Reading the 20th Century discussion
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Introductions
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Hi, I’m Candace, 45. I am co-moderator if another GR’s Group, Reading Review where we read classics from the 18th and 19th century. I joined because I love history - Victorian Era my favorite. I also love reading historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery. I’m becoming a grandmother for the first time in one week (thereabouts!) and when I found out I had an urge to learn to knit and knit a baby blanket!! Lol. Done!! I also have one other project done ( I don’t pick small ones!) and I’m obsessed as much as I am with reading. I also have a guilty pleasure for sci fi shows, yay, KillJoys just started back up for the summer! My favorite place to be is in bed at night with a sno-cone and my hubby watching sci-fi and surrounded by my stacks of books. I can’t wait to read with you!
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Hi Candace! Nothing like grandmotherhood to spur the needlework genes. It happened to my daughter who became a grandmother a couple of months ago. She was busily knitting and/or crocheting baby sweaters and blankets. She's also gotten very busy with sewing - burp cloths, receiving blankets, you name it!
Susan, I’m not familiar with that show. I’ll look for it on Netflix or Amazon. Thanks all for welcome!!
Hello, All. It just occurred to me that I never introduced myself. Didn’t mean to be antisocial. I’m Renee. I teach, run a few GR Groups, live in the Northeastern part of the US, an increasingly interested in books from the early part of the 20th C. Beyond that, I’m a devoted aunt, love to walk & cycle in nature, swim where it’s not too cold. I very much appreciate and enjoy the tone of your discussions. Thank you for being such a gracious group of book lovers. :)
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A warm welcome from all at RTTC
Renee wrote: "Hello, All. It just occurred to me that I never introduced myself. Didn’t mean to be antisocial. I’m Renee. I teach, run a few GR Groups, live in the Northeastern part of the US, an increasingly in..."Hello Renee-good to see you here :)
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I found this group while looking to fill a December read and saw you were reading Vile Bodies which seemed to fit my need. Waugh is not a favorite author though I've read 7 of his. My favorite authors include Hardy, Trollope, Wodehouse, Greene, Murdoch, Cather, Wharton, Russo and Hornby.I am 65, retired attorney and director for a state labor agency, currently working part time as a self-employed labor arbitrator. I grew up in the Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park and for 40 years I have lived in Springfield IL with my wife. I have 3 sons in their 30s and a grandson and granddaughter.
On initial entry, I found this group both inviting and intimidating. I didn't think there was a Goodreads group who knew and could discuss Captain Beefheart. I listen to classical while reading but enjoy rock/pop the most. XTC, who did the cover of "Ella Guru" for the Captain Beefheart tribute album, is my favorite band, along with Del Amitri, Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub, The Go-Betweens, WILCO and, in the 60s and 70s, Clapton, Winwood, the Band, Strawbs, Fleetwood Mac, Rare Bird and many others. The last rock bio I read was P.F. Sloan's, though I also read Patty Smith's Just Kids.
Welcome from another whose favorite author is Trollope!
Welcome Brian, from a former Evanstonian transplanted to western North Carolina. Storm warning and it looks like it is snowing. Difference between snow here and Chicago is that it leaves within a day or so.
Jan C wrote: "Welcome Brian, from a former Evanstonian transplanted to western North Carolina. Storm warning and it looks like it is snowing. Difference between snow here and Chicago is that it leaves within a d..."In the past few years I've been to a wedding in Charlotte, vacationed in Asheville, reading O Lost: A Story of the Buried Life by Thomas Wolfe's boyhood home, and attended a wedding weekend in Lake Lure. Western North Carolina is certainly more scenic than central Illinois, so I congratulate and envy you.
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as a Buddy Read at the end of December.
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Susan wrote: "Welcome to the group, Brian. We are fond of music biogs here (well, some of us are) ..."I know, and was pleasantly surprised to observe that when I saw the Derek Taylor book. Hadn't planned for the 1971 read so probably won't join, but will be prepared for later reads. Also, looking forward to the light comedy books
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Brian wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Welcome Brian, from a former Evanstonian transplanted to western North Carolina. Storm warning and it looks like it is snowing. Difference between snow here and Chicago is that it lea..."It's an adjustment after a lifetime spent mostly in Evanston/Chicago. Did you go to the Wolfe house? I thought it was very nice. I think the Carl Sandburg house in Flat Rock is getting ready to re-open. It is nice here but a long drive to anywhere.
Yes, I enjoyed the tour of the Wolfe house. We stayed in a hotel next to the Wolfe house and I finished reading O Lost, the original version of Look Homeward Angel, while sitting on a hotel patio looking at the house.
Brian wrote: "I found this group while looking to fill a December read and saw you were reading Vile Bodies which seemed to fit my need. Waugh is not a favorite author though I've read 7 of his. My..."Welcome to the group Brian. Many of your authors are my favorites as well. I went to College in Palos Heights, IL and lived in Hinsdale, Alsip and Country Club Hills before moving to Michigan. Hope you enjoy being a part of the group here. Everyone is very nice in the group so hopefully you wont feel intimidated for long.
Jan C wrote: "Welcome Brian, from a former Evanstonian transplanted to western North Carolina. Storm warning and it looks like it is snowing. Difference between snow here and Chicago is that it leaves within a d..."Chicago is the coldest place I have ever lived. Ive lived in Michigan for 28 years now but the winters still seem warm after living in the Chicago area. Grew up in the Milwaukee area and that was warm compared to Chicago as well. BRRRRRR!
Lynaia, I grew up near your college and dated a girl from Palos Heights. I presume you went to Trinity Christian College. It is interesting that Chicago is colder than Milwaukee and Michigan, but that is your experience.
