Retro Reads discussion

Added for you Jenn. :)

Hi, Carol, it looks as if you may have overlooked my book #10, in message 446. 😉

Abigail wrote: "Hi, Carol, it looks as if you may have overlooked my book #10, in message 446. 😉"

Oops, sorry. Done now.

No worries!

#7 with book 14All Done by Kindness, by Doris Langley Moore. I loved this smart, funny, satisfying book, 4.5 ⭐️, finished 9/9/23.

Here’s a link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Susan in NC wrote: "#7 with book 14All Done by Kindness, by Doris Langley Moore. I loved this smart, funny, satisfying book, 4.5 ⭐️, finished 9..."

Entered for you, Susan!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "#7 with book 14All Done by Kindness, by Doris Langley Moore. I loved this smart, funny, satisfying book..."

Thank you, dearest!

#15 reporting on Book #4 completed on September 12: “A Dram of Poison” by Charlotte Ambrose. A 4-star read for me. 👏🏻

Not sure why I was surprised that it was set in California, but I was. A love story with 23 years between the husband and wife. A LOT of inner dialogue, almost to the point of me wanting to tell the characters, “Please, just talk to each other!” But once the search for the missing bottle began, the story blossomed into proof that people can (and do) care for each other when given the chance. Despite the naysayers and doom mongers.

Kate wrote: "#15 reporting on Book #4 completed on September 12: “A Dram of Poison” by Charlotte Ambrose. A 4-star read for me. 👏🏻

Not sure why I was surprised that it was set in California, but I was. A love ..."
Added for you, Kate!

#11, reporting book no. 6: All Done by Kindness. 4-stars, finished 9/12.

Like Susan in NC, I loved this one - although it might be the first Furrowed Middlebrow book that made me anxious as I was reading it. But the characters are terrific, the plotting ingenious, and just the right amount of romance.

Susan in NC wrote: "Jenn wrote: "#11, reporting book no. 6: All Done by Kindness. 4-stars, finished 9/12.

Like Susan in NC, I loved this one - although it might be the first Furrowed Middlebrow book ..."

Hi Susan could you spoiler tag your comment? Its a bit of a spoiler. :)

& added yours to the tally. Jenn.

I may be offline for a bit as I am just changing ISPs. :)

#12
Book #7
Queen Lucia / E.F. Benson
Finished Sep. 14
Rated 3 stars
What can you say about Queen Lucia!
The character is pretentious, self-absorbed, puts herself above all others, and doesn’t seem to see how silly she looks when making her many gaffs, although she could be excused as she’s surrounded by so many other silly characters.
The book – Benson, like Wodehouse, writes some of the best British humour. Mocking class with witty, clever, satirical writing. Just downright fun read.

Thank you! Hope the changeover goes well.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Jenn wrote: "#11, reporting book no. 6: All Done by Kindness. 4-stars, finished 9/12.

Like Susan in NC, I loved this one - although it might be the first Furro..."

I just deleted it, wasn’t sure what part was a spoiler. Glad you enjoyed it Jenn!

Awww, sorry Susan. I can't edit comments or I would have done it for you! 💕

No problem, dearest! Good luck with your changeover!

Turns out it is tomorrow. & I have to get it done before the rugby. No pressure!

Yikes!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Turns out it is tomorrow. & I have to get it done before the rugby. No pressure!"

If not, surely a good excuse to go to the pub. England team's a little underwhelming this time so no chance of a shock defeat this time. Hope it all gors well for you.

Tania wrote: "
If not, surely a good excuse to go to the pub. England team's a little underwhelmin..."

The All Blacks are playing Namibia atm. The game started at 7am, so no chance of a pub in our little town being open.

Originally Marty said he didn't mind missing this game, but he changed his mind.

#2 here, with book #11: Slippery Staircase by E. C. R. Lorac. This is one of her London mysteries and I tend to prefer the rural ones, but I enjoyed all the characters and she fooled me on whodunit. I would join others here in giving it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Finished September 16, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I always enjoy your reviews, Abigail.

Thanks so much, Jackie! That makes my day; I really try to think about them, as a way of justifying the many hours I spend on my backside reading. 😏

:-)

#8 here with book 3, finished today Sept 18th -Nightingale Wood

I really enjoyed this comedy of manners despite not really liking any of the characters but I love Stella Gibbons's writing and would read this again.

I agree, Lynnie—that was the Gibbons book that turned around my view of her writing (I’ve never been able to finish Cold Comfort Farm). I enjoyed The Woods in Winter too, though the ending was a bit of a letdown.

Lesley, Abigail, Lynnie - added your books to the tally. If I missed anyone let me know! :)

Oh, I hoped to get this in before you had time to update—sorry, Carol!

#2 with book #12, finished September 18: Business as Usual by Jane Oliver and Ann Stafford. I enjoyed it as much as others in the group, gave it four stars, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Abigail wrote: "Oh, I hoped to get this in before you had time to update—sorry, Carol!

#2 with book #12, finished September 18: Business as Usual by Jane Oliver and Ann Stafford. I enjoyed it as m..."

