Sara's 2024 Another Year of Gluttony

[Kathryn]

I'm a fan of the Persephone books too. Although the cost makes me weep to get them to Australia! Did you see that they just had their festival? I found this link to listen to the talks, if you are all interested: https://persephonebooks.co.uk/pages/t...

[Kathleen]

Kathryn wrote: "I'm a fan of the Persephone books too. Although the cost makes me weep to get them to Australia! Did you see that they just had their festival? I found this link to listen to the talks, if you are ..."

Thank you for this link, Kathryn! Hours of browsing pleasure ...

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Kathryn wrote: "I'm a fan of the Persephone books too. Although the cost makes me weep to get them to Australia! Did you see that they just had their festival? I found this link to listen to the talks, if you are ..."

That weeping goes on here as well. I would read a lot more of them if they were readily available at lesser cost! Thanks for the link.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Kathryn, I stole an hour to listen to the "Wild for Whipple" segment at the link. Marvelous stuff! I will squeeze in as many of these as I can before they expire. Thank you again for sharing!

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "Kathryn, I stole an hour to listen to the "Wild for Whipple" segment at the link. Marvelous stuff! I will squeeze in as many of these as I can before they expire. Thank you again for sharing!"

That's the one I want to listen to, too! Can't wait to get to it.

Kathleen, thanks for the link! :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I am on a roll with these women authors! Just finished Chatterton Square by E.H. Young - another 5-star read! I bought this one quite a while back, but needed a group pick to push me to get to it. I am delighted I have had a few days' lull in the manic schedule and filled it so perfectly.

Added to New Authors and 1940's are covered on the Century list.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Sara wrote: "I am on a roll with these women authors! Just finished Chatterton Square by E.H. Young - another 5-star read! I bought this one quite a while back, but needed a grou..."

Congratulations!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Thank you, Lynn. Nice way to fill the two days before the madness begins again.

[Terris]

That's great, Sara! Doesn't it make you feel better to read a good book during a crazy time?!
I have Miss Mole by EH Young on my Old/New list. Can't wait to get to it!

[Kathryn]

Sara wrote: "Kathryn, I stole an hour to listen to the "Wild for Whipple" segment at the link. Marvelous stuff! I will squeeze in as many of these as I can before they expire. Thank you again for sharing!"

My pleasure! So glad you got to it - I'm going to listen to that one today! Congratulations on another 5* read - I've added Chatterton Square to my TBR - sounds fantastic!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Terris wrote: "That's great, Sara! Doesn't it make you feel better to read a good book during a crazy time?!
I have Miss Mole by EH Young on my Old/New list. Can't wait to get to it!"

I have Miss Mole as well and now very excited to get to it. I'll be excited to know how you like it.

[Wobbley]

Wow, you've had so many 5-star reads this year! You really have mastered how to choose new books that will work for you. Congrats!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Wobbley wrote: "Wow, you've had so many 5-star reads this year! You really have mastered how to choose new books that will work for you. Congrats!"

I am enjoying the reads and just reading what I want to...but that isn't helping me make much progress on the challenges. I will have to buckle down soon if I complete anything.

[Wobbley]

Sara wrote: "I am enjoying the reads and just reading what I want to...but that isn't helping me make much progress on the challenges. I will have to buckle down soon if I complete anything."

Well, I think of the challenges as being there to motivate me to read more. You don't seem to need any extra motivation at the moment, so maybe the challenges can wait. :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Wobbley wrote: "Well, I think of the challenges as being there to motivate me to read more. You don't seem to need any extra motivation at the moment, so maybe the challenges can wait. :)"

You are so right, Wobbley!

[Kathleen]

Glad to hear about E.H. Young, Sara. Unfortunately, those that aren't in my library have to drop to the end of my list--until I can afford that Persephone subscription of course, which is looking more and more like an excellent investment!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

The good news about Young is that she doesn't require the Persephone subscription. I picked up three of her books (Kindle) on Amazon for .99 each. Miss Mole is still .99, Chatterton Square is $1.99. So, go ahead and dive in, Kathleen!

[Kathleen]

Thanks for the tip, Sara!

[Terris]

AND, Kathleen, if you happen to have access to Hoopla -- I found:
Miss Mole, Chatterton Square, Yonder, Moor Fires, and The Misses Mallett: The Bridge Dividing! I'm excited to get to those :)

[Kathleen]

Ah, thanks, Terris! I forgot I'd seen Chatterton Square on Hoopla. I decided against it cuz it was a bit long for me to read online. However Miss Mole is shorter--I'll go for that. Oh boy!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Yippee! I hadn't even thought of checking Hoopla and I still need two of those!

[Terris]

Oh good! I’m looking forward to getting to Miss Mole soon for my Old/New challenge :)

[Kathleen]

Terris wrote: "Oh good! I’m looking forward to getting to Miss Mole soon for my Old/New challenge :)"

Cynda also expressed interest in this one. Should we try for a buddy read? Did you have a time planned for this, Terris?

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I'd love to get in on a buddy read, but it would have to be after June for me.

[Terris]

After June would be fine for me too! Should we try for July?

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I'd be glad to do July. Kathleen?

[Kathleen]

Sara wrote: "I'd be glad to do July. Kathleen?"

July sounds great! Hopefully good for Cynda too.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I'll post it at the buddy read thread.

