The 1900 to 1950 Readathon discussion

I've just finished "The Man-Eaters of Tsavo" for the not a novel challenge. Very exciting look into colonial life (focusing on the white perspective). It's interesting to read knowing how things turned out. The author is clearly pro-colonialism but he's not completely condescending to the native population, which is better than some books I've read from this time period. Speaking of books that are not as good about their treatment of non-white characters, after finishing "Man-Eaters" I started up "Adventure" by Jack London and boy howdy is it racist. It definitely makes me appreciate "Man-Eaters" but besides that the story lives up to the title. Very adventurous, but super racist and kinda sexist (although some of it might be ironic) but it's short.

Just finished O Pioneers! 1913 Willa Sibert Cather American. Not only is this novel from my country, but it is also set in the American Midwest with a heroine of Swedish descent, like me. How the immigrants struggled to establish their homesteads and later began to lose their native languages hit especially close to home. My Grandma didn't learn English until she started school, and she and Grandpa never graduated from high school. Cather's prose is unique and beautiful.

Lorri wrote: "Just finished O Pioneers! 1913 Willa Sibert Cather American. Not only is this novel from my country, but it is also set in the American Midwest with a heroine of Swedish descent, like me. How the i..."

Another one I've been meaning to get to for a long time.

I've started Darkness Falls from the Air by Nigel Balchin, written and set during the London Blitz. I always find the fiction written at that time by people who lived through it fascinating. They have a real sense of immediacy.

I knew that I was going to like Testament of Youth but it delivered much more then I expected. An amazing read. That was my book about one of the wars. Next I’m picking up Death Lights a Candle for a little murder mystery fun!

I read Some Imagist Poets: An Anthology by Richard Aldington et al. cover to cover today. I am familiar with Imagist poetry from college and enjoyed reading these poems. However, these are the type of poems that make some individuals hate poetry.

Next up, To The Last Salute: Memories Of An Austrian U-Boat Commander.

I've finished Double Indemnity and The Makioka Sisters so far and really enjoyed both.

Have now started Howards End my first foray into E.M. Forster and loving it so far!

I finished the books for the first three challenges. Now I'm reading "Draußen vor der Tür" (The Man Outside) by Wolfgang Borchert - a play.

I finished The House Of Mirth by Edith Wharton, which I absolutely loved, and a short story The Mark On The Wall by Virginia Woolf, which was enjoyable.
Now I'm reading How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and 1984 by George Orwell.

Finished Poirot, which turns out covers almost all the challenges-war time, another country (England) and genre classic and just about to finish Wind in the Willows for genre classic (Children's). Planning on either Anne's House of Dreams or Rilla of Ingleside tomorrow.

I started by reading two novellas; Where Angles Fear To Tread (EM Forster) & Le Grand Meaulnes (Alain Fournier), both enjoyable particularly the former (my 3rd Forster whom i just love), there was a dark thread in it i wasn't expecting but then the usual/ wonderful heart warming blooming/ unfurling of the central characters. Im now 450 pages into Thomas Mann's 'The Magic Mountain' oh my gosh... im loving it.. TM where i have i been? I could become a little obsessed.. loving it. Not sure i will be able to finish both Brideshead Revisited & Makioka Sisters in time as this one is dense & long.. we'll see. : )

1900-1950 Challenge - May 2021

Challenge #1: (USA) - Jack London, White Fang, 1906, (05/15/21)
Challenge #2: (Germany) - Hermann Hesse, Beneath the Wheel, 1906, (05/07/21)
Challenge #3: (Crime/Detective) - Dashielle Hammett, Red Harvest, 1928, (05/20/21)
Challenge #4: (Nonfiction) - Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents, 1930, (05/11/21)
Challenge #5: (WWI) - Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms, 1929, (05/25/21)

Bonus Challenges
1900's
1910's
1920's
1930's
1940's

I read for prompt #4 read something that is not a novel; Passenger to Teheran by Vita Sackville-West. a short travel book about her travels to and from Teheran in 1926. I liked this a lot.

