Retro Reads discussion

Hi Everyone!

In the 'Idle Chatter' thread, Elinor has expressed interest in discussing the Jalna novels. They are available on Faded Page (sort of the Canadian Gutenberg) you would just have to check your country's copyright laws match them. I'm interested but have a lot going on at the moment & I'm not getting my usual reading time in. I could add The Building Of Jalna https://www.fadedpage.com/csearch.php... as a read in November, but if someone else is interested in leading the read sooner than that I could put up the threads for them - just let me know.

The Mapp & Lucia reads are definitely going ahead - Queen Lucia is in the Book Pool & the read of the second book, Miss Mapp starts the 20th of this month. I have a good feeling about these books.

We are still reading the Thirkell Barsetshire novels - just one a year. The next one will be Before Lunch & the read will be June/July next year. Again, these are available on Faded Page.

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So others I could suggest.

The Poldark novels? But I am now up to the 6th book, so it would need someone prepared to lead the earlier reads. My research (reading GR reviews!) seems to suggest that Book 7 is the last good one.

The Angelique novels? The first one is in this year's book pool, but I'm the only one who has read it - they seem to be hard to get hold of & may be too risqué for some of you.

I’m a fan of humor, hence my love for Benson’s Lucia books and Thirkell’s Barsetshire series, so how about a series read of PG Wodehouse, there are the Jeeves & Wooster books, the Blandings books, the Psmith books, and standalone books.

Or in honor of Furrowed Middlebrow going out of business, perhaps choose titles reissued on that imprint? I know we’ve had several in the Book Pool that were light and humorous.

Sorry, wasn’t sure I’d you were looking for ideas or suggestions, just throwing them out there - and as to availability, I think Wodehouse would be readily available in many of the countries our members represent.

I love the Furrowed Middlebrow idea!

I think there is a nice variety among the titles. Here’s a GR listopia of Furrowed Middlebrow titles: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Susan in NC wrote: "I think there is a nice variety among the titles. Here’s a GR listopia of Furrowed Middlebrow titles: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1..."

Or maybe just do the dozen titles by Susan Scarlet which were the last titles that were released before the imprint's unfortunate demise...

Susan in NC wrote: "I think there is a nice variety among the titles. Here’s a GR listopia of Furrowed Middlebrow titles: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1..."

I like both your ideas, Susan!

My local library system has maybe 3 or 4 physical copies of Wodehouse's works, but quite a few ebooks. I would just have to find out how to convert them for my kindle. & I have a couple on a USB stick.

I own my favourite (so far!) Wodehouse - Frozen Assets (aka Biff's Millions)* I am very busy in September, but this would be a very quick read of a book I know well, so I could set up a September read if there was interest.

& I do have some Furrowed Middlebrow from when some were free. A Chelsea Concerto is one I was already intending to read. Frances Faviell wrote it after The Dancing Bear, but it is set in London before The Dancing Bear. & I really recommend The Dancing Bear.- such a good book! I can't offer to lead any reads before November though - I have a couple of busy months ahead of me. But I can set up the reads if someone else wants to lead. :)

* This is a standalone.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I think there is a nice variety among the titles. Here’s a GR listopia of Furrowed Middlebrow titles: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1..."

Or maybe j..."

You snuck in there Barb! That is a good idea if someone is able to lead this.

I probably sound very disobliging, but I have so many unread books at home!

This group probably needs another active moderator. 🥴

Edited for clarity.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I think there is a nice variety among the titles. Here’s a GR listopia of Furrowed Middlebrow titles: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1..."

I like bot..."

Thanks! I loved both of those Faviell books…Barb, I’ve only read one Scarlet book, but enjoyed it and would be up for more!

Carol, I’m sure all of us have books to keep us busy, I know there are several more in the pool I’d like to get to, along with reads from other groups. I’m fine with waiting until November when your schedule lightens up a bit, then we revisit any ideas for holiday reads, and/or 2024.

Thanks everyone - & sorry if I seem at all tetchy! :)

Not at all, Carol! For my part I’m pleased you’re setting some boundaries (or at least giving guidance on availability) because we don’t want you to burn out!

Abigail wrote: "Not at all, Carol! For my part I’m pleased you’re setting some boundaries (or at least giving guidance on availability) because we don’t want you to burn out!"

Thanks Abigail - it won't be my groups that burn me out! With my bruised toes & I had to be quite sedentary (& the constant wet weather sure didn't help!) I'm now exhausted after very short walks!

Well, the less walking, the more reading! 😉

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Thanks everyone - & sorry if I seem at all tetchy! :)"

please don't worry, Carol, we all really appreciate what you do.

I've love to read Wodehouse with anybody or everybody.

Thanks both of you. My toes are fine now, but the recovery took six weeks!

Abigail wrote: "Not at all, Carol! For my part I’m pleased you’re setting some boundaries (or at least giving guidance on availability) because we don’t want you to burn out!"

Amen, sis! Carol, you don’t seem at all tetchy, you’ve got a life and have a busy patch coming up, you’re simply letting us know, I for one appreciate it, and if our group is on hold for a bit, I’ve got plenty in the pool I’d like to read, as I imagine others do. I’m sure we’re all looking at the rest of the year as the seasons change, trying to figure out what we want to still read, and when we might get to it! Appreciate your heads up, so we can plan accordingly!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Not at all, Carol! For my part I’m pleased you’re setting some boundaries (or at least giving guidance on availability) because we don’t want you to burn out!"

Thanks Abigail - it ..."

Oh, I am sorry, please take care of yourself!

Abigail wrote: "Well, the less walking, the more reading! 😉"

Always a silver lining…😊