What are you reading 2023.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

A thread to chat about any interesting books you are reading.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

As well as our group reads, I'm planning on picking up The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection, which is the next book in the No1 Ladies detective series, a series that I enjoy immensely. I have to return it to the library soon.

I shall also be finishing off My Life and I: Confessions of an Unliberated Housewife, 1966-1980 by Betty Bendell this is a collection of colomns written for various magazines, mostly Good Housekeeping. It's actually much funnier than I had thought it would be, and surprisingly relevant to today.

[Bronwyn]

I’m starting the year with A Month in the Country. I had a killer sinus headache the other day or I probably would’ve tried to read it all before the end of the year.

After that I’m not sure - I’m very much a mood reader. My plan is to only read what I own, which shouldn’t be hard, but then I look at the library or suggestions here or on Instagram…

I’d like to get through some of my NYRB Classics, as well as Persephones, British Library Women Writers, and the McNally Editions I bought with Christmas money. Maybe get back to the Cazalet chronicles and read the last few Evelyn Waugh’s I haven’t yet. We’ll see!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Ooh, I loved A Month in the Country, a firm favourite. I am also hoping to make a bigger dent in the books I own, but I say that every year. 😀 I have a huge stack of unread Persephone books and will definitely get that down before I buy any more, I'll be reading The Happy Tree this month.

I also have a loose plan to read the Sword of Honour trilogy by Evelyn Waugh which I have never read; and I'd like to finally get to The Go-Between.

[Bronwyn]

Sword of Honor are the three I haven’t read! :) And The Go-Between is one of my NYRBs to read. I’ve been meaning to read it the last couple Augusts, so maybe this year will be the year. :)

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Well, good luck to us both 😀. I'll let you know how I get on.

[Megan]

I’ve got several Persephones (The Village, House-Bound, Etty Hillesum), British Library Women Writers (O the Brave Music), Furrowed Middlebrow (A Footman for the Peacock, A Chelsea Concerto), NYRB (Towers of Trebizond), and Greyladies (Mrs Frensham Describes a Circle) I’m hoping to read. I’ll be looking for buddy readers later this year if any of these are of interest!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

A Chelsea Concerto had quite a lot of interest in it on the Suggestions thread, so we could look at scheduling that in in the spring if you'd like?

Do you subscribe to The Scribbler? (The Greyladies literary magazine). I've wondered about this for myself, but I already have a pile of unread Slightly Foxed journals, I'd love to hear from someone who has read it.

[Bronwyn]

Yes, good luck to you too! :)

I have A Chelsea Concerto (and a few other FM) on kindle, so could be persuaded to join if there was a buddy read. I’m not great with organized reads, but I can try. :) I hope to read Begin Again before that buddy read happens too.

[Megan]

Tania wrote: "Do you subscribe to The Scribbler? (The Greyladies literary magazine). I've wondered about this for myself, but I already have a pile of unread Slightly Foxed journals, I'd love to hear from someone who has read it."

I don't, but perhaps I should…!

And I'd definitely be interested in A Chelsea Concerto buddy read this spring :)

[Susan in NC]

Along with my group reads, I’m planning this year on continuing my personal nonfiction reading challenge to read one nonfiction book a month. I’ve got several intriguing science and history books on Kindle and Audible, and keep learning of new books I want to try! So many books…

Speaking of such, A Chelsea Concerto sounds very interesting, as does A Month in the Country - already on the tottering TBR pile!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I have finished reading The Skylarks’ War by Hilary McKay which is a childrens book but I found plenty to enjoy as an adult.

I'm now reading the hugely entertaing The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman.

[Bronwyn]

I’ve just finished Which Way? by Theodora Benson. I’m a sucker for these kinds of stories and it was a pretty good one. Very much a women’s between the wars novel, but with that extra something. It was really enjoyable.

Next I have My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley and The Oppermanns by Lion Feuchtwanger from the library. Love when multiple holds come in at once… lol. I think I’m going to start with the Riley as it’s half the length of The Oppermanns.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I loved Which Way?, I found the premise really intriguing.

