Retro Reads discussion
Book Pool
>
Book Pool 2025
Mod
book 2
Heat Lightning by Helen R. Hull
finished 2/23/25
3 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Added for you Cindy!
No 4Book 8
The Optimist's Daughter
3 star rating. Expected more because it is featured on so many lists.
Mod
Book 8
The Optimist's Daughter"
Added for you Cphe. You don't have to put a star rating, but would you mind either linking to your review or giving a one line opinion? Thanks.
Mod
2nd book, finished March7: The Sweet Dove Died by Barbara Pym
A delightful story."
Added for you Mela. :)
No. 5Book #6, After the Funeral by Agatha Christie, my favorite mystery writer, 5 stars, it’s been 5 years since I last read this, but I’d forgotten whodunnit, so enjoyed this so much! Thanks to whoever nominated it!
Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#6Book #2
Come, Tell Me How You Live / Agatha Christie Mallowan
5 stars
Informative, interesting, and quite entertaining. Our Dame Agatha was quite a wit!
I enjoyed this quick read very much, not just for the interesting facts and what I learned, but very much for her descriptions and observations. Writing her mysteries or non-fiction memoirs she was surely a gifted storyteller.
Recommend.
Mod
I'd forgotten to post one, I am #8 and my #3 read was finished Feb 9 (luckily Goodreads remembers this!) the Agatha Christie Come, Tell Me How You LiveLink to my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
Link to my review
https://www...."
hahaha!
Added for you, Jackie.
Mod
book 3
Spoonhandle by Ruth Moore
3 stars
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Added for you Cindy.
Mod
Book #3
Save Me the Waltz 4★
Finished 29/3
A very unsettling read. You can see Zelda's descent into madness.
I am #8 and finished my #4 (I think?) read yesterday, 3/31/24. I'm very thankful to whoever put this in the pool and was inspired to get it by the first post about it. The Good Shepherd
My four star review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#5 with book 7, finished April 1, 3-1/2 stars for Susan Settles Down by Molly Clavering.I included this in my pool choices because I’ve enjoyed the other Clavering novels I’ve read through the pool in the last few years. There were definitely some fun bits, but I just didn’t warm to several characters and the book lagged for me in the middle. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
Thank you, dearest! I wanted to finish my last pool entry.
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Wow, Susan, you are just powering along! Added for you!"Carol, did you see my post?
Susan, I have that book loaded on my kindle along with a bunch of others, so will wait until after I read it to read your review. But knowing it wasn't your favorite will lower my expectations for sure. Not always a bad thing, LOL!
Mod
Carol, did you see my post?
Susan, I have that book loaded on my kindle along with a bunch of others, so w..."
No sorry I missed it. Added now.
Jackie wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Wow, Susan, you are just powering along! Added for you!"Carol, did you see my post?
Susan, I have that book loaded on my kindle along with a bunch of others, so w..."
lol! I hope you enjoy it - there are entertaining parts, for sure!
I won't get to it for awhile, especially since I see it's time to read Death in Kashmir.
#8 and just finished my #5 book The Friendly Young Ladies on 4/4/25My 4 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#5 with book #8, Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, finished 4/5/25. This was a reread for me, but it had been many years, and I still find it entertaining and enjoyable, 4 stars. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
Mod
Book #4
Ride the Pink Horse 5★
Finished 16/4
Excellent & unsettling example of 'Noir.' I'm still thinking about it.
#8 here with my 6th book Ten Way Street which I finished today, 4/24, and rated an uneven 3 stars.It was "OK" but I'm not actually recommending it. I'll go and read other reviews now and see what others think.
It's light-weight and there are times when a fast read is just what you want. Hot weather, for example.
Mod
It was "OK" but I'm not actually recommending it. I'll go and read other reviews ..."
Added for you, Jackie. I read the Scarlett book in the pool last year. I enjoyed it but, yes, it was lightweight.
#15Book #4 on my list, The Art School Murders by Moray Dalton.
Finished 4/28/25.
