20.1 Most Improved - Kathy KS’ Task: Pleasure Reading in the 1940s

[SRC Moderator, Moderator]

20.1 Most Improved - Kathy KS’ Task: Pleasure Reading in the 1940s

Librarian Betty Rosenberg’s First Law of Reading, published in Genreflecting, is “Never apologize for your reading tastes.” My career of fifty years focused on helping others get what they wanted at the library. My interest in reading for pleasure, whatever that means to individuals, is based on that philosophy and my own reading habits. This task centers around the pleasure reading habits of individuals in the 1940s.

Choose one option below. Books with MPGs of Childrens, Middle School, etc. AND Graphic Novels, etc. are all allowed, as long as they fit the standard criteria for GR.
Required:State the option.

Option 1: Bestsellers
Bestsellers are the books readers choose to read as opposed to what others believe they should read.

Read a novel on the Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1940s found on this list.

1940s Bestselling novels in the United States


Option 2: Armed Services Editions
ASEs were small paperback books of fiction and nonfiction that were distributed in the American military during World War II, from 1943 to 1947. Distributed to service members, they were enormously popular and provided them with respite from their duties. Read one of these titles, fiction or nonfiction. Select from the following lists on GR:

Armed Services Editions A Series September 1943

Armed Services Editions B-Series, October 1943

Armed Services Editions C-Series, November 1943

Armed Services Editions D-Series, December 1943

Armed Services Editions E-Series, January 1944

The ASE books were reprints, abridged, or "made" books (special anthologies of stories or verse), so any version of the title is acceptable as long as it fits GR guidelines.

Required: State which list you used.


Option 3: First Law of Reading
Read a book with a word of 4 or more letters in the title (subtitles excluded) found in: NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR READING TASTES. Letters may be used only as often as they appear in the target phrase.

Required: State the word.

[Kathy KS]

These work!

Option 3:

[Kathy KS]

These don't work... (reserved)

[Wanda]

Asking approval for Option #word to be used is FOUR and the book is The Four Winds

Thanks for confirming that I never have to apologize for my reading tastes! I taught secondary history for 35 years. The last 7 years we had 25 minutes built into the schedule for 'pleasure reading' for students, faculty and staff. I had a classroom library and read what the students read which was mostly YA novels. People will see me reading a YA novel now and question why. My answer is Why Not?

[Robin P]

In case people don't already know, there is a fun history of the Armed Services book program in When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II

[Kathy KS]

Robin P wrote: "In case people don't already know, there is a fun history of the Armed Services book program in When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II"

I've read that one and it might have been part of my inspiration for this task!

[Kathy KS]

Wanda wrote: "Asking approval for Option #word to be used is FOUR and the book is The Four Winds

Thanks for confirming that I never have to apologize for my reading tastes! I taught secondary hi..."

Looks good for your word!
And read on!

[Trish]

Robin P wrote: "In case people don't already know, there is a fun history of the Armed Services book program in When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II"

That's been on my TBR for ages! This task might prompt me to read it in the Summer SRC, as it would fit 5.1 War and Peace.

For Option 3, presumably a one-word title is okay, as long as the one word can be made from the phrase? Specifically London, which is my "longest book on your TBR" for a prompt in the PopSugar challenge, which I also do.

[Kathy KS]

Trish, yes, your book definitely fits option 3.

Matching my extremely long TBR list to challenge tasks is part of the fun each season, too!

[Marie (UK)]

Trish wrote: "Robin P wrote: "In case people don't already know, there is a fun history of the Armed Services book program in When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II"
..."

That is such a good Book Trish I am currently reading Russka by the same author

[Trish]

I have another of his, Sarum: The Novel of England, on my TBR as well, but that might be next year's project.