I'm still reading Sigrid Undsett"s The Wreath (Kristin Lavransdatter 1) for prompt 2.1920

And also started Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay (mystery book written in 1935)

I finished A Room with a View by E. M. Forster. This was a re-read, which I liked and appreciated more, since I read a couple of other Forster novels recently.
I have started the 1911 book Jenny by Sigrid Undset (author of Kristin Lavransdatter). This is amazing and far ahead of its time. Caused a scandal when it was published and this translation, by Tiina Nunally, restored deleted (read: "censored") passages form earlier English editions.

I have just started A Room with a View This is my first time reading this and I am enjoying it. It's also my first E.M. Forster read, but not my last. :)

Finished "Shadow Castle" and it was a nice little children's fantasy. I especially liked the vegetarian dragon. Nothing especially extraordinary but thoroughly delightful. Less delightful but fun is "Adventure" by Jack London. It's racist and misogynist but still a great adventure story and kind of fun if you can look past that. If you can't that is completely forgivable, I barely could but it is very short.

Alice wrote: "Finished "Shadow Castle" and it was a nice little children's fantasy. I especially liked the vegetarian dragon. Nothing especially extraordinary but thoroughly delightful."

That one sounds fun.

I finished Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim, her darkest novel and apparently one of Daphne du Maurier's influences when writing Rebecca

I've started The Privet Hedge by J.E. Buckrose. I'd never heard of this but Simon at the 'Stuck in a Book' blog reviewed it a few days ago and it looked like something I'd enjoy. Written in 1921.

Death Lights a Candle was pretty fun. There looks to be about 20 books in the series. Murder mysteries set in Cape Cod written in the 1930s and 40s. At some point I’d like to read one from later in the series to see how they evolve. I think I’m picking upTortilla Flat next as a novel from my own country. I haven’t read any Stienbeck since high school and that doesn’t seem right. And I’ve a old beat up paperback on the shelf.

The Old Man in the Corner, by Baroness Orczy was my most recent finish.
Yesterday I read The Return of the Soldier, by Rebecca West. It is only 138 pages.
Trying to complete all the challenges so perhaps a play is next.

Today, I finished Siddhartha. Before reading, I only knew this book is taught in some American High School English classes and deals with Buddhism. I discovered a beautifully written story about the search for salvation.

Later today, I read the first three chapters of A Room of One's Own. The writing and content are both wonderful.

Finished Jenny by Norwegian writer Sigrid Undset (1911). Good, but an inevitable tragedy from the beginning. Way ahead of its time in many ways.

Next up: Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson (1919).

I’ve now finished Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham, which was a really short book but took me ages because I just wasn’t enjoying it very much. Started The Rose and the Yew Tree last night and I’m already a third of the way in. It’s so different to Agatha Christie’s other books but yet I can see certain similarities. It’s my first Mary Westmacott and I’m finding it so intriguing. Still listening to 1984 on audiobook, and I’m not really enjoying that much. Hope everyone else is getting on well!

I finished "Draußen vor der Tür" (The Man Outside) by Wolfgang Borchert for challenge 4. This is a play (The Man Outside) and a collection of short stories. This book would fit for challenge 5, too, because it is published 1947 and deals with WWII, but for that challenge I'll now start to read "Bannlyst" (The Outcast) by Selma Lagerlöf, published 1918.

Mid month check-in
Books Read:
Such Power is Dangerous by Dennis Wheatley (1933)
Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner (1926)
Soldiers' Pay by William Faulkner (1926)
Native Son by Richard Wright (1940)

Challenge #1: Such Power is Dangerous & Lolly Willowes
Challenge #2: Soldiers' Pay & Native Son
Challenge #3:
Challenge #4:
Challenge #5: Soldiers' Pay

Bonus Challenge:
1900s:
1910s:
1920s: Lolly Willowes & Soldiers' Pay
1930s: Such Power is Dangerous
1940s: Native Son

Tortilla Flat was fun. I laughed quite a bit. Next is a novel from another country. I’m picking up Where Angels Fear to Tread. It will be my first read of Forster.

Tania wrote: "Alice wrote: "Finished "Shadow Castle" and it was a nice little children's fantasy. I especially liked the vegetarian dragon. Nothing especially extraordinary but thoroughly delightful."