I found it enjoyable, as I do most of the Inspector Collier mysteries. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
Mod
Book #4 on my list, The Art School Murders by Moray Dalton.
Finished 4/28/25.
I found it enjoyable, as I do most of the Inspector Collier mysteries. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads...."
Hi Sharon
I have this down as your third book. Can you give me the names of the other books you have read? Maybe I will spot it that way!
#10 reporting:Book #2: “I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov, finished April 29, 2025
This was a 5-star read for me. 👏🏻
I selected this book because of current AI uses/potential abuses. It was more than I anticipated because there was quite a bit of philosophy while highlighting human foibles. I loved the names given to the robots: SPD 13 (Speedy); QT-1 (Cutie); DV-5 (Dave); RB-34 (Herbie); NS series (The Nestors) and the problems they “created” for us humans.
Mod
Book #2: “I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov, finished April 29, 2025
This was a 5-star read for me. 👏🏻
I selected this book because of current AI uses/potential abuses. It was more than I..."
Added for you Kate. Sounds like a timely read!
#7Book #4
Joy in the Morning 4 stars
I love the humor in this book. P. G. Wodehouse is one of my favorite authors.
Mod
Book #4
Joy in the Morning 4 stars
I love the humor in this book. P. G. Wodehouse is one of my favorite authors."
Added for you, Amanda. I'm a big Wodehouse fan as well!
Mod
Book 9
The Devil in Clevely - had forgotten that I'd read this many years ago."
Added for you Cphe - I really liked this book!
Mod
book number 4
That Callahan Spunk
finished 5/7
2 stars
my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
book number 4
That Callahan Spunk
finished 5/7
2 stars
my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Added for you Cindy!
CindySR wrote: "#2book number 4
That Callahan Spunk
finished 5/7
2 stars
my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I find that title far too off putting, will definitely be steering clear of it now.
#11 Book 4.
High Wages 5*s
One of Dorothy Whipple's ealier books, it has a touch of melodrama towards the end, but her characterisation is just so good. Nice to read about a young girl carving out a successful career in the 1910's.
#15 This is the 4th book I've read.
For Whom the Cloche Tolls (#5 on my list)
Date finished: May 12, 2025
This book was not as charming as the cover made it appear. It was one of the few books I've given 2*. The illustrations were lovely, alas said cover, but that loveliness did not follow through to the text. On a positive note, I don't really mind reading unlikable books as they remind me what I value in the books I cherish. My review is here;https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
Mod
#155th book I've read.
Finished May 16, 2025
Finished Touch Not the Nettle by Molly Clavering. This was a 3* read for me: great sense of country life, fun spending time with Susan and Jed (from Susan Settles Down), but most of the book was about Amanda who I didn't enjoy reading about as much. I thought the pacing was a bit slow and the ending not my fave. I adored the other book I read by this author, Near Neighbours. Hope to find more like that as I read more of her works. Suggestions from Molly Clavering fans appreciated. My review of Touch Not the Nettle is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
Sharon wrote: "#155th book I've read.
Finished May 16, 2025
Finished Touch Not the Nettle by Molly Clavering. This was a 3* read for me: great sense of country life, fun spendin..."
Try Dear Hugo. I loved it as much as Near Neighbours.
Mod
5th book I've read.
Finished May 16, 2025
Finished Touch Not the Nettle by Molly Clavering. This was a 3* read for me: great sense of country life, fun spendin..."
Added for you Sharon!
Barb in Maryland wrote: "Sharon wrote: "#155th book I've read.
Finished May 16, 2025
Finished Touch Not the Nettle by Molly Clavering. This was a 3* read for me: great sense of country li..."
Oh, yes, definitely recommend Dear Hugo
Retro Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
The Art School Murders (other topics)High Wages (other topics)
High Wages (other topics)
High Wages (other topics)
High Wages (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Dorothy Whipple (other topics)Dorothy Whipple (other topics)
Moray Dalton (other topics)
Saki (other topics)
Agatha Christie (other topics)
More...
book 2
Heat Lightning by Helen R. Hull
finished 2/23/25
3 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...