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📚The Mumsnet 'Rather Dated' Book Group - All welcome to join📚

683 replies

MotherofPearl · 15/03/2024 18:12

Welcome to the Mumsnet 'Rather Dated' Book Group, where we read and discuss fiction from the 1930s to the 1990s that would have been described as 'contemporary' in its day.

The best introduction to the 'rather dated' concept would be to read the wonderful thread which inspired this group:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4596284-rather-dated?reply=119670989

To summarise, a number of posters expressed disappointment that literature of the 20th Century is often dismissed as 'rather dated' because society has moved on from many of the values and lifestyles described.

Previous posters decided to create a reading group where the literary merits of such fiction can be appreciated, with any 'rather dated' elements being a point of interest rather than a reason to dismiss a novel.

We read one book a month. Our first book, that inspired the original thread, was The Road to Lichfield by Penelope Lively. We have been going for about 18 months now, and each new book gets its own discussion thread, started on the first of the month.

Our March 2024 book is Penelope Fitzgerald's The Bookshop. We will begin the discussion of this on 1 April.

Please do join the thread whether you want to take part in the discussion or just place mark to follow it.

Fellow Rather Dated people, please add anything important I might have missed!

(With huge thanks to ImJustMadAboutSaffron for the original thread and idea).

I hope Antarcticant, who started the last thread, won’t mind that I’ve started this new one.

Page 5 | "Rather dated" | Mumsnet

I just finished reading a book, published in 1977, set either 1975 or 1976. I went on Amazon to look at some reviews (I know these are not worth readi...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4596284-rather-dated?reply=119670989

OP posts:
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Terpsichore · 21/08/2026 22:23

StellaOlivetti · 21/08/2026 19:20

Right, my copy has arrived!
I have read Pastoral, as recommended on here and oh I loved it. Have lent it to my dad (ex W/C in R A F; the portrayal of life on a bomber command station in ww2 is just so real … my grandad flew Lancasters, dad will love it).
Currently halfway through The Hare and the Tortoise by Elizabeth Jenkins. Has anyone read it? As soon as I’ve finished with Evelyn and Imogen, I’ll start on Something Light.

Just to add - both my parents were (separately) in the RAF in WW2 (they were both just old enough to be called up towards the end). Pastoral made me think so much of my lovely mum who was a beautiful young WAAF and actually got engaged to a pilot during her early service - they split up which is probably just as well or I wouldn’t be here!

Abustedflush · 25/08/2026 15:03

Hello fellow Margery Sharp fans! I’ve just read Cluny Brown and The Nutmeg Tree.
What an entertaining writer, I love her strong, funny and likeable female characters so much.

I’m off to track down a copy of Something Light.

Waawo · 25/08/2026 15:21

Abustedflush · 25/08/2026 15:03

Hello fellow Margery Sharp fans! I’ve just read Cluny Brown and The Nutmeg Tree.
What an entertaining writer, I love her strong, funny and likeable female characters so much.

I’m off to track down a copy of Something Light.

The Nutmeg Tree made me laugh out loud most of the way through, it’s kind of absurd but very funny!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 28/08/2026 23:00

I finished Something Light this evening.

I liked it. It's just what it says on the tin.

By the way, did anyone ever hear the expression 'I'm on velvet' before? It was new to me.

Original poster
MotherofPearl · 31/08/2026 10:43

I’m nearly finished - hopefully finish today or tomorrow. Do you want me to start the chat thread Fuzzy or would you rather do it?

I too have not heard ‘I’m on velvet’ before, but may start using it!

OP posts:
FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 31/08/2026 11:14

I'll do this one @MotherofPearl !
I'll post it today or tomorrow.

StellaOlivetti · 01/09/2026 11:52

I finished it yesterday. What a lovely funny read, perfect for the summer (although I guessed the ending). I too am going to be on velvet from now on.

olderbutwiser · 01/09/2026 14:09

I couldn't find Something Light at a sensible price but read the Foolish Gentlewoman and loved it - the characters are so interesting and well drawn. I enjoyed it so much I'm going to get the Kindle edition of Something Light at a ridiculous price.

I'm also buying Pastoral - Mum was WAAF and Dad was a Lancaster navigator all through WWII. I don't remember reading it, but I'm sure I must have at some stage.

Terpsichore · 01/09/2026 16:08

olderbutwiser · 01/09/2026 14:09

I couldn't find Something Light at a sensible price but read the Foolish Gentlewoman and loved it - the characters are so interesting and well drawn. I enjoyed it so much I'm going to get the Kindle edition of Something Light at a ridiculous price.

I'm also buying Pastoral - Mum was WAAF and Dad was a Lancaster navigator all through WWII. I don't remember reading it, but I'm sure I must have at some stage.

