Retro Reads discussion

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "#7 with Book 2, The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse

5 stars, finished January 21

Always enjoy a visit with Bertie and Jeeves, perks me up n..."

Thank you!

I know, I am too late for the main involvement, but (if I understand it correctly) the idea is to choose 5 books listed by Carol and read them in 2023, correct?

Mela wrote: "I know, I am too late for the main involvement, but (if I understand it correctly) the idea is to choose 5 books listed by Carol and read them in 2023, correct?"

Hi Mela

What this is is a Book Pool. Each of us chose five books (they are listed on Message 2.) Each of us has a reader number (Message 3)
& everyone gives their opinions & I record how many books each member reads.

Unfortunately you are too late to choose any books (that closed the 31st of December) but you can still read the books the rest of us have chosen.

So would you like to join, Mela? :)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "So would you like to join, Mela? :)"

I have checked the books, and I am going to try and read this year (not necessarily in this order):

Fifth Business
Georgina (it will be rereading)
Jill the Reckless
Britannia Mews
Mistress of Mellyn

Welcome to our challenge Mela.

You are reader #17.

& just in case I didn't make it clear, you can read as many or as few of these books as you like! :)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Welcome to our challenge Mela.
You are reader #17.
& just in case I didn't make it clear, you can read as many or as few of these books as you like! :)"

Ok. Thank you.
Should I write somewhere when I read a book or something?

Yes you make a post each time.

My post #121 is an example of how you should set it out. You also link to your Goodreads review if you want. :)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Yes you make a post each time.
My post #121 is an example of how you should set it out. You also link to your Goodreads review if you want. :)"

All clear. Thank you.

Elinor #14 here with my third read of the year (I'm on a roll), with Jill the Reckless by P.G. Wodehouse, finished January 23, 2023. 4.5 stars.

Pulling out to an early lead! I’m trying to get in my third Book Pool read before the end of the month too—working on Fifth Business.

Elinor wrote: "Elinor #14 here with my third read of the year (I'm on a roll), with Jill the Reckless by P.G. Wodehouse, finished January 23, 2023. 4.5 stars."

Noted, Elinor!

I'm (re)reading what is likely to be my longest fiction read of the year - Angelique. The pages just fly by, but I know there are things I would like to discuss with other readers.

#2 checking in with my third book from the pool, completed today, the 29th: Fifth Business by Robertson Davies. Loved it! 5 stars for me. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Abigail wrote: "#2 checking in with my third book from the pool, completed today, the 29th: Fifth Business by Robertson Davies. Loved it! 5 stars for me. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/re..."

Added to your count, Abigail

That was fast!

Abigail wrote: "That was fast!"

I'm typing up minutes atm - which means just about anything on the computer distracts me!

Wish I could provide better entertainment for you! What a world of wonders we live in—chatting in real time from opposite sides of the planet.

Abigail wrote: "Wish I could provide better entertainment for you! What a world of wonders we live in—chatting in real time from opposite sides of the planet."

Sigh we do have live entertainment here atm. Marty is cleaning out the guttering in preparation for the next storm!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Wish I could provide better entertainment for you! What a world of wonders we live in—chatting in real time from opposite sides of the planet."

Sigh we do have live entertainment h..."

LOL!!

#5 just finished my second book

5 stars! finished 1/29

CindySR wrote: "#5 just finished my second book

5 stars!"

Added to your total Cindy. In future, could you put your finish date in your post? It honestly makes it easier for me if I get off track. :)

Abigail wrote: "#2 checking in with my third book from the pool, completed today, the 29th: Fifth Business by Robertson Davies. Loved it! 5 stars for me. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/re..."
…
Gosh, that’s a weighty book to tackle, Abigail, and your review as always is thoughtful and informed. As a Canadian I always felt guilty for not reading books by this renowned author so maybe I will give this one a shot.

It’s really pretty easy to read and full of incident and vivid characters. While it seems to wander about, the storyline ties up very neatly at the end. It’s kind of a best-of-both-worlds sort of a book for me—challenging enough to flatter me but weird enough for fun. And it doesn’t use a lot of intimidating vocabulary the way, for instance, J.I.M. Stewart/Michael Innes does, or obscure slang like Margery Allingham.

Mela #17

1st book: Georgina by Clare Darcy - 3 stars (5 years ago, after reading the first time, I gave it 5 stars). Here link to my review.

Mela wrote: "Mela #17

1st book: Georgina by Clare Darcy - 3 stars (5 years ago, after reading the first time, I gave it 5 stars). Here link to my review."

Added your book Mela - & glad you liked it more than I did!

