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

[Antarcticant]

Welcome to the Mumsnet 'Rather Dated' Book Group, where we will be reading and discussing 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.

We 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 will be reading one book a month. Our first book, for September, will be the book that inspired the original thread:

The Road to Lichfield by Penelope Lively

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 )

Yes I've got a talking book but tbh I prefer to read.

I may listen in the car but will it be distracting or will I miss the detail

I'll second "A summer bird cage", @StellaOlivetti. I'll have to dig out my ancient battered Penguin.

Ooh good. I read The Garrick Year last year because I always remember it was in my mum's bookshelf when I was growing up. But I fancy reading something I've not yet read. Happy with Summer Birdcage. Or other suggestions.

Mind you haven't begun A Start in Life yet.

Always intrigued by MD and AS Byatt relationship!

I was once in a lift with AS Byatt!

I adore summer birdcage. I too read it as a teenager. Was my mums copy.

I have obviously found a perfect fit of a book club - scoured my shelves and found I had a copy of A Summer Bird Cage.

Still reading the Brookner - I like it enough but not loving it. Yet.

Can I make a suggestion? Could we have a separate thread for the actual discussion of each book e.g "Rather dated - BLACK NARCISSUS" and keep this for general discussion? I'm finding it a bit hard to follow and that way people could post their thoughts whenever they finish reading - or before. Mind you, I'm easily confused these days so please ignore if it doesn't bother anyone else!

Very happy with A Summer Bird Cage.

Did you speak to A S Byatt in the lift, @tobee ?

I agree, @rifling

I've created a thread for the Lively book so people who've finished the book can start chatting about it sooner: "Rather Dated" November: Penelope Lively, A Start in Life http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/whatweree_reading/4676621-rather-dated-november-penelope-lively-a-start-in-life

@frustratedacademic you might want to ask MNHQ to amend the title - it’s Anita Brookner not Penelope Lively!

Gah! Will do

I've got both but not read either yet

Thanks @ChessieFL, reported

I read it as a teenager (we're talking 40+ years ago) and I remember being blown away by the glamour and the sophistication. It was one of those books I kept coming back to for years - I must have read it 20 or 30 times. The sad thing is that as a teenager you have a hope that your adult life might be equally sophisticated, but in reality mine has turned out to be rather dull and pedestrian. I'm not sure I could bear to read it again knowing how things actually turned out.

Gosh, I've put a real downer on it, haven't I.

Gosh no! I was far too bashful! I always worry that I'll be intruding! I just did surreptitious looking! She looked fabulously author like!

Just spotted the rather dated Brookner thread. Can I be cheeky and ask for the book 📚 emojis to be added to the thread title so I don't miss these as they come up please?

Great idea!

My copy of A Summer Birdcage is here!

Once again I got a job lot from eBay! My Margaret Drabble hoard!:-

Lovely covers @tobee

Here’s my copy!

Great idea for a thread, and interested in all the suggestions.

I’m a big fan of ‘rather dated’ novels in general - especially Murdoch, Lehman, Elizabeths Bowen, Taylor and Jenkins, can’t stand Barbara Pym though.

Has Rose Macaulay been mentioned? She’s a game old bird.