Retro Reads discussion

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Jackie wrote: "#15 here with my 7th book Sally-Ann which was an enjoyable read. I finished it 8/16 and totally forgot it was in the pool until I saw Carol's post.

I want to thank ..."

Thanks for reminding me to start keeping track of books I want to read next year in the pool - I picked winners last year, but was very disappointed in my choices this year…well, three were good.

#12 Elinor here with #3, my third book, Claudia by Rose Franken. I chose this book because I recall reading and loving all eight Claudia books in my youth. With fresh eyes I can now perceive how incredibly sexist it is! The husband actually SPANKS Claudia for spending too much money on pots and pans! Having said that, other reviewers have confessed to feeling a guilty pleasure in reading these books because they are well-written, amusing and charming in their way. Here's my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...

Elinor wrote: "#12 Elinor here with #3, my third book, Claudia by Rose Franken. I chose this book because I recall reading and loving all eight Claudia books in my youth. With fresh eyes I can now ..."

Added for you Elinor.
Your review link hasn't worked though. If you give a star rating, could you post that? & the finish date is helpful for me in case I get the count wrong.

I hear you, Elinor, I have a lot of guilty pleasure reads and I think they are all from my youth.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Elinor wrote: "#12 Elinor here with #3, my third book, Claudia by Rose Franken. I chose this book because I recall reading and loving all eight Claudia books in my youth. With fresh ..."

Thank you! I finished on August 30, 2024 and I gave Claudia four stars (reluctantly). Here is the review link again: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Great review Elinor, I think I will give this one a miss, but I can see why it would be enjoyed by someone who had read it in their youth.

#15 here with my 8th book The 39 Steps which I finished 8/13 and then forgot to post here.

It was a fun, fast read and I gave it 4 stars.

I also just finished The Nutmeg Tree which I really enjoyed but I guess it isn't in the pool? oh, well, a very good book.

Jackie I have you down as 6 + this read. If you are definite that it is 8 all up I'll go back & check. :)

The Nutmeg Tree sounds really good! I've put it on one of my to-read lists.

I had to go back and look 1. Storm from the West 2. Mrs Palfrey 3. Uncle Dynamite 4. Who Killed the Curate (my favorite so far!) 5. The Innocents 6. Summer Hills 7. Sally-Ann 8. 39 steps

This is just a tip I found useful for keeping track of what I've read. I made a dedicated shelf named "book-pool-2024".
Here's mine https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

CindySR wrote: "This is just a tip I found useful for keeping track of what I've read. I made a dedicated shelf named "book-pool-2024".
Here's mine https://www.goodreads.com/review/list......"

That is a really good idea Cindy & I don't know why I don't know why I don't do that myself.

Another tip is if you want a shelf to be at the top put _ in front for example _book-pool-2024 or you can put the date first 2024-book-pool.

I'll check where I went wrong today Jackie. :)

Jackie wrote: "I had to go back and look 1. Storm from the West 2. Mrs Palfrey 3. Uncle Dynamite 4. Who Killed the Curate (my favorite so far!) 5. The Innocents 6. Summer Hills 7. Sally-Ann 8. 39 steps"
I found where I went wrong Jackie (didn't add Sally Ann for you) will correct now. Sorry about that!

no need to apologize, I'm sure.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "or you can put the date first 2024-book-pool...."

I'll do that next year!

#1
Book #10 The Royal Box
4★ Finished 21/9

This was the first mystery I ever read - when I was 11. Like Dinner at Antoine's the story has an unusual construction, but it worked better for me with this book as I liked the characters better. I would love to have a discussion about this book & it's values if anyone is keen.

I read about the first half of The Hills is Lonely and I am now returning it to the library and not finishing.

Parts of it are interesting but not enough to keep going, I don't think.

Jackie wrote: "I read about the first half of The Hills is Lonely and I am now returning it to the library and not finishing.

Parts of it are interesting but not enough to keep going, I don't think."

Marked as a dnf for you Jackie. :)

Jackie wrote: "I read about the first half of The Hills is Lonely and I am now returning it to the library and not finishing.

Parts of it are interesting but not enough to keep going, I don't think."

Too many books and too little time to waste on the ones that don’t draw you in, and keep you interested and engaged Jackie!

If anyone is interested in listening to Howards End
it's on Youtube and the narrator is very good in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQBEX...

#18

Book #6
The Black Wings: A Golden Age Mystery 4 stars

#6 with book 11, Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym. 5 stars for this beautiful, poignant, sad but funny book about growing old - how does Pym do that?

Finished 9/24/24, here’s a link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

CindySR wrote: "If anyone is interested in listening to Howards End
it's on Youtube and the narrator is very good in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQBEX..."
Thanks!

Susan in NC: that is a very thoughtful review, I appreciate it. I always plan to write a good one (when I'm enthusiastic about the book) but then it sort of peters out into something less thorough, I'm not sure why. because writing is harder than reading, I guess.


