Vero’s 2018 Quest

[Veronique]

Here I am once more. Let’s see if I can do a little better... This time, I’m going for a single decade - the 1940s :0)

1940: Mariana by Monica Dickens
1941: Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh
1942: Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton
1943: The Two Mrs. Abbotts by D.E. Stevenson (read 10/02 - - 4*)
1944: Absent In The Spring (read 04/07 - review - 5*)
1945: The Moomins and the Great Flood by Tove Jansson (read 05/01 - review - 4*)
1946: Miss Ranskill Comes Home by Barbara Euphan Todd
1947: In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes
1948: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (22/02 - review - 4*)
1949: The Far Cry by Emma Smith

[Kathleen]

Love this list. Loved In a Lonely Place. Can't wait to hear what you think of Friday's Child--it's the one Georgette Heyer I own and I never see it mentioned. Hope it's good!

[Veronique]

Thanks Kathleen. In a Lonely Place has been on my shelf for ages. As for Heyer’s, I was looking for a book in that year and since I’ve read a few of hers, this one sounded good :0)

[Zoe]

I've only read The Lottery from this list. It looks great. Good Luck!

[Veronique]

Thanks Zoe :O) I’ve read a couple of Jackson’s novels and they were ‘arresting’.

[Carolien]

Some of my favourite authors - Heyer, Stevenson and Marsh.

Miss Ranskill Comes Home looks very interesting. Never heard of it. Good luck with your list!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

This year’s challenge has proved to be a gold mine of new authors and books. The only thing on your list that I’m familiar with is Jackson’s The Lottery, which I think is fantastic. Good luck.

[Veronique]

Thanks Carolien and Bob. Really looking forward to it all. Might start with Heyer’s.

[Anetq]

Oooh will steal your Ngaio Marsh for my 1940s :)

[Veronique]

Steal away :0) Hope you like it

[Anetq]

Veronique wrote: "Steal away :0) Hope you like it"
I had forgotten about her, but she'll double for my reading the world challenge :) I have now made the longest list for this Quest for Women Authors, but I had nothing for the 1940s https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Veronique]

Just had a look at your list! Impressive!

[Veronique]

Since it was available at the library, I started my challenge with The Moomins and the Great Flood by Tove Jansson. That was rather a pleasant surprise :O)
(review - 4*)

[Leni]

Stealing Ngaio Marsh for future challenges! That series spans at least three decades!

[Veronique]

:0) Rather looking forward to finally read one of her books. I’ve known of her for a while since I went into research mode on the Golden Age of Crime, and I watched quite a few of the Inspector Alleyn tv series with the excellent Patrick Malahide... Which reminds me I’ve also got The Golden Age of Murder to read but I’m sure it will make me add too many titles to my already bursting TBR :0)

[Veronique]

The Two Mrs. Abbotts (read 10/02 - Review - 4*)

Nothing much happens in this warm-hearted comedy and yet it is a page turner. Published in 1943, the war is of course ever present but in a toned down way.

[Christine]

Bob wrote: "This year’s challenge has proved to be a gold mine of new authors and books. "

I agree, Bob! There are so many authors and books on these lists that are wholly new to me.

Thanks for sharing, Veronique!

[Veronique]

The Lottery (22/02 - review - 4*)

Jackson might not be to everyone’s taste but so far I have liked her style. There are many ways of interpreting this short story but I think my favourite is about the danger of not questioning things or using your brain.

[Erin]

Veronique wrote: "The Lottery (22/02 - review - 4*)

Jackson might not be to everyone’s taste but so far I have liked her style. There are many ways of interpreting this short story but I think my fav..."

I like your summary! I will be sure to read it.

[Veronique]

Thanks :0) It is very short so easy to fit in if you want.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I thought The Lottery was great. You kind of know where she is taking you, but it is still a shock when you get there.

[Veronique]

Indeed! I have a couple of her novels waiting on my shelf as well as Let Me Tell You, which apart from short stories also contains essays, lectures, and letters. Quite looking forward to gathering more about her that way.

I’m usually rubbish with short stories. For some reason, I find them harder than novels. Anyway, I’m trying to rectify this by trying on a new routine of reading one every/most days. So far so good :O)

[Kathleen]

You're making quick work of this challenge!

I am a fan of Jackson too, and this was my first, when I was at a young, impressionable age, and never forgot the shock. Excellent review--love how you put the emphasis on questioning. Yes!

[Veronique]

Thanks :0) They were pretty short so far...

[Candi]

Veronique, you have a really nice mix of books here with some authors I am familiar with and others I am not. I hope to get to Mariana one day soon, and I love Georgette Heyer. It might be time I read another one of her books - always so entertaining :)

[Veronique]

Thanks Candi :O)

[siriusedward]

I love Heyer too.
Enid Blyton makes one nostalgic.Maybe I snould reread one the books soon.

[Veronique]

It’s been a lifetime since I’ve read a Blyton *lol* Should be interesting to see how it ‘compares’.

Pondering which title to go for next, since I’ve again over-planned for the month... :O)

[Veronique]

Look at this, July, and I’ve kind of been side-tracked. Well, I could switch one book and use Absent In The Spring instead of Friday’s Child for 1944, although I am totally going to read Heyer’s book - some day, soon... :O)

I really didn’t know what to expect of this Mary Westmacott (Agatha Christie pen name for non crime books) and oh my, I devoured it. Especially weird since the main character is not likeable, but what a masterfully written novel!

review

[Kathleen]

It does sound like a wonderful book--loved your review!

[Marilyn]

I didn't know Agatha Christie wrote under a pseudonym. Learned something!

[Veronique]

Thanks Kathleen :0)

I didn’t know either, Marilyn, until relatively recently that she had penned those 6 Westmacott novels, as well as her autobiography (read it earlier this year - brilliant) and her account living/working on an archeological dig with her husband (Come, Tell Me How You Live: Memories from archaeological expeditions in the mysterious Middle East). She truly fascinates me.

[Leni]

I had no idea about the pseudonym either! I'll have to have a look at those.