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Daphne du Maurier continuing readalongs in 2014
Leslie wrote: "I'd like to suggest The Parasites for March."I've not read that either, so I'd join in with that. I think her books are pretty accessible at my library so that's good.
Hey thanks Jenny, yes please! It would be far easier to see. I tried to do it just in case, but wasn't allowed so I guessed it was just a mods thing. :)Oh, will people have to vote again then though? If so perhaps you could just do it for March as January looks like a done deal. (LOL - now you may have to look that expression up... except that your vernacular is pretty near perfect... :) )
I'm panicking that I might not be able to get an edition. The collection I was planning on buying is out of stock. I might see if they have it in our local library...
Holly -do you mean "My Cousin Rachel"? It is on Kindle but is £4.66 at the moment, which seems ridiculous. You could get a secondhand hard copy from Amazon for less - or the library sounds good to me...
I've found a mobi collection on a site, so I might download that. If not, I'll try the library. Although it's so small, I somehow doubt it!
Wouldn't they be able to access inter-library loans Holly? Most public libraries can. Mine will go as far afield as I like - but you pay a bit more and the regulations are different.I like mine because I can reserve online even if it's a broader search.
yes, my library does this, it just costs 60p
I can, although I rarely reserve anything. My school library has such a large range of classics that I rarely need to go to my local library.I'll check there anyway :)
Ah, does that mean we think Daphne du Maurier is a classic author? That IS contentious! Although I think Rebecca might be thought a modern classic. Not sure.Opinions?
I guess I do see her as a classic writer. But then again I've never personally differentiated between modern classics and everything else.
Jean wrote: "Ah, does that mean we think Daphne du Maurier is a classic author? That IS contentious! Although I think Rebecca might be thought a modern classic. Not sure.Opinions?"
I feel she straddles the border, timewise. Rebecca was first published in 1938 and I would consider it a classic. However, The House on the Strand was first published in 1969 & although I enjoyed it, I am not sure I would call it a classic.
If an author is called a "classic author", does that mean that everything they wrote is a classic? Does classic mean "old" or does it mean "great"? Or something in between? You have raised an interesting question Jean!
That's what I like to do... :DI think if we call someone a "classic author" then by implication most of what they wrote is "classic". But then there are "classic novels" which could be a one-book novel by that author.
As for the time element, surely we need a bit of time to pass before we can judge whether something is a classic or not? The publishers are quite helpful in this case; looking at what is included in their lists. Or when a reputable newspaper does a survey of "20th Century Classics", for instance, what does that include?
As you get older, I think you get more and more resistant to something published fairly recently being termed a "classic". I resist the term for something I can remember being published, so maybe others think the same if it is published within their lifetime. On the other hand, one group I'm in sticks to "classic" novels, yet the founder there says she means not counting anything published during the last 10 years. Yes, it's fluid, but I don't think it's THAT fluid!
Jean wrote: "Hey thanks Jenny, yes please! It would be far easier to see. I tried to do it just in case, but wasn't allowed so I guessed it was just a mods thing. :)Oh, will people have to vote again then tho..."
Uh I actually knew that phrase (*taps herself on the shoulder all delighted with herself* LOL);)
Should we maybe wait until January is all decided and then see what are the remaining contestants?
See Jenny, your knowledge of idiomatic English is pretty... er, awesome? That's the first time I have ever used that word!Yes, good idea :) Then Leslie can add them to the upcoming Readalong threads
Jean wrote: "That's what I like to do... :DI think if we call someone a "classic author" then by implication most of what they wrote is "classic". But then there are "classic novels" which could be a one-book..."
I wonder which of today's authors will be considered classic in twenty or thirty years time?
Idea for a thread there, Shirley?
Jean wrote: "Idea for a thread there, Shirley?"I was just thinking that! Great minds...
OK, My Cousin Rachel was the winner by a mile! I've asked Leslie to put it on the "Upcoming Readalongs" thread, adding those of you who said here you'd like to read it. If there are any alterations, could you add yourself or make changes on that thread please?Ditto for the readalong of Rebecca in February. I think several of us were interested in joining in with that one, but if the discussion here wasn't clear then I haven't "volunteered" you on the "Upcoming Readalongs" thread!
Jenny will make a poll for us to vote on which book of hers we want to read in March. Suggestions here please, then in a week's time (27th) I'll ask Jenny to create the poll with what we have.
Thanks. This is going to be fun!
Jean wrote: "OK, My Cousin Rachel was the winner by a mile! I've asked Leslie to put it on the "Upcoming Readalongs" thread, adding those of you who said here you'd like to read it. If there are an..."All sounds good to me!