Lynaia wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Welcome Brian, from a former Evanstonian transplanted to western North Carolina. Storm warning and it looks like it is snowing. Difference between snow here and Chicago is that it lea..."I take it that you have never lived in Idaho. I went to college one year at ISU in Pocatello. That was very cold. Walking up/down the hill to class/dorm and the side exposed to the wind was fairly frozen.
I also understand Minnesota can get kind of frigid.
I always thought Chicago is only bad for a couple of weeks in January/February. Late January can mean 27" of snow and/or -40 degrees wind chill.
But I still miss it.
I did go to Trinity Christian. It was the wind chills that made it colder than Milwaukee and Michigan. I remember my eyeballs freezing and my nose pinching together as soon as you went outside. And you definitely didn’t want to go out with wet hair. You could literally break it off because it froze.
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https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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I have moved your post to the self-promotion thread.
Hi Guys - just joined and looking forward to meeting you all.Living in Liverpool, uk - the Red half anyway, and jobwise taught Maths for many years in the school attended by John Lennon - in fact, my ex Head of Dept went to school at the same time as John.
Anyway, currently working through books by Stephen King and thoroughly enjoying the journey. Anyone got any favourites?
Laters - Walk on!
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With Stephen King, I am not really a fan. I liked 11.22.63, but thought the ending was terrible. Sleeping Beauties sounds intriguing, but I am not really sure about trying him again. I did also read The Shining for another book group, but didn't enjoy it, so I have mixed feelings... I was really enjoying the JFK novel, until I got to the end of the book though!
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Welcome Ian. I've tried a couple of King's books - after Cujo I had trouble opening my closet for a month.
Jan C wrote: "Welcome Ian. I've tried a couple of King's books - after Cujo I had trouble opening my closet for a month."It's been years and years since I read that. I didn't see what all the ruckus was about, so I've never tried another by him.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Welcome Ian. I've tried a couple of King's books - after Cujo I had trouble opening my closet for a month."It's been years and years since I read that. I didn't see wha..."
I tried Insomnia but it just worsened my own insomnia. It had been a gift. I did like The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon - it combined baseball and the woods.
Susan wrote: "Hi Ian. As a huge, huge, huge, Beatles fan, welcome to the group. I can't imagine it was easy to go to school with John - unless your ex Head of Dept was also quite naughty?! However, welcome to th..."Susan - believe it or not but my ex-H of Dept said that he was actually a school Prefect when a student so I don't think he had much in common with John. :)
Guys - Thanks for your comments regarding S King books. Just read "Misery" recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. At the moment I actually have The Green Mile, Cell, Revival and The Shawshank Redemption sitting on my bookshelves just waiting for my attention. Think out of those 4 books my next read will be...
Hi, I I spend my time in Sweden and France, My place pf birth was the US. I read constantly. If I am not reading I am most likely walking my dog, Oscar, the curly coated retriever with me on my avatar. I have poor vision so I do audiobooks.I have two questions. In the thread for what we are currently reading or have just finished should we only mention those books related to the 20th century? The idea is to discuss 20th century books--do you mean the book should deal with this time period or that they must be published in this time period? I just though I would ask. I do not want to make an error right off the bat.
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You are more than welcome to mention any book you care to. Although our main reads are usually books that are either published during the 20th Century, or about the 20th Century, we are not overly strict about this at all! Also we have ranged around many different time frames in terms of buddy reads, or just discussing our favourite authors. I can assure you that there are no errors you can make - hopefully, just some good, bookish company :)
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And, to reiterate what Susan has said, please feel free to discuss any books that you feel like discussing.
Our group reads and moderator reads are usually 20th century however, that said, we often roam about into other eras when it comes to what we are currently reading and our buddy reads.
I look forward to discovering more about your literary and bookish passions.
Oscar is gorgeous
Thank you, Susan and Nigeby for your warm welcomes. I had been wondering so I thought I should just ask!
I have read lots of 20th century authors, but I like them a lot so I want to read more. Biographies that tell about the past are my favorites. I also like learning about different cultures, having lived in several countries myself.
It puts a smile on my face that you think Oscar is gorgeous. I think that way too, but I am his owner.
I live in Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago. Like Chrissie I read alot, many different genres. I work part time at our local library in the Tech services Dept. I have the amazing job of cataloging fiction and ordering all materials. I have raised seven children who are now out on their own, leaving me more time to read. I know some members in this group and look forward to meeting more.
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Seven children! They must have kept you busy. I expect you're revelling in the relative peace and tranquility.
Chrissie wrote: "It puts a smile on my face that you think Oscar is gorgeous. I think that way too, but I am his owner."
I'm a dog owner too, and a dog lover. Well, an animal lover really, but dogs are so wonderful - so much character, loyalty and intelligence. I can tell from your photos that Oscar is lovely chap.
Nigeyb, he is now ten, If you want to see him as a teeny puppy and as he was growing, running on the beach in France or in the snow and woods in Sweden'I have several photos of him here at GR.
Hi All,Following my two GR friends Chrissie and Diane , I’ve just joined . It looks like I have some other friends here as well. I’m a retired librarian and spent my career as a corporate librarian, but my heart belongs to the public library ! I read as much as I can, on average three books per week. I do tend to read a lot of new releases , but many of those take place in the 20th century as I read a good bit of historical fiction. I live in upstate NY with my husband . I have three grown stepchildren and five grandchildren, all of whom live close by except one. Looking forward to interacting with my old and hopefully some new friends.
Reading the 20th Century
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2000 miles away? Not hardly.