Retro Reads discussion

#1 Book 5 finished 22/5.
Tender Is the Night 4★

Well written book with mostly unlikeable characters. Recommended.

I've added both this read & Jackie's to our tally.

#9

Book 3: The Hills is Lonely

Finished 6/2. 3 (3 1/2) stars. I liked it, but I'd hoped to like it more. It was mostly entertaining as I read it, but I didn't often find myself wanting to pick it up.

That said, I do wish the entire series was more easily available, as I'd not hesitate to read further adventures. The setting was definitely my favorite part,

Jenn wrote: "#9

Book 3: The Hills is Lonely

Finished 6/2. 3 (3 1/2) stars. I liked it, but I'd hoped to like it more. It was mostly entertaining as I read it, but I didn't often find myself wanting to pick it..."

Added for you, Jenn!

#15 my 6th book I finished June 9 D.E. Stevenson's Summerhills.

I loved it even more than Amberwell. I haven't written a review yet, but will give it 5 stars.

Jackie wrote: "#15 my 6th book I finished June 9 D.E. Stevenson's Summerhills.

I loved it even more than Amberwell. I haven't written a review yet, but will give it 5 stars."

Added for you Jackie

#20 finished The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman on June 1st, my 6th book. Liked it a lot!! Thanks, Joanne

Joanne wrote: "#20 finished The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman on June 1st, my 6th book. Liked it a lot!! Thanks, Joanne"

Added for you, Joanne - just about finished my 6th book too! :)

& I have finished my 6th book now!

Blue Camellia finished 12/6. 5★
In spite of FPK wanting to use every bit of her research I loved this one. Probably my favourite of FPK's books.

#14

I abandoned Voltaire in Love. I admire Nancy Mitford's research, but it was too tiring to read. Perhaps I will try it again someday.

By the way, I read 7, not 6 (as I see it here). The last message about it here.

I have a question about the rules. Can I change my mind and not read one of the books I said I would (I mean one of the five I added to our list)?

Mela wrote: "I have a question about the rules. Can I change my mind and not read one of the books I said I would (I mean one of the five I added to our list)?"

You don't have to read any of the five you chose.

Mela wrote: "I have a question about the rules. Can I change my mind and not read one of the books I said I would (I mean one of the five I added to our list)?"

I was confused about that, also, I think for 2 years! the choosing is just a way to make the pool. you get credit for reading any books in the pool but don't have to read any as CindySR says.

Mela wrote: "#14

I abandoned Voltaire in Love. I admire Nancy Mitford's research, but it was too tiring to read. Perhaps I will try it again someday.

By the way, I read 7, not 6 (as I see it h..."

Corrected Mela sorry about that.

I've changed the wording in rule number 4 slightly. If it is still unclear to people please let me know.

Thank you, Cindy and Jackie, for your explanation.

And yes, Carol, now number 4 is more clear to me. Thank you.

#14

Book #8 - Sugar Candy Cottage, finished Jun 20.

A lovely comfort-reading with a bit of seriousness, tension, and mystery.

I am grateful for this group that I learned about Elizabeth Cadell.

that one looks good - I wish my library had it!

Jackie wrote: "that one looks good - I wish my library had it!"

I don't know how you feel about reading on your PC or tablet, but it's on the Internet Archive. Lots of Cadell's books are there, free to read. I can find many book pool books there.

https://archive.org/details/sugarcand...

CindySR wrote: "
I don't know how you feel about reading on your PC or tablet, but it's on the Internet Archive. Lots of Cadell's books are there, fr..."

Good to know. I know there is one non Cadell book I badly want to read so I'll check it out.

@Mela - added for you.

thank you, CindySR, it's my least favorite way to read a book but it's better than not reading it, I guess!

#18

Book #4
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont 4 stars

I enjoyed this book.

Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #4
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont 4 stars

I enjoyed this book."

Added for you, Amanda!

I clicked over to Mrs. Palfrey to remind myself what my review said and I never even marked it read! So I went back and fixed that.

#14

Book #9 - The Blue Sky of Spring, finished Jun 24.

I loved it a bit less than the previous part of the series but still loved it.

Added for you, Mela!

#14

I abandoned another one: Chloe Marr by A.A. Milne. It seemed charming but... I am not going to repeat my review, so if you are interested here is the link to it.

Mela wrote: "#14

I abandoned another one: Chloe Marr by A.A. Milne. It seemed charming but... I am not going to repeat my review, so if you are interested here is the link to it."

