2024 Buddy read suggestions.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I thought it was time to start thinking about next years reads.

I have shelves of unread books, so I'll put together a list of suggestions later. I would like to start The Hills is Lonely, the first in a Hebridean trilogy by Lillian Beckwith next year. Also, the blurb for a new British Library Women Writers book, 'Silver Forest' by E.M. Ward looks great, but best to see if it'll come out on schedule before putting that one in.

If you have any books you think would fit the group that have been lurking on those shelves, unread for some time, why not see if someone would be up for reading it with you.

[Susan in NC]

This sounds delightful (the Beckwith), but as often is the case, availability is an issue for me. I’ve put on my TBR, I might be able to find a used copy online.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I thought I was safe with this one, but it seems the Kindle version is no longer available. There are some that come later in the series that are available on audibke, but it seems a bit hit and miss.

[Susan in NC]

So frustrating!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Yes, they are available to borrow from internet archive (and probably from Open Library). I wonder if they might get picked up by another publisher soon.

[Jackie]

The Hills is Lonely is available on openlibrary.org not sure if the link will work:

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL39434...

I've often read books on this site, you just have to check it out again every hour. and only one person can have it at a time, I guess.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Thanks Jackie; that's the same with Internet Archive when I've used that.

[Susan in NC]

Jackie wrote: "The Hills is Lonely is available on openlibrary.org not sure if the link will work:

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL39434...

I've often read b..."

Thanks Jackie! The link works, and allows you to check out for 14 days, try clicking on it.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I have a list of unread books that I think might work. I have tried to put ones in with good availability. Hopefully the is some interest.

Dont Tell Alfred by Nancy Mitford
The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West
One Year's Time by Angela Milne
Mr Skeffington or Fraulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther by Elizabeth von Arnim
Sisters by a River by Barbara Comyns
Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott (I know Bronwynn really liked the one).

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

More generally, I wondered if there would be any interest in reading one (or more) of the Carlingford novels by Mrs. Oliphant, anything by Daphne du Maurier or Miss Read, more Barbara Pym and I'd like to read more of the Furrowed Middlebrow titles. I think there was some interest in Rachel Ferguson

[Bronwyn]

I’ve been meaning to read The Edwardians so would be up for that.

I did really love Ex-Wife. :)

I have a few DuMauriers and Pyms I haven’t read yet, so could probably do some of those.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

That's good to hear. I have owned The Edwardians for years, it's about time I got to it. I loved All Passion Spent.

Do you have Jane and Prudence?
That is the one that was written after Crampton Hodnet, (I think C H was actually published posthumously though.

Let me know if there are any Daphne du Maurier books you are interested in.

[Yuri]

Tania wrote: "More generally, I wondered if there would be any interest in reading one (or more) of the Carlingford novels by Mrs. Oliphant, anything by Daphne du Maurier or [a..."

I would absolutely love to read the novels by Mrs Oliphant - I took an evening course at Edinburgh University many, many years ago where the lecturer covered some of her work briefly - and the short stories Daphne du Maurier wrote. Jamaica Inn too.

And always keen on reading any of the books published by Persephone Books.

[Bronwyn]

Yes! All Passion Spent was so good.

I read Jane and Prudence earlier this year, so could discuss if people want to read that one. I have a few others in kindle collections- A Glass of Blessings, Some Tame Gazelle, Less Than Angels, and No Fond Return of Love.

For Daphne I have The Parasites, Jamaica Inn, and The King’s General.

[Bronwyn]

Oh I do have a couple Mrs Oliphant that are public domain, Miss Marjoribanks and The Mystery of Mrs Blencarrow.

[Pamela]

I’d definitely be up for some du Maurier and Pym, and I was one of those interested in Rachel Ferguson - I have A Harp in Lowndes Square and A Footman for the Peacock. I’d also like to read more Angela Thirkell,at some point.

Never read any Mrs Oliphant but I would be up for trying one of hers.

I was also thinking of Loving And Giving by Molly Keane and Mr Fortune's Maggot by Sylvia Townsend Warner if either are of interest.

[Susan in NC]

Same on the DuMauriers and Pyms - have some used paperbacks and kindles I bought that I haven’t read. The Edwardians, Mitford, Miss Read, Furrowed Middlebrow all sound interesting, have to check on availability, same with others you mentioned.

[Bronwyn]

I have Loving and Giving and a few other Keane’s on kindle too.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Great. The Mystery of Mrs Blencarrow & Queen Eleanor and Fair Rosamond is quite short, we could read that one and see how we get on?

Yurena, which Persephones do you have? I'm always up for those, and have an embarrassingly large pile of unread ones.

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "That's good to hear. I have owned The Edwardians for years, it's about time I got to it. I loved All Passion Spent.

Do you have Jane and Prudence?
That..."

I’ve got The King's General and My Cousin Rachel

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "Great. The Mystery of Mrs Blencarrow & Queen Eleanor and Fair Rosamond is quite short, we could read that one and see how we get on?

Yurena, which Persephones do you have? I'm alwa..."

That Mrs Oliphant is only 99 cents on Kindle US! I’m in - several of her books are available on Everand (formerly Scribd)

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Pamela wrote: "I’d definitely be up for some du Maurier and Pym, and I was one of those interested in Rachel Ferguson - I have A Harp in Lowndes Square and A Footman for the Peacock

Molly Keane is a great idea, I don't have Loving And Giving, but it is easy to get hold of, and I do want to read more of hers. I'd also be up for Mr Fortune's Maggot. I've had mixed success with Sylvia Townsend Warner; I loved Lolly Willowes, but couldn't get past the first chapter of The Corner That Held Them, so it would be interesting to read something with a group.

I haven't read, but do own A Harp in Lowndes Square so will put that one in.

