Retro Reads discussion

Thanks for adding, Carol! Jill is a more obscure title of his but well worth reading, I thought, with an unusual setting.

I was never enough of a fan of the Poldark novels to induce me to wander further afield among the Grahams!

Abigail wrote: "Thanks for adding, Carol! Jill is a more obscure title of his but well worth reading, I thought, with an unusual setting.

I was never enough of a fan of the Poldark novels to induce me to wander f..."

I know I can get hold of one of the Wodehouse titles nominated - I just can't remember which one!

& The Black Moon is a Poldark - I have the 6th book as well. & unless The Four Swans is absolutely outstanding, my Poldark journey will end there.

I also own Woman in the Mirror I'll get to that (non Poldark) title one day!

Amazon has a 99 cent version of Jill the Reckless but also a free version, for everyone's information. so I will read it for sure.

Jackie wrote: "Amazon has a 99 cent version of Jill the Reckless but also a free version, for everyone's information. so I will read it for sure."

I wasn't signed in to Amazon & could see the free version. When I signed in it wasn't there. Often happens unfortunately.

It is available on Gutenberg though
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/sear...

I had a paperback from Amazon and it was an awkward size but it wasn’t one of this horrible scanned editions full of errors—I found only three or four typos. The design was bare-bones but not offensive. This is it. Jill the Reckless

Carol, I was able to buy it and have gotten free kindle books from Amazon, I wonder why it doesn't work for you?

Jackie wrote: "Carol, I was able to buy it and have gotten free kindle books from Amazon, I wonder why it doesn't work for you?"

It's because I'm in a different country. (although I guess I could check Amazon Australia) Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. All a question of copyright - puzzling when it is a free copy though.

#7 here, checking in with book number 12. I jumped on the “Business As Usual” by Jane Oliver train. Sorry, there are too many books with that title to search for it. Or click on the book in my review. It’s in the pool. ;)

Finished today, 7/31, 4.5-5 stars, I loved it! Thanks for all the recommendations, here’s a link to my review:

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

Edit: book link copied from another post: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Tip for searching for books with common titles (doesn’t always work but often does): add the author’s last name to the title in your search, as in “Business as Usual Oliver.”

Abigail wrote: "Tip for searching for books with common titles (doesn’t always work but often does): add the author’s last name to the title in your search, as in “Business as Usual Oliver.”"

Thanks, I’ll try that next time! I remembered so many group members have read it recently, I clicked on their link and it worked. ;)

Also if you know the ISBN (or ASIN for kindles) that is the most surefire way to find your edition on this broken site. ISBNs didn't start being in wide use till the 1970s though.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Also if you know the ISBN (or ASIN for kindles) that is the most surefire way to find your edition on this broken site. ISBNs didn't start being in wide use till the 1970s though."

Thank you ladies!

Hey Carol, apologies, I screwed up my “business as usual” post, that was my 12th book, not 11th, thanks. I’ve corrected it above, completed 7/31/23, 4.5-5 ⭐️, loved it!

Susan in NC wrote: "Hey Carol, apologies, I screwed up my “business as usual” post, that was my 12th book, not 11th, thanks. I’ve corrected it above, completed 7/31/23, 4.5-5 ⭐️, loved it!"

& I apologise in turn for forgetting to record your read!

Done now!

Thank you, dearest! If I wasn’t a lazy cow who couldn’t find a link…😉

Abigail wrote: "#2 checking in with my 7th book, Jill the Reckless by P. G. Wodehouse. It’s not a typical Wodehouse drawing-room comedy but once I got past my expectations, I thoroughly enjoyed it...."

Thanks for mentioning this title --I'd never come across this Wodehouse, and I need to check it out.

Susan wrote: "Thanks for mentioning this title --I'd never come across this Wodehouse, and I need to check it out."

