Retro Reads discussion

Amanda wrote: "#18

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

Added for you Amanda. I'm hoping to get to htis one before this challenge finishes on the 30th of November.

#18

Book #12
Four Gardens 3 stars
This book is about a woman's life told through the story of four gardens.

Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #12
Four Gardens 3 stars
This book is about a woman's life told through the story of four gardens."

Added for you, Amanda!

The 39 Steps is a quick read, Carol.

#18

Book #13
Sugar Candy Cottage 4 stars
I enjoyed this book. This is a mystery and a romance.

Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #13
Sugar Candy Cottage 4 stars
I enjoyed this book."

I'm reading that one atm!

& you are now 1st= with Cphe. :)

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

Book #13
Sugar Candy Cottage 4 stars
I enjoyed this book."

I'm ready that one atm!

& you are now 1st= with Cphe. :)"

I'm trying to finish the books I decided to read.

#1 here (I always think of the old Tremeloes song (Call Me) Number One when I say that!)

Book #11 Sugar Candy Cottage I was charmed by the hero but I think this tale would have been better as a novella.
Finished 8/11. 3★

#18

Book #14
The Mingham Air 4 stars
This was an entertaining read of village life.

Just a reminder to everyone that this year's Book Pool finishes on the 30th of November, PST!

Thanks, Carol, I wanted to do a holiday reread of Who Killed the Curate?, I’ll hop to it! ;o)

Susan in NC wrote: "Thanks, Carol, I wanted to do a holiday reread of Who Killed the Curate?, I’ll hop to it! ;o)"
I'm enjoying Sally on the Rocks atm. I'm also hoping I'll manage to squeeze in The 39 Steps

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Thanks, Carol, I wanted to do a holiday reread of Who Killed the Curate?, I’ll hop to it! ;o)"
I'm enjoying Sally on the Rocks atm. I'm also hopin..."

Oh, that’s a fun adventure read!

Susan in NC wrote: "Thanks, Carol, I wanted to do a holiday reread of Who Killed the Curate?, I’ll hop to it! ;o)"

ooh, I might re-read that as well.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Just a reminder to everyone that this year's Book Pool finishes on the 30th of November, PST!"

Thanks for the reminder! I'll try to fit in one more. My summer reading 'blahs' played havoc with my pool reading. I did much better last year. Sigh :(

Same here, Barb - availability was also an issue for me with several titles. Luckily, it’s for fun, not a grade! 😮‍💨

Susan in NC wrote: "Same here, Barb - availability was also an issue for me with several titles. Luckily, it’s for fun, not a grade! 😮‍💨"

Yes, the one I most wanted to read & couldn't get hold of was The Game of Kings A book seller had this in my town but she was selling as part of a set. & I decided not to read The Dud Avocado because so far, I haven't found anyone who really liked it. Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont - Taylor's books don't turn up for me in op shops & it was expensive on kindle. & so on.

I hear you!

#1 12th book read.
Sally on the Rocks
4★ Finished 23/11.

A bit too long & a bit too much moralising for modern tastes but I loved this book all the same. The standout character was the nasty maiden lady Miss Maggie.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "#1 12th book read.
Sally on the Rocks
4★ Finished 23/11.

A bit too long & a bit too much moralising for modern tastes but I loved this book all the same. The standout character was..."

Yes, she was a witch!

& she got just about all the best lines!

I think I'm going to be able to squeeze The 39 Steps in before the end of the month!

Yay!

I know you didn’t mesh with it, but I’m enjoying a reread of Who Killed the Curate? I rushed through it last time, this time I’m appreciating the fish out of water aspect of Lupin becoming a vicar’s wife - I’m assuming she’s attractive as well as kind-hearted, because her older husband certainly didn’t marry her for her intellect! ;o)

Susan in NC wrote: "I know you didn’t mesh with it, but I’m enjoying a reread of Who Killed the Curate? I rushed through it last time, this time I’m appreciating the fish out of water aspect of Lupin be..."
Yes, not every book suits every reader. :)

Susan in NC wrote: "I know you didn’t mesh with it, but I’m enjoying a reread of Who Killed the Curate? I rushed through it last time, this time I’m appreciating the fish out of water aspect of Lupin be..."

I'm definitely going to get to a re-read in December. I laughed so hard at the characters.

Susan in NC (view spoiler)[ after having read the book, I suspect the beginning where she is a party girl in London will be more interesting than on first read. Yes, I'm sure she is extremely good looking but also clearly a warm heart and sweet nature. I'm so glad they found each other! (hide spoiler)]

Jackie wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I know you didn’t mesh with it, but I’m enjoying a reread of Who Killed the Curate? I rushed through it last time, this time I’m appreciating the fish out of wate..."

