Group Reads -> August 2025 -> Nomination thread (Won by The Flight of the Maidens)

[Nigeyb]

It's that time again RTTC'ers....


For our August 2025 group read we invite you to nominate anything written in the twentieth century century


Yes, it's *wild card month* once again so the choice is yours


Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss


Happy nominating

[Roman Clodia]

I've been waiting for a wild card month to nominate Ice by Anna Kavan:

In this haunting and surreal novel, the narrator and a man known as the warden search for an elusive girl in a frozen, seemingly post-nuclear, apocalyptic landscape. The country has been invaded and is being governed by a secret organization. There is destruction everywhere; great walls of ice overrun the world. Together with the narrator, the reader is swept into a hallucinatory quest for this strange and fragile creature with albino hair. Acclaimed upon its 1967 publication as the best science fiction book of the year, this extraordinary and innovative novel has subsequently been recognized as a major work of literature in its own right.

Few novelists match the intensity of her vision' J. G. Ballard

No one knows why the ice has come, and no one can stop it. Every day it creeps further across the earth, covering the land in snow and freezing everything in its path. Through this bleached, devastated world, one man pursues the sylph-like, silver-haired girl he loves, as she keeps running - away from her husband; away from the sinister 'warden' who seeks to control her; away from him.

'A raw, brutal tale set in a frozen post-nuclear dystopia ... addictive and extremely entertaining' Guardian

'There is nothing else quite like Ice' Doris Lessing

'She is De Quincey's heir and Kafka's sister' Brian Aldiss.

This has a cult following and has been described as like a David Lynch piece in a book - it's only 160 pages and sounds like a surreal nightmare that can be read in lots of different ways hence a good one to discuss.

[Nigeyb]

I nominate....


The Flight of the Maidens

by

Jane Gardam


Published in 2000 so not a twentieth century book but set in the summer of 1946

I really enjoyed Old Filth and so keen to try another by Jane Gardam



Here's the blurb....

From the author of Old Filth and The Man in the Wooden Hat

It is the summer of 1946, a time of clothing coupons and food rations, of postwar deprivations and social readjustment. In this precarious new era, three young women prepare themselves to head off to university and explore the world beyond Yorkshire, England. The bookish Hetty Fallowes struggles to become independent of her overbearing mother, Una Vane embarks on a bicycle trip around the countryside with a young man from the wrong side of the tracks, and Liselotte Klein, a Jewish refugee taken in by a Quaker family, heads to London in search of her only relatives to survive the Nazis.

As the three struggle to find meaning and love in a new world, they realise that they still have much to learn, and that their friendship is perhaps the only constant in an ever-changing world.

[Roman Clodia]

Gardam is a new author to me, Nigeyb, so that sounds interesting.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks RC - I feel finding an author you've not read (who has some degree of cred and a good reputation) is quite an achievement!

[Roman Clodia]

Haha, you say that without seeing my hopeless TBR mound! I haven't read Kavan either, my own nomination, so could be a month of discoveries in August.

[Nigeyb]

Nominations


Ice by Anna Kavan (Roman Clodia)
The Flight of the Maidens by Jane Gardam (Nigeyb)

[Nigeyb]

Roman Clodia wrote:


"Ice by Anna Kavan has a cult following and has been described as like a David Lynch piece in a book - it's only 160 pages and sounds like a surreal nightmare that can be read in lots of different ways hence a good one to discuss. "

That sounds wild

I was just reading this...

https://sciencefictionruminations.com...

...which states:

Kavan was an literary author who operated outside of SF conventions. The novels published after she took the name Anna Kavan—from one of her earlier pseudo-autobiographical characters—were highly experimental in nature. It should be pointed out that Kavan did not intend to write science fiction despite the fact that Brian Aldiss voted it the best SF novel of 1967 (Booth, 97). According to Booth, most likely she had not read any of her SF contemporaries—also, many of the tropes that appear in Ice had appeared in her writing for decades (Booth, 97).

Highly recommended for fans of literary SF in the vein of early J. G. Ballard and the more radical experiments of Brian Aldiss.

How about this 1967 cover...

[Alwynne]

Nigeyb wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote:


"Ice by Anna Kavan has a cult following and has been described as like a David Lynch piece in a book - it's only 160 pages and sounds like a s..."

It's great, I actually own that edition, I picked it up secondhand a while ago although have a Penguin edition as my reading copy as the vintage one is quite fragile.

[Susan]

I didn't realise Jane Gardam died last month. I haven't read her either.

[Roman Clodia]

Wow, that cover is amazing! Not surprised you grabbed that, Alwynne.