I'll be very interested to hear what you make of The Oppermanns, I have another Persephone title that I plan on reading next week, The Happy Tree.

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "I have finished reading The Skylarks’ War by Hilary McKay which is a childrens book but I found plenty to enjoy as an adult.

I'm now reading the hugely entertaing [..."

Oh, I love the Thursday Morning Club books! I wanted my sister to read them, but her library didn’t have book 1, so I ordered the paperback of book 1, and had it delivered to her! Want to share the love…;)

[Susan in NC]

I’m reading the third of Barbara Tuchman’s excellent World War One trilogy, The Zimmermann Telegram, for my January entry in my personal nonfiction challenge. Also, An Oxford Tragedy by J.C. Masterman, an enjoyable Golden Age mystery. I finished, and very much enjoyed, “Crampton Hodnet” and “Near Neighbours” - I look forward to more Pym and Furrowed Middlebrow authors, a very nice antidote to the nonfiction and murder mystery genres.

[Bronwyn]

Oh I forgot The Oppermanns was a Persephone! The edition I’m going to read is McNally Editions. It’s gotten quite a bit of buzz! :)

[Sandybeth]

I loved The Skylarks’ War and The Swallows' Flight they both had me sobbing at the end.
I had The Fortnight in September for Christmas along with a beautiful 1898 copy of The Professor but I am saving them both for a special occasion. I am currently reading War and Peace and am finishing off Jane Eyre I had a wonderful few days in Yorkshire in November and had a pilgrimage to Haworth Parsonage Museum.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Thanks Sandybeth, I'll have to see if I can get The Swallows' Flight.

The Hopkins Manuscript is one of my all-time favourites, hope you love it; and so is Jane Eyre. I'd love to go to Haworth, but still haven't maden it there. One day...

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I've finished a. Collection of short stories by Stella Gibbons, Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm. Enjoyable for the most part, but with one or two not so good ones. Keen to get to more of her books now.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I have started The Voluble Topsy: A Young Lady's Chatter About Love, Politics and War, 1928-1947 by A P Herbert. Topsy is a girl about town in the 20's, a bit of a bright young thing. This book has been described as like Nancy Mitford wrote Bridget Jones's Diary, and appealing to fans of the Provincial Lady. Sounds right up my street.

[Bronwyn]

Oh this is the thread I was trying to find, lol. Oh well.

I’m currently reading Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting (reading in the school pick-up line) and have Our Spoons Came From Woolworths (at home book). Then I can start Begin Again. :)

[Bronwyn]

I just finished Our Spoons Came From Woolworths and loved it. It was so deceptively charming and upbeat for the subject matter. I loved the narrator, Sophia. It was so good.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Bronwyn wrote: "I just finished Our Spoons Came From Woolworths and loved it. It was so deceptively charming and upbeat for the subject matter. I loved the narrator, Sophia. It was so good."

I loved that one too. She's a really interesting writer that I would like to read more of: to date I have read this one, The Skin Chairs and Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead, which is my favourite by her so far, but is really quite bizarre and somewhat macabre. Maybe not to everyones taste.

[Bronwyn]

My library has Who Was Changed… and I also have The Juniper Tree, so I hope to get to more of her soon. :)

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Great stuff! I'd love to hear what you think of 'Who was Changed...' When you get to it.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I have a bit of a backlog of books needing to be read at the mo. Ii am reading Greek Myths: Gods and Goddesses which is very good so far, Victorian and Edwardian tellings of the Greek myths. Then I'll be reading Mr Ma and Son and I've starte The Inimitable Jeeves. Fortunately, I have next week off so time to get on with them. I have been told off today because I still have several days to take off before March, so I will have more reading time in March, but it has been busy in work because everyone has to get holidays in before April, so I'm either really busy or on holiday😄 I'm used to just getting the standard 28 days and now I get more and am exoected to take them. Already booking in weeks for next year. It's a hard life. 😄 (I do have a brother in Japan who I always expect to turn up, but he is a world class procrastinator; we've been expecting him for 2 years now. Hopefully this year).