Me, too ;o)

#7 with book 6.
Sally-Ann finished 24/11.
4*s

It has been a weekend of solid rain here, so it was nice to curl up on the sofa under a duvet with a bit of light escapism. Predictable but comforting.

Tania wrote: "#7 with book 6.
Sally-Ann finished 24/11.
4*s

It has been a weekend of solid rain here, so it was nice to curl up on the sofa under a duvet with a bit of light escapism. Predictab..."

Added for you Tania. I enjoyed this one too.

Thank you Carol.

I was looking through the pool to see if there was something I would be able to slip in before the end and saw that Something Light was in the pool. I read this back in September, but hadn't realised it was a pool book.

I finished it on 11/9 and gave it 3*s. I did like it, but certainly not as much as other novels by her that I have read. That would make it 7 books, and who knows, I may be able to fit in another.

Tania wrote: "Thank you Carol.

I was looking through the pool to see if there was something I would be able to slip in before the end and saw that Something Light was in the pool. I read this ba..."

Added for you Tania.

I don't know if you have read The 39 Steps but that looks to be very short.

Thank you, I was thinking about that, and I've never read it; a lot of the ones I like the sound of would be re-reads. I think I'll see if I can get a copy, (should be pretty easy).

Tania wrote: "Thank you, I was thinking about that, and I've never read it; a lot of the ones I like the sound of would be re-reads. I think I'll see if I can get a copy, (should be pretty easy)."

I picked up a free copy for my kindle years ago. I can't see a free listing on Amazon now. Some very cheap copies though & as I'm in NZ not everything shows for me.

There is a listing on Faded Page though. You just have to check if Canadian copyright laws are the same as the UK.

UK is 70+ years from the authors death, so he's out of copyright, however, I found I had a copy of The Mingham Air lurking in one of my bookcases and I'm trying to read more of the books I own physical copies of, so I will start that one. Thanks for the help.😊

Tania wrote: "UK is 70+ years from the authors death, so he's out of copyright, however, I found I had a copy of The Mingham Air lurking in one of my bookcases and I'm trying to read more of the ..."

No worries. :)

#18

Book #15
Sally-Ann 4 stars
This was a delightful book.

I had to dnf The Covered Wagon
so since the 30th fast approaches, I will go with my grand total of 8
for 2024.

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

#6 with book #12, Who Killed the Curate?, a solid 4 stars for this reread for me - I was in a bit of a reading slump, not really rushing back to the books I was trying to finish, this was just the light-hearted humorous holiday reread I was looking for.

Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amanda & Susan I have entered your reads, Cindy I have entered your Dnf. :)

Thank you, dearest!

#3 with book #7
The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman
Finished 11/25/2024. Phew, made the deadline with a few days to spare, but with no time to read another one.
It held my interest. I was pretty sure who killed Mr Killick, but wasn't expecting the way the book ended. Dithering between 3* and 4*.

I've had my final read as well.

#1 Book #13

The 39 Steps

Finished 25/11 & I'm thinking 4★. By the end it was a real page turner.

Edit; entered for both of us. :)

#9

Book 5: Uncle Dynamite

Finished this weekend (11/24): 4-stars. The usual reliable good fun from Woodhouse. Enjoyable and satisfying.

And, there's nothing like a deadline to motivate me! There were so many in the pool that I started - maybe I'll finish another before the end of the week?

#7 with book 8.
The Mingham Air finished 26/11 4.5*s

I loved this one, it has been sitting neglected in a book case for a few years, partly because it is the last Elizabeth Fair book left for me to read, I had put off running out. I'm sure I will enjoy future re-reads, and I think this is one of my favourites of hers. Glad I finally got to it.

Tania wrote: "#7 with book 8.
The Mingham Air finished 26/11 4.5*s

I loved this one, it has been sitting neglected in a book case for a few years, partly because it is the last [author:Elizabeth..."

Added for you Tania. I must try Elizabeth Fair one day.

#18

Book #16
Near Neighbours 4 stars
This was an enjoyable book.

This is my final read.

Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #16
Near Neighbours 4 stars
This was an enjoyable book.

This is my final read."

That was such a lovely book--my favorite of the ones I managed to read this year.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "
That was such a lovely book--my favorite of the ones I managed to read thi..."

Same here, it was my first Molly Clavering, too.

Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #16
Near Neighbours 4 stars
This was an enjoyable book.

This is my final read."
Added for you Amanda. I think it is pretty certain that you are our top reader!

I will wait a couple of days after the 30th (PST) before tallying up our results. :)

I think I read Dear Hugo first, and I liked it but Near Neighbors was better.

Jackie wrote: "I think I read Dear Hugo first, and I liked it but Near Neighbors was better."

I loved them both!