Noted the dnf for you Mela!

#18

Book #5
Uncle Dynamite 5 stars

I enjoyed this hilarious book.

Amanda wrote: "#18

Book #5
Uncle Dynamite 5 stars

I enjoyed this hilarious book."

Added for you Amanda!

#14

Book #10 - The Game of Kings, finished July 16.

I needed quite a lot of time to get caught by the flow and style, but when I did - it was a charming and fascinating reading. Link to my review.

Mela wrote: "#14

Book #10 - The Game of Kings, finished July 16.

I needed quite a lot of time to get caught by the flow and style, but when I did - it was a charming and fascinating reading. Lin..."

Added for you Mela.

This is one of the two I didn't nominate that I really wanted to read. No luck so far getting hold of it. (I like cheap or free)

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "...No luck so far getting hold of it. (I like cheap or free)"

Sure, otherwise, we will not have anything to eat ;-)

#7 with book 5. Jane's Country Year by Malcolm Saville, I loved this one, 4*s. I actually finished it on 21/6, but I forgot to post it here.

Tania wrote: "#7 with book 5. Jane's Country Year by Malcolm Saville, I loved this one, 4*s. I actually finished it on 21/6, but I forgot to post it here."
Added for you Tania. :)

#8 with book #5 The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman by Moray Dalton, finished yesterday 18th July.

I enjoyed this very much and rated it 4 stars.

Added for you Lynnie!

#9

Book 4: Show Boat

Finished 7/20. 4 stars. I quite liked it. I think that if you've coming at it as a big fan of the musical or film adaptations of said musical, you might be a little disappointed. But I've never seen them : )

It's also one that modern readers may need a warning about, in terms of race relations, and charged language related to it. And maybe class as well. It's realistic to the time/setting being portrayed, but not always easy read.

Jenn wrote: "#9

Book 4: Show Boat

Finished 7/20. 4 stars. I quite liked it. I think that if you've coming at it as a big fan of the musical or film adaptations of said musical, you might be a little disappoin..."

Added for you Jenn. I think I read (or tried to read) this one many years ago.

#1 here with Book #7
Fraulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther
3 weak stars - it was heading for 2.5★, but I liked the ending.
Rose-Marie was a heroine with great personal charm, but epistolary novels is probably my least favourite format for a book
Finished 23/7

#3 with book #5 Finished 25 July.
Sally-Ann

An enjoyable bit of fluff--I gave it 3.5 stars. It's sort of a Cinderella story--There's definitely a Prince Charming and a Fairy Godmother, but no nasty Stepmother or stepsisters. Just a nasty Other Woman...
And, of course, there's a well earned HEA.
My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sally-Ann looks good! I'd never heard of it and am stoked my library has it, thanks Barb!

Barb in Maryland wrote: "#3 with book #5 Finished 25 July.
Sally-Ann

An enjoyable bit of fluff--I gave it 3.5 stars. It's sort of a Cinderella story--There's definitely a Prin..."

Oh good! I still have some money on an Amazon gift card & I was thinking about spending it on that. Also maybe the Dorothy Dunnett.

I'll add it to your total Barb.

Yay, it’s available on Everand as an ebook!

#1 Book 8 finished, 2/8.

The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol 3.5★

Is this a collection of short stories or loosely connected chapters? Enjoyable, the better chapters are the ones near the end.

#12 here . . . I FINALLY got back to Retro Reading, and completed my second book on August 16, 2024. The Hills is Lonely by Lillian Beckwith. This is the first of a trilogy and I liked it well enough to want to read the next two volumes. This was a humorous novel that kept me smiling throughout!

Elinor wrote: "#12 here . . . I FINALLY got back to Retro Reading, and completed my second book on August 16, 2024. The Hills is Lonely by Lillian Beckwith. This is the first of a trilogy and I li..."

Added for you, Elinor! :)

That sounds good, Elinor, so I am glad my library has it and the second book. (looks like not the third one, sadly). So I have ordered it from a nearby library. thank you!

#1 here, Book #9 finished 19/8
Sally-Ann Not deep but a sweet & charming Cinderella romance that I enjoyed. 3.5★

#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 whoever picked it. My library has eleven more by Susan Scarlett which gives me that good "money in the bank" feeling.

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 whoever picked ..."

Jackie--I picked it for the pool because I flipped a coin to choose which of the many Susan Scarlett titles to start with! And it was a good choice. I have several others on my kindle; I'm saving them for next year.