Retro Reads discussion

Please add While Still We Live completed today. 4 stars

Cphe wrote: "Please add While Still We Live completed today. 4 stars"

Added to your tally, Cphe. Could you put your number (#19) each time please? It makes it easier for me. :)

Hi Carol
#3 here with book #1--Sugar Candy Cottage . Read on 17 Jan, rating it 4 stars.
A very interesting one from Cadell, with lots of psychological musings to go along with a charming romance, and a group of very intriguing secondary characters.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Hi Carol
#3 here with book #1--Sugar Candy Cottage. Read on 17 Jan, rating it 4 stars.
A very interesting one from Cadell, with lots of psych..."

Added for you Barb!

ooh, that looks good, Barb!

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Hi Carol
#3 here with book #1--Sugar Candy Cottage. Read on 17 Jan, rating it 4 stars.
A very interesting one from Cadell, with lots of psych..."

Intriguing , Barb, thanks!

No 19 - please add:

Breakfast with the Nikolides - 19/1/24

Cphe wrote: "No 19 - please add:

Breakfast with the Nikolides - 19/1/24"

Added for you Cphe - I'm looking forward to this one - I am a big Godden fan.

@Carol

I won't comment on the novel until others have read it. It has the potential to generate some discussion.

No 19

Please add Crewe Train - completed 20/1/24

Not as substantial as Breakfast with the Nikolides - hence the lower rating.

Plus, I much preferred The Towers of Trebizond with it's wonderful opening line "Take my camel dear........"

Thank you

Cphe wrote: "No 19

Please add Crewe Train - completed 20/1/24

Thank you"

Added for you Cphe!

#4 ; Book #1
Summerhills / D.E. Stevenson
Finished 13 January 2024 ; 3 stars
Not as good as Amberley. Besides the fact there were some of the same characters, this book held little resemblance to Amberley. The story meandered its way through to an uneventful conclusion, but the writing was good as it always is with D.E. Stevenson.

You're on the board Lesley

#15 here with my first book: yesterday I finished Storm from the West

I'm giving it 3.5 stars rounded up and like the characters and the dialog, but was left wanting more. I will absolutely read more from this author.

Jackie wrote: "#15 here with my first book: yesterday I finished Storm from the West

I'm giving it 3.5 stars rounded up and like the characters and the dialog, but was left wanting more. I will ab..."

Added for you Jackie.

#14

My first book this year I finished yesterday: Monday or Tuesday

I am disappointed with it. I loved her two best-known novels. Yet I couldn't tune into these short stories.

Mela wrote: "#14

My first book this year I finished yesterday: Monday or Tuesday

I am disappointed with it. I loved her two best-known novels. Yet I couldn't tune into these short stories."

Added for you Mela. So far I haven't got along with Woolf at all.

No 19

Please add The Parasites - couldn't gel with this one.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "So far I haven't got along with Woolf at all."

What have you read by her so far?

#9
Book 1: The 39 Steps, finished 1/22.

3 1/2 stars. It's quite the adventure story - pretty improbable, but fast paced and entertaining.

#5

Book 2: Fog of Doubt by Christian Brand. 4 Stars.

A very enjoyable Golden Age mystery. I thought the ending was a bit disappointing, The introduction, written by the author herself, gave a behind-the-scenes look at the book that added a lovely feeling of "in-the-know" to the read.

Cphe - added your book. Could you write what number read it is for you please. It helps me keep track. :)

Sharon & Jenn added your books for you.

Mela wrote: "Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "

What have you read by her so far?"

To the Lighthouse which contained a wonderfully impressionistic passage, but other than that I didn't really care for, & Night and Day which was an early work of hers, that I couldn't finish.

I'm hoping to get to that book of short stories though. Woolf was a very close friend of Katherine Mansfield who is my favourite short story writer & I'll be interested to compare their styles.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Cphe - added your book. Could you write what number read it is for you please. It helps me keep track. :)

Sharon & Jenn added your books for you."


That was read No 5

#6 with book 2, Uncle Dynamite by P.G. Wodehouse. 5 delightful stars for this charmer which I just finished 1/22/24.

I wasn’t in the mood for any of my books (I should have chosen more light fiction), so thanks so much to whoever added Wodehouse to the pool, bless you!

You are welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed meeting Uncle Fred. I liked your review.

Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with book 2, Uncle Dynamite by P.G. Wodehouse. 5 delightful stars for this charmer which I just finished 1/22/24.

I wasn’t in the mood for any of my books (I shou..."

Added for you Susan!

Jackie wrote: "You are welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed meeting Uncle Fred. I liked your review."

Thanks, Jackie, I didn’t bother linking it, since it’s short. And I love Uncle Fred! I’m such a Bertie and Jeeves fan, coming to Wodehouse through Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie’s delightful television adaptations. I see I must broaden my Wodehouse horizons to enjoy further “sweetness and light” as Uncle Fred would say! ;o)

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with book 2, Uncle Dynamite by P.G. Wodehouse. 5 delightful stars for this charmer which I just finished 1/22/24.

I wasn’t in the mood for any..."

Thanks Carol!

#6 with my first DNF, The Game of Kings, definitely not my style, I should have researched my pool more carefully! I tried it last week, definitely did not gel with the style.

This one was book 2, actually, but I chucked it back to the library! (I didn’t know if you need book # for DNFs, Carol, but it was the second one I tried to read.)

Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with my first DNF, The Game of Kings, definitely not my style, I should have researched my pool more carefully! I tried it last week, definitely did not gel with the style."

Added for you Susan

I'm interested in this one but having trouble getting hold of at my preferred price (free or cheap!)

Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with my first DNF, The Game of Kings, definitely not my style, I should have researched my pool more carefully! I tried it last week, definitely did not gel with the style.

This o..."


