October 2022

[Anastasia Kinderman, The Only]

Hello, everyone! It's time for a new round of nominations. Please nominate up to two books, written by women, that have not been read by the group for the past three years. They must be at least 50 years old. Also, please let me know if you're able to lead the discussion. Nominations will close August 15th.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's picks!

[Abigail]

I’d like to nominate Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner,

Lolly is a mousy spinster with an astonishing story arc that you could call Halloween-themed. She has a hilariously awful family and how she escapes their sphere you will never imagine! This story is wicked and sly.

I could lead.

[Jan]

Abigail wrote: "I’d like to nominate Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner,

Lolly is a mousy spinster with an astonishing story arc that you could call Halloween-themed. She has a hilariously aw..."

Wicked is good, especially for October

[Abigail]

It seemed appropriate!

[☯Emily , The First]

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Can lead.

[CindySR]

Anna and Her Daughters
by D.E. Stevenson

[[deleted user]]

☯Emily wrote: "I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Can lead."

I second I Capture the Castle.

[Carol]

I nominate Frost in May by Antonia White, the first book Virago chose to publish when it launched its Virago Modern Classics series in 1978. I can lead.

First published in 1933, Frost in May is based on Antonia White’s own pre-first world war girlhood experiences at a convent school in Roehampton, and its enthralling story has become part of our history of women’s lives and women’s writing. Something happened to her at that school, by all the biographical accounts, which marked her for life – obsessed her and damaged her. The experience prevented her from writing for years, but in the end it also gave her this small masterpiece of a novel, exquisitely poised between a condemnation of the school and a love letter to it….

From Tessa Hadley’s review in the Guardian, linked here. https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

[Charlene]

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier. I can lead.

[Anastasia Kinderman, The Only]

Alright, everyone! Thank you for your nominations. Our options are:
1 Lolly Willowes - Sylvia Warner
2 I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith
3 Anna and her Daughters - DE Stevenson
4 Frost in May - Antonia White
5 Jamaica Inn - Daphne du Maurier

Those eligible to vote are:
Emily
Ginny
Carol She’s So Novel
Anastasia Kinderman
Francis
Charlene
Carolien
Marilyn
Carol
Kathleen
Suzann
Nidhi
Eileen
Lisa - South Africa
Florence
Quinn Smells Books
Lauren
Nanette
Janice
Abigail
Lusy
Lisa Bianca
Elizabeth
CindySR
Indeneri
Jan Z
Library girl reading
Lotte
Kelly
Dianne
Diana
Lori

Please either post or message me your vote by August 25th. Thank you!

[Nidhi]

I vote for I Capture the Castle.

[☯Emily , The First]

I Capture the Castle.

[Jan]

Lolly Willowes - Sylvia Warner

[Dianne]

I vote for Lolly Willowes

[Kathleen]

A difficult decision, but I'll vote for Lolly Willowes.

[Abigail]

Lolly Willowes for me too.

[CindySR]

I vote for I Capture the Castle

Altho there are several here I would like to choose!

[Carol]

I vote for Frost in May.

[Lori]

I vote for Jamaica Inn

[Carolien]

I'm torn, but I'll go with Lolly Willowes.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I vote for Jamaica Inn

[Marilyn]

I vote for Frost in May.

[Anastasia Kinderman, The Only]

Lolly Willowes is the winner!

[Abigail]

Okay, I’ll start working on organizing myself to lead. This is a book with a major turn in the plot, so I’ll need to think about how best to set up the threads.

[Abigail]

When you’re ready, could I get two threads for this? Lolly Willowes is definitely a book that shouldn’t be spoiled for readers by someone accidentally giving away what happens—the beginning gives NO hints about the turn the story is going to take, and I want readers to be blindsided.

[Charlene]

Abigail wrote: "When you’re ready, could I get two threads for this? Lolly Willowes is definitely a book that shouldn’t be spoiled for readers by someone accidentally giving away what happens—the beginning gives N..."

Done

[Abigail]

Thanks, Charlene! I’ll start posting up my contextual info.