@olderbutwiser it's not the optimal reading experience, but with so many of these hard-to-find books, the Open Library can be your friend. You can create a free account then search for the book and if they have it, 'borrow' it and read online. That’s how I've just read Something Light. The 'loan' lasts as long as you keep reading but if it gets terminated, you just click on it again to read on.

It doesn’t work for everything but I've got hold of so many otherwise-inaccessible books that way.

Waawo · 01/09/2026 16:35

Terpsichore · 01/09/2026 16:08

@olderbutwiser it's not the optimal reading experience, but with so many of these hard-to-find books, the Open Library can be your friend. You can create a free account then search for the book and if they have it, 'borrow' it and read online. That’s how I've just read Something Light. The 'loan' lasts as long as you keep reading but if it gets terminated, you just click on it again to read on.

It doesn’t work for everything but I've got hold of so many otherwise-inaccessible books that way.

Show quote history

There is also an app for phones and tablets which, although not perfect - because the text doesn't resize the way it does on a real ereader, for me at least is better than reading on the laptop screen. It's weird, it's some kind of cognitive dissonance - laptop is fine for papers, non-fiction, articles and so on; but novels, I much prefer to be away from the big screen lol

📚The Mumsnet 'Rather Dated' Book Group - All welcome to join📚
📚The Mumsnet 'Rather Dated' Book Group - All welcome to join📚
Terpsichore · 01/09/2026 17:05

We've had this conversation elsewhere, @Waawo! but for the benefit of others, it can be a godsend. I use it on my iPad. I haven’t tried the app version but might investigate….

Waawo · 01/09/2026 17:16

Terpsichore · 01/09/2026 17:05

We've had this conversation elsewhere, @Waawo! but for the benefit of others, it can be a godsend. I use it on my iPad. I haven’t tried the app version but might investigate….

Yeah I did read some of Stella's Fort of the Bear in a browser on my phone (extreme!) before discovering the app existed lol

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 02/09/2026 20:31

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/5574028-the-rather-dated-book-club-margery-sharps-something-light?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

I've started a thread for 'Something Light'. All welcome to join in!

Original poster
MotherofPearl · 27/09/2026 19:53

Any thoughts on our next book?

Fuzzy, I think I recall you saying that you were going to read The Foolish Gentlewoman after Something Light? I did the same and very much enjoyed it. I think Tilly Cuff is one of the most horrifying characters in a novel I have ever come across.

OP posts:
FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 28/09/2026 08:19

Hi @MotherofPearl I never got round to reading it! Was it good? I may go back to it.

As usual, I don't mind what we read next, so long as I can get a copy of it easily. The Internet Archive is a very useful resource for rather dated books.

StellaOlivetti · 28/09/2026 12:59

I’m currently reading Miss Buncle’s Book by DE Stevenson. It’s very enjoyable, rather after the manner of Miss Read, but funnier. I don’t recommend we read it together though as I think it’s probably hard to get hold of, it was just a random library choice ( in large print too, which is easy on my eyes but I do rather feel like I’m being shouted at).

Terpsichore · 28/09/2026 13:25

StellaOlivetti · 28/09/2026 12:59

I’m currently reading Miss Buncle’s Book by DE Stevenson. It’s very enjoyable, rather after the manner of Miss Read, but funnier. I don’t recommend we read it together though as I think it’s probably hard to get hold of, it was just a random library choice ( in large print too, which is easy on my eyes but I do rather feel like I’m being shouted at).

It was a Persephone reprint some years ago. It’s a funny, enjoyable read and there are two sequels - both Persephone too, though.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 28/09/2026 20:11

'I do feel like I'm being shouted at'...😅

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 19/10/2026 19:19

Does anybody have a suggestion for our next book or do I need to trawl through the archive?!

Terpsichore · 19/10/2026 19:52

I have an idea but I know it's a Persephone so I'm hesitant to throw it into the mix, @FuzzyCaoraDhubh!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 19/10/2026 19:53

Please place the Persephone carefully into the centre of the mix @Terpsichore 😄

Terpsichore · 19/10/2026 19:54

Or how about one of Richmal Crompton's adult novels? Several are on kindle for £3.99 so easily gettable. They’re definitely worth a read.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 19/10/2026 20:08

Sure! Whichever one you haven't read yet and like the sound of, is fine by me.

Terpsichore · 19/10/2026 20:08

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 19/10/2026 19:53

Please place the Persephone carefully into the centre of the mix @Terpsichore 😄

I probably won’t because I like the Richmal Crompton idea better! I've just read one (much enjoyed) which attracted some interest on the 50 Books thread from people who didn’t know she'd written books for adults. I might suggest Weatherley Parade, which I haven’t read yet. Or maybe - even better - Linden Rise.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 19/10/2026 20:10

I'll look them up :)

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