I'm also going to be starting Harriet

[Susan in NC]

I hope your brother makes it home for a visit! Enjoy your days off, my dear! Treat yourself to something lovely, like lying about in your jammies all morning, sipping coffee or tea, and reading! Sounds like you’ve got some lovely titles there, already added to my TBR list.

I’m currently reading a mystery by one of my favorite GA authors, These Names Make Clues by E.C.R. Lorac, and a few library books came through that I requested, Singapore Sapphire by A.M. Stuart (historical mystery series, set in Singapore 1910), and nonfiction River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Thanks Susan. That is largely my plan, though I'm thinking of going to Oxford on Monday and Bath another day. Possibly the other way around.

I love E.C.R. Lorac, I think she's the best discovery mafe by the BLCC serirs so far. Hope you enjoy These Names Make Clues. Singapore Sapphire sounds good. I'll check my library for it. Love a good historical mystery. One I hope to get to soon is Shinju, set in feudal Japan, ( I think), I love the Celebrated Cases Of Judge Dee books by Robert van Gulik. I think the one linked is a transcipt, and the rest are in the style, but new stories.

[Susan in NC]

I think I read some of those Sano Ichiro books when they were first published, mid-90s, before I ever got on GR. Don’t remember much, but I think I enjoyed them! Thanks for the reminder of that series, and the Judge Dee series…my GR friends are fatal to ever finishing my TBR list.

However you spend your days off, enjoy!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Thank you. ☺

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I ummed and ahhed a bit, but started reading Yoked with a Lamb by Molly Clavering, which I have been loving, when I find the time to read. I looked at the list of Furrowed Middlebrow books left that I haven't read and it's less than half; initially, I thought I should save them, but given what happened with this imprint, I decided life is short and I should just go ahead and read them when I want. Given my terrible memory when it comes to books, I can enjoy the ones we have on a re-read.

[Antoinette]

I know what you mean, Tania! I went ahead and ordered 2 Susan Scarlett books. There are so many others I want to read as well!

[Bronwyn]

I just finished Harrow the Ninth. Book two of a series very much out of my norm, but really good!

I’m about to start In the Cafe of Lost Youth before reading book three, though, as they’re very long. And need to get back to books I own… lol

[Susan in NC]

Really enjoying (but horrified by parts), A Chelsea Concerto .

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Antoinette wrote: "I know what you mean, Tania! I went ahead and ordered 2 Susan Scarlett books. There are so many others I want to read as well!"

I really enjoyed Clothes-Pegs, which is the only one I've read under her pen name. Very light and frothy, and perfect for when I'm in need of a comfort read.

Bronwyn wrote: "I just finished Harrow the Ninth. Book two of a series very much out of my norm, but really good.

I’m about to start In the Cafe of Lost Youth before reading book three, though, as they’re very lo..."

Me too. I've also started Winter in the Air by Sylvia Townsend Warner which I took out of the library despite owning English Climate: Wartime Stories, (as yet unread).

Susan in NC wrote: "Really enjoying (but horrified by parts), A Chelsea Concerto."

I'm keen to get to this one, though I have a few books to finish off in the meantime. I'll go ahead and open up the thread for it.

[Susan in NC]

Thanks, Tania! The author seems like such a lovely person, not just her war work, but so positive and friendly to so many people, no matter their background or circumstances. And what a fascinating life, she had lived in so many parts of the world.

[Jackie]

I want to read that one since reading your posts about it, Susan in NC, but I don't think I will have time this month.

I know it's a cliche but there really is not enough time for all the good books out there.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "I want to read that one since reading your posts about it, Susan in NC, but I don't think I will have time this month.

I know it's a cliche but there really is not enough time for all the good bo..."

