Retro Reads discussion

Sharon wrote: "I would like to change a book.: I want to read The Portrait of Jennie by Robert Nathan, instead of Bramton Wick by Elizabeth Fair."
Changed for you, Sharon. :)

Thank you, Carol! The Portrait of Jennie was my favorite book for a very long time. I haven't looked at it in years and it will be great to re-read and share with the group. :)

Sharon wrote: "Thank you, Carol! The Portrait of Jennie was my favorite book for a very long time. I haven't looked at it in years and it will be great to re-read and share with the group. :)"

That is such a nice thought!

& just a reminder that after the 20th you won't be able to change your books. :)

Sharon wrote: "Thank you, Carol! The Portrait of Jennie was my favorite book for a very long time. I haven't looked at it in years and it will be great to re-read and share with the group. :)"

I’d love to read Portrait of Jennie. I’m glad you added it to the Book Pool.

& no further changes can be made to books already chosen.

But new entries still accepted until the 31st.

I'll be going away for a couple of days tomorrow & will do any up dates when I get back. :)

Safe travels and thank you, dearest!❤️💚🎄

Whew, I am making it just under the wire! Cutting way down on challenges to make room for what I want to read. My picks:

Something Light

Storm from the West

The Royal Box

Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones

The Joyful Delaneys

CindySRisback! wrote: "Whew, I am making it just under the wire! Cutting way down on challenges to make room for what I want to read. My picks:

Something Light

Storm from the West

[book:..."

Hi there Cindy!

Good to see you!

I have added your books. :) I own The Royal Box. :)

I just read Something Light recently and enjoyed it! and I was just able to order Storm from the West from my library -it'll be next year by the time it arrives.

& I learned something. I didn't realise Hugh Walpole was born in NZ!

The Joyful Delaneys is available on Faded Page. You just have to check if your copyright laws are the same as Canada's.

Peggy wrote: "I was shamefully inactive in this year’s Book Pool, but there are so many tempting choices, I’m going to try to do better in 2024.

Here are my picks:

Flambards - K. M. Peyton (196..."

Peggy, do you remember the British TV series Flambards? It was shown in the US on PBS in 1980 and it was great!

Christmas Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "& I learned something. I didn't realise Hugh Walpole was born in NZ!

The Joyful Delaneys is available on Faded Page. You just have to check if your copyright laws are the same as Canada's."

Thank you, Carol

CindySRisback! wrote: "Peggy wrote: "I was shamefully inactive in this year’s Book Pool, but there are so many tempting choices, I’m going to try to do better in 2024.

Here are my picks:

Flambards - K. ..."

Cindy, sadly, I’ve never seen the TV series, but I see it’s available on YouTube. I’d love to read the books and watch the series in 2024.

CindySRisback! wrote: "Whew, I am making it just under the wire! Cutting way down on challenges to make room for what I want to read. My picks:

Something Light

Storm from the West

[book:..."

I remember reading Mr. & Mrs. Bo Jo Jones in high school. I think there may have been a TV movie, too.

I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this, but we were just discussing Flambards, and I see that the author, KM Peyton, passed away very recently. For anyone who’s interested, here’s a nice tribute from pony book publisher Jane Badger:

https://janebadgerbooks.co.uk/k-m-pey...

I've been MIA for the year; hope I'm not too late to join in with you.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
The World According to Garp by John Irving

Abigail wrote: "Congratulations, Katy! According to message 109 above, you are in under the wire—book lists being accepted till the 31st. Good thing—I can see a couple of books on your list I’d love to read!"

Hooray! Thanks.

Added your list Katy (& good to see you!)

Yes, still time for some more participants!

I forgot to assign Cindy & Katy numbers. Youare 16 & 17 respectively.

Have I missed anyone else?

Thank you

Still around another 12 hours if anyone wants to do this challenge & add books. :)

I'd like to join, and here's my list.

1. The Bastard
2. Decision at Delphi
3. God Is an Englishman
4. Evergreen
5. The Once and Future King

Hi Amanda & welcome.
I have made you #18.