Hi Susan

It was also published as The Little Warrior

Elinor #14 here with my sixth book on August 17, 2023. I jumped on the bandwagon with Business as Usual by Jane Oliver. I don’t usually choose epistolary novels but this one was charming and funny and I wish it had been longer.

Elinor wrote: "Elinor #14 here with my sixth book on August 17, 2023. I jumped on the bandwagon with Business as Usual by Jane Oliver. I don’t usually choose epistolary novels but this one was cha..."

That is a lovely book. Happy you enjoyed it :0)

I also loved Business as Usual and forgot I got the idea from the Book Pool! Hilary Fane was such a likeable heroine and we get a vivid picture of Basil and of her parents even though they are never "onscreen".

#2 here with my eighth book, Charlotte Fairlie by D. E. Stevenson. I absolutely adored this book, cutting off a star only because I felt it could have gone a little deeper into its characters. Four stars for me, finished August 19, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Entered your reads for you, Elinor & Abigail!

Thank you, Carol!

#7 with book 13, Cosmos by Carl Sagan. Finished today, 8/26, 4-1/2 stars for his passion, wisdom, beautiful writing; not his fault at all, but knocked 1/2 star off for when my eyes glazed over for the bits that got too deep in the weeds on protons, geometry or chemistry…here’s a link to my brief review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Added the book for you, Susan!

Thank you, dearest!

#2 with my ninth book, Witch of Blackbird Pond. I was delighted to have a moment to reread this favorite of my childhood; I see it very differently now but still found much to admire in it, despite some squirmy aspects. Completed August 27. I gave it 4 stars, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... And there are a few days left in the month for me to squeeze in another retro read before I have to plunge into my September group reads! Yay!

Abigail wrote: "#2 with my ninth book, Witch of Blackbird Pond. I was delighted to have a moment to reread this favorite of my childhood; I see it very differently now but still found much to admire..."

Added for you Abigail - this book sounds interesting!

My own reading has stalled a bit - & I don't really know why!

Sorry to hear you’re in a slump. Maybe it’s the advent of spring? I go through those phases too.

Thanks for adding the book to my tally! Oddly, it fitted in nicely with two of the most recent books I read (not for retro reads), Hester, which touches on New England and accusations of witchcraft, and Angle of Repose, which also has a Quaker character (I have a special affection for Quakers and am attracted to books about them almost as much as I am to books about bookstores!). And the next book I’m going to read involves pioneers, as do both Witch of Blackbird Pond and Angle of Repose, so I seem to be in a theme-reading mode right about now. It feels like I’m word-associating my way through my TBR.

Abigail wrote: "Sorry to hear you’re in a slump. Maybe it’s the advent of spring? I go through those phases too.

Thanks for adding the book to my tally! Oddly, it fitted in nicely with two of the most recent boo..."

Interesting system, I like it! I get on those themed tears as well, dearest! Enjoy ;)

Carol, may I recommend more Lucia? You’ve got a lot coming up in the next few busy weeks- I recommend your fluffiest, puffiest, and/or trashiest brain candy read, of absolutely no socially redeeming value except it’s FUN!🤗

My first DNF of the book pool: Honey in the Horn. I remember another person in the pool read it some months ago and warned me! I was curious to read about rural Oregon in the early twentieth century, but the book had way too much animal suffering and cruelty for me, a subject I find traumatizing. I stopped in chapter 2, so I can't count it for the challenge.

I've added it as a DNF for you Abigail.

Thanks, Carol. Have turned to Merry Hall which will doubtless be more my speed.

I see that Abigail just finished the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angle of Repose and cannot resist a humble brag. I’ve been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Wallace Stegner Grant for the Arts and I get to live in Stegner’s childhood home for one month next June in Eastend, Saskatchewan. It sounds grander than it is…it’s a little old house being lovingly maintained by a group of volunteers in a tiny community. But I love Stegner and can’t wait to soak up the atmosphere. He wrote about his childhood in the wonderful memoir, Wolf Willow.