[Terris]

Great! Thanks, Sara :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I love Katherine Mansfield, so I was surprised to realize I had not ever read her short story, Bliss. It is worth reading just to soak in that luscious prose. My what a good writer can do with the English language.

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "I love Katherine Mansfield, so I was surprised to realize I had not ever read her short story, Bliss. It is worth reading just to soak in that luscious prose. My what a good writer ..."

I really like Katherine Mansfield. I have a book of her short stories and have enjoyed them so much. You’re right, she certainly does beautiful things with the English language :)
I’d recommend The Garden Party and Miss Brill, But, really, I liked all of the stories in The Garden Party and Other Stories, which I got cheap on Amazon — maybe free!
Hope you get to read more of hers :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I have read The Garden Party and Other Stories and several shorts not included there, so I was surprised I had missed Bliss. I have her complete short stories on the Kindle now and I am working my way through them...slowly! She is a joy to read.

[Kathleen]

I missed Bliss too. The complete short stories is a great idea, Sara.

I enjoyed the collection In a German Pension: 13 Stories, but my favorites of hers so far are the two Terris mentioned, The Garden Party and Miss Brill.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I love The Garden Party. Know I must have read Miss Brill, but don't have any memory...so, time to read that one again.

[Terris]

I was surprised that "Bliss" was not in the collection I had, so I don't know where I read it! I just know she is a "joy" to read :)

[Wobbley]

It somehow turns out that I've never read Katherine Mansfield. Sounds like I'll need to fix that soon!

[Terris]

Wobbley wrote: "It somehow turns out that I've never read Katherine Mansfield. Sounds like I'll need to fix that soon!"

You’ll like her, Wobbley :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Terris wrote: "I was surprised that "Bliss" was not in the collection I had, so I don't know where I read it! I just know she is a "joy" to read :)"

She absolutely is, Terris.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Wobbley wrote: "It somehow turns out that I've never read Katherine Mansfield. Sounds like I'll need to fix that soon!"

Yes, you will have to read her, Wobbley. It isn't hard to do, the stories are short and impactful. Squeeze one in first chance you get!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

The Fortnight in September checks off 1931 for my decade challenge and adds a New Author to my list. I can promise this is a new author I will read again!

[Dave]

Sara wrote: "Most Popular Books - Year (only a maybe)

1969 - I graduated High School in 1969

Book Choices:
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
2. The Andromeda Strain
3. [book:Papilli..."

I too graduated in 1969 Sara. I have read the first nine of your choices over the decades but will check out the other four, which I have never heard of.

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "The Fortnight in September checks off 1931 for my decade challenge and adds a New Author to my list. I can promise this is a new author I will read again!"

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Sara!! I love R.C. Sherriff! I can also recommend The Hopkins Manuscript -- so interesting, and wonderfully written. The next one I want to read is Greengates but can only find it on Kindle for $9.99! I usually don't pay that much, but since it's not available through Thrift Books OR my own library system, I may treat myself for my birthday next month! I think Sherriff would be a nice gift ;)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Dave wrote: "Sara wrote: "Most Popular Books - Year (only a maybe)

1969 - I graduated High School in 1969

Book Choices:
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
2. The Andromeda Strain
3. [..."

Nine of them is marvelous, Dave. I have read two of them, but included those because I thought it would be a great time for a re-read. I didn't include any other of the 1969 books that I had already read--it was a very prolific year for good fiction.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Terris wrote: "Sara wrote: "The Fortnight in September checks off 1931 for my decade challenge and adds a New Author to my list. I can promise this is a new author I will read again!"

I'm so glad..."

I'm so glad you made this one a "must read" for me. I also shy away from paying that much for a book, but every now and then we are entitled. I think a birthday is all the reason we need!

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "Terris wrote: "Sara wrote: "The Fortnight in September checks off 1931 for my decade challenge and adds a New Author to my list. I can promise this is a new author I will read again..."

Yay! Sounds like a plan! ;)

[Dave]

Sara wrote: "Dave wrote: "Sara wrote: "Most Popular Books - Year (only a maybe)

1969 - I graduated High School in 1969

Book Choices:
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
2. [book:The Andromeda Stra..."

Well, Sarah, I didn’t read any of them and 1969. In fact, I don’t think I read any of them until in the last five or six years.

[Wobbley]

Sara wrote: "The Fortnight in September checks off 1931 for my decade challenge and adds a New Author to my list. I can promise this is a new author I will read again!"

I've never read this author. I always learn a lot from your challenges!

[Sara, Old School Classics]

He was new to me as well, Wobbley. Great find.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Another off the Old & New Challenge. In Another Life. I cannot imagine why I bought this book, at whose recommendation, or why I thought it important enough to put on this challenge. It is not the kind of novel that appeals to me and the cover is actually littered with warnings I should have heeded. More a comment on me than on the book, which I think would appeal to a lot of people who enjoyed Outlander and similar tales.

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "Another off the Old & New Challenge. In Another Life. I cannot imagine why I bought this book, at whose recommendation, or why I thought it important enough to put on this challenge..."

Too bad, Sara. I know what you mean when you read a book that is not a bad book, it just isn't a good book for you :/
Oh well, you get to mark another book off your Old/New Challenge! On to one that might be a 5 star read!! There's always hope :)