The current ones are a sort of modern riff on that image:

[Roman Clodia]

Btw, a friend who is a Kavan fan said Ice reminded him a bit of Fight Club - I've only seen the film, not read the book but as someone mentioned that recently (Nigeyb?) I thought I'd throw that in.

[Nigeyb]

I did indeed rewatch the film version of Fight Club and it generally really stands up. I don't think I've read the book but do tend to enjoy Chuck Palahniuk so, yeah, that all augers very well RC

[Nigeyb]

Yes, I love the film version of Fight Club which I rewatched very recently so that all augers well.


I'll certainly read Ice if it wins

[Ben]

These two nominations are so interesting my motivation to think of my own is greatly reduced. But, as I wrap up my stay in the US over the next few days, I'll give it some thought.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Ben. I hope you're having a good time. Safe journey home


I'd happily step aside for Ice too but we may yet get even more enticing nominations

Who else is nominating? Or thinking about it?

[G]

I really liked Old Filth, but have been disappointed in everything else of hers that I have (tried to) read. I suspect I would appreciate The Man in the Wooden Hat more now than when I read it, so perhaps that would be the case with Gardam's other novels.

[Jan C]

I'll throw out a blast from the past for a nomination - We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us Against by Nicholas von Hoffman. The story of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco. Originally published in 1968 when people wanted to know about Haight-Ashbury.

In the summer of '67 youth drew attention to itself by clustering in large numbers in many cities, where they broke narcotics laws proudly, publicly and defiantly. And, they had a different social philosophy and a new politics. This book explains what happened in the Haight - this was the center.

I was in high school at the time. My father had a meeting in San Francisco and brought me back a psychedelic-type poster with bands I'd never heard of with music I hadn't yet heard. But soon would.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks G, thanks Jan

Jan that's another tasty looking nomination

I'm reading a book about the Stones US tour of 1969 which culminated in Altamont. There was quite a lengthy section on the SF scene. Apparently the really great time was 1966 prior to the great influx of 1967


Nominations

Ice by Anna Kavan (Roman Clodia)
The Flight of the Maidens by Jane Gardam (Nigeyb)
We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us Against by Nicholas von Hoffman (Jan)

[Sam]

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks G, thanks Jan

Jan that's another tasty looking nomination

I'm reading a book about the Stones US tour of 1969 which culminated in Altamont. There was quite a lengthy section on the SF scen..."

Have you read Ringolevio: A Life Played for Keeps by Emmett Grogan yet Nigeyb? It is another interesting look at the period SF, and Altamount.

All mentioned are great nominations for August. My selection was picked for July so I am passing on nominations.

[Susan]

I'll throw in a reissue I came across:
The Fate of Mary Rose by Caroline Blackwood
Published in 1974

THE PITCH-BLACK REDISCOVERED CLASSIC OF 2024

From the Booker-shortlisted author of Great Granny Webster, this twisted modern classic is perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Celia Dale.

She was dead even before I became aware of her existence . . .

A child has been abducted from a sleepy Kent village, her face plastered across the media.

As the crime unleashes a wave of hysteria, the claustrophobic world of Rowan Anderson and his inscrutable wife begins to disintegrate. Consumed by her macabre fixation, Cressida is determined to save their sickly daughter, Mary Rose, from the same fate - and perhaps even from Rowan himself.

With caustic wit and pitch-black brilliance, Caroline Blackwood creates a skin-crawling - and utterly compulsive - story of repressed violence, female rage, and maternal obsession.

Currently 99p on kindle if anyone likes the look of it.

[Roman Clodia]

That sounds good, Susan - and can't argue with a Kindle deal!

[Nigeyb]

Sam wrote:


"Have you read Ringolevio: A Life Played for Keeps by Emmett Grogan yet Nigeyb? It is another interesting look at the period SF, and Altamount."

I haven't, hadn't even heard of it until your timely post

Thanks for the tip Sam. I'll be investigating that one this very day

[Nigeyb]

Nominations


Ice by Anna Kavan (Roman Clodia)
The Flight of the Maidens by Jane Gardam (Nigeyb)
We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us Against by Nicholas von Hoffman (Jan)
The Fate of Mary Rose by Caroline Blackwood (Susan)


Any more?

[Ben]

Good set of nominations. I'm happy not to compete with these.

[Susan]

I don't think about nominations as competing, Ben. Nice to have recommendations I think and even if you vote for one, you might add another - or more than one - to your TBR pile.