[Susan in NC]

And someone mentioned Angela Thirkell, I’m always up for her, I have several of her books.

[Bronwyn]

I had similar feelings with Warner. I also loved Lolly Willowes, but got bogged down in Summer Will Show. :/

[Susan in NC]

I’ve got The Pursuit of Love & Love in a Cold Climate I by Nancy Mitford

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Thurkell is a good suggestion. I think my next (reading in order) is Miss Bunting
but it has been quite a while since I read any, so I'd be happy to read whichever one the group decides.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve got The Pursuit of Love & Love in a Cold ClimateI by Nancy Mitford"

I'd be happy to re-read those ones too.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Bronwyn wrote: "I had similar feelings with Warner. I also loved Lolly Willowes, but got bogged down in Summer Will Show. :/"

Good to know. I have read a couple of her short story collections and have found them very mixed. I still have English Climate: Wartime Stories sitting unread on my shelf. I think I might get on better with the impetus of a buddy read.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Lisa has suggested Margaret Kennedy, Monica Dickens and Elizabeth Bowen, all of which I would like to explore further, and should be fairly easy to get hold of some of theirs. The Feast is now widely available, and I think there have been a few of Dickens books re-published recently.

[Bronwyn]

I have Mariana and haven’t read it yet, so would be interested. Bowen, I have The Last September.

Margaret Kennedy, I’ve read Troy Chimneys and The Feast, but have The Constant Nymph still to read.

So many good suggestions popping up! :)

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Mariana was the first Persephone I bought, I haven't read it for years.

I'd like to read The Death of the Heart by Bowen at some point.

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "Thurkell is a good suggestion. I think my next (reading in order) is Miss Bunting
but it has been quite a while since I read any, so I'd be happy to read whichever one the group dec..."

The last I reread, in March of this year, was Cheerfulness Breaks In, so next up in my reread order would be Northbridge Rectory. But I’m flexible, too!

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "Bronwyn wrote: "I had similar feelings with Warner. I also loved Lolly Willowes, but got bogged down in Summer Will Show. :/"

Good to know. I have read a couple of her short story collections and ..."

I have Lolly Willowes as an ebook, I’ve never read it.

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "Lisa has suggested Margaret Kennedy, Monica Dickens and Elizabeth Bowen, all of which I would like to explore further, and should be fairly easy to get..."

I definitely want to read The Feast by Margaret Kennedy, I found Mariana on Everand, but in Spanish! Sorry, beyond my scope.

[Antoinette]

So many excellent suggestions, everyone. I’d love to read many of them. The ones that stand out- Daphne du Maurier- I’d love to read The House on the Strand. More Barbara Pym I own Don’t Tell Alfred. I’ve been dying to start Miss Read.

[Susan in NC]

Meant to ask - we discussed possible Christmas reads, but I don’t know if anything was settled on? If so, please let me know! Thanks!

[Dominika]

All these suggestions sound wonderful, and I would certainly read any of them.

For next year I'm hoping to fit more Elizabeth Taylor in. I've only read Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont and In a Summer Season.

I would read Margaret Kennedy as well. I've read Where Stands a Wingéd Sentry but none of her others.

I haven't read any Elizabeth Bowen but have been meaning to. And I'm also up for more Rose Macaulay.

And I've been hoping to get around to The Lark by Edith Nesbit, as well.

[Susan in NC]

I bought the Kindle of Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont last year, but haven’t read it yet.

[Peggy]

Lots of great suggestions! I’m especially interested in Nancy Mitford, Mariana, Du Maurier, Pym, and Mrs. Oliphant. But really, they all sound intriguing.

[Mary]

I have all of Barbara Pym ( wouldn’t mind a re read of any of them ) , ditto for Nancy Mitford and Angela Thirkell . Actually I’d adore something by Angela Thirkell . How about Denis McNeil ? His Greenery street is wonderful.
For Daphne Du Maurier ; how about the Scapegoat ?

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Susan in NC wrote: "Meant to ask - we discussed possible Christmas reads, but I don’t know if anything was settled on? If so, please let me know! Thanks!"

I meant to post earlier. I thought we could do Tied Up In Tinsel and I wonder if you could see if there is a kindle version of Who Killed the Curate? by Joan Coggin? I'd like to read that one if anyone is interested.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

There seems to be quite a bit of interest in The Mystery of Mrs Blencarrow & Queen Eleanor and Fair Rosamond by Mrs. Oliphant so as it's easily accessable, and fairly short we could pencil it in for January.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I'll put up a poll with all the du maurier suggestions and put one of those in early in the year too.

[Lynnie]

I'd also like to read Du Maurier and Pym and Nancy Mitord. I have Illyrian Spring by Ann Bridge on my tbr and also various Elizabeth von Arnim. Plus The Edwardians

Always up for Furrowed Middlebrow for light reading too.

[Diana]

I have the following on my TBR shelves and so would like to support previous recommendations:
The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West
One Year's Time by Angela Milne

I'd also like to read the Persephone books:
Alas, Poor Lady by Rachel Ferguson
Housebound by Winifred Peck

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

That's great. I'll definitely pencil the Edwardians in then.

Lynnie, I loved Illyrian Spring and would certainly be up for a reread.

Diane I haven't read either of those Persephones; my mum has House-Bound, so I could easily borrow that one.

[Diana]

And I have Ngaio Marsh's Tied up in Tinsel so may find time for a reread in December!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I have created a poll with Daphne du Maurier titles mentioned above. As there is so much interest we could maybe read one in Feb, and the runner up in the autumn.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Diana]

I‘m not granted access to the poll, I‘m sorry to say.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Oh. No doubt I've done something wrong. Let me see if I can figure it out. Probably just need to check a box.