📚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 )

Thank you @frustratedacademic I'll head over there now.

Thanks @frustratedacademic, I have just posted some thoughts on the new thread. Looking forward to starting the new book.

Would also be very happy with someone at a distance, I've got the same persephone copy and would love to read it

I've finished reading Someone at a Distance so am ready to chat. Are we starting chat about the book on 25 January or 1 February? I've got a bit muddled.

I think we've agreed to start on 1st February, but if you can't wait, start a new thread now: just please link to it here.

Thanks @frustratedacademic. I'll try to wait until 1 February but if I get impatient I'll start a new thread and link on here. I feel like I have a lot to say about the book so I will need some time to organise and write up my thoughts.

What's going to be the February book?

@tobee it's Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple.

Shall I open the February thread then folks? I don't want to cause confusion.

I've started the beautiful visit.

I don't think I have read it before or a very long time ago, it's great

@woodhill you might like to post your thoughts on the Beautiful Visit thread in due course (bear in mind there are spoilers there) 📚 "Rather Dated" bookclub choice for January: Elizabeth Jane Howard, The Beautiful Visit 📚 http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/whatweree_reading/4709789-rather-dated-bookclub-choice-for-january-elizabeth-jane-howard-the-beautiful-visit

Yes will do

I wouldn't say anything about the contents on this thread😀

More to affirm I have made a start on it

Thanks! I think I might already have a copy; I need to check 😬

Now I've confused myself. What with having covid, going on holiday and Christmas etc I've forgotten when we start book discussions?

Hi @tobee we decided before Christmas to open each thread on the 1st. Currently we have

November: Anita Brookner, A Start in Life
December: Margaret Drabble: A Summer Bird-Cage
January: Elizabeth Jane Howard, The Beautiful Visit.

The plan is to open the Whipple book on 1st February

Hope you're feeling better, by the way!

Yes thank you!

My copy of Someone at a Distance arrived yesterday. I started it last night and I love it already.

I've just bought it on Kindle. Looking forward to reading it!

I finished it a few days ago - I’d forgotten so much about the plot! But it’s 20 years or more since I first read it. Looking forward to the discussion.

I saw that you posted a review on the other thread, Terpsichore. I'll read it once I've finished it!

Other thread =50 bookers.

Mine turned up yesterday (eBay). I'm posting my cover photo but it should probably go on the actual thread

Morning all, I've created the February reading thread, here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4731605-rather-dated-february-dorothy-whipple-someone-at-a-distance.

I must also resign my role as thread-creator and book-chooser in chief 😔as I'm changing jobs and so up to my eyes in stuff that makes it impossible to do it anymore. Hopefully we have enough momentum for someone else to pick this up. We probably should be choosing a March book if we're to continue.

Thank you for the new link @frustratedacademic and for organising us all on this thread!

Oh and best of luck in your new job!

The Fortnight in September By R. C. Sheriff maybe? I heard it being discussed on a podcast last year. It’s about a family going on holiday.
Or Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.