No worries Abigail - updated!

Thank you! ❤️ I’m determined to give Susan a run for her money—especially because there are so many enticing books on the list this year.

Abigail wrote: "I agree, Lynnie—that was the Gibbons book that turned around my view of her writing (I’ve never been able to finish Cold Comfort Farm). I enjoyed The Woods in Winter too,..."

I think CCF is the weakest of her books that I've read so far. A shame that that's the one she's known for.

Enjoyed your review of Business as Usual. Moving that book up the tbr.

Thanks, Lynnie! Everyone who’s read it in this group has enjoyed it a lot, I believe.

Abigail wrote: "Thank you! ❤️ I’m determined to give Susan a run for her money—especially because there are so many enticing books on the list this year."

Lol! There really are, plus my other groups are either on hiatus or reading things I have no interest in right now, so filling my time with all of these enticing Retro Reads!

Abigail wrote: "I agree, Lynnie—that was the Gibbons book that turned around my view of her writing (I’ve never been able to finish Cold Comfort Farm). I enjoyed The Woods in Winter too,..."

I'm currently reading The Swiss Summer by Stella Gibbons and really enjoying it although I can't remember who/where it was recommended. This is my first by her, and sounds like I shouldn't bother with Cold Comfort Farm.

Thanks for the recco of The Swiss Summer! I should say that Cold Comfort Farm is her most famous book and popular with many. It’s said to be a spoof of Precious Bane by Mary Webb 1946 Hardcover.

Jackie wrote: "Abigail wrote: "I agree, Lynnie—that was the Gibbons book that turned around my view of her writing (I’ve never been able to finish Cold Comfort Farm). I enjoyed [book:The Woods in Win..."

I read Cold Comfort many years ago, around the time I saw the film, I think. It was so satirical, I kept seeing the movie characters superimposed on the book, kind of “stole”from my imagination, if you see what I mean! I honestly don’t remember much, except it was campy.

I have enjoyed the books I’ve read recently by Gibbons, so thanks for the recommendation! I have it on my TBR already, so you and I both must have received the recommendation somewhere, Jackie! Thank you for reminding me of the title!

Abigail wrote: "Thanks for the recco of The Swiss Summer! I should say that Cold Comfort Farm is her most famous book and popular with many. It’s said to be a spoof of [book:Precious Bane by Mary Webb 1946 Hardcov..."

Thank you, dearest, I wondered where her idea came from - wondered if there were a bunch of rural lusty peasant, crazy old lady books around at the time!

The genre was known as “loam and love child,” I understand. The Women’s Classic Literature Enthusiasts group did a group read of Precious Bane a few months ago and I enjoyed it enormously.

Abigail wrote: "The genre was known as “loam and love child,” I understand. The Women’s Classic Literature Enthusiasts group did a group read of Precious Bane a few months ago and I enjoyed it enormously."

Yes, you intrigued me, so I went and read your review of that book - thanks to our lovely group for sending me down these delightful rabbit holes on GR! I learn of so many titles and authors I otherwise would have missed.

The joy of Goodreads!

Absolutely!

I love The Swiss Summer, I read it last summer and it's my favourite Stella Gibbons book.

#11, with book no. 7: Giant's Bread, Agatha Christie, as Mary Westmacott. Finished today, 9/24.

4-stars. I should probably wait to comment - feels too fresh for me to really know what I think of it! It's as readable as her mysteries, but far from the romance that the Westmacott books are often claimed to be. It's very interesting, having recently read her biography, to think about what bits might've been taken from her life. I don't think I quite loved it, but I do admire it!

Abigail wrote: "The genre was known as “loam and love child,” I understand. The Women’s Classic Literature Enthusiasts group did a group read of Precious Bane a few months ago and I enjoyed it enormously."
so interesting!

Jenn wrote: "#11, with book no. 7: Giant's Bread, Agatha Christie, as Mary Westmacott. Finished today, 9/24.

4-stars. I should probably wait to comment - feels too fresh for me to really know w..."

Thanks for reading and previewing this one - Agatha is my favorite mystery writer, I’ve been tempted to try her other books, but was afraid it would be disloyal if I didn’t like them!

Jenn wrote: "#11, with book no. 7: Giant's Bread, Agatha Christie, as Mary Westmacott. Finished today, 9/24.

4-stars. I should probably wait to comment - feels too fresh for me to really know w..."

I’ve only read one Westmacott book, but it was definitely not a romance: Absent in the Spring. It was brilliant but quite devastating.

#7 with book #14 No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym. Four stars at least for this funny, charming book, finished just now, 9/24.

I enjoyed it very much, but have to think about it a bit before writing a review. I’m not sure how I felt about Dulcie Mainwaring, the main character. I liked her, and appreciated her interest in other people, but she seemed to take it to stalkerish extremes!

Added your book, Jenn

Susan, are you sure this is your 14th read? I already had you down as 14. :)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Added your book, Jenn

Susan, are you sure this is your 14th read? I already had you down as 14. :)"

Sorry, you’re right, this is 15 (plus one DNF), thanks!