That one ..."

Tania wrote: "Alice wrote: "Finished "Shadow Castle" and it was a nice little children's fantasy. I especially liked the vegetarian dragon. Nothing especially extraordinary but thoroughly delightful."

That one ..."

What did you think of Vera? I haven't read it yet but want to. I read Rebecca for the first time this year and loved it!

Lorri wrote: "Today, I finished Siddhartha. Before reading, I only knew this book is taught in some American High School English classes and deals with Buddhism. I discovered a beautifully writte..."

I am reading A Room with a View also and am just loving it. :)

Janice wrote: "What did you think of Vera? I haven't read it yet but want to. I read Rebecca for the first time this year and loved it"

I loved Vera. Very creepy; the husband makes my skin crawl, and knowing he was based on Elizabeth von Arnim's second husband adds an extra dimension to the book. Very well written. I think my favourite one of her books is The Caravaners, one of her more obscure ones, which doesn't deserve to be, it's so funny, particularly for the portrayal of the Count, who was based on her first husband.

I thought The Privet Hedge was very good. Reminded me of Dorothy Evelyn Smith's writing.

I'm niw reading Tension by E.M. Delafield. More serious than her 'Provincial Lady' books.

I like the mid-month progress report idea so here's where I've got to:

#1 Own Country: Howards End
#2 Other Country: The Makioka Sisters
#3 Genre Classic: Double Indemnity
#4 Not a Novel: Cane (started but not finished)
#5 WWI or WWII: Despised And Rejected (started but not finished)

Bonus Challenge:
1900s:
1910s: Howards End
1920s: Cane
1930s: Double Indemnity
1940s: The Makioka Sisters

Agree. The mid-month progress report also appeals to me

(using books planned for each of these categories)
#1 Own Country A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
#2 Other Country
#3 Genre: Triplanetary by E.E. "Doc" Smith
#4 Not a Novel: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
#5 WWI or WWII:

1900s
- A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
1910s
- Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
1920s
- The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
1930s
- The Travel Tales of Mr Joseph Jorkens by Lord Dunsany
- The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
1940s
- The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick
- Triplanetary by E.E. "Doc" Smith
1950
- First Lensmen by E.E. "Doc" Smith

I like the idea of a Mid-month progress. Here is mine.

#1 Own Country: Schoolidyllen - Top Naeff (1900)
#2 Other Country: The Wreath:Kristin Lavransdatter 1 - Sigrid Undset ( 1920)
#3 Genre Classic: Evil under the Sun - Agatha Christie (1941)
#4 Not a Novel: Passage to Teheran -Vita Sackville West (1926)
#5 WWI or WWII: The Return of the Soldier - Rebecca West (1918)

Bonus Challenge:
1900s: Schoolidyllen
1910s: The return of the Soldier
1920s: Passage to Teheran and The Wreath
1930s:
1940s: Evil under the sun

Currently reading : Death on the Cherwell -Mavis Doriel Hay (1934)

Me too. Here's mine:

1/ Own Country
Love at Second Sight 1916 - 04/05/21
Tension 1920 - 17/05/21
Vera 1921 - 12/05/21
The Privet Hedge 1921 - 15/05/21
All Passion Spent 1931 - 06/05/21

2/ Other Country
The Provincial Lady in Russia 1937 - 08/05/21

3/ Genre
The Mystery of the Blue Train 1928 - 05/05/21

4/ War
Tom Tiddler's Ground 1941 - 02/05/21
Darkness Falls from the Air 1942 - 09/05/21

5/ Not a novel
Down the Garden Path 1938
Prophesying Peace: Diaries, 1944-1945

So mainly 1920's and still nothing from 1900's, and I need to get to more books from other countries and maybe some genre classics. I'd also like to read something relating to WW1.