[Nigeyb]

I'm travelling for a few days so can't get the poll up until Saturday, or possibly Friday, so no urgency if anyone else is inspired to nominate

[Roman Clodia]

No problem, Nigeyb, and thanks for organizing us so well each month. I can keep a summary of nominations as you do if more come in to make it easier for you when you're ready to set up the poll.

[Ben]

I take your point, Susan. I may have used the wrong word there, but all I meant is that all the ones on the list already interest me.

Nevertheless, I don't mind adding another book I've long wanted to read and had nominated once before, long ago.

Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell

The wife of a successful lawyer in 1930s Kansas City, India Bridge, tries to cope with her dissatisfaction with an easy, though empty, life.

Before Betty Friedan wrote The Feminine Mystique there was Mrs. Bridge, an inspired novel set in the years around World War II that testified to the sapping ennui of an unexamined suburban life. India Bridge, the title character, has three children and a meticulous workaholic husband. She defends her dainty, untouched guest towels from son Douglas, who has the gall to dry his hands on one, and earnestly attempts to control her daughters with pronouncements such as "Now see here, young lady ... in the morning one doesn't wear earrings that dangle." Though her life is increasingly filled with leisure and plenty, she can't shuffle off vague feelings of dissatisfaction, confusion, and futility. Evan S. Connell, who also wrote the twinned novel Mr. Bridge, builds a world with tiny brushstrokes and short, telling vignettes.

[Susan]

Ice by Anna Kavan (Roman Clodia)
The Flight of the Maidens by Jane Gardam (Nigeyb)
We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us Against by Nicholas von Hoffman (Jan)
The Fate of Mary Rose by Caroline Blackwood (Susan)
Mrs Bridge by Evan S. Connell (Ben)

Yes, don't worry, Nigeyb, we'll keep an eye on the nominations. Thanks, Ben. We always get good nominations, which are appreciated.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Susan, thanks RC, thanks all

[Susan]

Have fun, Nigeyb.

[Susan]

Nigeyb is not setting up the vote until Friday/Saturday so plenty of time to nominate. Nominations so far:

Ice by Anna Kavan (Roman Clodia)
The Flight of the Maidens by Jane Gardam (Nigeyb)
We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us Against by Nicholas von Hoffman (Jan)
The Fate of Mary Rose by Caroline Blackwood (Susan)
Mrs Bridge by Evan S. Connell (Ben)

[Susan]

The vote is not going up until Friday/Saturday. Please do nominate if you want to do so.

[Nigeyb]

The poll is up....


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...


Thanks to Susan and RC for so ably holding the fort whilst I was only able to access the site via my phone


Nominations:

Ice by Anna Kavan (Roman Clodia)
The Flight of the Maidens by Jane Gardam (Nigeyb)
We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us Against by Nicholas von Hoffman (Jan)
The Fate of Mary Rose by Caroline Blackwood (Susan)
Mrs Bridge by Evan S. Connell (Ben)

[Nigeyb]

Current standings...


Ice by Anna Kavan - 3 votes, 33.3%
The Flight of the Maidens by Jane Gardam - 3 votes, 33.3%

The Fate of Mary Rose by Caroline Blackwood - 2 votes, 22.2%

We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us Against by Nicholas von Hoffman - 1 vote, 11.1%

Mrs Bridge by Evan S. Connell


A day and a half still to go


I'd happily read both The Flight of the Maidens AND Ice in August


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

[Cphe]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I've been waiting for a wild card month to nominate Ice by Anna Kavan:


In this haunting and surreal novel, the narrator and a man known as the warden search for..."

@RC

I read Ice a couple of years ago and it was wonderful, surreal.

Strangely enough it was one of those books that I started and couldn't get into and put it aside for a while........ended up trying it again after a while ........fell into the novel and loved it.\

One of those right time......right book moments

[Nigeyb]

Still neck and neck at the top


To clarify one point, despite what the poll states Ben's nomination is Mrs Bridge by Evan S. Connell (not Mr Bridge). Sorry Ben. My fault

[Roman Clodia]

Ooh, and in a sudden spurt, Flight of the Maidens is now in top spot! You still have today to vote (or change your vote), RTTC-ers.

[Nigeyb]

Roman Clodia wrote:


"Ooh, and in a sudden spurt, Flight of the Maidens is now in top spot! You still have today to vote (or change your vote), RTTC-ers."

Given both books - The Flight of the Maidens and Ice - have proved popular in the poll I propose we read them both in August. One as a group read and one as a poll.

[Nigeyb]

Won by The Flight of the Maidens - thanks to everyone who got involved


I'll sort out the admin for both reads soon

Looking forward to reading and discussing both of them