📚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 )

I got my copy of the Feast now and will be starting it later this week. Going to Cornwall myself in the summer, so it seems like it's appropriate!

Oh, that's lovely! I started it and I'm finding it very engaging so far.

I've just finished Mrs Palfrey. Thank you for the recommendation, it was a lovely book. Just the kind of thing I like to read. The characters were so beautifully written and so human. I'll look at getting The Feast.

Persephone has some lovely books. I could read anything by Dorothy Whipple but I also really enjoyed 'Still Missing, by Beth Gutcheon'. I think it was written in the 1980's. And 'A well full of Leaves, by Elizabeth Myers' which is just so beautifully written. Both have themes of injustice. I like it when there are characters I can dislike for some reason.

I've got slightly confused now, which book are we reading in June? Is The Feast for May?

What I mean is The Feast is being discussed for June after being read in May what's next?

I've started the thread for discussing The Feast:

📚'Rather Dated' June: Margaret Kennedy's 'The Feast'📚 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/whatwerereading/4817915-rather-dated-june-margaret-kennedys-the-feast

I get confused too @tobee but I think we read a book one month and then discussion opens on the 1st of the following month. So we read The Feast in May and start discussing it on 1 June. I hope I've got it right.

I think someone suggested a Mollie Panter-Downes as our next book? One Fine Day? Is everyone happy with that?

Yes that’s my understanding, @MotherofPearl . I’m very happy with One Fine Day.

If everyone is OK with that and can get hold of it? It’s still available, I think.

I don't see it at all on Kindle. There is nothing to match 'One Fine Day' with Mollie Panter-Downes. Do I have that right?
My library is no good for 'rather dated books', unfortunately.

Thats the right book and author, but it’s not on Kindle, unfortunately, Fuzzy - only paperback or a library copy.

If that’s a problem for everyone we can think again.

Ah...if it suits the majority, go ahead though. I saw a nice collection of short stories by the author. Tempting!

I bought a secondhand copy on eBay and it arrived today.

I'm happy to read something else for Rather Dated bookclub - I can read One Fine Day anytime.

I just ordered a copy of it from World of Books and it should arrive in about a week :)

That’s the edition I’ve got, MotherofPearl

I think I have a copy - need to dig it out

I've managed to get a copy

My copy arrived today!

I’ve just read a book that I think people on this thread would enjoy - The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. It was written in 1922 and is about four women, all previously unknown to each other, who end up sharing an Italian castle for a month on holiday. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you, Chessie. That does sound good.

Definitely second that recommendation! Enchanted April is such a lovely book.

Great, I'm very happy to go with that for our next book. Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes that sounds good. I’ve read Elizabeth and her German Garden, which I think is by the same author.

I’ve just finished Still Missing by Beth Gutcheon; can’t remember who recommended that but whoever it was, thank you. Whizzed through it, couldn’t put it down.