posted! Meanwhile, please plan on The Venetian Affair in February and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day in March!

Yay! Thanks, Tadiana and Carol.

Excellent! I can check if we have the books in the library, and start ILL requests if necessary.


...and we have both, hooray! Looking forward to both.

Yay! Good books to look forward to.
Well, it looks like I will have to get Venetian Affair from out of town. Shouldn't be a problem--three other counties in state have copies.

I just ordered a hard copy of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day for our March read. It has 6 weeks to make it from Great Britain to Utah, so I should be in good shape. :) My local library doesn't have it, and last time I did ILL it cost $3. I'd rather pay $5 and get to keep the book.

Was that abebooks, Tadiana? I checked Amazon a year or two ago & it was $15 & up!

Yup, Abebooks. I snagged the cheapest copy but I think there are some more used ones in the $6-7 range on both Abebooks and Amazon. I noticed the Kindle version was about $8 or $9, which isn't too terrible, but I prefer a used paperback over Kindle unless the Kindle version is significantly cheaper.

'The Venetian Affair' works for me for Feb, thank you!

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Copy of message I just posted in the poll thread:

Carol and I have chatted and we're both on board with scheduling all of these books for group reads over the next 5 or 6 months. We may add other..."

Sounds great to me! I’ll work on getting copies.

I'm looking forward to The Venetian Affair. Thanks to the moderators for organizing this!

Well, I was disappointed that High Rising landed so far back in the pack so I simply decided to read it anyway. Having a ball over in my little corner! I hope to be through it and ready for The Venetian Affair (no hardship to read another MacInnes) by February.

Go, Abigail! I love my Thirkell fix - I’m up to The Duke’s Daughter. I’m a “read a series in order” fanatic, so I want to finish the Barsetshire books so I can start rereading!

I started The Venetian Affair last night and it's going to be a very engaging read. I look forward to the discussion thread. Happy reading, all.

I was disappointed that my library didn’t have it, and I couldn’t get it tnrough my Scribd subscription. I’m trying not to buy any more books until we decide in the next year or so whether we’ll move now that we’re “empty nesters” or not. I’ll have to lurk and catch up with the group next month.

I’ve been reading it for a couple of days (getting a jump on my February reads) and am really impressed. Tightly crafted, page-turning stuff.

I will start it tonight - yay! I borrowed the book from my library.

Susan in NC wrote: "I was disappointed that my library didn’t have it, and I couldn’t get it tnrough my Scribd subscription. I’m trying not to buy any more books until we decide in the next year or so whether we’ll mo..."

Susan--your library probably offers inter-library loan of some sort. It wouldn't hurt to ask them to get the title thru ILL. Be sure to ask about fees! My library charges nothing to get a book from another library in state and rarely charges for out of state. (I am sooo lucky!!). I know of systems that charge $5 for an in state transaction (gag*choke). I do believe there is a Large Print edition, if font size is still an issue... Hate to see you miss out on a good book!