Reading the 20th Century discussion

So not a favourite but a potential favourite


Richard Osman described Towards the End of the Morning (1967) as the funniest book in the English language on the interview with Marian Keyes at the end of The Thursday Murder Club

This aside from Mr O broke my resolve to stop buying books - actually I've bought quite a lot in the last few weeks (what am I like?)

Anyway, that's a long winded way of asking if anyone has read any Michael Frayn and any opinions on him and his work.

I know nothing so am interested in learning more



This is the Goodreads profile...

Michael Frayn is an English playwright and novelist. He is best known as the author of the farce Noises Off and the dramas Copenhagen and Democracy. His novels, such as Towards the End of the Morning, Headlong and Spies, have also been critical and commercial successes, making him one of the handful of writers in the English language to succeed in both drama and prose fiction. His works often raise philosophical questions in a humorous context. Frayn's wife is Claire Tomalin, the biographer and literary journalist.

Like you, Nigeyb, I've never read any Frayn but, at various times, have heard good things about him, notably his Spies. I guess he's just never come to the top of my out-of-control to be read list!

I didn't realize he's married to Claire Tomalin.

I’ve read Spies which I liked, and mean to read Towards the End of the Morning sometime.

I too have read Spies which I enjoyed and have Headlong on my bookshelf.

I have read two novels (Spies and Headlong) and one nonfiction book (The Human Touch: Our Part in the Creation of a Universe). All interesting in different ways - I think Spies was my favourite.

Thanks all


I already have a copy of Towards the End of the Morning, so if that goes well, and you'll be the first to know, it's straight on to Spies and beyond

Thanks again

If anyone fancies a buddy read of...



Towards the End of the Morning (1967)


....then please hit reply


Set in the crossword and nature notes department of an obscure national newspaper during the declining years of Fleet Street, where John Dyson dreams wistfully of fame and the gentlemanly life - until one day his great chance of glory at last arrives.

I have meant to read Michael Frayn for ages. I didn't see this earlier, but would definitely read along if you are still thinking of it.

Let's do it Susan - April 2024 work for you?

I will give it a go.

Hurrah - great news Ben

I've set up our buddy read of Towards the End of the Morning for April 2024. If you want to change this date that's fine. Just let me know.

April looks good for me

Jill's in too 👏🏼

Sourced a copy so may join too

Sounds great. Thanks, Nigeyb.

The news just gets better and better

There was a sudden flurry of love for Michael Frayn there! I picked up his memoir for 99p (price has since gone up) the other day so he was on my mind...

Serendipity

Absolutely.

I am thinking about reading more Michael Frayn. Rather than continuing in order, I am debating adding this to my tbr list:

A Landing on the Sun

Has anyone read it?

Ever since an obscure Civil Servant called Stephen Summerchild fell to his death from a window in the Admiralty, rumours have circulated about a connection with some secret defence project. Now, as a television company reinvestigates the case, the Cabinet Office feels it may be prudent to make a reassessment of its own, in case of any sudden alarm at Number Ten.
'A Landing on the Sun is not just a masterly novel in its own right, but a clever debunking of those off-the-peg Whitehall yarns ... Many novelists have tried to take the lid off the arcane world of the Civil Service. Frayn has done it as brilliantly and imaginitively as any of them.' Daily Telegraph
'Comedy creeps up on A Landing on the Sun like bindweed, transforming what starts out as a thriller into a small masterpiece of the absurd.' Financial Times

Sounds fab Susan

I'm in but am a bit overloaded

September 2024? Or is that just too far ahead?

I had Added his Spies to my tbr. I had read that it is his best, although I can see it has a lower GR rating than A Landing on the Sun.

September works for me, if you are up for a buddy, Nigeyb?

I also have Spies, Ben. Happy to change if you both prefer that? Or schedule both in later in the year.

In the quiet cul-de-sac where Keith and Stephen live the only immediate signs of the Second World War are the blackout at night and a single random bombsite. But the two boys start to suspect that all is not what it seems when one day Keith announces a disconcerting discovery: the Germans have infiltrated his own family. And when the secret underground world they have dreamed up emerges from the shadows they find themselves engulfed in mysteries far deeper and more painful than they had bargained for.

Actually both sound good to me. So my vote is let's read one and then the other

September and November?

I am happy to wait for the pleasure of both your company. And possibly even some other 20th C readers can be persuaded to join us?

Let’s do both in the months you suggest 👌🏻

I might join for Spies.

It just gets better and better

I read Spies in 2020, its still on my bookshelf and if I've time will happily read again.
I also have Headlong still to read

And better still

I've set up the next two Frayn buddies - some way off but the time will doubtless fly by...



A Landing on the Sun by Michael Frayn (September 2024)

Spies by Michael Frayn (November 2024)

Excellent - very exciting! Thanks all.

Super!

I read Towards the End of the Morning and liked it but not enough to jump into the read of The Tin Men which was the next month. While I rated it 3 stars I didn't know whether I'd read Frayn again or not. No biggie either way.

However, this week I spent 3 days in Omaha, Nebraska for work and stayed in a older area downtown with old brick streets and buildings that had both a used vinyl store and used book store.
The used book store was a very pleasingly stocked and arranged one with a chatty and interesting owner so I definitely wanted to make some kind of purchase. After going through the entire literature section, I ended up purchasing these two reasonably priced, fine condition used editions of two fine British humorists:
A Landing on the Sun and The Girl in Blue

Fate has decreed that I read more Frayn.
So I will see you in September (or late August;) for the Buddy Read.

Hurrah

Obviously meant to be, Brian!