Retro Reads discussion

Susan in NC wrote: "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!"

No worries, added.

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'll add here that I also very much enjoyed Precious Bane. I own Cold Comfort Farm but haven't got round to reading it yet. I think 'send ups' of books often don't age well.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "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 DN..."

Thank you, I’ll pay attention! ;)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ 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..."

Agree! I read your review also, I’m glad you both were able to enjoy such a lovely book.

Abigail wrote: "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 ..."

Brilliant and a bit devastating is a good way of summing it up! This is the second I've read, but am hoping to work through the others in the coming months. I will always prefer the mysteries, but I think these have there place as well.

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 of her Westmacott novels, and it definitely wasn't a romance. I've always been put off of those novels believing them to be romances, but so many people have said they aren't that I thought I'd give one a go. I now think that they have been shoved onto that genre because the publishers were confused about where to place them. I'd be willing to read more.

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..."

Haven’t read this one but 4 of her other Westmacott novels, two being favourites (Absent in the Spring + A Daughter’s a Daughter). As you said, they’re not romances but rather taut psychological dramas. Happy you enjoyed it :0)

Apologies for not participating much. It’s been a very difficult year but hopefully looking up, and I can get back to normal 🤓

Veronique wrote: "Apologies for not participating much. It’s been a very difficult year but hopefully looking up, and I can get back to normal 🤓"

Sorry to read that Veronique! Real life does have a way of getting in the way of our reading. :(

I've only read on Westmacott - The Burden - & it was a DNF for me.

Thanks Carol :O) Moving tomorrow, then a couple of weeks to get settled and then hopefully ‘better’ just in time to enjoy the end of the year. Well, that’s my plan.

Didn’t love The Burden either; my least favourite of the 4.

Oh good! (that you also didn't love The Burden) I read all the Westmacott praise & wondered if I had missed something.

:O)

Mela #18

8th book: Chip of the Flying U by B.M. Bower - 4 stars, a charming romance.

Here is a link to my very short review.

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

I finished it last night and wrote a short and unsatisfying review of it just now - didn't feel smart enough to say what I meant to which was what a talented writer! How unexpected so much of it was! I am certain I will be re-reading it some day.

I've added this one to your tally Jackie. Could you please in future say what number read it it was for you?

It honestly makes it easier for me. :)

Edit; added yours as well, Mela!

I'm sorry, Carol, wasn't paying attention to where we are.

Jackie wrote: "I'm sorry, Carol, wasn't paying attention to where we are."

No worries!

for anyone interested, I started a thread to talk about Stella Gibbons The Swiss Summer

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

Reader #3 here with book #9, finished 9 Oct 2023.
Jill the Reckless

4 frothy stars.

My very short review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I enjoyed that one too, Barb. I find myself liking his books that aren’t part of a series and have a little shadow to balance the light.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Reader #3 here with book #9, finished 9 Oct 2023.
Jill the Reckless

4 frothy stars.

My very short review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/r..."

Added for you, Barb!

#9 with book 8. Finished 28/9/23
The Go-Between 5*s.

So glad I finallly got round to reading this one.

Book 9. Finished 9/10/23
All Done by Kindness 4*s

Such fun, and very entertaining.

(Sorry, I've fallen behind with recording my reads and forgot to post about the first one).

#7 here, with book 16, A Winter Away by Elizabeth Fair. Four stars, finished 10/19/23, I enjoyed this and want to read more by this author (looking at next year’s book pool ;o)!)

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

Added your books tania & Susan!

Thank you!

Thank you.

Susan, you made me want to read something by Fair.

Jackie wrote: "Susan, you made me want to read something by Fair."

Oh, I’m glad! I hope you enjoy her as much as I did.

#2 checking in with book #13, All Done by Kindness by Doris Langley Moore, finished in the wee hours of October 25. I’ll join the chorus of those finding this book delightful—four stars for me (one star knocked off for the implausibility of the premise and some details of the plot). I could feel the author’s intelligence in every line, and her story has a level of seriousness underlying the entertainment that is unusual in the popular wonen’s fiction of the 1940s. Reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

& unfortunately I have a dnf.

Chip of the Flying U

I just found it very banal with very wooden characters. The rating is likely to be 1.5★. 26/10

Edit: added your book & my dnf, Abigail.