CindySR wrote: "If anyone is interested in listening to Howards End
it's on Youtube and the narrator is very good in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQBEX..."

Thank you, CindySR!

Thanks, Jackie, I’ve thought about this book a lot, I hope it came through how much I enjoyed and was touched by it.

#16
book number 8
Howard's End by E.M. Forster
finished 9/28

5 stars
my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

#5 here. I finished Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker. I think this is my 4th book. My reading has been interrupted this year by problems with my eyes. I am on the mend but still unable to read much. Hopefully, I'll be back to normal soon and at least able to read the fifth book.

#18

Book #7
The Royal Box 4 stars

Hi Everyone

I think I got everyone's reads!

Sharon - sorry about your eyes! With the latest read I make your total as 6 books. I'll double check later. :)

Thanks, Carol!

I can't find time for another book for this group. This is why I read as much as I could in the first half of the year :-)

#18

Book #8
Who Killed the Curate? 4 stars

Mela wrote: "I can't find time for another book for this group. This is why I read as much as I could in the first half of the year :-)"

I'm the other way - I do a similar challenge in another group Jan/Feb. :)

Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #8
Who Killed the Curate? 4 stars"

Added for you Amanda.

Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #8
Who Killed the Curate? 4 stars"

I absolutely loved this book, it was so funny.

Oh my, I have just discovered I read another Stevenson book in May but neglected to post it!!

#4 Book 2
The English Air / D.E. Stevenson
Finished 24 May2024; 4 stars

Set in England just before the beginning of WWII when a German cousin visits with his English family. There's a little romance, some 'spying' and unlikely friendships formed. Altogether a thought provoking story.

Lesley wrote: "Oh my, I have just discovered I read another Stevenson book in May but neglected to post it!!

#4 Book 2
The English Air / D.E. Stevenson
Finished 24 May2024; 4 star..."

Added for you, Lesley.

I'm seriously considering buying Who Killed the Curate? The kindle price on Amazon isn't too bad.

I bought that one last year, planning to reread for the pool closer to Christmas. That’s why I waited to read Quartet in Autumn from my pool list - I wanted to read it in autumn! Some pool books, (my own and other members’ titles), seem to lend themselves to better enjoyment at certain times of the year. ;o)

#4 Book 3
/ Elizabeth Goudge Finished 10 October 2024; 4 stars

This was the first book Elizabeth Goudge wrote and you can see from her later writing how she tempered her descriptions. This was full of such detail in parts it felt unnecessary. However, this was offset by her wonderful story telling. A calm, serene, enjoyable read.

Lesley wrote: "#4 Book 3
/ Elizabeth Goudge Finished 10 October 2024; 4 stars

This was the first book Elizabeth Goudge wrote and you can see from her later writing..."

Added for you Lesley!

#1 here

Who Killed the Curate? was a late dnf for me. I couldn't stand the heroine any longer. Dnf at 65%. 1.5★ - & that high because I did enjoy the beginning. Gave up 13/10.

#18

Book #9
The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman: A Golden Age Mystery 4 stars

#3
Book #6, finished 13 Oct.
The English Air

3.5 stars, but I'm still trying to decide whether to go up to 4 or knock it down to 3 stars.
The most interesting aspect, to me, was the fact that it was written in early 1940 and reflected the attitudes, and hopes and fears, of the
day.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "#1 here

Who Killed the Curate? was a late dnf for me. I couldn't stand the heroine any longer. Dnf at 65%. 1.5★ - & that high because I did enjoy the beginning. Gave up 13/10."

How dull the world would be if we all liked the same things…you gave it a much longer time than I would have if I wasn’t enjoying a book! ;o)

Susan in NC wrote: "How dull the world would be if we all liked the same things…you gave it a much longer time than I would have if I wasn’t enjoying a book!.."

Yes I gave it some extra time, because some of you enjoyed it so much! But other than the beginning I just didn't like it.

Added your books for you, Barb & Amanda!

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "How dull the world would be if we all liked the same things…you gave it a much longer time than I would have if I wasn’t enjoying a book!.."

Yes I gave it some extra time, beca..."

I think I enjoyed the Christmas vibe - since I was reading it at Christmas! I’m very forgiving at that time of year! I was planning to reread it this Christmas for the pool and for another group, actually. Like withQuartet in Autumn, I like to read some books at the time of year they are set in, if at all possible.

#18

Book #10
Sally on the Rocks 4 stars

Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #10
Sally on the Rocks 4 stars"

Added for you Amanda. I'm hoping that Open Library gets fixed & I can read this one.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #10
Sally on the Rocks 4 stars"

Added for you Amanda. I'm hoping that Open Library gets fixed & I can read this one."

I enjoyed this book.

#18

Book #11
The 39 Steps 4 stars
This is a gripping, spy story.