#2 with book #4, completed February 4: Music in the Hills by D. E. Stevenson, the second book in her Dering family series. It is not a particularly ambitious book but it perfectly suited my mood so I gave it 5 stars—my rating system is based on how well a book achieves what it is trying to achieve, not on some platonic idea of High Art. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I’ll be reading books for other groups for a bit; will resume my Retro reading later.

I loved that book and really enjoyed your review, Abigail.

Thanks, Jackie! I’m looking forward to the third book in the series.

I've added your 4th book, Abigail!

Thank you, Carol! You’re always on top of things.

#9 with my first book, The Code of the Woosters 5*s. Finished 05/02.

I haven't read any Wodehouse for a few months, and I haven''t read this one for years, so it was a real treat to be back in his world. I might have to dig out the DVD later.

Wodehouse is one of the purest reading joys!

Abigail wrote: "Thanks, Jackie! I’m looking forward to the third book in the series."

Loved your review, Abigail, onto the TBR pile!

Tania wrote: "#9 with my first book, The Code of the Woosters 5*s. Finished 05/02.

I haven't read any Wodehouse for a few months, and I haven''t read this one for years, so it was a real treat to..."

Grand idea, Tania, I read it last month, found full episodes on YouTube, that was delightful! I’m listening to Queen Lucia now, then I’ll listen to Mapp and Lucia (oh, who am I kidding, I’ll end up rereading the whole series…), and then I’ll treat myself to the DVDs I bought from Amazon a few years ago with the great Geraldine McEwan playing Lucia, Georgie was Nigel Hawthorne, and Prunella Scales was Mapp - unbelievable cast, beautiful sets, costumes, etc, makes me laugh every time! I know it’s been redone more recently, but how can you tamper with perfection? It’s like trying to imagine anyone but Fry and Laurie as Jeeves and Wooster…

Abigail wrote: "Wodehouse is one of the purest reading joys!"

Amen, sister!

#7 here with my third book, finished 2/5/2023, Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson, 5 stars.

Here’s a link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... I have Mapp and Lucia in my pool list, but saw another member added Queen Lucia - couldn’t resist a reread, this time on audiobook. Still a delight, this is a favorite series of mine!

Added your books Susan & Tania

Thanks, Carol!

Mela #17

2nd book: Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt - 2 stars. Here link to my review.

Mela wrote: "Mela #17

2nd book: Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt - 2 stars. Here link to my review."

Added for you, Mela.

I've read a few Holts & this was my favourite & I still enjoyed it when I reread it. The Holt titles I've read were all very similar, so if you didn't enjoy this one, you probably won't enjoy the others. :)

#1 here!

Book 3 Angelique I would love to have some discussion on this title, as it is a real page turner but one issue was problematic for me - there may be more for other readers. 4★ Finished 8/2

Wow, I see it’s more than 800 pages long!! Quite an achievement to get through it so early in the year.

Abigail wrote: "Wow, I see it’s more than 800 pages long!! Quite an achievement to get through it so early in the year."

The records of this book are a bit of a mess - one I don't feel competent to fix. In English, the book was published in two parts & it looks like the first part has been mixed with the complete book.

The book I read was 511 pages long - which is a long book for me.

I'm going to do some research then put it in the Looking for a Project folder in the Librarians group.

A couple of years ago the translator of Juliette Benzoni's books turned up in the Librarians Group & a librarian who had some familiarity with the books fixed Benzoni's books.

I'm hoping there will be someone similar who can fix this. 🥴

The librarians do heroic and never-ending work. And 511 pages is still quite an achievement!

#12 Lesley
Book #1 The Blue Sky of Spring / Elizabeth Cadell (1956}
Finished Feb 09
4 stars
Old fashioned family saga with a touch of romance, and a collection of interesting, nd occasionally amusing characters.
Written in the days when romance was genteel and readers were left to exercise their imaginations.
Absolutely enjoyable!

I love your description of Elizabeth Cadell’s style, Lesley! This one’s on my list for this challenge.

Lesley wrote: "#12 Lesley
Book #1 The Blue Sky of Spring / Elizabeth Cadell (1956}
Finished Feb 09
4 stars
Old fashioned family saga with a touch of romance, and a collection of ..."

That does sound delightful, Lesley!

Lesley--I read this last year. Yes, indeed, very enjoyable.

Lesley wrote: "#12 Lesley
Book #1 The Blue Sky of Spring / Elizabeth Cadell (1956}
Finished Feb 09
4 stars
Old fashioned family saga with a touch of romance, and a collection of ..."

You're on the board Lesley!

#3 reporting in with book #2
Music In The Hills
Read 2/20 and I'm giving it 4 lovely stars.

I really enjoyed it. I'll add a review link later. Thank you, Abigail, for your great review earlier this year. I might have skipped this otherwise.

Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!