Oh, wow, I feel you there! I keep adding to my nonfiction TBR - just finished Midnight at Malabar House, and want to read more about the Indian Partition. Last month I read about the explorers trying to reach the head of the Nile, prompting me to want to read more African history. Not to mention the rest of Asia, South America…phew! So much history, let alone science, literature, music, art…mind you, I’m a total amateur in all those areas, so I try and find accessible, entertaining nonfiction.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I've finished reading The Pumpkin Eater by Penelope Mortimer which was very good. I read that the British Library Women Writers series was going to bring out The Home which is apparently a sort of sequel so that gave me the impetus I needed to finally get to this book. Having now started The Home, I don't think it was in the least bit necessary to read The Pumpkin Eater first, but I am glad I did.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

This morning I finished The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne by Brian Moore, a boarding house setting, (I love a boarding house setting), about a lonely spinster who is a victim of circumstances. It reminded me of The Rector's Daughter by F.M. Mayor, both quite devastating, but so well written.

I'm now reading Elizabeth and Ivy, Robert Liddell writes about his friendship with Elizabeth Taylor and Ivy Compton-Burnett through their letters. Really interesting seeing them through letters.

I also have an early copy of Homecoming by Kate Morton. I enjoy her novels, though they are all dual timeline stories, which I think has been a bit over-used nowadays, but she does it well.. Enjoying it so far.

[Bronwyn]

Oh I need to get to Judith Hearne sometime soon.

Speaking of Elizabeth Taylor. I’m currently reading The View of the Harbour.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I loved A View of the Harbour it was one of the first of hers I read and re-read it last year. I mean to re-read some more of hers this year, she's definitely one of my favourite authors.

[Bronwyn]

It’s only my second novels of hers (Angel was first) and I’ve read The Blush. I’m really enjoying it. I have a few others of hers too, that I’m really looking forward to getting to. :)

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I have some of her short stories to read still, I might pick one up soon. I do like to have a short story collection on the go.

Angel was one of my favourites of hers, though Angel herself was one of the most detestable creations. Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is the best, in my opinion.

[Dominika]

I was so impressed with Elizabeth Taylor when I read Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont last year. One of my goals for this year is to read more of her books.

Do you have any recommendations for where to start with Ivy Compton-Burnett? She's been on my to-read list for a while.

[Bronwyn]

I started Mrs Palfrey at one point but wasn’t in the mood. I look forward to getting back to it though. I enjoyed the movie.

I agree about Angel. I need to reread it. I enjoyed that movie too (I’d watch Romola Garai in anything though) which was how I heard of the book and probably Taylor herself.

I have one other book of her short stories and had picked up the complete short stories once upon a time on kindle, so I am flush with Taylor’s. :)

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Dominika wrote: "Do you have any recommendations for where to start with Ivy Compton-Burnett? She's been on my to-read list for a while..."

I have only read one by her, Darkness and Day, which I didn't really get on with. The whole novel was told in dialogue, and I found I wasn't too sure who was saying what; even the 5 year lod talked like an adult and seemed to have an adults understanding. She comes across as a very interesting person in this book so I'd like to give her another go. First I might see if I can get hold of a biography about her. She seems very much a marmite author.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I was reading a Persephone Books post on Facebook and they mentioned The Shoreless Sea by Mollie Panter-Downes, saying it was surprisingly good and they sometimes think of republishing it. It has a pretty low rating here so, although I knew it was available to read on the Internet Archive, I wasn't in a hurry. After reading that, I have decided to give it a go and so far, I'm rather enjoying it. Here's a link if anyone else is tempted. https://archive.org/details/shoreless...

[Bronwyn]

I finished Winter Love by Han Suyin yesterday. It’s been republished by McNally Editions, who are quickly becoming a favorite publisher. I heard about it mainly from the Lost Ladies of Lit podcast a month or so ago. It was really good and I’m glad to have read it, but it was a bit rough at times. I’d still recommend it though.

I’ve now moved on to another McNally Edition, Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott. The 1920s are my sweet spot and this is totally working for me so far. I’m about thirty pages in and it’s so good. I have a list of books to get to sooner than later, but none of them were calling to me at the moment and I’m glad I went off list. (Also, the cover is just gorgeous.)