2023 Buddy read suggestions.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

It's been a few years since I read Miss Buncle's Book, so I'd be happy with that. The Susan Scarlett books I own are Murder While You Work and poppies for England. I'd happily do them another month.

[Elizabeth]

Sounds great on Miss Buncle’s Book! I enjoyed both of those Susan Scarlett’s.

[Bronwyn]

I reread Miss Buncle in 2021 and finally read the sequels. The first one is the best, but I’ve loved all the D. E. Stevenson I’ve read so far. :)

I’ll have to check out Susan Scarlett. I haven’t read any of her.

[Jenn]

Poppies for England is the first Susan Scarlett book that I ever saw recommended - although I don't now remember where that was! - so I'd be keen on reading that one of these months.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Thanks Jenn, I'll add Poppies for England to the schedule.

[Susan in NC]

Thanks, Tania! FYI, Poppies for England is available on Scribd, and currently $2.99 as an ebook on Amazon in the US, if that helps anyone (first thing I check when a new title is mentioned, can I get it through my public library, my Scribd subscription, or Kindle, and how much does it cost!) Thanks to Tania, now I know about the Internet Archive, as well.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Thank you Susan. This one should be fun.

[Antoinette]

I just read that Susan Scarlett is the pen name for Noel Streatfeild. Not sure if everyone knew this already. I have never read any of her books, under either name, but look forward to doing so. Backlist podcast had a recent one on her book Ballet Shoes- written as Noel Streatfeild.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I've read some of her novels for adults as Noel Streatfeild, but still haven't read Ballet Shoes, which I must, my library does have the audiobook. I own Saplings, but haven't read it yet. The only one I've read in her Susan Scarlett guise is Clothes-Pegs, which was really enjoyable.

[Jenn]

Great, thank you! I look forward to it. I just read Clothes-Pegs and it was my first Susan Scarlett, although I've read Streatfeild in other forms. Not a ton - she was so prolific! - but I've liked them all and doing so always reminds me that I'd like to read more of her.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Tania wrote: "Thanks Susan. occasionally it is free on Kindle too. I'll keep an eye open."

This week, there is a free Furrowed Middlebrow title on offer, sadly not A Chelsea Concerto, but The Dancing Bear, by the same author, her follow up memoir of life in Berlin immediatly after the end of WW2.

[Susan in NC]

Thank you!

[Antoinette]

Thanks, Tania. I picked up The Dancing Bear. Already own A Chelsea Concerto.

[Megan]

Thank you for sharing this!!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

In June we only have Poppies for England scheduled to read. I love these FM titles, but more often than not, there is very little there to discuss, and as we all seemed to want to read more Barbara Pym I thought I would add Jane and Prudence to the list.

Does anyone have any ideas for July? Message 33 has a list of books that had some interest, but open to more suggestions

One thought I had if there is interest, for summer/autumn is One Year's Time by Angela Milne (A.A. Milne's niece), which comes out in the UK in July, but I don't know about US release. I believe the Kindle release is July.

[Pamela]

I’d love to read Jane and Prudence, June would be fine.

I think I fed my choices into the post in Message 33, of those I’d love it if we could fit in The Echoing Grove later this year.

Thanks for all your hard work on this Tania

[Marilyn]

I suggest The Tortoise and the Hare by Elizabeth Jenkins.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Marilyn wrote: "I suggest The Tortoise and the Hare by Elizabeth Jenkins."

That is a great suggestion. So much to discuss in thst book.

I have added the two to the schedule.

[Bronwyn]

I have both those, but the Jenkins would be a bit more convenient. Either way, I’ll try and participate. :)

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Bronwyn wrote: "I have both those, but the Jenkins would be a bit more convenient. Either way, I’ll try and participate. :)"

That's great. I loved that one and think there is plenty to discuss in it. It's been a long time since I read it.

[Antoinette]

I have the Jenkins one as well, but I am away most of August, so not sure I’ll get to it till I get home. But I’m looking forward to reading it.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Would it be better to swop them round? The threads stay open anyway, so you can discuss when you're ready, but no reasonn we can't read the Jenkins one in July if that suits you better.

[Antoinette]

That would be great, Tania. Thank you.

[Susan in NC]

Love the idea of reading more Pym, not familiar with the other authors, or availability of books, I’ll participate if I can! I’ll look back at message 33 to refresh memory on other titles/authors.

One suggestion, unless it’s too soon, I’d love to readThe Dancing Bear by Frances Faviell, since Chelsea Concerto was so good. I understand if it’s too soon to read another by the same author - but she seemed such a kind, compassionate person, and wondered in ‘Chelsea’ about German civilians undergoing bombing also, and this book deals with her time in Berlin postwar with her civil servant husband.

*edit - sorry, I see looking back through thread, Tania told us about this title earlier!

[Susan in NC]

Quick look for “Tortoise”, which sounds excellent, but my library and Scribd only bring up children’s book, or Aesop’s fables. Cheapest used on Amazon is $15, and now that Book Depository is closed, I don’t know about availability here in U.S. I’m in a mystery group with lots of British and European, Australian and New Zealanders, availability across all our countries is often an issue.

Definitely in for Pym, though! Have a used copy of Jane and Prudence

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Antoinette wrote: "That would be great, Tania. Thank you."

That's done. 😊

Susan in NC wrote: "Love the idea of reading more Pym, not familiar with the other authors, or availability of books, I’ll participate if I can! I’ll look back at message 33 to refresh memory on other titles/authors.
..."

I'd happily re-read that one, How about August or September?

Susan in NC wrote: "Quick look for “Tortoise”, which sounds excellent, but my library and Scribd only bring up children’s book, or Aesop’s fables. Cheapest used on Amazon is $15, and now that Book Depository is closed..."

