Virago Modern Classics discussion

The idea for our buddy readings is that you suggest what one or a few books you would like to read in 2025 and in which month/months. If someone else writes that she/he will join you - the book becomes a buddy-read for a decided month.

There is no limited time for suggesting or finding a partner.

There can be only one buddy read for each month, so first come first served.

PS Please choose only those books, we haven't read yet as a group.

Here will appear the list when someone finds a buddy to read:

January - The Doves of Venus (Sonia, Mela, Tania)
February - Precious Bane (Kim, Mela, Sarah)
March - The Land of Spices (Sonia, Mela, Cphe, Tania, Kim)
April - Lantana Lane (Kim, Mela, Cphe)
May - The Newspaper of Claremont Street (Laura, Mela, Cphe)
June
July - China Court (Laura, Carol, Mela, Petra)
August - The Diviners (Sonia, Mela, Laura)
September
October - The Optimist's Daughter (Kim, Mela, Laura)
November
December

PS Of course, anyone is welcome to take part in buddy-read, not just those listed as "creators"/choosers of books.

I would like to read another few of du Maurier's books. If anyone would like to read one of the below in the 2025 year, let me know with info in which month:
The Birds and Other Stories
The Loving Spirit
Rule Britannia
Castle Dor
The Parasites
Golden Lads: Sir Francis Bacon, Anthony Bacon, and Their Friends
The Breaking Point: Short Stories
The Doll: Short Stories

2023 I read 23 Viragos, this year 24 and next year I hope to find and read 25. The two books I would like to buddy read are

For the Irish Readathon in March The Land of Spices. I have not read anything by Kate O'Brien, but fancy giving her a go.

For an anytime read The Doves of Venus. Earlier this year I read The Rain Forest by Olivia Manning and was reminded what a good storyteller she is. This week I picked up this anyone else fancy a buddy read?

Sonia wrote: "2023 I read 23 Viragos, this year 24 and next year I hope to find and read 25. The two books I would like to buddy read are..."

I want to read "The Doves of Venus" someday, it could be next year. Do you have any preference about a month? If not, I suggest January.

I would like to read "The Land of Spices" too, so I am putting it as our buddy-read for March.

January would work for me. Apologies for little interaction with the Phoebe Junior buddy read. Hubby and I have had hacking coughs and I have been feeling tired and a bit grumpy.

Sonia wrote: "January would work for me. Apologies for little interaction with the Phoebe Junior buddy read. Hubby and I have had hacking coughs and I have been feeling tired and a bit grumpy."

I hope you feel better now. I have had a hacking cough too, but now it is less tiring. So, I know what you mean.

If I can find a copy I'd also join in for The Land of Spices

Cphe wrote: "If I can find a copy I'd also join in for The Land of Spices"

Great!

Sonia wrote: "2023 I read 23 Viragos, this year 24 and next year I hope to find and read 25. The two books I would like to buddy read are

For the Irish Readathon in March The Land of Spices. I h..."

I have both of these so I will try to join in.

I think I have a copy, I'd also join in for The Land of Spices
I'd also like to nominate these ones on my shelves

The Optimist's Daughter
Precious Bane
Lantana Lane

Kim wrote: "I think I have a copy, I'd also join in for The Land of Spices
I'd also like to nominate these ones on my shelves
The Optimist's Daughter
Precious Bane
Lantana Lane"

I am for all three. Which months would you like to choose? If you have no preference I will choose the first three free and put the books in the chronology you wrote.

Precious Bane is a beautiful book. I listened to an audio many years ago (back when it was on cassette!) and the narrator performed the dialect brilliantly.

I also thought Precious Bane was excellent.

Have a paperback copy of Lantana Lane

The Optimist's Daughter is apparently Southern Gothic, it's also a Pulitzer Prize winner, maybe a July 4th read or because there's a death maybe October for a Halloween Gothic read?
Precious Bane- February - It's a historical romance so would be good as a Valentine's Day read
Lantana Lane might be good for Aussie April

Mela wrote: "Kim wrote: "I think I have a copy, I'd also join in for The Land of Spices
I'd also like to nominate these ones on my shelves
The Optimist's Daughter
Precious Bane
Lantana Lane"

I am for all three..."

Kim wrote: "The Optimist's Daughter is apparently Southern Gothic, it's also a Pulitzer Prize winner, maybe a July 4th read or because there's a death maybe October for a Halloween Gothic read?
Precious Bane-..."

Noted.

I really loved The Doves of Venus - will try to find and join in for January.

Laura wrote: "I really loved The Doves of Venus - will try to find and join in for January."

That's super. Reading comments on here always enhances my enjoyment of a book.

Found a copy on Internet Archive - no easy task these days. I read this 15? years ago and as I was struggling to find employment it was a book that really spoke to me. I'm interested to see how I feel about it second time round. I think I've read Manning's entire works.

Laura wrote: "... I think I've read Manning's entire works."

Wow.
To me, it will be the first book by her.

I’ll join in on reading Precious Bane.

I'd like to nominate Elizabeth Jolley's The Well this is probably her most famous book - and I've not yet read it - but it's not listed as a Virago publication. I do see however that The Sugar Mother by Jolley - published 2000 is a VIRAGO publication.

Why don't we just have an unspoken rule that if - Virago have published an author - we can use all the titles by that author - even if other publishing houses have snapped them up - and it will give us a greater range when trying to source the books?