Mid-Readathon Update. I am currently reading the 8th title of the 11 on my TBR:

#1 Own Country: America
1. O Pioneers! ~ Willa Sibert Cather
2. American poets: H.D. John Gould Fletcher, and Amy Lowell

#2 Other Country:
1. The Phantom of the Opera ~ Gaston Leroux (French)
2. “Metamorphosis” ~ Franz Kafka (Bohemian/Czechian/Austrian)
3. To the Last Salute ~ Georg Von Trapp (Austrian)
4. Siddhartha ~ Hermann Hesse (Swiss)
5. A Room of One’s Own ~ Virginia Woolf (British)
6. British poets: Richard Aldington, F.S. Flint, and D.H. Lawrence
7. Vera ~ Elizabeth von Arnim (Australian/British) (Currently reading)

#3 Genre: (Suspense/Mystery)
1.

#4 Not a Novel:
1. “Metamorphosis” ~ Kafka (short story)
2. Some Imagist Poets: An Anthology ~ see above poets (poetry)
3. To the Last Salute ~ Von Trapp (WW I memoir)
4. A Room of One’s Own ~ Woolf (essay)

#5 WW I or WWII
1. To the Last Salute: Memories of an Austrian U-Boat Commander ~ Georg Von Trapp

Bonus Challenge:
1900s: The Phantom of the Opera 1909
1910s: O Pioneers! 1913, “Metamorphosis” 1915, Some Imagist Poets 1915
1920s: Vera 1921, Siddhartha 1922, A Room of One’s Own 1929
1930s: To the Last Salute 1935
1940s:

Finished Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson. Meh. Lots of disconnected, lonely people. My last 2 books have been tough. May take a break and read something a little less dour.

I've started Down the Garden Path by Beverley Nichols and already love it. It's about restoring his garden, but you don't need to be into ardens or gardening to enjoy his writing.

I'm also reading Madame de Treymes by Edith Wharton; another country and 1900's.

I've been pretty busy in May and haven't read as much as I hoped I would by this point. However, I'm pleased with the books I've read so far, haven't had any huge disappointments.
Here's my mid-month check in.


#1 My Country: Stojan Mutikaša - currently reading
#2 Other Country: The House of Mirth - finished
#3 Genre Classic: 1984 - finished
#4 Not a Novel: How to Win Friends and Influence People - finished
#5 WWI or WWII: All Quiet on the Western Front - haven't satrted yet

Bonus Challenge:
1900s: The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (1905)
1910s: The Mark on the Wall by Virginia Woolf (1917)
1920s:
1930s: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (1936)
1940s: 1984 by George Orwell (1949)

Tania wrote: "Janice wrote: "What did you think of Vera? I haven't read it yet but want to. I read Rebecca for the first time this year and loved it"

I loved Vera. Very creepy; the husband makes..."

Thank you for sharing and now I really want to read Vera and The Caravaners. :)

You can't go wrong with Elizabeth von Arnim in my opinion.

Today I read (listened to) Blithe Spirit, my favourite Noël Coward play. I've seen it a few times, the best performance with Penelope Keithas Madame Arcati. I also really enjoyed it when The Archers (British Radio soap) did it as their Christmas show, and the 'performance' was broadcast.

Janice wrote: "Tania wrote: "Janice wrote: "What did you think of Vera? I haven't read it yet but want to. I read Rebecca for the first time this year and loved it"

I loved Vera. Very creepy; the..."

I just checked, Vera is available on Libravox free if you do audiobooks. You can download here https://librivox.org/vera-by-elizabet... or follow the link to Internet Archive and listen online.

Tania wrote: "Janice wrote: "Tania wrote: "Janice wrote: "What did you think of Vera? I haven't read it yet but want to. I read Rebecca for the first time this year and loved it"

I loved Vera. V..."

Thank you, Tania, for letting me know. :) I haven't done audiobooks in a long time as they tend to make me sleepy. I think it's because my Mom read to me when I was younger until I was asleep. :) But since my library doesn't have the book, Vera, I may have to use audiobooks. I used to have the app Librivox app on my phone but took it off. Might have to get it again. :)

Finished and loved The Crowded Street by Winifred Holtby (1924). A Yorkshire woman comes to realize that there is a life for her beyond her stifling village. It follows her from 1900 (age 10) through 1920 (age 30); the War is present, but not a major part of her life, until the changes in the post-war years.

Next up: William by E. H. Young (1925).