I have found and online copy here https://archive.org/details/tortoiseh.... Not ideal, but sometime better than nothing. Blackwells might be worth a look, the offer free shipping to the US, but have limited stock. I know US customers use it for new books that are out here first or when they prefer the UK edition.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Susan, looking at the Family Roundabout thread, it seems maybe that's a tricky one to get hold of. Would you like me to put The Dancing Bear on the schedule for this month? It's easier to get hold of, and maybe better when A Chelsea Concerto is fresh in peoples mind. I could fit it in a bit later in the month.

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "Susan, looking at the Family Roundabout thread, it seems maybe that's a tricky one to get hold of. Would you like me to put The Dancing Bear on the schedule for this month? It's eas..."

That would be great, thank you, I have The Dancing Bear, thanks to you! Yes, I thought it would be an interesting juxtaposition, having recently read the Blitz experience, to see postwar Berlin through the author’s eyes.

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "Antoinette wrote: "That would be great, Tania. Thank you."

That's done. 😊

Susan in NC wrote: "Love the idea of reading more Pym, not familiar with the other authors, or availability of books, I’l..."
Thanks very much, Tania, for all your work on this.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Ok. I'll add it for this month.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

We were chatting about Margery Sharp in her author thread and several people had un-read copies of Cluny Brown, so I thought that might make a good 'light' read for August if people are up for that?

Also I'm looking for suggestions for later in the year.

[Jackie]

I would love to read Cluny Brown and I see I can get it at my library. perfect!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Great news. I'll put that one in the schedule.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Would anyone be up for A Touch of Mistletoe by Barbara Comyns?

[Diana]

Lots of good suggestions! I‘m currently reading „O The Brave Music„ by Dorothy Evelyn Smith. After Simon’s praise of it, I took the novel from my shelf and am 100 pages in. I can recommend it so far.

[Diana]

I‘ve been fascinated by the 3 Barbara Comyns‘ novels I‘ve read so far, Tania. I don’t know this one but would certainly be up for it.

[Susan in NC]

I’ll be up for Cluny Brown, my library has it. The Comyns, I don’t know, availability might be a problem for me.

[Marilyn]

School for Love by Olivia Manning. I read the Balkan Trilogy and Levant trilogy a couple of years ago. Now that I've had a break I would like to read another of her books.

[Antoinette]

I’m away most of August, but I am definitely up for reading Cluny Brown. I’ll just have to tuck it into my suitcase!

[Pamela]

I’ve recently been made aware of Bernice Rubens, specifically for her Booker Prize winner The Elected Member, but she seems to have written quite a few. Would anyone be interested in reading one of hers later in the year - they sound a bit darker than our usual fare but quite interesting?

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I certainly would. A good one for the darker nights.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Marilyn wrote: "School for Love by Olivia Manning. I read the Balkan Trilogy and Levant trilogy a couple of years ago. Now that I've had a break I would like to read another of her bo..."

My library has this one too. I'll have a look at timings later.

[Lisa]

Ladies (random question), does it seem like the Goodreads Search Option has become "weird" in the last week or so? the obvious choice doesn't appear & stuff that no analytics would ever align to me is on the top. I'm having to figure out how to search for the book I actually want. And I mean normal common bestselling titles. this is sad because I do use Goodreads for research on authors, topics, books etc.

Curious if others have noticed as well.

[Antoinette]

Yes, I have noticed that as well, Lisa.

[Lisa]

Good! (I'm not crazy) ... I wonder what can be done? or who is notified? or is this the new normal?

[Lisa]

I agree with the folks who mentioned Olivia Manning! I'd love to reread her. Also, I read an Elizabeth Taylor I really enjoyed and would be interested in reading another (View of the Harbor). Finally, I've never read, but always intended to, Elizabeth Bowen.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Great. How about School for Love by Olivia Manning for September, and a Bernice Rubens (potentially The Elected Member) for October?

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I have added these books to the schedule, up to November. How about All Done by Kindness by Doris Langley Moore for a lighter read in October, unless anyone has another suggestion.

Any Ideas for a December read? Possibly a Christmas themed mystery for a lighter one?

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "I have added these books to the schedule, up to November. How about All Done by Kindness by Doris Langley Moore for a lighter read in October, unless anyone has anot..."

In for All Done by Kindness, I’ve never read Moore but had good luck with these reissues, can usually get them through Scribd or my library as ebooks. Not sure about the Manning and Rubens - availability is often a problem, sorry, and trying not to acquire too many physical books as I’ve already got plenty! I remember reading Susan Hill’s fascinating project about spending a year reading from her own personal library at home, Howards End Is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home , often toyed with doing that, hmmmm…perhaps a 2024 goal? ;)

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "I have added these books to the schedule, up to November. How about All Done by Kindness by Doris Langley Moore for a lighter read in October, unless anyone has anot..."

How about Hercule Poirot's Christmas ? Or by Georgette Heyer? Alternatively rechristened as A Christmas Party ? Disclaimer: being a mystery buff I have much-thumbed and loved copies of both! Should be fairly available for most locations. I have a set of holiday rereads I enjoy every year, another is a beautifully illustrated edition of A Christmas Carol , but that might be outside the interests of the group, Dickens being a man. In which case, not a mystery, but I love Christmas at High Rising by Angela Thirkell. More of a short story collection, only first two are really holiday themed, but fun, and I figure the holidays are either very busy or very dull (or both) for many of us, so who can’t use a chuckle and a short story collection to dip in and out of, time permitting?

Sorry for blathering on, but I’ve been in this type of suggestion thread for several groups over the years and gotten a feel for what people want/have time for at what can be a stressed time of year - my personal go-to is why not have a chuckle?