Laura wrote: "...Why don't we just have an unspoken rule that if - Virago have published an author - we can use all the titles by that author - even if other publishing houses have snapped them up - and it will give us a greater range when trying to source the books?"

As I wrote here and there, the group was established for VMC books (I joined it years later). I would stick to this rule, especially since there are so many books we haven't read yet from the VMC list.
But, you can open a thread about other books. Please do it in this folder. For a start, I initiated a discussion about what other books of Virago the members recommend here link.

I was thinking that the VMC list - can sometimes give a wrong impression - a lot of little old ladies writing about stuff from long ago. I think it's exactly this issue that the modern marketing from Virago is trying to address - especially with their themes like - Translated fiction, Queer fiction and the Wicked Women section - must get that link to you.

It's kind of like we need to update the Virago image here also. Perhaps that's why the Group died out? And perhaps why other groups addressing women's reading are in fact more successful.

It's a fine balance to work out - sticking to the original publishing house - but trying to ensure that its image - is more modern?

Mela - case in point - the Buddy read for February - Precious Bane - there are only 3 participants and so far only 1 of them has actually commented on the book.

Laura wrote: "Mela - case in point - the Buddy read for February - Precious Bane - there are only 3 participants and so far only 1 of them has actually commented on the book."

The idea of buddy-read is additional, for those of us that want to read more than one a month. There is only one rule: one has to find at least one member who would apply as a buddy. That doesn't mean that only those members read it.

Ok - yes I see the point - a buddy read - only requires 2 participants.

Can I propose The Tortoise and the Hare by Elizabeth Jenkins - for a Buddy read in May - or possibly as the main book in July?

I will certainly join in for The Optimist's Daughter - Eudora Welty

And another proposal The Newspaper of Claremont Street by Elizabeth Jolley - again I don't mind in which month it is nominated. I guess that Mela will post a request for nominations at the appropriate time?

I read The Tortoise and the Hare late last year after a friend mentioned it in another group.

It was excellent -

Hi Cphe - maybe you already saw it? Tania posted a podcast from Backlist - it's in the VMC history thread. A great recording - Carmen Callil reading from her favourite Virago - The Tortoise and the Hare.

Laura wrote: "Can I propose The Tortoise and the Hare by Elizabeth Jenkins - for a Buddy read in May - or possibly as the main book in July?..."

We have read (as a group) "The Tortoise and the Hare" in July 2023. [Please, before you nominate any book for group-read check it first if it is on our to-read list (not on the already read list).]

I will join you in reading "The Newspaper of Claremont Street" (it is available on archive.org). I am putting it in the first free slot, i.e. for May.

Hi Mela - thank you for the Elizabeth Jolley.

I did check on The Tortoise and the Hare and saw it had been read in July '23 - which is why I proposed this July '25. I thought it could be in honour of Carmen Calill.

And also - why not re-read? The whole group is unlikely to have read a particular book and as there is always the possibility of new members joining - it seems odd to prohibit "books all already read". I can understand if it was within a year?

Is it one of the goals of VMC to read everything on the list?

It would seem sensible to try and choose books that would encourage more members to participate?

Laura wrote: "I did check on The Tortoise and the Hare and saw it had been read in July '23 - which is why I proposed this July '25. I thought it could be in honour..."

I have put the idea of re-reading for discussion here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... We will see what other members think.

Mela wrote: "Laura wrote: "I did check on The Tortoise and the Hare and saw it had been read in July '23 - which is why I proposed this July '25. I thought it could be in honour..."

I have put the idea of re-r..."

Hi Mela - thank you. It seems to me some of the books in the Virago list might be more popular than others - for example Barbara Pym - I'm just trying to stir up some interest from all those silent members. For example, Celia Fremlin is being republished by other publishing houses - but I see you have recently read The Hours Before Dawn.

Am I right in thinking other active members would be interested in existing members contributing - nominations/votes etc and participating more in discussions?

Hi - it is May 1st - I started reading - The Newspaper of Claremont Street - which is ok - so far. Do we have a thread somewhere for it?

Laura wrote: "Hi - it is May 1st - I started reading - The Newspaper of Claremont Street - which is ok - so far. Do we have a thread somewhere for it?"

Yes, here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Good afternoon,
Question: do buddy reads discuss their books on a separate forum? from previouse expirences, what divides the buddy reads from the main group?

(Apologies if this has been answered already in a forum)

Thank you

A.H wrote: "Good afternoon,
Question: do buddy reads discuss their books on a separate forum? from previouse expirences, what divides the buddy reads from the main group? "

Each book gets its own thread. For a month, such a thread is in the folder We are currently reading, then it goes to We have read already.

Hello Mela,
So understanding the buddy reads read in small groups, and then discuss exclusivley on a virtual forum- is this to provide a secondary monthly reading option for members?

Thank you,
A.H

A. wrote: "So understanding the buddy reads read in small groups, and then discuss exclusivley on a virtual forum- is this to provide a secondary monthly reading option for members?

Exactly, it is just "a secondary monthly reading option for members". You just need to find at least one member who will agree to join you (in this thread). If you agree with the other group member about a book and a month, and that month has a free spot (see the list at the beginning of the thread) - we will do it as a kind of "official buddy-read". And mostly, more than the initial two people read the book.

Hi Mela,
Noted, thanks for specifying.

Best,
A.