How many VMV books you have already read

[Mela]

Since I just added all books from the VMC list to the to-read shelf of the group I thought we could share how many VMC we have already read. You just need to look for those with your own rating ;-) I will start.

I have read so far 78 books (most of them are novels by Angela Thirkell, Elizabeth Taylor, Daphne du Maurier, and L.M. Mongomery).

[Daniela]

I have read 81 of them: Daphne Du Maurier, Rumer Godden, Rebecca West, Willa Cather, Christa Wolf...

[Robin P]

I was going to say 5 or 6 because I thought only of the green covers. I actually have read 80, including a lot of children’s books. I think it’s odd that they include things like Jane Eyre and The Thorn Birds, which are widely known.

[Mela]

Robin P wrote: "I was going to say 5 or 6..."

I also was surprised by how many I have read already.

By the way, I really tried to find editions with green covers on GR. Unfortunately, many titles don't have them, many others have Virago editions but not "green" (especially series of specific authors, like in the case of e.g. Shena Mackay or Mary Renault), and then there are those with hundreds (even thousands) editions - I didn't have the patience to check them all, so after checking part of them, I gave up and choose other edition.
I am not sure, but it looks like the "green spine" are only in older editions of VMC.)

[Alwynne]

Many people - including me - collect the titles on the original Virago Modern Classics list with the green spines and green-framed cover art, all numbered. Here is a list of those vintage Viragos many now out of print:

https://www.publishinghistory.com/vir...

This is a different list from contemporary Virago classics some of which have also reincorporated a green spine in their design which was a move to celebrate the publisher's anniversary:

https://www.virago.co.uk/virago-news/...

[Marilyn]

I am also surprised with my number - 69. My most read authors are Daphne du Maurier and Willa Cather, but also several one-offs - Josephine Johnson, Beryl Markham, Colleen McCullough, Grace Metalious, Helen Zenna Smith.

[Tania]

I'm astonished at my number; 134. It has been bumped up by some of the classics, Jane Eyre etc, which I didn't read in the Virago editions, and they have published some of my favourite authors, so lots of Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth von Arnim, Barbara Pym and Daphne du Maurier. Also like Alwynne, I collect the vintage green spines.

I'd be interested to know peoples favourite books and authors. My top five are Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, Red Pottage, The Caravaners, Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead and The Rector's Daughter.

[Alwynne]

Tania wrote: "I'm astonished at my number; 134. It has been bumped up by some of the classics, Jane Eyre etc, which I didn't read in the Virago editions, and they have published some of my favourite..."

173 is impressive! I've read 123 on the original list of vintage Viragos plus 27 on the updated list linked via this group. Not sure about any published since then. I own about 40 more of the vintage ones I've yet to try. I'll check through and think about favourites.

I must get around to "Red Potage" keep hearing great things about it! I do remember really enjoying The Shutter of Snow, both Hermione Doolittle novels, the Frost in May series, Mrs Miniver and The Diary of a Provincial Lady, The Hours Before Dawn and A Pin to See the Peepshow also stand out as does Not So Quiet - that's not to mention reprints of popular classics by writers like Austen.

[Tania]

I just went through the Bookshelf for this group, so there are lots on there that I've read in other editions. I probably have 30-40 unread ones too. I'm trying to get through more of those before adding to the collection.

[Alwynne]

Tania wrote: "I just went through the Bookshelf for this group, so there are lots on there that I've read in other editions. I probably have 30-40 unread ones too. I'm trying to get through more of those before ..."

Thanks! On that list I've read 179 but a few I wouldn't usually count as part of the Modern Classics series.

[Tania]

No. That's why I was surprised at how many I had read.

I think you'd really like Red Pottage, very interesting in it's depiction of womens lives back then. I'd love to find time to read it again sometime.

[Alwynne]

I picked up a copy a while ago so will dig it out. On the list think it helped that there were loads of classic children's books!

[Robin P]

I just read Red Pottage a couple of weeks ago. It does have some very interesting aspects. Some of my favorites are Elizabeth von Arnim, Mary Webb, Angela Thirkell, Barbara Pym, and children's authors Lucy Maud Montgomery and E. Nesbit.

[Mela]

I envy those of you who have "green editions". Nonetheless, the VMC is a collection of "women's voices" in literature, so it doesn't really matter what edition one reads.

By the way, I added to our shelves books from https://www.virago.co.uk/imprint/lbbg...

[Robin P]

Mela wrote: "I envy those of you who have "green editions". Nonetheless, the VMC is a collection of "women's voices" in literature, so it doesn't really matter what edition one reads.

By the way, I added to ou..."

I thought the premise of Virago was publishing lesser-known writers so having Little Women, Jane Eyre, etc. surprised me.

[Abigail]

This may seem like a very dumb question, but where can I view the group’s “to read” list? I see the link to the Virago list at the url outside of Goodreads, but I don’t see the group’s bookshelves.

[Robin P]

Abigail wrote: "This may seem like a very dumb question, but where can I view the group’s “to read” list? I see the link to the Virago list at the url outside of Goodreads, but I don’t see the group’s bookshelves."

At the top of this page, to the right, under the picture of the apple, you will see Group Home, then Bookshelf. I am on a desktop, I don't know if it's different on the app.

[Daniela]

You cannot see the bookshelf on the app.

[Mela]

Daniela wrote: "You cannot see the bookshelf on the app."

Really? Another absurd!

By the way, I have tried the app two times in the last few years. Each time I ended up with the decision it isn't worth it and uninstalled it. Mostly because of how slow it sometimes works, crashes, and exactly because there lack of many options. So, when I need it I use a browser on my tablet (it should work also on a smartphone, although the screen is smaller ;-) ), and I recommend (on a tablet) switching to the "desktop version of the website" - each browser should have such option. You will have to do many zooming in and out to read the website but at least you are sure to have all options (shelves, etc.).

[Abigail]

Okay good to know! I’ll use my computer to see the bookshelf so I can add up the VMCs I’ve read. Annoying that the app lacks so many things. I use it a lot but agree it is prone to crashing and takes too long to load. Thanks for the tip, y’all!

[Robin P]

Yes, I can't understand the value of most apps, but especially GR. If you have a browser on your tablet/phone, you should be able to access everything, even if the screen is tiny.

[Mela]

Robin P wrote: "Yes, I can't understand the value of most apps, but especially GR. If you have a browser on your tablet/phone, you should be able to access everything, even if the screen is tiny."

I know, it isn't a place for such a topic ;-) but I would say that problems are when someone is trying to do an app from a website (especially a complex one). The structure and abilities of an app are different than those of a website. So, one can't just "copy" the content to an app. In a way, a developer of an app should "forget" about a website. But if he does it, of course, a drawback is that a website and an app are different, and one often has to learn to use an app (personally I have such frustrating experiences with such apps, but at least I can say that those apps work properly, I just had to learn them).

[Heather]

I’ve read 88, a mix of green spines, black spines (Dial Press originally published Virago titles in the U.S.), newer VMCs, other publishers, and vintage copies. I still have 26 green spines and 12 newer VMCs unread on my shelves.

[Sonia]

I have read 110, and have 20 on my TBR pile.

[Cphe]

Was wondering if there was a specific thread where we could post VMC books that we'd read that exceeded expectations?

I just finished South Riding which I'd had on my kindle for years but had never got around to reading.

To say it exceeded my expectations is an understatement.

[Mela]

Cphe wrote: "Was wondering if there was a specific thread where we could post VMC books that we'd read that exceeded expectations?..."

There is now ;-) Here the link.