That's such a pity, I agree though they take a lot of time and commitment - not everyone's "cup of tea." I've often marvelled at how Dunnett managed all of her characters, plots, subplots etc.

In case you hadn't guessed I'm one who loved the whole Lymond series and then went on to read the eight books that made up Niccolo.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "...I'm hoping to get to that book of short stories though. Woolf was a very close friend of Katherine Mansfield who is my favourite short story writer & I'll be interested to compare their styles."

I haven't read yet any book by Katherine Mansfield, although I am going to someday.

#14

Second book: Something Light

I love Margery Sharp's novels. She had her own style, and she wrote books definitely from a woman's perspective.
They, mostly, are light, yet they touch every time something deep and important.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with my first DNF, The Game of Kings, definitely not my style, I should have researched my pool more carefully! I tried it last week, definitely did not gel wit..."

I could only get a 1961 hardcover copy from the bowels of my city library! I was going to use an Audible credit for the audiobook, would definitely help move it along with a delightful narrator, but I could tell after the first couple chapters it just wasn’t my style. Clearly others adore the series - probably didn’t help that I had been reading an excellent historical mystery set around the same time (Henry VIII is aging, lots of jostling at court to gain advantage), and I tend to prefer more grounded history and facts vs melodrama. Definitely gave me a Scarlet Pimpernel vibe, which is fine, I loved it when I read it decades ago. Just don’t think I’d love it now, tastes change.

As for your preferred price, I am with you, Carol! In fact, I’m finding with many in the pool, availability is a problem for me this year. I’ll read/reread the choices I can get hold of, but I can already tell I won’t be burning through the pool! Still several from the last two years I’d like to get to, though, and my Wodehouse read has me feeling like going back down the Wodehouse rabbit hole!

Cphe wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with my first DNF, The Game of Kings, definitely not my style, I should have researched my pool more carefully! I tried it last week, definitely did not gel wit..."

Oh, I’m glad, I could tell by reading the reviews she has devoted fans! I had hoped to join them, but right off I wanted to smack the hero, never a good sign…now if the book had been about the pig, I’d be in! ;o)

Cphe wrote: "No 19

Please add The Parasites - couldn't gel with this one."

Thank you, another group wants to read this one, sounded “meh” but I wasn’t sure! I’ve so enjoyed other titles of this author, I was hoping for a member here to weigh in on it…

Susan in NC wrote: "Cphe wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with my first DNF, The Game of Kings, definitely not my style, I should have researched my pool more carefully! I tried it last week, definitely di..."
But Susan, in the beginning you are supposed to want to smack Lymond, a lot of times, for being too clever (and smart!) for his own good! It takes a good while for all the various plot bits to gel, but once they do--wow!
I'm one of those devoted fans you mentioned...

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Cphe wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with my first DNF, The Game of Kings, definitely not my style, I should have researched my pool more carefully! I tried it last..."

lol! I didn’t know I was supposed to want to smack him! Duly noted, my dear, I reserve the right to revisit him when I’m in the mood for a swashbuckling bad boy (although his babbling really had me envisioning The Scarlet Pimpernel blended with Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in the Pirate movies…a heady mix!) I still want to read the pig’s story…

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Cphe wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with my first DNF, The Game of Kings, definitely not my style, I should have researched my pool more carefully! I tried it last..."


@Susan and Barb

Lymond made my heart go "pit-a-pat" I'll be the first to admit.

Susan in NC wrote: "Cphe wrote: "No 19

Please add The Parasites - couldn't gel with this one."

Thank you, another group wants to read this one, sounded “meh” but I wasn’t sure! I’ve so enjoyed other ..."


This one is different to what she normally wrote - IMO it's well written as you would expect but more a psychological, family drama that I had trouble with. Certainly wasn't enamoured of the characters themselves.

Cphe wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Cphe wrote: "No 19

Please add The Parasites - couldn't gel with this one."

Thank you, another group wants to read this one, sounded “meh” but I wasn’t sure! I’..."

Thank you, I agree with you, I don’t think I’d gel with that one either!

Cphe wrote: "Barb in Maryland wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Cphe wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "#6 with my first DNF, The Game of Kings, definitely not my style, I should have researched my pool more c..."

I love when a book or character does that for me! ;o)

Cphe wrote: "Lymond made my heart go "pit-a-pat" I'll be the first to admit."

Cphe--by the time I finished The Game of Kings, I was totally hooked on him, and read the rest of the series, up through The Ringed Castle over the course of the following year. Then I had to wait a year for Checkmate to come out!! The agony!!!

@Barb - I feel your pain.....ended up buying paperback copies as well as kindle copies. (I wanted to be sure they were always close to hand)

Then....... I turned to the Niccolo series - Have you read them as well?

Loved King Hereafter too.

I've read some of her mystery books but not as enamoured of them.

Cphe wrote: "@Barb - I feel your pain.....ended up buying paperback copies as well as kindle copies. (I wanted to be sure they were always close to hand)

Then....... I turned to the Niccolo series - Have you r..."

Yes, I read them as they were released. I liked it, but not as much as Lymond series. King Hereafter was wonderful, even if it did break my heart. Mysteries--meh. Very clever, but not my thing.

No 19

book 6

The English Air 4 stars

#6 here with book 3, The Black Wings by Moray Dalton.

Finished today 1/24/24; 4.5 stars for this excellent Golden Age mystery, I really enjoyed it, intricate plot with blackmail, murder, murky family history involving jewels stolen from the Medici crypt, a doublecross among the thieves resulting in a vendetta, and not just one gobsmacking twist at the end in a tense courtroom scene, but a second shocker at the very end! Very enjoyable and highly recommended for mystery buffs.

Wow, Cphe you are powering away with this!

Added your & Susan's latest reads. :)

Thank you!