Thanks, Carol! I’m working on another book in the pool right now, Miss Hargreaves, and finding it quite amusing so far. Not sure anyone else in the pool has read it this year.

Reader #3 here, with book # 10. Finished on Oct 26.
The Feast

Oh, wow. Right now my rating is 4 stars, but will probably go up after I gather my thoughts. Great characters, with some sharp commentary on just about everything, and the suspense of wondering who perished in the calamity.
Highly recommended. Abigail, I think you would like this one.

btw, the edition I read is a fine example of superior book printing--the layout, use of white space, type face, paper weight all combined to make the physical act of reading a total delight.

Thanks for the recco, Barb, that one wasn’t on my radar! And especially for your comments about the design; after suffering through the bad font choice and teeny margins of All Done by Kindness, I’d be all the more appreciative of a good book, well designed.

Added for you Barb!

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Reader #3 here, with book # 10. Finished on Oct 26.
The Feast

Oh, wow. Right now my rating is 4 stars, but will probably go up after I gather my thoug..."

Thanks for this recommendation, Barb, I’ve seen some good reviews for this book, intriguing premise.

& the Feast is on Faded Page - you just have to make sure your country's copyright laws are the same as your country.

I'm quite tempted to try to squeeze this one in before the end of next month.

Thanks, Carol!

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Reader #3 here, with book # 10. Finished on Oct 26.
The Feast

Oh, wow. Right now my rating is 4 stars, but will probably go up after I gather my thoug..."

I loved The Feast when I read it last year. I'm considering a reread, especially adyer reading this enthusiastic response.

Tania wrote: "Barb in Maryland wrote: "Reader #3 here, with book # 10. Finished on Oct 26.
The Feast

Oh, wow. Right now my rating is 4 stars, but will probably go u..."
Tania--go for the reread. I feel that it is almost necessary, as there is just so much to unpack. There is depth to this book. I know I just touched the top layer or two.

Abigail wrote: "Thanks for the recco, Barb, that one wasn’t on my radar! And especially for your comments about the design; after suffering through the bad font choice and teeny margins of All Done by Kindness, I’..."

Abigail--I read the McNally Editions version (published in 2023). I have no idea how other editions look. The Faber edition from 2021 looks handsome, but I haven't seen the inside pages.

Thanks for the details, Barb!

Everyone is making me want to read The Feast! I think I will suggest it to my in person book club.

Jackie wrote: "Everyone is making me want to read The Feast! I think I will suggest it to my in person book club."

Good thinking, Jackie, sounds like there’s a lot to discuss. I want to read this one, also, just booked up (hah, pun intended) right now with group reads, personal library holds coming available-always the way, you can’t find a thing you want to read, or you’re drowning in tasty titles!

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Tania wrote: "Barb in Maryland wrote: "Reader #3 here, with book # 10. Finished on Oct 26.
The Feast

Oh, wow. Right now my rating is 4 stars, but will..."

Ooohh, this does sound good, I just read the first couple pages, intrigued right away with the two friends/clergymen, the descriptions of their disparate personalities, how they’re viewed by their different congregations, their long relationship, then the incident itself…

you can’t find a thing you want to read, or you’re drowning in tasty titles!

so true, Susan!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Added for you Barb!"

Thanks, Carol. You're the best!

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Tania--go for the reread. I feel that it is almost necessary, as there is just so much to unpack. There is depth to this book. I know I just touched the top layer or two "

You're right; when I finished, I wanted to go back to the beginning and read it all over again. Just have to find the time to fit it in

#2 reporting book #14, completed 10/29: Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker. I enjoyed it a lot and was intrigued by its premise, but gave it only 3 stars because I felt it lacked the courage of its convictions. Reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Abigail wrote: "#2 reporting book #14, completed 10/29: Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker. I enjoyed it a lot and was intrigued by its premise, but gave it only 3 stars because I felt it lacked the cou..."

Entered for you Abigail :)

Thank you, Carol! You’re always right on it—handled in 9 minutes!

Abigail wrote: "Thank you, Carol! You’re always right on it—handled in 9 minutes!"

We are having really awful weather today - no way am I leaving the house!