I finished Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay (1935). A cozy mystery situated on a fictitous Oxford colleg for women. Easy read and quite entertaining.

Started The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer (1934) a Regency Romance novel. Also started A little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1905) classic odd children’s literature.

Finished Passing, by Nella Larson. A wonderful story, and one that will reveal more upon rereading.
Having a bit of trouble with the 1940’s choice. Nothing grabbing my interest as yet.

I Just finished "Burmese Days" by George Orwell and I think it might win for favorite of the month. At the very least my favorite for right now. It reminded me of "A Passage to India" but I think worked better. Orwell lived in India for quite awhile and there is a real understanding and love for the place. When I say love I don't mean nostalgia or romanticized but the kind of warts and all love that sees the flaws and even horrors of a place but still wants the best for it. If the only thing you've read by Orwell is "Animal Farm" or "1984" this is definitely worth a look.

Janice wrote: "I have just started A Room with a View This is my first time reading this and I am enjoying it. It's also my first E.M. Forster read, but not my last. :)"

I plan to read A Room with a View sometime in the next few weeks. It will be my second Forster, having read A Passage to India.

Tania wrote: "Janice wrote: "What did you think of Vera? I haven't read it yet but want to. I read Rebecca for the first time this year and loved it"

I loved Vera. Very creepy; the husband makes..."

I also read Vera. I loved your review. I haven't written a review because I would be tempted to comment on the danger of letting others think for you. Letting anyone think for me is my idea of horror.

Love the idea of a mid-month check-in (though it's already the 21st ;)

#1 My Country: Three Men in the Snow - finished
#2 Other Country: (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Holgersson -nearly finished)
#3 Genre Classic: ...
#4 Not a Novel: (Pygmalion - just started)
#5 WWI or WWII: Mrs Dalloway - finished

1900s: (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Holgersson)
1910s: (Pygmalion)
1920s: Mrs Dalloway
1930s: Three Men in the Snow
1940s: ...

For the Genre Classic prompt and the 1940s, I've got Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie lined up. As it's a fast read, I've saved it for last.

Hi everyone,
hope your reading month has gone well : ) Mine has been good for the most part- The Magic Mountain was a revalation & i loved it.. (definitely will re- read one day). Just Finished The Makioka Sisters though unfortunately i didn't love this one : ( Had been looking fwd to this for the last year oh well.. 3 out of four isn't bad however! Im due to start Brideshead Revisited as my last book from each decade but after TMS im suddenly just not in the mood for it at all, & am trying to find an alternative- best i can do (that im in the mood for) is The Mandarins (S. De Beauvoir), at least it deals with the aftermath ww2 (like Brideshead) but is just a few years over the publishing date. Anyway.. love to hear anyone elses experiences with TMSisters, i know its very well rated! : )

Lorri wrote: "Janice wrote: "I have just started A Room with a View This is my first time reading this and I am enjoying it. It's also my first E.M. Forster read, but not my last. :)"

I plan to rea..."

I have A Passage to India on my TBR list. :) I really enjoyed A Room With a View and I hope you do too. :)

I'm reading Operation Heartbreak by Duff Cooper which was written in 1950, so that covers the last decade and features both world wars.

My Progress up to today.

#1 Own Country: Schoolidyllen - Top Naeff (1900)
#2 Other Country: The Wreath:Kristin Lavransdatter 1 - Sigrid Undset (1920)
#3 Genre Classic: Evil under the Sun - Agatha Christie (1941) + Death on the Cherwell -Mavis Doriel Hay (1934) + The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer (1934)
#4 Not a Novel: Passage to Teheran -Vita Sackville West (1926)(travel book)
#5 WWI or WWII: The Return of the Soldier - Rebecca West (1918)

Bonus Challenge:
1900s: Schoolidyllen + A little Princess
1910s: The return of the Soldier
1920s: Passage to Teheran + The Wreath
1930s: Death on the Cherwell + The Convenient Marriage
1940s: Evil under the sun

Finished The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer (1934) a Regency Romance novel and A little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1905) classic children’s literature.

Currently Reading: Aunt Augusta in Egypt by J.E. Buckrose (1915)

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