25 - A book that was published anonymously

[Christina]

^ that's how I'm feeling about the oxymoron one...

[Sheri]

For 90s I’m reading the Toni Morrison one, but absolutely nothing appeals that I haven’t read already for this one. Either that or going for a pseudonym that legit hides identity. Maybe Chuck Tingle XD I have been saying I should try one just to see how ridiculous it is.

I know it’s not the right thread but I read Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse for the oxymoron prompt, liked it a lot

[Nadine in NY]

LOL Chuck Tingle - maybe that's the way to go!!!

I am tentatively planning to read The Name of This Book Is Secret. He's no longer anonymous, but he was at the time, AND the whole "anonymity" thing seems like it was a key plot point in the series. And since it's a kid's book, it'll be quick. And I think we own a copy (that my daughter never read).

[Lisa]

I read Lucy in the Sky. It was okay.

[Britany]

Christina wrote: "^ that's how I'm feeling about the oxymoron one..."

I'm like that for BOTH! Please send help...

[LeahS]

I read Father by Elizabeth von Arnim. She was an Australian by birth called Mary Annette Beauchamp (and a cousin of Katherine Mansfield). The von Arnim comes from her first husband, but after her first book, Elizabeth and Her German Garden, all her books were published under the name 'Elizabeth' or 'author of Elizabeth and her German Garden'. By the time this book was published in 1931, she had become Lady Russell.

I borrowed this from a friend and was so pleased to see that it was by an anonymous author! The book is a wry look at the difficulties facing dependent single women in the period between the wars - and with some lovely descriptions of gardens, obviously something the author loved.

[Frogli]

If nothing else, I am at least making a dent in my physical tbr this year, for this one I think I am going the myth/folktale route and finally reading The Mabinogion (or possibly Gilgamesh which is also sitting on the same shelf)

[Teri]

Leah wrote: "I read Father by Elizabeth von Arnim. She was an Australian by birth called Mary Annette Beauchamp (and a cousin of Katherine Mansfield). The von Arnim comes from her first husband, but after her first book, Elizabeth and Her German Garden, all her books were published under the name 'Elizabeth' or 'author of Elizabeth and her German Garden'. By the time this book was published in 1931, she had become Lady Russell."

One of my favorite books of the past few years is her The Enchanted April. So since Elizabeth and her German Garden was first published anonymously, and then later under her pseudonym Elizabeth von Arnim, I'm excited to read it.

I was originally going to read Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics but I'm sick of politics.

[Nadine in NY]

Leah wrote: "I read Father by Elizabeth von Arnim. She was an Australian by birth called Mary Annette Beauchamp (and a cousin of Katherine Mansfield). The von Arnim comes from her ..."

Teri wrote: "One of my favorite books of the past few years is her The Enchanted April. So since Elizabeth and her German Garden was first published anonymously, and then later under her pseudonym Elizabeth von Arnim, I'm excited to read it...."


wow that book looks wonderful!! I LOVE reading gardening books!!! Maybe THIS can be my anonymous book. My library even has a copy.

[Heather L]

Read Heat Wave by Richard Castle for this one, which has been in Mount TBR for at least a decade. Oops. Started out slow but I stuck with it, seeing as it was a challenge book and I had no other options for this one, and it did pick up. I think I liked it better now than I would have when Castle was still on TV.

[Sherri]

I read Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir by Duchess Goldblatt. 5 stars. This was a slow burn for me. It took me awhile to figure out what was going on. At page 70 I chuckled & realized I had caught on & was enjoying the book.

[Trish]

Amber wrote: "I finally going to read Beowulf for this!"

That was my choice, too, specificially Beowulf: A New Translation . Yes, I'd read the Heaney translation of it before , but having finished this one, once you get used to the the modern/poetic disconnect, I'd say it's more accessible. Four stars from me.

[Amanda]

Would pedals in the wind by VC Andrew’s work…? I heard at one point (but I was way younger and it’s been a while) that it was a pen name and no one knew exactly who she was?

[Heather L]

Amanda wrote: "Would pedals in the wind by VC Andrew’s work…? I heard at one point (but I was way younger and it’s been a while) that it was a pen name and no one knew exactly who she was?"

V. C. Andrews did not publish anonymously. The author’s given name was Cleo Virginia Andrews, but went by Virginia. After her death in 1986, her family hired a ghost writer to flesh out drafts of books she had never finished, but it wasn’t exactly a secret.

[Dana]

For this one I have 2 options:
Either Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen or The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket.

[Sheri]

Nadine, I'm reading Elizabeth and Her German Garden, I'm finding it a good book for introverts haha. Much of the book is expressing disdain for having to entertain company rather than being able to read in her garden alone. A whole description of what bliss it was to live in her house without her husband and children for a whole month, just reading in the garden and avoiding the workers restoring the house. It's not too long either!

[Ashley Marie]

If anyone's into manga (or looking to try it) and hasn't read Death Note, Tsugumi Ohba is a pen name and their real identity is a "closely guarded secret", per Wikipedia.

[Nadine in NY]

Sheri wrote: "Nadine, I'm reading Elizabeth and Her German Garden, I'm finding it a good book for introverts haha. Much of the book is expressing disdain for having to entertain company rather tha..."



That sounds perfect!! I definitely need to read this

[Meagan]

I read Out of the Everywhere and Other Extraordinary Visions by James Tiptree Jr. (pseudonym for Alice Sheldon). It's a collection of sci-fi short stories. Alice Sheldon wrote under the pen name James Tiptree Jr for over a decade in the 60's-70's. She had everyone convinced she was man. She never made public appearances or did face to face interviews. When people began to suspect she was a woman, other prominent male sci-fi writers of the time came to her defense pointing out how quintessentially male Tiptree's writing was that there was no way Tiptree could be a woman. She was outed as woman in the late 70's and her career was never the same. She is a master of the short story form and I am obsessed with her!

[Pua]

Would The Ex Hex qualify? The author, Rachel Hawkins, is writing under a pseudonym, but nothing else really interests me.

[Nadine in NY]

Pua wrote: "Would The Ex Hex qualify? The author, Rachel Hawkins, is writing under a pseudonym, but nothing else really interests me."


But Rachel Hawkins is her real name. (And it looks like it's not a secret that Erin Sterling is a pseudonym she uses.) So she's not anonymous.

[Tamara]

I read "Letting Ana Go"

[Dana]

Dana wrote: "For this one I have 2 options:
Either Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen or The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket."

I finished The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket.

[Anshita]

I'm reading The Arabian Nights for this prompt. I also thought about reading The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea but found the audiobook for the former.

[Britany]

Finished!
The Whisper Man by Alex North
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Cassie]

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Completed: September 14, 2021

[anna lipinska]

Theresa wrote: "This one is tough. I think 'anonymous' means where you truly have no idea who wrote the book, including who is behind the pseudonym. If after it was published, the identity is revealed and assigned..."

I agree, maybe Elena Ferrante could fit here, as no one knows who is behind this pseudo.