I have entered 1-4 of your books, but The Once & Future King is a series. We have done those just as individual books (for example Mapp & Lucia, which we are continuing as a group read this year & the Poldark books) Would you like me to just enter The Sword in the Stone?

They are entered as a series on Goodreads & you can see each volume was originally individually published.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/5701...

Also there is a volume that contains all five parts.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

It's fine to enter The Sword in the Stone.

Amanda wrote: "It's fine to enter The Sword in the Stone."

Thank you Amanda!
We can open up the other books to discussion like we did with the Mapp & Lucia books if the read goes well. :)

That sounds good. Thanks!

Amanda wrote: "That sounds good. Thanks!"

:)

& as far as adding books goes, this challenge is now closed. Members can still join in - just not add any books.

I'm not able to start for a couple of days but my first book will be The Conqueror's Wife

I finished my first retro read: Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. 5 stars for me. Do we discuss the books in this thread or do we review/discuss separately?

Sharon wrote: "I finished my first retro read: Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. 5 stars for me. Do we discuss the books in this thread or do we review/discuss separately?"

You can give a short opinion here or open a thread in this folder if you want to have a bigger discussion. :)

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

& I've entered on the board Sharon.

I forgot to put up how I like people to enter their reads.

Say what Number you are

for example;

#25 Born Free finished 5/1 Very touching book. 4 stars.

#6 The Freaks of Mayfair finished January 4, 4 stars

I rounded up from 3.5 because I love the author’s biting wit, and homage must be paid to the genius who blessed the world with the Lucia series!

This was short, only about 140 pages in my ebook, more a series of sketches of types; Luciaphiles will recognize many characters and plot ideas that went on to hilarious fruition in that later series. Degree of cattiness varied, from mildly bitchy to downright vicious; I found it a funny, quick read, but without the depth of his later novels. Here’s a link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Susan in NC wrote: "#6 The Freaks of Mayfair finished January 4, 4 stars

I rounded up from 3.5 because I love the author’s biting wit, and homage must be paid to the genius who blessed the world with th..."

Added for you, Susan!

Thanks, Carol!

#16
The Royal Box
finished 1/7
3 stars-my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

CindySR wrote: "#16
The Royal Box
finished 1/7
3 stars-my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Added for you Cindy. I have read this one, but many years ago. I remember it being superior to her better known Dinner at Antoine's

#12 here
January 9, 2024
I just finished my #1 book, The Clan of the Cave Bear
Thanks, Lesley, for recommending it!
My five-star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Added you to the count, Elinor.

& I have also completed my first read!

#1 The Conqueror's Wife finished 9/1. 5★

I haven't done my review yet, but as good as I remembered.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Added you to the count, Elinor.

& I have also completed my first read!

#1 The Conqueror's Wife finished 9/1. 5★

I haven't done my review yet, but as good as I remembered."

Carol--I have memories of having read (and enjoyed!) this when I was a teen. Glad it held up for you. I'm adding it to my 'read for the pool' list.

Crewe Train

The Parasites

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont

Breakfast with the Nikolides

While Still We Live


Hope I'm not too late to the party

Hi Cphe

I've made you #19.

All the books you chose are already in the pool, so that's lucky!

Rules are in Message #1. :)

Any questions just ask me.

Thank you

Cphe wrote: "Thank you"

No worries!

Abigail wrote: "#2 here, checking in with my first pool book of the year: The Mingham Air by Elizabeth Fair. Only a three-star read for me, finished 1/11/24, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.co..."

Added for you Abigail :)

5 star Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont 10/1/24

Cphe wrote: "5 star Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont 10/1/24"

Added for you CPHe

Thank you, Carol!

#2 here, devoured my book #2 over the weekend, Near Neighbours by Molly Clavering. Loved it! An enthusiastic four stars. Reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

Abigail wrote: "#2 here, devoured my book #2 over the weekend, Near Neighbours by Molly Clavering. Loved it! An enthusiastic four stars. Reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"

Added to your count, Abigail!

Thanks, Carol!