Reading the 20th Century discussion

While discussing Elizabeth Bowen, I asked if anyone knew of any similar authors and William Trevor was suggested by Val.

I must admit that I have not heard of him before, but his books look intriguing. Val has suggested Love and Summer as a possible starting point - but with novels featuring seedy boarding houses, crumbling hotels and public school revenge, these look extremely enticing.

Has anyone else read anything by him?

I've read Felicia's Journey (good for seedy boarding houses!), and the novella Reading Turgenev.

Val has suggested a Buddy Read of Love and Summer and I am very keen to try him.

It will be summer by the time we get to another buddy read, but we can read a different one if you prefer it. I have enjoyed all the ones I have read: The Story of Lucy Gault, Love and Summer, After Rain (short stories), The Children of Dynmouth, Reading Turgenev, Mrs Eckdorf in O'Neill's Hotel. There are many more of them. Reading Turgenev is shorter than most, if you want a 'taster'.

Beryl Bainbridge has been called the 'Booker bridesmaid'; William Trevor must be the 'Booker pageboy'.

I am currently reading Mrs Eckdorf in O'Neill's Hotel for another group. This will be my fourth, and The Story of Lucy Gault is my favourite one. The others I have read were Two Lives and The Children of Dynmouth

Love and Summer sounds like a good choice, Val. I also want to try , and . How has he escaped my notice all these years?

You don't read the Irish Times literary reviews?

...or pay quite as much attention to the Booker and Whitbread / Costa lists as I do. (The Booker choices can be inexplicable at times, the Whitbread / Costa are usually all good.)

It is true that I tend to be biased against book awards...

Literary award lists are a bit like listening to John Peel's radio show. Some of the choices will not be to your taste, but there is some reason why they were chosen.

Possibly, but they just seem - like the Eurovision Song Contest - very political.

That aside, I have succumbed and downloaded The Old Boys as I am too tempted to wait. I will report back.

I really liked The Story of Lucy Gault- I can't believe it, but it must be more than 10 years since I read it, as it isn't on my GR 'read' list and I've been a member since December 2007! I've also read and liked Love and Summer, but I think it has just been those two for me so far except for a few short stories.

I haven't read The Old Boys, but apparently Evelyn Waugh liked it. There are some similarities between Waugh and Trevor, in that both graduated from amusing satire in their early work to emotional depth in their later books.

If Evelyn Waugh liked it, I am definitely sold, Val! Hoping for some reading time this evening now my children have (finally) finished their homework and everyone has been fed several times!

Roman Clodia wrote: " Felicia's Journey (good for seedy boarding houses!)"


Yes please. I love a bit of Boarding House lit (all hail Patrick Hamilton).

Val wrote: "Beryl Bainbridge has been called the 'Booker bridesmaid'....."

I've only read one book by Beryl Bainbridge which was The Bottle Factory Outing. I loved it. I nearly started a favourite author thread for her - primarily to gauge how others here felt about her. I'm definitely up for reading more BB.

Val wrote: "....William Trevor must be the 'Booker pageboy'."

I'm intrigued. Another name I have read about, but not read, so I'd be up for a book. I await Susan's response to The Old Boys - and other comments about William Trevor.

Thanks all.

I have read a few Beryl Bainbridge novels and enjoyed them all. Certainly up for reading more by her.

I have read:
An Awfully Big Adventure
Every Man for Himself
Harriet Said...
Young Adolf
The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress and
According to Queeney

However, they were all a while (years!) ago and I would be happy to re-read any.

It is not within our time frame, but I liked Master Georgie a lot. Every Man For Himself, about the Titanic, and The Birthday Boys, about the Scott Antarctic expedition, are also good and are set within the twentieth century, as are An Awfully Big Adventure and several of her others.

I really enjoyed An Awfully Big Adventure and I think you would like that, Nigeyb.

Thanks Susan. Sounds great.


Back to William Trevor, Mrs B reminded me that we saw the film adaptation of Felicia's Journey - that's the closest I have come to his work. I only have very hazy recollections of the film. Directed by Atom Egoyan, who I was v keen on at one time.

I will keep you posted on what I think of William Trevor once I've finished The Old Boys.

On the subject of Booker bridesmaids, both Ali Smith and Jon McGregor are heading that way (4 and 3 longlistings each). Incidentally, I saw somebody saying that Kazuo Ishiguro is still the youngest British winner, which is staggering (and I have just checked - it is true - he is slightly younger than Alan Hollingshurst)...

I have started, "The Old Boys," now. It is as interesting premise - a Committe of the Old Boys Association meet up and are about to elect a new President. One man, now in his Seventies, is proposed and, unless someone objects, he will be elected. The problem is, another man was once bullied by him.

This is classic Public School stuff - fagging, beatings, humiliations, etc. We switch between past and present and the present sections, with the older men falling into the relationships they had as youths, is most amusing. I think this will be a good read.

I have finished The Old Boys now. Not mad on it to be honest. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Great review! This sounds very different from the Trevor of Felicia's Journey and Reading Turgenev.

I would read more by him, but I was not over-whelmed.

Thanks Wanda, that's great to know - I have one of his books - The Old Boys - out of the library and hope to get to it soon

I have just read The Love Department, an early work which is more farcical in tone than any of the others I have read. My review.

I have copies of Fools of Fortune and Felicia's Journey too.

I have recently read Fools of Fortune:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So glad to see this thread. I have read The Story of Lucy Gault, Love and Summer, and After Rain. I love his writing, and when in for something dark, surely Trevor should be on the list of go tos. That said, I see I wasn't so impressed with the two novels, but gave 5 stars to the story collection. I must have been feeling grumpy because it was Lucy Gault that has me returning to him. I gave that only 3 stars, and as I remember lots of it very clearly, am somewhat perplexed as to that rating.

I'd be up for a buddy read should a consensus be found.