Elinor wrote: "I see that Abigail just finished the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angle of Repose and cannot resist a humble brag. I’ve been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Wallace Stegner Grant for ..."

Wow, Elinor. How wonderful for you. Congratulations!

Abigail wrote: "My first DNF of the book pool: Honey in the Horn. I remember another person in the pool read it some months ago and warned me! I was curious to read about rural Oregon in the early t..."

That was probably me, a dnf here too. What a letdown since pioneer stories are among my faves.

Elinor wrote: "I see that Abigail just finished the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angle of Repose and cannot resist a humble brag. I’ve been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Wallace Stegner Grant for ..."

Elinor, wowwowwow! Well done and congratulations! I hope the setting inspires you.

CindySR wrote: "Abigail wrote: "My first DNF of the book pool: Honey in the Horn. I remember another person in the pool read it some months ago and warned me! I was curious to read about rural Orego..."

It was the kid choosing to stand there watching as the coyote stalked and killed the sheep, and only then casually shooting the coyote, that finished it for me. I was already stressed over people not worrying about the sheep drowning, but that meticulously described scene ended it. I will have weeks of animal nightmares.

If you like pioneer stories, I recommend Angle of Repose if you haven’t read it. Most of it takes place in the West in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Abigail wrote: "It was the kid choosing to stand there watching ..."
I had forgotten why I stopped reading and it was exactly that! The characters suck.

CindySR wrote: "Abigail wrote: "It was the kid choosing to stand there watching ..."
I had forgotten why I stopped reading and it was exactly that! The characters suck."

Sorry I reminded you!

Abigail wrote: "CindySR wrote: "Abigail wrote: "It was the kid choosing to stand there watching ..."
I had forgotten why I stopped reading and it was exactly that! The characters suck."

Sorry I reminded you!"
😉🌸

Elinor wrote: "I see that Abigail just finished the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angle of Repose and cannot resist a humble brag. I’ve been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Wallace Stegner Grant for ..."

This is awesome! I hope you take it all in and get inspired! Congratulations!

an entire month, that will be wonderful - congratulations Elinor!

Abigail wrote: "Thanks, Carol. Have turned to Merry Hall which will doubtless be more my speed."

That's so cool! Congratulations - I hope it's an awesome experience!

Elinor wrote: "I see that Abigail just finished the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angle of Repose and cannot resist a humble brag. I’ve been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Wallace Stegner Grant for ..."

Congratulations, Elinor!

You should have put this up as a separate post, as this sounds like a real honour! :)

#2 with book #10, September 1: Merry Hall by Beverley Nichols. I’ve been intending to read Nichols forever and a beloved friend has given me beautiful original editions of some of his garden books, but something always held me back. I’m glad to have sampled him at last though I have mixed feelings about his shtick. It was a three-star read for me, for reasons outlined here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

#8 here with my 2nd book finished today Sep 2nd.
Death in Berlin by M.M. Kaye

I read all of the Death in....series back in the 80s and am slowly rereading them. This one was a whodunit and it did have some good twists and red herrings so kept me guessing. But I didn't warm to the heroine at all. So 3 stars.

Lynnie wrote: "#8 here with my 2nd book finished today Sep 2nd.
Death in Berlin by M.M. Kaye

I read all of the Death in....series back in the 80s and am slowly rereading them. This one was a whoduni..."

Added for you Lynnie.

I haven't read all the Death in Books, but this is my least favourite of the ones I have read.

#11, reporting book no. 5: Angel, read on 9/2. 5-stars. She's so awful, in so many ways, but the portrait is pretty masterful. It's not my favorite Taylor, as I didn't exactly connect emotionally, but it's marvelous writing.

Jenn wrote: "#11, reporting book no. 5: Angel, read on 9/2. 5-stars. She's so awful, in so many ways, but the portrait is pretty masterful. It's not my favorite Taylor, as I didn't exactly connect..."

That’s exactly how I felt about it, Jenn.