So far for March's Daphne du Maurier's readalong we have "The Scapegoat", "Jamaica Inn", "The Parasites" and any collection of short stories (I'd suggest maybe to include "The Birds" and "Don't look Now".)For newbies, some of us are already reading "My Cousin Rachel" in January and "Rebecca" in February, and we read "The House on the Strand" as a book of the month fiction read here earlier.
Any more suggestions before tomorrow, when I ask Jenny to make a poll?
Correction - I'll ask Jenny the next day! It's her birthday today!
Finished ageing! ;) I can set up the poll this evening if you like Jean. Just send me a message with the books that should go in!
Will do Jenny - hey you are up early today. No hangover then? ;)
Working ridiculously early this week! And no hangover. ;)(Some weird genetic mutation apparently protects me from those. I NEVER had one EVER)
Good for you! Bet your friends and colleagues are envious... :D
Particularly my Irish friends and colleagues ;)
Any preference for how long you would like the poll to run Jean?
LOL - Happy to leave it up to you Jenny :)
The poll is up for March (thank you Jenny!)Please vote for what you would like to read.
I got get collection from the book people as a present to myself so I'll join in when I can. As you all know, I'm not getting a lot of time to read at the moment :(
Gemma - Aw, she writes such page turners though that you might find you're reading "on the go"!OK with everyone if we close the poll next Saturday (7th Dec)?
Mod
OK - Jenny, when you come to read this, could you close the poll please?"Jamaica Inn" was the clear winner for March with "The Scapegoat" coming second. I think I'll read "The Scapegoat" in April, as that's the one I voted for. Would anyone like to join me?
We could always think about it nearer the time though.
Hey Jean, sorry I should have checked here earlier! I had set the poll up to run until the 8th when creating it. I will go check if I can end it now.
Hey Jenny, thanks for doing this and no worries as it's a clear leader by 7 points! So you could just leave it.I did check as I thought you'd have set a closing date, but there's nothing to say on my screen, so presumably it just displays the date to whoever set it up. (?)
Only one day out anyway :)
Jean, I'd be happy to join you with The Scapegoat in April, I also chose that one, and it came second, so it would seem to be a good choice!
Jean wrote: "Hey Jenny, thanks for doing this and no worries as it's a clear leader by 7 points! So you could just leave it.I did check as I thought you'd have set a closing date, but there's nothing to say o..."
Jean, I can't see a way to end it prior to the set date which I think you only see if you click on 'comments and details'. But you are right. Seems like a pretty clear winner to me! ;)
Shirley - that's great! Maybe some others will be in too by then :) Do you want to add it to the readalongs thread now, or wait a bit?Jenny - oh thanks for pointing that comments tab out - hadn't seen that! :D
I've just purchased "Rebecca" on Kindle, as it's gone down to £3.99. That still seems quite a lot for an e-book to me, but until 2 days ago it was £1 more. So I'm ready for February now! Well, in one way anyway...Hope you're all looking forward to "My Cousin Rachel" in January as much as I am. It's sitting on my shelves ready :)
How timely! Just a few weeks ago I was checking which of du Maurier's books I own because I've been wanting to read (or in some cases re-read) some of hers. If time permits and I'd love to join in on this Readalong.
Great to have you with us Katherine! The first one is "My Cousin Rachel" in January :)
Excellent, I have that one already. Looking forward to it.
Great Shirley - I'm really looking forward to it too! :)I'm enjoying the rare luxury of having finished all my "promised" reads with time to spare - the only time this has ever happened since joining Goodreads!! It's nice to be able to just pick and choose from my groaning shelves/kindle for a while... but on the other hand I'm itching to get started on both this one and my Dickens challenge!!
See there I was thinking I couldn't be reading this with you guys because my January is packed with books already, but here's an idea genius beyond comprehension: if the girl can't read in January, why doesn't she just read it in December then?!!! Which is exactly what I will do, and then I'll just be impatiently tapping my foot until January so I can chat about it with you lot.
That is sheer genius, Jenny!! I'm so pleased you'll be "in" too. And maybe now I'll have a good excuse to start it just a couple of days early too... just so we're on the same "wavelength" so to speak! No spoilers, obviously!
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Books mentioned in this topic
Jamaica Inn (other topics)Frenchman's Creek (other topics)
Myself When Young (other topics)
Frenchman's Creek (other topics)
Frenchman's Creek (other topics)
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Jean, I guess your system works perfectly fine, if you want I can set up a poll for you though.